Alistair had clearly angered Professor Snape during the first Potions class, resulting in him being kicked out every time he finished his potion lately. He honestly did not know whether to be grateful or distressed about this.
However, this matter did not occupy his mind for long, because he discovered something that made him immensely happy: his magic had grown stronger!
Alistair tried several spells that he had previously struggled to cast, and the results were noticeably much better than before.
He even began to expect that he might soon be able to learn wandless magic or non-verbal magic!
Even having Potions class today could not dampen his good mood, and he even boldly took out the Half-Blood Prince's textbook, ready to try a new brewing method.
"Alistair?" This time Alistair's partner was no longer Xina, but Civet Bambling.
"What's wrong?" Alistair clumsily processed the ingredients, following the Half-Blood Prince's notes step by step.
"The book says porcupine quills should be cut into chunks, not slices." Civet pointed at his own book, then at the materials Alistair had cut.
"Oh, I wanted to try a different method... If you're worried, I'll prepare the ingredients for you, and you can make another batch, okay?"
"Alright." Civet nodded, picking up another cauldron and following the textbook notes.
Alistair wasn't entirely sure whether the potion brewed this way would succeed, but there was no harm in trying.
Soon, Alistair finished a bottle of potion following the Half-Blood Prince's notes, and Civet finished his according to the textbook.
Snape was grading the students' potions from the front row. Alistair and Civet were sitting in the very back row, so they had to wait until everyone else's potions were graded before it was their turn.
"Mr. Ruler and Mr. Bambling," Snape stared at the two potions placed on the desk before him, "do you think brewing a potion like this alone is no problem at all? Or do you think your professor underestimates your foolish brains?"
Civet looked somewhat terrified, glancing at Alistair in the hope that he would say something.
"Er, Professor, it was my own idea to make a separate batch," Alistair said, biting the bullet.
"It seems Mr. Ruler is extremely confident in himself, arrogant to a fault. Then, let me see your potion..." Snape picked up the potion Alistair had brewed, brought it to his nose, and sniffed. His expression instantly turned gloomy as he gritted out, "Exquisite. Whose work did Mr. Ruler steal? Don't tell me you completed this yourself—your professor is not so easily fooled!"
This potion was identical to the one he had brewed in his youth!
Alistair silently hid the Half-Blood Prince's book behind his back, took a step back, and retorted, "I didn't! I made this myself! At most, I drew on the experience of a certain senior..."
"Hand it over!" Snape reached out his hand toward Alistair. "Shamelessly stealing the work of others!"
Alistair pulled the book back tighter, lifting his chin stubbornly. "I didn't! It's just that his method of brewing potions is more convenient and effective! Why shouldn't people emulate it?"
"Well, did you ask the other person if they were willing to share their brewing method with you?" Snape's face looked even uglier.
"I borrowed the book from the restricted section..." Alistair pointed toward the cabinet in the corner of the potion room, his tone lowering slightly and his conscience prickling, but he quickly recovered his defiant stance: "Since he left the book there, it means he wouldn't mind lending it to others for reference!"
"Hand the book over!" Seeing that Alistair still refused to surrender the book, Snape stepped forward and yanked the book out from behind Alistair's back. "Confiscated!"
Snape angrily clutched the textbook and roared at the students: "You are here to exercise your foolish brains! Not to steal the work of others! Class dismissed!"
Snape stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The students pointed at Alistair and whispered among themselves, while the Slytherin students laughed brazenly.
Alistair exasperatedly ran a hand through his hair, annoyed and restless. If he had known, he wouldn't have taken it out in class! In the end, his notes were confiscated and he was being pointed at by a bunch of kids!
Even Civet had some complaints about him; only the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan didn't blame him.
"Mate, don't take it to heart." Fred patted Alistair on the shoulder.
George also patted Alistair's shoulder. "Hey! I think learning from predecessors' experience is a great thing."
"By the way, what was written in that book? The potion you brewed actually made that old bat praise it as perfect?" Lee Jordan looked full of curiosity.
Alistair forced a smile; at least he felt a little less irritated now. "Just some tips and tricks for brewing potions."
"Oh! Such a good thing, and you actually—"
"—didn't tell us!"
"You're too bad, Ali!"
Alistair was amused by them, realizing that he actually needed a few kids to comfort him—he was really regressing as he got older.
He blinked. "If I'd known, I would have copied it down so I could share it with you guys."
"Hey, that's more like it." Fred punched Alistair in the back. "Alright, let's go get some food."
When they arrived at the Great Hall, word of this incident had already spread among the students, and even the Ravenclaws showed some dissatisfaction toward Alistair. The Ravenclaws believed that taking someone else's methods without permission was extremely impolite behavior...
Although Alistair knew he was in the wrong, wasn't that just learning from the experience of predecessors?
Alistair couldn't help pinching the bridge of his nose. He had never realized that Hogwarts students were such gossips!
"Oh, mate, ignore them." Lee Jordan comforted him.
"I'm fine." Alistair smiled at them and lowered his head to continue eating his dinner. Out of sight, out of mind; it wasn't like he hadn't experienced things like this in his original world.
"Later, George and I are going to find a place to research prank toys. Are you coming?" said Fred.
"Oh, I suppose so." Alistair was quite curious about how far along their research was.
"I'm telling you, we've found several secret passages," George leaned close to Alistair and whispered.
Alistair looked at them in mild surprise. He hadn't expected that without the Marauder's Map, they could still find the passages. Should he attribute this to the plot's strong inertia, or to the Weasley twins being too clever?
"Really? Can you take me to see?"
"Of course, but you can't tell anyone else." Fred winked.
"I promise." Alistair held up three fingers.
"Tonight, then." George also winked.
"What are you three whispering about?" Lee Jordan asked them discontentedly. "Got some little secrets you're keeping from me?"
"Nothing much, Fred and the others invited me to join in their prank-making."
"Oh, well, alright then, you guys go. Tonight I'm going to talk Quidditch with senior Wood." Lee Jordan said unconcernedly upon hearing this.
Hearing this, Alistair asked Lee Jordan, "Are you thinking of becoming a Quidditch commentator?"
Lee Jordan looked utterly surprised. "Oh! How did you know I had this ambition?"
Alistair shrugged nonchalantly. "You love Quidditch so much. If your ambition isn't to be a Quidditch player, then it has to be a Quidditch commentator."
Lee Jordan flashed his white teeth. "You really understand me!" Then he asked somewhat nervously, "Do you think I can do it?"
"Of course you can! You're going to make an outstanding commentator." Alistair praised him without hesitation.
Lee Jordan scratched his head in embarrassment. "Aren't you considering Quidditch? You clearly flew so well during the last flying lesson!"
Alistair shook his head. "No, I'm not interested in Quidditch. But once you're all playing Quidditch in second year, I'll be in the stands cheering you on."
"Alright, it's a deal!" Lee Jordan high-fived Alistair.