With several professors contributing their magic, the Christmas feast made the children temporarily forget the report cards they had received that morning.
The teachers sat together, chatting as they ate.
Professor Snape barely spoke throughout, even when Dumbledore told several jokes.
He merely glanced at Douglas with a smile that never reached his eyes.
Whenever their eyes met, they both gave a cold snort in unison.
As the feast drew to a close, Draco Malfoy left the Slytherin table.
Pretending to pass by the Gryffindor table, he said loudly to his companions:
"It's hard to imagine that a Potions Class representative only managed a passing grade.
"To think that next lesson, he'll have to chop vegetables like a House-elf...
"Alas, as a fellow class representative, I find that deeply humiliating!"
Had he not been wearing such a smug grin, everyone might actually have believed him.
The expressions of everyone at the Gryffindor table changed instantly.
After all, for certain reasons, most Gryffindors had had their Potions grades lowered by one level.
Harry and Ron even stood straight up.
But after glancing at the staff table, Harry sensibly refrained from getting physical and instead said loudly:
"Oh~ the vegetable-chopping practice method was invented by Snape... Professor Snape. So in your opinion, Draco Malfoy, Professor Snape is a deranged House-elf?"
The Ravenclaws at the table beside Gryffindor heard Harry's words too, and all froze.
They also turned as one to look at Professor Snape.
Sensing the students' gazes, Snape turned to look over, his eyes cold with a hint of puzzlement.
After hearing Harry's words, Draco stole a glance at Professor Snape at the staff table. Finding him looking their way, he instantly went pale.
Without so much as a parting threat, he immediately left the Great Hall with his followers.
Watching