Harry Potter: Don't Touch the Badger's Plants

With information about the Half-Blood Prince's textbook flashing through his mind, another difficulty presented itself to Ciel.

Just as Hogwarts' Room of Requirement was filled with countless items from thousands of years, the storage cabinets in each classroom were also piled with at least a hundred years' worth of textbooks and miscellaneous items left by various students.

And there wasn't just one Potions classroom—there were seven or eight in total.

Although Ciel knew that in the original story, Harry Potter had found that Half-Blood Prince textbook in his sixth year, he didn't know exactly where that textbook was located.

To find it among the vast collection of miscellaneous items wouldn't be easy. It wasn't something that could be found in a short time.

He also couldn't delegate this to others or ask other little badgers to help him search. After all, Ciel couldn't explain how he knew such a textbook existed. He could only do this himself.

There was also another problem. The Potions classrooms were Snape's territory. Usually, the Potions classrooms were locked after class. To search through several Potions classrooms would probably require getting the keys from Snape.

Thinking of this, Ciel couldn't help but feel a bit troubled. He had embarrassed Snape several times before. Especially when he retaliated against Malfoy, it was inevitable that Snape would take his anger out on him. Getting what he wanted from Snape probably wouldn't be easy.

But no matter what, Ciel was determined to get that Half-Blood Prince textbook. Learning Sectumsempra earlier would give him more confidence when facing the escaped Antonin Dolohov.

Conveniently, this morning was Potions class. Ciel took a deep breath and walked toward the Potions classroom.

Monday mornings were already painful. Add to that having Potions class first period, and the pain was doubled.

Whether little badgers or little eagles, they all showed uneasy expressions when entering the Potions classroom. Especially when Snape dragged his wide black robes, gliding in like a bat while emanating an iceberg-like cold aura, the young wizards didn't dare say a word.

Snape coldly surveyed everyone, particularly the little badgers. When he discovered that no careless little badger was late, a hint of regret flashed in his eyes. If the little badgers had been late, he would have had reason to deduct points from Hufflepuff. That way, Slytherin might still have a chance to overtake them this week.

But it didn't matter. Potions class lasted the entire morning. Snape would always find reasons to deduct points.

"Hannah Abbott, were you even listening? Did I tell you to handle the materials that way? One point from Hufflepuff for wasting precious materials!"

"Susan Bones, your cauldron operation doesn't even meet basic safety standards. This shows how negligent you are in Potions class. One point from Hufflepuff!"

Snape walked back and forth among the little badgers. When he reached Ciel's cauldron, he really wanted to find some reason to deduct points from Ciel too. But even the demanding Snape had to admit that although Ciel's operations lacked genius intuition, they were exactly like the textbook.

Seeing this, he could only walk away with a dark expression, trying to find fault with other little badgers. From time to time, the little eagles also had to endure Snape's sarcasm.

This Potions class truly felt as long as the apocalypse for everyone.

When the bell finally rang, Hufflepuff had already lost five points, and even Ravenclaw had lost two points. The little badgers and little eagles practically dragged themselves out of the Potions classroom. Only after leaving the classroom far behind did they finally dare to speak aloud.

"Merlin above, what a terrible start to the week."

"I bet Professor Snape held back all weekend just waiting for today to deduct points from us."

"Is this the level of targeting that Gryffindor, especially Harry, usually faces?"

"Did you see how Professor Snape looked at Ciel today? If I were Ciel, my hands would probably be shaking."

"Huh? Where's Ciel?"

"Probably went to the greenhouse again. Maybe he needs to go there to recover too."

But what no one expected was that Ciel was still in the Potions classroom at this moment. He was even standing in front of the podium, making his request to Snape.

When Snape heard Ciel's request, he couldn't help but be stunned. He said slowly:

"Ciel Sprout. You're saying you want to take on the job of cleaning the Potions classroom. And you want to help me prepare some potion ingredients used in class?"

Confusion, bewilderment, and other emotions flashed in Snape's eyes. He wasn't unaware of his reputation among the young wizards. Students from other houses practically couldn't run away fast enough when they saw him. What had gotten into Ciel Sprout that he wanted to become his Potions assistant?

Snape sneered, preparing to spew venom full of mockery and sarcasm at Ciel. But before he could speak, Ciel had already responded.

"Yes, Professor Snape. I believe that for a Potions master like you to waste time preparing basic materials is simply a waste of talent. Your time should be spent exploring the boundaries of Potions. Things like cutting porcupine quills and squeezing flobberworm mucus—even a first-year like me can do that. Why waste your time?"

Snape, who had been about to spew venom, paused. He snorted coldly. But he didn't refute Ciel either. He even suddenly felt that, setting aside Ciel's previous conflicts with Slytherin House, what Ciel said this time was quite pleasant to hear.

That stingy Dumbledore wouldn't even provide him with a Potions assistant. He often had to do time-wasting tasks himself. Like brewing tooth-protecting potions for the headmaster. Damn it, couldn't he just eat fewer sweets?! Why were there so few people who understood the value of a Potions master's time?

Thinking of this, Snape felt he really needed a Potions assistant to help save him some time. But looking at Ciel before him, a hint of coldness still flashed in the depths of Snape's eyes. He could find a Potions assistant, but that person would come from Slytherin House.

As for Ciel, this little badger... Snape had planned to refuse him outright. But after a moment, he had another idea. Maybe he should let Ciel suffer a bit. He could also find opportunities to deduct more points from Hufflepuff. That way, Slytherin's hopes of overtaking them would be greater.

So Snape said coldly, "My standards for a Potions assistant are very high. You need to prove to me that you have such qualifications."

Soon, Snape brought over a large basket of still-wriggling flobberworms.

"Flobberworm mucus is a thickening agent used in potion-making. Almost all potions require it. Process all this worm mucus for me. Do it properly—it must meet my standards."

Then Snape threw Ciel a set of Potions classroom keys.

"By tomorrow, I want to see all this mucus prepared."

At the same time, he said with a malicious smile, "You probably won't get any sleep tonight. You'll have to work through the night here. If you slack off or doze off and delay tomorrow's teaching, even with Professor Sprout's face to consider, I'll still deduct points heavily from Hufflepuff House."

Hearing Snape's words, Ciel showed no reaction whatsoever. All night? Was that even a problem for him?

The key thing was the Potions classroom keys Snape had given him. With them, he could enter and exit the Potions classroom to search for the Half-Blood Prince's textbook. This was much easier than he had imagined.

So Ciel said sincerely, "Thank you for the opportunity, Professor!"

Snape was stunned. Faced with Ciel's thanks, he unnaturally turned his head away and quickly left the Potions classroom.

Thinking of Ciel's sincere expression when looking at him, he couldn't help but feel a trace of guilt.

"I'm obviously making things difficult for him, but he thinks I'm giving him an opportunity and thanks me. But what he doesn't know is that even if he really works all night to process these flobberworms properly, I never planned to actually let him be my Potions assistant..."

Snape fell silent for a moment. For an instant, he had a moment of self-doubt.

"Am I being a bit too harsh?"

(End of Chapter)

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