The latest Daily Prophet caused an uproar in the wizarding world, and many people eagerly awaited the results of Friday's trial.
Public opinion on the Ministry of Magic's handling of Black's wrongful conviction was polarized, as could be seen from the young wizards' discussions.
One side believed the Ministry of Magic had set things right and that everyone should learn from Minister Cornelius Fudge. The other, after asking around about Sirius's conduct in the Castle, began condemning the Ministry's rotten system and chaotic management for letting an outstanding wizard be wrongfully imprisoned and suffer more than ten years of torment in Azkaban.
Another group took a neutral stance, playing both sides and fanning the flames-commonly known as watching the drama unfold. This group consisted mainly of Hufflepuff's little badgers.
The one who benefited most this time was Cornelius Fudge, though perhaps not. Political considerations and gains and losses of interests had nothing to do with Su Er, who was still attending school.
Time flew by, and Wednesday arrived.
This was the day Su Er was due to keep his appointment-no, the day he was due for a beating.
Over the past two days, judging by the houses' point hourglasses, points had been dropping rather frequently and sharply, and those fluctuations had occurred almost exclusively during the different years' Potions classes.
What? Could other professors have deducted those points?
Impossible. In the entire Castle, the only person who would brazenly deduct points for pleasure or to vent his anger was dear Professor Snape.
Yes, even Filch did not actually have the authority to deduct points.
Not only that, but judging from the speculation Su Er occasionally overheard in the common room about whether Professor Snape had reached menopause, there was no doubt that Snape was in an absolutely foul mood.
There