After Christmas passed.
Time flowed by uneventfully. The cold mid-winter passed, and before long, the warm temperatures of spring were approaching.
In the Quidditch matches Harry played in, he invariably added 150 points to the house score, and I continued to attend my classes half-heartedly.
The way Hermione's eyes seemed to narrow more and more as she looked at me was a bit concerning, but what could I do?
Even she, after seeing a glimpse of mine and Harry's skills during the troll incident, had stopped nagging me directly.
No, rather, whenever I went out of the dormitory for a bit at dawn, she was, for some reason, always sitting in the common room, staring intently at the door, which made me think that she might be waiting for Harry and me.
Could it be that she, too, in true Gryffindor fashion, had become interested in breaking the rules with us?
Not that she would have been able to recognize us, armed as we were with an Invisibility Charm and an Invisibility Cloak.
Ah, come to think of it, there was one difference compared to before Christmas.
And that was that my special lessons with Snape had begun.
"Harry, you shouldn't neglect your Potions class either. Potions are incredibly convenient once you get the hang of them."
"I know that, but, I don't know, the way Professor Snape looks at me is strange."
I, who had looked into Snape's mind with Legilimency, could fully guess the reason, but for the honor of Harry's parents and the Hogwarts faculty, I kept my mouth shut.
How could I possibly tell him that it was because Professor Snape had been bullied by your father during their school days while having a one-sided love for your mother?
That would be a disgrace not only to Harry's parents, but to the honor of the Hogwarts faculty as well.
I don't know how Harry interpreted my subtle gaze, but he tilted his head.
"Anyway, his skills are certain, so it would be best for you to learn as much as you can, probably..."
In any case, leaving Harry behind, I headed to Snape's classroom in the dungeons for my Potions class.
"...Welcome, Potter."
He greeted me with an expression of unconcealable wariness as he saw my face.
The memory of what had happened during our first meeting seemed to be deeply engraved in his mind.
I looked into his eyes and tried to cast a light Legilimency, but unlike that time, he was not off his guard at all and evaded my Legilimency with excellent Occlumency skills.
He raised one corner of his lip in a twitch and said.
"It won't be like last time."
Seeing his attitude, I asked.
"It seems you've heard about my identity from Albus?"
"No, not really. I only heard that you are a very formidable wizard. You... what are you?"
If he introduced me as a very formidable wizard, isn't that pretty much the whole introduction? That question came to mind for a moment, but I put it aside.
"I don't think you really need to know that, Professor."
I answered with a smile in my eyes. To put it simply, it meant, 'shut up and teach me what you've prepared.'
Snape's face hardened as if he had read the rude meaning in my gaze, but I didn't feel any guilt.
Basically, I am a gentleman who is polite to his elders, but Dark Wizards are an exception. No matter how much he has reformed, his dark past does not disappear.
The only tribute I could show for his reformation was to not pass judgment on him now.
Snape seemed to think for a moment, then shook his head as if to clear it. His tangled hair, which could by no means be described as flowing, swayed, and I sighed.
"...You said you wanted special lessons? No matter what kind of unknown skill you have, if you are not qualified, I will not teach you."
Did he have a certain pride in his subject? I let out a small laugh at Snape's words and said.
"And what would that qualification be?"
Snape seemed to ponder for a moment, then said.
"Hmm, at the very least, you would need to have the skill to get an 'O' on the O.W.L.s. If you have that level of skill, I will give you special lessons or whatever you want."
And then, Snape gestured with his head towards the back of the classroom. A cast-iron cauldron and a cabinet with various ingredients neatly arranged.
It seemed to mean, 'make whatever you want.'
By the way, an 'O' on the O.W.L.s. That was a higher standard than I thought. No, considering it was a proposal to a first-year student, it was not just high, but crazy.
Of course, he and I both knew that my skills were not at a first-year level, which is why he made the proposal.
Even if I just successfully brewed the Draught of Living Death, a N.E.W.T. level potion, it would be enough to pass Snape's test, but if I was going to have special lessons, it would be better for the teacher to have an idea of my skill level.
I thought for a moment and said.
"Is it okay if it takes a long time?"
Snape let out a contemptuous laugh.
"Potter, you should know that just because it takes a long time doesn't necessarily mean a good potion will come out of it."
I hadn't seen his potion skills, but I couldn't help but be impressed by his sneering attitude even after knowing my magical skills.
He was lucky I was a nice person; any other wizard from the 19th century might have shot a spell at him on the spot.
I approached the cabinet and looked for the ingredients. All sorts of rare ingredients were lined up. I glanced over them, and then took the necessary ingredients.
Red orchid, dragon's blood, powdered unicorn horn, cactus spines, and so on.
Snape's expression twisted as he watched me gather the ingredients.
"Potter, are you mad? There's only one potion that can be made with those ingredients."
Snape, as if he had realized what I was trying to make, poured out a torrent of insults at me. Of course, though I looked like a first-year, I was more than capable of making it, so I had no idea why he was reacting like that.
"What will you do if I can make it?"
Hearing my retort, Snape said with an even angrier expression.
"Who's questioning whether you can make it? Veritaserum is a potion strictly managed by the Ministry, what do you think you're doing, trying to make it out in the open like this!"
Huh? What?
Seeing the look of disbelief blooming on my face, Snape's face mirrored my own.
"...Don't tell me you're going to say you didn't know?"
"...Really?"
"This is why I hate Potters. So self-centered."
I was dumbfounded and put the ingredients down on the desk.
No, are they regulating even things like this? Does the thing called 'freedom' even exist? The 20th century was a dystopia, plain and simple.
For a very brief moment, a thought flashed through my mind: shouldn't a Ministry like this just disappear?
And so, my plan to brew Veritaserum was thwarted. Even if he gave me a long time, it would take six months to make Felix Felicis, and it was a bit awkward to make any other potion, so I decided to just make a simple Draught of Living Death.
"But isn't this one managed by the Ministry?"
"There are no particular restrictions."
"...Why is a poison less regulated than a truth serum?"
Even Snape had nothing to say to that question, and no answer came back.
In any case, the Draught of Living Death I brewed was more than capable of showing its effects.
How did I know? Because Snape, who had been looking at my potion with suspicion, had summoned an animal and made it drink it.
The rat that drank the potion seemed fine for a moment, then it foamed at the mouth and collapsed as if it had fainted. A little more, and it probably would have died.
Seeing this, Snape, with an expression as if he had just chewed on a pebble, said.
"Very unfortunately, your skill just barely meets the level required to take the N.E.W.T. classes."
And then he turned around and said.
"Come here every Wednesday evening from now on."
It was only a moment later that I realized that was an order of dismissal. Who does he think he is, giving me an order of dismissal?
Muttering, I left the dungeon, and just as I was leaving, I ran into Hermione, who was running out from the dungeon entrance.
"Hermione, what are you doing here?"
"Aah!... Ah, it's you, Aisen."
She shrieked as I placed a hand on her shoulder while she was running. Hmm, that wasn't my intention.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"Uh, didn't Harry tell you?"
Hermione said with a puzzled expression.
"We decided to go to Hagrid's hut today."
It seems he hadn't told her that I was receiving special lessons from Snape.
When I told her this, a look of surprise, jealousy, and worry bloomed on Hermione's face.
"What? You're getting special lessons from Professor Snape? Why only you?... No, that's not what's important."
Hermione looked around for a moment, then grabbed my collar and whispered in my ear.
"Aisen, you haven't forgotten about that, have you? At the Quidditch match, Snape was... a lesson with Snape, it could be dangerous!"
I let out a small laugh and retorted.
"Thanks for your concern, but as I said before, that wasn't Snape's doing. And even if it were, I wouldn't just let it happen, would I?"
"I know you're skilled, but you should still be careful."
"Yeah, yeah."
I casually dismissed Hermione's worries, and after thinking for a moment, I followed her.
"Since it's come to this, let's go to Hagrid's together."
"Alright, that works."
And we arrived at Hagrid's hut. Harry and Ron were already there, waiting in front of the hut door.
"Huh, Aisen! You came too?"
Harry greeted me cheerfully.
I asked him.
"I just happened to join in. But why are you standing there and not going in?"
Harry hesitated at those words and said.
"Um, well... I keep hearing a strange sound from inside."
"A strange sound?"
At those words, I applied a hearing enhancement charm to my ears and listened.
—Yes, yes. That's a good boy. Wake up soon. Very good!
—Is the temperature not enough? Should I add more fire?
That was definitely Hagrid's voice. But what on earth was he looking at so intently?
I said to the other kids.
"Well, we can't just stand out here forever, so shall we go in and see?"
Since there was no other alternative, everyone agreed.
"Hagrid, we're here!"
"Wh-what! You're here already?"
And after a sound of fumbling, Hagrid opened the door of the hut with a clatter.
At the same time, we frowned at the hot air that we felt from inside.
"Whoa, Hagrid. What on earth is that? The inside of the house feels like the inside of a pot!"
At Ron's words, which represented our feelings, Hagrid stammered.
"Uh, well, you see. There's a story behind this."
We entered, grimacing at the hot air, and soon realized that Hagrid was constantly looking at the fireplace.
Our gaze naturally fell on the fireplace that he was staring at like a patient with an anxiety disorder, and we finally saw it.
"...A dragon's egg? Hagrid, are you serious?"
There, a large, black egg was placed under a kettle.
Hermione saw it, her eyes widened, and she shouted.
"Goodness, Hagrid! Is that really a dragon's egg?"
"Yes! Isn't it amazing? It's so beautiful..."
"That's not what's important right now! You know that raising a dragon is illegal, don't you!"
At those words, Harry and I flinched.
As we were in the position of raising not a dragon's egg, but a full-grown dragon, we were in no position to reprimand Hagrid.
Harry managed to get the words out.
"Um, Hermione. Raising a dragon has been Hagrid's long-time dream, so isn't it okay?"
"Harry! Why are you like this too! Dragons are animals that can't be tamed. And besides, this is a wooden house, how can you raise a dragon here!"
At her words, which were right in every way, Harry was completely shot down.
"Goodness, how can this be! Hagrid, you could end up in Azkaban if you're not careful!"
And Hermione went on for a long time about why you can't tame a dragon, and how dangerous the act is, and Ron could only wonder why not only Hagrid, but also Harry and Aisen, were looking more and more dejected.