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Chapter 11: Potions class
Harry nodded in agreement, but seeing Ivan continuously feeding Every-Flavour Beans to Scabbers, he couldn't help but speak up.
"Ivan, if you keep feeding him, Scabbers is going to burst."
Hearing Harry's words, Hermione, who was about to ask another question, shifted her attention to the rat in Ron's hands.
The once scrawny, matted rat now looked completely different. After running around the dormitory and getting covered in dust, Scabbers had been thoroughly cleaned by Ron with a brush. Combined with the recent feeding, he was noticeably plumper.
"How can that be? This is the normal feeding amount. Scabbers was always starving before, so he should be eating more!" Ivan insisted, offering another Every-Flavour Bean to Scabbers.
"Besides, this is my way of apologizing", Ivan added.
Scabbers, however, showed no gratitude. He glared angrily at Ivan and arrogantly pushed Ivan's hand away with his little paws.
Only when Scabbers realized he couldn't overpower Ivan's strength did he take a bite of the Every-Flavour Bean offered to him.
After all, food is food, right?
Especially when it's right in front of you and you can't resist.
Actually, if you tasted it carefully, most of the flavors of Every-Flavour Beans were quite delicious.
Noticing Scabbers' reduced resistance, Ivan couldn't help but marvel at how Peter Pettigrew, after years of hiding, had developed a rather stable mindset.
Despite being hunted by his greatest fear just a few nights ago, he was now happily eating again.
Of course, that hunt had been in a dream.
But it also meant that Peter Pettigrew didn't know about the Fear Curse, a niche dark magic. He might have just thought Ivan used some magic to turn his dream into a nightmare.
After all, Ivan, a young Wizard, had no reason to know about events from eleven years ago, let alone that Sirius Black's Animagus form was a black dog.
"What if Scabbers gets too fat?" Ron asked, looking at the rat being "specially cared for" by Ivan.
"Don't worry, Scabbers doesn't need to deliver messages. It's better if he stays put and doesn't run around", Ivan reassured him.
Ivan thought to himself that if it weren't for Peter Pettigrew, Voldemort's resurrection plan wouldn't have been so easy to succeed.
When the time came, and Scabbers was fed to the point of being a ball, Ivan would see if he could still run from Crookshanks and Sirius Black.
As they chatted, the group made their way to the Potions class in the dungeon.
When they entered the classroom, Harry and Ron were even more convinced that Snape was a Dark Wizard.
The classroom was small, but the atmosphere was dark and eerie. Glass bottles lined the walls, filled with blue-green liquids, and some even contained animal bodies preserved in the liquid.
Given that the classroom was underground, if Ivan didn't know this was Hogwarts, he would have thought it was a secret laboratory of a Dark Wizard.
"Quick, let's get to our seats. We need to be careful in this class!" Ron said.
At this point, Ron had no doubt about what George had said earlier. He hurriedly pulled Ivan, Harry, and Hermione to their seats to avoid giving Snape a reason to deduct points.
However, Ivan knew that even if they behaved well, Snape would find a reason to pick on them.
*Bang*
As the students from both houses settled into their seats, the heavy, gloomy door was suddenly pushed open with a loud bang, the sound echoing through the classroom.
Soon, a gaunt figure walked in from the entrance, his sallow skin hidden under a long black cloak. His cold eyes swept over the young Wizards, pausing briefly only when they met Harry's gaze. His hooked nose made him look like a giant, humanoid bat.
Snape strode to the front of the room, his right hand waving his Wand. The curtains around the room drew closed on their own, and without the sunlight streaming through the windows, the classroom immediately grew much darker.
As the light dimmed, Ivan noticed Snape's tense expression relax slightly.
The master of potions, after completing this, took out the attendance register and surveyed the young Wizards who were intimidated by his presence.
"I will now take attendance. I hope no one dares to disappear from my class!"
Snape's deep voice echoed through the classroom, and the usually mischievous young Wizards fell silent. At this moment, only Draco Malfoy from Slytherin dared to smile.
"Neville Longbottom."
"Ivan Hals."
"Harry Potter."
When he called Harry's name, Snape's usually neutral tone showed a slight waver.
"Ah, right, I almost forgot", Snape said without a change in expression, but his words carried a hint of sarcasm. "We have a new celebrity at our school!"
The young Wizards around him all turned to look at Harry, and Draco and his two cronies even snickered privately.
Feeling targeted for no reason, Harry felt uncomfortable, but he didn't know that this was just the beginning.
Snape turned his head away from Harry and looked at everyone else.
"You are here to learn the subtle art of potion-making."
"Since there is no foolish Wand-waving or incantations, many of you might not believe this is magic. I do not expect you to truly understand the beauty of potion-making."
Snape paused here, then continued in a mesmerized tone.
"Imagine the simmering cauldron with its bubbling potion, the white mist swirling up... and the liquid flowing through human veins, that incredibly powerful liquid... it can make your heart drunk, captivate all your senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even... stave off death... as long as you are not as foolish as the idiots I have taught before."
After delivering this long speech, Snape suddenly spoke again.
"Potter, if you mix the powder of a Narcissus bulb with the juice of Wormwood, what would be the result?"
Harry looked puzzled.
What is a Narcissus? What is Wormwood?
Harry looked to Ron for help, but Ron was equally puzzled. Hermione, however, had her hand raised high, but Snape pretended not to see her.
Ivan, who was sitting farther away, could only mouth the words "Draught of Living Death" and "Sleeping Potion" silently.
Harry was desperate, but Snape's intimidating gaze prevented him from looking at Ivan for too long. He couldn't guess what Ivan was trying to say and, after a long pause, could only manage to say:
"I don't know, Professor!"
Ivan sighed and rubbed his forehead, feeling helpless. He had done his best.
Even if he had told Harry the answer, it wouldn't have helped much. Unless Harry memorized all the potion books, Snape would always find ways to target him.
(End of Chapter)
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