HP: Alchemy? Nah, It's Crafting

"So... what happened to Miss Granger?" During Alchemy class, Kasenhis looked at the clearly empty seat and asked Harry and the others.

"Uh..." The three of them glanced at each other.

Of course, they wanted to save poor Hermione's dignity — after all, they were friends — but none of them could resist the bizarre urge to share, so they went with a more subtle approach.

"Professor, do you remember the prophecy we told you about?"

"Oh?" Kasenhis understood immediately. Of course he remembered. Ridiculous prophecies usually weren't very accurate, but once they crossed into the territory of the utterly absurd, you had no choice but to remember them—not for accuracy, but for entertainment value.

"Well, can't be helped then. Since we're one student short today, we'll go easy and just review a bit," Kasenhis said with a devilish smile, "Everyone take out your notes—I'll be taking a surprise test! I'll ask questions one by one. No one's escaping."

"??? Meow meow meow meow???" The little wizards all stared at Kasenhis, their big eyes full of helplessness.

…

After class, in front of the hospital wing...

Kasenhis held a few pixelated carnations in his hand. He just wanted to check on Hermione's condition—after all, it was perfectly normal for a professor to care about his students' health.

Absolutely not because he wanted to see what was up with Hermione's horns.

But for some reason, his lips just couldn't stop curling into a grin, giving people a rather suspicious impression.

Honestly, it was fine originally, but if Hermione saw that expression, she'd probably take it as him laughing at her, so…

Stupid mouth! Wipe that grin off now!

Kasenhis was furiously fussing with the corners of his mouth, trying to smooth them out—and thankfully, his efforts finally paid off.

"Phew... hold it, hold it..." he muttered to himself, trying hard to keep his mouth in a neutral position. Unfortunately, the tendons in his neck were pulled taut from the effort.

He stepped into the hospital wing, quietly greeted Madam Pomfrey, asked which ward Hermione was in, and walked in.

Inside, Hermione was sitting in a large bubble, staring at a book that was also wrapped in a bubble. On her head, there weren't any red little horns, just two abnormal-looking bumps…

Truly living up to the phrase "youth with budding horns."

"Hello there. I'm just stopping by since you seem to be alright." Kasenhis placed the few pixelated carnations into the vase on the bedside table.

"Yes, Professor, and it would be even better if the corners of your mouth could relax a little," Hermione said with a wry smile.

"Oh..." Kasenhis touched the corners of his mouth, which had involuntarily curled up again, and pressed his lips together helplessly.

"It's just that I was shocked by you. You know, you looked somewhat similar to a Japanese cartoon kid Shin Chan because of those bumps on your head—Ug, what I mean—pfft~ Ehm.. You now truly look like someone with outstanding potential—a future Minister for Magic! Yeah! That's what I mean!"

"Oh, thank you, Professor. Even though I know you're just trying to cheer me up." Hermione nodded and looked at Kasenhis, then pursed her lips and said, "Professor, why do I feel like you're... a little disappointed?"

"Huh? Really?"

Hermione nodded seriously.

"...Alright, I'm just... uh... curious, purely curious," Kasenhis said a little awkwardly.

"Oh... I remember... mm... Professor, open the drawer in the bedside table. There's a small bag of mine in there," Hermione sighed, speaking in a tone of resigned acceptance.

Kasenhis took out the small bag and waved it toward Hermione.

"In the outermost layer, there's a photo. Madam Pomfrey took it earlier—you can keep it as a souvenir."

Kasenhis quickly pulled the photo out from the bag!

It was a magical moving photo, and in it, Hermione had two adorable little white horns growing from her forehead, looking teary-eyed and pitifully at the camera.

"KYA~~ ehm! No, no, I really can't accept this. You're absolutely going to regret handing over your dark history to me in the future... I suggest you show it to your parents instead. Honestly, a little embarrassment at school could actually help bring you closer," Kasenhis explained.

"Oh... I hope so," Hermione replied listlessly.

Kasenhis helped return the photo to the bag and placed it back inside the bedside table drawer.

"Alright, I won't disturb your rest any longer. Every extra second I stay increases the chance of Madam Pomfrey chasing me out with a giant weapon," Kasenhis said, standing up.

When he looked at Hermione's budding horns bumps again, he nearly lost control and quickly took off the hat on his own head as a gesture of apology.

"Take care and recover well!"

Hermione wordlessly watched the professor—acting like a child—as he left the hospital wing, then turned another page in the book she was holding.

Rustle...

The next morning, Hermione had already been discharged. Kasenhis even went to join the fun, only to return disappointed after confirming that the "head horns" were fully gone and it was once again just a clean, white forehead.

He had honestly been hoping Hermione could unlock a new form—like those two little horns could retract and regrow at will.

That would've been so cool.

But no matter how cool that might've been, it didn't compare to the importance of eating right now. Kasenhis was currently studying a particularly arrogant potato. The potato was extremely smooth and round, to the point that...

"Severus, give it a Sectumsempra!" Kasenhis, who finally broke down under the potato's defenses, shoved the plate toward Snape. A flash of magical energy quickly swept by, and he had two neat halves of potato once again.

"Using Sectumsempra to slice potatoes—classic you, Severus," Lupin said, trying to put on a friendly smile. But the moment the words entered Snape's ears, it sounded like layered sarcasm.

"Classic me? Are you just blabbering whatever comes to your mind? And I don't recall giving you permission to call me Severus, Mr. Lupin," Snape said dryly.

"Oh... alright then, Professor Snape. I just wanted to apologize—I hadn't had the chance until now," Lupin explained awkwardly.

"And you're the only one?" Snape shot a glance at Lupin.

"Right now, I can only speak for myself."

"Puerile." Snape snorted coldly.

Lupin discreetly nudged Kasenhis with his leg. "What does that mean?"

"It means that although he has mentally accepted your apology, because he's a tsundere to the core, he won't show it on the surface. From now on, while he'll still mock and ridicule you, there won't be any hatred or murderous intent. You'll just be strangers—not enemies." Kasenhis dutifully translated.

"Kasen!" Snape's knife clanged sharply against his plate.

"Oh, Puerile is a synonym for immature—Well, I'm full. Gotta prep lessons—see ya, brothers!" Kasenhis immediately tried to flee, but just as he stood up, an owl swooped in through the window and dropped a letter right in front of him.

The same kind of letter also appeared at the Gryffindor table in front of four students—and one next to Lupin.

"What is this?" Snape actually asked, unusually.

"Oh... Sirius Black invited me and Lupin, plus Harry and a few of the students, to his house this weekend..."

"Lost my appetite. I'm leaving!" Snape suddenly stood up with a flourish, his black robes billowing behind him as he stormed off toward his office.

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