The Headmaster's Office fell into silence. The loudest sound was Nagini's hiss as she flicked her tongue.
"Snape, how could you be so sure..." Barty Crouch Jr. took the initiative to break the silence, turning to Snape as he challenged him. "That he isn't the sort of person who says one thing and does another?"
"You're clearly not perceptive enough—you've been blinded by Wizet Lovegood's hypocritical act... Though that isn't surprising. Professors are all like that, always eager to hear flattering words."
His tone brimmed with contempt. "Showing up to class on time just to curry favor with the professors, putting on the face of a model student—it's an insult to Ravenclaw!"
Snape's expression remained unchanged, as though he had not heard Barty Crouch Jr.'s challenge or his assessment of Wizet at all.
Instead, it was Voldemort, who had remained silent and calm-faced until now, who made him instinctively sense danger.
Barty Crouch Jr. grew agitated, spittle flying as he spoke. "Snape, can you really not see it?"
"Wizet Lovegood is hollow and repressed inside! That's why he needs to rely on things like 'perfect attendance' to win approval and prove himself!"
"He obviously knows this trick well. Only mediocrities like him, with empty heads that can't retain magical knowledge, would resort to such vile, underhanded methods to hide their own incompetence as much as possible!"
Barty Crouch Jr.'s words grew increasingly vehement. Now, Snape was not the only creature who sensed danger—Nagini did as well.
Nagini no longer pressed herself affectionately against Voldemort. Instead, she raised herself up, her head hovering in midair.
She assumed a guarded posture, as though instinct urged her to flee the source of danger, yet Voldemort's inherent intimidation forced her to keep her body taut and refrain from making any rash move.
When Snape