In Snape's office, Malfoy and his two sidekicks, Goyle and Crabbe, stood nervously in a corner while Moody told Snape what had happened in the Entrance Hall.
"Severus, I'll be keeping a close eye on all of you. I haven't forgotten what you used to be!" Moody (Barty Crouch Jr.) snarled, his words edged with threat and warning.
Snape's brow tightened. After Moody left, he turned his attention to Malfoy and the others, his gaze full of displeasure and questions.
"What exactly happened? Where did the newspaper come from? Since when do you read newspapers?" Snape glared at Malfoy.
"Head of House, Goyle gave it to me..." Malfoy looked aggrieved. "All I did was read what was printed on it."
Snape turned a startled gaze on Goyle.
"You can read newspapers?"
The disbelief in Snape's voice left Goyle speechless.
"Enough." Snape's patience seemed to have run out, and his expression darkened further. "The three of you had better behave yourselves for a while. Now get out of my office. Immediately!"
Malfoy and his companions hurried out, privately relieved. They had never expected Snape to let them off without any punishment. He truly was the head of Slytherin House!
The next two days passed without incident. Though a quiet hostility remained between Malfoy and Harry, both sides kept their tempers in check and caused no further trouble.
"Unbelievable. Malfoy got away with it, but Neville accidentally ruined six cauldrons and Professor Snape gave him detention without a second thought," Ron complained bitterly, furious at the unfair treatment.
In Potions Class that very day, Neville had burned through another cauldron. Professor Snape's severity and vindictiveness had apparently grown over Summer Vacation; he had given Neville detention without hesitation.
Neville had been forced to dissect an enormous barrelful of horned toads. When he