Snape’s office was dim, cramped, and filled with a peculiar smell.
Shelves lined the walls, packed with countless bottles and jars containing all kinds of Potion ingredients.
Will’s eyes lit up.
These Potion ingredients weren’t cheap, and Potions Master Snape was clearly a genuine millionaire.
If Will could obtain some ingredients from here or learn directly from Snape, his Potions experience would surely skyrocket.
Snape sat in his chair, his dead-fish eyes fixed on Will.
“Using a Thunderclap Explosion in the common room, it seems Mr. Behrens has already become an Archmage, capable of defeating his classmates with a flick of his wrist. Perhaps you no longer need to waste your talent in a small place like Hogwarts. Why not go to the Wizengamot and display your abilities?”
Will stared back at Snape, completely unafraid.
“Mr. Behrens, do not direct those lifeless, empty eyes at me. If you cannot explain why you used such excessive force against your classmates, I imagine you’ll be spending your Christmas here with the mucus of Flobberworms.”
It was clear that if Will couldn’t provide a valid reason, he would be serving detention for a very long time.
Snape scrutinized him, waiting to see how he would explain his actions.
He detested students who bullied their classmates.
Will clenched his fists.
Instead of defending himself calmly, he stared directly into Snape’s eyes, his voice slightly hoarse.
“If you believe that I, a ‘Mudblood,’ deserve to be bullied by a group of people;
“If you believe that I should hide behind a female classmate and let those people insult me;
“If you believe that wizards from the Muggle world deserve to be ostracized by pure-bloods;
“Then I have nothing to say.
I have nothing to explain, whether it was their humiliation and attacks on my first night at Hogwarts or my actions today in self-defense.
“I only hope you don’t punish Sylvia. She has nothing to do with this.”
Will’s words were filled with righteous indignation, as though he were truly a pitiful student who had been bullied and was merely fighting back.
Of course, in this case, that was indeed what had happened.
His tone was agitated, and he showed no sign of remorse.
Snape could tell that Will genuinely didn’t believe he had done anything wrong.
And after hearing Will’s response, Snape fell silent.
Will’s words had brought back some old memories, memories that were still painfully clear.
Memories of certain pure-blood cliques he had encountered during his own time at Hogwarts.
A few minutes later, Will received a prompt.
[Someone “empathizes” with you, Charm Experience +3.]
Will then clearly saw Snape’s face twitch several times before his tone softened considerably.
“Injuring your classmates. Starting tomorrow, one week of detention. Come here and help me prepare Potion ingredients.”
As soon as Snape said this, Will knew he had passed Snape’s test.
His words had almost perfectly struck Snape’s soft spot.
The Half-Blood Prince’s story had not exactly ended happily.
And was preparing Potion ingredients really a punishment?
This could give him experience.
As soon as Will stepped out of Snape’s office, he saw Sylvia waiting outside.
“Professor Snape didn’t do anything to you, did he?” Sylvia asked, concern written all over her face.
“Don’t worry about me. It’s only a week of detention. Professor Snape is a very nice person.”
“If you hadn’t clashed with Yaxley and the others, there would be nothing to worry about. They’ve all been sent to the Hospital Wing, and you’ll probably have to face pressure from those pure-blood families.”
Sylvia still looked worried.
“Don’t worry. As long as I’m at Hogwarts, they won’t dare do anything to me.”
Hearing this, Sylvia stared at Will for a while, scrutinizing him.
“What’s wrong?”
Will felt slightly uncomfortable under her gaze.
“Nothing. I just think you’re right.”
She seemed to genuinely sigh in relief, which left Will somewhat confused.
…
On Thursday, Will was no longer bothered by anyone.
However, Defense Against the Dark Arts was turned into a disaster by Quirrell.
Will discovered that he couldn’t gain even a single point of experience from Quirrell’s lessons.
When other Professors taught, Will could acquire knowledge and gain experience.
Quirrell, however, merely stammered his way through the textbook without actually teaching anything.
Since Will had already read the textbook several times, there was naturally nothing new for him to learn.
Will felt that Quirrell might be hiding his true abilities.
He had previously looked into Quirrell’s background.
Quirrell was known for his talent, and many people were aware that his theoretical knowledge was exceptionally strong.
There was no reason for him to perform this poorly.
Even if Lord Voldemort was literally attached to the back of his head, Quirrell shouldn’t have been so terrible that he couldn’t even properly read from a textbook.
With no other choice, Will could only take out another book and read beneath the desk.
By Friday, Will arrived early at the Potions classroom.
He curiously examined the various animal specimens displayed around the room.
They were all Potion ingredients.
Will couldn’t help wondering whose mouths they would eventually end up in.
Snape appeared behind him at some point.
“It seems you’re very curious about these things. Perhaps I should let you try dissecting them yourself.”
“May I? Thank you, Professor.”
Will looked pleasantly surprised.
Such a good opportunity was rare.
Snape’s mouth twitched.
He had originally intended to make Will uncomfortable.
Not every first-year wizard could calmly dissect animal carcasses, let alone living creatures.
He could tell that this kid was unusually brave.
After all, he was a Slytherin.
“You’ll be tasting the Potion you brew yourself later, Behrens. You’d better hurry up and read your book.”
Snape left the remark hanging before turning and walking toward the front of the classroom.
Potions Class soon began, and Snape called out the students’ names one by one.
“Har~ry… Potter. Oh, our new… famous person.”
Will already knew what would happen next.
“Potter! What would I get if I added powdered asphodel root to an infusion of wormwood?”
As expected, it was the classic question.
“I don’t know, Professor.”
“Let’s try again, Pot~ter. If I asked you to find me a bezoar, where would you look?”
Harry remained silent.
“Potter, then tell me, what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?”
Harry naturally didn’t know the answer to any of the three questions, which displeased Snape even more.
Snape’s gaze swept across the classroom, ignoring Hermione, who had her hand raised high, before landing on Will, who was sitting beside Sylvia.
“Will Behrens, you tell the famous Savior, sir.”
“Powdered asphodel root in an infusion of wormwood produces the Draught of Living Death. Bezoars are generally found in the stomach of a goat. As for wolfsbane and monkshood, they’re the same plant, collectively known as aconite.”
As he answered, Will wondered whether he should explain the deeper meaning behind the three questions.
But he quickly decided against it.
If he really did that, Snape might actually kill him.
“Very good. It seems that sometimes fame cannot represent everything, while diligent study leads to knowledge.”
A mocking smile twisted across Snape’s face.
“Five points to Slytherin.”
The students soon began brewing their Potions.
Will had already brewed the Boil-Cure Potion at home, so he was very familiar with the process.
At the same time, he guided Sylvia through the brewing process.
“The snake fangs aren’t ground finely enough. It’s time to add the slugs. Remember to…”
“Take the cauldron off the flame, right? I remember.”
Sylvia didn’t let Will help.
She moved the cauldron away from the flame, added the porcupine quills, and stirred the Potion clockwise.
Once the blue Potion was ready, Will immediately sensed someone approaching from behind.
Snape looked at both of their Potions.
“You’re very lucky, Behrens. Apparently, you won’t have to drink anything strange.”
Snape then announced loudly, “First to successfully complete the Potion, five points to Slytherin.”
Then the accident happened.
Neville’s cauldron suddenly hissed, releasing green, acidic smoke.
The cauldron twisted and deformed, causing the Potion inside to splash out.
A large amount of Potion flew directly toward Will…