Morning runs with Harry leave Neville aching but proud, and breakfast turns into a front-row seat to chaos when Dumbledore suddenly breaks out in an uncontrollable poison-ivy rash in front of the whole school. While McGonagall punishes everyone for laughing, Neville quietly calls Hermione out for always choosing the Headmaster over her friends. In Potions, Harry and Severus slip back into their usual “Professor vs. Potter” act, right up until Harry earns himself a detention. Behind the scenes, Snape examines Dumbledore’s condition in the Hospital Wing, collects samples, and returns to his quarters where Harry is waiting with questions. Over orange juice and research notes, guardian and ward talk about poison ivy, Horcrux extraction, Dumbledore’s plans for Harry’s summer placement, and the unsettling discovery that Ron has been following Harry on the Marauder’s Map. Change is coming, and Severus is determined to make sure Harry is ready to fight back.