At Hogwarts, in the Potions Class office.
Snape was busy preparing a batch of potions needed by the School Hospital. At the start of every school year, new students inevitably caused all sorts of accidents, making this his busiest time.
Suddenly, Snape's stirring hand paused slightly.
A small creature, neither quite tiger nor lion, squeezed in through the window.
"Whose Patronus?" Snape was startled. From the light and aura radiating from the little creature, he recognized it as a Patronus.
The creature drifted down before Snape, opened its mouth slightly, and conveyed a message to him.
Snape's face darkened at a visible speed.
With a cold expression, he said nothing. He directly put out the fire beneath the still-brewing cauldron, grabbed the wand on the table, and left the office.
The little creature wore an innocent expression before dissolving into the air.
Hogwarts Great Hall.
The Sorting Ceremony would be held shortly. Luna had gone over to the new students, while Lisa had returned to the Ravenclaw table.
Matthew glanced toward the teachers' table. Aside from Professor McGonagall, who had gone to receive the new students, Professor Snape was absent as well.
This year's new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, was also seated at the teachers' table.
He seemed to be in high spirits, chatting animatedly with Professor Sprout, though Professor Sprout's smile looked somewhat forced.
The Great Hall was buzzing. Yet unlike previous years, the students' attention was not on the new students at all. They were all discussing one thing—the flying car.
Only some of the students had seen the flying car, and they exaggeratedly described what had happened.
News that Harry and Ron had taken the flying car to school spread rapidly. Some people were already betting on whether they would be expelled.