"Found you at last. Su Er Bones, right?"
When Su Er and Hermione finished their time relaxing and returned to the Castle, a tall, thin boy wearing a dark green scarf approached them.
"Hello, Stan. Were you looking for me?" Su Er recognized the older Slytherin student before him. They had met while he was helping Snape prepare potions ingredients. He was just a minor extra.
"It wasn't me. Professor Snape asked me to bring you a note." Stan took a folded note from his pocket and offered a friendly warning.
"Professor Snape's a bit terrifying today. Be careful if you go see him."
"All right. Thank you." Su Er took the note and thanked him sincerely.
"You're welcome." Stan waved a hand. "Well... you really must be careful. I'm not joking. He just scolded Stina until she cried."
Stina was a girl with a perpetually expressionless face, also a sixth-year Slytherin student.
"Now you've said that, I'm definitely not going to see Professor Snape today. Thanks again for the warning." Su Er nodded.
"I'm off, then. See you." Stan gave a casual wave.
"What did Professor Snape write?" Hermione leaned over after Stan left and asked curiously.
There was only one line on the note, written in sweeping, dark green strokes-"Wednesday, after dinner. My office."
Yep, very Snape. Acting prickly again. I'm used to it. Su Er showed Hermione the note, crumpled it into a ball, stuffed it into his wizard robes, and shrugged.
The writing was deeply impressed, the strokes pressing through the paper... Su Er reckoned there must be another reason behind it.
"Looks like this Wednesday probably won't be much fun for me."
Even so, Su Er still looked unconcerned. After all, anyone would be like this if getting beaten up became a habit. It wouldn't