Chapter 155
Chapter 155
Sleeping until he woke naturally, with three meals a day delivered by a pretty girl — Suer’s life was as blissful as an immortal’s.
The sole imperfection was that Snape tormented him every single evening, perhaps because Suer had uncovered the professor’s “little secret”.
Without seeking Suer’s agreement, Snape had altered the teaching method.
Snape was not trying to please Suer so the boy would keep the secret. Instead, every Occlumency session now began with what appeared to be a fair one-on-one duel but was secretly an adult wizard bullying a child.
The word revenge might as well have been written across Snape’s face.
Although Suer suffered both physical and spiritual devastation every night, the improvement in his abilities was unmistakable. He remained some distance from defeating the Demon King Snape, but a measurable distance was far better than an unreachable gulf.
Perhaps even Snape had not realised that a highly skilled wizard thrashing a child was also a way for the child to grow stronger. Suer was in no danger of dying; at worst, it merely hurt.
He had genuinely learnt a great deal from Snape’s way of fighting.
To thank Professor Snape for “holding nothing back”, Suer had already decided what gift to present his “beloved” teacher at Christmas, only eight months away.
Hermione visited Suer every day to read the books about becoming an Animagus, covering sheets of parchment with calculations designed to guarantee success on the first attempt.
Yet this was magic whose success depended entirely upon Merlin’s favour. If Merlin decided one could succeed, then one certainly would.
“I suggest making an offering to Merlin before beginning your Animagus preparation,” Suer advised solemnly.
The holiday vanished amid regular cycles of torment and enjoyment.
The other students’ return to lessons had little to do with Suer, except that he could now visit Snape for abuse only at weekends. He found the sudden change oddly uncomfortable.
Fortunately, the free time allowed Suer to study the Patronus Charm. The fact that he could use it inside the Misty Dreamscape continued to haunt him. What had the ring around Ariana Dumbledore’s wrist been?
Surely Ariana herself was not his Patronus?
Had anyone in history ever summoned a human Patronus?
Summer arrived.
Dumbledore vanished silently from the castle. Through the Slytherin students, everyone soon learnt the news.
Whenever Suer wandered the castle as a badger, he heard young wizards discussing the matter in fear and unease.
Loud, shrill laughter occasionally rang along the corridors, most of it coming from younger Slytherins descended from pure-blood families.
The more arrogant they were now, the more frightened they would be later.
Only children who understood nothing celebrated so openly. They ignored the fact that every older student looked deeply worried.
They truly did not fear being held to account later…
Every family revealing itself now was another fish Dumbledore meant to draw from the water.
Suer made a special trip to Hagrid’s hut. Fang had not lost weight; he remained broad and well fed, his coat glossy, though his spirits were low. At the sight of Suer, Fang dropped to the ground as though greeting his master and whimpered mournfully. Suer patiently comforted the fierce-looking but gentle-hearted dog, promising that Hagrid would return soon.
…
“I always knew Father would drive Dumbledore away. He’s always considered Dumbledore the worst headmaster in history. I think we’ll finally have a respectable new headmaster, one who supports us and has no intention of closing the Chamber of Secrets.”
Hermione gave Suer a lifelike imitation of Malfoy’s expression during the recent Potions lesson. She had secretly slipped away to see him after attendance in her dormitory.
She even recreated Draco Malfoy’s conversation with Snape.
“I can’t imagine what it would be like if Snape became headmaster,” Hermione said dejectedly. “Whatever happens, if Dumbledore really has been dismissed, Professor McGonagall is more qualified than anyone to take charge of the school.”
“You don’t need to listen to Malfoy.” Suer smiled and tapped one finger against his temple. “There may be a slight problem in here.”
Suer truly had no words for Draco Malfoy. Even the most unbearable spoiled child would salute Draco and call him master.
If he wanted to befriend Harry, he could simply say so. There was no need to leap constantly in front of Harry and demand attention. Draco had completely failed to realise that such behaviour only made people dislike him.
It forced Suer to wonder whether the Malfoy family’s pure-blood education in manners had been fed directly to pigs. Draco’s parents were not closely related, yet everything he did resembled the work of a mindless villain.
Indulging a child without limits could only push him into an abyss. History had paid for that lesson in blood.
In short, Suer was beyond comment.
From time to time, after practising magic or finishing a book, Suer wandered the castle to clear his mind.
He naturally travelled in his Animagus form and waited until after six o’clock, when no students remained in the corridors and only professors and ghosts stood watch.
When he returned that day, Hermione was already waiting in the room.
“Lockhart was absolutely disgraceful.”
Suer had heard the same complaint that afternoon and knew what had happened in Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Lockhart had reacted to Hagrid and Dumbledore’s departure with open delight. His words all but declared Hagrid the culprit and presented Dumbledore’s dismissal as punishment for inadequate supervision.
The young wizards in the room had been furious. They did not say so aloud, but every one of them respected Dumbledore.
Lockhart probably had not imagined that his smug remarks would turn every young witch in the castle who once adored him firmly against him.
“I always knew he was useless.” Suer curled his lip. “What Defence Against the Dark Arts professor can’t even handle a group of pixies?”
“Has anyone learnt magic in Lockhart’s lessons this year? I mean magic one can actually cast, not the slightly less absurd nonsense he invents whenever he speaks.”
Hermione sighed. “Sometimes good looks mean nothing.”
“Lockhart isn’t good-looking at all,” Suer complained. “But did you come here simply to curse him a second time?”
“I nearly forgot!” Hermione slapped her thigh, fear entering her voice.
“Harry intends to enter the Forbidden Forest tonight. I accidentally overheard him telling Ron that they needed to follow the spiders to find the truth.”
“I tried to stop him, but he seems determined to go.”
“I’ve considered telling Professor McGonagall, but I can’t decide. That’s why I came to ask your opinion.”
“There are Acromantula in that forest.”