Ch71- Fame

Ch71- Fame

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"Potter!" Snape snapped suddenly, his eyes piercing. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"Yôur favorite stories at novelhall.com

Harry matched Snape's gaze, a calmness settling over him as he internally communicated with Nigel. "What's with this sudden quiz, Nigel?" he inquired silently, maintaining his composure.

Nigel's response was prompt, his tone laced with a hint of amusement. "Ah, it seems Professor Snape is attempting to unsettle you, Master Harry. He's not your most ardent admirer, but you're more than capable of handling this."

Meanwhile, Snape, with a smug expression, taunted, "Tut, tut -- fame clearly isn't everything." He deliberately ignored Hermione Granger's eager hand, focusing solely on trying to undermine Harry.

"Let's try again, Potter. Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" Snape's question was another thinly veiled attempt to catch Harry off-guard.

Hermione's hand shot up even higher, her eagerness to answer palpable in the tension of her arm. Despite her efforts, Snape's cold eyes remained fixed on Harry, ignoring her completely.

"And what is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Snape added, his tone dripping with disdain.

Hermione, unable to contain herself, stood up, her hand stretching toward the dungeon ceiling. Snape, however, remained indifferent to her, his focus unwavering on Harry.

Harry, unfazed, finally responded, his voice steady and clear. "Asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save one from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite."

Snape, visibly taken aback by Harry's correct answers, struggled to mask his shock and anger. "Why didn't you answer when I first asked you?" he demanded, his voice laced with irritation.

Harry met Snape's glare with a composed expression. "Professor, I believe it's essential to give others a chance to answer, especially those who are keen to participate," he said, subtly indicating Hermione without breaking eye contact with Snape. "But I am always ready to respond when it's clear that no one else will."

Snape, caught off guard by Harry's diplomatic response, was visibly conflicted. He wanted to deduct points and reprimand Harry, but as a Slytherin, he couldn't bring himself to penalize his own house. The internal struggle was evident in his expression.

Nigel's voice chimed in Harry's mind, "Well navigated, Master Harry. You've managed to turn a potential setback into an opportunity to demonstrate both your knowledge and respect for your classmates. Snape may be a tough nut to crack, but you've certainly given him something to ponder."

Snape's final snare, "You are to answer when asked," cut through the tension in the Potions classroom. Harry, maintaining his composure, simply nodded, "Understood, sir." Snape, still carrying a hint of frustration, turned to the rest of the class, "Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?" The students hastily began to scribble notes, ensuring they captured every detail of Harry's precise answers.

As the class shifted to the practical segment, Snape instructed them to pair up and gather ingredients from the cellar. Harry caught Neville's eye, giving him a nod, signaling their partnership. Neville, relieved to have Harry as his partner, approached him.

The task was to brew the Cure for Boils Potion, a staple in the first-year curriculum. The original recipe called for four ingredients: Dried nettles, six snake fangs, four horned slugs, and two porcupine quills. Neville, book in hand, began to read the instructions, but Harry gently closed the book. "You won't need that. Come," he said, leading Neville to the ingredients cupboard.

Harry's approach to potion-making differed significantly from the standard recipe. With their ingredients gathered, Harry led Neville back to their cauldron. "Now, watch closely," he said, starting to prepare the potion. As they neared the potion's completion, Harry reflected on the importance of ingredient maturity, particularly the nettle leaves and snake fangs. "Their age and quality play a significant role in the potion's potency," he remarked.

Snape's demeanor remained stoic, but the subtle shift in his posture indicated he was considering Harry's words.

"Finally," Harry concluded, "I added Flobberworm Mucus as the last ingredient. It binds everything together while smoothing out the texture, creating a more effective and stable potion overall."

He looked directly at Snape. "Sir, the potion's effectiveness hinges on the meticulous choice and sequence of ingredient addition. The aim was to enhance its potency and usability."

Snape stared at Harry for a long moment, his gaze intense. Then, slowly, he nodded, a grudging respect evident in his eyes. "Very well, Potter. Let's see the results of your... experimentation."

Bottling the potion, Harry carefully presented it to Professor Snape for inspection. The potion's refined texture and consistent coloration were evident, even to the most critical eye. Snape, holding the bottle up to the light, examined it with an intensity that betrayed his inner conflict. As much as he didn't want to admit it, the potion before him was of a quality that surpassed even some of the concoctions he had seen from professional potion masters.

'This child is a prodigy,' Snape thought reluctantly, his pride as a Potions Master warring with his personal feelings toward Harry. He handed the bottle back to Harry, his voice grudgingly respectful. "Not bad, Potter. But let's test your adaptability. What if you were to alter the order of ingredients and their preparations like this?"

Snape then challenged Harry with a new formula. "What if you add Snake Fangs first, then Pungous Onions, dried nettles, a dash of Flobberworm Mucus, a sprinkle of powdered ginger root. Then add pickled Shrake spines. Add a glug of stewed horned slugs, finally add porcupine quills?"

The class, captivated by the exchange between Harry and Snape, watched with bated breath, their own cauldrons bubbling away neglected. Harry closed his eyes, deeply analyzing the proposed formula. In his mind, a virtual simulation of the potion's brewing process unfolded, guided by his expansive knowledge and the insight provided by Nigel.

Harry closed his eyes, focusing deeply on Snape's proposed formula. In his mind, he visualized each step, analyzing the potential interactions and outcomes. Nigel's voice provided a running commentary, assisting Harry in his mental simulation.

"Adding Snake Fangs first would initiate a more aggressive reaction, Master Harry. But be mindful of the timing and the subsequent addition of Pungous Onions," Nigel advised, his tone analytical.

Harry imagined slicing the Pungous Onions finely, considering how their potent essence would interact with the crushed snake fangs. He mentally stirred the mixture, adding dried nettles next. The nettles, he knew, would have to be added at a precise moment to prevent an overpowering bitterness.

Harry nodded internally, adding the mucus with caution in his mind's eye. The next step, a sprinkle of powdered ginger root, intrigued him. "The ginger could add a warmth to counterbalance the coolness of the nettles," he thought.

Harry envisioned stirring the Shrake spines gently into the potion, ensuring they integrated without causing any adverse reactions. The addition of stewed horned slugs followed, their mucus adding a unique binding quality to the concoction.

"The final touch, porcupine quills, will need precise timing. Too early, and they'll dissolve too much; too late, and they won't integrate properly," Nigel advised.

Harry simulated the addition of the quills in his mind, then mentally waved his wand over the cauldron, completing the potion.

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