HP: The Right Way To Use Fantastic Beasts

The next day, in the Potions classroom.

Hogwarts' Potions classroom was a vast, cold room located deep in the dungeons. The space was cavernous enough to hold twenty cauldrons without feeling crowded, but the atmosphere was far from welcoming. The basement was perpetually gloomy, and the glass jars filled with pickled animal specimens lining the walls added a distinct touch of horror.

On the podium, a man in a black robe stood like a statue. With his pale face and perpetually cold expression, Professor Snape seemed to perfectly blend into this environment, as if he had been born from its shadows. His very presence completed the room's oppressive feel. It resembled a prison far more than a classroom.

But today, Harry completely ignored the atmosphere he usually hated. His mind had already outlined a clear code of conduct. To ensure he didn't make any mistakes, he had even dragged Ron into reviewing it last night, a fact that had earned him some very strange looks.

First, maintain proper posture. Avoid eye contact with Professor Snape. And quietly wait for him to ask questions.

Thinking this, Harry adjusted his position, ensuring he sat up perfectly straight.

"Hmm…"

With a cold gaze, Professor Snape surveyed the room, expressing a basic, grudging approval for today's attendance.

"Hmph. You came quite early." His gaze involuntarily fell on Harry, who was seated on the left.

This annoying boy seemed different today. He no longer exuded that troublemaker aura. Instead, he sat bolt upright, completely unlike his arrogant father, which made it difficult for Snape to immediately find fault. The posture even reminded him of another, vaguely familiar figure.

However, a lack of reason had never stopped him from finding fault before.

After a few seconds, Snape spoke in his uniquely cold, drawn-out voice. "Mr. Potter, how do you collect slug mucus?"

"Scrape it with a blunted scraper and keep it in a sealed container after collection, Professor."

Harry answered calmly. Percy had told him this; during Percy's time, the third Potions class of the first year had taught this very thing. And he had even used the little trick Professor Kahn had mentioned when answering.

Professor Snape really likes students to add the suffix 'Professor' after their answers.

Hearing Harry's response, Snape's eyes flickered. He hadn't expected the boy to actually answer this question, as it was something he was going to teach today. Did he preview the textbook?

After a moment of thought, he asked the next question. "What is the method for processing dittany?"

"After picking dittany, wash the roots and dry them in the sun, Professor."

"Why is it processed this way?"

"Because dittany cannot withstand preservation spells. This method best preserves its magical power."

Hermione and Ron looked at Harry with surprise, finding it incredibly strange. When had Harry become so fluent in answering Snape's questions? Even Malfoy, in the distance, couldn't help but widen his eyes, looking at a Harry who seemed completely different.

But Professor Snape didn't seem to intend to stop. He paused and continued to ask, "If you combine powdered Mooncalf dung and puffball, what kind of potion will you brew?"

At this question, Hermione's face showed a hint of shock. This was definitely not knowledge a first-year should know. She hadn't seen any related descriptions in the entire first-year textbook. What shocked her even more was that Harry's answer was still perfectly fluent.

"Revitalizing Potion, Professor. It can bring withered plants back to life."

"..."

Afterward, Snape asked a few more questions, and Harry answered every single one. As the answers became more in-depth, Harry's admiration for Professor Kahn grew. The answers to these later questions had been specifically marked in the notes Evans had given him, with a comment stating that Snape liked to ask them after the basic questions were answered. Harry had focused on memorizing them, and as expected, Snape had asked them today.

Professor Kahn is amazing!

It seemed Snape hadn't expected the boy to answer these later questions either. He was stunned for a moment before slowly speaking.

"...Not bad." He gestured for Harry to sit down, staring at him for several seconds before reluctantly adding, "Gryffindor, three points."

After speaking, he glared fiercely at the stunned students beside him. "Why aren't you quickly writing down those questions you just heard?" As the students frantically took notes, Snape retracted his gaze but couldn't help but glance at Harry again.

The child had seemed to know nothing in the first class, as if he hadn't reviewed the textbook at all. Why, after only two weeks, could he answer so smoothly? Could it be that what he'd said in the first class had made the child understand the importance of Potions, and he had diligently studied for the past two weeks?

Professor Snape found it a bit unsettling. But this diligence and eagerness to learn were completely different from his annoying father, which also slightly lessened the disgust in Snape's eyes. Though he had asked so many out-of-scope questions, the child didn't have that rebellious streak from before. He answered all the questions seriously and didn't provoke him afterward.

This attitude of a good student, his understanding of Potions, and his tolerance of his coldness… it all reminded him of someone. The name was on the tip of his tongue, but he felt something wasn't quite right, as if he had forgotten something very important.

But a good student, fond of Potions knowledge, tolerant of him...

A realization gradually formed in Severus's mind, and this answer made his eyes soften slightly. Could it be that he was thinking of Lily? Perhaps he had been too harsh on this child. It wasn't too late to change. Thinking this, he withdrew his gaze and began today's lesson.

One hour later.

"I should congratulate you. At least these twenty cauldrons are still intact," Snape said sarcastically, twitching his mouth as he surveyed the shivering students. Except for one or two, the talent of these freshmen was simply nauseating.

"Today's assignment is to write down all your mistakes from this class and the correct steps afterward!" After speaking, he glanced at Harry, who was quietly packing his books.

Today's class had given him a completely new understanding of the child. All the previous rebellious behavior had disappeared, and even his potion-brewing was fine, just a bit rusty. But this rustiness didn't affect the quality of his potion. Snape was surprised to find that when brewing the Restorative Potion, the child had actually used a method he hadn't taught in class, a method that made the finished potion significantly higher in quality than the others.

But the inventor of that method was Lily. Looking at the boy with emerald green eyes, Snape's mood grew even more complex.

"Mate, you're like a completely different person!" Ron leaned closer to Harry, his face full of disbelief. "How did you answer Snape's questions? And all that stuff you did last night, was it really for Potions class?"

"I didn't expect it to go so smoothly." Taking a deep breath, Harry looked at his classmates and said to Ron, "You go to the Great Hall first. I need to go to the Library."

"The Library? What for?" Ron was even more shocked. "You're not going to study, are you?"

"No, I'm going to… 'give feedback,' yes, that's the word." With that, Harry picked up his things and left the classroom.

Seeing that Harry had left alone, Snape's eyes flickered, and he uncharacteristically followed him. He wanted to see where this child would go. Following closely through corridors, he watched Harry finally enter the Library. Snape stood stunned, his heart wavering.

Could it be that he had been studying in the Library for two weeks just to answer my questions? At the thought, Snape felt a pang of guilt. Such a good child who loved to learn… should he really blame him because of his enmity with his father? He wasn't just Potter's son; he was Lily's child. The thought of Lily stung Severus's heart. He had already let her down so much; should he still treat her child this way? An unspeakable regret crept into his heart, and past memories flashed continuously.

It was time to make some changes. He should be nicer to the boy in class. Of course, the boy had to maintain that studious attitude. Otherwise… hmph.

He glanced at the Library door again, then turned with a sense of relief, intending to return to his office. But just as he turned, he inadvertently heard a very familiar voice from inside.

"How is it? Isn't class much easier this way? I'm telling you, the old bat totally falls for it!"

The voice was faint, but he could still make out the content.

Thump.

His departing footsteps stopped instantly, and Snape's body swayed. His hands clenched, and his previously softened expression twisted into a mask of fury. A few seconds later, Professor Severus Snape turned and began to walk slowly towards the Library.

Heh heh.

He finally knew where that familiar, unsettling feeling came from. A student who understood his preferences so well, who suited his taste so perfectly, and who made classes so comfortable. Yes, how could he not have thought of it?

In this world, besides Lily, there was only one other person who would make him feel this way.

His steps quickened, his face twisting to an extremely terrifying degree, his cloak billowing out like a bat ready to hunt. Finally, he rushed to the Library entrance and saw the satisfied young man sitting at a desk.

A low roar echoed throughout the entire Library.

"EVANS KAHN!!"

(End of Chapter)

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