"Yes."
Vid said as he walked inside, closing the door behind him and then taking out the magic potion he had just brewed.
"Professor, I have some questions about magic potions I'd like to ask."
Looking at the freshly brewed magic potion, Professor Snape's tone softened considerably, saying:
"I hope next time you have a better sense of time, rather than rushing to do things like a foolish lion—what do you want to ask?"
"It's like this, Professor — I heard today in Magic Potion Class, you just dropped a few drops of potion, and it restored the shrunken toad to its original size. I've brewed Shrinking Potion, but no other magic potion has such an immediate effect."
Vid placed the potion bottle on the table, saying, "I guessed the professor used Aging Potion, but how did you make it work without consuming it?"
When it came to his area of expertise, Professor Snape's attitude became even more amiable.
He first took the magic potion from Vid's hand, gently shook it, examined it carefully, and then smelled its aroma before putting it down.
"I can tell that you followed every step—although standard, it's as monotonous as a Muggle assembly line machine. I hope you're not foolish enough to shove your brain in there too."
Snape commented, not too subtly.
With other students, Professor Snape always emphasized that magic potions must be very precise and strict; but when critiquing Vid, he found him too rule-abiding.
Vid lowered his head, pondering for two seconds to suppress the smile that was about to surface.
Upon hearing Snape liken it to an "assembly line machine," Vid realized that Snape must have been watching TV often lately, possibly even rewatching some shows several times, which made him use the metaphor so effortlessly.
The most impressive "assembly line machine" recently must have been from a Muggle's comedic silent film.
Vid thought so, feeling a bit more confident about the purpose of his visit.
If Professor Snape were truly despondent over Lily's death and disinterested in the outside world, his heart would be like the Antarctic ice wall, impenetrable.
But he's not.
He still has a passion for life, pursuits, as if he hopes to earn a Sir Merlin Medal too.
Professor Snape turned and took out a similar magic potion from his cabinet, handing it forward saying, "Look at this."
Vid took it and examined it in the same way, pondering for a while before uncertainly saying, "Evening Primrose?"
"Correct, adding a third of an ounce of Evening Primrose Seeds while brewing, plus a small spoonful of Epiphyllum Root ground to powder, will achieve the effect you desire."
"But how do you control the dosage, Professor?" Vid asked again, "To restore correctly and not make it too old or too young."
"The dosage is calculated based on weight and magic power, and this potion also requires considering an additional issue, which is the interval between the two magic potions..."
Professor Snape explained meticulously, and Vid took notes as he listened.
For him, magic potions were a subject where shortcuts were impossible, requiring each ingredient's properties, usage amount, and timing to be firmly remembered, followed by repeated practice to achieve satisfactory results.
To become a Master of Potions like Snape requires talent, above all else, in addition to hard work and the aid of resources.
In this regard, Vid doesn't hold himself to such a high standard, understanding that human energy is limited. When he spends considerable time on spells and alchemy, his practice of magic potions naturally decreases.
Even so, Vid is seen as a rare good student in Snape's eyes, one who brings a sense of achievement in teaching, eager to say a little more.
After discussing magic potions, Professor Snape glanced at the time again.
Vid sensed that he might be about to be dismissed, quickly saying, "I have one more question—Professor, I heard you're also very skilled in Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
It's well-known that Snape applied to become the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but Dumbledore never agreed.
Hearing this, Snape asked, "Of course — is there something you didn't understand in Defense Against the Dark Arts Class?"
"I don't have much trouble with what's taught in class. I just wanted to ask—damage caused by Dark Magic—seriously severe ones—can it be healed?" Vid said.
Snape frowned, saying, "It depends on the spell... and how severe it is, the victim's own magic power and will are also crucial... Which type of Dark Magic are you referring to?"
Vid: "For example... uh... the mental collapse caused by the Cruciatus Curse?"
Snape remained silent for a while before saying, "Why do you want to ask this?"
Vid appeared as if he'd never heard Snape dislike Neville, candidly and slightly troubled, saying:
"While practicing magic tonight, Neville accidentally broke a target board. He tried to fix it but failed."
"We all thought it was just a piece of wood, replaceable by a new one, but Neville kept trying over and over..."
"Then I guessed, he might have related it to his own parents—I heard the Longbottoms were tortured by the Cruciatus Curse for resisting Voldemort, leading to their mental collapse and having to spend the rest of their lives in St Mungo's Hospital."
"Neville—sigh—Neville seems really pained. So, I was wondering if there's any help we could offer..."
"Sometimes I also wonder, which is more painful—never having had something, or having it and then losing it?"
Vid didn't try to persuade Snape directly to treat Neville better.
He's merely a student somewhat favored by the teacher, often receiving guidance and help from Professor Snape, directly criticizing his attitude towards another student would be quite disrespectful.
Besides, even Dumbledore couldn't change Snape's attitude towards Harry, so how could Vid hope to change it with a few words?
Snape isn't a compassionate saint who listens to advice. He's a person with a persistent personality, passionately remembering both love and hate. Although he could sacrifice his life to kill Voldemort, in reality, he's indifferent to most people.
When Snape used his superior position to bully Neville, he felt his own exhilaration but couldn't similarly feel Neville's pain.
Or perhaps he knew, but didn't care.
What Vid needed to do was to pull him out of that isolated, indifferent state, and with Vid's perspective, passively switch roles.
If he could temporarily set aside the grievances and loathing in his heart, he should realize his actions have already significantly harmed Neville, yet they are both victims of Voldemort's terrifying regime.
If Snape had a higher moral standard, he'd realize that he too had an inescapable responsibility in the whole matter, that it was truly irrational to vent his anger on Neville.
The office remained quiet for a very long time, and Vid didn't know what Snape was thinking, only looking calmly into those deep and hollow eyes.
Vid's Occlumency skills are now quite advanced, allowing him to look others in the eye without fear—of course, Professor Snape was also not discourteous enough to invade a student's mind casually.
It was only after a prolonged silence that he spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, "If the Longbottoms could be cured, they wouldn't have to stay in St Mungo's."
"You should head back to your common room now, Gray."