HP: The Boy who Planted

When Char saw the signature "Half-Blood Prince," he took a deep, steadying breath. For more than half a month, he had searched the Potions classroom lockers, sifting through piles of old books, lost quills, and forgotten parchment. Now, at last, amidst the clutter, he held the very book he sought: "Advanced Potion Making."

He opened it carefully, his fingers tracing the worn cover. Inside, the margins were crammed with dense, meticulous notes—some so extensive they covered entire sections of the printed text. The original textbook contents were almost erased by the sheer volume of handwritten additions. It was clear the owner had little patience for the standard lessons, preferring to rewrite the rules entirely. This, Char knew, was unmistakably Snape's style from his youth.

After just a few glances, Char was certain: this was the real thing. The book he had been searching for was now in his hands. He exhaled, a weight lifting from his shoulders. He had worried, briefly, that the textbook's appearance in the original Harry Potter story had been orchestrated—some trick of fate or magic. But here it was, found by pure persistence. Harry's discovery had indeed been a coincidence.

Just as Char was about to delve further into the Half-Blood Prince's notes, he heard familiar footsteps echoing down the corridor. Moments later, Snape swept into the classroom, his black robes billowing.

Snape's sharp eyes took in the spotless room, the neatly prepared baskets of Flobberworms and porcupine quills. A flicker of satisfaction crossed his face, but it vanished as soon as he turned to Char.

"You asked for my guidance in Potions," Snape said, his voice cool. "How long do you intend to stand there like a statue? Char, get out your cauldron. We'll start with a simple Scabies Potion."

Char quickly set aside thoughts of the Half-Blood Prince textbook and the Sharp Edge Shadowless Spell. The book was safe in his hands—he could study it later. But Snape's private lessons were rare and precious. With Snape's temper, even a moment of distraction could end the session abruptly. This was about the Sacred Tree Potion, about the guardian tree, and Char couldn't afford to waste the opportunity.

He set up his cauldron with practiced hands, his expression serious and focused. Snape watched, a flicker of approval in his eyes. Char's dedication was rare among Hogwarts students, and it reminded Snape—just a little—of his younger self.

But as soon as Char began brewing, Snape stopped him. Char blinked in confusion. The Scabies Potion was the most basic of all potions. He had brewed it successfully in his very first Potions class, and by now, after nearly two months of practice, it was second nature. He had followed the textbook steps exactly—what could be wrong?

Snape's lips curled in a sneer. "Have you forgotten my comments on your Scabies Potion from class? It was lifeless, mechanical. It had no soul. You followed the script, but you didn't understand the potion."

Char's mind raced. He remembered Snape's harsh words, his dismissal of perfectly brewed potions that lacked "spirit." Now, looking at the Half-Blood Prince's textbook, he realized the truth: Snape had always despised rigid textbook rules. He had rewritten the book according to his own understanding, his own intuition.

So even if Char followed the standard steps, he would never satisfy Snape. But what was he missing?

Snape's voice cut through his thoughts. "Idiot. Have you forgotten everything about handling potion ingredients? Can you not absorb any experience?"

For most students, Snape's sharp tone would be crushing. But Char, who had endured countless group meetings and academic critiques in his previous life, found it almost refreshing. Snape was still too gentle compared to some of the professors he had known.

"Experience in handling potion materials…" Char mused. Suddenly, it clicked. Snape didn't treat every ingredient the same. He adjusted his methods based on the magical aura of each material. The textbook was a guideline, not a law. Real potion-making required intuition, a feel for the magic in each ingredient.

Char's eyes brightened with understanding. He realized why Snape had him start with the simplest potion: to rebuild his approach from the ground up. The Scabies Potion's magic was straightforward, but even here, the nuances mattered.

He turned his attention back to the cauldron, adding ingredients in a different order, stirring in a rhythm that felt right rather than following the textbook. Snape watched, his expression unreadable. When Char finished, the potion was a foul-smelling mess—a clear failure. But Snape didn't scold him. Instead, he pointed out a few mistakes, then simply said, "Continue."

Char started again, and again, each time adjusting his technique, trying to sense the magic in the ingredients. Snape closed his eyes, not to rest, but to focus on the magical fluctuations in the cauldron. Two hours passed. Eight failed potions sat on the table, but the last one smelled far better than the first.

Snape wiped his brow, looking tired but satisfied. "That's all for today. We'll continue next week." Without another word, he turned and left the classroom.

Outside, Snape sighed quietly. The regret on his face deepened. Char's magical talent was limited—not just in spellcasting, but in magical perception. While hard work could improve it, there were limits. For some, a few hours of practice could achieve what took Char months. But Snape had made a promise, and he would keep it. He would guide Char to brew the Sacred Tree Potion, no matter how long it took.

Back in the classroom, Char sat thoughtfully. "Brewing potions Snape's way requires even greater magical perception than herbology," he realized. "My [Magic Perception Enhancement] is already at the silver level, but I still need more practice to brew a proper Scabies Potion. The Sacred Tree Potion will be even harder—gold-level perception, at least."

But Char wasn't discouraged. Instead, he felt a spark of excitement. "A new batch of goldfish spider plants will be ready in two days. After harvesting the rewards, gold-level [Magic Perception Enhancement] is within reach. The Sacred Tree Potion and the guardian tree won't be far behind."

He pulled out the Half-Blood Prince textbook and began to read. His eyes scanned the dense notes, searching for the spells he needed. After a while, he found them: the Upside-Down Golden Bell Curse, and—most importantly—the Divine Edge Shadowless Curse.

Char's heart raced. The truth of potions, the key to real mastery, was now within his reach. He closed the book, a smile on his lips. The path ahead was clear, and he was ready to walk it.