"You should understand—this isn't a question a first-year student should be asking."
Snape frowned, paused for a moment, then continued, "But since you've brought it up, you clearly understand the basic principle of the Anti-Magic Reaction. Just reverse-stirring at the right moment will be enough to interrupt the reaction and add the next ingredients. There's no need to force the original potion to maintain its magical form. Next question."
Maca proceeded to ask all the questions he had encountered during his practice. To his surprise, Snape didn't show the impatience he had expected. Instead, he answered each one clearly and directly.
"…No more questions?" Snape eventually asked, reverting to his usual scowl. "Then get out."
Once outside Snape's office and around the corner in the hallway, Maca let out a long breath.
Truth be told, he didn't like being around Snape. To him, dealing with someone so unreadable was more unsettling than most other things.
If he had to name the one person he feared approaching the most, it would undoubtedly be Dumbledore.
After quickly reviewing his behavior during the conversation and confirming he hadn't slipped up, Maca briskly walked away.
Now that he had resolved several practical challenges, the rest would be much easier. All he needed were a few missing tools and a quiet, private place to begin potion preparation.
"Hagrid's hut? Not a bad choice," Maca muttered to himself as he turned toward the front gate. "I don't have any classes this afternoon anyway. Visiting Hagrid might be nice."
…It was a beautiful day. The wind was stronger than the past few days, but the sky was a brilliant blue, lifting his spirits. The air outside the castle was especially fresh—an invigorating contrast to the gloom of Snape's office.
Maca took a deep breath of the fresh air—the gift of nature that sustained all life, whether wizard or Muggle, equally.
Hagrid's hut stood near the edge of the Forbidden Forest. A short walk across the field brought it into view.
"Hey, Hagrid! Good afternoon!" Maca called out when he spotted the towering figure in the distance.
"Oh, Maca! Good afternoon!" Hagrid turned and grinned when he saw who it was.
But the smile faded quickly, and he said seriously, "It's great to see you, and I'm happy to have you visit, but class should be starting soon. You shouldn't be out here."
"Well, actually, it's already started," Maca shrugged. "But I don't have any classes today."
"Ah, that explains it," Hagrid nodded in understanding. "I should've guessed—last time I invited Harry and Ron over, I made sure it was during a break in their schedule too."
"Come in, come in. I'll get you some tea." He patted Maca on the shoulder, guiding him toward the hut. "Oh, the door's a bit small—go on in first."
"Woof! Woof woof!"
Hagrid's big black boarhound barked loudly at Maca, its iron collar clinking noisily as it shook.
"That's Fang. Bit of a coward, but he's friendly. A good dog," Hagrid said, holding him back and gesturing for Maca to sit on the sofa.
While Hagrid went to make tea, Maca took a moment to glance around the hut. Aside from a fireplace, two sofas, and a small round table, there wasn't much else. Then again, with Hagrid's massive frame living here, there wasn't space for much more.
"Want some rock cakes? Harry and Ron seem to like them," Hagrid offered, turning back.
"No thanks. They're a bit too hard for me—my teeth aren't in great shape lately," Maca declined quickly. "You know… time to shed the old ones."
"Oh, right, that's a shame," Hagrid nodded. "Though, if you're looking to loosen any stubborn teeth, those cakes might actually help."
"If one gets really loose, I'll come back for one," Maca chuckled dryly.
They spent the rest of the afternoon chatting about all sorts of things—from magical creatures to Dumbledore and even his brother, Aberforth. Maca managed to steer the conversation in ways that kept Hagrid talking about his favorite topics, making for a lively and pleasant visit.
It wasn't until he was about to leave that Maca casually brought up his real request.
"Oh, right, Hagrid," he said, as if suddenly remembering something. "Do you mind if I come by now and then to practice potion-making here? It's hard to concentrate in the school—Professor Snape is always glaring at me like I owe him money."
"Ah, Severus—yeah, he always looks like that," Hagrid chuckled. "Of course you can! You're welcome anytime. I'm around most of the time anyway."
"Thanks," Maca said as he stepped out, closing the door behind him.
Of course, it would've been even better if he could find the Room of Requirement. Too bad he'd forgotten exactly where it was.
"I'll try looking for it later," he murmured. "Would be great if I could find it."
Still deep in thought, he headed back toward the castle. Dinner time wasn't far off.
Meal times at Hogwarts were always the liveliest part of the day.
During those moments, students would dig into their plates while chatting about the latest gossip or sharing their thoughts on the day.
Today, Maca finally wasn't in a rush—he'd decided to take a break. He'd been spending too much time buried in the library lately. Even if his mind didn't feel exhausted, his body was definitely feeling the toll.
"…Is that her?"
He happened to glance toward the Slytherin table and caught sight of the mysterious girl he'd seen in the library before.
She was sitting quietly at the end of the table, nibbling on some pudding. Her school robe, clearly a few sizes too big, hung loosely around her and dragged along the floor—not that she seemed to mind. Around her, the usual buzz of conversation and laughter filled the air, but she sat completely detached from it all. No one paid her the slightest attention.
Ordinarily, someone sitting alone like that would look glaringly out of place. But Maca noticed something odd—rather than standing out, she seemed to melt into the background. It wasn't that she was being subtle. It was as if… she didn't even exist.
Dinner wound down as the cheerful chatter continued around the hall.
Just as Maca was watching the mysterious girl quietly finish her meal and slip out, still pondering who she might be, he noticed Malfoy striding over to the Gryffindor table.
"Having your last meal, Potter? When are you catching the train back to your Muggle home?"
"You think the professors won't notice you causing trouble just because you've got your goons with you?" Harry replied coldly.
Maca was now close enough to overhear clearly. He glanced at Crabbe and Goyle—two towering boys who definitely didn't fit the description of "goons" or "small fries."
The two seemed wary of the teachers at the head table and held themselves back, their faces dark as they cracked their knuckles menacingly.
"I'm always ready for a one-on-one," Malfoy sneered. "If you're not scared, how about tonight? A wizard's duel! Wands only—no physical contact. What's the matter? Never heard of one before?"
"Of course he has," said Ron, suddenly turning around. "And I'm his second. Who's yours?"
Malfoy glanced between Crabbe and Goyle, weighing his options.
"Crabbe," he finally said. "Midnight. Trophy room. It's never locked."
As Malfoy walked away, Harry and Ron exchanged a quick look.
"What exactly is a wizard's duel?" Harry asked. "And what did you mean by 'second'?"
"Oh, if you die, I take over," Ron said breezily, returning to his now-cold pie.
When he saw the look on Harry's face, he added quickly, "Don't worry—people only die in proper duels with real wizards. You and Malfoy are just going to toss some sparks around. Neither of you knows enough spells to cause any real damage. Honestly, he probably thought you'd chicken out."
"What if I wave my wand and nothing happens?"
"Then chuck your wand and punch him right in the nose," Ron said with a shrug and a mischievous grin.
"Excuse me, but I couldn't help overhearing," came a voice from across the table. It was Hermione.
"Can't anyone eat in peace around here?" Ron muttered.
Hermione ignored him and spoke to Harry. "I heard everything you said to Malfoy…"
"Told you she'd butt in," Ron mumbled.
"You can't be wandering around the school at night! What if you get caught? You'll cost Gryffindor loads of house points. You're being so selfish!"
"This has nothing to do with you," Harry said.
"Goodbye," Ron added curtly.
Hermione watched them leave, furious. She stomped her foot in frustration—then noticed Maca sitting not far away.
"Hey, you heard that too, didn't you? You should stop them."
Ever since that conversation they had during Herbology, Hermione and Maca had gotten a bit more familiar. They would sometimes run into each other in the library and chat about schoolwork.
By now, they could be considered casual friends.
"You saw how they were. It's not like they'd listen," Maca said as he walked over, shrugging helplessly. "Harry might seem nice, but he's incredibly stubborn underneath. Once he's set on something, it's hard to change his mind."
Hermione pursed her lips without saying anything, then stormed toward the exit. But just before disappearing through the doorway, she turned back and shot Maca a glare filled with frustration.