Severus Snape had been in a relatively good mood lately.
Slytherin's first Quidditch victory had completely pulled him out of the Boggart shadow of Defence Against the Dark Arts.
In the staff room, both Minerva and Lupin looked rather listless. In the hourglass in the entrance hall, which displayed the House points, Slytherin's gems were piled high, far ahead of the rest.
Even Potter, that troublemaker, did not seem so irritating any more. If only the boy could stay quietly in the castle instead of running off to Hogsmeade, how much trouble would be saved!
Severus frowned, glanced silently at the boy's green eyes, and turned away.
As for that fool Longbottom, Severus chose to avoid him today... out of sight, out of mind.
The boy's cauldron was teetering on the brink of collapse again; he was utterly hopeless! Today, even Granger, that know-it-all who spent all her time memorising textbooks without ever using her brain, had given up on him and was no longer standing beside Longbottom as a conspicuous figure.
However, the next moment, he intended to go and see his favourite student, the one who had contributed one hundred and fifty points to Slytherin, only to find that standing right next to him was that annoying, conspicuous... know-it-all... Hermione Granger.
Of course! Where else could she stand?
Only when she stood next to Draco did she appear less arrogant, ignorant, and presumptuous, and instead exude the humility and caution befitting an excellent student!
"Draco, I received a letter from Horace Slughorn, the former Head of House. He says you are interested in the Wolfsbane Potion."
He glanced at the potion in their cauldron, a hint of pleasure on his face, and nodded. "I happen to be brewing this potion and need an assistant... Come to the Potions classroom at eight o'clock Friday night."
What a pleasant surprise!
Draco had long wanted to ask Professor Snape for advice; the fact that he had only learned half of the Wolfsbane Potion during the summer holiday had always been a regret of his.
"What about Hermione? Could she come?" Draco asked, glancing at the girl beside him who seemed casual but was actually listening intently.
"She has also learned quite a bit about the basic preparation of the Wolfsbane Potion, and her practical skills are no worse than mine. Mr Slughorn probably mentioned her too, did he not?"
Professor Snape's expression returned to its usual stiffness.
He gave the Gryffindor girl a cold look, and his thin lips reluctantly uttered a sentence, "Whether she comes or not is up to her; if she dares to cause me trouble, I shall throw her out."
"Oh... thank you, sir," Hermione said, a little flustered.
Professor Snape snorted and strode to the front of the classroom, his black robes billowing.
"I have always felt he does not like me," Hermione said with a bitter face, handing him the last of the weighed ingredients. "Draco, you really should not have mentioned that. Look at Professor Snape's face!"
"But I thought you wanted to learn how to make this potion." Draco sprinkled ingredients into the cauldron, observing the colour of the potion and the steam rising from it. "Was this not the potion you originally wanted to learn?"
"That is true," Hermione said softly, peering into the cauldron, "but..."
"By the way, I left early during the summer holiday because of Peter Pettigrew's business. Why do you not continue your studies?"
Draco made room in front of the cauldron so she could get closer and see more clearly. "I believe Mr Slughorn would be happy to continue teaching you."
"Oh, I was hesitant at first. After all, it is a rare opportunity." Hermione flicked her wand, turning the fire under the cauldron down to a simmer, and said to him, "But after you left, my parents and I discussed it... though it was a real shame... and I ultimately decided not to continue. You know, my mother would not feel at ease if you had not taken me home."
"I had no idea I was so important." Draco's lips curled up slightly. "It seems your mother really has a good impression of me."
She smiled at him and shook her head, seemingly resigned.
Her expression was somewhat detached, and she still seemed hesitant about learning Wolfsbane Potion-making.
"Listen, Hermione, Professor Snape may be a bit sharp-tongued, but I do not think he dislikes you," Draco reassured her, tidying up the remaining potion ingredients on the workbench.
"If Longbottom could answer his questions perfectly, he would probably kneel down and thank Merlin; but when you answer them, he always mocks you for 'reciting straight from the book.' Do you know what that means?"
She opened the storage box for him so he could sweep the herbs directly into it from the table. "What does that mean?"
"It means he is extremely demanding of you. He believes you can reach even greater heights, and he has higher expectations for you.
He might expect you to answer questions beyond the textbook; he might think your talent is far greater than what you are currently demonstrating." He slowly packed away the remaining materials, a hint of seriousness in his voice.
"Is that what you think?" Hermione was taken aback. She had not considered the issue from this perspective before.
"That is right, that is what I think." Draco's face showed a hint of familiarity.
"To be honest, he has rigorously challenged me in private. Sometimes, his demands can be described as harsh. He is the kind of professor who constantly pushes you to your limits, although sometimes his methods and approaches are too extreme."
"Those methods and tricks unique to Slytherins?" she teased him.
"That is right." He paused for a moment, then admitted it.
"Incomprehensible methods and means. I cannot agree with them. I believe that professors should encourage students rather than undermine their confidence. Look at what he did to Neville, did it achieve any good results?"
Hermione pointed out incisively. "And dare you say he is not biased towards Slytherin students? Even the portraits in the castle complain that he is biased! He never deducts points from you; but when he deducts points from me, he is ruthless."
"That is right. I admit, he is biased; it is a weakness of his nature." Draco shrugged, waved his wand, and neatly arranged all the bottles, jars, and storage boxes on the table with a murmured spell.
"But then again, are the other Heads of House entirely unaware of any 'special treatment' they give their own students?"
"Professor McGonagall is very fair!" Hermione said proudly, gesturing to him as she did so... the potion in the cauldron was ready.
"Yes. Fairness." Draco chuckled briefly, glanced at the potion simmering in the cauldron, and extinguished the flame.
Hermione nodded, satisfied with the quality of the potion and his words.
"Remember when Harry broke Madam Hooch's rules and flew on his broomstick in his first year? Professor McGonagall did not deduct any points or punish him. Instead, she made an exception and made him the Seeker for the House team, did she not? Can you say she has no students she favours?"
Draco said sharply, glancing at her. "Do not be so quick to deny it. You were quite angry about it at the time."
Hermione had been put on the spot. She suddenly did not want to continue the conversation.
With her cheeks puffed out, she did not look at him again and went straight to the gargoyle fountain at the front to wash her hands.
But the boy was persistent and followed her. His tone finally softened a little. "Of course, even if Professor McGonagall has her own preferences, I have to admit that she is one of the more impartial Heads of House."
"It is good that you admit it," Hermione said haughtily, and had the boy turn on the tap for her.
"Hermione, think about it," Draco said gently, looking at the haughty little girl. "If Professor Snape did not want you to study, he could have just called me over after class and told me alone. Why did he choose to tell me this while you were here?"
"Oh," she finally looked up at him and murmured, "that is true."
"Believe me, he likes you far more than he shows right now. He still has a tiny bit of appreciation for your talent, even if it is hidden behind his harsh words and stern face."
Draco said in an encouraging tone, pouring a measure of cleaning solution into her hand. "Trust me, I am a Slytherin, I understand what Slytherins are thinking."
"Slytherins... well, since you put it that way..." Hermione muttered, a renewed fighting spirit flashing in her eyes, "Friday night at eight o'clock, is it not?"
"That is right, the location is the Potions classroom." Draco chuckled softly.
Judging from Lupin's condition, the Wolfsbane Potion brewed on Friday was a success. Draco did not even howl during that month's full moon.
"Professor Snape was quite pleased with our performance that day," he told Hermione. "He told us to start next month and try to brew a dose of Wolfsbane ourselves and give it to him."
"All right." She shrugged and continued studying a densely filled notebook, scribbling and drawing on it with a quill.
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