"What's wrong? You look a bit down." In the Library, Hermione glanced curiously at Su Er, who sat beside her leafing through a book with a glum face.
Su Er told Hermione everything that had just happened in Snape's office. He had been prepared to spend the whole day there.
Instead-he had fallen halfway through, before even getting half his beating.
There were benefits to being beaten up by Professor Snape. Su Er wasn't a masochist; at least the improvement in his strength was obvious, and he had become hooked on it during the summer holidays.
"Heehee..." Hermione covered her mouth and giggled. "I can't believe Professor Snape didn't beat you to death on the spot."
Because of Su Er, Hermione hadn't sympathized with Harry's treatment at Snape's hands and joined him in hating Professor Snape, as she had in the original story.
If her position had to be described, it was probably neutral.
"That chair must have been with Professor Snape for ages. I never thought he'd be sentimental about old things," Hermione added.
"Maybe." Su Er shrugged helplessly.
"The weather's so nice today. Shall we go for a walk later? Visit Hagrid?"
"Sure. This is the first time we've seen such a clear sky since term started." Hermione asked quietly,
"Speaking of the weather, lots of people were talking about it today. Have the Dementors withdrawn?"
"Yes." Su Er nodded. "The Ministry of Magic should have confirmed the news by now. We'll see what tomorrow's Daily Prophet says."
Outside the Castle, with the Dementors gone, the sky had become truly spotless, without even a wisp of cloud, its blue remarkably clear.
Su Er and Hermione left the Castle side by side, first heading to the Quidditch Pitch to watch Harry's "dashing figure" as he flew on his