"Mr. Light Rogers, you don't think you're all that just because you killed a stupid Troll, do you? Instead of wasting your time on such ridiculous things, you'd better use your Troll-like brain to study what you're supposed to learn."
During Potions class, Snape suddenly started spewing venom at Light, from the way he handled the materials to how he used the tools.
When Light managed to brew a cauldron of Boil - Cure Potion despite his interference, Snape gave him a failing grade with a look of disgust and even taunted him.
Light was stunned. Didn't this guy always have his eyes on Harry Potter?
Harry Potter was also stunned. Usually, Snape picked on him. But maybe because he was used to being picked on, Harry felt a bit off for a moment.
Unfortunately, Snape's next words made Harry take back that thought.
"Harry Potter, 5 points docked from Gryffindor because your friend didn't pay attention in class."
After docking the points, Snape continued, "Light Rogers, the potion you made far fails to meet my requirements. Come to my office at six this afternoon, and I'll teach you properly."
All the young wizards except Light shuddered involuntarily when they heard this.
"Just spit it out if you want to! Don't look like you're about to explode." Light said to the three of them who had questions but didn't know how to put them.
"Light, did you offend Snape? Or is he going to target you? Should we go and tell Dumbledore?" The questions from the three came at him like a barrage of cannonballs.
"Nah, maybe he thinks I'm good - looking and wants to groom me!" Light diverted the topic with a joking remark.
Light didn't react much to this. Rather, he more or less guessed that he might have given something away, so Snape came to keep an eye on him.
"No way! I don't believe Snape would want to groom someone. I'm sure he's up to something." Ron said firmly.
"It's okay. Snape isn't a bad guy. It's just that his good side isn't very obvious. Don't worry too much." Light comforted Harry Potter and Ron, who were obviously a bit agitated.
"Yeah, don't worry too much. We've already told Dumbledore, and he should be keeping an eye on Snape." Hermione, who had been comforted, also started to side with Light.
After much persuasion, they finally managed to dissuade Harry Potter and the others from going to find Dumbledore.
Following the glow of the setting sun, Light made his way to the office. Standing in front of Snape's office door, Light knocked on the door nervously.
Snape opened the door with a gloomy face. As soon as Light entered, he immediately threw a potion recipe at him. "Memorize it now and then start making it. I'll be here to guide you."
"This is a complete failure. I've never seen such a stupid and botched technique."
"When you add the Moondew here, you need to scrape off its spores."
"Remember, be focused when stirring the potion and use your Magic Power to coordinate."
"And here..."
In the dim office, under Snape's guidance, Light fully grasped how this bottle of potion was made. And Snape also helped Light build a bit of a theoretical foundation.
No longer making potions mechanically by the book like in class.
"It seems you've completed the brewing quite splendidly under my guidance. Now, get out of my office." Snape drove Light out with a cold face.
"Professor, I'm truly grateful for your guidance. I'll be here at the same time tomorrow." Light bid farewell cheerfully to Snape, who had already shut the door.
There wasn't a sound coming from behind the door. Seeing this, Light didn't get disheartened. He sauntered back casually under the moonlight.
When Light got back to the dormitory, he looked at the message sent by the stone stele, wearing a contented smile.
"Potions skill level increased by 1. Potions: 2"
"If I could gain a level every day, I'd shoot right up," Light mused as he drifted off to sleep, filled with glee.
The next day, at six p.m., Light arrived at Snape's office.
"Remember this," Snape snapped as he tossed another potion recipe.
"Your techniques and use of tools today are passable. If it were still like yesterday, you'd lose your hands (Here, 'hands' is Snape's unfriendly way of referring to Light, similar to saying he is clumsy.)."
"Don't use your meager knowledge to question my recipe. Pinch the root of the Screaming Mandragora to make it scream, and the extracted juice will be more potent."
"Stir slowly. Use your paltry Magic Power and scarce mental focus to align with the formation of the potion."
"Professor, I read in some books about something called an automatic cauldron. Why do we still have to stir it by hand?" Light looked at Snape who was checking the potion and voiced his question.
"Ridiculous! Do you think potions are just a hodgepodge of various medicinal herbs?"
"Plants inherently possess Magic Power. Potion-makers need to use their Magic Power and mental energy to blend them. The maker can also perceive the process of the potion coming together, and thus refine existing recipes or develop new ones."
"If you're idiotic enough to abandon your future, then go ahead and use that ludicrous automatic cauldron!" Snape put down the potion he had finished checking and answered Light's question in a cold voice.
"No way, no way. With a master potioneer like you guiding me, how could I seek shortcuts?" Light said obsequiously.
"Very good. It seems your Troll-sized brain can actually make the right choice. Now, assist me in brewing a potion. I'll just be responsible for the explanations." Snape said with a hint of praise in his tone.
"Finish reading all these books within a week. I won't wait around for you for too long." Snape put away the finished potion and then handed Light a reading list.
"Okay, professor! I'll do it as soon as possible." After thanking Snape, Light left the office.
...
"There's powerful Magic Power in blood. It occupies an extremely important position in Dark Magic." With that, Snape took out an old notebook and handed it to Light.
"Blood originates from the bone marrow, but in essence, it's an intersection of the soul and vital energy. Thus, the deterioration of the body will impact the soul, and vice versa."
"Therefore, any treatment related to the body cannot do without blood."
"I'm handing this book over to you. All you have to do is keep learning and then formulate your own theory. Even though it's still early days, you should adopt this mindset."
"Got it, professor!" Light gravely took the notebook and expressed his gratitude to Snape.
"Are you in here, Headmaster?"
Snape suddenly asked after Light had left.
"I'm here, Severus! So, after a month of teaching, how do you think he's doing?" An old man in white robes suddenly appeared in the office.
"He's indeed quite outstanding, but not as dangerous as you think. The potions he brewed aren't very irritating, which shows that he's not an extremist." Snape replied calmly to Dumbledore's question.
"That's excellent. It seems he could become a powerful ally against Voldemort." Dumbledore showed a smile.
Light in the dormitory had no idea that someone was discussing him. At this moment, looking at the message from the stone stele that said, "Potions level +1, Potions: 5", he almost burst out laughing.