Chapter 12: Poor Scabbers, AGAIN!

Watching as Harry gradually retreated into himself under Snape's repeated questioning, Ivan recalled a theory he had come across in his previous life.

Snape's questions to Harry had a deeper meaning, that much was clear. The most obvious clue was the use of asphodel in potion-making, which in flower language translated to 'remembered beyond the tomb' or 'my regrets follow you to the grave' while wormwood is often associated with regret or bitterness.

Was it shame over Lily's death due to leaked information, or perhaps a love so deep that he was willing to die alongside his lost love?

Contemplating this, Ivan's eyes took on a more compassionate light.

"Ivan Hals!" Snape's voice interrupted his thoughts. After questioning Harry three times, Snape turned his wand towards Ivan. "Now, you will answer these three questions!"

At first, Ivan was taken aback by the unexpected attention. He hadn't anticipated Snape directing questions at him, but he quickly composed himself and responded.

"Adding powdered Asphodel bulbs to Wormwood juice creates a powerful sleeping potion. A bezoar can be found in the stomach of a goat. And the terms 'monkshood' and 'aconite' refer to the same plant."

Ivan, having read the textbooks thoroughly before attending the potions class, was unfazed by these questions. However, he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious, fearing that Snape might have more challenging questions up his sleeve.

The sound of the system's notification rang in Ivan's mind.

[Ding, you've answered the professor's class questions correctly, scoring 100% on all three questions, earning 9 academic points...]

Ivan's anxiety turned into elation. He was ready for more questions, even challenging ones. Ivan looked at Snape, fully prepared to face whatever challenge came his way.

However, to his surprise, Snape seemed to forget about him entirely. Instead, he continued to focus his attention on Harry, hovering around him like a hawk.

"Do you see this, Potter? It seems that not everyone is as stupid and ignorant as you..."

　 "Professor, I..." Harry stood up angrily and planned to refute, but Snape interrupted Harry's words.

　"Potter! Because of your performance...Gryffindor one point deducted!"

Ivan couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment as the class unfolded. Snape, it seemed, had entirely forgotten about him. While he occasionally reprimanded other young wizards for their mistakes, his focus remained fixed on Harry, like an iron block drawn to a magnet.

Snape's watchful eyes followed Harry's every move during the potion-making process. Any slight error on Harry's part was met with ridicule and mockery. It was as though Snape relished finding fault with the young wizard, making his time in class a constant challenge.

Ron, sitting next to Harry, also drew Snape's attention, unfortunately. Snape discovered the pet rat Scabbers he had been carrying and subjected the unfortunate creature to a potentially hazardous experiment. Ron was beside himself with worry, fearing for his pet's safety.

Ivan couldn't help but sympathize with Scabbers, who had been experimented with twice in just a few days since the start of the school year. He pitted Peter Pettigrew's ill luck .

After the potions class concluded, Ron was still upset about the treatment of his pet, Scabbers. He held the trembling mouse while expressing his anger.

"Can you believe it, Ivan? Snape almost killed Scabbers!" Ron complained, clearly frustrated.

Harry nodded in agreement, sharing Ron's sentiment. Snape's targeting of Harry in their very first class was inexplicable and left a sour taste in their mouths.

"This is outrageous. How could Dumbledore hire Snape as a professor? He nearly killed Scabbers!" Ron continued his tirade, his anger evident.

Harry couldn't understand why Snape seemed to despise him so much. Being singled out like this was beyond frustrating.

Hermione, however, offered a different perspective. She suggested that if Harry had read more books before class, he might have been able to answer Snape's questions. Hermione believed that Ivan, who seemed well-prepared, was spared from Snape's strictness.

Ivan, on the other hand, felt somewhat embarrassed by Hermione's words. He knew that if he hadn't known the plot in advance, he might not have been able to answer Snape's questions either. He had read the potions textbook thoroughly, but Snape's questions had been far from standard.

"Hermione, not everyone can memorize the entire potions book within a few days of starting school, especially when the questions Snape asked Harry weren't even covered in the first-year textbook," Ivan explained, trying to defend Harry's situation.

Hermione didn't argue further, realizing Ivan made a good point. She also had noticed Snape's unusual behavior during the potions class and decided to share her observations.

"Professor Snape seemed to know that Ivan could answer his questions, so he didn't make things difficult for him," Hermione suggested.

Harry and Ron, though unhappy with Hermione's defense of Snape, walked together awkward.

Leaving behind their grievances from potions class, the group went to visit Hagrid's hut, eager for a change of scenery.

"Hey, Hagrid, we've come to see you!" Harry called out as he approached the door.

"Harry, you are here, come on in!" Hagrid greeted Harry enthusiastically, while still not forgetting to calm his restless dog.

Hagrid welcomed them warmly and invited them inside. The inside of Hagrid's hut was a single room, a bit cluttered. Dried meats and hams hung by the window, a large stove was positioned in front, and a pot of boiling water simmered on it. The room also featured a patchwork bed against the wall to the right.

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