Professor Snape, Paragon of Virtue

The earth gradually turns frost-white, and the wind rises, causing snow to drift like catkins.

Amidst the howling wind, William used a magical shield to block the snow and create a quiet and comfortable environment for Hermione.

There are many types of curses, spanning a wide range of attributes, and their effects vary greatly.

Saving Katie is like dealing with a patient who suddenly falls ill; you must react to her symptoms in the shortest possible time.

This requires a high level of observation and skill from the rescuer; a misjudgment or lack of experience could lead to death.

However, Hermione was surprisingly gifted at cursing, more so than in any other subject.

By third grade, she was able to create cursed parchments that required the signer to keep the secret or else indelible writing would appear on their face.

Even Madam Pomfrey couldn't erase this handwriting, which speaks volumes about Hermione's amazing talent.

In addition, during the time loop, she practiced various curses and then had William record their effects.

Showing her the loop after it's finished is an alternative way of using time loops, saving a lot of time and avoiding many detours.

So in recent years, Hermione's curses have become increasingly powerful.

As for why she suddenly became interested in curses, William dared not say, nor dared he ask.

Surely it wasn't specifically designed to target him?

No, William is quite confident about that.

After all, he's not... a jerk!

After giving Katie the Potions, Hermione chanted the spell very seriously, her expression unusually solemn, and her movements meticulous.

She styled her hair into a bun, tied with a sky-blue hair tie, and her willow-leaf eyebrows were like slender swords, so when she frowned, she looked exceptionally spirited.

William stood to the side, more like a male nurse assisting him, handing over various Potions and... wiping away sweat.

Hermione raised her hand, and William quickly handed her a crystal ball.

Hermione took the crystal ball, placed it around Katie's neck (which was strapped to her neck), and waved her wand.

The black blood hissed and turned into a cloud of black mist, seeping into the crystal ball.

The best way is definitely to break the curse directly.

But Katie had been in contact with the bracelet for too long, and the curse had seeped too deeply into her body.

Breaking this curse would be a complicated process, so Hermione could only extract it first.

This extraction was obviously incomplete, but it saved Katie's life in time.

As Hermione waved her wand repeatedly, the crystal ball began to become cloudy.

Those separated curses, like black mist shrouding a crystal ball... turning it into a pitch-black and murky sphere.

A crystal ball, finally unable to withstand the energy, began to crack from the inside out...

Hermione quickly grabbed the crystal ball and threw it into the distance. It exploded in mid-air, releasing black skull-shaped smoke that swept outwards.

William waved his wand, unleashing purple flames that engulfed the creatures.

Harry and Ron, who were watching from the sidelines, quickly moved far away.

In particular, Harry, from a "professional" perspective, told Ron:

"This stuff might be radioactive; inhaling it could cause gene mutations!"

Ron was taken aback and quickly asked, "What is gene mutation?"

Harry scratched his head and rambled on, "It's just that I'm intellectually disabled, have poor grades, am socially awkward, and can't find a girlfriend..."

Ron asked doubtfully, "What's so scary about that? Isn't this exactly where we are right now?"

"..."

Harry opened his mouth, but for a moment he was speechless.

The last rays of sunlight faded, and dusk deepened.

The entire process of breaking the curse lasted a full half hour.

Hermione changed seven crystal balls in a row; sweat beaded on her forehead, and strands of hair clung to her flushed cheeks.

The bleeding from Katie's mouth finally stopped.

Hermione put away her wand, looked at William, and her voice trembled slightly:

"The curse has been mostly cleared, but Katie still needs to stay in the hospital for a while so Madam Pomfrey can give her a full checkup."

William helped the exhausted Hermione up. He held the girl's hand; her palms were sweaty and icy cold.

William smiled gently and took a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

Hagrid had already brought the Thestral carriage, and William first waved his wand, causing Katie to float into the carriage.

Leanne followed her into the carriage.

William turned around, picked up the exhausted Hermione, held her in his arms, and gently placed her into the carriage.

He also entered the carriage and then waved the reins.

Harry and Ron wanted to go up too, but Hagrid stopped them.

Hermione and Katie need to rest. What are you two doing following them? Go find the carriage yourselves and hurry back to school!

He said with obvious disdain, "You have absolutely no sense of propriety. All you do all day is cause trouble!"

Hagrid strode away, leaving Harry and Ron bewildered in the snowstorm.

Well, it's because neither of them chose Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures this semester.

Being disliked... well, that's your own fault!

When the Thestral entered the school, Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey were already standing at the oak door.

William had informed the two in advance through his Patronus that they had already received the information.

Madam Pomfrey hurried down the stone steps despite the rain and snow.

"Oh, where's Merlin!" she screamed, looking at the pale-faced Katie.

"Thankfully, Miss Granger provided emergency treatment; otherwise, even if he had been sent to St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, it probably wouldn't have been in time..."

She also routinely mocked Dumbledore, believing Hogsmeade to be too dangerous.

She also believes that the school has neglected the importance of nursing classes, wasting too much time on useless lessons.

For example... useless Defence Against Dark Magic.

Snape arrived just in time, and upon hearing this, even he, who was never embarrassed, felt somewhat awkward.

He's here to help. As this injury falls under the category of Dark Magic, it's not something Pomfrey can completely handle, so we've sent him to take a look.

But Hermione had already been successfully treated, and Snape was no longer of any use.

However, he also looked at Hermione in surprise, not expecting this girl to be so capable.

After Madam Pomfrey took Katie away, Professor McGonagall led William and the others into her office.

Snape followed.

The rain-splattered windowpanes rattled against the frame, and despite the crackling fire in the fireplace, the house was still cold.

Leanne trembled and stammered as she recounted the whole story.

It turns out the two were drinking with Three Broomsticks.

After Katie went to the restroom, she returned with the unmarked package in her hand.

Katie needs to deliver a package to someone, but Leanne senses something is wrong.

The two started arguing and accidentally opened the package.

Professor McGonagall turned pale; she hadn't expected this to happen.

After a long silence, Snape sneered in dissatisfaction:

"I told Dumbledore long ago... his naiveté almost got another student killed!"

William looked at him in surprise.

Professor Snape's level of thinking... always puts student safety first.

Damn it, they're almost catching up to me! My position as the successor to the Hogwarts Headmaster... is in serious jeopardy.