That night, after returning to Ravenclaw Tower, Ileana dug out a brand-new notebook from the depths of her trunk.
The cover was a dark green hardback. It was embroidered with silver thread in the shape of a gnarled ancient tree. It looked simple and elegant.
She had originally planned to use this book to record her research on Ancient Runes variants. But now, it had a much more important mission.
She flipped to the first page. Using her most elegant cursive, she wrote a title on the flyleaf:
[Preliminary Observations and Research Records on Exception Sample S]
She paused. The title felt too cold. It lacked a sense of... mystery.
She dipped the other end of her quill in ink. Beside the title, she drew a small, chubby bat. She even added tiny, invisible stars to its wings.
Satisfied, she flipped to the next page and began her record.
[Date: September fifth, nineteen seventy-four. Weather: Overcast with light rain.]
Observation Location: Potions Class.
Observation Target: Exception Sample S (referred to as S below).
Record Content:
This was the first Potions Class since the start of the term. Ravenclaw and Slytherin had class together. This provided a perfect opportunity for my observation.
Professor Slughorn seems to like S very much.
When he asked everyone to try brewing a Draught of Peace, almost everyone's cauldron emitted smoke of strange colors. Only S's cauldron remained steady. From beginning to end, it held a textbook blue-green liquid with silver steam.
When Professor Slughorn walked past him, he gave praise without hesitation.
"Oh, Severus! Perfect! Ten points to Slytherin! Your technique is always so precise. You were practically born for Potions!"
S did not show any expression of pride. He simply nodded slightly. He continued to focus on cutting his ingredients with a silver knife. It was as if those ten points meant nothing to him.
The way he handled the ingredients was... mesmerizing.
It wasn't flashy or showy. It was a display of extreme precision and efficiency. His fingers were long and steady. Every step, cutting, grinding, adding, was like a precise calculation. Not a second too long, not a milligram too much.
➤ No wonder his hand felt so delicate that day in the library. It is probably because he never lets his hands get worn down by rough ingredients. Hmm, that makes sense.
➤➤ I also got a perfect score today. But Professor Slughorn only said, "Miss Thorne, excellent as always."
➤➤➤ Hmph, he is so biased. But S's technique really does have more... soul than mine. It isn't hard to admit that.
[Date: September tenth, nineteen seventy-four. Weather: Sunny.]
Observation Location: Library.
Record Content:
I discovered that S and I have one thing in common. We both like to use words as weapons.
Today in the library, a Hufflepuff student accidentally knocked over an ink bottle on his desk. It ruined one of his parchments.
The poor Hufflepuff was terrified. He stammered out an apology.
S didn't even look up. He simply used his wand to clear the stain. Then, he spoke in a slow tone, like venom dripping.
"If your brain's coordination could reach the average level of a troll, perhaps you could avoid such disasters. Now... please take your overactive limbs and vanish from my sight."
The Hufflepuff's face turned the color of a pig's liver. He almost cried as he ran away.
➤ Wow, that choice of words... I like it. It is much more sophisticated than my direct "get lost." It felt like an intellectual crushing.
➤➤ He accurately pointed out the two core problems, "uncoordinated limbs" and a "stupid brain." He even used a "troll" as a reference. It was highly insulting.
➤➤➤ I should learn from this. Next time Sirius Black comes to annoy me, maybe I can try saying: "Black, is your cerebral cortex as unkempt as that messy hair of yours?" Hmm... sounds good.
[Date: September fifteenth, nineteen seventy-four. Weather: Windy.]
Observation Location: Greenhouse Three.
Record Content:
There were no classes this afternoon. I was in the greenhouse looking for Knotgrass needed for a Draught of Peace. I unexpectedly saw S.
He was alone in a corner. He was watering a wilted Venomous Tentacula.
That thing is hideous. It always tries to lash out at anyone who gets close with its vines.
But I saw S being very gentle while watering it. He even used his fingers to carefully brush the dust off its leaves.
The Venomous Tentacula was as well-behaved as a cat in front of him. It even used its vines to gently rub against his wrist.
And then, I saw it.
He smiled.
It wasn't a sarcastic or cold smile. It was a very, very faint smile. It was almost impossible to detect.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly. His entire posture softened. Even those eyes, which were usually as dark as ink, held a flicker of light.
➤ Unbelievable. He actually smiled at an ugly plant! He never shows such a kind face to people.
➤➤ What does this mean? It means that in his eyes, these silent, loyal, and simple magical plants are more worthy of trust and tenderness than complicated humans?
➤➤➤ ...That actually makes a lot of sense.
[Date: September twenty-first, nineteen seventy-four. Weather: Cloudy turning to sunny.]
Observation Location: Castle Courtyard.
Record Content:
Today, I finally understood why that Gryffindor idiot, Potter, always targets S.
This afternoon, under the oak tree in the courtyard, I saw S sitting with Lily Evans from Gryffindor.
They had their Transfiguration textbooks spread out. They seemed to be discussing homework.
Evans is a very pretty girl. She has long red hair and green eyes. Her smile is very sweet.
When she talked to S, he still looked gloomy most of the time. But his shoulders were relaxed. He didn't have his usual tense, defensive posture.
When Evans pointed at something in the book and said something with a laugh, I saw it again.
That tiny, almost invisible smile appeared on S's lips. It was gone in a flash, but I am sure I didn't see it wrong.
➤ So, he likes Evans?
➤➤ Is this... the feeling of being with someone and unconsciously relaxing and smiling? Is this what "liking" someone is? It sounds... not so bad.
➤➤➤ I remember now. James Potter has been pursuing Evans. So his hostility toward S is because of jealousy? Merlin, what a childish and pathetic male competition. Bullying another boy just for a girl... is the Gryffindor brain filled with nothing but pumpkin juice?
[Date: September twenty-sixth, nineteen seventy-four. Weather: Thunderstorms.]
Observation Location: Near the Black Lake.
Record Content:
Today, Potter and Sirius Black were bothering S again.
Four of them cornered S while he was alone. They are so shameless!
I hid behind a tree in the distance. I planned to hit them all with a [Petrificus Totalus] if things went wrong. But S's performance exceeded my expectations.
Facing four of them alone, he actually held his own.
His spells were very tricky. They always shot out from unexpected angles. His reactions were incredibly fast.
In the end, he was outnumbered. A Disarming Charm from Potter hit his wand. But he successfully turned Sirius Black's robes a disgusting shade of pink. He also made slippery mushrooms grow under Lupin's feet.
➤ He has improved a lot since the last time I accidentally saw them clash. This shows he is practicing spells seriously and analyzing combat experience. He knows his strength is lacking, so he focuses on technique and tricky angles. He is truly brilliant!
➤➤ I bet he is secretly studying Dark Arts books from the Restricted Section. Some of his spells had obvious traces of the Dark Arts. I really want to talk to him about variants of the Severing Charm... Never mind. He still doesn't know I can touch him.
[Date: September thirtieth, nineteen seventy-four. Weather: Clear.]
Observation Location: Great Hall.
Record Content:
Observations during lunch.
S never touches any sweets on the table. He ignores the pumpkin pasties and treacle tarts. He only eats roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, and some vegetables.
➤ Is that why he is so tall? Should I eat more meat too? But the roast beef is a bit tough...
[Date: October second, nineteen seventy-four. Weather: Breezy.]
Observation Location: My Inner Thoughts.
Record Content:
I have been observing S for a month now.
Summary of Exception Sample S's traits:
1. A Potions genius.
2. Sharp-tongued, but very smart.
3. A loner, but gentle toward non-human creatures.
4. Seems to have someone he likes (to be confirmed).
5. Strong combat ability and constantly improving.
6. Does not like sweets. Occasionally drinks black coffee.
He is like a puzzle wrapped in a hard shell. The outside is thorny, cold, and keeps everyone away. But the inside... it seems to hide something soft, warm, and unknown.
I returned the book, "Most Potente Potions," that he left in the library the other day.
I wore my gloves. I placed the book on his desk. I didn't say a word before leaving.
He looked up at me. He didn't say anything either, but his eyes looked strange.
For this past month, I have only been watching. But "watching" cannot solve a puzzle.
An experiment requires a control group and... interaction.
He loves Potions so much...
➤ Should I... use Potions to "accidentally" touch him again?
➤➤ I want to try.
➤➤➤ I really want to.