"Allen Harris, if you are not currently preoccupied with resting, you will accompany me." Although Professor Snape's expression remained characteristically stone-cold, Allen detected a subtle shift in his tone—it was less harsh, less obligatory than usual.
"Of course, Professor," Allen replied smoothly. He followed Professor Snape back down to the Potions classroom, which was now empty, the silence oppressive.
Allen had a rough idea of what Professor Snape wanted to discuss: another inquiry into his improved soothing potion. However, a prolonged silence descended upon the vast dungeon classroom, making the atmosphere surprisingly awkward.
"Allen, while I concede your potion is effective, its specific function is highly specialized. A general sedative or painkiller would typically suffice for common ailments. Yet, your ingredient profile is distinct, utilizing readily available components. Why does this particular combination yield such potent results?" Professor Snape's question caught Allen off guard, but after a moment of mental reorganization, he grasped the implication. He also noted the Professor's continued use of his first name.
Professor Snape went on to imply that Allen's proposed improved Lightening Potion was too complex for general use. Furthermore, he subtly suggested that Allen must have had an ulterior motive for devising it. Finally, Professor Snape clearly expressed his intense curiosity and his professional desire to understand the mechanics behind this enhanced calming draft.
Allen concluded that such a profound modification technique should not be kept secret from a Potions Master of Snape's calibre, reasoning that professional guidance from a master would be invaluable for his own development.
Therefore, Allen meticulously explained the entire process of his potion-making, detailing the delicate brewing techniques, the precise temperature controls, and the specific sequence in which the ingredients were introduced to Professor Snape.
Professor Snape listened with rapt attention, occasionally closing his eyes as if visualizing the entire procedure. "Allen, your conceptual skill in potion preparation is remarkably sophisticated." Coming from Snape, even this guarded level of praise felt unsettlingly high.
"Thank you for the compliment, Professor." Even though Allen had been praised as a genius by numerous teachers in his brief time at Hogwarts, he was genuinely thrilled by Professor Snape's approval. Perhaps the stricter the teacher, the more deeply the student craved their acknowledgement.
Just as successfully completing an exceptionally difficult video game provides a far greater sense of accomplishment than breezing through an easy level, earning approval from Professor Snape—who was notoriously over-critical and used harsh judgment as his primary teaching tool—felt to Allen like gulping down a perfectly chilled tub of ice cream on the hottest day of summer.
"Professor, perhaps I could brew another batch of the improved soothing potion here? You could observe the process and offer any suggestions for further refinement," Allen suggested eagerly.
Eager to reciprocate, Allen wanted to demonstrate his technical proficiency and dive deeper into the subject with the expert guidance of a master. Beyond attending his mandatory classes, Allen, who had largely relied on self-study for his Potions knowledge, deeply longed for true, professional mentorship.
"Your method for processing the Motra rat juice is extraordinarily effective, but it demands an unreasonably precise control of manual force, rendering it unsuitable for mass production. However, if you were to intentionally leave some of the root bark during the aconite extraction, you would find it significantly enhances its medicinal properties," Snape stated.
Allen was momentarily tempted to check if anyone had used Polyjuice Potion to impersonate Professor Snape, as even the criticism was incredibly nuanced and insightful.
Professor Snape was not faking his admiration; it was genuine. He might not have been quicker or more flashy than Allen in practical herb manipulation, but he certainly possessed research secrets and tricks to boost efficacy that Allen lacked; his years of dedicated study were not for nothing. He offered several specific, highly technical suggestions, which Allen mentally noted and found to be profoundly helpful.
Time slowly crept by, and the hour grew late. The potion-making process finally concluded. For Allen, the improved soothing potion didn't require an excessive amount of time, despite the complexity of the method and the extreme care required during the brewing.
After carefully bottling the finished potion and concealing it, Allen politely bid Professor Snape farewell. The Professor, visibly eager to analyze the notes he had just taken, merely nodded in dismissal, not attempting to detain Allen further.
Allen quickly slipped into the kitchen to grab a quick bite to eat, simultaneously asking a house-elf to deliver a tray of dinner to Professor Snape. He then glanced at the main clock and, calculating that Harry would be moving soon, sprinted to the Fourth Floor Corridor to wait for them. The door to the Restricted Area was firmly closed, confirming Harry and his companions had not yet arrived.
A short while later, he heard distinct footsteps ascending the stairs. He instinctively started to step out of the shadows to join Harry and the others, but quickly pulled his foot back. The sound was wrong. If it had been Harry and his two friends, there would have been three sets of footsteps. These footsteps clearly belonged to a single adult.
Allen swiftly cast a subtle Invisibility Charm on himself and concealed his physical form completely behind a tall pillar. The figure who came into view was an extremely nervous Professor Quirrell. His face was ghost-white, his eyes flickered constantly from side to side in a paranoid manner.
When he was certain no one was observing, he swiftly cast a spell that opened the door to the fourth-floor Restricted Area, and he slipped inside. The door did not fully close, and Allen peered through the narrow crack.
A thunderous, deafening barking immediately erupted from within the chamber. Quirrell was facing Fluffy, the terrifying three-headed hound. He nervously pulled out a simple harp and cast a quiet spell upon it; although no one was physically playing, delicate, tinkling music poured forth.
Fluffy's eyelids began to droop almost immediately upon hearing the first notes. Gradually, Fluffy's frantic barking ceased; the massive dog swayed several times, its huge knees buckled, and it collapsed heavily, falling into a profound magical sleep.
Professor Quirrell placed the harp at the feet of the sleeping Fluffy, then pulled back the trapdoor's lid and gingerly jumped down.
Allen did not follow immediately. Why rush? Even if he succeeded in getting through all the protective obstacles, the final defence against the Philosopher's Stone was a magical mirror designed only to dispense the Stone to someone who merely desired to prevent its use, not someone who actively wanted to possess or destroy it.
The Stone would ultimately elude him. It would be far better to wait for Harry. For Harry, successfully navigating these challenges would be a crucial, character-defining experience.
After a long period of quiet waiting, Allen's sharp hearing picked up Harry's voice echoing from the empty corridor. "See? Snape got past Fluffy." Although Harry's voice was barely a whisper, Allen's senses were keen, and through the intense silence of the corridor, he instantly recognized Harry's tone. They were likely moving slowly, concealed under Harry's Invisibility Cloak.
When Harry and his friends spotted the half-open door, their collective awareness of the danger they were facing seemed to intensify. "I wouldn't blame either of you if you wanted to go back now," Harry whispered to Ron and Hermione from beneath the Cloak. He then added, "You can take the Invisibility Cloak with you; I don't need it anymore."
"Don't be ridiculous," Ron whispered back, his voice thick with stubborn loyalty.
"We go together," Hermione stated firmly.
"And me," Allen added, stepping out of the shadows, dropping his invisibility charm and surprising all three of them. They were simultaneously shocked by his sudden appearance and delighted by his unwavering support.