Daily News: The Prophet of Hogwarts

Chapter 40 Felix Felicis and the Past

In the underground Potions classroom, filled with glass jars containing various magical plant and animal specimens, even the damp and chilly atmosphere couldn't mask the pervasive smell of potions in the air.

The two who left the auditorium came here.

"What do you need Felix Felicis for?" Snape, who had been silent the whole way, finally spoke.

He implicitly agreed that he would give Ryan a bottle of Felix Felicis.

"As the most renowned potion in the magical world, it's normal for me to be curious about Felix Felicis, isn't it?" Ryan found a place to sit down. "Especially since this potion is said to improve one's luck."

"It's fake. Mr. Wells, I can't believe even you would be swayed by such a rumor, and Felix Felicis won't do you much good." Snape spoke in his signature tone, tapping the wall with his wand. After a series of complex spells, a small groove appeared in the wall, from which he retrieved a small bottle containing a golden liquid.

Are you so sure that Felix Felicis won't work for me?

How do you know it won't work for me before I've even used it?

Ryan didn't know why Snape was so sure.

"Mr. Wells, the idea that Felix Felicis makes the user lucky is just an illusion," Snape said, handing the small bottle to Ryan.

"The real effect of FLU is that it gives the user a strong sense of confidence, broadens their thinking, and enhances their responsiveness, thereby enabling them to exert their full strength and accomplish things that were previously impossible."

Snape sat across from Lane: "Mr. Wells, this is not your usual level of performance, and I don't think you'll be misled by such rumors."

"I think there might be something that made you lose your mind, something related to good luck."

Lane noticed that Snape seemed to enjoy staring at people with empty eyes, even when he wasn't using Legilimency.

Perhaps the professor found it too intimidating... Ryan, while admiring him, also wanted to laugh: "Professor, I just mistook the Ravenclaw sitting in front of me for someone who is very good at reading people."

"Indeed, there's something very important to me... but it requires luck." He held the bottle up to his eyes, examined the golden liquid inside, smiled, and put the Felix Felicis away.

"Now that I've given you an answer, I'd like you to answer one of my questions as well: why do you think Felix Felicis didn't work for me?"

"Professor Lane---, you are a professor now, there's no need to address us like that." Snape's tone was cryptic.

"I'm just a student right now, and I don't think I've reached the standard of a professor yet," Ryan said.

Snape, too lazy to dwell on these trivial word games, said, "I've already explained the effects of Felix Felicis. Unlike Minerva and the others, I believe you are indeed the most talented student at Hogwarts right now."

"But that's far from enough to support you having this level of magical skill by fifth grade."

"According to you, elite wizards of this level are rare in the entire magical world, and it's impossible for a fifth-year student to be proficient in multiple fields."

It was so embarrassing... Ryan realized that the consequences of showing off in front of his classmates were huge. His teachers and mentors were all quoting their own flawed theories used to show off, which was incredibly awkward.

He could only console himself: thankfully, they were all Hogwarts insiders; outsiders wouldn't know. As long as I refine my theory quickly enough, there won't be any problems.

Snape paused, noticing Ryan suddenly trembling, before continuing, "After finding some potions that looked very familiar in Diagon Alley and Hodmorg's shops, I became certain of my suspicion that you had made yourself so outstanding through extensive and meticulous study and practice."

"Long-term practice keeps your magical level stable, unlike other wizards who need to improve their thinking and reaction before they can unleash their full power."

Ryan clapped. "Thank you for your explanation, Professor. No wonder I often saw you while I was out at night during my fourth year. So, Professor, what was your question?"

"My question is... Harry Potter," Snape said softly, as if indignant on Ryan's behalf. "He's reckless, arrogant, ignorant, and incompetent. Why did you let him join the Adventurers' Club? Was it because of his reputation?"

Reckless~~

Arrogant~~

Ignorance~~

Ignorant and incompetent~~

If it weren't for what the intelligence said, Professor Snape, you almost convinced me. I never imagined that you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, would be such a proud and arrogant person... Ryan never expected that Snape would be like this.

He repeated the prophecy, and finally asked, "Professor, please forgive my intrusion, but does Harry know how much you care about him?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ryan saw Snape, whom he could never see on ordinary days.

"Concern for Pott! Impossible! Wells! You're a despicable voyeur!!!" Snape slammed his fist on the table and stared at Ryan with a look that seemed to want to devour him alive.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" he kept roaring.

"Professor, as you know, I'm a prophet. Prophets' predictions are often uncontrollable... even prophets themselves can't clear what they've predicted," Ryan said. "Before seeing that expression on your face... I had no idea what happened back then."

"But now, your face tells a story."

"Shut up, Prophet!" Snape roared like a wounded beast, trying to drive away anyone who came near him.

Gradually, as if he were thinking of something, his roars grew softer and softer until he finally sat back down, listless, like a walking corpse.

"Lane, how do you prophets view prophecy?"

The corpse started talking... This was Ryan's first reaction upon hearing Snape speak.

"Professor Snape, in my opinion, prophecy is something that is about to happen." He drew his conclusion based on the characteristics of the intelligence, but he seemed to have heard that the orthodox prophecies here were different from the information he had obtained that could be altered; the orthodox prophecies here were closer to the future that was destined to happen.

"Can what's about to happen be changed?" Snape asked, head bowed.

From this, it seems Professor Snape's entanglement with Harry stems from a prophecy, coupled with Snape's ambivalent attitude towards Harry—a mixture of hatred and concern—and his current inquiry about whether the prophecy can be changed...

Then, considering that Professor Snape and Harry's parents should be the same age, Lane naturally concluded that Professor Snape may have fallen out with Harry's parents because of a prophecy. They may have been good friends, but eventually became like strangers.

That's why Professor Snape was so conflicted about Harry.

Having figured out the crux of the matter, Ryan, who was about to take on the role of a psychologist, asked, "Professor, do you hope things can change, or do you hope they can't?"

Snape looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Humans are masters of self-deception and self-punishment, Professor. If the answer that it cannot be changed makes you feel better, then of course I can tell you that prophecy cannot be changed."

"Or rather, whatever my answer is, it won't stop you from continuing to deceive yourself—about Harry's parents."

"Wells! Shut up! You know nothing!" Snape breathed heavily.

Ryan met those empty, lifeless eyes without flinching: "Professor, this time, you are afraid."

Once Snape looked away, Lane took a bottle of wine from his ring and poured it for Snape: "Isn't it a coincidence that I happen to have a bottle of wine here, and that I happen to be a very good listener?"

"Anything bottled up inside will fester and grow into a massive thing, regardless of joy or sorrow, love or hate."