Horrifying out of nowhere, Artemus Breaklein has managed to change many people's preconceived notions of Slytherin.
Prior to Artemus Breaklein becoming well-known to the world, people's image of Slytherin was often one of focusing on seeking profits, excluding muggle descendants, advocating for the outdated and pretentious idea of pure-blood superiority, and being full of ambition in any organization.
Besides the aforementioned traits, Slytherin seemed to disdain everything else.
And apart from possessing an awe-inspiring magical prowess that is beyond comparison, Draco could not provide any precise description of Professor Breaklein.
However, there is no denying that Professor Breaklein possesses an extraordinary charisma.
In a certain sense, it even surpasses Dumbledore, because Albus Dumbledore at least hasn't 'conquered' Slytherin.
Snape walked away to see what was wrong with Pansy, who was quietly sobbing.
Draco stood by the water's edge, shrouded in a faint dawn glow, with a perplexed expression and remained silent for a long time.
"Hmph!"
Hiding behind the bushes, Neville, Harry, and Ron huddled under the Invisibility Cloak, he snorted coldly and muttered softly.
"Fence-sitter -"
This comment really hit Harry's heart, at this moment when silence reigns supreme, Malfoy is thinking of joining the victor side.
"That can't be said, Neville."
Hermione, who had followed to prevent them from doing "stupid things" in name, couldn't fit four people under the Invisibility Cloak, so she used the Enchantment Charm to hide herself.
She glanced at Draco, who was dazed in the water, and said calmly.
"Malfoy will definitely be worried. Harry, you saw Malfoy's father at the resurrection of the Dark Lord, which means he is indeed a Death Eater. In this situation, it will be hard for Malfoy."
Supporting Professor Breakstein meant opposing one's parents, and supporting the Dark Lord, I guess he fears Professor Breakstein more than the Dark Lord. After all, he hasn't seen the Dark Lord.
"Oh, and I believe Malfoy also worshipped Professor Breaklein. Slytherin College's students were obsessed with Professor Breaklein, so in this situation, he will have a hard time."
"That's what he deserves."
Ron said boldly,
"That's why his dad is a Death Eater. Who would worship a black wizard who is as evil as the Dark Lord? Oh, should we continue?"
Ron wrinkled his nose and said,
"We came here to punish Malfoy, not his dad who leads the board of governors to cause trouble for Hogwarts. Now that the old bat is gone, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
"Oh, no!"
Hermione immediately became stern, staring at the three boys with a strong sense of determination.
"If Snape finds out, what do you think the consequences will be? He will kick us all out of Hogwarts!"
"Oh, unless Professor Dumbledore and Professor Breakstein give their nod, there's no one who can kick Snape out."
Nervously, Neville had been the most afraid of Snape. He smiled happily and said,
"And aren't you annoyed at what Malfoy's dad did, Hermione?"
"But that's not the same thing!"
Hermione could only determine who the three boys under the Invisibility Cloak were by their voices, she urgently scolded,
"The bad guy is Malfoy's dad, not Malfoy. You all just heard that Malfoy wrote a letter to his dad, telling him not to do it!"
"Considering this..."
Harry hesitated for a moment and said,
"Go easy on him?"
Pfft!
Ron snorted with laughter, but unfortunately, he didn't notice that Snape had already dealt with Pansy's problem and had already come back.
The swaying bushes and unusual sounds immediately drew Snape's sharp eyes.
"Who's there!"
The Forbidden Forest at night is never a safe haven. Snape always kept an eye on his surroundings to prevent attacks from venomous creatures.
The roar had not yet fallen, Snape had already drawn his wand, followed by the sound of a piercing wand cutting through the dark air!
Phew!
The surging flames quickly heated the air, dispelling the darkness. As the dark was almost simultaneously dispelled by the four incantations, they became less clear. However, Snape still accurately captured them.
Watching the invisible magical barrier with the body revealed by the cut-off flames, Snape's black eyes turned into anger after a moment of shock.
The swaying dwarf bushes and the trampled weeds informed Snape of the location of those audacious Gryffindors.
Suddenly, Snape raised his wand, and several curved silver streaks shot out from the tip of his wand, accompanied by a terrifying sharp scream that cut through the air. They hit a tall tree of about forty feet in an instant!
Click!
After a series of crisp sounds of broken branches, the trunk of the fallen tree crashed to the ground, blocking a small wilderness path that led out of the marsh.
It was like the ground rumbling, the strong earthquake shook the four little wizards so much that they stumbled around, and the incoming gust of wind directly blew off their Invisibility Cloaks.
Pansy, Northe and Brack were quick to catch up.
Draco suppressed the concerns and panic in his heart, jumped out of the water, and rushed to Professor Snape's side. When he saw Harry and others lying on the ground with branches swept down upon them, he paused for a moment, then his expression turned interesting.
Oh no!
When Snape's harsh voice resounded in Harry's ears, he knew something bad was about to happen. And indeed, the next thing that happened, in a blink of an eye, confirmed his prediction.
Facing the frosty expression and the smugly gloating expressions of the four Slytherin students, Harry's heart sank even lower.
Undeniable!
Tracking the professor without permission and sneaking into the Forbidden Forest at night, Harry wouldn't be surprised if Snape suggested expelling them all to McGonagall and Dumbledore.
Glancing at the silent and awed Gryffindor students, Snape's eyes flashed with satisfaction for a moment before disappearing.
"Let me think."
Snape said in a sultry voice.
"You four might be in a hurry to get back to the Gryffindor common room, but got lost around the castle and ended up in the Forbidden Forest by mistake, isn't that right?"
Pfft!
Pansy Parkinson couldn't help but burst into laughter, and the remaining three boys watched them coldly.
Harry was determined not to let Snape have the last laugh, otherwise, next time when Sirius and Snape met, he might face some humiliation again.
Harry raised his head, his emerald eyes burning with a fierce flame under the fluorescence released by Snape's wand. The flame was so intense that Snape subconsciously flinched.
"Each of you get twenty points deducted--"
Snape's voice carried an icily cold tone.
"Next, I think you all have some idea that you might be expelled. You have always been good at making up lies to avoid punishment, haven't you? Now, you can try it out. Oh, maybe I really will be fooled by your excuses."
"We just wanted to help, Professor Snape."
Hermione's sudden voice interrupted Snape, and Harry quickly glanced over with the corner of his eye, noticing that Hermoine's cheeks and ears had turned bright red, just like Ron under pressure.
"What?"
Snape asked sharply.
"We saw you leading Malfoy and the others towards the Forbidden Forest at the Great Hall. It reminds us of what you said in class today—that students who haven't finished their Dittany potion need to collect leeches in the Forbidden Forest at night."
"So, you're telling me, miss everything—"
Snape stared coldly at Hermione, using the title he hadn't used for a while in some time, "So you're telling me, Miss Everything..."
"Are you here to help gather leeches, are you?"
"We know that Hogwarts is facing trouble. The Board of Governors has suspended funding for the school, so that the professors have no choice but to collect materials themselves for use in classes..."
Everyone knew it was a lie, but Hermione said it with a hard heart.
"So, we thought we'd come to help."
This was an excellent excuse, in line with Hermione's flexible mind, but Harry, including Ron and Neville, didn't feel happy at all. Instead, they felt guilty in their hearts. Of course, they knew it couldn't fool Snape.
Snape's breathing became rapid, and the bulging chest reminded Harry of Aunt Maggie who inflated herself with shame over her own parents.
"Full of lies!"
Snape finally couldn't hold it in anymore, shouting angrily.
"I will tell Minerva everything that happened tonight. I'm curious to see what she'll say!"
Snape glared at them malevolently.
"But before that, you said you were here to help."
Snape took out several more large glass bottles from his pocket and threw them onto the haystack in front of them.
"I generously give you this chance, now, all of you, get into the water and catch leeches!"
