Gotta say, Snape has quite the backbone.
It seems he didn't want Kael's help a second time. This time, after entering the Room of Requirement, he stayed inside for a full five days without stepping out once.
Everything else was manageable, after all, this is a real castle, everything that should be here is available.
The only issue was meals… Kael wasn't sure how he managed to endure so many days.
Perhaps Conna helped bring food in, or maybe he drank Magic Potions.
For instance, a bottle of Vitality Potion can keep you going for a whole day without food, though the downside is its terrible taste.
Kael tried it once, felt like mashing all the disgusting flavors of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean into juice, then throwing in a handful of dirt.
If it were up to Kael, he'd rather bring extra bread and roasted potatoes in the morning than drink that stuff.
Though Snape could likely bear it. If he crafted a bag with the Undetectable Extension Charm, carrying ten or twenty bottles of Vitality Potion wouldn't be a problem at all.
But Kael didn't know Snape's exact method, aside from exchanging a few words on the first day, they hadn't spoken since.
Mainly because there was no chance, as Kael only avoided the Magic Potion Classroom.
He met Snape again on the sixth day. Snape looked a size smaller than before, yet his eyes were bright.
Clearly, Snape, like other professors, had gained a lot.
Although Kael was curious, he knew Snape wouldn't tell him, so he sensibly avoided asking and returned to the Charm Class Classroom.
"Don't intentionally control the Magic Text; treat it as part of the Magic," the old professor said, taking out his wand and gently waving it twice.
His movements were light, like conducting a grand concert, while the shimmering Magic Texts were like the musical notes.
It was merely the simplest Lighting Spell, yet it emitted such blinding light like the Sun.
Kael followed suit, waving his wand… but nothing happened, the wand tip flickered lackadaisically.
Time was too short; he didn't have time to use Magic Power to draw the Magic Text.
"What a fool, how can there be such an ignorant student in this classroom!"
The old professor roared, "Although Magic Power is the ink, the wand isn't the only Quill, aren't the spells you recite another form of Magic Text?"
Kael was reprimanded soundly, something that hadn't happened in the past six years. But in the past month, it had become routine.
He was used to it.
After all, the other party couldn't hit him with a wand, so a few scolding words were just words.
Listening to the professor's words, Kael kept adjusting his spellcasting technique.
...
Until the day before the semester began, Kael decided to give himself a break.
Being scolded for such a long time, no matter how indifferent he was, there was some pressure, coupled with continuous high-intensity study consuming energy, a bit of relaxation was necessary.
It started raining from midnight, Kael slept until eleven before yawning out of the dormitory.
The common room was crowded, but everyone was doing homework, nobody noticed others, including Conna who was catching up on assignments.
She had spent a long time in the Room of Requirement, only realized two days ago something important.
Kael had taken time off in advance, so he didn't need to write assignments, but she hadn't...
Completing two weeks' assignments in three days was almost impossible. When Conna realized this, she was stunned.
Kael intended to help her with the writing, it wasn't hard, just slightly modifying the auto-answer Quill Pen.
But Conna refused, insisting on doing it herself.
All Kael could do was stay far away… no choice, he had invited Conna to the Room of Requirement, neglecting the homework issue, feeling a bit guilty in hindsight.
Kael didn't disturb anyone, quietly leaving the common room, leisurely wandering the castle.
It seemed like ages since he'd done this, without rushing, just aimlessly walking and stopping in the castle.
Staring at the dark castle walls along the corridor, faded picture frames, tarnished railings, Kael felt momentarily dazed.
Whether from habit, Kael still found them pleasing, the Room of Requirement's Hogwarts seemed too new to him.
While walking, Kael suddenly encountered a group of seventh-year students descending from upstairs, likely Gryffindor, chirping around someone.
With the crowd and angle, Kael initially didn't see clearly who it was but soon spotted a familiar face.
"Hermione!" Kael waved a greeting.
"Kael?" Hermione, carrying books at the back, ran over, "What are you doing here?"
"Exploring the castle, since there's nothing else to do." Kael said, "By the way, who was that earlier, so popular?"
"Oh, that's Katie Bell." Hermione said, "She just returned from St Mungo's this morning."
"She recovered?"
"Completely, she said so herself." Hermione nodded, quickly recalling something, adding, "But Harry asked already, she doesn't remember who used Imperio on her, only remembers it was at Three Broomsticks."