Dylan arrived at Professor Snape's office and knocked gently twice.
"——"
The next moment, the door moved on its own, opening a crack.
Dylan immediately spotted Professor Snape sitting at the desk, his face sullen, as if he'd barely woken up.
He blinked, carefully pushed the door open, and stepped inside.
"Professor, good morning! You're up so early."
"Come right in! No need to close the door, you'll be out soon."
Professor Snape's face flashed with mockery.
"As for getting up early... I heard that when you ask others for advice, as long as you're not in class, you'll chase them around all day long. Of course, I wouldn't dare neglect you."
"..."
This little sarcasm was truly adorable.
Dylan smiled.
"Thank you, Professor, for waiting for me in the office so early this morning."
He swung his backpack in front of him and pulled out a notebook.
It was his notebook.
He pulled out a pen, but before he even reached his desk. Professor
Snape
flicked his wand, and a chair appeared.
Dylan plopped down on it without hesitation.
"Mr. Hawkwood, I hope my early rising will allow me to hear something valuable, rather than meaningless nonsense."
In truth, Snape never stayed up late, let alone stayed in bed.
He said this simply to make it easier for him to tease Dylan, nothing more.
But hearing Snape's deep, throat-rattling voice, any ordinary young wizard sitting there might have been frightened to the point of losing their minds.
However, Dylan's smile remained undimmed. He opened his notebook and quickly flipped through the pages to the section on Potions.
"Professor Snape, when I delved into Potions, one thing first piqued my curiosity."
Snape's eyebrows twitched slightly, then slowly rose, the tips of his brows rising slightly, drawing a fine line at the corners of his eyes.
His dark eyes swept over him, gazing coldly at Dylan.
A look of indifference and indifference.
Dylan continued unfazed, "In fact, when I study any theory, I can't help but try to understand its essence."
"What exactly do you want to ask?" Snape's voice was slightly hoarse.
Not harsh, but like frosted silk, deep yet delicate.
His voice was perfectly controlled; he didn't even need to raise his voice to let it resonate throughout the office.
"Based on the basic principles of magic, can potions be affected by external factors?"
Snape frowned. "It seems a profound question, but it's actually meaningless!"
"Of course potions can be affected by external factors. Now, Mr. Hawkwood, leave my office immediately!"
Snape couldn't suppress the impatience on his face after hearing Dylan's question.
Of course, he didn't try to suppress it.
But Snape also noticed something:
this young wizard was really brave! A single look from him would scare any young wizard like a quail.
But with Dylan, his stern expression was a joke!
Everyone would be ashamed of his vicious words.
But not this guy!
As a professor, he couldn't possibly use magic on a little wizard, could he?
"You've wasted the Potions professor's precious time. Your house must be deducted for this..."
Before Snape could finish his words
, Dylan interrupted him unexpectedly!
"Professor, you don't understand what I'm trying to say,"
Dylan said seriously, completely ignoring Snape's increasingly grim expression. "The external influence I'm talking about is..."
"Can the potion be affected by the movement of the stars and the phases of the moon?"
Professor Snape was stunned at this statement.
His greasy hair half-hid his cold, pale face, and his thin lips, pressed into a cold line, now curled up.
His gloomy expression softened slightly at Dylan's question, his furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and beneath their raised brows, his eyes widened slightly.
"You even know about star paths?"
Snape raised his bony hand, wand raised, and the half-open door clicked shut. "
Little tsundere! "
Dylan snorted inwardly.
Snape's brow furrowed again.
He gazed deeply at the young wizard before him.
As a telepath, he wouldn't cast a Legilimency spell on a minor wizard.
Yet, he could clearly sense the excitement emanating from Dylan.
Mistaking him for complacency, he said coldly, "What? You think you know a lot?"
Dylan blinked and shook his head quickly.
"How could that be? I haven't even read all the books in the school library yet. How can I possibly know a lot?"
He spoke with all his heart.
Hearing this, Professor Snape's expression darkened slightly, and a low sound like a cello emanated from his mouth.
"In the magical world, the stars and the phases of the moon are often believed to contain powerful forces. Exploring their connection with potions
requires not only a deep understanding of the properties and refining mechanisms of the potions themselves, but also involves the application of ancient magical knowledge and mystical powers."
"It's good that you thought of this, but you're thinking too far ahead. With your current limited knowledge, even if I give you a partial answer, you won't be able to understand it."
Dylan smiled gently. "Since you've given me a positive answer, then I'll tell you what I suspect."
Snape looked at him noncommittally, but ultimately refrained from further harsh words.
"As far as I know, the specific magical fluctuations released by the movement of stars may resonate with the ingredients of a potion."
"Then the influence of the material fusion, the properties of the activation, and the timing and duration of the potion's effectiveness may all be affected by the movement of stars."
"As for the phases of the moon... I believe the energy intensity and property changes it reflects may have some connection with the beginning of the potion's brewing, the reaction process, and the intensity and stability of its effectiveness, which I cannot currently understand."
Professor Snape's facial muscles tensed imperceptibly, pulling at the fine lines at the corners of his eyes.
A fleeting look of surprise flashed in his dark eyes, and his thin lips pursed, turned downward for a moment, then immediately returned to their original position.
"Your brains, little brat, aren't as foolish as a troll."
"Uh,"
Dylan looked at Snape.
Was this... a compliment?
"Since you do have some knowledge of potions and astrology, then I can tell you something."
(End of chapter)