Audrey took the initiative to greet him with a bright smile. "Good morning, young master Malfoy."
Malfoy could hardly pretend he hadn't seen her, especially with all the students around them watching. If I chicken out, how am I supposed to show my face again? He raised his chin and replied in a tone that was neither rude nor overly humble, "Good morning."
"Very good. Young master Malfoy has finally learned some manners. If you'd acted like this from the start, we might already be friends."
His face flushed slightly. "I've always been a gentleman," he huffed. "You're the one who's always hanging around those redheaded Weasleys and that Hermione-"
Audrey smiled and waved her Dragon Bone Wand. Malfoy immediately took an instinctive step back.
"Good morning, Audrey."
Hermione approached with several thick books in her arms. Smoothing her messy hair, she asked, "Teaching Malfoy a lesson again? Which spell are you planning to use today?"
Ron, who followed behind her, grinned. "Use Transfiguration. Turn Malfoy into a skunk."
Furious, Malfoy drew his wand and pointed it at Ron. "You penniless Weasley brat! You redheaded freak! Pull out that battered secondhand wand of yours and duel me if you've got the guts!"
The smile vanished from Ron's face. He whipped out his wand and pointed it at Malfoy. "Come on, then, you white-haired freak!"
Harry hurriedly grabbed him and pulled him back.
"Ron, don't do anything rash. We'll lose points if a teacher catches us."
"Excellent."
No sooner had he spoken than Snape appeared without a sound, like some bat demon. He looked down at them with disdain. "Ron Weasley, five points from Gryffindor for your stupidity. And..."
He turned to Harry Potter. "Our Chosen One, Mr. Potter. Another two points from Gryffindor for failing to stop your classmate's foolish behavior!"
Audrey had already entered her spectator state-though even without it, she could have seen that Professor Snape was deliberately targeting Harry.
After spending a few days with Harry Potter, the Chosen One, she had come to understand him somewhat: the Boy Who Lived, who had stopped the Dark Lord Voldemort, had grown up in a Muggle household far removed from the wizarding world. He could be a little impulsive at times, but he was kind and brave. Overall, he wasn't unpleasant, so there was no reason for a professor to single him out like this.
Wait, why is there such a strange emotion hidden in Snape's eyes?
Is that longing? Regret? And love?
My goodness!!
Chapter 37: I'm a Senior Member of the Tarot Club!
Harry hurried to protest.
"But, Professor, clearly-"
"Why aren't you in class yet? Must I personally invite each of you inside?"
The students watching the spectacle immediately flooded into the classroom. Audrey, however, greeted Snape first. "Good morning, Professor Snape."
"Mm."
He gave a flat grunt and followed them into the classroom.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making."
Snape spoke evenly, his cold gaze sweeping over every student as he said things these little mushroom heads couldn't possibly understand. "...I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death-provided you aren't the sort of imbeciles I usually have to deal with."
Harry was still upset about inexplicably losing Gryffindor two points, and even angrier at Professor Snape's unfairness, when he heard his name.
"Potter! What would I get if I added asphodel root powder to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry looked utterly bewildered. Why did he understand every word Snape said, only for them to turn into an alien language when put together? His eyes practically spun.
"I don't know, sir."
Snape gave a contemptuous smile and continued, "Potter, if I asked you to find me a bezoar, where would you look?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Potter!"
With a scrape, Hermione, sitting beside him, pushed back her stool and stood up, raising her hand high. Snape acted as though he couldn't see her and asked Harry a third question. "Potter, tell me the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane."
Harry finally couldn't help muttering, "Professor, I think Hermione might know the answers. Why don't you ask her? Or you could ask one of the Slytherin students."
"Oh? Is our great Chosen One relying on his 'glorious achievements' to talk back to a teacher? Excellent. Another five points from Gryffindor for your arrogance."
As he spoke, Snape glared at Hermione. "Sit down, Miss Granger. Stop trying to show off your pitiful scraps of knowledge! Miss Hall, answer those questions."
Audrey paused in surprise, then stood up and said apologetically, "Sorry, Professor. I don't know either." She had mainly been studying spells and Chinese lately and hadn't had time to prepare for Potions class.
"Excellent! Two points to Slytherin for your honesty."
"???"
Harry Potter's face was full of question marks. That isn't how you treated me just now!
With the questions over, Snape wrote down the method and procedure for brewing the Boil-Cure Potion, then had everyone begin the practical portion of the lesson.
Naturally, the classroom descended into chaos.
In the end, an explosion caused by Seamus, the demolition prodigy, brought the nightmarish lesson to a close.
A furious Snape swept away like an enormous bat, and Harry immediately began complaining to Ron and Hermione about how awful their Potions professor was.
Ron nodded repeatedly in agreement. His earlier efforts had corroded half a table and cost them another two points. Hermione, however, didn't share much of their resentment, since she and Audrey had been the first pair to brew the potion successfully and had earned points thanks to Audrey.
Ron said unhappily, "Hermione, you're getting too close to the Slytherins."
"Audrey isn't like the other Slytherins. Besides, she's always teaching Malfoy a lesson, isn't she?"
"That's true."
"What were you two whispering about after class?"
"Some historical legends about Hogwarts. You two wouldn't be interested anyway. I'm going to the library. Want to come?"
The two poor students quickly waved away the invitation. "Next time, definitely. Next time."
At a corner along the route to the Slytherin Common Room, Malfoy and his two lackeys lurked furtively, occasionally sneaking a glance into the distance.
"Malfoy, are you sure about this?" Goyle asked, scratching his head.
"Hmph! If we don't teach her a proper lesson, are we really going to run away whenever we see her? What? Are you scared of Professor Snape? Worried about losing points?"
"No, I just honestly think the three of us couldn't beat that woman even with a sneak attack. I mean, she might be a first-year, but she's actually old enough to be in sixth or seventh year."
"But she's been learning magic for less than a week, hasn't she? Don't forget, we're wizards descended from the Sacred Twenty-Eight. How can we be afraid of a woman?"
"So I'll draw her attention from the front, Goyle will ambush her from behind, and then Malfoy will teach her a lesson with jinxes, right?"
"Exactly!"
"But what if someone else walks past?"
"Relax. Everyone else will already be back in their dormitories by now."
Malfoy tightened his grip on his wand and said viciously, "I'll make her regret crossing me!"
"But I'm a bit hungry. Can we go eat first?"
"Of course not, idiot!"
Twenty minutes later, a tall figure appeared at the end of the corridor.
As Audrey approached, Crabbe rushed out, waving his wand and reciting a spell that did nothing before charging straight at her. Take this-physical Stupefy!
On the other side, Crabbe simply abandoned his wand, rolled across the floor, and lunged for Audrey's legs.
"Good work! Crabbe, Goyle!"
Malfoy praised them, stepped forward, and waved his wand, unleashing every spell he knew-and even those he didn't. "Locomotor Mortis! Eat slugs! Petrificus Totalus! Expelliarmus! Serpensortia!"
With two thuds, Goyle and Crabbe flew in opposite directions. The spells Malfoy had successfully cast struck Audrey, but none had the effect he expected.
Malfoy tried to cast another spell, but suddenly his body stiffened and began trembling uncontrollably. For some inexplicable reason, he felt as though Audrey had turned into a terrifying beast.
No! Not just as though!
Her pupils had become golden slits, faint scales had appeared on her skin, and wisps of scarlet flame spilled from the corners of her mouth, radiating scorching heat.
A monster! This woman is a monster!
"Malfoy!"
Audrey's heart was still pounding from the sudden attack. If she hadn't instinctively activated the Dragon Bone Wand's power, her limited combat experience really might have let the three of them succeed.
"Good. Very good."
Recalling the villains she had read about in novels, she approached one step at a time. With every word, she deliberately breathed out a wisp of flame while releasing her spiritual power without restraint.
"Keh heh heh heh heh heh!"
That was how those villains laughed.
"Since you've seen my secret, I can only..."
Malfoy's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious.
"Out already?"
Audrey nudged his head with her foot, then turned toward Goyle and Crabbe.
"I-I'm unconscious too."
Goyle promptly lay down after saying that, leaving only Crabbe staring in terrified bewilderment, full of regret. Why didn't I pass out too?
Saturday soon arrived.
When Edward found Audrey, she was giving orders to Malfoy's trio. All three were remarkably obedient, nodding repeatedly. The moment she waved them away, they fled in relief.
Edward approached and asked,
"So, are those three your lackeys now?"
"No, I just won them over with my personal charm. I happened to need someone to run errands, so I asked them to help."
"Oh~ You beat them into submission."
Audrey smiled without confirming or denying it. "What's wrong with your voice? Did you hurt your mouth?"
Edward opened his mouth and showed her the mandrake leaf tucked beneath his tongue:
Before you continue