Hoare was so troubled by Potions that he couldn't even enjoy his dinner.

At the head table, every professor was present, except for Headmaster Snape, who didn't show up in the Great Hall.

Hoare's heart skipped a beat. Had the potion's effects worn off?

Was the headmaster too embarrassed to attend?

Hoare could only pray that Headmaster Snape wouldn't be so enraged as to silence him permanently.

It was no surprise that Snape hadn't come looking for Hoare yet.

But he also knew that the headmaster hadn't come because he had to report to the dungeons at eight.

Why bother looking for Hoare beforehand?

Was Snape worried Hoare would run away?

No need to worry, after all, Hoare was the Potions class assistant.

The reason he wasn't there today was that Marcus Flint had gotten permission from the headmaster for his absence.

Hoare covered his face, realizing that when Marcus Flint went to get the leave approved, the headmaster must have already been affected.

He thought it odd that the headmaster would actually let someone go today.

After finishing his dinner, Hoare found a quiet place to walk and digest, hoping time would slow down.

Unfortunately, time waits for no one.

7:15 PM.

Hoare thought about many things.

The headmaster had only taken a small dose of the Joy Potion, so its effects wore off quickly.

And now, with the headmaster so angry, Hoare guessed the main reason was that he felt his authority had been challenged.

Thinking back to China, which student would dare to defy a teacher and prank them?

7:45 PM.

Hoare lingered at the dungeon entrance for a while, as he usually went in around this time.

8:00 PM.

Hoare pushed the door open.

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Snape, whose face was as dark as his clothes and the night, glared at Hoare with gritted teeth.

Before Snape could speak, Hoare quickly placed the potion bottle on the table, pleading, "Headmaster, I really made a healing potion. This is another bottle from the same batch. Please verify it."

He also placed his research notes on the table. "I added biting cabbage and hemlock essence to the potion, which together produce an effect similar to peppermint, relaxing the user's nerves."

Hoare straightened up and turned to the page in his notes where he had recorded this.

He admitted his mistake, "This was my oversight. I didn't expect the effects to vary based on the severity of the injury, causing different side effects."

"Hmph!" Snape snorted coldly, his anger evident. "Is your brain filled with slugs? Utterly foolish!"

Snape stood up, pointing at Hoare and scolding, "You wasted fifteen minutes at the door over something so trivial!"

"Yes, yes, I... huh?" Hoare looked up. "Headmaster, you're not angry?"

"Angry?" Snape's expression remained stern, but Hoare noticed a hint of confusion.

"Because of my potion...?" Hoare reminded him.

Snape's expression surprisingly showed a trace of appreciation. "Your healing potion is excellent, much faster than regular dittany."

"The injured recover quickly and feel no discomfort during healing."

Snape seemed very pleased with Hoare's creation.

"But—what about the side effects?" Hoare was still unsure. After making it, he had calculated the effects based on various ingredients.

Since it needed to soothe the nerves of the injured, it contained some non-addictive herbs.

He hadn't expected the soothing effects to vary based on the severity of the user's injuries, causing different side effects.

When Hoare tested it, he only made a small cut on Scabbers, so Scabbers' reaction wasn't significant.

But Snape had a deep, gaping wound, making the side effects unusually pronounced.

He became a completely different person.

Snape showed a rare look of realization, surprising to see on his face.

He finally understood why Hoare acted the way he did upon entering.

"So, that's why you hesitated at the door?"

Hoare awkwardly scratched his head.

"Henry William, is your brain filled with knotgrass?" Snape sneered. "I'm a potions master. Before taking someone else's potion, I'm prepared for any side effects."

"Besides," Snape paused, "such an excellent healing potion, a little side effect is nothing."

He looked directly at Hoare. "You must understand, potions aren't always perfect. Sometimes, to achieve high efficiency, a few flaws are quite normal."

"You can't demand perfection all the time."

"Understand?"

Snape asked loudly.

Hoare finally realized he was too obsessed with perfection. "Understood, thank you, Headmaster."

Snape nodded. "I have something urgent. You can go back today."

Hoare thought for a moment, nodded, and turned to leave, closing the heavy wooden door of the dungeon behind him.

His steps were heavy. Snape had just said he was too obsessed with perfection. Was that why there was no progress with the Squib Potion?

For potion users, as long as they could have magic, even knowing there would be side effects, they would gladly accept it.

Maybe he could change his approach to the potion.

Initially, he aimed for a single dose to grant magic.

But now, it could be changed to temporarily restore magic.

Of course, this temporary effect should be much stronger than the initial potion.

To have magic, one would need to keep taking the potion.

This way, the Squib Potion's price could be adjusted to be more affordable for everyday use.

Lower the cost, increase sales.

The more Hoare thought about it, the more excited he became, eager to experiment. He already had a few materials with promising effects from previous experiments.

But back then, Hoare dismissed them for not meeting his expectations.

However, the materials were all in the dungeon.

Hoare thought he would go early tomorrow to experiment, reducing Quidditch practice since he was just there to play along.

It was rare for him to stroll around Hogwarts at this time, finding it a bit novel.

Usually, when Hoare left the dungeon, it was almost eleven, and he would rush back to his dorm to sleep.

The scenery along this path was a rare sight for him.

Stars dotted the dark sky, and a crescent moon hung on the horizon.

In the silent Hogwarts, apart from the wind and Hoare's footsteps, there were no other sounds.

Just as Hoare was about to marvel at how early everyone was resting, he heard hurried footsteps in the distance.

"Harry? Draco?"

This was a combination Hoare never expected.

"Henry!?"

"Henry!"

Harry and Draco turned around when they heard someone call them, surprised to see a familiar face.

Draco knew Hoare usually stayed in the dungeon until late, so he looked at the moonlight, puzzled. "Why are you heading back so early today?"

Hoare shrugged. "The headmaster had something urgent."

"What happened?" Hoare was curious about their unlikely pairing, knowing these two were natural rivals.

They could argue for hours over whether pumpkin juice or potato juice tasted worse! Hoare thought both were culinary disasters. What was there to argue about?

"Why are you two together?"

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