Even years after graduating from Hogwarts, Harry would break out in a cold sweat whenever he thought back to the past few nights.
They had intended to follow Snape and Malfoy into the Forbidden Forest and teach Malfoy a lesson, as punishment for his father driving Hogwarts toward closure.
Unfortunately, their plan had not succeeded. Instead, Snape had caught them.
Professor Dumbledore and Professor Breen were both away from the school, so Professor McGonagall, as Head of Gryffindor House, had overseen their punishment.
First, on top of the points Snape had deducted, the furious Professor McGonagall had taken another twenty points from each of them. That practically meant Gryffindor was destined to lose this year's House Cup.
Second, Professor McGonagall had ordered them to go into the Forbidden Forest every night to collect ingredients for Snape.
For the past several nights, they had followed Snape into the Forbidden Forest to catch frogs, gather nettles and lovage, search for Murtlaps, and collect their venom.
Ron had been bitten by a Murtlap and spent a night in the Hospital Wing because of it.
There had scarcely been a night when they made it to bed before midnight.
Whenever they worked in the Forbidden Forest, Snape did nothing but stand to one side giving orders and sneering at their clumsy work. He did not lift a finger himself.
Honestly, those nights of torment had made Harry seriously consider dropping out of Hogwarts for the first time.
Hermione had been completely dragged into it. When the three of them had decided to follow Snape into the Forbidden Forest, Hermione had firmly opposed it. She had only followed because she did not want them doing anything stupid.
Afterward, Neville, who had proposed the reckless idea, had sincerely apologized to Hermione.
"I hope this teaches you