Chapter 194

Chapter 194

Hagrid’s lesson was a great success, though the hippogriffs caused a minor problem when they appeared.

Hagrid had secured them with chains and even put socks over their claws. The hippogriffs found this deeply uncomfortable and kept trying to shake the balls of wool from their feet. Having such formidable weapons covered left them feeling terribly insecure.

Even though Hagrid repeatedly insisted there was no danger, the young witches and wizards remained too intimidated by the hippogriffs’ enormous bodies and threatening expressions to approach.

Only after Suer followed the proper procedure, climbed onto Buckbeak’s back, circled through the air and landed safely did the students dare enter the enclosure and try meeting magical creatures unlike any they had encountered before.

One success after another greatly increased Hagrid’s confidence. He felt ready to manage his second lesson that afternoon.

No one noticed Suer toss a glittering object into a tree beside the enclosure while circling overhead. Nor did anyone notice him hide a recording orb in the bushes before leaving at the end of class.

With three recording positions prepared–including the one Hermione carried–Suer could finally relax and attend Potions that afternoon.

Although they were already third-year students, Snape treated them exactly as he had in first year: cold-faced and spraying venom in every direction.

His attitude was that of a master confronted by hopeless novices.

After class, Professor Snape ordered Suer to remain behind. The students who knew nothing of their arrangement could offer only sympathetic looks. Justin even mimed holding a candle in prayer for Suer’s safe return.

“It’s been a long time, Teacher.” Only after the last student left the Potions classroom did Suer put on a cheeky grin.

“Do not call me Teacher,” Snape said coldly. “I have no disciples, and I never will.”

“Don’t be so distant, Teacher. You’ll hurt your student’s feelings.” Suer unconcernedly shook his head. “At the very least, you’ve taught me a great deal of useful duelling knowledge. There is an ancient Eastern saying: anyone who teaches you even a little deserves to be called your teacher.”

“I teach you because Dumbledore ordered me to do so.” Snape sneered.

“I heard about Mr Bones’s magnificent display–casting the Patronus Charm aboard the train and killing a Dementor. How very grand. You must have been insufferably pleased with yourself lately, the great hero of Hogwarts.”

“It wasn’t anything so impressive.” Suer gave an embarrassed laugh. “When it happened, I could hardly retreat and abandon my friends.”

“Ultimately, you only wanted to show off in front of your friends, just like that damned…” Snape seemed to remember something. He stopped speaking, his expression darkening.

Silence filled the room.

Then Snape suddenly raised his wand, gave it a small wave and spoke softly.

“Very well, Mr Bones. Let me see what gives you the confidence to face a Dementor.”

The wooden door, which had only been resting lightly against its frame, slammed shut.

The quiet underground corridor immediately filled with anguished howls and a succession of heavy crashes. The Slytherin and Hufflepuff students returning to their dormitories all stopped, fear upon their faces.

Wasn’t the Potions classroom in that direction?

Without any discussion, they dragged their companions away and took a long route around the corridor.

“Have you heard? Snape’s Potions classroom is haunted!”

“Snape likes torturing ghosts. Haven’t you noticed that none of the castle ghosts have appeared for days?” In truth, they had gone elsewhere for a ghostly gathering.
“A new ghost was created, and it’s replaying the final moments before its death. That corridor used to be part of the Hogwarts dungeons… What was it used for? Torturing enemies, obviously.”

The rumour grew more outrageous with every retelling until it became one of the inexplicable mysteries of Hogwarts. But that came later.

After taking a vicious beating, Suer was also forced to help Snape prepare the potion ingredients the fifth years would need the following day.

Then Snape deducted five points from him–because “Suer Bones grinned insolently in a professor’s presence”.

“Oh, you’re so noble, aren’t you? So impressive, taking your temper out on a student. Bah!” Suer muttered continually as he walked towards the Great Hall, occasionally rubbing the places struck by Snape’s spells. Nothing was bleeding, but it hurt…

Suer reached the Great Hall just as the final serving of food appeared, sparing him from going hungry. As he passed the Slytherin table, several voices drifted into his ears.

“Now Dumbledore will have to dismiss that great oaf!”

“Honestly, he should never have become a professor. Look at poor Malfoy. His father certainly won’t let that oaf get away with it.”

“Malfoy’s father isn’t a governor any more, is he? My father said their family was removed from the board last year.”

“You’re too naive. The Malfoys aren’t that simple. Listen, I only heard this when my parents were talking, but…”

The rest became indistinct. Suer passed the Slytherin table without expression.

So something had happened after all. What exactly had gone wrong? And where were Hermione and the others? He had not seen them when he passed the Gryffindor table.

Suer sighed helplessly and ate faster. As soon as he finished, he intended to visit Hagrid’s hut and discover what had happened.

Could he not simply ask the nearby students? What he heard from them would probably be a ridiculous tale far removed from the truth. There might already be a version in which Malfoy had become a ghost and was roaming the castle in bitter resentment.

When Suer reached Hagrid’s hut beneath the cover of night, he heard Hermione declaring indignantly from outside–

“Malfoy deserved it!”

“What happened?” Suer pushed open the door. The moment he entered, he frowned. How much had Hagrid drunk? The entire hut reeked of alcohol.

“Why are you here?” Hermione looked towards the voice and asked instinctively.

“I heard there was an incident during Care of Magical Creatures this afternoon, so I came to see what happened.”

“I should have listened to you, Suer. It’s my fault for getting carried away.” Hagrid drained his cup with a gulp and slammed it onto the table, utterly dejected.

“The morning lesson went so well that I thought the afternoon would be the same and I’d finish my first day without any trouble. I might set a record. Hogwarts has never had a professor dismissed on their first day.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Hagrid.” Harry hurriedly patted Hagrid’s broad back. “We all think Malfoy brought it upon himself.”

“He didn’t listen, and then a hippogriff broke his bones,” Ron said with undisguised satisfaction. “None of us thinks it was your fault, Hagrid. Everyone supports you.”

“Would one of you please tell me exactly what happened?” Suer was even more confused.

“I’ll explain,” Hermione said.