Hogwarts: I am Snape

Chapter 8 Urgent Rain

"Welcome aboard the Knight Bus—an emergency transport for wizards in distress."

"Just extend your wand hand, get in the car, and we can take you wherever you want to go."

“My name is Todd Sampark, and I am your ticket seller.”

After handing Todd eleven siscos, Snape boarded the bright purple three-decker Knight bus.

Shortly after the car started, a torrential downpour of rain, like bullets, burst open and sprayed against the car windows.

“Ern—” Snape yelled, “How much longer until we get to Diagon Alley—”

But the roaring wind and rain drowned out his voice.

Ern still gripped the steering wheel tightly, leaning forward to try and see the blurry road.

"So you knew Ern's name. I thought this was your first time riding in a car."

Todd came down from the second floor and shouted at Snape.

"You're the last passenger. I need to finish get off work early today. After dropping you off, we'll call it a day and go home."

"How many people are ahead of me?" Snape asked.

“Oh, we have to take Mrs. Coppert to Glasgow first, and then the McKinnon family has to go to Dandy.”

"McKinnon?"

Upon hearing that familiar surname, Snape immediately thought of someone he knew, and asked curiously:

Is Marlene McKinnon there?

Todd answered without hesitation:
"If you're referring to a brown-haired girl about your age, I think so. Her family lives on the second floor. Do you know them?"

"Yes, we are the same—"

"squeak--"

A sharp screech of brakes interrupted him, and Snape grabbed the handrail with a jolt, barely managing to avoid falling.

"Are you crazy?!"

Ignoring the torrential rain, Ern leaned out of the driver's seat and shouted at a figure shrouded in a black robe in the middle of the road.

"We're ending camp today—"

Before he could finish speaking, a scorching red light rushed towards him.

Ern froze, his mouth still agape, before losing his balance and falling out of the car window.

"Hey!"

Todd jumped up from his armchair, pulled out his wand, and pointed it at the figure in front of the car.

A whooshing sound rang out, followed by a bright green light and then a flash of red light.

In an instant, the car window shattered, and Todd was enveloped in an eerie green light. He slammed backward onto the brass bunk bed, fell to the ground, and remained motionless.

With a bang, a figure dripping wet from head to toe boarded the bus amidst the howling wind.

In the dim light inside the car, the metal mask under the hood gleamed with a menacing luster.

Death Eaters!
Snape recognized the person who had come.

"Put down your weapons, we will not harm innocent wizards."

A deep, cold voice came from beneath the mask.

Taking a deep breath, Snape quietly gripped his wand under his robes.

"McKinnon, come out. We need your help with something small."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a series of loud banging sounds of incantations and fierce fighting came from upstairs, followed by a woman's scream.

A little over a minute later, with the sound of footsteps, a middle-aged man wearing a green floral print dress walked down from the second floor.

As he walked down the path, he struggled to pull off the yellow scarf tied around his neck with one hand and threw it aside.

He pointed his wand behind him, and the McKinnon family of three, bound together, floated a few inches off the ground as he drifted down the stairs.

"This thing is disgusting. Next time, it's your turn."

The Death Eater dressed in women's clothing complained to his companion.

"Alright, now that we've caught them, let's head back as soon as possible." "Wait, there's still one person here."

The Death Eater, dressed as a woman, pointed at Snape, who was standing by the window.

"He saw my face."

Just as Snape was preparing to fight back, the masked Death Eater casually said, "Oh, McNeil, I know him."

“Severus Snape, my son’s classmate, and also a member of the Wolpugis.”

"Why are you calling my name, Avery!"

McNeil said somewhat angrily.

"Hello, Severus."

Old Avery seemed to be speaking cheerfully as he walked up to Snape.

“I heard some funny stories about you from my son.”

"But that's perfect. Since you're about to become your master's good servant, I'm going to give you a chance to pledge your loyalty in advance."

He pointed his wand at the McKinnon family.

“Kill this girl, using the spell Bella taught you.”

Snape glanced to the side out of the corner of his eye.

Mr. McKinnon's head slumped over his chest, his forehead still stained with blood.

Mrs. McKinnon and Marlene had their mouths tightly bound with rough hemp rope, and could only utter groaning sobs.

“Waaah…” Marlene looked at Snape with pleading eyes, her eyes filled with tears.

"Kill...kill her?"

Snape pulled his wand from his robes with a trembling hand, looking at old Avery with a look of panic and fear.

"But...I haven't successfully cast that spell yet...Can I do it?"

"Tell me your choice, do it or don't."

Old Avery said coldly, without answering Snape's question.

"OK……"

Snape's voice was filled with fear as he slowly raised his wand.

"The Divine Edge is Shadowless!"

He uttered a spell through gritted teeth, frantically swung his wand across old Avery's neck, and simultaneously lunged under the brass-framed bed.

Blood gushed from old Avery's neck, forming a dark red splatter.

His eyes were wide open, filled with disbelief and fear, and when he opened his mouth, he could only utter a weak guttural sound.

Old Avery swayed a few times before collapsing onto the carriage floor with a dull thud.

"Avery!"

McNeil roared angrily as he removed his wand from the McKinnons, sending beams of spell light crisscrossing towards Snape.

Snape rolled out from under the bed and started randomly firing spells behind him.

The car window shattered instantly under the impact of the flying incantations, making a series of crackling sounds, and the fragments fell like hailstones.

The wind and rain poured into the carriage from all directions, and the items inside were swept and flung around.

Huddled behind the armchair where Ernst had just sat, Snape panted heavily, the pressure of McNeil's spell making it almost impossible for him to lift his head.

Just as his mind raced, searching for a way to escape, a loud, echoing explosion ripped through the tense air.

Snape cautiously peeked out and saw a tall figure with graying hair suddenly appear in the carriage.

Before McNeil could react, the figure had already aimed its wand at him—

"All petrified!"

His arms and legs snapped together, and his whole body fell backward with a thud, like a hard wooden board.

(End of this chapter)