"Why? Mr. Shacklebolt, why would you help a Mudblood?" Marcus asked indignantly.
At Marcus's question, Trevor Shacklebolt said coldly, "Miss Fawley asked me to tell you that if you dare disrespect Mr. Jerry Green again, she'll personally send every member of your families to hell for a reunion!"
Ignoring their reactions, Trevor Shacklebolt left after delivering that chilling warning.
At the entrance to the Private Lounge, Trevor Shacklebolt stood respectfully and addressed the person inside in a humble tone. "Miss Fawley, I've warned Marcus and the others. His Eminence has also returned to his Dormitory."
The person inside fell silent for a moment before a cold voice rang out. "Good. Keep monitoring Marcus and the others. I don't want any surprises."
"Just monitor them? Should we..."
"Don't create unnecessary complications. Time is on our side. All you need to do is make sure Marcus and the others don't bother His Eminence. Leave the rest for him to handle!"
Monday, Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Jerry glanced at Quirrell, then turned to Harry. "Harry, did you ask Hagrid? Fluffy won't be easy to deal with!"
"I did, but Hagrid said it was a secret and he couldn't tell us. We did get a name out of him, though. I think it was... Nicolas, Nicolas Flamel. Yes, that was it!"
"Jerry, Hermione, do either of you know who he is?"
Hermione shook her head. "Perhaps we could look him up in the Library!"
Jerry said, "Nicolas Flamel... I think I've heard that name before! Let me think!"
Harry and the others looked at Jerry expectantly.
After thinking for a while, Jerry said, "I think he has something to do with alchemy. Harry, you could borrow a few books on alchemy from the Library. Ideally, ones you can bring out so we can all help you look!"
At Jerry's answer, Harry nodded excitedly. "Jerry, you're amazing! You know everything. I'll go after class!"
Watching Harry's excitement, Jerry's lips curled into a faint smile.
Yes, that's it! Keep it up, Harry! Hurry up and bring those books on forbidden alchemy out of the Restricted Section for me!
After class, Jerry packed his things and glanced at Quirrell, who stood behind the lectern looking thoughtful. He silently cursed him. What a useless idiot.
I've made the hint so obvious. Why aren't you hurrying off to find Hagrid?
Voldemort is even more useless. What sort of people has he recruited?
Time flew, and before long, it was mid-December.
Christmas was approaching, and Hogwarts School was filled with a festive atmosphere.
During this time, Jerry enjoyed a peaceful school life.
Jerry had been prepared for an attack from Marcus and the others, but now it seemed he had underestimated the strength and influence of Trevor Shacklebolt and his associates.
One cold morning, Hogwarts School lay beneath a thick blanket of snow, looking like a white fairy-tale world.
The lake had frozen solid, its tranquil surface reflecting the blue sky.
That cold morning, however, the Weasley Twins were punished for a mischievous prank.
They had enchanted several snowballs to make them nimble and cunning, then sent them chasing Professor Quirrell wildly all over the place.
Eventually, one snowball struck Professor Quirrell hard in the back of the head, leaving him thoroughly humiliated.
With the holidays drawing near, everyone eagerly looked forward to relaxing and enjoying the warmth of home.
That afternoon, Potions Class.
Although roaring fires made the Common Room and the Great Hall feel as warm as spring, the Corridor, with its howling drafts, was as bitterly cold as ice. Every gust pierced their clothes and left them shivering.
Worst of all, Professor Snape's Potions Class took place in the Dungeon Classroom, where the temperature seemed even lower than elsewhere. The cold clung to everyone like a ghost.
Whenever the students breathed out during lessons in the Dungeon Classroom, a cloud of white mist immediately formed before them, as though they had entered another world of ice and snow.
Every lesson with Professor Snape put the students under immense pressure.
Besides enduring the cold, they also had to face Professor Snape's strict teaching standards and merciless grading.
It made the already shivering students feel colder still.
Jerry concentrated on slicing ingredients with a small silver knife, his movements practiced and precise. Hermione stood beside the heated Cauldron, holding her freezing hands close to it. The warm waves of heat enveloped her, bringing her a little comfort.
Once Jerry had prepared all the ingredients, he smiled at Hermione's flushed face. "We can start brewing the potion now!"
Hermione nodded and added the ingredients to the Cauldron in the proper order, stirring while controlling the heat.
"Jerry, are you staying at school over Christmas or going back to the Orphanage?"
"I'm not planning to stay at school. I'm going back to the Orphanage."
Hermione was thrilled to hear that. "That's wonderful, Jerry! I'm not staying at Hogwarts either. We can take the Hogwarts Express back together."
"I'll introduce you to my mum and dad then. You're so brilliant, Jerry. They're bound to like you!"
Hermione continued, "Jerry, we'll have several days over Christmas. Could I invite you to my house? Don't worry about getting there. I can ask my dad to pick you up!"
Seeing the anticipation in Hermione's eyes, Jerry nodded gently and accepted her invitation.
"That's wonderful, Jerry..."
"You two, much as I hate to interrupt, the potion in your Cauldron is about to boil!"
Jerry and Hermione had been so absorbed in their conversation that they hadn't paid any attention to the potion until Snape appeared beside them and pointed it out.
Only then did Jerry and Hermione snap back to their senses and hurriedly adjust the flame to lower the temperature.
Watching them scramble, Snape said mockingly to Jerry, "Mr. Green, I don't think your intelligence is sufficient for brewing a potion and chatting at the same time. Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"
Jerry: "..."
"Sorry, Professor Snape. I was the one who started talking to Jerry..."
Snape ignored Hermione entirely, turned, and walked away!
Jerry shrugged and told Hermione, "It's all right, Hermione. That's just how Snape is. At least he didn't deduct any house points this time!"
"That's all thanks to you, Jerry. You're in Slytherin. Snape certainly wouldn't take points from his own house!"