Chapter 657

Harry was glad he had managed to escape from Snape's office.

Or rather, Harry was glad that Tierra had suddenly appeared and interrupted him.

Because if Tierra had appeared even a second later, he probably would have started arguing with Snape—

At that moment, the moment Snape had reprimanded him, Harry had suddenly become overwhelmingly furious for no apparent reason.

Snape had reprimanded him in the same way before, even more harshly than this, but at that moment, Harry had felt as though his anger was about to spiral out of control.

Harry felt both alarmed and disgusted by this—

Alarmed that his uncontrollable emotions came from Voldemort's influence.

Disgusted by Snape's caustic, cutting manner and his almost humiliating teaching methods.

If only there were another teacher who could teach me Occlumency, Harry thought helplessly.

Tierra?

The first person Harry thought of was Tierra, but he quickly rejected the idea himself—

No, no, no. I've already asked him twice, and he refused me outright both times. What if I ask again and he refuses me again? Harry quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought.

But there are so, so many Tierras. It shouldn't be a problem to have one of them teach me Occlumency, should it? Harry began agonizing over it again.

But Tierra really did clearly refuse me twice. What if he refuses again this time... Harry climbed the stairs leading to the Gryffindor Common Room in frustration.

So absorbed was Harry in thinking of how to get Tierra to agree to teach him Occlumency that he completely failed to notice Hermione walking down the stairs with her head lowered, a book clutched in her arms, until—

"Ah—"

"Oh—"

Harry and Hermione collided head-on.

"Ah, Her—Hermione?"

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione stumbled back a few steps and fell onto the stairs.