Night had fallen.
Inside a Slytherin dormitory, a small but tense conflict was unfolding.
The cause was simple: after repeatedly failing to cast the *Levitation Charm*, Mulciber's ego finally snapped. Between his pure-blood arrogance and the brutal slap of reality, his frustration found a new outlet—Snape.
The atmosphere in the room grew stifling.
Had Snape shown even the slightest reaction, this quarrel might have escalated beyond control. But instead, he calmly ignored the drama and left Mulciber performing a one-man show.
"I carry the noble blood of the Avery family! And you—a mere half-blood—why should *you* succeed when *I* fail?!"
Unlike Mulciber's hysterical outburst, Snape quietly sat on his bed, absorbed in the newly borrowed potion book *Fragrant Brews*.
Even though he was at the center of the storm, his detached demeanor made Leo—his other roommate—silently admire him all the more.
And indeed, the outcome proved Snape right.
Without anyone feeding into his anger, Mulciber's tantrum fizzled quickly.
After gritting out, "Just you wait! I'll outdo you one day," he huffed, rolled into his blanket, and sulked in silence.
Leo exhaled deeply in relief, thankful the fire hadn't burned him as well.
But before he could fully relax, Snape closed his book, turned his head, and fixed Leo with dark, bottomless eyes.
"Do you want to learn? I can teach you."
"...Ah?"
"If I'm not mistaken, you haven't managed the *Levitation Charm* yet, right? If you don't want to drag this homework into tomorrow, I can help."
Snape's tone was calm, patient, almost casual—leaving Leo caught between surprise and confusion.
Once he realized what Snape meant, temptation stirred immediately. But after a quick glance toward Mulciber's bed—where the dorm's only pure-blood lay facing away—hesitation crept in. Was he asleep? Listening? Leo couldn't tell.
His thoughts twisted in knots.
He didn't want to waste this chance. In just one day of classes, everyone in Slytherin had already recognized that the boy who had earned twenty-five points and praise from two professors on the first day possessed ability far beyond theirs.
Some students hated him for it—resenting that a half-blood dared outshine them.
But precisely because Snape's skills were undeniable, anyone given the chance to receive his private lessons would gladly accept…
As long as Snape *asked them first*, so their pride could stay intact.
Leo, however, had no such pride.
As a half-blood himself, he knew his place well enough not to act above his station.
His only dream was to pass these seven school years peacefully, land a steady job at the Ministry, and live comfortably ever after.
Thus, the only thing holding him back now was Mulciber's attitude.
But that hesitation evaporated the moment Snape's next words struck.
"Learning magic means being better able to *help* Mulciber. Otherwise, when he needs you in a duel, you'd just drag him down.
Or… are you that selfish?
Would you rather watch your 'leader' humiliate himself than put in a little effort now?"
That argument destroyed every trace of Leo's uncertainty.
He immediately pulled a chair next to Snape and, under the boy's calm instruction, soon wore a look of dawning comprehension.
"The key to casting *Wingardium Leviosa* lies in tone—the exact length and pitch of each syllable must be perfect. Even the slightest error will cause failure."
"And as for Transfiguration, the first step is having a clear image in your mind of what you want the object to become.
You must know its shape, its texture, its size—because if even *you* can't picture it clearly, how can the spell possibly succeed?"
"..."
Time slipped by.
To his delight, Leo found he was now just one step away from mastering the *Levitation Charm*. No more strange misfires or fizzles!
Even the mysteries of Transfiguration seemed clearer than before—and under Snape's watchful gaze, Leo managed to turn the practice feather into a small green leaf!
**[You performed a highly effective teaching session for 2 people. Total experience gained: 1,130 points!]**
Another step closer to replicating a gold-tier specialty.
Snape's gaze drifted toward Mulciber's back, a faint smile playing at his lips. But he said nothing.
"Thank you, Snape. Can I come to you for help again if I run into trouble later?"
Leo looked genuinely embarrassed but hopeful.
Snape nodded without hesitation, his easy acceptance making Leo even more grateful.
"Is there anything I can do to repay you? Please, don't hold back!"
"There is, actually."
Choosing his words carefully, Snape met Leo's eager eyes and said evenly:
"If you know any classmates struggling in their studies, I'd like you to bring them here for extra lessons.
Tomorrow morning, to be precise. Can you do that?"
"Of course! I'll tell them!"
Leo agreed immediately, patting his chest in assurance.
Unlike the solitary Snape, Leo had already made quite a few friends among the first-years.
But after a pause, he hesitated again and added awkwardly:
"Though… they're all half-bloods…"
"That's fine. I don't care about such things."
Snape's simple answer made Leo stare, speechless.
But in truth, Snape already saw clearly who would form his first circle of influence—the Slytherin half-bloods.
They had ambition, driven by a desire to prove themselves—eager to achieve success and rise above their station.
Once they experienced Snape's teaching firsthand, they would become his natural followers, easier to control than the arrogant pure-bloods.
But that much was unnecessary for Leo to know.
After bidding each other goodnight, Snape drew his bed curtains, whispered *"Lumos"*, and under the soft white glow began writing in his black-covered notebook.
---
**Future Strategic Plan**
- **Refine theoretical framework on Muggle Threat Doctrine;** test removal of pure-blood ideology influence in dormitory (subjects: Mulciber, Leo) *(deadline: before end of first year)*
- **Establish study group** for large-scale experience collection
- *Target 1:* Slytherin freshmen – leverage Leo's initiative √
- *Target 2:* Ravenclaw freshmen – initiate intellectual engagement
- **Establish contact with all teachers and students** to trigger specialty data
- **Seek opportunity to join the Dark Eye Society through Lucius Malfoy** to gain insider knowledge of Dark magic
- **Develop covert network** to monitor James Potter and Marauders' activities
- Note: beware of the Invisibility Cloak
- *Targets:* Lupin (uncertain) √, House-elves, Peeves, Peter
- **Locate the Room of Requirement**; confirm it as a private site for spell and potion practice
- **Long-term access to the library** *(current holdings: 1 book)*
***
When he finished writing, Snape leaned back against the pillows, staring at the faint glow of his wand tip.
Under that soft light, his black eyes gleamed with quiet determination.
<><><><><><>
Read Advanced Chapters on: patreon.com/Anna_N1
~Every 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]