Snape was certainly capable of offering praise, but such approval was reserved almost exclusively for Slytherins—and even then, only for the very best among them.
As expected, the Love Potion brewed by Gemma Farley received the highest evaluation of the session. Snape awarded Slytherin five points without hesitation. His tone, though still controlled, carried a rare trace of approval.
"Pure and precise," he said. "If you intend to participate in the Potions Tournament, this is the minimum standard required. Anything less is not worth considering."
He even went so far as to offer Gemma a few words of encouragement, noting that if she could maintain this level of performance, she stood a reasonable chance of achieving a respectable ranking within the next two years.
However, when addressing the rest of the class—including a Slytherin student who had barely managed to complete the potion—Snape's demeanor shifted sharply. His criticism became cutting, leaving no room for comfort or dignity. His tone was particularly harsh toward Gryffindor students.
Percy stood off to the side, his face flushed red, silently enduring a relentless stream of criticism. Snape dissected every aspect of his work—from his handling of materials to the final quality of the potion—ultimately dismissing it as nearly worthless.
"The only redeeming point," Snape remarked coldly, "is that you managed to salvage a cauldron that was on the verge of being discarded. But even that is hardly commendable, considering the situation arose from a sequence of elementary mistakes that should never have occurred."
In Snape's view, Percy had overestimated his own abilities. He had attempted to produce a higher-quality Love Potion by employing overly aggressive techniques, nearly causing the entire process to fail.
"Do not look so aggrieved," Snape continued, his voice laced with disdain. "You should consider yourself fortunate that you have not already been eliminated. From what I can see, this is the limit of your ability. If you are dissatisfied with my assessment, you are free to leave. Do not remain here as an eyesore."
Percy did not dare to respond. He lowered his head and quietly left the Potions classroom, his posture heavy with humiliation. Whether he would have the courage to return next week remained uncertain.
After finishing his critique of the students whose work barely met passing standards, Snape finally turned his attention to the potion in Ryze's hands.
"A chaotic mixture of techniques," Snape said dismissively. "The fact that you managed to produce this potion at all is nothing more than luck. Do not assume that your so-called Divination Talent will always compensate for your shortcomings. Even by the lowest acceptable standard, this potion is barely passable. In fact, it is of such poor quality that few would take it even if it were given away."
Snape briefly considered Ryze's earlier display of "insight" but ultimately dismissed it as nothing more than an illusion born of reliance on divination. He remained unconvinced that Ryze possessed any genuine talent in potions.
That said, he could not entirely deny that individuals with strong divinatory abilities often found it easier to learn other disciplines. If Ryze could sustain his current performance, his potential might not fall below Gemma Farley's level. There was even a slim possibility that he could participate in the Potions Tournament in two years. Even if his technical skills remained insufficient, his divination could still serve as a valuable support to someone like Gemma, potentially improving Hogwarts' chances in the competition.
Nevertheless, Snape had no intention of expressing such thoughts aloud.
He proceeded to point out numerous technical flaws in Ryze's brewing process—errors he described as "the sort only a troll would make." He then listed several advanced textbooks covering the relevant theoretical foundations, instructing Ryze to complete them before the following Friday. Furthermore, he demanded that Ryze produce a Love Potion of at least passing quality in the next class. With that, he dismissed him without ceremony.
Leaving the cold dungeon corridor, Ryze found Penelope waiting near the entrance.
"Are you all right?" she asked, offering a reassuring smile. "Professor Snape has always been like this. We've all grown used to it."
She continued, her tone encouraging. "Being able to brew a sixth-year Love Potion on your first attempt is already impressive. Even Gemma wouldn't have achieved better results in her first year."
Although she still found Ryze's technique somewhat unstable, she understood that his age and inexperience had to be taken into account. Reaching this level under such conditions was enough to merit recognition, so she refrained from offering further criticism.
Ryze simply waved his hand, a relaxed smile on his face, indicating that he was not affected in the slightest.
After all, he knew the truth better than anyone else.
Had he relied on divination? Not at all.
Instead, he had depended entirely on the silver Juicer rune. With its assistance, he had successfully brewed the Love Potion—to the extent that even Snape had mistaken his performance for another instance of divinatory "cheating."
That alone was enough to put Ryze in a good mood.
The effect of the Juicer had exceeded his expectations.
Although his potion had not triggered any of the Juicer's additional effects—likely due to his lack of proficiency—the rune still enabled him to unconsciously absorb and replicate the techniques he observed in others. Despite having no theoretical understanding of the Love Potion, he had been able to memorize key steps simply by watching.
When it came time to brew the potion himself, his movements were clumsy, and he made several minor errors, particularly during the infusion of magic. However, by relying on the techniques he had internalized—combined with a faint intuitive sense—he managed to repeatedly rescue the potion from the brink of failure.
To an outside observer, the process might have appeared chaotic. But to Ryze, each corrective action was deliberate and effective. He could clearly feel that his adjustments were working.
At certain stages, he even sensed that adopting alternative techniques might improve the potion's quality, albeit at a significant risk. However, unlike Percy, he chose not to take such risks during his first attempt. Instead, he adhered to the most stable methods he could manage, ensuring that he completed the potion without incident.
While the final product was undeniably of low quality, Ryze remained optimistic. With a few more attempts and a proper study of the underlying theory, he believed he could produce a Love Potion approaching Penelope's level by the following Friday.
If he then incorporated his divination abilities for refinement and review, he might achieve even better results.
Regardless of whether he met Snape's requirements and avoided the assigned essay, Ryze planned to document his understanding of the Love Potion. Consolidating what he had learned would be essential for further improvement.
When the next class arrived, he intended to see how Snape would evaluate his progress.
Observing Ryze's composed demeanor, Penelope felt a quiet sense of approval.
"It's good that you can stay calm," she said. "When dealing with Professor Snape, maintaining composure is essential. Otherwise, he will always find something to criticize."
She sighed softly, her thoughts drifting back to Percy.
"He was simply too eager to prove himself," she added with a hint of sympathy. "That gave Professor Snape the perfect opportunity to focus on his mistakes and tear him apart."
Ryze said nothing in response, but his expression remained steady. For him, this experience was not discouraging—it was merely the beginning of a process he intended to master.
For more chapters
patreon.com/Liamlivingstone