Vincent and Hermione returned to the castle in the afternoon, mainly because the Wayne were so hospitable that they insisted the two of them have lunch before leaving.
Therefore, the two who were absent from Potions Class were summoned to Snape's office.
"Wow, isn't that our school's model student?"
Snape watched coldly as the two walked into the office. "It's two of you. Let me think carefully about why you've come here."
"Professor, we've skipped class." Vincent walked to the workbench on his own. "So, today we're going to either separate toad bile without instruments or teach the Flobberworm to stand up?"
Just as Hermione had expected, Snape shuddered with anger.
He flicked his wand, pointing to rows of dilapidated cabinets along the wall. "You're wrong, Wayne. I need you to clean out all the materials on top and put them back in their proper places."
Vincent turned to look at the bottles and jars and various oddly shaped materials in the cabinet.
I haven't been here for several months, and there are quite a few new varieties now.
Cleaning up and reclassifying this quantity will probably keep me busy all night.
He glanced at Snape, whose face was grim, and then at Hermione, who was standing obediently.
Want to punish him? No way!
Vincent gave an innocent smile. "No problem, Professor."
He walked up to Hermione, took her little hand, and slowly walked past Snape.
Showing affection in public isn't scary; what's scary is doing it in front of that brooding Old Bat professor.
Snape shuddered several more times, his venomous gaze fixed on their clasped hands.
"Wayne— " a devilish whisper echoed.
Vincent, standing in front of the dilapidated cabinet, picked up a pair of large eyeballs and turned around. "What is it, Professor? Is there anything else you need?"
Snape floated over like a ghost, staring intently into his unblinking, deep blue eyes.
"It seems that the Troll gene has spread across species at Hogwarts— "
"Wayne, do you need me to provide you with the Conjoined Twin Potion? I guarantee you and Granger will never be separated, even in death."
"Okay." Vincent grabbed Hermione's small hand and waved it vigorously in front of his eyes, then raised his other hand so that he could clearly see those big eyes.
"However, Professor, I think you need to brew a potion to Blinding Potion first, otherwise I'm afraid you'll be tempted to gouge out your own eyes."
Snape's lips trembled, his face contorted with rage. "Now! Separate them right now!"
Hermione tried to pull her hand back, but Vincent gripped it even tighter, even interlocking their fingers.
Snape's face turned ashen as he stepped forward and forcefully separated the two.
Vincent was pulled a few times and then suddenly let go, falling straight to the floor with a thud.
Hermione understood; he was trying to scam her.
Despite the particularly poor acting skills, according to Rule 17 of the Hogwarts Employee Handbook, no staff member may harm a student in any way, and Rule 42 states that if a student is found to be injured, he or she must be taken to the Hospital Wing immediately.
"Professor, I'm injured."
Snape was trembling with rage. "Get up! Wayne! Get up right now!"
Vincent shook his head, feigning fear. "Professor, I dare not. I'm afraid you'll punish me."
Hermione's lips twitched, and she pulled Snape to his feet before Snape could explode. "Professor, Vincent's injuries are too severe; he needs to be taken to the Hospital Wing immediately."
Is the injury too serious? Does the student need to be taken to the Hospital Wing immediately?
Snape stopped trembling and glared fiercely at the two of them.
Wow—these two model students are incredibly audacious to try and scam him to avoid punishment!
He grinned maliciously, "No need to go to the Hospital Wing, Wayne. Come on, let me see where you're hurt."
Got caught? No problem, we have plenty of backup plans.
Vincent quickly retrieved a newly revised copy of the Hogwarts Employee Handbook from the Flamel Ring and began reading aloud Rules 17 and 42.
What could Snape do but watch as Hermione helped him out of the office?
Continuing to argue will only bring no benefit; after all, this little rascal is the school's top School Board Member, and can launch an internal investigation at any time, just like last year.
Can we just let it go like this? No way!
For several days in a row, Snape would inexplicably appear behind Vincent.
This feeling of being constantly on someone's side is extremely uncomfortable; other students would probably have gone crazy by now.
Just as Vincent was beginning to adapt, Snape resorted to another disgusting tactic.
Since there was a missing person notice posted on the bulletin board on Valentine's Day, let's just put up an arrest warrant as well.
Wanted: A Missing Hogwarts Person - A Model Student Who May Carry Troll Genes
—Given the high probability that it carries multiple contagious and deadly viruses, it is recommended that all teachers and students wear Dragon Hide Masks—
Facial features: Average appearance, but can frighten children.
Size: Troll- like and robust, seemingly capable of smashing through the outer wall of a castle with a single punch.
Characteristics: Extremely strong, able to snatch a wand with bare hands, and once defeated 58 challengers in a single day.
Rewards and Punishments
Whistleblower: Received "Anti-Troll Gloves
Catcher: Slytherin students get 100 points (Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students get 50 points, Gryffindor students get one day of detention waived)
Target: Responsible for cleaning all the school toilets and copying the Hogwarts School Rules 100 times.
(Additional clause: You will be exempt from summer homework if you bring the target to the Potions Office)
Anyone who sees this wanted poster knows it was written by Snape, and the target of the warrant is obvious – it can only be Vincent.
Starting that afternoon, the feeling of being constantly on edge completely disappeared, replaced by the strange looks from the students.
The virus is fabricated, its appearance is exaggerated, and the rewards and punishments are utter nonsense.
Besides, what good would it do to catch Vincent? Snape's wanted poster didn't name him, so if he didn't admit it, no one could do anything about it.
The Room of Requirement, a secret base.
Hermione was resting her head on Vincent's lap, put down the book in her hand and looked him in the eye meaningfully. "Perfectly circumventing the Hogwarts Employee Handbook, Professor Snape's trick seems a bit familiar."
Vincent shrugged nonchalantly. "It'll be fine in a while. Let's think about where the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament will be."
With less than a week to go until February 24th, the Death Eaters hiding on campus should be about to make his move.
Hermione rolled over to a more comfortable position and continued to rest her head on his lap. "The Ministry of Magic doesn't dare to make preparations in advance now. They might not set up the venue until the morning of the day."
Quietly waiting is not Vincent's style. The new map still has some areas of the Forbidden Forest and Black Lake that have not been completed yet, and there is no time to finish it. So if you want to know the location in advance, there is only one last way.