The 'if', and the constant drinking he's been doing all day has him sniffing in a half laugh, "honey, I was tutoring my professors before I was in grad school. If chemistry is a requirement, I have the credentials."

That didn't mean he would feel comfortable actually doing magic, but learning anything might take his mind off how he's been feeling. Drown the depression in work and alcohol had been his life since Mackenzie had died. Why stop now?