Chapter 94: Switching to Potions?

"Unfair! I think Quidditch matches should let both sides use identical brooms!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

"Harry Potter rides a Firebolt, our house's Seeker can't catch up to him at all!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

When John returned to the Great Hall, he heard Ryan and Ethan discussing something indignantly.

The content of the discussion seemed to be about today's Quidditch match.

"What are you guys chatting about, so excited?"

John walked over unhurriedly, sat down, and asked the few.

"Wow, John, I thought you would be doing hard labor at Professor Snape's place for these two days."

Seeing John come over, several people paused, then teased with a smile.

Regarding him signing the indenture, they all knew.

When they first knew about this, the ones who laughed the loudest were them.

After all, John was kept by Professor Snape to do hard labor every class, and they had long been used to it.

So they didn't worry about him as much as they did at the beginning.

"Please, slaves also have rest time, I can't stay in that basement for 48 hours..."

John said somewhat speechlessly.

Continuing

The biggest highlight was Harry Potter riding that Firebolt, stealing the show throughout the entire match.

The Seeker from their house couldn't even catch up to him.

So they were discussing whether they should restrict players from using identical brooms.

Of course, that was just a bit of empty talk among a few of them.

There was also the fact that during today's Quidditch match, Malfoy brought two lackeys to the spectator stands to pretend to be Dementors, trying to scare Harry Potter.

However, Harry Potter pulled out his wand directly and used a spell that emitted white light, which ended up scaring Malfoy and his group instead.

Later, Malfoy and his group each had 50 points deducted by Professor McGonagall.

Six-six-six, even dirty tricks came out.

After hearing their account, John also felt a wave of amusement.

After chatting about the Quidditch match, they turned their attention to what John had been doing all day.

They hadn't seen him at lunch either.

Of course they hadn't.

At noon, he was in Professor Snape's studio, having bread with potion soup.

Yes, potion soup.

Heaven knows what Professor Snape used to boil that potion soup; it was pitch black, yet unexpectedly delicious.

John simply shared his experiences of the day with them, and after listening, they all shook their heads with a bit of schadenfreude.

"Poor John, becoming Professor Snape's plaything."

"?"

John was speechless; these guys were the type who loved to watch the chaos without fearing it was too big.

"By the way, John, with your current situation, won't you be unable to accompany us to the secret base during the next Hogsmeade week?"

"Ah, that's right..."

John slapped his forehead; he had compromised too quickly yesterday and forgotten about their plan to go to the secret base during Hogsmeade week.

"You guys should be able to go by yourselves, right?"

"We can, but without you, it just feels like something is missing."

Ryan shrugged helplessly as he spoke, and Titus and Ethan nodded as well.

After all, that place was where John had taken them; now that John wasn't going, it didn't really have much meaning.

"Then you guys just go as usual; otherwise, wouldn't all the things we brought go to waste?"

John waved his hand, telling them not to worry about him.

The group thought about it and realized he was right, as they had prepared quite a lot of things for it.

"John, I heard you were punished by Professor Snape. Was it because you were caught during curfew last time?"

After dinner, John went to the library to read as usual and met Hermione there; as soon as she saw John, she asked this question.

John was slightly stunned; he hadn't even told Hermione about this.

"How did you know?"

"I heard it from your friends during the Quidditch match today."

Well, that explains it...

"Was it because we passed the curfew time yesterday and you were caught by Professor Snape on your way back?"

Hermione continued to guess, her eyes filled with a trace of worry.

If that were really the case, the responsibility actually lay with her; after all, if she hadn't fallen asleep, John wouldn't have stayed with her so late.

After a moment of silence, John scratched his head awkwardly.

"Actually, the main reason is that I was discovered by the caretaker later."

"Then, in the process of running away, I broke into Professor Snape's studio, causing his potion to burn..."

Hearing this, Hermione was speechless for a moment, but she still sighed softly.

"...... Alright, but I have part of the responsibility for this too. Sorry, John, I..."

John waved his hand directly, interrupting Hermione's apology.

"Pfft, what a big deal."

"Anyway, I'm already used to dealing with Professor Snape."

"Judging by the final result, I indeed didn't get caught by the caretaker, did I?"

Regarding John's words, Hermione also shook her head helplessly and could only add one more piece of advice.

"Fine, if you run into any difficulties, remember to tell me. Professor Snape, he... quite likes to make things difficult for people..."

John smiled and didn't say anything more.

The two of them quietly returned to reading, occasionally exchanging a few words.

Hermione noticed that John had suddenly started reading about Potions.

Previously, when John was in the library, he was basically delving into Charms or Transfiguration.

Because John believed that only by mastering these two things and having strong strength would he not be bullied by others.

Why was he suddenly delving into Potions now? Had John been brainwashed by Snape?

"John, you're reading this Potions book—did Professor Snape leave you some kind of task?"

Hermione looked at the book in John's hand and asked curiously.

"No, I just want to understand it myself."

"I drank a bottle of Energizing Potion from Professor Snape today, and after drinking it, the fatigue of the day was gone. It's quite practical."

"So I want to learn these kinds of restorative potions. After all, when you're drifting in the world, how can you not get cut? It's never wrong to be prepared."

"Besides, this way, if you, Hermione, are overworked again, I can provide you with potion assistance."

John flipped through the book and said with a chuckle.

After hearing this, Hermione nodded in sudden realization.

However, a beautiful smile immediately appeared on the corners of her mouth, and she rested her chin on one hand, asking with a smile.

"So, you're learning it for me, then?"

"I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!"

Hearing Hermione's teasing, John subconsciously denied it.

But after turning his head to meet Hermione's smiling eyes, he coughed lightly and continued flipping through the book, pretending nothing had happened.

"Cough, I just think that this kind of thing, everyone might need it, and after learning it, maybe it'll come in handy..."

Hermione couldn't help but chuckle, and looking at John's slightly flustered appearance, a trace of tenderness flashed in her eyes.

She didn't continue to tease him.

"Then you have to work hard; the difficulty of Potions is no lower than other subjects."

"If there's anything you don't understand, you're welcome to ask me anytime."

Hermione continued to look through her own book and said with a smile.

However, the scene she had anticipated—of John happily seeking her out for tutoring—did not appear.

John just scratched his head and said seriously.

"Actually, I can just go harass Professor Snape; I don't need to trouble you."

Hermione: "......"