Although the Gryffindor Quidditch team was forced into a major reshuffle due to the Slytherin attack, with the whole house rallying together and Professor McGonagall's staunch support, they managed to rely on emergency recruits to fill the gaps.
Setting aside the results for now—
At least in terms of momentum, these inexperienced Gryffindor players were no less impressive than Seko and the others opposite them!
The only original member remaining was Didier.
Because Snape had arrived late to the ambush, this guy didn't suffer severe injuries. He only lay in the hospital bed for a few days before becoming lively again, being the first member to recover from the bullying.
However, judging from the situation, this meant Didier was about to suffer torture for a second time. Perhaps recovering too quickly wasn't such a good thing.
Even before taking the field—
The spectators from Gryffindor and Slytherin were already booing each other, the smell of gunpowder thick in the air.
Lucius stood confidently in the Slytherin seats. Both he and his followers were laughing and joking as before, as if they hadn't received much punishment at all.
And as far as Snape knew, that was indeed the fact.
The twelve school governors, without exception, chose to step forward to protect Lucius and his cronies, with countless Galleons used to frantically grease palms up and down the hierarchy.
If not for Dumbledore's firm stance, there probably wouldn't have been even a symbolic punishment. It was most likely they would have turned around and accused Gryffindor of attacking Slytherin instead!
The Quidditch players walked out of the tunnel one after another.
Deafening cheers and shouts filled the venue with passion. Between the two teams, one side glared angrily, while the other sneered contemptuously.
Snape could clearly see Didier down on the pitch looking pale, swaying as if he might collapse at any moment.
However, the match wouldn't pause just because of his personal fear.
When Madam Hooch, the flying instructor, placed the crate in the center of the field and released the Golden Snitch and Bludgers one by one—
The final Quaffle was firmly held in her hand. With a loud whistle piercing the noise, the Quaffle was instantly tossed high into the air, announcing the start of the competition for this Quidditch match!
Snape casually picked a corner with fewer people to stand.
This Quidditch match, which attracted almost all students' attention, didn't interest him much. The reason he came here was just to relax his nerves, which had been overly tense recently due to studying the Dark Arts.
Since giving his promise to Lucius that day—
Snape finally got some of the Dark Arts books he had been longing for and immediately began studying them, neglecting sleep and food.
Relying on his golden specialty named "Dark Instinct," Snape was twice as fast as ordinary people in both learning and innovating in the field of Dark Arts!
This allowed Snape's Dark Arts skill to rocket from LV2 to LV4 in a short time, keeping pace with his relatively average Charms skill!
Numerous vicious curses opened his eyes.
They were completely different from minor hexes, which were essentially dark magic too, but the threat and destruction produced were incomparable!
But it was precisely thanks to the inspiration gained from them that Snape became much more confident in the task of creating a minor hex that could sweep the whole school.
Just give him a little more time, let him read more Dark Arts books.
Snape was confident he could realize the plan of harvesting experience that had been plotted for more than two years, greatly accelerating the progress of replicating specialties from then on!
While Snape's mind wandered, the contest on the field gradually heated up.
The substitute students' skills were ultimately inferior.
And the only remaining Didier suffered miserable targeting. Perhaps seeing that the previous attack didn't cause the expected damage, a group of Slytherin students led by Seko immediately launched attacks on him both openly and secretly, using the match as an excuse.
Finally, after being hit by a Bludger from behind, Didier fell uncontrollably from a height of several meters, passing out with a bruised and swollen face.
Slytherin's mockery grew louder.
Gryffindor's anger was almost palpable, everyone gritting their teeth as they looked at the villains kicking someone when they were down.
Unsurprisingly, Slytherin, ignoring martial ethics, swept the victory, incidentally sending five Gryffindor students, including Didier, into the hospital wing!
Before another conflict erupted, Snape left quietly.
Although with professors watching nearby, the conflict between the two houses was destined not to blow up this time, Eric still chose to avoid such troublesome things with no benefits if possible.
Bang!
Walking along the corridor—
A sudden loud bang made Snape's somewhat unfocused pupils instantly concentrate, and the wand hidden in his cuff unconsciously slid down an inch.
However, what came into view was a student with a Slytherin crest on his chest smashing fiercely into a pillar in front of him in a backward flight posture, then passing out on the spot without a word!
Corner of his eye twitching, Snape looked silently in the direction the boy had flown from.
It was a girls' bathroom.
And slender, fair fingers were tightly gripping a wand, its tip still emitting the faint glow of a just-released spell.
Crisp footsteps approached, and Snape's gaze fixed tightly on that direction.
The moment he saw the other person's face, a familiar sense of charm made him fall into a moment of trance and distraction.
By the time he woke up with extraordinary will, that wand was already pointing straight at him, leaving no time for any resistance!
"...Shirin Kristin?"
"You know me?"
The tall blonde girl raised an eyebrow, examining Snape with a scrutinizing gaze, and the spell she was about to release paused slightly.
"I've been corresponding with your mother for two years. If there isn't a second Veela at Hogwarts, then you must be her daughter."
Snape remained calm in the face of danger, his expression not becoming nervous because of the imminent threat.
Instead, because of the closer distance, he had a clearer understanding of what kind of peerless beauty Lavinia's daughter possessed!
Unlike Lavinia, who had matured into a queenly figure over time—
Shirin, still in third year, had exquisite features that still carried a hint of greenness. However, the unique perfect temperament of a Veela was already mixed with Shirin's own arrogance early on. Like rich whisky with ice cubes added, just a slight sniff made one feel dazzled!
Silver waist-length hair was smooth and silky, setting off her doll-like skin that surpassed frost and snow, making it even more crystal clear.
Her whole person seemed to emit a soft glow at all times. Even looking face to face, a blank brain found it hard to retain her stunning beauty that could topple kingdoms!
When she simply stood there—
Everyone's eyes would uncontrollably shift towards her, as if a second sun had suddenly appeared in the world, striking and dazzling. One couldn't help but sink into the fatal charm radiating around her, unable to extricate oneself!
This made Snape understand immediately why Lavinia jokingly called her daughter "Little Sunflower" in her letters.
And now, this girl with Veela blood flowing in her veins was staring coldly at Snape, not relaxing her guard because of his words.
Glancing at the unconscious Slytherin student—
She raised her swan-white neck arrogantly, then spoke in a murderous, suspicious tone:
"So you're not this guy's accomplice, nor here to secretly place a recording ball in the toilet?"
"Of course not, I have nothing to do with him!"
Snape said without hesitation.
He had no intention of actively taking responsibility for his housemate just because he was about to join the Black Eye Society.
"There was a Quidditch match today, and I went to watch it too. I had no idea what happened here.
If you don't believe me, you can ask any student who was there."
"...Forget it. I trust that old woman wouldn't misjudge and ask me to look after such scum."
Putting away her wand—
Shirin's attitude became slightly milder, but her face remained icy when looking at the still-unconscious Slytherin student.
"Slytherin always produces such trash. If you become like this in the future, I won't show you any mercy."
Shrugging, Snape didn't say much more.
Shirin, after looking at him repeatedly several times, finally showed a look of surprise belatedly.
"Wait, you're that Slytherin freshman who acted against his own house?"
"Genuine article."
"Tsk tsk, fought pretty well. Almost comparable to me back then."
Shirin's original suspicion dissipated mostly, and she clicked her tongue in wonder while circling Snape to observe him.
"That guy Seko isn't easy to deal with. Next time something good like this happens, I'll help you deal with him!"
Her words were full of confidence.
Although Seko was a year older than her, Shirin seemed absolutely certain she could defeat this recognized strong enemy of Slytherin, not thinking it was difficult at all.
Snape's eyes flickered slightly.
While speaking, he actively extended his hand.
"Then it's a deal? Hogwarts will become more and more turbulent in the future. Perhaps at some necessary moments, we can provide some help to each other?"
"No need for such trouble. Big sister here will take care of you. As for you, go practice for a few more years!"
Shirin said arrogantly, obviously not thinking she would ever need help from him.
Even though excessive beauty often invited disaster, Shirin, who had grown up like a favored child of heaven with her pride, still firmly believed she could solve all malice!
Too lazy to even pretend to shake hands—
Shirin turned and left without looking back, leaving only a golden, straight back drifting further away.
Snape showed a thoughtful look and retracted his hand without embarrassment.
Although he failed to collect Shirin's specialty information this time, as long as he maintained contact with Lavinia, it was only a matter of time.
And judging from her arrogance, the specialty on Shirin would definitely not disappoint him!
Too lazy to send the idiot still playing dead nearby to the hospital wing—
Snape turned and left on the spot, returning to the Room of Requirement to continue reading Dark Arts books.
Until the sky grew dark.
After dinner, Snape returned to the dormitory to sleep.
But when he walked into the dormitory, he saw Mulciber, who had been decadent for quite some time, staring straight at him as if waiting for a long time, with Leo, who dared not breathe loudly, following beside him.
Taking a deep breath—
After countless psychological preparations, Mulciber finally gave up on himself and dejectedly said the words that made him feel humiliated.
"Alright Snape, I admit I lost!"
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