Reversed Celestial Spirits!
Professor Snape might be proficient in and subjected to "Levicorpus," but he definitely can't possess the power to reverse cause and effect because of it. Ian believes he has seen the actual truth!
Snape is a plagiarist!
This is definitely a major handle against Professor Snape, maybe not as significant as his past with Lily Potter, but it's certainly a truth that could lead to Snape's downfall at Hogwarts.
Its influence is no less embarrassing than a middle schooler, letting the whole school know their online name is "King's Contempt," and their signature is "Let the World Feel Pain"!
"You look foolishly happy."
The Witch doesn't know why Ian is standing there with a silly grin.
"I just thought of something happy."
Ian felt the Witch's gaze and immediately snapped back to reality.
"Does threatening others make you happy?"
The Witch's deep gaze seemed to see through everything.
"Teacher Mara! You said you don't know Mind Reading!"
Ian was once again shocked.
"You just asked me about that phrase, and now you're standing here with a silly grin. Anyone who is even slightly normal could guess what you're plotting in your mind."
The Witch helplessly rubbed her brow, as if unable to bear Ian's stupidity.
"So, tell me, who got hold of my book?"
She seemed to care quite a bit about the remnants in this world.
"It was a professor of mine. Every year in class, he uses the same opening line, which is the one you, Teacher Mara, wrote in a certain book."
Ian quickly explained.
"In that school called Hogwarts, the professor who teaches you Magic Potion knowledge?" Seeing Ian nod, the Witch responded with a mildly indifferent tone.
"It's not entirely undignified."
The implication of what exactly was not undignified was obvious.
It was naturally those pieces of knowledge written by this proud Witch.
"Can a Magic Potion really stop death?"
Ian asked a question that has troubled many Hogwarts students for a lifetime.
"Of course, it can, but your school's professor certainly can't do it." The Witch lightly laughed ambiguously, her tone filled with curious certainty.
"Why?"
Ian hurriedly inquired.
"Because I've already cut down the last Golden Apple Tree in the world, and the main ingredient needed for a potion to stop death, or even reverse life and death, is the Golden Apple."
The Witch patiently answered Ian's question, "Of course, if your professor is talented enough, perhaps he could find a material in the world that could replace the Golden Apple."
But although she said this, the Witch's tone carried a tone of disdain, as if she didn't believe that future scholars of Magic Potion could find a material that could substitute for the Golden Apple.
Ian didn't believe it either.
After all.
If Snape could truly stop death, he wouldn't be mocked by many as just a braggart—in the original story, it's clear that Snape couldn't create such a potion.
However.
Now that he knew where the classic opening line originated from, regarding Snape, this classic line finally had a place of origin.
He couldn't do it.
But once... someone indeed could.
"Master Mafa, why did you cut down the Golden Apple Tree?" Ian had heard the Witch mention tree-cutting more than once and was curious if this had anything to do with the Witch's attachment to the Misty Illusion Realm.
"Because I wanted to."
The Witch smiled brightly.
Her expression showed no hint of oddity.
"Alright then."
Ian knew he wouldn't get to the true reason.
"Magic Potions are different from Magic. Various raw materials are constantly changing. If you want to learn, you'll need to bring me some Magic Potion Books from your era."
The Witch actively shifted the topic.
"Don't I need to bring some raw materials?"
Ian blinked.
"My dear apprentice, although I've been dead for a long time, I trust that even in your era, Magic Potion materials aren't just cheap trinkets."
"So, even if I need them, can you... afford them?"
A lie won't hurt anyone.
The truth is the sharp knife.
Ian, exposed as a pauper, couldn't help but blush slightly on his young face.
"As long as it's materials available at the school, I can probably gather some." Ian admitted he was a pauper, but Hogwarts isn't a poor school!
"Hah, I wouldn't want you to be hunted by your Magic Potion teacher." The Witch, obviously a Master of Magic Potions, clearly understood the importance of Magic Potion materials to a Master.
"Professor Snape treats me quite well, perhaps if I plead pitifully, he'd be willing to lend me some materials. I've already owed him quite a bit of money."
Ian spoke with some uncertainty.
"He treats you this well, yet you still want to threaten him? Tsk tsk, you surely have some qualities of a Dark Wizard." The Witch, with surprised eyes, gave Ian a reassessing look.
"..."
Ian didn't know how to explain it either. He just felt that having leverage was like having a nuclear bomb; you might not need it, but it's certainly better to have it than not.
"Forget it, I'm not teasing you anymore."
The Witch cheerfully waved her hand, "Don't underestimate your teacher, me. I've simply not engaged with this knowledge for a while; you just need to bring me some modern books."
"It won't take long before I catch up to your era and then... surpass it." Her unparalleled confidence and pride were unmistakably shown at this moment.
Ian could feel his spirits lifted.
Who wouldn't want an impressive teacher!
The greater the teacher!
The more the student can learn!
He seemed to see a bright future ahead of him!
"Praise you, Teacher Mara!"
Ian immediately started applauding while offering his flattery.
"Ha, you will certainly achieve great things."
The Witch was in a good mood as she evaluated Ian.
"Of course! Who else has such an outstanding teacher as you?"
Ian quickly replied.
So natural.
However.
"I was talking about your talent for flattery, which will surely lead you smoothly on the path to power." The Witch continued with a chuckling evaluation.
Was that a compliment?
It didn't sound like one!
"Praise from the heart, how can it be called flattery..." Ian's eyes widened in sincerity, as if he'd heard something unbelievable.
"See, I told you you're talented."
The Witch was clearly not buying it.
Even Ian, who usually had thick skin, felt a bit embarrassed.
"Study magic diligently. When you are strong enough, you won't need to disguise yourself." The Witch gave Ian a meaningful warning.
"I understand."
Ian's expression became somewhat more serious.
"Now, my dull apprentice, come learn some magic." The Witch suddenly stood up from her bench, striding towards Ian with her long legs.
"You're too weak now."
The Witch stood beside Ian, towering over him by more than a head, exuding an aura of authority, making Ian feel an inescapable pressure.
"I don't have a Magic Wand."
Ian said nervously.
"A Magic Wand is just a tool."
The Witch looked at Ian's bewildered expression.
Couldn't help but sigh.
"Your era... it's quite baffling." She couldn't resist making an assessment, then raised her hand and broke the metal frame of a painting in the hall.
Almost at the same time.
No incantation.
No other actions.
The metal frame, as the Witch handed it to Ian, gradually transformed into a standard Magic Wand shape, though it was unclear what type of wood it resembled.
"Magic?"
Ian was slightly astonished.
"It's knowledge."
The Witch's voice was steady.
Just as Ian was pondering whether this cheap teacher was trying to deceive him, the Witch had already walked behind him and placed her finger against the back of his head.
"Let's start with some simpler magic."
Almost at the moment the words fell.
Ian felt a chill evoking fear and tremors within him.
"Feel this intent to kill."
The Witch's gentle voice made Ian realize something was off.
What simple magic requires sensing an intent to kill?
"Feel it with your heart, then, recite with me..."
The Witch's finger pressed against the back of Ian's head as a certain emotion transmitted from her finger to Ian's brain, causing an overwhelming impulse to surge in his mind.
"Avada Kedavra."
In the opulent hall.
The fire burned in the fireplace.
The Witch taught her apprentice the first spell.