Tarkoon

"If there's nothing else, you may leave."

It was still that familiar, utterly emotionless voice. After hearing Snape's words, the five members of the Potions Club immediately got up and left the club room.

Perhaps because he feared Snape the least, Sean was always the last to leave.

Gathering his things, Sean rose and gave Snape a slight nod of respect before turning to leave.

But at that moment, Snape's voice suddenly rang out behind him.

"Sean, don't get too close to the Savior if you don't want to die young."

In that instant, Sean knew that Snape must have seen him on the day of the Quidditch match.

Turning to look at Snape, Sean found him still wearing that hollow-eyed, indifferent expression. Yet Sean knew very well that Snape was concerned about him. Otherwise, he would not have said those things.

"Professor, I understand. My interactions with Harry are limited to being ordinary friends. As for anything else, Harry is a Gryffindor. It's impossible for him to associate with a Slytherin like me anyway, isn't it?"

Gryffindors couldn't associate with Slytherins...

The words echoed in Snape's mind. No one knew what he was thinking. He merely nodded slightly and said to Sean, "It's good that you understand...

"Also, you should be nearly done with the reading list I gave you last time. This is the next one. I'll give you another list in half a month. You'd better finish every book on the list before then."

Sean took the reading list Snape handed over and swallowed hard. Somewhat painfully, he said, "Professor, I haven't even finished the books you gave me before. I'm only halfway through, I..."

Before he could finish, Snape shot him a disapproving sideways glance. A cold sneer curled across his lips. "You have time to think about all that nonsense. You have time to risk your life for the Savior. But you have no time to read? Since when has that brain of yours become as foolish and neglectful of proper work as a Gryffindor's?"

The venom spat by the Slytherin Snake King was something even Dumbledore could not withstand more than a few times. Sean accepted the reading list with a bitter expression, secretly deciding to get up an hour earlier every morning so he could finish the books within half a month.

Walking out of the classroom occupied by the Potions Club, Sean sighed and prepared to return to the Common Room to read.

However, before Sean had gone very far, an unfamiliar voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"You're Sean Bulstrode?"

Hearing the sudden voice, Sean reached back for the Wand at his waist and turned toward its source. "Who are you?"

"Very vigilant. Not bad. You do have the qualifications to be a Slytherin."

Sean looked at the person emerging from the darkness. He was a pale young man of average build, probably in his sixth or seventh year. He had medium-length hair and ordinary features, but his eyes were filled with scrutiny and aggression, making Sean dislike him immediately.

"Who are you?"

Hearing Sean ask again, the man grinned. "My name is Tarkoon. I heard you've been getting pretty close to Andy lately?"

Looking at him, Sean suddenly understood. This person had to be with those who had poached Andy's former partners. His reason for coming to find Sean was obvious. Sean had not thought much of it before, but now it seemed someone really was deliberately targeting Andy.

"Andy is a very interesting person. We get along quite well."

"If I were you, I wouldn't get so close to him."

Sean's expression turned cold as he looked at him. If he could see his own face right then, he would probably immediately realize that, perhaps under Snape's influence, his cold expression actually resembled Snape's a little.

Sean might not have realized it yet, but he was quite good at imitating others.

"If you have nothing else to say, I'm going back to rest."

With that, Sean turned to leave.

Seeing Sean move, Tarkoon immediately stepped forward and said in a low, angry voice, "If I were you, I wouldn't be so ungrateful!"

Sean ignored him completely and continued walking forward.

But just then, Sean suddenly felt a trace of chill. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately raised the Wand already clenched in his hand.

"Protego!"

A transparent blue-white glow surged up behind Sean. At that very moment, a streak of white light struck his Shield Charm, sending ripples across it.

Sean's pupils contracted. His Wand swung again, firing a grayish-white beam of light.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

"Stupefy!"

The gray-white and crimson lights collided, exploding like fireworks.

Sean and Tarkoon stared at each other. Sean's face appeared calm, but it was like the stillness before a storm, the sea before a tsunami. Tarkoon, meanwhile, wore a vicious grin, showing no shame whatsoever over his sneak attack.

"Do you know that what you just did has already violated Hogwarts school rules?"

"So what? What can Hogwarts do to me? Deduct my points? My family is part of the Hogwarts Board of Governors. Hogwarts doesn't have the power to expel me! Besides, I'm already in my sixth year. I only have one year left, whether I stay in school or not. Even if I leave Hogwarts, I don't care."

Sean looked at him and flexed his limbs slightly.

Troll Strength gave Sean monstrous strength far beyond that of an ordinary person, while Troll Hide granted him considerable defense—especially against magic. He could absolutely endure Tarkoon's spells and still punch him. Not to mention, he had his Wand and could use magic himself!

Sean slowly raised his hand, preparing to cast another spell.

Tarkoon across from him did the same. But just as the battle between them was about to erupt, a voice laden with anger suddenly rang out through the corridor.

"What are you two doing here?"

Sean knew that voice well. The moment he heard it, he immediately knew that today's battle would come to nothing. What a pity—if the fight had continued, Sean might have been able to draw more than one ability from Tarkoon.

Snape walked out from behind them. He glanced at Sean, confirming that Sean was unharmed, before turning to Tarkoon. "Tarkoon, I told you before that if you laid hands on any student at Hogwarts again, I would make you pay the price. It seems you did not take my words to heart. Or do you think you no longer need to obey me?"

Tarkoon looked at Snape. After a long while, he lowered his Wand and said with a false smile, "Of course not. This was merely an accident. I'm truly sorry, Head of House."

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