"Drink it."
Snape's lips twisted as he spoke in a cold voice.
Rock didn't hesitate. He tilted his head back and downed the potion in one gulp. The taste was surprisingly pleasant.
Snape raised an eyebrow. "From this moment on, report every single sensation you feel. And I mean every single one."
Rock paused for a moment, then closed his eyes and focused on the effects.
"It feels more subdued overall," he said, reaching out to touch one of the prepared test potions. "The lines… the perception through my arm is starting to blur."
"Roughly how much?" Snape asked with a nod. "Compare it to your normal state—give me your most instinctive impression."
"About forty percent less," Rock answered directly.
"The potion is taking effect. Now—" Snape stepped back a few paces, "—open your eyes and look at the potions in front of you."
Rock took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes. If anyone looked closely, they would notice that his usual sharp, lively gaze had become duller, with faint, murky ripples swirling within.
Snape didn't rush him. He simply waited in silence.
"Professor, I can faintly see them now. The reduction is roughly the same as I felt."
Leaning over to examine the various potions in front of him, Rock spoke softly. He was experiencing that same sensation of seeing the magical threads he'd had when he first used the eye potion, though much weaker this time.
"The effect hasn't even reached half strength yet," Snape noted.
He waved his wand and vanished the contents of the cauldron. Rock couldn't help but feel a pang of regret—that potion had been worth nearly a hundred Galleons.
"Perhaps your original idea was correct—" Snape turned and stepped in front of Rock, lowering his head to examine the boy's irises. The faint ripples were almost invisible unless you were looking for them.
"The iris is indeed a viable direction, but the potion formula will need to be completely reworked."
"Yes, Professor." Rock nodded. Snape agreeing didn't mean he was offering praise.
"However, you must understand that the ingredients capable of affecting the iris are not easily obtained." Snape straightened up and walked back to the workbench. "Tell me your thoughts. What ingredients would you use?"
Rock lowered his head in thought. "Unicorn tears, phoenix tears, and… Fluxweed, along with the mucus from an Occamy egg when it hatches."
Snape waved his wand, automatically sorting all the potions on the workbench back onto the shelves. "Not a bad start. You've considered materials that won't burn the iris. The ones you listed are mostly suitable…"
As he spoke, he glanced at Rock.
Seeing that the boy had already pulled out his notebook and started writing, Snape continued without further comment. "But you're missing the most important part—ingredients that can actively stimulate the iris."
Rock's quill paused. "Stimulate the iris? In what way, Professor?"
"Snake fangs, jet-black beetle eyes, Demiguise tincture." Snape raised an eyebrow. "Do you know what potion requires these ingredients?"
"The Potion of Perception," Rock frowned. "But that's usually used for night scouting or seeing through illusions—"
He stopped mid-sentence as realization dawned on him. That was exactly why it would stimulate the iris.
"Understood?" Snape actually sounded somewhat approving of how quickly Rock had caught on. "I'll handle the phoenix tears. Bring the rest of the materials by next weekend."
It wasn't that Snape was stingy with materials, but many of the ingredients Rock could source were of noticeably higher quality than what he could get himself.
"Yes, Professor."
As soon as Rock left the office, Dumbledore stepped out from a hidden side room.
"Severus, is this why you asked me to come?" Dumbledore's bright blue eyes fixed on Snape.
Snape ignored the Headmaster's probing gaze and continued tidying up. "A brand-new potion, and one that acts on a young wizard's own body."
"I figured you would be interested. Wouldn't want you thinking I was harming a student."
Dumbledore chuckled softly. Snape's words clearly didn't match his true intentions.
Brand-new potions often came with unexpected side effects. Snape had called him here as a precaution.
"What a fascinating talent…" Dumbledore walked over to the shelves, picked up a bottle of potion, then set it back down. "I'm very curious what those 'lines' look like from young Rock's perspective and perception."
Snape took the bottle from Dumbledore's hand and placed it back on the shelf.
"You heard him earlier—phoenix tears."
Snape pointed toward the door Rock had just exited through. Phoenix tears were the easiest ingredient to obtain among the list, and the Headmaster standing in front of him could easily provide them.
"Of course. I'm quite eager to see the final result as well."
Dumbledore opened his mouth, his eyes sweeping across Snape's office. It was obvious there wouldn't be any sweets in here.
"With all your connections, I'd think you wouldn't care about such things," Snape said with a mocking tone.
Dumbledore scratched his eyebrow. "I still need to learn, Severus. Even at my age."
Snape made no comment. Then something occurred to him. "What about Quirrell? Ever since that night in the Forbidden Forest, he hasn't shown up in the castle."
"To be honest, I have no idea," Dumbledore sighed. "Disappearing without a trace has always been one of his specialties."
"And a few days ago, Newt came to the castle. He mentioned that Hagrid had received a dragon egg—a Norwegian Ridgeback. Rock told Newt that the person who gave Hagrid the egg was rather suspicious."
"The great Headmaster didn't get that information firsthand?" Snape's face showed clear sarcasm. He had to admit, Rock had handled that situation quite neatly.
"So? Did you find anything? Or did that half-giant oaf already let some information slip?"
"He did let some slip. I was prepared that night as well," Dumbledore said. "Unfortunately, by the time I arrived, he had disappeared again."
"A foolish plan with no regard for the consequences," Snape said, clearly irritated.
"To be honest, Severus, all of this was inevitable," Dumbledore sighed once more.
Snape looked at Dumbledore and let out a cold laugh. "I hope the great Headmaster has made all the necessary preparations. After all, this is still just a school."
"Alright, I need to rest. Make sure you deliver the materials."
With that, Snape essentially ordered Dumbledore to leave.
Dumbledore nodded and walked toward the door. Just as he opened it, he seemed to remember something. "Oh, by the way, a few days ago Harry came to see me."
Snape's brows furrowed slightly. He clearly disliked hearing that name.
The office remained quiet. Dumbledore turned to look at Snape. "He asked me about your relationship with his parents… and a few other things."
Snape's face instantly darkened.
"Discussing a professor behind his back—Gryffindor loses twenty points!"