After saying a few more words to Madam Pomfrey, Dumbledore left the Hospital Wing with Kael.
On the way, Kael took the opportunity to ask some questions he'd encountered while practicing Magic, and Dumbledore didn't hold back—he answered them all.
...
Because their destinations were different, they parted ways not long after entering the castle.
When Dumbledore returned to the Headmaster's Office, Snape was already there waiting for him.
"These are the materials needed for the Demon Suppression Potion."
Snape slapped a long piece of Parchment onto the table with a dramatic drawl. "Our Deputy Headmistress says there are a lot of precious materials on this list and needs your signature."
"Minerva is just too by-the-book. I remember I told her ages ago that she's in charge of all the school's affairs."
Dumbledore picked up the Parchment, completely unconcerned. "Besides, it's only a Demon Suppression Potion, how rare could the ingredients really… hmm?"
But as Dumbledore got a clear look at the contents of the Parchment, his expression changed.
Mandrake Juice: 50 ounces.
Horklump Juice: 50 ounces.
Egg Shell of Antipodean Opaleye: 5.
Poison Horned Beast Explosion Liquid: 10 ounces.
Horn of the Horned Camel: 5.
Aconite: 100.
...
This was just a portion—the rest of the assorted items brought the total to over thirty kinds.
After Dumbledore finished reading, he felt his temples pounding.
If he remembered correctly, among the six materials listed at the top, only the Mandrake Juice was actually needed—none of the others had anything to do with the Demon Suppression Potion.
Egg Shell of Antipodean Opaleye… Isn't that a main ingredient for the Frenzy Potion? How did he have the nerve to write that down? Does he think everyone else knows nothing about Potions?
And then those quantities.
Fifty ounces of Mandrake Juice. If this was all brewed into Demon Suppression Potion, it would be enough for the entire staff and students of Hogwarts to drink for a week straight.
The Horn of the Horned Camel—practically impossible to find anymore on the market. The tiny bit left is sold by the gram, ground into powder—and for a price so outrageous it defies belief. Snape just writes "five horns" like it's nothing. Does he even know how expensive this stuff is?
What, is he running a supply shop here!?
It was now Dumbledore realized why Snape wanted him to sign off in person.
Such an outrageous procurement list—Professor McGonagall would've flat-out refused, knowing her. Or maybe Snape simply skipped asking her altogether and came straight to him.
"Severus…" Dumbledore hesitated, deciding to give Snape one more chance, and asked probingly, "All of these are for brewing the Demon Suppression Potion?"
Snape nodded, replying calmly, "Yes, Headmaster."
Dumbledore: "And this Egg Shell of Antipodean Opaleye is…?"
Snape: "It's for a new formula I'm experimenting with."
"Isn't the quantity a little much?"
"Margin for error, Headmaster." Snape said as if it were obvious. "It's been ages since I last brewed the Demon Suppression Potion. A few failures are normal, so plenty of materials are needed."
"Looks like I have no reason to object now." Dumbledore picked up a crimson Quill, and with two swift strokes, signed his name on the Parchment.
"Mr. Mikel will surely appreciate your generosity, Headmaster Dumbledore." Snape's eyebrows lifted ever so slightly.
Once he took back that Parchment crammed with "extras," Snape could barely wait to fill up his private storeroom… uh, that is, to brew Potions for Mr. Mikel.
But right then, Dumbledore asked, as if offhandedly, "Severus, what do you think of Kael?"
"Kael?" The look of satisfaction vanished from Snape's face, replaced instantly by a hint of mockery. "Are you scheming again, oh great Headmaster Dumbledore?"
"No, no, Severus, you misunderstand—I'm just reacting as any Headmaster would upon seeing an excellent student. Forget it if you don't want to talk."
Dumbledore tossed a cockroach-shaped candy into his mouth, and even kindly offered one to Snape: "Want to try? Surprisingly tasty."
"No, thank you." Snape replied with disgust.
He truly couldn't understand—there are so many kinds of sweets in the Magic Realm, so why does Dumbledore fixate on these bizarre-looking things?
The stuff looked even more nauseating than Flobberworm mucus.
Dumbledore acted as though he hadn't noticed the revulsion on Snape's face, and continued cheerfully, "Kind, brave, honest, unflappable—Hogwarts hasn't had such an outstanding first-year Young Wizard in a long time.
I recall her mother, Diana, was in Slytherin too, just a year above you."
"Shut up!"
At this, Snape's eye twitched suddenly. His face darkened as he said, "Don't ever mention that name to me. Never! Ever! Again!"
By the last few words, Snape was nearly shouting.
This caused the portraits of former Headmasters to express extreme disapproval—they all started scolding Snape for being insolent and talking back to the Headmaster.
Too bad Snape paid them no mind at all.
If he dared to yell at the current Headmaster, what were a few paintings to him?
Calling them "Headmaster" was just courtesy; otherwise, they were just old bits of parchment—too rough even to wipe out a cauldron.
"I never imagined after all these years you'd still remember that business."
Dumbledore also ignored the noisy portraits, sighing softly. "But Severus, even now, I still think you were in the wrong back then.
Diana was a cultured, wonderful girl. If you hadn't swore at Chris, would she have ambushed you in the common room every day…"
"Bang!"
Dumbledore hadn't even finished when a resounding slammed door interrupted him.
The noise startled even Fawkes, the Phoenix napping nearby. The bird flapped its wings hard in Snape's direction, as if to let him know how annoyed it was to be woken up.
"Pfft…"
Watching Snape storm off, a chubby wizard in one of the portraits couldn't help but burst into laughter. But catching Dumbledore's mischievous glance, he quickly covered his mouth and dashed into another frame.
While soothing Fawkes, Dumbledore muttered quietly, "Really now, the older I get, the more I like reminiscing…"
"Ha, hypocrite."
On the wall, Phineas Nigel Black—the bearded, goatish former Headmaster—couldn't resist chiming in: "Don't think I don't know you did it on purpose. Look at you, all petty, just because little Snape asked for a few extra Potion Materials. What's the big deal? When I was Headmaster, I—uh—wait, Dumbledore, what are you—if I stop talking, is that good enough? Don't come over here!"