Ran Straight into the Line of Fire

After a series of loud crashes, all the windows of the Ford Anglia shattered, the body was covered in whip marks, and even more shockingly, there was a deep dent in the roof.

The two people inside the car screamed in panic, but this did not stop Whomping Willow's attack.

A battering ram-like tree branch slammed into the back of the car, grazing the ears of the two people in the back seat and the front seat, while countless branches as thick as fingers fell like hailstones.

The Ford Anglia was battered and bruised by the relentless onslaught, and was soon snapped down by a thick tree branch.

The half-wrecked car lay on the ground. Before the two could even catch their breath, they heard the low growl of the Whomping Willow, which sounded like a bleak autumn wind.

The massive trunk, along with all its branches, was bent into an arc, and several points larger than cars were raised high like clenched fists, as if they were about to fall onto the car at any moment.

"We're done for," Harry murmured in Despair, as if he could already see them being crushed into meat patties.

At the critical moment, the bottom of the car suddenly vibrated, and the engine restarted.

A glint of light flashed in Harry's eyes, and he immediately shouted, "Drive!"

Ron slammed on the gas, and with a roar, the car sped forward.

They had barely stood there for two seconds when half of the Whomping Willow fell down, causing the ground to shake slightly.

The car stopped in an open space. The two men looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief, both feeling fortunate to have escaped with their lives.

However, at that moment, the car door opened automatically, throwing the two people out.

They opened the trunk and ejected their luggage and two pets.

Overall, however, they were quite humane, as their pet owl Hedwig and mouse Scabbers landed on their hands without getting hurt.

After clearing everything out, the car closed its doors and trunk, and, covered in wounds, drove through the castle gates into the night.

"My car!" Ron called out, putting down his pet and chasing after it with Harry.

But two legs can't keep up with four wheels, and in the end they watched helplessly as the car drove into the Forbidden Forest.

"My dad's definitely going to kill me," Ron said weakly.

Harry looked at him sympathetically, unsure how to comfort him, "Never mind that for now, let's get the luggage to the castle first, maybe we can still make it in time for Ginny's housewarming ceremony."

As for the car, Hagrid is the forest ranger; let him help us look for it!

"That's all we can do," Ron said with a wry smile.

The two carefully bypassed the enormous willow tree that seemed to be able to strike, and placed their respective suitcases and pets on the steps where these items were piled up.

Afterwards, dragging his tired body, he quietly went outside the Great Hall and secretly watched the new students' college ceremony through the window.

It wasn't that they didn't want to go in and see up close, it was just that their outfits were somewhat incongruous.

Apart from the principal, professors, and staff on the High Table, all the students were dressed in black Warlock robes, while they were in casual clothes. Coupled with the minor injuries inflicted by the Whomping Willow, they stood out conspicuously in a crowd.

Fortunately, Ginny hadn't started attending the academy yet, so although they weren't in the Great Hall, they didn't miss this special moment.

However, the two of them were clearly quite bold, as some people in the Great Hall had already noticed the anomaly.

Aaron looked at Professor Snape, who was constantly searching for something on the High Table, and a wry smile appeared on his face. How could he have forgotten about him?

The headmaster of Slytherin had a rather complex feeling towards Harry Potter, and naturally paid more attention to his situation than the average person.

"Aaron, I feel like something's not quite right!" Draco said in a low voice.

"Don't talk nonsense, everything is normal."

"No, I feel like something's missing." Draco frowned in thought, and gradually his gaze fell on the Long Table Gryffindor, his pupils widening involuntarily. "Look, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley don't seem to be here."

"No way!" Aaron said, feigning surprise. "Could it be that they've already arrived, but you just haven't seen them?"

Draco paused for a moment, then glanced around the Long Table in Gryffindor with some suspicion. Now he was absolutely certain that Harry and Ron were indeed absent.

"They just didn't come," Draco said, somewhat agitated. "Should we tell Professor Snape? He'll be so happy to hear the news."

"It's better not to..." Aaron was about to advise him not to cause trouble at this time when he accidentally met Snape's gaze from the High Table.

Feeling that sharp gaze, Aaron's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly turned his face away.

But a few seconds later, he looked up and Snape was still looking at him. To his surprise, Snape glanced at the Gryffindor, as if asking: Do you know where they are?

Holy crap!

I know, but can I admit to this? Obviously not!

After admitting it, what should be said is that Harry and his group came by car, but he also actually climbed onto the train to greet them and provided some timely material assistance.

Aaron immediately glanced at his most respected professor and shook his head slightly, saying, "Don't look at me, I don't know anything."

Snape frowned slightly at this, but a cold smile quickly appeared on his lips as he glanced towards the window.

Aaron instinctively turned around and saw two furtive heads perched on top of him, leaving him speechless for a moment.

These two kids are hopeless; they've run into trouble.

Snape smiled meaningfully, no longer paying attention to the choir ceremony, and quietly slipped out through a side door.

"This is terrible."

"What did you say?" Draco asked.

"I said someone's going to be in trouble," Aaron replied calmly. "It's only the first day of school, but for some people it's been incredibly exciting."

"So... what does that mean?"

Aaron patted him on the shoulder and smiled, "Good news, at least for you."

Outside the window, Harry and Ron also noticed that Snape was missing from the audience.

The two began speculating about why he wasn't there, from his illness to his resignation to his dismissal, and they became more and more excited as they talked.

Snape Severus was not only the head of Slytherin, but also their most hated professor, without exception.

They naturally didn't have any good ideas for dealing with his absence.

However, neither of them noticed a figure getting closer and closer behind them.

Hearing these two Gryffindor' malicious speculations about him, Snape remained calm, though his face was terrifyingly dark.

"Perhaps he's waiting to hear why you didn't take the school bus."

Harry and Ron were stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but shudder.

The two turned around in unison and saw a black robe fluttering in the cool breeze, followed by a familiar face, but this time that face was filled with a playful sneer.

"Gentlemen, is there anything you wish to say?"

"Professor, I, we..." Harry stammered, about to say something when Snape interrupted him.

"Come with me to my office, and we'll have a good talk," Snape said softly, his tone unusually gentle, but to the two of them it sounded icy cold.

Harry and Ron followed closely behind Snape to his office.

This was their first visit to Snape's office, which was filled with all sorts of bottles and jars, and the atmosphere was particularly oppressive under the dim lighting.

"Come, take a look!" Snape took a newspaper from the Daily Prophet from the drawer with a meaningful look. It showed a Ford Anglia driving through the clouds.

"Our famous Harry Potter and his friend Ron Weasley weren't satisfied with just riding the train, and wanted to try something more exciting, right?"

Wow, that's amazing. If a Warlock hadn't taken a picture during the ceremony, you guys would have really gotten away with it.

Did you know that he received two hundred Galleon from the Oracle's newspaper just for this one photo? I'm envious of how fast he makes money.

"Professor, we..."

"Quiet!" Snape snapped. "I knew you'd be coming tonight when I saw this newspaper."

But at the same time, I was particularly puzzled. Someone had Dumbledore, and you could have returned to school tomorrow. Why did you have to drive here?

Do you know the consequences of doing this?

Luckily, no Muggle discovered you, otherwise the situation would have been much worse.

Oh, by the way, I think I just saw one of the Magical Plant was injured. You guys did that too, didn't you?

"Professor, that was an accident," Harry said nervously.

"That tree will do us more harm," Ron said.

"Shut up, that tree is older than all of you, and its name is the 'Whomping Willow'."

If Professor Sprout saw it was injured, he'd probably rush over with bandages to treat it that very night.

"I'm very sorry, Professor, but we..."

"Don't interrupt, Potter." Snape stood up from his seat, looked at the two pale faces and sneered, "Actually, you should be most glad that you are not students of Slytherin House, otherwise I would expel you immediately."

Now I need to find the person who truly has this authority. I'm sure Professor McGonagall will be quite surprised to see you all. Stay here and don't move around.