Chapter 53: Clear Yet Foolish

The Magic Pill class is held in an underground classroom.

When Dali and the other two arrived, there were already many students in the classroom, and the Slytherin students and Gryffindor students were clearly separated, each forming their own small groups.

"Dali, Harry, Luoen, this way."

Neville and Seamus occupied a table and waved at the three who walked in.

The three immediately walked over.

Not far away, the Slytherin students saw Harry and the others come in and cast contemptuous looks.

Among them, Ma Er Fu saw Dali and his face instantly grew much darker.

He rose slowly and walked toward Dali's direction.

Ke La Bu and Gao Er followed behind him, like two loyal bodyguards.

"Last night I let you luckily escape the fate of expulsion, but this isn't over; I will keep watching you until I drive you all out of Hogwarts!"

Ma Er Fu said coldly.

His voice wasn't loud, but in the now-quiet classroom it sounded especially loud.

As the leader among the first‑year Slytherin, Ma Er Fu had to be tough toward Harry and the others.

He had previously made a guarantee with the Slytherin students that after last night, Dali, the mud‑born who had crossed him, would disappear completely from Hogwarts.

However, no one expected what happened yesterday: Dali not only avoided expulsion, but received no punishment at all.

With this outcome, Ma Er Fu had to find a way to regain his standing.

Otherwise the prestige he had just established among the freshmen would be completely lost.

"Is that so? Are you sure you can keep watching me?"

Dali let out a light laugh.

Swish.

Dali's right hand swung suddenly, striking toward Ma Er Fu's face, but stopped just before impact.

"Ah…"

Ma Er Fu's complexion changed drastically; he hurried backward, and in his panic knocked over two tables in succession before finally falling to the ground.

"Hahaha."

On the Gryffindor side, seeing the disheveled Ma Er Fu, they immediately burst into loud laughter.

"I just raised my hand; no need to be so nervous."

Dali smiled toward the fallen Ma Er Fu.

"De Shi Li!"

Ma Er Fu was furious.

He had come to regain his standing, but now not only had he failed, he was even more embarrassed.

"You wait for me; I won't let you go."

Ma Er Fu's face flushed red as he stood up with Ke La Bu and Gao Er's help, cursing.

"Anyone can talk tough; will you actually do something?"

Dali said provocatively.

"I challenge you to a duel, a wizard duel!"

Ma Er Fu couldn't keep a straight face, and immediately said.

"Fine, I'm ready anytime."

Dali agreed outright.

"Tonight…"

Before Ma Er Fu could finish his sentence, a steady footstep sounded from outside the door.

Just by hearing it, they knew it was Professor Sineipu.

Ma Er Fu said nothing more, snorted, and returned to his seat.

Bang.

Sineipu pushed open the classroom door and strode in.

The wooden door slammed into the wall with a thud.

All the students' faces changed at once; they quickly hid their earlier spectator expressions and cautiously looked at the Slytherin House headmaster.

Their intuition told them this person was hard to deal with.

Clap clap clap…

Sineipu scanned the students below, drew his wand, and gave a light wave; the surrounding Curtains fell immediately, and the classroom door slammed shut with a bang.

The already dim basement, under these circumstances, became even more gloomy and eerie.

Everyone felt a breathless atmosphere, especially the Gryffindor students.

Dali stared at Sineipu.

He especially noted Sineipu's hair, thinking the professor might not have washed it in a year; otherwise his hair wouldn't be greasy and tangled like seaweed.

"You have come here to learn the precise science and strict craft of preparing Magic Pill."

Sineipu began.

His voice was only slightly louder than a whisper, yet everyone clearly heard each word.

"I can teach you how to raise prestige, brew glory, even stave off death— but there is one condition: you must not be the kind of fool or idiot I often encounter."

Sineipu, at the end of his speech, deliberately glanced toward Harry and the others.

This immediately provoked a meaning‑laden cold smile from Ma Er Fu.

Dali stared coolly at Sineipu, showing no fear from Sineipu's opening remarks.

He had seen many powerful people, even demigods and angel‑level beings; he had seen them too. Even though he could not recall the concrete details of those beings now, sealed deep in his memory, this still gave Dali enough courage and a calm mindset to stare at Sineipu.

After all, having seen a true god, everything else is merely mortal.

Sineipu's gaze swept over Dali, and he slightly narrowed his eyes.

Although Dali's face showed Lack of any expression, he always felt that Dali's eyes revealed a subtle emotion that made him feel uneasy.

But his focus was not on Dali; soon he turned his gaze to the boy sitting beside Dali.

"Oh, yes," Sineipu said softly, "Harry Potter, this is our newly arrived—famous figure."

Sineipu's words fell.

On the Slytherin House side, led by Ma Er Fu, they burst out laughing with a "pfft" sound.

Sineipu lacked regard for Ma Er Fu's laughter, his eyes fixed on Harry's, precisely, on Harry's eyes.

Harry frowned, feeling an ominous premonition under Sineipu's stare.

"Potter!" Sineipu closed his eyes, then opened them again and spoke coldly.

"What would I get if I added powdered daffodil root to an infusion of mugwort?"

"What grass root, what solution???"

Harry looked bewildered; he glanced at Luoen, who also looked bewildered.

He then looked at Dali, seeing Dali calmly gazing at Sineipu.

Meanwhile, Hermione had already raised her hand high.

But Sineipu seemed to have completely Lack of seeing it.

"I don't know, sir."

Harry said.

Hermione glanced at Harry, wearing an expression that said she had already reminded them to read the book in advance.

"Tsk tsk—looks like fame doesn't represent everything after all."

Sineipu sneered contemptuously.

"Your gaze is truly clear yet foolish."

Ma Er Fu nodded in deep agreement.

"Dali, as Harry's brother, you answer."

Sineipu originally wanted to continue questioning Harry, but seeing Dali's indifferent gaze made him extremely displeased.

"It is a powerful sleeping potion called Life and Death Water."

Dali spoke, his expression Lack of ripple.