Hogwarts: Bloodline Legend

Upon hearing these words.

Hermione took a deep breath and nodded towards the upside-down Snape. She stood by the door, steeling herself, and then cautiously opened the door.

Of course.

She was even more careful than Snape had described. She opened the door just enough to block the view of the office completely, revealing less than half of her face through the crack.

That grim face appeared even more sullen from this angle. Outside stood Lockhart, wearing a purple robe and sporting his trademark radiant smile.

The man was holding a copy of the "Advanced Potion Making Guide."

It was as if he really had an interest in potions.

"Good evening, Professor Snape," said Professor Lockhart, his glittering golden hair shining under the corridor torchlight, revealing extraordinarily white teeth.

"The weather's been great today, hasn't it? I just saw a marvelous Mandragora in the greenhouse over there..." He looked so carefree as he chatted away leisurely.

"Don't... bring up these pointless things." Hermione resisted the urge to roll her eyes and struggled to maintain Snape's cold tone: "I'm... very busy."

She didn't stutter.

But her voice was slightly too drawn out.

Trying to disguise the chaos in her heart.

Fortunately, Lockhart did not seem suspicious at all.

"Ah! Taking the time to respond to me despite being so busy, this surely is a testament to our friendship, perhaps I should call you my dear Severus!" he said enthusiastically, spreading his arms wide.

"Oh come on, don't be so serious."

He wanted to squeeze into the office.

However.

Hermione stubbornly used her foot to brace the door firmly. She nodded stiffly at Lockhart, her fingers gripping the doorframe tightly, preventing Professor Lockhart from squeezing in and embracing her.

On this.

Professor Lockhart seemed a bit disappointed, but he continued to chatter away to himself: "Today's students are so hard to teach; just yesterday Potter asked me whether vampires or werewolves are more afraid of garlic... hahaha! I've heard the weather will turn bad in the coming days; although it's a bit chilly, I think it's the perfect time to inspire the students' fighting spirit."

"Don't you agree?"

Lockhart seemed like he was exchanging tips on how to motivate the little wizard with a colleague.

"Hmm."

Hermione nodded in response.

"They've been a bit too slack recently. Half of the assignments I gave yesterday were titled 'How to Deal with Werewolves,' yet we were clearly covering how to handle ghouls."

"Oh, the young of today, they give me a headache. These students are just too hard to teach. I suppose it's because they haven't seen enough of the world. When will the school ever restore the tradition of teachers taking students out on expeditions? Although it's risky for students, they would certainly grow more capable in the future."

This was once again attempting to casually chat with Snape about institutional policies.

"What exactly..." Hermione squeezed her words through her teeth, her gaze fixed on the magic potion books in Professor Lockhart's hand, "do you have a potion problem?"

Hermione genuinely wanted to send Lockhart on his way.

Lockhart finally put aside his chatter, earnestly flipping open the pages of the book: "I'm researching a potion named 'Night Shadow Coagulant,' said to enhance memory recovery, but I can't find the correct proportions. I've heard you have great expertise in this area, could you take a look?"

Hermione became instantly petrified when she saw that page—it was an extremely obscure fragment of an ancient magic potion book, mixed into the textbook. She had neither seen nor heard of this formula!

Ancient magic potion!

She forced composure, bowing her head to pretend to examine it, but her mind was blank.

Just as she was about to collapse, a low voice suddenly echoed in her ear.

"Tell him, the component ratio he needs is 0.3 grams of Dragon's Tongue Herb Powder, 5 drops of Moonlight Water, and a pinch of silver powder. The ratio must be strictly controlled, or it will cause an explosion."

It was Snape's voice!

Thanks to the timely guidance!

Hermione finally didn't need to keep sweating!

Hermione exhaled in relief and answered immediately according to the instructions.

And.

She also added some more details as per Snape's further instructions.

"You need to slowly add the Dragon's Tongue Herb Powder at a ratio of 0.3 grams, then add five drops of Moonlight Water, and finally sprinkle in a small amount of silver powder. Mind the order, it cannot be reversed."

This absolutely proved Snape's widespread knowledge.

Hermione conveyed all the details with an indifferent sound, as instructed by Snape while resisting the urge to marvel at Snape's vast knowledge.

This truly was a master of magic potions.

Even ancient potions couldn't stump him—Hermione's understanding of Snape gained another new level of respect; putting aside his personality, Snape was certainly excellent.

"Wow, you remember it so clearly? That's amazing, Professor Snape indeed has a well-deserved reputation!" Lockhart looked at Hermione in amazement, as if genuinely expressing admiration and praise.

Hermione forced a smile.

"Thank you."

This was an instinctual response after being complimented.

Under normal circumstances, Snape would certainly not respond like this to others, he would instead throw them a look and slam the door, but thankfully Hermione's reaction did not cause Professor Lockhart to suspect anything.

"If there's nothing else, I'll just get back to my work then."

Hermione realized her mistake and prepared to close the door.

Less interaction is better.

However.

It seemed Professor Lockhart's inquiry was not yet complete.

"Oh! Wait for me a moment, this is a personal question, unrelated to the little wizards," Lockhart lowered his voice suddenly, "Actually, I've been researching a very special potion..."

He moved closer mystically, his face nearly touching Hermione's in the crack, making Hermione quickly take a step back with her head. Lockhart then lowered his voice cautiously over the crack of the door.

"Do you know how to use Tears of the Mooncalf, along with Succubus hair, as more potent ingredients for Amortentia?" This wasn't just touching the edge of Hermione's knowledge.

It also made Hermione want to call for help.

However.

Just as Hermione's brain couldn't help but wonder what Professor Lockhart wanted with a strong Amortentia, Snape's voice once again threaded through like spider silk.

[Tell him Mooncalf tears need to be brewed in a golden crucible, and they must first be mixed with moonlight water and left to stand for three hours—as for Succubus hair, if he can get it, I'll handle it for him.]

It must be said.

Snape was as ever omnipotent in magic potions— Hermione could feel Snape's goodwill, though she guessed Snape himself might also covet Succubus hair.

Letting her imagination run wild momentarily, Hermione responded verbatim, "Mooncalf tears need to be brewed in a golden crucible and mixed with moonlight water first, left to stand for three hours."

"If you can get the Succubus hair, I suppose I'd have time to process it for you. Though it might come at a slight loss." Hermione spoke, and surprisingly, Snape did not scold her.

Evidently.

Hermione had guessed Snape's little idea.

"Alright, alright, no problem, Professor Snape, you're amazing." Lockhart's eyes suddenly grew frighteningly bright: "How splendid! What if I add Smell Illusion Grass?"

[Idiot! That would make you fall in love with the same gender!]

Snape's transmission nearly pierced Hermione's eardrums.

"It would make you... fall in love with the same gender."

Hermione blurted out.

"Good heavens!"

Lockhart clutched his chest.

"That sounds all the more marvelous."

His remarks left Hermione at a loss for words, and just as Hermione was opening her mouth, unsure of how to respond, Professor Lockhart suddenly reached through the crack in the door, grabbing Hermione's hand and shaking it vigorously.

"Someday, you must try my lemon cake! It's an exquisite recipe even Dumbledore praised after eating it." With that, he turned and walked away, his steps light and disappearing down the corridor. As that dazzling golden hair finally vanished around the corridor corner, Hermione nearly slammed the door shut, her back leaning heavily against the door as she panted heavily.

Her heart pounded like a drum.

It took her a moment to regain her composure, only to find that during the brief handshake with Professor Lockhart, a small inconspicuous note had been quietly placed in her hand.

"Fall in love with the same gender?"

Hermione's eyes widened.

"Could this be a love letter?"

"Lockhart likes Snape!"

At times, she could have bold thoughts, but it was somewhat more justifiable than Ron's wild imaginings.