Hogwarts: Voldemort, don't stop me from studying

Chapter 1010 This is O.W.Ls year

The Potions classroom was still dimly lit, and the air was filled with the lingering smell of materials. Various glass jars were piled up on the brown wooden shelves, and the materials cabinets at the back were more dilapidated than before, with even more charred marks, as if they had been blown up by something.

Wade walked to his familiar seat and sat down, taking out his potions textbook from his bag. Michael sat down next to him.

"By the way, you haven't been to school this semester, so you probably don't have any notes in your textbooks, right? How about I lend you mine?"

As Michael spoke, he casually peeked out and saw that the corners of the pages were covered with densely packed small characters.

He was silent for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "When you went out, did you also bring a potions teacher with you?"

“How could that be?” Wade said, “I wrote this when I was in third grade, and I’m just reviewing it now.”

Unlike Defense Against the Dark Arts, the Potions professor hadn't changed in many years; the textbooks and teaching methods were very consistent. Vader had bought the complete set of textbooks seven years ago and had taught and practiced all the potions on his own.

For him, this subject, where every step was explained clearly and even precisely down to the second, was simpler than his magically enhanced classes, and almost as simple as doing chemistry experiments before.

But after Wade finished speaking, Michael paused almost imperceptibly, and even picked up his book and quietly moved it to the table next to him.

Wade: "..."

Michael slowly turned his head and said resentfully, "Oh, it seems a sad knowledge barrier has formed between us, my friend, Hermes' messenger. Why don't you go study in Atlantis? Our mortal world is probably not suitable for you!"

Hey, what are you saying!

A book was slapped on the back of Michael's head, followed by Padma's voice: "You know this all too well, Wade has always been ahead of us in his studies!"

“I know,” Michael said sullenly, “but I probably need to readjust…”

Padma chuckled twice, then turned to look at Wade, sized him up, and said with a meaningful smile:
"It's been a while since I've seen you in the classroom, Wade... Now that you're back in class, I guess you've solved your problem by now?"

“Of course,” Wade laughed. “It’s basically all resolved.”

"So you won't be skipping classes again next semester, will you?" Padma sat down in front of Wade, turned around and put her arm around his desk, saying seriously, "After all, this year is the year of O.W.Ls..."

Before she could finish speaking, several Hufflepuff voices came from the doorway:
"Do you remember Cedric's feint? Malfoy was completely fooled..."

"I bet he'll definitely make it into the national team after graduation!"

"Maybe he's going to a club! I heard Cedric received several invitations."

"If you ask me, the Ministry of Magic is better..."

The students were discussing animatedly until they stepped into the classroom, at which point their voices quieted down.

Theo and Ryan were also in the Hufflepuff group. After entering, Theo habitually glanced around, but when he saw that familiar figure, he abruptly stopped, his expression quickly shifting from blank to surprised. He turned to Ryan and whispered something urgently, and the two walked straight towards them.

"Wade?" Theo's tone was incredulous. "You really came to class?"

“Of course, he’s right in front of you.” Padma shrugged. “We were just talking about it! The semester is almost over, and he’s finally found the time.”

“It’s the 0.W.Ls year after all,” Wade laughed. “If I keep leaving the classroom, I’m afraid I’ll have to repeat the year next year.”

Ryan had been quietly watching Wade, then blinked softly and said in a low voice, "Hmm... this time it feels right. You've been acting strange lately, and you haven't been participating in SSC activities."

"Sorry," Wade said, "I really couldn't find the time earlier."

“I can see that… but there’s no need to apologize.” Ryan smiled and said, “Everyone knows you’re very busy. If you’re tired, you should rest more.”

Only then did Theo's tense shoulders relax, and he let out a long breath, revealing a somewhat silly smile:
"Great!"

He only uttered three words, as if he didn't know how to continue. But his smile was so bright that it almost illuminated the dimly lit Potions classroom.

Everyone took their seats, with Theo sitting next to Wade as usual. Ryan glanced around the classroom and walked toward Ernie McMillan, a Hufflepuff classmate who was alone.

McMillan also seemed surprised, and he turned to Ryan and whispered:
"Merlin, is it really Wade? I thought the professors were giving him extra tutoring, so he looked down on these regular classes!"

Ryan immediately turned his head and said in a low but exceptionally clear voice:
"Has anyone seen any professor giving Wade private lessons? Instead of speculating about non-existent private tutoring, let's recall—he's read more books than all of us combined."

McMillan was taken aback. He touched his nose and mumbled, "I was just saying it offhand... why are you taking it so seriously?"

Meanwhile, Theo took out the balance scale, crucible, and silver knife, and placed the bronze timer on it, saying in a low voice:

"Today's class is a review session, and the topic is the first chapter, The Tempering Agent. Professor Snape assigned a paper last class on how to write the formula for the Tempering Agent... You take a look at the book first, and I'll go to the back to get the materials."

He had just returned to his seat with materials such as moonstone powder and strychnine syrup when the bell rang, the classroom door was flung open with a bang, and a blast of cold air rushed in, instantly silencing the entire classroom.

Snape strode into the classroom, his black robes billowing behind him as if accompanied by a whistling wind.

He walked straight to the podium, glanced down, and then fixed his gaze on Wade.

A flicker of surprise crossed the Potions Professor's eyes, then he drawled out, "..."
"Ah, look who this is? Our genius alchemist has finally condescended to grace his insignificant Potions class with his presence. How...unexpected."

Snape slowly stepped down from the podium, his black robes brushing against the edge of the table. The Hufflepuff students shrank back nervously, while the Ravenclaws tried to keep their faces serious, their eyes fixed on the blackboard in front of them.

Snape said in a smooth voice, "Mr. Gray, it's a rare sight indeed. Perhaps the school's rudimentary curriculum is no longer sufficient to satisfy your profound knowledge? Or do you find the difficulty of the OWLS exams insufficient for you to endure this dull cellar?"

(End of this chapter)