Chapter 42: Some People Lack Virtue

Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Some People Lack Virtue

Chapter Forty-Two: Some People Lack Virtue

Friday.

Vesey followed Cassandra to Potions class.

The Potions classroom was in the dungeons, practically right next to the Slytherin common room.

It was much colder here than in the other classrooms, but Vesey thought the temperature was quite pleasant.

After all, September was still hot, and the cool temperature of the dungeons was exactly what she liked.

Almost as soon as everyone took their seats, Snape swept past them and strode straight to the podium, his robes billowing behind him.

He stood at the front without immediately taking attendance. Instead, he swept his eyes across the entire classroom before accurately fixing his gaze on Vesey.

Vesey immediately smiled at him, and Snape’s expression visibly softened.

But he soon found Harry, and a sinister smile flashed in his eyes.

Vesey guessed that he was probably thinking:

James Potter’s son has finally fallen into my hands!

Snape gave a quiet snort before picking up the attendance register.

When Vesey’s name was called, a smile appeared on his lips.

"The smartest little witch at Hogwarts!"

He said it with undisguised admiration.

Vesey almost burst out laughing.

To say something like that in such a serious class... Snape, you really are something.

Of course, she couldn’t show that on her face.

Instead, she put on an embarrassed expression.

"No, no, no. All the witches at Hogwarts are smart. I’m just the most ordinary one among them. At most, I work a little harder. If everyone works hard, they’ll be much smarter than me!"

She hurriedly explained.

She didn’t want Snape’s words to offend every other witch at Hogwarts.

Snape listened to her with a trace of nostalgia in his eyes.

Obviously, he was thinking of Lily.

He probably thought Lily had been just as outstanding as Vesey.

No—Vesey was just as outstanding as Lily.

Vesey didn’t even need to think to know what was going through Snape’s mind.

When this old lovesick fool sees all the good qualities in Harry and me, he’ll probably attribute them to Lily.

And as for all our shortcomings? Those must have come from James Potter!

"Sit down. I hope everyone can learn to be as humble as Vesey. Humility is a virtue, but some people simply lack virtue..."

His gaze shifted toward Harry.

Then Harry’s name was called.

"Harry Potter. A famous figure around here who seems to enjoy showing off his achievements to everyone!"

A burst of laughter erupted throughout the classroom.

Vesey immediately looked displeased.

"Professor, my brother has never shown off to anyone!"

she said loudly.

Harry gave her a grateful look.

Snape snorted.

"Miss Vesey is obviously mistaken. You’ve been in Slytherin and don’t know what certain people have done..."

But just as Vesey was about to correct him again, Snape immediately called another student’s name, leaving her no chance to argue.

Harry felt even more aggrieved and glared at Snape repeatedly.

From the very first day of school, he had known that Snape was not a good person!

Snape hated him for absolutely no reason!

Snape completely ignored Harry’s hostile gaze.

After finishing attendance, he began the actual lesson.

His voice wasn’t loud. It was almost a whisper, yet everyone could hear every word clearly.

"You are here to learn the precise science and exacting art of potion-making..."

"Since there is no foolish wand-waving here, some of you may not believe this is magic at all."

His eyes settled on Harry, making Harry especially angry.

"I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death—if you aren’t the kind of fool I so often have to deal with."

He glanced at Harry again.

He might as well have directly announced that the fool in question was Harry Potter.

Malfoy and the others quietly laughed.

Vesey hesitated as though she wanted to ask Snape not to target Harry.

But because Snape hadn’t openly singled Harry out yet, Vesey could only look at Harry with an expression of concern.

Snape was extremely displeased by the way Vesey was looking at Harry.

He had originally planned to wait until his introductory speech was over before making things difficult for Harry.

But seeing Vesey’s expression, he immediately raised his voice.

"Mr. Potter!"

There was only one Mr. Potter in the classroom, so Harry quickly stood up.

"What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Harry was stunned.

What root?

What herb?

Vesey tried her best to mouth the answer to him, but she was sitting too far away.

Harry stared at her for a while but couldn’t make out what she was saying.

Snape sneered.

He deliberately stood in the aisle between Vesey and Harry, completely blocking Harry’s view of her.

Harry let out an irritated breath.

"I don’t know."

Snape said contemptuously:

"Tsk. It seems fame doesn’t mean everything."

At that moment, Hermione raised her hand high into the air.

Snape ignored her and continued.

"Very well, another question. If I asked you to find me a bezoar, where would you look?"

What cow?

What yellow thing?

Harry mentally chopped Snape into pieces.

This bastard is deliberately making things difficult for me!

"I don’t know!"

he said angrily.

Snape looked at him with a sneer.

"Mr. Potter, you haven’t opened a book since the beginning of the school year, have you?"

Harry was furious.

So what if I haven’t?

There’s no way I could memorize the entire textbook, right?

I’m not a genius like Vesey!

Snape smiled smugly.

Then, completely ignoring Hermione’s trembling hand still raised high in the air, he continued asking questions.

"So, Potter, tell me: what’s the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

Harry’s mind went blank.

Merlin, he doesn’t even know what monkshood is. How could he possibly know the difference between the two?

At this point, Hermione had practically shoved her raised hand under Snape’s nose.

That made the already irritated Harry even angrier.

"I don’t know, sir. But since Hermione knows, why don’t you call on her?"