More than a dozen glowing birds rushed toward Snape, chirping "tweet, tweet, tweet" like toys meant to amuse children.
Snape's displeasure was plain at such feeble magic.
He reached out and clenched his hand in midair. The glowing birds were snuffed out instantly, as though they had never existed.
"No wonder Malfoy complained to me and hoped his father would have you fired... Is this all you're capable of? The Defence Against the Dark Arts... Professor Quirrell?"
"What are you... trying to do?" Quirrell's eyes widened as he retreated.
He looked utterly terrified. In his panic, he caught his robe while backing away and fell hard onto the floor.
The corner of Snape's mouth twitched. Just as he was about to say something, he noticed that Quirrell's gaze had changed. It had become intensely focused.
Nonverbal Spellcasting!
Snape instantly grew alert, while sensing a wave of heat erupting behind him.
The glowing birds reappeared and merged together. They ignited like a Phoenix Nirvana, forming a massive fireball.
The fireball twisted the air around it, trailing a blazing red tail as it shot toward the wooden door at astonishing speed, like a meteor streaking across the sky.
"Finite Incantatem!" Snape growled.
The fireball nearly went out, but it quickly grew larger again. Clearly, Quirrell had cast another spell.
Everything happened too quickly. In the blink of an eye, the wooden door was engulfed in flames, and savage barking came from within.
Three enormous heads burst through the doorway. All three mouths opened, revealing rows of fangs, and snapped viciously forward.
Though Snape reacted quickly enough, he still failed to evade one of the heads.
The Three-Headed Dog's teeth pierced Snape's calf, and it let out a threatening growl from its throat.
Quirrell's expression darkened. "A Three-Headed Dog! There's actually one of