#168 - A Guide to Magic from Ancient to Modern Times

Noticing Professor Snape's sudden change in expression, Moon's body instinctively prepared for defense.

However, his movements were clearly not as fast as the Potions professor's.

Snape simply raised his hand and waved, and a notebook in Moon's hand flew towards him.

Snape caught it steadily, then picked up the quill clipped to the notebook and began to write.

Seeing Snape cast spells so fluently, Moon knew he still had a long way to go in learning magic.

Currently, Moon's fastest spell, the Leg-Locker Curse, could only be cast twelve times within a single breath, which was already his limit.

To increase his casting speed further, simply speeding up gestures was proving difficult.

Therefore, he could only strive towards silent and wandless casting.

Just now, Snape had simply waved his hand, without saying anything or even drawing his wand.

A silent Accio spell was already cast.

This was at least four times faster than Moon's casting speed, and he did it with ease.

This confirmed to Moon that the direction he was pursuing was correct.

While Moon was still making comparisons in his mind, Snape had already written the new spells and handed them to Moon.

The Severing Charm and its counter-curse.

"This spell is taught to third-year wizards. Once you master it and build a solid foundation, I have an even more powerful spell for you."

Seeing Snape suddenly become so generous, Moon was still a little incredulous.

"Professor, are there no strings attached?"

"Of course. Our transactions have been very pleasant, haven't they?"

Although Snape said "pleasant," there wasn't a hint of a smile on his face.

"Yes... yes."

After hearing Moon's reply, Snape unusually reached out and patted the little lion on the shoulder.

"Mr. Scarlett, I imagine you have other potion ingredients? If you choose to trade with me, our transactions can continue indefinitely."

After Snape finished speaking, Moon knew what the Potions professor was up to.

Moon naturally had more and better potion ingredients, such as the Swamp Lily, of which there was only one in this world, according to Snape.

Moon had already purchased three of the same herb from the Bailey Trading Company, and had commissioned them to continue searching. "Rest assured, Professor, you will always be my first choice."

Moon currently had no other trading channels, and going to the apothecary in Diagon Alley was not realistic for him.

After all, first-year wizards were not allowed to go out on their own.

So, in this mutually beneficial transaction, Moon could only put Snape in the first position.

"Good. If you can bring me more valuable potion ingredients, I will give you what you want, such as the Undetectable Extension Charm you mentioned."

"Okay, deal!"

Hearing Moon's quick agreement, Snape paused slightly.

He remembered that the last time he made an agreement with this little lion, Moon had also agreed so readily.

This gave him a faint feeling that he had fallen into a trap again.

However, thinking that he might be able to get more potion ingredients, Snape forced a smile.

"Well, I'll wait for your new materials."

Watching Moon hastily leave the History of Magic classroom with the two newly acquired pieces of parchment.

Snape glanced around the empty classroom and said leisurely.

"I didn't expect there to be even more advanced materials. Hmph! The little lion is as gullible as ever."

After Moon came out of the classroom, he saw Harry and Ron hiding in the corner as soon as he walked down the stairs.

"How was it? Snape didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"

Seeing Moon come down, Ron pulled him away, avoiding Snape's path, and then left in another direction.

"No, I just made a deal with him."

"A deal!"

Moon's words successfully aroused the curiosity of the two young wizards.

They had never heard of a student making a deal with a professor, let alone a little lion and an old snake.

"I think you should avoid Snape, not make deals with him. After all, Slytherins are very calculating."

Ron's conclusion was the common understanding of their entire family, and it had been verified over many years.

"Don't worry, this deal isn't a loss for me."

Moon knew Ron was concerned, but he was also very clear that he was getting more out of this deal.

Cutting-type magic was the easiest type to learn for Moon, so mastering the Severing Charm was very simple.

And Moon was now very much looking forward to what spell Snape would come up with next time.

Harry was very curious when he heard Moon mention the deal.

Last week, when everyone suspected that Snape had jinxed his broom, only Moon ruled out the Potions professor's suspicions.

Even though the evidence Moon presented at the time was very solid, Harry vaguely felt that there should be some secret between Moon and Snape?

Now that Moon directly said that there was a deal between the two, it made Harry even more curious and increasingly unable to see through Moon.

Because of Snape's delay, Moon missed going to the library with Hermione.

However, when eating in the hall at noon, the little witch hurried back.

"Look! What I found."

Hermione pushed aside the food in front of Harry and Moon, and then put a thick book on top.

《A Guide to Ancient and Modern Magic》

"This records a magic mirror, which should be the one you encountered last night."

After listening to Hermione's soft explanation, Moon and Harry both carefully looked at the contents of the book.

【The Mirror of Erised】

"The mirror doesn't show the real image?"

After seeing the content recorded in the book, the smile on Harry's face disappeared.

How much he wished that everything in the mirror was real, even if it was only for a short time.

"It shouldn't be real. The sentence you copied from the mirror should be read backwards to get its true meaning."

Moon still remembered the sentence he had copied onto the parchment this morning.

Read backwards, it was "I show not your face but your heart's desire."

Seeing Harry's expression become increasingly disappointed, Hermione and Ron comforted him from the side.

Moon was even more puzzled. If, according to the book's explanation, the Mirror of Erised showed a person's desires.

What was the cracked crimson moon? What about the pitch-black weird willow tree?

Moon was very sure that this was not his desire at all.

He had seen these two things, but they shouldn't look like this.

"Harry, you should have called me last night. Maybe I could have helped you see more."

Ron was very envious after learning about Harry and Moon's strange experiences last night. He had been advocating for Harry to go again tonight.

"Don't worry, we'll go again tonight. Even if those things aren't real, I want to spend more time with them."

After hearing the two people finish speaking, Hermione slowly closed the book and quietly said.

"Although the book says that the harm the mirror has brought over the years far outweighs the benefits, and many people will waste their time in front of the mirror and become detached from reality, I also want to go see it."

Harry and Ron had long known that Hermione was not a peaceful person at heart, so they were not surprised that she could say such a thing.

After the three decided to go night-touring the castle again tonight, they all looked at Moon.

"Me : : :

Moon was still a little hesitant. He knew that those were not the desires of his heart, but he was also vaguely worried.

Just as Moon was thinking, Professor McGonagall suddenly came to the hall and walked to the seats of the first-year wizards.

"Mr. Scarlett, could you please come out for a moment."