It was Filch!
A loud buzz of conversation erupted. Most people looked admiringly at Filch, who stood at the entrance to the Great Hall-or rather, at the person they thought was Filch.
Even more astonishingly, Filch actually drew a wand.
At that very moment, the deeply wrinkled skin on Filch's face began to ripple. The Polyjuice Potion was wearing off.
A face that stunned many of the older students appeared before them.
"Su Er?!" An even louder outcry rose. Apart from the students who had enrolled last year and the youngsters who had only just arrived at Hogwarts this year, everyone in the third year and above knew that face.
"Wasn't he hit by the Killing Curse-"
"He's not dead!"
Some immediately turned toward the staff table. Snape's expression remained utterly unchanged, but the astonishment on the faces of Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, and the others was unmistakably genuine.
Amid the chatter, Su Er began walking slowly toward the staff table. He stopped in the middle of the four long tables and slowly raised his wand.
"I do not agree to you, Severus Snape, serving as this school's headmaster."
"Su Er Bones?" Snape's expression grew darker still, and his voice colder.
"The very same." Su Er inwardly admired Snape's acting, but outwardly, he answered in a cold, sharp voice.
"I certainly never expected someone who should have died long ago to be standing here alive." Snape sneered and slowly drew his wand from his wizard robes.
"Then may I take it that you now intend to challenge me, to challenge all of Hogwarts?"
"Why not?" Su Er raised an eyebrow and spoke softly.
"You alone?" Snape raised his wand, a spark of light flickering at its tip.
"And us!" The doors to the Great Hall were blasted open from outside,