(It looks like Feilu is acting up again.
This chapter was uploaded ages ago, but it still hasn’t gone live.
Yep—by the time you’re reading this, I actually posted it two hours earlier.
Hopefully everything goes back to normal soon…
QAQ)
(Also, I made a typo in the previous chapter.
How could a bezoar possibly come from a sheep’s stomach?
It should obviously be a goat’s stomach.
I must’ve been too flustered while writing…
it has to be that.)
The Potions lesson that would leave both the young snakes and lions with unforgettable memories officially began—and just as abruptly ended—with Snape’s interrogation.
Although Harry had unexpectedly answered the first two questions correctly, Snape offered no praise whatsoever.
Instead, because Harry failed to answer the third question, Gryffindor was docked one point, leaving the young lions simmering with resentment.
As for Adrian…
Snape awarded him a mere single point.
His explanation?
The question hadn’t been particularly difficult for Adrian in the first place.
That extra point was simply recognition for his enthusiasm.
Adrian should make sure not to become arrogant.
Even so, Gryffindor still couldn’t escape Snape’s clutches.
Neville’s careless mistake prevented the porcupine quills in his potion from reacting properly.
Without proper neutralization, the unstable potion became highly corrosive under intense heat.
The result was disastrous.
Several nearby students were splashed.
Neville himself suffered the worst injuries and, after enduring another harsh scolding from Snape, was carried off to the Hospital Wing.
At last, the nerve-racking Potions lesson came to an end.
Malfoy and the other Slytherins left grinning from ear to ear.
The Gryffindors, meanwhile, trudged out with their heads hanging low.
Instead of leaving with Malfoy, Adrian stayed behind.
After giving Harry, Hermione—and Ron, who seemed to have tagged along as a free bonus—a quick lesson on the fundamentals of potion-making, the four of them headed toward their next class together.
On the way, Harry finally voiced the question that had been bothering him all morning.
” Adrian…”
“Does Professor Snape…
hate me?”
“He didn’t give me a single pleasant look during the entire class.”
Adrian silently looked up at the ceiling.
What am I supposed to say?
Should I tell you that your father stole the love of his life…
and bullied him for years?
After a moment’s thought, Adrian patted Harry on the shoulder with great sincerity.
“Well…”
“Not everyone’s personality is…
entirely normal.”
“Our Professor Snape may simply possess certain…
undisclosed character defects.”
Hermione had just started to laugh—
Then her expression suddenly changed.
She frantically tugged on Adrian’s sleeve while shooting him desperate warning glances.
Harry’s face also turned pale.
Adrian immediately felt a chilly presence behind him.
“Mr.
Ambrosius…”
Snape’s icy voice drifted over.
“I’m terribly sorry…”
“But what exactly…
were you saying about me just now?”
“…”
Adrian slowly turned around.
Without changing expression, he calmly reached into his pocket, pulled out a notebook, flipped through several pages, and said with complete seriousness,
“Professor Snape.”
“I’ve been trying to find a solution.”
“I was wondering whether you might be willing to offer some guidance.”
Snape sneered.
“Really?”
“Because I could have sworn I heard someone making rather unflattering remarks about me.”
Adrian smiled pleasantly.
“You must have misheard.”
“However…”
“This problem truly has troubled me for quite some time.”
“I sincerely hope you can help.”
He quickly tore a page from his notebook and handed it over.
Snape stared into Adrian’s golden eyes for a long moment.
Unfortunately…
Adrian remained perfectly composed.
Accepting the sheet, Snape lowered his gaze and scanned its contents.
His expression changed.
“…You’re researching this?”
He remained expressionless.
“This is an extremely obscure subject.”
“What exactly do you intend to do with it, Mr.
Ambrosius?”
Adrian’s eyes lit up.
A Potions Master really is a Potions Master.
Snape actually understands it.
“This is one of the key steps in upgrading my Healing Potion to Version 2.0.”
“…The miracle potion being sold through St.
Mungo’s Hospital half a month ago?”
Snape fell silent for several seconds.
Finally, he spoke.
“Friday.”
“Eight o’clock in the evening.”
“I’ll be waiting in my laboratory.”
With that, Snape swept his robes dramatically and turned away.
Without looking back, he added,
“One more thing, Mr.
Ambrosius.”
“If you dare make Slytherin lose points because you’re late…”
“…I’m sure you understand the consequences.”
“Oh no!”
Hermione suddenly cried out.
“Our next class is Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall!”
The moment they remembered Professor McGonagall’s stern face, Harry and the others immediately panicked.
She also happened to be Gryffindor’s Head of House.
Being late to her class on the very first day…
That was practically the magical equivalent of arriving late for your homeroom teacher’s first lesson.
A perfect recipe for disaster.
“Don’t panic.”
Adrian stopped the three frantic first-years with one hand.
Calmly putting away his notebook, he pulled another item from inside his robes.
A map.
“Hogwarts’ staircases have already shifted.”
“If we don’t check the map first and take the wrong route, we’ll waste even more time.”
Ron couldn’t help complaining.
“Seriously…”
“What is your robe made of?”
“How can it hold so many things?”
Adrian gave him a dazzling smile.
“Because it’s a custom-made multifunctional wizard’s robe.”
“Very practical.”
“If you’re interested, you can order one at Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions.”
Ron silently turned away.
Poor family.
I’ll pass.
Even Harry couldn’t help clicking his tongue.
Although he’d inherited a considerable fortune from his parents, he still couldn’t imagine spending 50 Galleons on a single robe.
That was enough money to buy seven of the wands currently in his hand.
Thanks to Adrian’s map, they avoided repeating the events of the original story.
Instead of getting hopelessly lost, they managed to arrive just as the bell rang.
Barely.
The Slytherin students had already gathered inside, waiting uneasily.
Only when Adrian appeared did they finally relax.
Malfoy hurried over.
“Young Master Adrian!”
“Where have you been?”
Adrian elegantly brushed a strand of golden hair away from his forehead.
“I got lost.”
…
Somehow…
Even getting lost sounded perfectly dignified when Adrian said it.
As expected of the boss.
Ron gasped for breath.
“W-We…”
“We really didn’t need to run that fast.”
“Professor McGonagall isn’t even here yet.”
“We still made it before class started.”
Hermione and Harry were in no condition to answer.
Both were bent over their desks, panting heavily.
The reason was simple.
Halfway there, Hogwarts’ cursed staircases had shifted again.
The group had been forced to take yet another detour and sprint the rest of the way.
Adrian calmly placed his textbook on the desk.
“I really think someone should donate money to renovate Hogwarts Castle.”
“These constantly moving staircases are…”
“…ridiculous.”
“Indeed, Mr.
Ambrosius.”
“It seems you’ve developed some rather interesting opinions about your school.”
The cat sitting quietly on the teacher’s desk suddenly spoke.
Then it leapt gracefully into the air.
Its body stretched and transformed.
In an instant, a tall witch stood where the cat had been.
Holy—
Harry’s mouth fell wide open.
Who could possibly have guessed?
The cat on the podium…
had been Professor McGonagall the entire time.
Professor McGonagall looked sternly at Adrian.
“I believe, Mr.
Ambrosius…”
“…that arriving a few minutes earlier next time would prevent you from complaining about the school’s staircases.”
Adrian wisely decided this was not the moment to argue.
Putting on his most obedient expression, he nodded.
“Yes, Professor McGonagall.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“Very good.”
McGonagall gave a small nod.
She strode to the front of the classroom.
“Now then…”
“Class will begin.”