"Draco!" Snape roared in a low, menacing voice.
He waved his wand, swiftly sweeping the spilled potion off the floor.
"Did you take the cauldron off the heat before adding the porcupine quills? How could you be so careless!?"
Malfoy was on the verge of tears.
Even his face had erupted in acne.
"Professor, I was too hasty... I wanted to be faster..."
It was obvious what had happened.
Malfoy must have seen how quickly DeVere had completed the potion—and even earned points for his house.
Even Neville Longbottom, the idiot he always looked down on, had been rewarded by Snape.
This was unbearable for Malfoy.
So he had rushed.
And caused an accident.
"You two, take Draco to the hospital wing," Snape ordered sternly, pointing to Goyle and Crabbe.
Then, with a dark expression, he instructed the rest of the class to continue brewing their potions.
Harry and Ron, desperately trying not to laugh, made odd choking noises.
Snape immediately deducted two points from them.
After that, the class proceeded without interruption.
Everyone began brewing their potions with caution.
DeVere, having already finished his potion, sat back in his seat and began meditating to strengthen his mind.
With each controlled breath, a gray mist surrounded him.
And gradually, that mist receded.
Now, DeVere's perception extended across the entire classroom.
His awareness became like strands of fine blue silk.
He could sense every movement, every shift in the air.
And more than that—while meditating, he discovered he could continue learning, and his memory retention had drastically improved.
Combined with his trait [Exam Genius], he was almost at the level of having a photographic memory.
So, while holding the "Potion Book" he'd purchased earlier, DeVere looked as though he was simply reading.
Of course, he was indeed reciting it—but he was also training his magical energy at the same time.
When Snape saw this, he chose to ignore it.
There was no need to interfere.
After all, DeVere would be starting fifth-year courses next week.
There was little value in having him focus on basic operational tasks anymore.
Even Neville benefitted from DeVere's presence.
Snape didn't so much as glance at him during the entire class.
Soon, amidst the calm cultivation of knowledge and mana, class ended.
And the moment it did, a large group of Gryffindors rushed over.
"DeVere! Let's go eat together!" Ron said, excited.
The little lions immediately surrounded DeVere.
Some curious Slytherins, who wanted to strike up a conversation, were pushed to the edge of the crowd.
"You're too strong, DeVere! How did you finish so quickly?" asked Hermione.
She had been the second to complete the potion—but it took her nearly twice as long.
Her eyes shone with a mixture of admiration and confusion.
"DeVere, you're so brave! Even if I had ten thousand times the courage, I still wouldn't dare talk to Professor Snape like that!" Seamus exclaimed, clearly impressed by DeVere's earlier boldness.
Harry and Neville nodded vigorously beside him.
"DeVere, your potion skills are incredible! Can you help me too? I don't want to get yelled at by Snape," Parvati added pitifully, leaning closer.
Her comment sparked a sudden competition—everyone wanted to be DeVere's desk mate in the next Potions class.
Clearly, after both Flying and Potions class, DeVere's status in their eyes had reached "super-thigh" level.
DeVere smiled slightly.
"Ron, I'm sorry. I have to visit Madam Pomfrey for another check-up. You all go ahead without me."
Then he glanced at the group vying to be his lab partner.
"Sorry, everyone. I probably won't be in Potions class with you next week—I'll be joining the fifth-years."
That statement hit like a thunderclap.
"DeVere... you're going to take Potions with the fifth-years?" Hermione stammered, eyes wide, jaw nearly hitting the floor.
The surrounding Gryffindors were equally stunned—too shocked to even respond.
"Yes. The first-year courses are too simple for me. I discussed it with Professor Snape, and he agreed," DeVere replied casually.
Even the Slytherins lurking at the fringes were startled.
Unlike Gryffindor, which had many half-blood and Muggle-born students, Slytherin was filled with pure-blood families steeped in tradition.
None of them had ever heard of a first-year student attending fifth-year courses—not even for theory, let alone practical classes.
And Snape approved it!
It was unbelievable.
Before the students could recover from the shock, DeVere raised his hand to wave.
"You guys enjoy lunch. I've got that appointment with Madam Pomfrey."
With that, he left the stunned little lions and confused little snakes behind, sprinting out of the classroom.
He needed to rest after the previous night's exam, and Snape had set aside time for him that afternoon.
DeVere didn't know exactly what Snape wanted.
Perhaps it had something to do with the new Polyjuice Potion formula.
But after confronting Snape in class... would the professor hold a grudge?
Absolutely.
DeVere slapped his cheeks with both hands.
How could he think otherwise?
Of course Snape would hold a grudge!
Wishful thinking was dangerous!
So he couldn't waste time chatting with classmates in the hallway.
He needed to head to the infirmary immediately, get his examination done, rest up—and prepare to face Snape for what might feel like three hundred rounds of intense dueling.
With resolve in his eyes, DeVere strode off with purpose.
After he left, the underground classroom erupted into chaos.
"DeVere is too strong! He's definitely the most outstanding Slytherin in history!"
"Yeah! Our Slytherin class is terrifyingly powerful!"
The Slytherins on the periphery cheered loudly.
They had the most outstanding student in the entire school!
Some even began fantasizing about winning the House Cup under DeVere's leadership.
With him, they could earn a thousand points!
Meanwhile, Gryffindor was reeling from shock.
"Oh my god! He's not a genius—he's a prodigy!" Dean clutched his head, staring into space.
Harry and Ron wore almost identical expressions.
"DeVere... he's already reached this level?" Ron mumbled.
Hermione sat quietly at her desk, her mind a storm of emotions.
Worry and uncertainty clouded her eyes.
She felt a thick, tragic barrier had suddenly appeared between her and DeVere.
And it was growing wider by the minute.
FOR MORE CHAPTER
patreon.com/Jackssparrow