"Cough!"
"Cough!"
Lupin staggered to his feet from the ground, his face even paler after taking a disarmament spell charged with pure malice.
"Snape, when did you arrive?"
"Just now, though not too late, am I?" Snape's icy gaze swept over everyone present, lingering for two extra seconds on the bound figure of Peter Pettigrew.
An inexplicable fury rose within him.
Lupin, Sirius, and Peter – who was supposed to have been dead for years?
Plus Harry, that boy who resembled James Potter in everything but the eyes.
Such a gathering inevitably reminded him of that old Marauders group.
"Professor Snape—"
"Silence!" Snape cut off Harry's attempt to speak. "Leaving the castle without permission, venturing to Hogsmeade... Potter, we'll settle your account later. This isn't your moment to speak."
Turning his scornful gaze to Lupin, he continued, "I've always told Dumbledore his judgment in selecting staff was questionable."
"Fortunately, I've been watching you. Since last week, you've been making frequent trips to Hogsmeade... As expected, same old place, same old faces."
"It was you aiding Black all along, enabling his repeated castle intrusions – even reaching the Gryffindor dormitory. Though I never anticipated a dead man's involvement."
He glanced down at the trussed-up Peter.
"What's this? The Marauders having a falling out?"
"Snape," Sirius suddenly grinned.
"Old acquaintances reunited – by rights, I should be pleased to see you. Yet I still feel compelled to say..."
"You're just as repulsive as ever, Snivellus."
Snape's face darkened. Without warning, he fired a white beam at Sirius.
Sirius reacted swiftly, blocking the spell with Ron's wand.
"What's this? Struck a nerve?" Sirius taunted. "Playing professor now, thinking you're someone? To me, you'll always be that pathetic loser."
Snape's expression grew colder. "And you've stolen a wand... What good will that do?"
"Without James Potter, do you honestly believe you stand a chance against me?"
"Or perhaps you've learned some of the Dark Lord's tricks that might help?"
"That's your master, not mine!" Sirius snarled, raising his wand to retaliate as Snape's wand flared to life again, the tension between them crackling in the air.
"Enough! Both of you, stop!"
Harry's furious shout made Snape startle violently, staring at him with utter disbelief.
As if saying...
You dare shout at me?
Harry couldn't care less about his usual dislike and fear of Snape now. Pointing at the tightly bound Peter Pettigrew, he yelled, "Are you blind? Can't you see Peter Pettigrew's already trussed up like a dumpling?"
"He's the one who betrayed my parents! Sirius was framed!"
Sirius stared at Harry's back, suddenly feeling his vision swim.
"James..."
Snape's pupils contracted sharply. "What do you mean?"
"Let me explain," Lupin said.
"Shut your mouth, werewolf." Snape's disgust was undisguised, making Lupin flush awkwardly.
"Potter, you speak."
Snape's cold gaze bore into Harry's eyes. "Remember... this concerns your parents' blood debt. If you dare lie to me..."
"Of course I won't." Harry met his gaze unflinchingly before rapidly recounting the entire sequence of events.
Snape's expression shifted continuously as Harry recounted the events.
From an initial icy calm, to the flickering flames of anger in his eyes, until finally his entire body trembled as he glared at Peter Pettigrew with a look that could kill.
Peter Pettigrew was utterly bewildered.
Wasn't it you who told the Dark Lord about that prophecy back then? That's why he came to me and made me betray them. Why are you so angry?
Could it be because my actions led to the Dark Lord's demise?
Peter Pettigrew shuddered at this sudden realisation, lowering his head to avoid Snape's gaze.
"Professor, that's why I said Sirius was framed," Harry concluded. "We were just about to take him to the school to find Dumbledore when you showed up."
Snape stared silently at Peter, then at Sirius Black.
Finally, his gaze settled on Harry, and he suddenly smiled.
"No need. Dumbledore isn't at the school. He left long ago."
Harry froze, only now remembering he hadn't seen Dumbledore in over a month. Quickly correcting himself, he said, "Then we can go to Professor McGonagall, or Wayne."
Snape shook his head. "Too troublesome. In my opinion, we should just hand all three of them over to the Dementors. Much simpler that way."
Everyone present paled at this suggestion.
Sirius asked warily, "Snape, what do you mean by that?"
"Was I not clear enough?" Snape slowly raised his wand. "Do you think you're innocent, Black?"
"If you hadn't been so clever as to change the Secret-Keeper, none of this would have happened."
"You should pay for your stupidity and arrogance—and you, Lupin. Black is still a wanted criminal, yet you brought two students into such danger. I'd love to see Dumbledore's face when he hears about this."
Sirius's heart ached, but he kept his eyes locked on Snape.
Lupin hung his head in shame—it had indeed been reckless, but his emotions had led him to believe Sirius's story.
"A werewolf, an escaped convict, and the real culprit. What a fruitful trip," Snape said with vicious satisfaction. "None of you are any good. Why not send you all to Azkaban as Dementor fodder?"
"Oh, but Black, you won't get that chance."
"The Ministry has already passed the decree—the moment they find you, the Dementors will give you the Kiss."
"Sirius is innocent!" Harry protested vehemently. "My parents agreed to change the Secret-Keeper, too. It wasn't his fault!"
"Then your father was equally stupid and got what he deserved," Snape snapped. "He didn't just get himself killed, he also—"
The words died in his throat.
What did knowing the truth change?
In Snape's eyes, Sirius was still a murderer—the one who'd caused Lily's death.
So why should he help clear his name?
Of course, the greatest sinner of all... was himself.
But Snape knew he still had more important things to do. One day, he would atone for his past mistakes.
But not today.
"Shut up! Don't you dare talk about him like that!" Harry drew his wand and pointed it at Snape, like an enraged lion.
"Fancy a duel?" Snape sneered at him. "You think a few lessons with Lawrence make you his equal?"
"Who gave you the nerve to point your wand at a professor?"
"I did!" Sirius Black strode forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Harry, Ron's wand likewise aimed at Snape.
"Two minnows swimming together still remain minnows."
"Then let's test that."
With these words, Sirius actually initiated the attack first.
Ron stood frozen in shock, while Lupin yanked him aside to avoid stray spells, simultaneously keeping a death grip on Pettigrew's ropes to prevent any escape attempts.
Seeing Sirius strike, Harry hesitated only briefly before joining the assault.
Frequent experience of ganging up on Wayne alongside Malfoy had taught Harry to choose particularly awkward angles and timings for his attacks.
He struck precisely as Snape deflected Sirius's curse, before the professor could reset his stance.
"Brilliant, James!"
Sirius seemed transported back to fighting alongside James Potter against Death Eaters, even misnaming Harry in his excitement, before firing another spell.
His black robes billowing, Snape remained expressionless. A sweep of his voluminous sleeve effortlessly blocked both attacks. His wand emitted a sharp crack, summoning several vipers that slithered towards Harry and Sirius, hissing menacingly.
The confined space allowed little room for evasion, forcing direct confrontation.
Spellfire ricocheted wildly as incantations filled the air.
Snape held his own effortlessly against both opponents. Were it not for their proficient Shield Charms and his reluctance to use certain unsavoury Dark Magic against Harry, victory would already be his.
Harry's talent notwithstanding, he remained merely a third-year.
Even Snape's secretly administered Potential Elixir couldn't bridge that gap.
As for Sirius, had Azkaban's decade-long torment not stolen his prime magical development years, he might have matched Snape. But months of malnourished fugitive life had left him weakened, with only partial recovery under Lupin's recent care. He stood no chance now.
Truthfully... among the Marauders, only James had ever bested Snape in single combat.
"Potter, you disappoint me," Snape spat angrily between wand strokes. "Attacking a professor alongside your father's murderer!"
Powerful shockwaves from Snape's wand forced Harry backwards until Sirius risked injury to counterattack, breaking the pressure.
Seizing an opening, Lupin hurled sand towards Snape's face.
But Snape anticipated this - an elegant wand flick conjured a miniature whirlwind, redirecting the grit onto Harry and Sirius instead.
Harry's stubborn defiance stoked Snape's fury. Resolving to end this, he unleashed a more potent curse.
"Langlock!"
Just as Sirius was about to cast his spell, his mouth clamped shut mid-incantation, causing a brief magical backfire.
Harry stepped forward to block Snape's next attack, but suddenly slipped on the frost-covered ground and fell flat.
Unbeknownst to them, a thick layer of ice had formed across the floor.
"Whirlwind Fury!"
An even fiercer gale erupted, forcing both men to shield their eyes. Snape pressed his advantage without pause, disarming Harry and Black with two well-aimed spells, seizing their wands.
"Is this all you've got?" Snape's lips curled in a victor's smirk.
Now holding four wands, his confidence swelled unbearably.
"Snape, calm down," Lupin said nervously. "None of us are your enemies. Peter's the real murderer. You're a professor – don't let the children lose respect for you."
"This isn't the time for personal vendettas."
"Dementors don't care about such distinctions," Snape replied indifferently. "Step aside, Potter. This no longer concerns you. Return to school immediately. I'll be deducting one hundred points from Gryffindor."
Spotting Ron in the corner, he amended: "Make that two hundred points – punishment for conspiring with a criminal."
Ron looked utterly bewildered.
"I won't let you hurt Sirius!" Harry stood firm before Black, who smiled gratefully behind him.
Snape's patience finally snapped. Levelling his wand, he coldly shouted:
"Stupefy!"
...
In the Hufflepuff common room, Wayne announced this year's academic reward scheme during peak hours.
As a perennial guest contributor of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Wayne had prepared another hundred signed copies – obtained by pestering Newt during his dragon reserve visit. After signing these, Newt had avoided him for three straight days.
Then came the new incentives.
The top ten students in each year would receive ten "648" packages. The year's top scorer would gain a custom Companion Card opportunity.
This final prize proved most enticing. As long as the game endured, future generations of young wizards would remember Hufflepuff's exceptional alumnus/alumna. Wasn't this equivalent to appearing on a Chocolate Frog card?
True to tradition, Hufflepuff immediately entered study frenzy mode, with every nook occupied by diligent readers.
Even slackers Toby and Norman applied themselves, unaware Wayne had already designed their Companion Cards – scheduled for release next term when student purses recovered.
Fewer badgers relied on potion-fueled cram sessions this year, their allowances already drained. Still, Wayne scraped together enough for another hundred-draw spree.
Returning to his suitcase, Wayne spent all the accumulated points.
Luck proved fickle – no runic talents emerged this time.
Purple-tier rewards mostly comprised rare items and potions, with only two Killing Curse purple cards.
The golden rewards were equally underwhelming.
[Philosopher's Stone: This world's supreme alchemical creation. Possesses transmutation properties and can brew the Longevity Elixir.]
This thing... it wasn't that it wasn't precious, but if he needed it, he could always ask Nicolas for more. Moreover, the two main functions of the Philosopher's Stone were rather useless to him.
Money and longevity—Wayne lacked neither.
So he could only keep it as a large-scale magical power battery, ready to be deployed wherever a powerful energy source was needed.
Hmm?
Wayne, who'd been toying with the Philosopher's Stone, suddenly paused, his eyebrows lifting.
...
The Shrieking Shack.
Snape had finally made up his mind to silence Harry temporarily and keep him from interfering.
Still, he gave Harry some leeway, slowing his incantation slightly. If Harry dodged, so be it.
But those two seconds of hesitation were all Harry needed to remember he still had one last card to play.
Though when he'd first received this card, Harry had sworn never to use it—it was far too embarrassing.
Now, however, he had no choice.
Just as the spell was about to strike, Harry closed his eyes and shouted with the resolve of one facing death:
"Help me, Young Master Lawrence!"
Snape's expression darkened instantly, a sense of foreboding rising within him. The power of his spell surged abruptly, its speed increasing dramatically.
Yet it was already too late.
As Harry's words faded, a badge in his pocket erupted with blinding white light. Then, a deep voice resonated in everyone's ears:
"Leave Harry alone!"