Chapter 60 - Sudden invitation

Thomas looked at Snape, still curious about the reason behind this sudden meeting that Snape was talking as well as how the man seem to look forward to teaching him how to protect his mind, even though, he was only following the Headmaster's order. However, Thomas knew that questioning Snape further would be futile since the man was tougher than anyone. Instead, he took a deep breath and entered the classroom, taking his seat next to Adam still trying to figure out who was he going to meet in a week. While he had some guesses, mostly because this came out of nowhere a day after the incident in the forest.

Nevertheless, Snape began the class by introducing the potion they would be brewing—Aconite, a highly volatile and potent substance. The professor's instructions were precise and detailed, as usual, and like always Thomas listened attentively, trying to learn as much as he could before the professor would have them brew the potions themselves.

As Snape demonstrated the steps, Thomas followed along, measuring the ingredients carefully and combining them in the correct order. The cauldron simmered as the mixture transformed, emitting a faint bluish vapor. And while he was doing that, Thomas could feel Snape's scrutinizing gaze upon him, but he tried not to let it distract him.

Once the demonstration was over, Snape unexpectedly turned to Thomas. "Mr. Grayson, it seems you have grasped the instructions rather well. How about you put your knowledge to the test? Come here and prepare the potion from start to finish while the others observe."

Thomas blinked in surprise. This was an unusual move from Snape. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath and stood up, walking to the ingredients table Positioning himself in front of the meticulously arranged ingredients, Thomas took a moment to steady his hands. He look at the table, ensuring that everything was in its proper place, just as Snape had demonstrated moments before and thankfully the professor didn't make things more difficult than they were already.

He took a second to remember how Snape started before he began to measure the first ingredient, Aconite petals, with precision just like his teacher showed them. His fingers trembled slightly, but he steadied them, determined not to let any miscalculations screw his performance. Carefully pouring the petals into the cauldron, Thomas observed as they danced upon the surface. Next, he turned his attention to the Moonstone Powder, a key component in the potion's potency. With the tip of his wand, Thomas measured out the exact amount, ensuring a perfect balance of power and control. Adding it to the cauldron, he watched as the pale powder dissolved into the mixture, infusing it with a subtle shimmer.

After that, he crushed the Wolfsbane leaves and sprinkled them into the cauldron, and with that started the second step, the potion's transformation, which unsurprisingly was a gradual process that would slowly deepen the color of the potion as well as its scent. Under Snape's watchful eyes, Thomas moved with ease almost as if he was enjoying brewing potions with an audience in front of him, something that Snape had noticed from how steady and calm Thomas become after a few minutes.

As he watched the boy, he saw Thomas adjust the heat beneath the cauldron, carefully controlling the process to avoid any mishaps or worse to destroy the potion, which in all honesty was something Snape was looking forward to, after all, he didn't all that much trust in the abilities of a first year that had managed to brew some potions without a problem in the past.

Time seemed to blur as Thomas followed the remaining steps, adding the various ingredients one by one as carefully as he could, doing everything in his power not to mess this up. Strangely enough, he was kind of excited to see what Snape would say when he finishes brewing this potion. Finally, as the last ingredient, Mandrake Root, was carefully sliced and put in the pot, the potion reached its critical point. Its hue transformed into a deep, rich blue that made some of the kids let out a few sounds of awe, even the Slytherin students were impressed by what they were seeing, and frankly for a good reason. However, that didn't stop them from shifting their eyes between Thomas and Snape, waiting to see if Thomas has indeed managed to brew the potion or if he failed miserably and everything was just for show.

Snape approached the cauldron with an inscrutable look on his face, almost as if he was preparing himself to be disappointed for the nth time in his life. He leaned in, observing the potion's texture, color, and consistency and after a few seconds he nodded his head slightly shocked at all of the students in the classroom, Thomas included.

"I hate to say, Mr. Grayson," Snape finally spoke in a low voice. "You impressed me. Not only did you succeed in brewing the Aconite potion but also, your attention to detail and precision are no worse than that of a seasoned potion master. You may return to your seat."

Thomas returned to his seat, still slightly dazed from Snape's unexpected praise, but he couldn't help himself, after all being praised by Snape was akin to slaying a dragon with a toothpick. As soon as he sit back in his seat, Adam leaned towards him and whispered.

"Tom, you've become a legend. Snape doesn't hand out compliments like that easily. You've definitely made an impression."

Thomas chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. He hadn't anticipated such a reaction from his friends. After all, being known as a legend was the last thing on his mind, but at least that would give them a few reasons to tease him about. Only thinking about this made Thomas smile.

The rest of the class went without any problems as Snape had the Slytherins and the Ravenclaws brew the potion, with many of them failing at the first few steps, exactly like how Snape predicted.

Just as Thomas, James, Adam, and Michael made their way toward the classroom exit, a familiar voice called out to them

"Grayson," Draco called his name in a rather unusually familiar tone, surprising Thomas and his friends. "I'd like to speak with you alone if you don't mind."

James, Adam, and Michael looked at Thomas for his answer and he only nodded, gesturing to them that everything was alright, even Michael, who was the least dangerous one amongst them could best Malfoy with ease, nevertheless Thomas who had already been bloodied. They reluctantly left, but not before telling Thomas that they would be nearby just in case. After his friends left, Thomas turned to face Draco, curious to hear what the blonde boy want from him.

"What is it, Malfoy?"

Draco shifted slightly, seemly forcing himself to speak. "I-I wanted to thank you, Grayson," he began and for the first time, Thomas heard this pompous boy being sincere. "For what you did last night, for helping me escape from those creatures and that crazy woman. You saved me."

Thomas's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected Draco to express gratitude so openly, but it seemed their encounter had left a profound impact on him, one that Thomas hoped changed the boy for the best rather than making his already bad attitude even worse.

"It was nothing," Thomas replied humbly. "Despite everything that is wrong between us and our hoses, we are still classmates whether we like it or not. Besides, to tell you the truth, I mostly did that so that I won't have you in my consciousness if you were to die."

"I thought that much myself. However, my father heard about what happened and wants to thank you personally sometime in the future, preferably sooner rather than later. While he didn't see what we were facing back there, he had fought in the war in the past and that gives him an idea from what I've told him."

"That's unexpected, to say the least," Thomas replied, still not one hundred percent trusting Malfoy's words. "But if what you said about his true then I can understand why he would want to thank me in person. But I can't promise you an exact date for that. With everything that happened and the exams coming next week… I'd rather not include meeting your father in all of that shithole."

Draco nodded understandingly, sharing Thomas's fatigue and anxiety, especially since even he, Lucius' son, could rarely leave a conversation with his father in good spirits. "I understand, Grayson. Take your time. I'll tell my father that because of the exams and mostly due to what happened, you are busy and that you will contact me when you want to meet him. Is that good enough for you?"

"More than enough, Malfoy."

Draco nodded again, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I will make sure to convey your gratitude, Grayson. Perhaps, soon you will see that this would benefit you."

Thomas considered Draco's words carefully since Draco's words sounded more like a threat than anything else but nothing was set in stone and while he couldn't predict the future, the chances of Draco's father going to hurt him were minimal at best.

"Perhaps," Thomas agreed, extending a hand towards Draco. "I'll keep an open mind and see how things go from now onwards. Who knows, maybe that time would come sooner than we expect."

Draco hesitated for a moment before firmly grasping Thomas's hand, and with that, the Slytherin boy left. Thomas didn't bother to bid him farewell since it wasn't required, he thought. Instead, he turned and made his way towards his friends, who were waiting for him a few good meters away, close enough to see them, but not enough to hear what Thomas and Draco talk about.

As Thomas walked towards his friends, James couldn't help but grin mischievously. "Well, well, Tommy, looks like Malfoy couldn't resist your charms. Did he ask you out on a secret date or something?"

Thomas rolled his eyes at James's teasing. "Oh, please. As if he ever had a chance," he replied dismissively. "Malfoy just wanted to thank me for helping him out last night and mentioned that his father wants to thank me in person sometime in the future. But don't worry, it's not a romantic rendezvous. I let myself free for you."

Adam and Michael rolled their eyes at their friends' batter, suppressing their amusement at each other's teasing. "Yeah, James, don't get your hopes up," Adam quipped with a smirk.

James feigned disappointment. "Well, fine then. Ruin all my dreams of having the best teasing material. But seriously, what else did you two talk about, Tommy?"

Thomas shrugged his shoulder before responding. "As I said before, he thanked me for helping him last night and not leaving him out to die. He also mentioned that his father wants to meet me sometime in the future, probably to thank me. But I made it clear that I can't commit to a specific date right now, especially with exams approaching."

Michael nodded in understanding. "It's understandable, Tom. Everyone knows that with the exams coming, we have a lot on our plates, and meeting Lucius Malfoy shouldn't be rushed. From what little I could find about the man, he's nothing to scoff about."

Smiling at them, Thomas could only feel grateful for having such friends that knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't jump into something without thinking twice.

"Exactly," Thomas agreed. "I need to focus on the exams and everything that's been happening. When the time is right, I'll decide if and when I want to meet with Lucius Malfoy. After all, it's not like the man is going to die anytime soon, right?"

"You're right, Tommy. Especially since thanks to us, our house plummeted to the last place. The least we can do is to steal those first places, and in your case to make Hermione mad for doing that."

Thomas chuckled at James's remark. "Stealing those first places sounds like a plan. And as for Hermione, well, God help us."

Adam joined in the laughter. "Oh, you know she won't go down without a fight. But hey, it'll make things more exciting, won't it? Besides, a little friendly competition never hurt anyone."

With their spirits lifted, the boys made their way back to the Ravenclaw common room, happy that they had finished their classes for the day.

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