Chapter 27: Snape's Mercy?
As the two entered the Potions classroom, they couldn't help but hug each other tightly.
The classroom was somewhat chilly, but that wasn't the main reason, as the Slytherin dormitories were also underground and just as cold. The row of glass jars along the walls, filled with various animal specimens, combined with the eerie atmosphere, made the place feel rather creepy.
Dressed in black robes, his greasy hair looking like it hadn't been washed in years, Snape walked into the classroom, picked up the attendance book, and began calling names.
He paused when he reached the name "Harry Potter."
But to Ethan's surprise, Snape also paused when his own name was called.
After finishing the roll, he snapped the book shut and tossed it casually onto the lectern.
Then he surveyed the entire class, his dark eyes devoid of warmth, filled only with indifference and emptiness.
"You have come here to learn the art of potion-making, the precise science and rigorous craftsmanship," his voice was barely louder than a whisper, yet everyone heard him clearly.
"There will be no foolish wand-waving here, so many of you will likely doubt that this is magic."
He paced back and forth with his eyes closed.
"I don't expect you to truly understand the wonder of inhaling the delicate fragrance rising from a great cauldron of simmering white steam over a low flame."
"You will never truly understand the wondrous, captivating power of that fluid flowing through your veins, its ability to enthrall and bewitch the mind."
Suddenly he stopped, opened his eyes, and faced them. "Here, I can teach you how to increase your reputation, cultivate glory, and even prevent death."
He spoke those words softly, but they stirred a longing in everyone.
He raised his voice. "But! You must be different from the idiots I usually encounter."
When the introduction ended, the entire class fell silent. Not a sound was made.
Suddenly Snape spoke. "Potter, what would I get if I added daffodil root powder to wormwood infusion?"
Ethan watched intently, observing Snape and Harry's expressions, his heart pounding with excitement. "Here it comes! The iconic scene is here!"
Harry, looking thoroughly bewildered, glanced at Ron, who looked equally confused, shook his head, and said softly, "I don't know, Professor."
Snape said sarcastically, "Tsk, tsk. Fame doesn't mean everything, does it, Mr. Potter?"
"Since that's the case, I'll give you one more chance. Where can you find a bezoar?"
"I have no idea."
Ethan looked at Hermione's raised hand and gestured for her to lower it. Hermione saw the gesture, but stubbornly kept her hand raised.
After Snape finished questioning Harry about aconite, Hermione stood up without thinking, her hand raised. She couldn't stand watching Snape harass Harry, nor could she tolerate Draco and the others mocking him.
It wasn't that she wanted to defend Harry personally. Rather, Hermione valued her House's honor deeply and refused to let Gryffindor's reputation suffer.
However, she clearly didn't know about the feud between Snape and Harry Potter.
Snape berated Hermione furiously, ordered her to sit down, then turned on Harry and reprimanded him mercilessly.
Ethan pressed his hand to his forehead in helpless frustration, unable to look at Hermione's reddening eyes.
For today's assignment, he'd been paired with Draco to brew a potion for treating scabies.
"First, measure out three grams of dried nettles, add them to the cauldron, and simmer over low heat for ten minutes. Then add one gram of crushed snake fang powder and simmer for another ten minutes."
Meanwhile, in another cauldron, slugs with tentacles were being steamed.
Ethan followed the book's instructions, working through them step by step.
"When you strain the nettles, stir three times clockwise!" Snape said from beside him.
"Yes, Professor!"
Snape gave him a penetrating look before moving on to check the other groups' progress.
"When adding the fang powder, add it in two batches, stirring well each time." Snape was at it again.
"Yes, Professor." These were details not mentioned in the book.
When Ethan removed the slugs Draco had steamed, disaster struck. Neville ruined his potion.
A plume of green smoke billowed up, and the contents of his cauldron spilled across the floor, eating holes in the shoes of nearby students.
"Idiot!" Snape roared. After sending the unfortunate Neville off to the Hospital Wing, he seized the opportunity to deduct a point from Harry.
Snape vanished the spilled potions from the floor, leaving the rest of the class to continue brewing.
"Damn it! The slug's ruined, Draco. The instructions said to chop it immediately after cooking, but it's cold now. We need to prepare another while we still have time."
Draco hurried off to prepare more slugs, while Ethan monitored his potion, watching the color to see if it matched the shade described in the book for this stage.
"Here!" Draco said quickly, holding up a small, chopped slug.
"Good job! Let me see. Weigh out five grams, add it to the cauldron, and stir constantly until the potion turns green. Then continue to boil for another five minutes."
He held the stirring rod and stirred in one direction, watching the color gradually shift toward green.
"Alright, remove it from the heat. When the bubbling stops, add the porcupine quills. Then return it to the heat and simmer until the quills dissolve completely and the liquid turns dark green. Your potion should be ready."
He focused on his first potion, ignoring Snape as the professor circled past their workstation.
"It's done!" He gave Draco a high five.
Potions class stretched on for what felt like forever. Snape had paired the students up because brewing this particular potion required two large cauldrons.
This time, Ethan was the assistant while Draco personally brewed the medicine, and he executed the scabies treatment perfectly.
"Alright, class dismissed."
Time flew by amid all the busyness. Not many students had managed to brew the potion correctly, and Hermione was one of them. However, she was not very happy because she felt singled out.
After leaving the classroom, Ethan continued comforting Hermione, telling her not to be sad.
"Ethan, stay here for a moment."
He was puzzled, wondering why Snape wanted to see him.
Under Hermione's worried gaze, he returned to the Potions classroom and stood before Snape.
"Professor, is there something you need from me?"
Snape didn't speak. He simply stared at him with empty eyes, his thin lips moving slightly.
Suddenly, Ethan felt a sharp tingling sensation in his mind.
"What are you doing?"
"A natural-born Occlumens, no wonder. Good luck, Mr. Jones." Snape glanced at him with pity and headed toward his office.
"What's wrong with you?" Ethan was annoyed. He didn't know what Snape was doing, but the stinging pain, which was more intense than when he had been sorted by the Sorting Hat, made him very uncomfortable.
He suppressed his anger, left the classroom, and went with Hermione to visit Neville at the Hospital Wing. She was still waiting for him.
//=================//