Harry hadn't read that book, nor did he know what was actually written in it.
But from Hermione's expression, he could tell that the Evil Curse…probably…
"Where exactly did you find the book!" Hermione still seemed unable to calm down, rolling her eyes upwards: "My God, I'm really afraid this book will get me into Azkaban..."
"I should correct you," Ron raised his hand and said, "Now you are a witch, God won't bless you, he'd rather see you become a human torch—"
Hermione glared at him fiercely.
"Uh, what's wrong with this book?" Harry asked cautiously.
"Do you know what the first 'Minor Evil Curse' written in this book is!" Hermione growled in a low voice, glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention, then continued: "It's the Soul-snatching Curse! Soul Emergence! My God, what kind of 'inoffensive' is this!"
Harry remembered, this was a book Sebastian had stolen from the Gaunt family.
Hmm... it actually fits the Gaunt family tradition, after all, this is a family that forces its children to use Crucio on Muggle kids, thinking 'Soul Emergence' is an 'Inoffensive Minor Curse', also makes sense.
"This should be a collection from the Gaunt family." Harry didn't hesitate to sell out his friend: "When I got the book, I saw the name on the edge, it seemed to say 'Omnius Gaunt'."
"Oh, since it's the Gaunt, then it's not surprising." Ron interjected: "You know, the Gaunt Clan are descendants of Slytherin, and Slytherin himself was a Dark Wizard."
"The founder of Hogwarts?" Hermione asked in surprise: "Mr. Slytherin was actually a Dark Wizard? How is that possible?"
Harry didn't refute, as he had once read Slytherin's manuscript in Slytherin's Secret Chamber, and its content indeed wasn't something a good person would write.
Ron just shrugged and said nothing more.
"This book is not to be read again!" Hermione said again in a low voice: "I don't want this so-called 'little' evil curse to get me sent to Azkaban—or worse, expelled from school!"
"You really don't know which is worse, do you?" Ron shrugged.
Which earned him a roll of eyes.
As November arrived, the weather became very cold.
After all, the Scottish Highlands are at high latitude, even with the North Atlantic Current, it's about the same latitude as Moscow.
The mist-covered mountains surrounding the school were draped in snow, and the lake was covered with a thick layer of ice, as cold and hard as quenched steel.
Each morning, the ground was frosted.
From the window upstairs, one could see Hagrid bundled in a long mole-skin coat, wearing rabbit fur gloves, and clad in gigantic beaver-fur boots, de-icing the Flying Brooms on the Quidditch Pitch.
For some unknown reason, Hermione seemed more nervous than Harry himself about Harry's first Quidditch match, and Ron was the same.
Ron carried oil around every day to maintain Harry's Flying Broom; while Hermione borrowed a book from the library titled "Quidditch Origins" to help Harry quickly understand the rules of Quidditch.
Due to the cold weather, Hermione conjured several handfuls of blue flames, which could be placed in jam jars to carry around—not just for Harry and Ron, but even Seamus and Neville got some.
Seamus had long since let go of grudges; for these portable flames, he felt the urge to yell "mom."
On Friday's Magic Potion Class, Harry inadvertently brought the "Quidditch Origins" book along.
Professor Snape still stood by his side, watching every step he took while making the magic potion without blinking.
After he brewed a perfect batch of the Life and Death Potion, Snape let out a nasal 'tut'.
Who knew whether he was happy or not, but Harry just assumed it was a classic example of Slytherin hypocrisy.
However, Snape was quickly attracted to the book on Harry's desk. He quickly picked it up and, after seeing the title on the front page, a sinister smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Well well, Potter," Snape looked down at Harry, "Carrying unrelated books into the Magic Potion Class, Gryffindor loses two points—and you will come to my office for detention every Wednesday and Saturday night."
Harry opened his mouth, not expecting Snape to actually deduct points from Gryffindor over a Quidditch book.
This was the first time Snape deducted points from him for no reason—the last time he lost points, he deserved it.
After class, Ron and Hermione came over together.
"Harry..." Ron said in a low voice: "Did you notice, Snape seems to be limping a bit as he walks, as if he's injured?"
"Seems like it." Harry recalled Snape's gait, sometimes standing tall, sometimes slightly shorter.
"But more than that, I think I should get that book back." Harry said again.
"You really are out of your mind." "You must be crazy." Hermione and Ron said together.
But Harry didn't think so, he felt Snape actually liked him, as for hating—how could it be possible, how could his parents' friend hate him, maybe he just disliked Gryffindor.
Thinking like this, he walked all the way down, planning to try his luck at the staff lounge.
He knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside. He pushed it ajar, seeing only Snape and Filch in the room, with Snape pulling up his robe.
Wow, Harry marveled in his heart, now he understood why Snape was limping—the exposed leg was bloody, the wound rolled open, and the scarlet muscles could be seen.
"Professor, this..." Filch handed him bandages.
"Damn thing." Snape cursed, "How can you keep an eye on three heads at once?"
Three heads?
Harry furrowed his brow, could it be that Professor Snape's injury was related to some three-headed creature?
No sooner had he started to think about it, than he heard a roar.
Snape had discovered him.
"Potter!"
Harry looked up to see Snape putting down his robe, staring at him with a gloomy face.
"Sorry, Professor," Harry asked tentatively, "I was wondering, could I get that book back?"
"Get out!" Snape roared, pointing at the door.
Without saying a word, Harry turned and left.
Luckily, it seemed Professor Snape forgot to deduct points from Gryffindor. That was the silver lining in the misfortune, Harry thought.
But...what exactly had injured Professor Snape?
Harry decided to ask Hagrid, as he should know a fair bit about magical creatures, right?