Early the next morning, the entire castle was in an uproar.
The Little Wizards whispered among themselves about Malfoy's attack last night. They gathered information through every possible channel, eager to learn more about the attack.
Someone from Slytherin had already gone to the School Infirmary to visit Malfoy. According to the latest news from there, Malfoy had been attacked by a particularly wicked Dark Arts spell.
The news left the Little Wizards stunned.
Harry and Ron could use Dark Arts?
The rumor quickly spread, and the Little Wizards discussed it as though they had it all figured out.
After all, Harry Potter was The Boy Who Lived, the one who had defeated the Mysterious Man.
How had he defeated the most evil Dark Lord in history? Naturally, with Dark Arts! It all made sense now.
For a time, wherever Harry and Ron went, the Little Wizards hurried out of their way. It was as though Harry and Ron would attack them at once if they moved aside even a moment too late.
"I'm—I'm sorry!"
A Gryffindor little wizard stood trembling before Harry and Ron. "I shouldn't have refused to lend you my homework last week. This is my homework for this week..."
As he spoke, the little wizard shakily held out his homework to Harry.
At first, Ron had been annoyed at being mistaken for the culprit, but he quickly began to enjoy the feeling.
It was like everyone was afraid of them! Ron snatched the little wizard's homework. "Very good..."
Before he could finish, Ron heard a sinister voice behind him. "I never expected our famous Chosen One, Harry Potter... and his lackey, to need to copy someone else's homework."
"Five points deducted! Five points... from each of you!"
Snape swept his somewhat hollow gaze over Harry and