Hogwarts: Dumbledore reigned over the wizarding world.

Chapter 351 Snape: Vaughn, you have betrayed the wizarding world!

"So, for a long time before we truly crack the genetic code and understand the magic protein, it will remain invisible. But as you have seen, this does not affect its effectiveness; objective facts do not lie."

""

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Snape remained silent.

Wizards who specialize in potions highly respect objective facts. In the realm of potions, the inability to create things out of thin air is far more intuitive than spells. After all, the availability of medicinal ingredients, and the synergistic and conflicting effects between them, are the most important factors.

Not to mention him, if Vaughn were to share his findings with the outside world, even the most vehemently opposed pharmacists wouldn't be able to honestly say he had failed.

But if we were to admit Vaughn's success at this point—

Snape clenched his fists, his expression growing increasingly grim, and forced out, "Then what about the production technology? From your description, I noticed that its manufacture seems extremely difficult. Protein-modifying potion—that's a new potion you developed specifically for the so-called universal group, isn't it? I looked at the ingredients you prepared; the formula seems to be derived from Polyjuice Potion?"

"Yes." Vaughn wasn't surprised that Snape could see it, and nodded. "The replication and transformation effects of Compound Elixir perfectly suit my needs, and it can be applied with just a few minor modifications."

"But that means exorbitant costs, not to mention the need for Felix Felicis—I can't even imagine how many precious herbs you'll waste making just one bottle of this glowing potion?"

"Oh!

'

Vaughn chuckled in response to Snape's questioning.

However, before he could speak, Hermione, who had been secretly eavesdropping, couldn't help but chime in: "Professor, it seems you haven't carefully read the glossary I published in 'Extraordinary Potions.' The protein robots in the universal group only require protein-modifying agents and Felix Felicis during the initial development phase. Once the correct conformation is found, they can spread automatically!"

"————?"

"To be precise, I took advantage of a characteristic inherent in proteins called error folding," Vaughn continued. "Because proteins contain the complete genetic code, even if I forcibly transform a protein into the form I want through deformation and probabilistic interference, the protein still retains the sites it had before the deformation."

"This leads to it naturally approaching and combining with its pre-transformation counterparts. Since my transformation design is based on probabilistic interference, essentially a low-energy trap, the original proteins that combine with the transformed protein robot will automatically slide into the same trap. This creates a phenomenon similar to human-to-human transmission—the protein robot continuously infects other original proteins with its conformation, forcing them to become like itself."

Snape understood, and looked at Vaughn with some amazement.

Contagion—what a vivid description! This so-called error folding is just like an infectious disease, isn't it?

A clever and admirable idea!

As if that wasn't enough, Hermione added, "Incorrectly folded proteins are an incurable and irreversible virus in Muggle society, but look, Vaughn has made it beneficial, which is clearly a good thing. I really don't understand why you're so hostile towards it?"

Vaughn did not stop Hermione from questioning him.

She simply watched Snape quietly.

Snape was speechless for a moment.

He was at a loss for words. He tried his best to find flaws in the universal group, but Vaughn refuted them one by one.

For a moment, after Vaughn explained the protein transmission mechanism of "misfolding," he couldn't help but want to applaud.

That emotion and impulse transcends perspectives; it stems from one genius's admiration for the brilliant ideas of another.

Yes, Snape's opposition stemmed from his stance!

After a moment of silence, Snape's tense expression relaxed. He sighed and, without further elaboration, said in a tone that was both a response to Hermione and an interrogation of Vaughn, "Of course I understand the benefits of the Universal Group, but that's precisely why I'm afraid of it."

Upon hearing this, Hermione stared in astonishment.

Vaughn, on the other hand, remained calm, clearly having known Snape's thoughts all along.

Snape noticed Vaughn's expression, a smile playing on his lips that was hard to decipher—it was hard to tell if it was self-deprecation or mockery. "I knew it, you did it on purpose—Miss Granger, you were involved in the entire development of the Universal Group, didn't you notice a problem?"

"—What?"

"In the past, potion absorption was passive, but the protein robots of the universal group have made this process active. What impact do you think this change will have?"

Hermione blinked, puzzled.

Seeing her bewildered expression, Snape shook his head slightly: "The biggest impact is that the medium for passively absorbing potions has become unimportant—you girl with a brain like a rusty gear, haven't you figured it out yet? Why can wizards absorb potions? Because we have magic. Although no one has ever seen what it looks like, nor understands the corresponding mechanism, there is no doubt that magic is the foundation for us to use magic and brew potions."

"These are things that Muggles cannot do. Similarly, they cannot use magic or potions because they lack the medium of magic."

With that, Snape stared at Vaughn, who was still smiling, then his expression turned grim again: "But now, your dear Mr. Vaughn Weasley has broken that rule!"

"Magic protein robot—ha, with it involved in active transportation, the medium has become dispensable. Does this mean that Muggles will be able to use potions in the future?"

Hermione was stunned. She had never considered this direction before. But after hearing Professor Snape's hypothesis, she immediately realized, knowing the function of the protein robot, that Professor Snape's speculation was most likely correct!

Did Vaughn include Muggles in his "new potion system" from the very beginning when he designed the Universal Potion?

this----

This is fantastic!

The girl's eyes sparkled. She didn't think Vaughn's idea was heretical. After all, she came from a Malignant family, and no matter how her thoughts changed, they couldn't possibly veer towards pure-blood ideals and conservatism.

At the same time, Hermione understood why Professor Snape was against Vaughn.

Although she was different from Ron and Harry and always respected Professor Snape, she also understood that the professor was actually a "racist" who advocated pure-blood ideas.

However, for some reason, he suppressed his thoughts and basically didn't show them.

This time, however, he clearly couldn't hold back any longer.

Thinking about it, Hermione looked at Vaughn with nervousness and trepidation in her eyes.

After the overwhelming public opposition to Vaughn and C when the school year started last year, Hermione was well aware of just how intense the conflict between progressive and conservative ideologies was in the English wizarding world.

She was terrified that the professor and Vaughn would fight!

Fortunately, Vaughn, who had been calmly looking back at Snape, did not admit it. He simply shrugged and smiled, saying, "It was just an accident, Professor. In fact, at first, I didn't even know that magical proteins existed. I did study them—"

Before he could finish speaking, Snape interrupted him: "You can fool others, but you can't fool me. Two years ago, when you first entered school, you asked me what the difference was between Muggles, wizards, and magical creatures in terms of life forms. You've been searching ever since, wondering why some people are Muggles while others can become wizards."

"You've always had a limited acceptance of the spirits prevalent in the magical world because you believe that anything that exists in the real world must have a medium. So, I'm not surprised at all that you're specifically looking for magical proteins."

Snape stared intently at Vaughn, seemingly trying to read his true thoughts from his calm, expressionless face: "Vaughn, do you know what you're doing?"

This time, Vaughn didn't play dumb. The smile on his lips faded, and he said calmly, "I know very well—Dumbledore knows very well too."

"I----"

Snape was speechless.

He suddenly recalled Dumbledore's long-standing wariness of Vaughn.

He used to think that Deng Xiaoping was getting more and more senile as he got older. He was almost dead, yet he still showed wariness and suppression towards the "successor" he had personally groomed. He was simply insane!

Now he understood that Dumbledore wasn't out of his mind, but rather that he had long ago seen through the "danger" of Vaughn Weasley!

Snape's thoughts were somewhat confused.

This feeling arose yesterday when he saw Vaughn's paper in "Extraordinary Potions," a mixture of disappointment, hatred, worry, and frustration.

Hermione's intuition was correct; he had always been a proponent of pure-blood wizards.

But that's not because he agrees with the purebloods' bullshit ideology—according to the purebloods, he, being half Muggle, is also someone who should be purged.

How can a person oppose themselves?

His identification with purebloods stemmed solely from his loathing of his alcoholic, abusive Muggle father!

Dirty Muggles are always like this: rude, despicable, and irresponsible.

He could tolerate Dumbledore's favoritism towards Muggles, since the old man was always crazy and constantly talking about love and such.

He could also tolerate Vaughn's apparent fondness for Muggle culture and knowledge. Culture and knowledge are innocent, and the fact that Vaughn was sorted into Slytherin shows that he subconsciously agrees with the survival of the fittest. A predator cannot be as saintly as Dumbledore.

But Vaughn Weasley, as a Slytherin, why would you presume to allow such lowly Muggles to be tainted by pure magic?

Snape thought about it all night, but he still couldn't figure it out.

This is betrayal!

The atmosphere became a little tense for a moment.

Hermione looked around, glancing at Professor Snape, whose face was tense and whose eyes were dark as he seemed to be thinking about something after he finished speaking.

The professor was the one who made her most nervous; she was terrified that he would suddenly pull out his wand and unleash a spell.

He glanced at Vaughn in the other direction, his eyes crinkling and a faint smile playing on his lips.

Thank goodness.

Vaughn didn't seem angry—but you could not say for sure, since we've known each other, Vaughn doesn't seem to have ever been angry with anyone.

Of course, that doesn't mean he has a good temper.

Having spent nearly two years together, Hermione knew very well that Vaughn was more arrogant than anyone else, and no one in the entire Hogwarts could make him look at him differently—including her, Harry, or other famous upperclassmen and upperclasswomen.

His usual gentleness and low-key demeanor are not due to his kind nature, nor is it a deliberate act or aloofness; rather, it is because he doesn't want to waste words!

Well, the kind of person he's willing to "talk nonsense" to is probably someone like Cornelius Fudge.

Just as a meeting was in progress, a magical curse blasted him out of the Great Inquisition.

Therefore, Hermione often couldn't tell if Vaughn was truly angry, but she knew the consequences of his anger. In this not-so-crowded abandoned classroom, if the two of them really started fighting—

Just as Hermione was lost in thought and hesitating...

A soft laugh rang out.

It's Vaughn.

Hermione turned her head and saw Vaughn shaking his head and chuckling as he played with the glowing potion. Snape, standing nearby, also turned his dark eyes towards her: "What are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing, I just feel that the professor is indeed petty and didn't understand my true thoughts."

Hermione's eyes widened, and she couldn't help but look at Snape.

Being called petty to his face, the dear Potions Professor's face was indeed very unpleasant. His long face was so long that the muscles were twitching involuntarily, as if he was about to explode at any moment.

Hermione watched in horror.

But Vaughn simply shrugged, smoothly deflecting the hatred: "That wasn't me, it was Ron and Harry. Fruit Tea overheard them commenting on my paper, and they even guessed you'd come after me—and believe it or not, they know you pretty well!"

'

'

Hermione didn't know what expression to make.

But looking at Snape's face, which was almost as black as the bottom of a pot, and his twitching eyes, she could only pray that Harry and Ron would behave themselves and not fall into the professor's hands.

After casually showing some concern for Harry and Ron, Vaughn stopped teasing and looked at Snape: "Professor, do you think I included Muggles in my new Potions system because I favor Muggles? Then, if I'm so merciful, why is Dumbledore so wary of me?"

Ok?

Dumbledore was wary of Vaughn?

Hermione looked surprised.

Before she could think further, Snape scoffed, "How would I know what that madman is thinking? Maybe he's jealous of your future achievements and leadership position."

That was obviously said in anger.

In fact, Snape realized it too. Right, if Vaughn's goal was to favor Muggles, then given Dumbledore's saintly nature of constantly shouting about love and such, he should have strongly supported him.

But last summer, when Vaughn was stuck in North America, Deng hesitated to come to his rescue, which seemed suspicious of him trying to use someone else to do his dirty work.

Thoughts drifted as Snape stared at Vaughn, his eyes questioning.

Seeing this, Vaughn didn't keep him in suspense any longer. He casually summoned the still listless Aracle, letting the poor eight-eyed giant spider hover in front of him. While examining it, he said, "Because Dumbledore knows that in my eyes, I never take concepts like Muggle, half-blood, or pure-blood seriously. Even wizards and magical creatures are all the same to me. My only way of judging things is not based on their origin or background, but on whether they are useful to me and whether they can realize my ideas."