HP: Those Years Sleeping with the Half-Blood Prince

"The fire's too high! Do you want to cook a pot of charcoal?"

"Stir! Use your wrist, not your arm! Turn clockwise, make sure you're going the right way!"

"Those are sleep beans, not barbo tubers! Merlin, are your eyes just for show?"

Ian was scolded and looked humiliated, but his hand movements did gradually improve with each correction.

At least he no longer throws porcupine quills into the still-boiling cauldron, and he remembers the difference between clockwise and counterclockwise.

Kevin and Aris sometimes join in.

Kevin was mainly there to fill in the gaps in his even worse knowledge of astronomy and magical history, while Aris was responsible for solving various theoretical puzzles or providing calm tactical analysis while they practiced spells.

Four boys huddled in this secret space, with parchment, books, and quills piled up everywhere, exuding a busy yet strangely cohesive atmosphere.

Time slipped away amidst the turning of pages, the rustling of quills across parchment, and the occasional bubbling of a crucible.

The weather outside the castle gradually warmed up, the ice on the Black Lake had long since melted, and the lawn had become lush and green again.

But the students inside the castle had no time to appreciate it; everyone was in a hurry, their faces showing either anxiety or exhaustion.

Exam week has finally arrived, bringing with it a sense of unease.

On the day of the potion exam, Ian's palms were a little sweaty when he walked into the exam room.

He caught a glimpse of Severus's upright back in the front row, took a deep breath, and sat down.

Unfolding the exam paper, the terms and formulas that once made him dizzy still made him nervous, but at least they were no longer completely unfamiliar.

He recalled the diagrams Severus had drawn, the detailed explanations, and the phrase "every step has a reason"... He picked up his quill and began to answer the questions.

The practical exam is in a few days.

Standing in front of the control panel, Ian tried to ignore the distractions caused by the other students' frantic work, and silently recited the key points that Severus had emphasized countless times.

Processing materials, igniting the fire, controlling the heat, stirring... he was completely focused, and his movements could even be described as meticulous.

When the final step was completed, and the liquid in the crucible in front of him turned a near-standard, clear, pale blue, he could hardly believe his eyes.

After handing in the sample and leaving the examination room, Ian felt his legs were a little weak, but a huge weight was lifted from his heart.

He saw Severus already waiting at the corner of the corridor, leaning against the stone wall, holding a book in his hand, but his gaze did not seem to be on the pages.

"How are you?" Ian walked over, trying to make his voice sound relaxed.

Severus closed the book, looked up at him, and his dark eyes lingered on his face for two seconds, as if trying to read something from his expression.

"The sample color is barely acceptable, there were too many pauses during stirring, but the order of steps was not obviously wrong." He paused, then added, "It should pass."

Ian grinned, a mixture of exhaustion and relief washing over him. "Just passing is good enough! Thank God, thank you, Severus!"

Severus looked away, and the corner of his mouth seemed to twitch slightly, so quickly that it was almost an illusion.

"You did it yourself." He said calmly, turning and walking towards the cellar. "Let's go. Tomorrow is History of Magic. Professor Binns won't go easy on you just because you passed potions."

……

After the final history of magic exam, students poured out of the exam hall, their faces a mixture of relief and exhaustion.

The atmosphere in the castle instantly became light and cheerful, carrying the restlessness unique to the approaching holidays.

"It's over! It's finally over!" Kevin shouted with his arms outstretched in the hallway, drawing good-natured laughter from several Hufflepuffs passing by.

"I've drafted a preliminary plan for your summer vacation, which includes an analysis of the Montrose Magpies' historical record, a basic Quidditch training schedule, and..."

Aris pulled a roll of parchment from his bag. "This is the syllabus your father probably requested, to avoid another academic crisis next year."

Kevin's face fell. "Aris! It's a holiday! A holiday!"

Ian chuckled, hooking his arm around Kevin's neck, and said to Severus, "So, my hero, what are your plans for summer vacation? Continue your study of your medieval secrets?"

He remembered that Severus treasured that bottle of treated bioluminescent mushroom spores, occasionally taking it out to process it under specific moonlight, so he figured it wouldn't be idle during the summer vacation.

Severus, adjusting his backpack straps, paused upon hearing this, then said, "...Hmm."

He glanced at Ian, then quickly looked away. "We might try that remedy."

"If you need any special materials, remember to contact me by owl," Ian said casually. "I can always find a way around Knockover Alley." He no longer hesitated to talk about this.

Severus nodded slightly. "...Thank you."

Lily caught up from behind, her green eyes brimming with laughter: "How did the exams go, everyone? Severus, you must have passed perfectly again! Ian, Kevin, you two don't look like Potions class has defeated you either!"

"Thanks to Mr. Severus's cramming teaching," Ian said with a grin, earning him a roll of his eyes from Severus.

"Lily, what are you doing this summer?" Kevin asked.

"I might visit some relatives with Mom and Dad, and then play around around the neighborhood," Lily said, looking at Severus in a cheerful voice. "Severus, I'll write to you! I'll send you Muggle candy, it's so delicious!"

"Okay," Severus replied.

They followed the flow of people down the marble staircase, sunlight streaming through the high windows and casting bright spots of light on the ancient stone slabs.

The last few days of the semester are always spent hurriedly packing luggage, exchanging mailing addresses, and saying goodbye with a touch of sadness.

As Ian stuffed the textbooks he no longer needed into the bottom of the box, he said to Severus, "I'll say it again, just call me anytime. If you're bored at home, or... well, you know, you're welcome to come over. My parents would definitely love to have you."

Severus was carefully packing his precious bottles, books, and the old parchment into a wooden box.

He didn't answer immediately, but his movements became even gentler.

Only after locking the box did he straighten up and look at Ian, his dark eyes appearing deep in the dimly lit dormitory.

"...We'll see." He finally uttered those two words, but his tone was no longer the cold rejection he used to have.

On the day we left school, the Hogwarts Express spewed steam and glittered in the sunlight.

The platform was packed with students and parents picking up their children, creating a noisy scene.

Ian, Kevin, and Aris, carrying their luggage, said goodbye to Severus. "Remember to write letters, and don't spend the whole summer staring at the cauldron!"

Severus nodded slightly, watching his friends depart.