Chapter 12: Poor Scabbers
Then, watching Harry Potter gradually become withdrawn under Severus Snape's repeated questioning, Ivan remembered a conjecture he had seen in his previous life.
The questions Severus Snape asked Harry Potter have deeper meanings when analyzed separately.
The most obvious one is that asphodel, used to prepare potions, means "My regrets follow you to the grave" in the language of flowers.
Wormwood usually represents pain and regret.
It was hard for Ivan to imagine what kind of emotions Severus Snape, with his gloomy face and deep hatred, was feeling when facing Harry Potter.
Is it the guilt of leaking the information that led to Lily Potter's death? Or is it the deep love of knowing that your lover has died and being willing to die together with her?
Thinking of this, Ivan's eyes gradually showed more pity.
"Ivan Hals!"
Perhaps he noticed that there was something wrong with the way Ivan looked at him. After asking Harry Potter three questions, Severus Snape turned his wand and pointed at Ivan.
"Next, answer these three questions!"
Ivan was stunned at first, as he didn't expect Severus Snape to ask him a question, but he quickly reacted and answered.
"If you add the powder of asphodel root to an infusion of wormwood, you will get the Draught of Living Death, which is a powerful sleeping potion... Bezoar is in the stomach of the goat, and aconite and wolfsbane refer to the same plant."
Ivan, who had read the original novel, would certainly not be stumped by these three questions. However, Ivan was a little nervous, fearing that Severus Snape would ask other questions.
Although Ivan had read the Potions textbook several times before the class, Severus Snape obviously didn't play by the rules. None of the three questions he asked Harry Potter were related to what a first-year student should learn.
[Ding, you answered the difficult questions carefully prepared by the professor in class. You answered the questions three times with a 100% accuracy rate. You will be awarded 9 academic points...]
An unexpected system sound rang in Ivan's mind.
Ivan's expression instantly changed from worry to surprise and then to ecstasy, and all his original concerns were thrown aside.
Come on! Ask any questions you want. If you frown, I lose!
Ivan looked at Severus Snape with a firm expression. A true warrior is never afraid of any challenge!
It would be better to give him eight or ten questions. Ivan doesn't believe that he can't answer any of them. Any extra GPA points would be a plus...
Ivan's unique face-changing skills left a deep impression on all the young wizards.
However, to Ivan's surprise, Severus Snape didn't even look at him, but turned his head expressionlessly and mocked Harry Potter.
"Did you hear that, Potter? It seems that not every new wizard is as stupid and ignorant as you..."
"Professor, I..."
Harry Potter stood up angrily and was about to refute, but unfortunately Severus Snape interrupted Harry Potter's words neatly.
"Potter! Because of your performance... Gryffindor loses one point!"
After saying this as if reading out a verdict, Severus Snape turned around and continued teaching without mercy, while Harry Potter was held tightly by Ron Weasley, his originally fair cheeks flushed red with anger.
Ivan, who had just prepared himself to face Severus Snape's difficulties, was a little puzzled by such indifference. After looking at Harry Potter apologetically, he had no choice but to continue listening to the class peacefully.
I look forward to the time when Severus Snape will continue to give me questions to challenge me...
Unfortunately for Ivan, Severus Snape seemed to have forgotten about him in the following class. Apart from occasionally taking time to scold those young wizards who got the steps wrong, he only showed a strong interest in Harry Potter.
He was like a piece of iron attracted by a magnet, constantly wandering around Harry Potter, carefully observing every step of Harry Potter's potion-making with his empty eyes. If there was any mistake, he would ridicule him.
Ron Weasley, who was sitting next to Harry Potter, also suffered the same misfortune. The rat Scabbers that he carried with him was searched out by Severus Snape, and was publicly designated by its tail as a guinea pig for experimenting with the effects of the potion. Ron Weasley almost cried on the spot.
When Scabbers learned of his fate, his cry was so miserable...
If Neville Longbottom hadn't accidentally burned through the crucible and ruined Severus Snape's mood, Scabbers would have been forced to drink the murky yellow potion prepared by Ron Weasley, the ingredients and effects of which were unknown.
Ivan looked at Scabbers, who was slumped on the table, with a little sympathy, and lamented Peter Pettigrew's bad luck. He had only been frightened twice in just a few days at school.
The one-hour Potions class was simply torture for most young wizards, and they all rushed out of the dungeon as if escaping after class.
"Oh my God, why did Albus Dumbledore hire Severus Snape as a professor? He almost killed Scabbers!"
After the Potions class, Ron Weasley was so angry that he wanted to smash the wall while comforting the still trembling Scabbers.
Harry Potter nodded in agreement and stood on the same front with Ron Weasley. No one could tolerate being targeted like this on the first day of school.
Harry Potter really couldn't understand why Severus Snape hated him so much?
"Harry Potter, if you could read more books before class, you wouldn't be unable to answer Professor Snape's questions."
Hermione Granger had different ideas. After she finished speaking, she looked at Ivan and continued.
"Just like Ivan, Professor Snape knew that Ivan could answer the questions, so he didn't make things difficult for him."
Hermione Granger's praise made Ivan feel ashamed. If he didn't know the plot, he might not be able to answer Severus Snape's question.
"Hermione Granger, not everyone can memorize the Potions book within a few days of school starting. Besides, the questions that Severus Snape asked Harry Potter are not in the first-year textbook," Ivan sighed.
Hermione Granger pursed her lips and did not refute, because she had seen what Severus Snape did in the Potions class today. She was just used to obeying the rules and following the professor's arrangements, so she said a few words in defense when Ron Weasley started to criticize her.
Ron Weasley and Harry Potter were very dissatisfied with Hermione Granger's behavior of speaking for Severus Snape. The three of them walked all the way in a quarrel. Thanks to Ivan's persuasion, they finally dispelled the grudges in their hearts before arriving at Hagrid's hut.
"Hagrid, we're here to see you!"
Harry Potter walked forward and knocked on the door, and then the four of them heard the sound of dogs barking and running coming from inside the house. Soon the door was opened and a huge figure walked out of the house.
"Harry Potter, you're here, come in quickly..."
Hagrid greeted Harry Potter enthusiastically, while not forgetting to comfort his restless big dog Fang.
Ivan followed Harry Potter into the cabin.
There was only one room in the house, and the layout seemed a bit messy. There were a lot of dried meat and ham hanging by the window, and a large stove in front. A pot of boiling water was boiling on the stove, and the patched bed was placed against the wall on the right.