The Return to Hogwarts

2024-07-12

The sudden emergence of Amostella Blaine changed many people's 'stereotypical' impression of Slytherin.

Before Amos Tower became known to the world, Slytherins were often seen as focused on seizing profits, rejecting Muggle descendants, enthusiastically promoting the outdated idea of ​​pure-blood supremacy, and ambitious in any organization.

Apart from the above, Slytherin seemed to scoff at everything else.

Aside from possessing unparalleled magical power, Draco could offer no precise description of Professor Amostrath Blaine.

But one thing is undeniable: Professor Blaine is indeed very charismatic.

In some ways, he even surpassed Dumbledore, because Albus Dumbledore at least never 'conquered' Slytherin.

Snape walked away to check on Pansy, who was sobbing quietly.

Bathed in the faint light of dawn, Draco stood by the water, his expression bewildered, remaining silent for a long time.

"Humph!"

Hiding behind the bushes, Neville, squeezed under the Invisibility Cloak with Harry and Ron, snorted and muttered under his breath.

"A fence-sitter—"

This assessment perfectly captured Harry's feelings; in such a difficult time of utter silence, Malfoy was actually plotting to join the victors.

“You can’t say that, Neville.”

Hermione, who ostensibly came along to stop them from doing something foolish, used the Disillusionment Charm to hide herself because Harry's Invisibility Cloak could conceal at least four people.

She glanced at Draco, who was lying in the water looking lost and disoriented, and said calmly,

“Malfoy will definitely be worried. Harry, you saw Malfoy’s father at the scene of the resurrection of the Dark Lord, which means he is indeed a Death Eater. In this case, Malfoy is in a difficult position.”

Supporting Professor Blaine means rebelling against his parents, while supporting Mysterio, I guess, means he fears Professor Blaine more than Mysterio, after all, he's never met Mysterio.

Oh, and I believe Malfoy also greatly admires Professor Blaine. Everyone in Slytherin is fascinated by Professor Blaine, so in this situation, he's in a difficult position.”

"He deserved it."

Ron said without any politeness,

"Who told him to have a Death Eater father? What normal person would worship a dark wizard like the Mysterious One? Ugh, should we even continue?"

Ron wrinkled his nose and said,

"Weren't we here to punish Malfoy? His father, who leads the Board of Governors, has been causing trouble for Hogwarts. Now that the old bat is gone, this is a golden opportunity!"

"Oh no!"

Hermione immediately became stern, glaring fiercely at the three boys.

"If Snape finds out, what do you think will happen? He'll expel us all from Hogwarts!"

"Well, unless Professor Dumbledore and Professor Blaine agree, Snape can't get rid of anyone."

Neville, who was originally most afraid of Snape, had already let loose and said with a grin,

"And aren't you annoyed by what Dr. Malfoy did, Hermione?"

"But that's not the same thing!"

Hermione could only identify the three boys under the Invisibility Cloak by their voices, and she scolded them urgently.

"It was Malfoy's father who did the bad thing, not Malfoy. You all heard it just now. Malfoy even wrote a letter to his father, advising him not to do that!"

"For this reason"

Harry hesitated for a moment before saying,

"Go easy on me?"

puff!

Ron chuckled, but unfortunately, he didn't notice Snape, who had already dealt with Pansy's troubles and returned.

The swaying bushes and the strange noise immediately drew Snape's sharp gaze.

"Who's there!"

The Forbidden Forest at night is never a safe haven. Snape kept a close watch on his surroundings to guard against attacks from poisonous insects and wild beasts.

Before the shout had even finished, Snape had already drawn his wand, followed by the piercing sound of the wand cutting through the dark air!

call!

The surging flames rapidly scorched the air, banishing the darkness. Amidst the fierce howling of the magical flames, the four chants that appeared almost simultaneously became less clear. However, Snape still managed to pinpoint their location.

Seeing the invisible magical barrier that revealed the form of the severed flames, Snape was momentarily stunned, but then anger flared in his dark eyes!

The swaying bushes and trampled weeds gave Snape a clue as to the location of those audacious Gryffindor fellows.

He suddenly raised his wand, and several crescent-shaped silver flashes left his wand tip, tearing through the air with a chilling whistling sound, and crashing into a forty-foot-tall tree in the blink of an eye!

Click!

After a series of crisp snapping sounds, the fallen tree trunk crashed to the ground with a loud thud, firmly blocking a small path leading away from the swamp!

Like a rumble of the earth, the powerful tremor shook the four young wizards who were trying to escape, sending them staggering about. The ensuing gust of wind ripped off the invisibility cloaks from Harry, Ron, and Neville's heads.

Pansy, Nott and Blaise rushed over when they heard the commotion.

Draco suppressed his worries and fears, jumped out of the water and rushed to Professor Snape's side. When he saw Harry and the others who had been knocked to the ground by the overgrown branches, he was stunned for a moment, and then his expression became interesting.

Oops!

When Snape's sharp voice reached his ears, Harry knew something was wrong, and what happened in the blink of an eye confirmed his prediction.

Faced with the four Slytherin students with frosty expressions and gloating looks, Harry's heart sank to the bottom.

Undeniable!

Harry wouldn't be surprised at all if Snape suggested to Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore that they be expelled for following the professors without permission and trespassing into the Forbidden Forest late at night.

A fleeting look of pleasure crossed Snape's eyes as he glanced at the four Gryffindor students who stood frozen in fear.

"Let me think."

Snape said in a soft, feminine voice,

"The four of you were probably rushing back to the Gryffindor common room, but you got lost in the castle and ended up in the Forbidden Forest by chance, right?"

puff-

Pansy Parkinson couldn't help but laugh out loud, while the remaining three boys stared at them coldly.

Harry was determined not to let Snape see him make a fool of himself, otherwise, Sirius might suffer some more humiliation the next time he met Snape.

He looked up, his emerald eyes burning with fire in the glow emanating from Snape's staff. The fire was so intense that Snape instinctively averted his gaze.

"Deduct 20 points from everyone --"

Snape's voice carried a chilling edge.

"Now, I suppose you've all anticipated your expulsion, haven't you? But you're always good at making up lies to avoid punishment, aren't you? Now, why don't you try it? Oh, maybe I really will be fooled by your excuses."

“We just want to help, Professor Snape.”

Hermione's sudden voice interrupted Snape's words, and Harry immediately glanced over out of the corner of his eye and noticed that Hermione's cheeks and ears had turned bright red, just like Ron when he was under pressure.

"what?"

Snape asked sharply.

“We saw you leading Malfoy and the others toward the Forbidden Forest in the lobby. It reminded us that you mentioned in class today that students who failed to complete the stimulant regimen would have to go into the Forbidden Forest at night to collect leeches.”

"So, you have to tell me, Miss Know-It-All—"

Snape stared coldly at Hermione, using a form of address for her that he hadn't used in a while.

"You're here to help collect leeches, right?"

"We know that Hogwarts is in trouble. The Board of Governors has suspended its funding, forcing professors to collect materials for their classes themselves."

Everyone knew it was a lie, but Hermione still went ahead and said it anyway.

"So, we thought we'd come and help."

It was a brilliant excuse, a perfect use of Hermione's quick wit, but Harry, as well as Ron and Neville, were not pleased; instead, they felt guilty. Of course, they knew it couldn't fool Snape.

Snape's breathing became rapid, and his bulging chest reminded Harry of Aunt Maggie, whom he had inflated because of humiliating his parents.

"A complete liar!"

Snape finally lost his temper and roared in anger.

“I’ll tell Minerva everything that happened tonight, and I’d like to see what she has to say!”

Snape glared at them fiercely.

"But before that, you said you were there to help."

Snape pulled several more large glass bottles from his pocket and threw them onto the haystack in front of them.

"I'm generously giving you this opportunity. Now, all of you, get into the water and catch leeches!"

Chapter 1027 The Dust That Will Settle