"Cough, alright, now take out your quills and notes!" Luke exclaimed, picking up his wand and casting a levitating spell, causing Hermione's nearby notes to flutter into the air.
"Professor Snape has some business to attend to today, so I'll be taking over the class," Luke announced, his words instantly lifting Harry's spirits. He glanced up at Luke, who was smiling, his handsome face shining brightly.
Thank Merlin Snape isn't here for this class! Harry thought happily.
Malfoy and Crabbe, seated in the corner, were also taken aback, clearly not expecting Luke to step in to teach.
However, Malfoy shook his head, his mind elsewhere.
He wondered where Harry, who had arrived with Ron at the start of the school year, had disappeared to since that night. It was just like last semester.
The Weasley redhead must have known, but Malfoy couldn't bring himself to ask. Especially after the holiday incident when his father clashed with Arthur, which had made the headlines in the Daily Prophet and provided Lockhart with fodder.
Or... should he ask Luke?
Malfoy hesitated in his thoughts.
After all, his little girlfriend was in Gryffindor.
"Draco, what's on your mind?" Pansy's enthusiastic voice made Malfoy shudder as she approached.
"Get away from me!" He quickly grabbed his cauldron and swapped places with Crabbe.
After catching sight of Harry's expression, Malfoy couldn't even appreciate Pansy's presence.
"Today, we'll be brewing a potion called the The Draught of Living Death," Luke explained to the young wizards as per Snape's instructions.
Brewing the The Draught of Living Death wasn't too difficult. It required just a few ingredients: sunflower root powder and absinthe infusion.
Hermione, having assisted Luke in brewing the The Draught of Living Death before, was quite familiar with the process. At least, the basic steps didn't trouble her.
After outlining the production process, Luke set down his wand and remarked casually, "You can now begin brewing the The Draught of Living Death."
Since he was filling in for the class, he didn't need to participate in brewing the potion.
The brewing time for the The Draught of Living Death was just enough for one class. Similar to Snape's previous bonus mode, the student who could produce the fastest and most flawless batch would earn 10 points.
Luke dragged a reclining chair over and settled in front of Hermione, reclining comfortably as he observed her work.
"You're making it impossible for me to concentrate!" Hermione exclaimed, her frustration evident as she clenched her fist.
Luke's lazy gaze bore into her, causing Hermione's heart to flutter, disrupting her potion-making flow.
"Go check on Harry and the others!" Hermione whispered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment despite their well-known relationship.
"Alright, alright, I'll go see the other little wizards," Luke relented, amusement dancing in his eyes as he sauntered around the classroom.
When it came to Potions, Slytherin students typically excelled compared to their Gryffindor counterparts, at least according to Luke. While Snape lacked moral guidance, he possessed considerable skill, ensuring the absence of any frying pan incidents.
With class drawing to a close, Hermione was the first to finish, earning Gryffindor 10 points.
"Gryffindor gets 10 points!," Luke announced, a playful smirk gracing his lips as he exercised his authority as the acting professor.
While other students completed their potions, their quality often fell short. Ron's concoction resembled a bubbling, foul-smelling quagmire.
"What did you put in there?" Luke wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"Just some wormwood... and dried snakeskin," Ron admitted sheepishly.
"You're quite the innovator!" Luke remarked wryly, realizing Ron hadn't been paying close attention.
As the class bell rang, the students hurriedly dispersed, eager to indulge in leisure activities or grab a bite to eat.
After tidying up the materials on the podium, Luke exited the potions class, where Hermione awaited him by the door.
"You speak Lukeder than Snape, Luke!" Harry praised, having successfully brewed the Elixir of Life and Death in class—a rare accomplishment for him.
"I'm no match for Professor Snape," Luke chuckled modestly.
"Let's play Quidditch on the green lawn?" Harry suggested, noting that Wood and Fred were both present.
Ron felt a pang of longing at the idea. He'd refrained from joining the Quidditch team since his first year, despite knowing he was just as capable as Harry, Luke, and even Malfoy.
But Quidditch?
"Never mind, I've got things to do this afternoon," Luke declined. He planned to engrave a few more enchantment rings and prepare them for sale, expanding his business beyond just card games.
"Don't count on me either; I'm sticking with Luke!" Hermione interjected, clinging to Luke's arm without hesitation.
Quidditch held little appeal for her, especially compared to Professor McGonagall's fervor.
"Then it's just us..." Harry shrugged, leading Ron away.
They would continue playing Quidditch throughout the term, but Luke had retired from the sport last semester. Even now, he carried a charm to counteract vertigo, a testament to his disinterest in the game.
"Let's grab some food from the house-elves and then head to the Room of Requirement," Harry suggested as they departed.
.....
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