Chapter 78: Seventy-Eight

She also visited a regular potion shop, but for Lys, who had helped her mom run a potion shop in Knockturn Alley, the potions here were far too ordinary.

The shopkeeper was even brewing a large cauldron of Boil-Cure Potion, which was something Lys had learned in her first year of Potions class.

After browsing around, Lys bought nothing and even offered a parting remark as she left: "Your porcupine quills are covered in dust, which will affect the final reaction. You'd better clean them in advance."

The shopkeeper found her amusing. Although she looked like a lower-year student, noticing such details proved she had some talent in potions.

It wasn't that he didn't know how to brew; it was just that years of repeating the same dull tasks had made him careless and complacent.

Although most people graduated from Hogwarts, how many of them kept potion ingredients and cauldrons at home after graduation? That's why these common potions were the best sellers.

But the main reason he stopped her was because, despite her efforts to hide it, her gestures—like the way she handled potion bottles—and her ever-alert demeanor were habits only seen in Knockturn Alley.

To adults like him, it was all too obvious.

Though he didn't really want to meddle, the child had given him a helpful reminder, so offering a little advice wasn't a big deal. Besides...

And so, Lys left another shop in a daze. The shopkeeper had told her that some of her habits were too conspicuous and that if her family had adults skilled in potion-making, they could check his purchasing list and sell to him.

Flipping through the parchment twice, Lys saw that it only listed very basic potions. She stuffed it into her yarn pouch and began pondering what exactly he meant by "too conspicuous habits."

What had he noticed?

Unable to figure it out, and with no more shops in Hogsmeade that interested her, she started her journey back.

From a distance, Lys spotted the Gryffindor quartet hiding behind a tree. Looking closer, she saw—

Oh, Lily Evans was arguing with Severus Snape. Well, it was more one-sided.

Snape's voice seemed to vanish in front of the fiery red-haired girl. He even sounded a bit pleading as he said, "Lily, I'm just curious. Magic is powerful; I..."

"Dark magic, Severus. You shouldn't be studying those things. The books say it's evil, and the professors say it's dangerous. What can you gain from studying it?"

What can you gain? Stability. For instance, right now, Lys could openly walk past those four annoying boys, and their restless instincts to act out would be suppressed.

Lys acted as if she didn't see anyone on the path and quickly walked by, but Evans seemed unwilling to let her go.

"Stalys Black, please wait a moment. We need to talk."

"Talk about what?" Lys was genuinely surprised, as she had always thought Evans was someone who only knew how to deal with Snape when problems arose.

"You can't keep leading Severus into studying dark magic. You shouldn't be doing it either. The situation outside isn't great, and dark magic itself harms both the body and soul!"

Perhaps she didn't know that ever since Severus Snape had gained access to those books, Lys had been left far behind. It was now Snape who was leading Lys in studying.

But Lys didn't say that. Instead, she brought up something else. "Tell me, if I hadn't learned magic beyond their abilities, would you have accepted the flower that was stolen, and would I have been beaten up while trying to reclaim what was mine?"

"Evans, you're really not very likable. You only accept things that align with your beliefs." Ignoring Snape's glare, Lys continued, "You've seen how those four idiots behind the tree bully people every day. Magic amplifies the harm of such behavior. Sure, magic and potions can quickly heal the physical damage, but what about the humiliation and harm we endure during and after? Who will stand up for us?"

"Stalys Black, shut up," Snape said through gritted teeth, feeling even more humiliated in front of Lily.

He didn't need or want Lily's pity or rescue.

Lys ignored Evans's repeated insistence that "I'm saying you shouldn't be leading Snape into studying dark magic" and continued speaking.

"Snape, do you realize your emotions are no longer as pure as they were in first year? Now there's a hint of..." Lys pressed down Dryncorpse's tail, which was messing with her hair, and left the sentence unfinished.

"Evans, I don't have time for this, and you have no right to lecture me. I hope Snape enjoys your scolding," Lys said, even politely making a farewell gesture before leaving Snape, whose face was dark with anger, and Evans, who was glaring at the quartet behind the tree.

Walking with her head held high along the empty path ahead, she felt a subtle sense of satisfaction. She had long wanted to say these things to Evans.

The flower that had fallen into her palm and onto the ground...

Snape had simply pretended too well in front of Evans at the start. Even revealing a bit of his true self was enough to make her question him. And Evans's stance was too firm—she was the quintessential Gryffindor: passionate, courageous, unwavering in her sense of justice... and so on.

And as for Potter, he was like a warthog charging recklessly, pausing only briefly for her, showing his changes for Evans, and earning a treatment that was no longer outright rejection.

Shaking the candy bag, which was bouncing around inside, Lys pulled Dryncorpse's head out of it, grasped her wand, and returned to the school.

Snape would probably distance himself from her for Evans's sake after this. He had found someone else to provide him with books and no longer needed hers.

Perhaps their earlier cooperation had only been a brief partnership between two people seeking power—one to avoid abandonment, the other to prove himself.

Back in the abandoned classroom, Lys began packing up her cauldrons and materials. Turning around, she noticed Snape's cauldron contained a magical stabilizer. Without hesitation, she bottled it up and took it with her.

Goodbye.

As Lys had predicted, Snape never sought her out again—whether for potions or books.

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