When Dylan arrived at Professor Snape's office, he knocked twice.
A moment later, the door creaked open slightly on its own.
Dylan immediately spotted Professor Snape sitting at his desk. His expression was as gloomy as ever, and he looked like he hadn't fully woken up yet.
Dylan blinked, then carefully pushed the door open all the way before stepping inside.
"Good morning, Professor. You're up early."
"Just come in and don't close the door. You'll be leaving soon."
A mocking glint flashed across Snape's face.
"As for getting up early… I heard that when you seek advice, as long as you're not in class, you'll pester people from morning till night with questions. Naturally, I dared not neglect you."
Dylan smiled.
"Thank you, Professor, for waiting in your office so early for me."
He swung his backpack to the front, unzipped it, and pulled out a well-worn notebook.
Before he even reached Snape's desk—
"Shua."
With a flick of his wand, Snape conjured a chair.
Dylan sat down without hesitation.
"Mr. Hawkwood, I hope my early rising is rewarded with something of value, not meaningless drivel."
Of course, Snape never actually woke up late. He said that simply for the sake of criticizing Dylan.
But his voice—low, like frosted silk—had an undeniable authority. He didn't need to raise it to make it resonate throughout the office.
Ordinary students would probably freeze under his cold gaze.
But Dylan?
He remained unfazed. His smile didn't waver as he flipped through his notebook, quickly finding the section on Potions.
"Professor Snape, during my in-depth research on Potions, one particular question piqued my curiosity."
Snape's eyebrow twitched slightly before arching upward. A few fine lines formed at the corner of his eye as his cold gaze settled on Dylan—dismissing him outright.
Dylan continued undeterred.
"Whenever I study any field, I feel compelled to explore its very essence."
"What exactly do you want to ask?" Snape's voice was hoarse, yet controlled.
"Based on the fundamental principles of magic, can potions be affected by external factors?"
Snape frowned.
"It sounds profound, but in truth, it's meaningless."
His tone dripped with impatience.
"Of course, potions are affected by external factors. Now, Mr. Hawkwood, get out of my office immediately!"
Snape made no effort to suppress the irritation on his face.
But something struck him.
This little wizard was bold.
Most students quailed under his glare, shrinking into their robes like frightened quails.
Dylan?
He smiled.
As if Snape's words were some sort of joke.
Snape narrowed his eyes. He certainly couldn't attack a student, but—
"You've wasted the Potions professor's precious time. Naturally, your House will lose points—"
Before Snape could finish, Dylan did something completely unexpected.
He cut him off.
"Professor, you misunderstand me."
Dylan's expression was serious, unaffected by Snape's deepening scowl.
"What I meant by 'external factors' was—"
"Can potions be influenced by the movement of the stars and the phases of the moon?"
Snape froze.
His greasy black hair half-veiled his pale, sharp face. His thin lips, usually pressed into a cold line, twitched slightly.
His gloom momentarily lifted. His furrowed brows relaxed just a fraction.
His dark eyes, usually narrowed with disdain, widened—just a little.
A fleeting spark of interest.
"You study the trajectory of the stars?"
Snape's bony hand lifted his wand, and with a soft click, the half-open door shut completely.
A little tsundere, huh?
Dylan suppressed a chuckle.
Snape's brows knitted once more as he studied the boy before him.
As a Legilimens, he refrained from using his skills on students.
Yet, he could sense Dylan's excitement.
Mistaking it for arrogance, Snape's tone turned colder.
"Do you think you know a lot?"
Dylan blinked, then shook his head quickly.
"How could I? I haven't even read everything in the school library yet. How could I claim to know a lot?"
It was an earnest answer.
Snape's expression softened just a little.
His voice, deep like the hum of a cello, filled the office.
"The stars and moon phases are often believed to hold great power in the wizarding world. Their influence on potions…"
"It requires a deep understanding of both potion properties and refinement mechanisms. It also involves ancient magical knowledge and esoteric forces."
"It's good that you thought of this—but you're thinking too far ahead. With your limited knowledge, you wouldn't grasp the answer even if I gave it to you."
Dylan grinned.
"Since you acknowledged the connection, I'll share my own hypothesis."
Snape studied him, offering no further scorn.
Dylan took that as encouragement.
"From what I've gathered, specific magical fluctuations from celestial movements may resonate with potion ingredients."
"This resonance might influence material fusion, activation properties, potion effectiveness, and reaction timing."
"As for moon phases… I suspect they impact energy intensity, elemental properties, and even potion stability."
Snape's sharp features barely moved.
But Dylan noticed the minuscule shift—the slight tension in his facial muscles, the faint movement of the fine lines at the corners of his eyes.
A fleeting glimmer of surprise flickered in those dark irises.
His thin lips curled downward for an instant, then smoothed back into their usual firm line.
"Your brain is not as stupid as a troll's."
Dylan blinked.
Was that… a compliment?
"Since you actually have some understanding of Potions and astrology," Snape said, "I'll tell you something."
(End of chapter)
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