While Cyrus was brewing potions, Snape was grading essays as usual, though he occasionally glanced over to observe her movements. She was extremely proficient; one look made it obvious that the brewing process was already deeply engraved in her mind.
Where on earth had she been these past two years? Wasn't the House of Slytherin supposed to have vanished long ago? And how had she managed to find her own parents? The House of Slytherin... Parseltongue? Could she genuinely be the Dark Lord's descendant?
Snape recalled that the Dark Lord was the last known living person to carry the bloodline of Slytherin, albeit through the collateral line of the Gaunt family. Yet her surname was Slytherin...
"Sir?" Cyrus watched Snape gradually drift off in thought, and handed him the freshly brewed Veritaserum.
It was a flawless execution, and the appearance of the potion was equally perfect. "Some of your brewing methods are far too outdated; there are much simpler and more effective ways to easily surpass the quality of this batch." With that, Snape scribbled a long string of characters onto a piece of parchment and handed it to Cyrus. Cyrus gripped the edge of the paper, but was unable to pull it free from Snape's grasp.
Controlling his strength so Cyrus couldn't take the parchment away, Snape demanded, "Was this brewing method taught to you by your father? Or perhaps a professor? If so, might I know this professor's name?"
Cyrus blinked and touched the pendant at her chest. "Uhm... my…
Chapter 22