"Professor, the second phase has gone unexpectedly smoothly. Currently only two substitute materials show signs of conflict. Do you think we could speed up the progress?"
"Potions research is serious and cautious work, but..." Snape looked through Sean's thesis and experimental records again, hesitating slightly before continuing: "However, your thesis and experimental records are indeed very smooth. I haven't found any errors or omissions, proving you've been quite lucky. By chance finding the smoothest path among countless possibilities.
Since that's the case, let's speed things up. A Potions master's research lifespan isn't short, but it's not truly long either. If we can accelerate, then we should accelerate."
Hearing Snape's words, Sean immediately nodded with a smile: "Alright, then I'll speed up. The research progress has been quite slow lately. I've been wanting to accelerate for a while."
What Sean meant by "speeding up" was naturally returning to the state from before Christmas. Using the Time-Turner and mental recovery potions to turn one day into several, dedicating all time except eating, sleeping, using the bathroom, and attending classes to research. Snape still remembered that period when Sean's mental state seemed stretched like a taut string, his physical condition visibly declining.
Snape knew that if he tried such a schedule, he'd probably die from overwork within half a month. Sean had stubbornly endured it for half a semester. Though showing nothing on the surface, Snape was genuinely amazed and impressed by Sean's troll-like physique and powerful mental fortitude.
This was a talent born for grinding himself to death through work.
Of course, amazement aside, admiration aside, Snape still cared about Sean.
"You don't have to push yourself as hard as you did last semester. The Time-Turner is meant to help you learn more, not to fuel obsessive studying. Using it now and then is okay, but using it constantly isn't. Those Time-Turners probably can't handle being used that much."
He didn't say a single word about being worried, but Sean clearly heard the concern in his meaning.
However, for the dignity of his Slytherin Snake King, Sean tactfully didn't say much. Knowing it in his heart was enough. Otherwise, if he made his Slytherin Snake King feel embarrassed and angry, it would be direct venom spraying in his face. Last time's spraying had already made Sean wish he were dead; he didn't want to experience it again.
Walking out of Snape's office, Sean returned to his room to organize his things, then prepared to go to the library to continue calculations and research.
But just then, Sean suddenly noticed that things in his room seemed to have been disturbed, and Kulkan wasn't in the room either. He searched around, and after confirming Kulkan wasn't there, he immediately prepared to find Blaise to see if Kulkan was with him. Just then, he saw Kulkan push open the door and return to the room.
Seeing Sean back, Kulkan didn't waste words and said directly: "Sean, someone snuck into your room, but since you've been carrying all useful materials and data with you, there were only some books in the room. That guy didn't find anything useful, so he secretly slipped away.
I concealed myself earlier and secretly followed him. I saw that guy enter the place where the Slytherin Brotherhood reserve organization holds meetings. There's a magical door there, so I didn't go in and came straight back."
Hearing this, Sean's expression also became serious.
When his thesis was published in The Golden Cauldron, Sean had prepared for this by carrying all key and important materials and data on his person. Things temporarily unneeded or too bulky to carry were sent home for Aldrich to safeguard. His room had never had problems before, so Sean had relaxed his vigilance somewhat. But due to his cautious habits, Sean still maintained the practice of carrying materials and data with him. He hadn't expected the situation he didn't want to see would actually occur.
"Sean, what do you want to do?"
"What to do?" A smile appeared on Sean's face, his eyes showing a hint of dangerous intent: "With such a good opportunity, of course I'm going to storm their door. My thesis is at the level of top Potions journals. Sneaking into my room trying to steal my data and materials. Even Hogwarts couldn't protect those guys. On the contrary, as long as I don't use Unforgivable Curses or other taboo magic, even if I storm their door, as long as I don't kill anyone, I won't get in trouble. I've been thinking about how to vent that old resentment anyway. This is like getting a pillow when drowsy. Such a good opportunity, of course I won't let it pass!"
Actually, Sean understood clearly that this incident was certainly done privately by someone in the Slytherin Brotherhood reserve organization, or by someone acting on authorization from some people in the Slytherin Brotherhood. Otherwise, if it were an action by the entire Slytherin Brotherhood and its reserve organization, either Barrett or Jennifer would have warned him in time.
Though Sean understood this clearly, he still hadn't swallowed that breath from being targeted by the Slytherin Brotherhood before. With such a good opportunity, of course he should take the chance to explode and spit out that resentment.
Seeing Sean walk out murderously, Kulkan transformed to the size of a normal python and quickly followed. She loved watching excitement so much. Naturally she didn't want to miss Sean beating people up. Moreover, she needed to point out the person who had snuck into his room to Sean, so naturally she had to follow.
The murderous Sean with a stunningly beautiful white snake beside him. Anyone seeing this scene couldn't help but exclaim at the imposing aura while also feeling alarmed, wondering who was so blind as to provoke this Sean fellow. As long as it wasn't themselves, there would be excitement to watch.
Quite a few people clearly had this thought, so when Sean arrived outside the Slytherin Brotherhood reserve organization's meeting place, everyone knew this incident wouldn't end quietly. Whether it was the Slytherin Brotherhood reserve organization or Sean, anyone in Slytherin House with decent information sources knew both sides were not to be trifled with. However, relatively speaking, they still felt the Slytherin Brotherhood reserve organization might have the advantage, since they not only had more people but each had considerable strength. Sean, after all, was just one person.
Sean neither knew nor was interested in knowing the thoughts of those gathering around to watch. Looking at the door before him, without the slightest hesitation, he directly raised his wand.
"Bombarda!"