Chapter 276: Snape's Book
Chapter 276: Snape's Book
Snape's unusual behavior continued into the next day, showing no signs of abating.
As more people became aware of the situation, it even overshadowed the upcoming Quidditch Tryouts, becoming the main topic of discussion among everyone.
Speculations arose as to the reason behind this behavior.
"It's Deduction Addiction Syndrome!"
A second-year Ravenclaw student confidently declared, "My uncle works at St. Mungo's, and he told me about an old professor there who is just like this.
He finds satisfaction and joy in the act of deducting points, and even after entering St. Mungo's, he continued this habit. He even deducted points from everyone he met."
The student's account, complete with vivid details, captured the attention of many, who listened with more enthusiasm than they would show in Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class.
As the crowd around him grew, the young wizard became even more animated in his storytelling.
"My uncle also said that after taking care of the old professor for just two days, he lost three hundred points. That's more than the total points deducted during his seven years at Hogwarts."
"Three hundred points!" a collective gasp of surprise rippled through the crowd.
"Was that old professor also a Hogwarts professor?" someone asked.
"Of course, a proper Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts professor... He's been living in St. Mungo's for six years now."
"He's been at St. Mungo's for six years just because he likes deducting points..." a young witch exclaimed, covering her mouth in astonishment. "So, Professor Snape also..."
"You're absolutely right."
The Ravenclaw student spoke with a grave tone, "His deduction of points from Slytherin is a sign that the other three houses can no longer satisfy him.
Poor Professor Snape, at this rate, he'll probably leave Hogwarts within four years."
"But I plan to work at St. Mungo's after graduation... I think I'll be able to take care of him just in time."
As he spoke these words, his eyes shone with determination, as if caring for Professor Snape was an unavoidable responsibility.
This earned him admiration and affirmation from those around him, and his sense of mission was greatly fulfilled.
However, this joy lasted only until the end of breakfast.
Their first class of the day was Potions, and Snape, for reasons unknown, seemed to have heard the student's previous remarks. In just one morning, he deducted fifty points from Ravenclaw.
This wasn't the worst part; Snape also found an excuse to detain the student for three days of detention, making him work with third-year students to process potion ingredients in large cauldrons.
The poor Ravenclaw student merely glanced into the cauldron, and his face instantly lost all color, while his stomach churned.
By the time lunch break arrived, he seemed like a changed person, his eyes vacant and his face pale, staggering out of the Potions classroom and even bumping into an armor in the corridor.
It's worth mentioning that Slytherin students were also taking Potions with Ravenclaw, but this time, not only did they not lose any points, but they gained quite a few.
Indeed, the familiar scent... It seemed like Snape had returned to his old self overnight.
With the Ravenclaw student's experience as a cautionary tale, the number of students discussing this matter in the Great Hall during lunch significantly decreased.
...
This left Kyle somewhat disappointed, as the young wizard's speculations were quite intriguing.
Apart from the "deduction addiction," there were also theories about him being hit by a Tuberculosis Pig, drinking fake potions, and real potions...
In summary, there were various wild guesses, each more imaginative than the last.
From yesterday afternoon until now, Kyle tirelessly moved between tables, recording everything related to Snape.
He had planned to fill ten parchments with his notes and then seek Lo Hart's help to publish a book.
Title: "Guide to Surviving Potions Lessons at Hogwarts"
And he even planned to offer a sum of money to encourage Lockhart to work overtime and complete the task before Christmas, so that he could present the finished book as a gift to Snape.
He believed Snape would be delighted.
Unfortunately, the young wizards chickened out...
Kyle only managed to fill three parchments with notes, which was clearly insufficient material for a book.
"What class do we have in the afternoon?" Kyle sighed regretfully and asked casually.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts," Conna replied after checking the schedule. "But you also have Divination and Muggle Studies."
"I'm not going to those two classes," Kyle shook his head.
Professor Trelawney's Divination class was pointless, merely a test of imagination.
Muggle Studies was similar; he had flipped through the textbook twice, and it was all basic information. Even Mikael could easily earn an 'O' grade.
If the Muggle-born wizards wanted to make their transcripts look more impressive, this class was a sure choice.
After finishing their meal, the two left the Great Hall and headed towards the Common Room.
On their way, they encountered a small, gray-haired boy holding a camera at the entrance of the Great Hall, seemingly waiting for someone.
"Is that him?" Kyle hurried over and whispered, "The one who asked for Harry's autograph yesterday."
Read the correct version at 69 Book Bar! 6=9+Book_Bar
Conna nodded silently.
"Harry Potter giving autographs" was another hot topic, initiated by the same small boy from earlier.
Yesterday at noon, in front of half the Great Hall, he asked Harry for an autograph, and with Malfoy's heckling and Lockhart's interference, Harry was almost driven to depression.
Whenever he went out during this time, there were people eager for a spectacle, asking for his autograph.
It was enough to make anyone depressed, even a child.
But then again, with such a passionate admirer following him around, anyone would feel overwhelmed.
Oh, except for Lockhart... He'd probably be delighted.
...But only him.
With this thought, Kyle subconsciously quickened his pace.
When they returned to the Common Room, a group of fourth-year Hufflepuffs were walking towards them from the other side.
Cedric was at the front, looking disheveled, covered in mud, and his robe was torn and tattered.
The others were in a similar state.
"What happened to you guys?" Kyle asked, "Who did you fight with?"
"I'd rather fight him," Cedric said angrily as he tried to straighten his robe. "We were having a good Herbology class, and just as it ended, Gilderoy Lockhart suddenly showed up."
"What was he doing in the Greenhouse?" Conna asked curiously.
"To teach Professor Sprout how to trim the excess branches of the Devil's Snare!"
Cedric seemed annoyed.
"But as soon as he entered the greenhouse, he knocked over a table, and over a dozen Bouncing Bulb Stems were overturned."
"Then he ran away!" someone exclaimed in frustration. "Damn it, he ran!"
"That's right," Cedric shrugged, "We and Professor Sprout were busy until now, just to catch all those Bouncing Bulb Stems that were jumping around."
"You guys worked hard," Kyle said sympathetically, glancing at them.
Many plants in the greenhouse were fragile and sensitive to the external environment, so magic was generally prohibited there.
Cedric and his group must have exerted a lot of effort to catch all the Bouncing Bulb Stems... This was evident from their disheveled appearance.
...
Thanks to FYZ331fot for the reward!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
