Hogwarts: I am Snape

Chapter 63 You're awake! The treatment was a success.

After the two bowed to each other, the duel began.

Barty Crouch Jr. flicked his wrist, and a red spell, accompanied by a piercing shriek, shot straight toward Snape.

There was not a trace of panic in Snape's dark eyes. His wand danced in the air, and in the blink of an eye, three ordinary candles melted and transformed, their flames leaping and intertwining as if they were alive, turning into a shield shimmering with silver flames.

The spell slammed into the shield, scattering sparks everywhere and illuminating their faces.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Snape launched his counterattack. With a flick of his wand, a black Barrier Charm shot towards Barty Jr. The air crackled and hissed as the charm passed through it.

"Armor Protection!" Little Barty's expression changed, and he quickly raised his wand, instantly enveloping him in a transparent protective shield.

The barrier spell struck the shield, producing a piercing sound, and ripples spread across the surface of the shield.

Two powerful magical forces clashed fiercely in the small space. Fine beads of sweat appeared on both of their foreheads, and for a moment neither could gain the upper hand.

Snape swung his wand faster and faster, firing spells like a whip, relentlessly shooting them toward Barty the Younger.

Ultimately, relying on his greater magical power, Snape seized upon a slight opening Barty made while taking a breath, and a Stunning Charm struck him precisely in the chest.

Little Barty flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing into the magical barrier at the edge of the stage and falling heavily to the ground, his wand falling from his hand.

"Cease the attack!" Professor Flitwick shouted almost simultaneously, leaping down from his high stool with a speed that seemed deliberately practiced, his eyes fixed on Snape's every move.

Snape immediately tucked his wand into his robes and glided lightly across the stage. He bent down to pick up Barty's wand, then went to the unconscious Barty and gently helped him up.

“Professor, I’ll take Barty to the university hospital,” Snape said kindly.

"You?" Professor Flitwick narrowed his eyes warily. "I'll go with you."

After asking Professor Slughorn to handle the cleanup of the match, Professor Flitwick and Snape left the Great Hall together, taking Barty Jr. towards the university hospital.

"Professor, how did you know what the consequences would be if the Unlocking Charm were used on someone?" Snape asked curiously in the corridor leading to the university hospital. He admitted he had been too impulsive yesterday.

He was extremely grateful that Professor Flitwick had stopped his spell in time; otherwise, the scene would likely have ended both James's and his own school careers simultaneously. Public pressure would have achieved this in different ways: Snape would have been expelled, and James would have voluntarily dropped out of school.

"Have some mercy, Severus." Professor Flitwick was furious at the thought of what happened and stomped his foot. "Not every door can be opened so easily! I've heard about your conflicts with James, but do you really want to be remembered in the school's history?"

"I'm so sorry, Professor, I've startled you." Snape gave a rare shy smile. "I promise I'll never use the Unlocking Charm on my classmates again."

As they talked, they unknowingly arrived at the entrance of the school hospital.

Upon entering through the double doors, a strong smell of herbs wafted towards you.

Ms. Pomfrey was changing the bandages of the other students who had been injured over the past few days. When she saw them come in, she angrily raised her head: "Felius, when will this damned duel end? How many people have gotten injured already!"

“Oh, Bobby,” Professor Flitwick smiled awkwardly and said embarrassedly, “the competition is over tonight, and all that’s left is the regular teaching.”

"What?" Ms. Pomfrey clucked like a hen in dissatisfaction. "There's still regular teaching? I'm going to see the headmaster!"

She grumbled as she took little Barty from her, placed him on the bed, gently brushed his straw-colored hair back, and touched his forehead. "A Stunning Charm?" she asked.

“Yes, the Stunning Curse, Poppy,” Professor Flitwick said, quickly adding, “We’re training them now so they’ll be less injured in real combat later.”

“I understand, things aren’t peaceful these days…” Ms. Pomfrey muttered softly, “You can leave now, just leave him to me.”

“I want to wait here until he wakes up, Ms. Pomfrey,” Snape said softly. “I was the one who made him pass out, so I want to see him alright before I leave.”

“Oh, he’ll be fine.” Ms. Pomfrey’s expression softened. “However, you can stay here if you wish, but remember to keep quiet.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Snape nodded obediently and sat down in the chair next to the bed.

Ms. Pomfrey extinguished the candles in the ward and returned to her office.

Snape sat beside Barty Jr.'s bedside, staring at the streaks of moonlight on the ceiling, listening to the night breeze rustling through the leaves outside the window...

Snape was awakened by a soft noise after an unknown amount of time.

The sky outside the window had turned deep blue, and Ms. Pomfrey had already begun her work.

She was using a spoon to feed little Barty a blue, crystalline liquid into his mouth.

Snape rubbed his slightly sore neck and looked down at Barty Jr.'s pale face.

This seemingly weak boy will pass the twelve OWL tests in the future, successfully resist the Imperius Curse, and even keep Moody, the Auror whom Charlie Weasley called "the best" and who filled half of Azkaban's cells, locked up at the bottom of a trunk for a whole year.

A strange feeling welled up inside Snape.

He thought that if he couldn't get Barty away from Voldemort's ship, then for the sake of peace in the wizarding world, he would rather find a chance to let Barty fall asleep forever than let Barty have the opportunity to grow up and become a greater threat.

Pulling up Barty's sleeve, Snape found no skull mark on his arm.

After a while, Little Barty's eyelashes twitched slightly, and under the influence of the medicine, he slowly opened his eyes.

"You're awake. The treatment was a success," Snape said, trying to keep his expression as gentle and kind as possible.

"What are you doing here?" Little Batti stood up abruptly and asked warily.

“I’m sorry I went too far yesterday,” Snape said with a kind, fatherly smile. “For your age, you are truly remarkable, so when I’m with you, I find it difficult to control myself.”

“I was worried that it might leave you with some aftereffects, so I stayed with you until you woke up.”

Is there anything else that's bothering you?

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(End of this chapter)