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Chapter 635: Snape’s Secret
🕑 Added 2025-03-19 13:06:39 +0000 UTCUmbridge had left most tasks to Filch, except perhaps the more cumbersome duty of keeping track of everything, as she simply didn’t have the time for it.
This became clear when Kyle and Kanna descended the stone steps of the dungeon to the Potions classroom, only to notice Umbridge sitting in a shadowy corner at the back of the room, the ever-familiar clipboard in hand.
The rest of the class had seen her too, and whispers quickly spread through the room.
“Why is she here again?”
“Do you think she’s investigating the professor a second time?”
“I doubt it. She only observed the other classes once.”
“Maybe Professor Snape’s different. He’s not exactly popular.”
“Nonsense! Professor Snape is the best!” came an indignant retort, clearly from a Slytherin.
Still, the atmosphere in the classroom was thick with curiosity. After all, Umbridge had already observed Professor Snape’s Potions class just two days ago. Why had she returned?
Even Umbridge herself seemed perplexed. As she listened to the murmured speculations and reviewed the notes on her clipboard, a faint frown crossed her face. Why was everyone insisting she had been here before? Her clipboard contained no record of Snape at all.
“Quiet!”
The sudden bark made the classroom fall silent as the door swung open.
Snape swept into the room, his eyes scanning the students before landing on Umbridge in the corner. His expression darkened immediately, a scowl tugging at his sharp features.
Kyle couldn’t help himself and let out a laugh.
Snape turned his icy glare on him in an instant.
Kyle froze and clamped his mouth shut, though his shoulders shook as he stifled his amusement.
“What’s so funny?” Kanna whispered, glancing at him curiously.
Kyle leaned closer and whispered back, “It’s hilarious—looks like Professor Snape’s plan backfired.”
He knew exactly what was happening. Umbridge’s second visit to the Potions classroom could only mean one thing: she had no memory of being here before. Snape must have cast a Memory Charm on her, erasing not only her findings but also her recollection of the entire class.
However, Kyle suspected the spell hadn’t gone quite as Snape intended. The Charm had worked a little too well, making Umbridge forget so much that she’d unwittingly returned to repeat her investigation.
If it were him, Kyle thought, he would have modified her memory just enough to forget the key details—like her post-class questions—rather than wiping her memory entirely. That would have been a much cleaner solution.
Still, Kyle couldn’t help but wonder what Umbridge had said or done to provoke Snape into using the Charm in the first place. It must have been something truly irritating.
He was just about to share his thoughts with Kanna when he glanced up and locked eyes with Snape.
The professor’s gaze was frigid, his expression hard and unyielding, like he was contemplating murder.
Kyle snapped his mouth shut, opting for silence.
Snape’s piercing glare lingered for a moment longer before his face softened, though only slightly.
"Today, we will learn about the Elixir to Induce Euphoria," Snape began, taking a deep breath as though nothing unusual had occurred.
"It is a potion that demands exceptional patience to brew successfully, as you must continuously monitor the potion's color in the cauldron. Only then can you proceed with the next steps at precisely the right time."
With a flick of his wand, words appeared on the blackboard. "The method," he announced curtly. "Begin."
The students immediately focused on their work, forgetting about Umbridge for the moment.
"Shrivelfig... Porcupine quill... Peppermint..." Kyle murmured to himself as he checked his ingredients. Satisfied they were correct, he began grinding with practiced precision.
For the first half hour, Umbridge remained seated and silent, but Kyle knew it wouldn’t last. That wasn’t her style—she had followed the same pattern during her previous visit.
Sure enough, as though an invisible alarm had gone off, she stood up exactly thirty minutes later and began pacing between the rows of desks. She cast quick glances at the students’ cauldrons as she made her way toward Snape.
“The students in this class seem to be quite talented,” she said in her simpering tone. “The Elixir to Induce Euphoria is such a delightful potion. After all, who doesn’t need a little more happiness in their lives?”
“But that happiness is artificial,” Snape replied coolly. “And excessive use results in undesirable side effects.”
“I don’t see why that should be a concern,” Umbridge retorted lightly. “Just use it in moderation. If the Elixir to Induce Euphoria were truly that dangerous, the Ministry of Magic wouldn’t have approved its inclusion in the curriculum, don’t you think?”
Snape responded with a derisive snort.
“So, you’re at Hogwarts...” Umbridge began, only for Snape to cut her off.
“I have been teaching here for fourteen years,” he said curtly.
Umbridge faltered for a moment, then resumed scribbling on her clipboard as though nothing had happened.
From his desk, Kyle observed the exchange out of the corner of his eye while crushing petals with the back of his knife. When Umbridge set her clipboard down, he muttered quietly, almost to himself, “Did you apply to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts first?”
A moment later, as if on cue, Umbridge asked Snape the exact same question, word for word.
Kyle smirked. This confirmed his theory: Snape had indeed used a Memory Charm on her.
However, the brewing process was reaching a critical stage, and most of the students were too focused on their cauldrons to notice the peculiar repetition. Only Kyle seemed aware of what was happening.
Snape, clearly irritated by the redundant question, bristled but managed to keep his composure. To avoid drawing attention, he reluctantly indulged Umbridge’s questions, no matter how trivial they seemed.
The rest of the class proceeded predictably. After finishing with Snape, Umbridge wandered around the room, pretending to inspect the students’ potions.
The performance was painfully obvious. Umbridge’s limited understanding of potion-making became glaringly apparent when she praised a student whose potion was bright pink.
In truth, the Elixir to Induce Euphoria should have been blue at this stage, before the addition of another ingredient. The pink hue was the result of mixing the ingredients incorrectly—specifically, adding dried Shrivelfig petals instead of its sap.
A ripple of laughter spread through the room. The embarrassed student turned scarlet, staring at their desk, while even Snape allowed himself a faint smirk, clearly amused by Umbridge’s ignorance.
Only Umbridge remained oblivious, her expression blank as she tried to understand what everyone was laughing about.
As the lesson concluded, the students bottled their potions. Most of them had achieved the desired light gold color, but the student Umbridge had praised earlier handed in a potion that stood out starkly from the others.
Finally realizing her mistake, Umbridge’s face tightened momentarily, but she quickly masked it and acted as if nothing had happened. She marched toward Snape once more, clipboard clutched firmly in hand.
Kyle’s eyes lit up with anticipation.
The last time this had happened, Snape had used the Memory Charm during their private conversation. Kyle was certain she would repeat her actions—and her words—this time, too.
Eager to observe, Kyle deliberately lingered behind, dropping a few parchment sheets onto the floor to create an excuse to stay in the classroom.
He had used this same trick during Transfiguration class before.
But this time, before he could retrieve the fallen sheets, Snape swept his wand sharply through the air.
A gust of wind gathered the parchment, including Kyle’s, and whisked them all out of the room.
Snap!
The classroom door slammed shut behind him.
