Su Er did not follow Hermione or go and play third wheel to Neville and Hannah. Instead, he followed a miserable-looking Ron to the Castle's first basement level.
Ron grumbled all the way, his resentment practically overflowing.
He dragged his feet too, but whatever happened, he still had to face what lay ahead.
Ron hesitated for quite a while outside the office where Snape usually stayed, taking several deep breaths before reaching out with a trembling hand to knock.
That showed just how much psychological trauma Snape had inflicted on the young lions in their everyday lives.
Oh, perhaps it was not just Gryffindor. Nymphadora Tonks, who had come from Hufflepuff, also paled at the mention of Snape.
"Creak..."
After Ron knocked, the old wooden door quietly opened a crack.
Snape stared straight at Ron, his gaze as cold as a snake's.
"What is it, Prefect Weasley?" Snape was as snide as ever, but his gaze shifted to a spot a short distance behind Ron.
Unfortunately, Ron lowered his head after meeting Snape's eyes for only a moment and did not notice.
"P-Professor Snape..."
Stammering, Ron recounted what Harry had seen through Voldemort's eyes. Of course, he was not foolish enough to mention that Harry and the others were preparing to break into the Ministry of Magic.
Snape did not immediately give a response, and silence fell over the office.
Only after a long while did Snape's flat voice sound.
"Understood. You may go, Prefect Weasley."
As though granted a reprieve, Ron turned and left without lingering.
"Creak-" The wooden door closed. Snape did not lower his head to resume marking the Potions assignments that left him weary to his very core. He continued staring at the spot a short distance behind where Ron had just stood.
Su Er lifted