What was Snape thinking as he looked into those eyes?
Was he thinking of the pure, bright eyes when they first met, the astonished and pained eyes when he spoke harshly to him, or the eyes that would never open again…
No one knew, except Snape.
Perhaps, not even he himself knew.
Besides the intermittent chopping, grinding, and the bubbling of the Potion, there was no talking in the classroom.
After a long while, Snape seemed to awaken from a dream.
"Mixing Diricawl droppings and Mandrake root yields a Silencing Powder. The consumer won't be able to speak for a whole week."
"Not knowing is not knowing, very honest. Gryffindor, one point."
"…You answered two questions correctly, good, but there's no need to be proud."
Snape hesitated for a few seconds on the last sentence, seemingly unaccustomed to saying such words.
Snape left and went to inspect the other students' work.
As soon as Snape left, the nearby Wizards, except for Lucien, all looked at Harry with horrified eyes.
If not for their fear of Snape's terror, they would have all wanted to ask:
Can you still talk to Snape like that?
And get points for it?
What was that last bit, encouragement?!
Professor Snape actually encourages students!?
Only Lucien understood in his heart.
Snape had simply transferred all his guilt and love for Lily onto her son, Harry.
Especially when looking into those emerald green eyes, Snape probably couldn't even distinguish who he was looking at anymore.
Hmm, maybe Snape didn't even want to distinguish?
He helped Harry avoid Old Bat's venomous tongue and humiliation, caring for the mental health of an adolescent.
And he also made Snape see those eyes clearly, even though they were set in James's face.
There are still many good people in the world!
He would ask Snape a question after class. Yesterday, he saw an adhesive in a Potter Family magic book that should be usable on mechanical animals…
Lucien didn't notice Ron in the front row staring at him, dumbfounded.
Because Ron just remembered that Harry's operation just now was exactly what Lucien had mentioned before!
Such an operation actually worked!
Doing that could avoid Snape's humiliation!
Lucien's remarks gradually echoed in Ron's mind:
"Eyes are the windows to the soul. You have to communicate through eye contact, expressing to Snape: although I'm a slow learner, I am determined to study seriously!"
…
As expected, Lucien was the first to complete the Potion brewing. After a quick inspection by Snape, Ravenclaw gained another five points.
He could always get some points from the Professor every class. Accumulating them might even give them a shot at the House Cup.
But what was that thing for? It seemed to be just an honorary award, and every time it was only the Lions and Snakes who competed the most fiercely.
The little Badgers were just slacking off, and the little Eagles probably focused more on their own affairs, this kind of collective honor that sounded good…
Lucien was lost in thought when an angry roar pulled him back to reality:
"Weasley! I asked you a question, why are you staring at the Professor? Are you dissatisfied with me?!"
"Disrespecting the Professor, Gryffindor loses five points!"
He turned his head and saw Ron in front, trembling like a sieve.
Lucien thought for a moment, guessed what was going on, and felt speechless.
Redheads are truly brave!
…
After the class bell rang.
Snape called out before leaving the classroom:
"Potter, come with me to my office."
Harry was suddenly at a loss, why did he suddenly have to go to the office?
Just as he was lost in thought, Lucien had already packed his things and stepped forward to pat Harry's shoulder,
"Let's go, together. I also have a question for the Professor."
Lucien's words relaxed Harry,
"Thank you for coming with me."
Harry's inexplicable reply made a flicker of doubt cross Lucien's mind.
What was this kid talking about? He was just going to ask a question, why did it sound like they were going to face the music together?
The two arrived at Snape's office.
It was Harry's first time there, and he looked around at the bottles and jars in the office with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
Scanning the items on the shelves, Lucien indeed discovered some good things.
Such as Thunderbird wing feathers, Runespoor eggs, Hippogriff digestive fluid…
He truly was the youngest Potion Master; his connections were vast to acquire such rare materials.
"Grafton, do you have a question?"
When Snape saw Lucien come with Harry, his first thought was that this talented and modest student wanted to ask a question about Potions.
Lucien stepped forward and explained his question.
Snape thought for a moment and then gave the answer:
"The Potion you're describing, similar to an adhesive, leans more towards the field of alchemy."
Saying this, Snape looked at Lucien again, not knowing why he was asking about such a Potion, but still continued:
"The flaw of this Potion should be that its effects last too short. You could try adding Cerberus blood, the ratio is…"
"Cerberus blood isn't cheap. If it's not a critical need, you can hold off on considering it."
Lucien nodded and thanked Snape for the explanation.
Snape's skill was truly high; he quickly analyzed the Potion's effects and flaws, and provided a solution.
Hmm, Cerberus, right?
Isn't there one upstairs? Why bother spending money to buy it?
Lucien got a satisfactory answer and bid farewell to Snape.
As he turned to leave, passing by Harry, Lucien noticed him looking at him with a complex expression.
Wow, is this a pie chart of four parts shock, three parts reluctance, two parts unease, and one part confusion?
Never mind, he had so many other things to do, why waste time here?
Lucien only left Harry with a dashing silhouette, leaving him to face Snape alone.
After a long silence.
Snape finally spoke:
"Your Potion performance today was good."
Harry nodded blankly, not knowing what Snape wanted to express.
"But there are still many shortcomings. You really should learn from Lucien."
Snape asked this because he thought of the improved Sleeping Draught from last time. Theoretically, only Lucien and he, who had the recipe, could brew it at school, but Harry had used it to knock out Malfoy last time.
So he wanted to probe Harry; after all, children should be easier to trick into talking.
However, Harry's single sentence directly stunned Snape.
"How did you know Lucien was tutoring me?!"
Snape watched Harry's beautiful, emerald-green almond eyes widen, yet with that detestable face, he uttered such a foolish remark!
Snape's temper flared instantly, his forehead covered in black lines.
"Get out! Right now!"
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