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Since Friday meant Slytherin and Gryffindor would have classes together all day, Hermione was especially determined that day. She wanted to earn enough points in the two Potions lessons to surpass Dudley, and she had nearly worn out her first-year Potions textbook from studying it so intensely.
The Potions classroom was also located in a dungeon.
The temperature there was slightly lower than in the castle aboveground, making the room even colder and damper.
To be honest, Dudley didn't think brewing potions in a place like that was any better than anywhere else.
Personally, he preferred a room at normal temperature.
It made it easier to control the heat and timing of the brew.
Perhaps it was simply Professor Snape's personal preference.
Along the walls of the Potions classroom stood numerous shelves filled with glass jars.
Inside them floated all kinds of preserved animal specimens.
Many were rare ingredients.
Some were even items forbidden by wizarding regulations.
Dudley looked at them with a hint of greed.
It truly was fitting for a Potions Master like Snape.
Even the ingredients displayed openly were extremely difficult to obtain.
It was said that Snape also had a private storeroom where he kept even more potion materials.
If someone looted that place, Dudley estimated he wouldn't run out of ingredients for years.
But…
Snape would probably chase him to the ends of the earth.
...
"D…" Harry approached Dudley and spoke quietly before class.
The day before, Harry had told him that Hagrid had invited them to visit his hut that afternoon.
Hagrid… was a difficult person to describe.
At heart, he wasn't a bad person.
If he hadn't been rude to Vernon at the beginning, Dudley probably never would have clashed with him.
After Dudley forgave him, Harry eventually forgave him as well.
After all, Hagrid had been a friend of Harry's parents and knew many stories about them.
But if Dudley had refused to forgive Hagrid, Harry wouldn't have forgiven him either.
Even now, although Harry said he had forgiven him, his relationship with Hagrid still wasn't particularly close.
Harry largely followed Dudley's lead.
If Dudley refused the invitation, Harry would refuse as well.
But Dudley accepted immediately.
Hagrid's hut stood near the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
And the Forbidden Forest was a place that made Dudley's eyes light up.
Or rather…
Anyone who loved herbs and potion ingredients would feel the same way.
It was dangerous.
But it was also incredibly rich in resources.
As for Hagrid…
After spending some time around him, Dudley had come to a conclusion.
'Frighteningly naive.'
In Dudley's evaluation, that wasn't exactly praise.
But it wasn't really an insult either.
Hagrid reminded him of a certain person.
A certain man with a simple mind and terrifying strength.
Of course, Hagrid was better.
At least he wasn't bloodthirsty.
Otherwise, living in the same era as Voldemort, he might have ended up known as some sort of "Physical Dark Lord."
He was the first person who truly made Dudley feel cautious.
...
With only one minute left before class began, Professor Snape entered the room.
Cold, empty eyes.
A large hooked nose.
Greasy hair.
Black robes from head to toe.
No matter how one looked at him, Snape resembled the classic villain from a fairy tale.
Few students would form a good first impression.
Snape walked to the front desk, picked up the class register, and began calling roll.
When he reached Harry's name, he paused.
"Oh? Look what we have here. Harry Potter… it seems we have a celebrity this year."
The venom in his voice triggered several suppressed giggles.
Among those laughing were Malfoy and his followers.
But when Dudley slowly swept his gaze around the room, the entire Slytherin table immediately fell silent.
Only a few Gryffindors who didn't understand the situation kept snickering quietly.
"You are here to learn the subtle art of potion-making."
As soon as Snape began speaking, the classroom became perfectly orderly.
His presence carried almost as much authority as Dudley's.
"There will be no foolish wand-waving here. As a result, many of you will hardly believe this is magic."
"I do not expect you to truly understand the beauty of a softly simmering cauldron releasing delicate fumes and subtle aromas."
"I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death."
"If you aren't the sort of dunderheads I usually have to teach."
Potions could accomplish many things spells could not.
Perhaps others might not understand that.
But Dudley understood that perfectly.
He had already experienced how extraordinary potions could be.
Even if he were unable to cast spells in the future, he could still achieve remarkable things through potions alone.
However, Dudley noticed something.
Whenever Snape said those words, his gaze inevitably drifted toward Harry.
'Thinking about my poor Aunt Lily?'
"Potter!" Snape suddenly raised his voice.
"If I were to add powdered asphodel root to an infusion of wormwood, what would I obtain?"
"I don't know, sir," Harry answered honestly.
He didn't even know what asphodel root or wormwood were.
Snape's gaze moved away from Harry's green eyes and settled on his face.
His lips curled with contempt.
"Tsk, tsk. It seems fame isn't everything."
Another sarcastic remark.
Another round of laughter.
This time, none of the Slytherins joined in.
All the laughter came from Gryffindor.
"Let's try again, Potter."
"If I asked you to fetch me a bezoar, where would you look?"
As he spoke, Snape's gaze once again returned to Harry's green eyes.
Perhaps, deep down, there was still a hint of expectation.
Unfortunately, Harry's answer disappointed him again.
"I don't know, sir."
Harry shook his head.
He truly didn't know.
"I suppose you didn't open a single book before coming to Hogwarts, did you, Potter?"
The contempt on Snape's face deepened.
But deep in his eyes was pure disappointment.
That person was gone.
She would never return.
And unfortunately, her son had not inherited her strengths.
"Potter, one last question."
"What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Monkshood?
The moment Harry heard the word, he immediately became alert.
This one he knew.
Dudley had told him before.
"They can both be used to make poisons, sir."
As soon as Harry began speaking, Snape froze slightly.
"Monkshood and wolfsbane both belong to the genus Aconitum."
"They are actually the same plant."
"A tall, poisonous perennial herb, especially dangerous in the roots."
"The roots are black, and the flowers are bright and beautiful."
"Its juice can be applied to arrows to create poison arrows used to kill people or animals."
"It has also been used as a poison for executions."
"Its symbolic meaning is 'malice'."
"When someone is poisoned, the heart rate first slows."
"Then the entire body begins to go numb."
"After that, the heartbeat accelerates, the mind becomes confused, the victim loses consciousness…"
"And eventually dies."
Harry spoke rapidly, almost like a machine gun.
His eyes were full of excitement.
Finally, there was a question he actually knew the answer to.
But in the eyes of the Slytherin students, the scene carried a very different meaning.
When it came to ordinary studying, Potter knew nothing.
But the moment the topic became poison…
He wouldn't stop talking.
And when the topic became death…
He looked excited.
Potter.
Something's off about you.
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