Hermione's Prank

Winter's chill had not faded with the end of the Christmas holidays.

On the contrary, even though the spring sun had stubbornly begun to show itself, even though the fire in the hearth was blazing brightly, even though most students were laughing and enjoying the last of their holiday...

Some students in the castle still felt ice-cold inside.

"I seriously suspect Snape got his brain broken by Voldemort during the war half a year ago—or maybe Voldemort's soul possessed him!"

Ron complained loudly in the Gryffindor common room. Rather than being annoyed, however, the little lions around him nodded in heartfelt agreement.

Other than that utterly unreliable guess, they simply could not figure out why Snape had assigned so much homework over Christmas break, and homework that was so difficult!

Even as seventh-years in the advanced class, they had no choice but to tear at their hair over assignments like these.

To put it bluntly, they had already started imagining Snape's snide expression when they failed to hand in their work—

"I told you long ago that Fawley gave you far too many unrealistic fantasies, making you believe you possess enough ability to master the advanced class curriculum.

"In truth, with brains like yours, you would be better off repeating first year. Under my instruction, you might even have the slightest chance."

Just imagining Snape's sneering face made the Gryffindor students fortunate enough to be in the advanced class turn green.

Seeing this, Ron's courage to complain immediately surged.

"Maybe after Voldemort realized he couldn't beat Professor Fawley, he deliberately left Snape behind to torment us future stars of the wizarding world!"

Even Harry, who had agreed with him completely at first, could not help tugging on Ron's sleeve and telling him to rein it in.

"Snape just assigned a