"Besides, ahem, your two houses are the cleverest houses at Hogwarts. I also hope you'll devote yourselves to studying potions in class, rather than doing things unrelated to the lesson..."
As Professor Snape said this, his long eyelashes gave a distinctly dangerous tremble.
This shouldn't count as making things difficult for the young witches and wizards, should it?
If these children all knew each other well and sat together, they would inevitably develop some bad habits over time.
For example, talking in class or doing things unrelated to the lesson-none of these were things Professor Snape permitted...
To be honest, hearing Snape speak and seeing that expression on his face had already given all the young witches and wizards a sense of foreboding.
What was Professor Snape up to this year?
How did she manage to think of new ways to make things difficult for every year's students?
"I don't want to see two people who know each other sitting together. Talking in class like that will seriously affect how efficiently you learn..."
With that, Snape drew his wand and sent a flash of green light toward everyone's desks:
"Starting now, everyone will sit in the seats I've assigned!"
The Ravenclaws: ???
The Slytherins: ???
Wait, what?
Didn't everyone normally find their own seats in class?
Since when were seats assigned outright?
Wasn't Snape going a little too far this year?
Though previous years hadn't been much better...
However, when the young witches and wizards saw Professor Snape's increasingly cold, gloomy face and the dangerous expression he wore with his wand raised...
Well, everyone was very willing to follow their survival instincts.
This professor was the notorious sort. There was simply nothing they could do.
She didn't care about her reputation at all, and whenever a complaint brought criticism from Dumbledore, she always had a reason ready.
For instance, Professor Snape had already thought this one through.
She wasn't trying to make things difficult for the children at all.
She simply wanted to foster friendships between the young witches and wizards of Ravenclaw House and Slytherin House.
Was there anything wrong with that?
Even if Dumbledore really did reprimand her, it would only be a couple of mild remarks, with no actual effect.
And because they had reported him...
In a fit of anger, Snape would assign them ten rolls of parchment's worth of homework...
Well, wasn't this just great.
Originally, everyone had happily gathered together, sitting with their dormmates.
After Professor Snape's interference, all the young witches and wizards were forced to sit with someone from another house whom they didn't know at all...
Unbelievable. Sure enough, Professor Snape was no good!
There was nothing they could do but accept it.
That was just Professor Snape. There really was no way around it.
"Hey, Potter, in front of you..."
When Malfoy heard Snape's words, her heart couldn't help giving a jolt.
Oh no.
She'd gone to so much trouble to finally sit beside Potter!
Surely her Head of House wouldn't separate her from him?
But when Malfoy looked at the name on the desk in front of Harry...
She exchanged a glance with Harry, who had seen the name in front of Malfoy, and an odd smile immediately appeared.
If they hadn't seen wrong just now, Professor Snape seemed to have forcibly moved every student to a different seat, hadn't he?
How had it just so happened that the two of them hadn't been moved?
What a mystery. Why could that possibly be?
Harry didn't know, and neither did Malfoy.
But Malfoy knew that she was truly delighted right now.
Hahahaha! I really am destined for greatness. Even a seat change that was so likely to happen hadn't affected me?
This was fantastic!
Malfoy had already forgotten Snape's contribution.
Miss Malfoy's mischievous brain sprang into action, fast-forwarding straight to her coronation in the wizarding world, then slaying Weasley and making Potter her queen. Hahahaha...
Wait, why was Potter her queen?
Malfoy didn't understand, but perhaps this was the bond between good friends?
Never mind. Leave it at that for now. This was Potions class; she shouldn't let her imagination run too wild.
Professor Snape, meanwhile, gazed at Malfoy for a while with his dark eyes, his expression growing increasingly strange.
After all, when someone with cold, proud, striking features began holding back laughter, the resulting expression was very peculiar...
But there was nothing for it. Snape really did regret it a little. He shouldn't have used Legilimency just now...
Who knew Draco's mind took such bizarre turns every day?
Hadn't Lucius said before that Draco was very well-behaved?
Did a well-behaved child's head contain thoughts of cutting down Weasley and being crowned?
If anything, Potter's mind was a little more normal.
He had been planning how to allocate his time sensibly between subjects such as spells, Transfiguration, and potions...
No, this wasn't Lily!
Even James Potter and Lily put together hadn't been this studious, had they?
No, he couldn't include James Potter. Adding James Potter would make it a negative number.
Not even two Lilys would be this studious, would they?
After a couple of soft coughs, Snape finally managed to steady his emotions.
Phew...
Draco and Harry really were something. He had almost failed to keep his expression under control...
The clamor slowly subsided.
Once the young witches and wizards had changed seats, they all noticed something amiss.
Wasn't he worried about them whispering to each other?
Professor Snape, would you care to look at what Draco and Harry were muttering about right under your nose?
"All right, class begins."
As though he hadn't seen everyone's resentful looks, Snape slapped the lectern hard and took out his potions textbook:
"Before we begin, I'd like to find out how much you know about potions, as well as what personal understanding you've gained from this textbook. Please note that I said your personal understanding..."
Listening to Professor Snape's smooth voice, how could the young witches and wizards possibly be in the mood for class now?
This was blatant favoritism!
Malfoy's father must have had a word with Snape!
As for Harry...
The Boy Who Lived. Snape was simply favoring those two!
Now it wasn't just the young Ravenclaws who were somewhat dissatisfied.
Even the young Slytherins were beginning to feel intensely resentful of Snape's arrangements!
Favoritism. Such blatant favoritism!
None of them could sit with their friends, so why could Potter and Malfoy?
Malfoy was one thing, given her background.
But what entitled Potter to it?
Hadn't everyone said that Professor Snape had kept staring at Potter last night, and had still been in a terrible mood after the feast...?
Before you continue