"Thank goodness, it's finally done."
Theo looked up at the ceiling and let out a sigh of relief, like a survivor of a disaster.
The joy of the holiday break was directly proportional to the pain of returning to school, but fortunately, Rock had helped him solve his homework problems.
"I suggest you read more books. You know Professor McGonagall will ask questions based on the completed homework," Rock reminded him kindly from the side.
"Let me zone out for a bit first. It's tomorrow's problem anyway."
Theo acted completely unconcerned about this.
"Oh! Sorry, I'm late!" Hermione appeared at the door of the study room, panting heavily.
"It's okay, Hermione. Want something to drink?" Padma asked.
"Thanks, black tea is fine," Hermione nodded.
Rock looked at Hermione thoughtfully. She seemed normal when they met earlier. Harry and Ron must have encountered something during the Christmas break.
Hmm?
The Mirror of Erised—he had already told Hermione about Nicolas Flamel before Christmas. It was hard to guarantee that Harry and Ron hadn't made any moves within the school.
Shaking his head, he didn't think about it anymore. After Christmas, Rock cared even less about Dumbledore's arrangements.
This wasn't just because of the pendant, but also because Snape's Felix Felicis gave him a lot of room to maneuver.
Most importantly, the Weasley twins had sent him a message over Christmas. They had made the flashbang, and Rock had even set off a few at his manor.
The effect was good; he was just waiting for the right time to use it.
For this reason, Rock had specifically given the Weasley twins an investment of two hundred Galleons.
"Are you guys finishing your homework?"
Hermione looked at the parchment in front of everyone with surprise.
"Yes, there's too much. We could only discuss it with Rock after returning to school. At least the harvest was good; we all completed it in our own notes or books."
Padma seemed not to notice Hermione's expression, looking relieved.
Hearing this, Hermione realized they weren't copying homework and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She was really afraid she wouldn't be able to control herself and would lecture them like she did Harry and Ron, which would be really awkward.
Rock looked at Hermione's expression and smiled secretly.
It seemed that their Miss Know-It-All had finally changed somewhat.
The curriculum after the holiday was heavier. At least in the first-year classes, many young wizards felt it.
Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class had stricter requirements; all young wizards had to complete corresponding essays and classroom exercises.
Professor Flitwick paid attention to the gestures and incantation intonations of each young wizard, often making strict demands and striving for greater accuracy.
Defense Against the Dark Arts became even more... wrong. Occasionally, Quirrell would let the young wizards study on their own halfway through the class, then run out and disappear.
Rock knew that Quirrell's body was on the verge of collapse.
Potions Class.
Snape walked with a breeze, still wandering back and forth in the classroom. Wherever his gaze landed, young wizards would almost subconsciously tremble.
Rock sliced the ginger roots with a silver knife, occasionally explaining some processing techniques to Adam beside him.
After the materials were prepared, Rock preheated the cauldron. Adam asked in confusion, "Why preheat this time?"
"Because copper has the most even thermal conductivity. If we add purified water later, it can immediately activate the reaction."
Relying on his feeling, Rock knew that the cauldron had reached the required temperature, so he signaled Adam to bring the purified water from the side.
"Usually, it's best to use a thermometer to confirm. I'm doing this because I'm familiar with it."
Adam nodded, watching Rock's operation.
"We need 500ml of purified water. Do you know why?" Rock asked after adding the purified water.
This was their little trick in class: reinforcing knowledge through questions while operating.
"Every hundred milliliters corresponds to an element," Adam thought for a moment, stated the content from the textbook, and then began to take notes in his notebook.
Rock picked up the pre-sliced ginger roots while the water was boiling. "The slices need to be kept at this thickness. If they are too thin, they will evaporate too quickly; if too thick, the opposite."
Just as the water in the cauldron began to boil, Rock added the ginger root slices and began to stir clockwise seven times with a stirring rod.
This was the benefit of preheating; everything could proceed in a timely manner.
Then Rock turned down the flame of the alcohol lamp, placed a thermometer in the cauldron, and turned to look at Adam.
"I know this one. Peppermint leaves need to be added at 80 degrees," Adam said quickly, then focused on the numbers on the thermometer.
The two worked together. While all the other young wizards were still burying their heads in hard work, Rock had already put the medicinal liquid into a crystal vial.
The pink liquid rippled in the crystal vial.
Snape walked over, reached out, and held the liquid in Rock's hand up high to observe for a while.
"Try it."
Then he handed the crystal vial back to Rock and whispered.
Just as Adam opened his mouth to say something, Rock had already opened the crystal vial, poured out a small cup, and drank it in one gulp.
Snape waited quietly. After a few minutes, steam rose directly from Rock's ears, and he looked much more energetic.
"It seems that the laziness of a holiday has not filled your brain with syrup and stupidity. Today's Wit-Sharpening Potion is acceptable," Snape's voice was dry. "One point to Ravenclaw."
Rock thanked him calmly. If he had gone through Snape's school detentions for so long and still couldn't reach above passing...
Then he really had to consider whether he really had a troll's brain as Snape said.
"Since you're done, why not look at your classmates around you? Do you want to appear superior?"
However, Snape didn't let Rock be comfortable for too long. He changed the subject and made things difficult again.
"Okay, Professor." After Rock cleaned up the table, he took Adam to Theo and Padma's table and began to help them finish.
Snape just glanced at them and continued to patrol the classroom. But after a while, he felt something was wrong.
Turning his head, he saw Rock following behind him again.
Rock blinked. "Professor, you said it. And I think following behind you makes it easier to notice the students' situations."
Snape pursed his lips, turned around, and continued.
Just one class down, Snape felt a bit uncomfortable because every time he was about to speak, Rock would step forward to guide the students at that table.
And he pointed things out with almost no errors, then smiled at him face to face.
Seeing this, Snape flung his black robes and walked toward the podium.
The students looked admiring. Good guy, he dares to be like this with Professor Snape.
When the bell rang for the end of class, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They finally survived, and it was the first time Snape didn't deduct points in class.
Snape's cold voice sounded, "Class is not dismissed yet, or are you thinking about continuing the class?"
As soon as these words came out, all the young wizards rushed out of the classroom. Rock was stopped by Snape: "Rock, stay."
Raising his eyebrows at his friends, Rock turned and began to clean up the classroom skillfully.
Until Rock cleaned the classroom, Snape's expression remained indifferent. "Come to my office."
Saying that, he walked straight out of the classroom. Rock sighed in his heart. Isn't it just interrupting Snape's daily point deduction session? Why do I still have to go to the office?
Following Snape into the office, Snape signaled Rock to go to the workbench.
Rock was stunned but didn't hesitate to go to the workbench, standing opposite Snape.
Snape then waved his wand, and a batch of materials appeared on the workbench. "Basic Healing Potion. Brew a portion for me to see."
After speaking, Snape rested one arm on the table, leaning against the workbench.
Rock took a deep breath. Basic Healing Potion was a stage they hadn't learned yet, but he didn't express any objection and acted quickly.
500 milliliters of purified water... one gram of moonstone powder... marigold petals... plantain leaves...
Rock's hands and feet didn't stop. While processing the materials, purified water had already been added to the cauldron. When the temperature reached 70 degrees, the processed materials were added in order.
Snape didn't interrupt this operation; instead, he paid more attention to Rock's movements.
His brow gradually relaxed. Looking at Rock, who was brewing seriously out of the corner of his eye, some thoughts emerged in his heart.
Time passed quietly. Rock placed the potion in the cauldron in front of Snape. "Professor, it's done."
Snape looked at the green liquid in the cauldron gradually turning silver-white. He didn't speak; instead, he picked up the silver knife on the side and made a cut on his right index finger.
Rock stared at Snape's operation in stun. No, what are you doing?
Snape took out a small silver spoon from the side, took a little liquid from the cauldron, applied it to his finger, and then observed the healing speed.
Until the wound on the finger disappeared, Snape's voice sounded, "How long."
Rock came back to his senses immediately and said, "Professor, twenty-one seconds."
Snape didn't say anything, rubbing his index finger with his thumb. "The wound healed without any scars. This potion is ninety points."
Rock blinked, looking at Snape, and didn't deny Snape's praise.
"Modesty is the deadliest form of hypocrisy in Potions. Look at this." Snape sneered, waving his wand, and a jar of liquid that constantly changed color came into his hand.
"Tell me, what is this? You have ten seconds."
Rock turned his gaze to the liquid and began to observe.
"Nine."
"Eight."
"Seven."
Snape counted down slowly, as if he didn't care whether Rock would panic because of this.