Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 475, Section 473: Learning from the Fiery Blaze

“The Hogwarts professors’ tasks are indeed very demanding, and you should also need a teaching assistant. I remember recommending one to you before.”

Dumbledore said with a smile.

"He needs to attend the Potions Tournament."

Snape was a man of few words.

"Ah, ah... forgive me, how could I forget about that? You're planning to take him with you?"

Dumbledore said.

"...He signed up for it himself."

Snape acted as if it were none of his business.

"Oh, okay, let's just say he signed up himself."

Dumbledore smiled.

Snape glared at him, and only then did he slowly suppress his smile.

"A very good reason; the board of directors will agree."

Dumbledore took the parchment, and suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.

At that moment, thunder roared in the sky, and raindrops pattered on the ground.

“You’ve changed so much, Severus.”

"Dumbledore said slowly."

Snape remained silent as the extinguished fireplace slowly began to burn again.

It seems the house-elves have finally noticed that there's still a damp fire in the fireplace.

The rain outside the window never stopped, but it wouldn't wet the wizards in the castle. What would wet the wizards was their damp hearts.

"Then you're mistaken."

Snape scoffed.

"I am getting old, ah, that's something I have to admit... but my eyesight is still good."

Dumbledore ignored Snape's sarcasm.

"Don't tell anyone about our conversation. You know it, I know it, and I want you to swear it."

"Snape said suddenly."

“You don’t want him to know, but I think he should know. Even if you don’t intend to tell him, he will find out eventually.”

Severus, he's just like you.

Dumbledore said with a sigh.

"Like me? I wouldn't put my life in a place where it could be ended at any moment."

Snape scoffed.

“You will, Severus. You’ve always done it. You’ve been braver than anyone else so far. You know, sometimes I feel our classification was too hasty…”

Dumbledore said.

Snape fell silent again, and after what seemed like an eternity, he finally spoke:
"I need you to swear an oath."

"You want me to swear again, Severus, that you will never reveal your best side?"

Dumbledore looked down at Snape's expressionless face and sighed.
"If you insist..."

The rain was so heavy that it fell on the ground and even shrouded Hogwarts in a misty fog.

The castle's spires were being struck and clanged, and every window was closed.

The rain from the sky was so torrential, just like the tears of the world.

But the tears of the world are far less filthy than the rain from the sky; sometimes, there is a sun umbrella to shield us from the filthy rain.

The old wizard walked quietly down a silent corridor in Hogwarts, gazing at the misty horizon, and then he knew.

In this spring, some people will become pure and cleansed by the rain.

……

The exam is over.

Even the rain couldn't dampen the young wizards' spirits, except for Hermione, who seemed to still be nervous about her exams.

"It's not too bad, is it?"

Hermione asked anxiously from the foyer, still clutching her wand.

“I wouldn’t say I performed well in the duel; I just ran out of time. Did you guys resolve that dark magic? I don’t know if I recited the incantation correctly; I seem to have said too much—and—” “Hermione,”

Justin said with a smile,
"The exams are over..."

"yes,"

Ron had a stern face.
“We don’t want to take each exam again after it’s over; taking it once is bad enough.”

"I don't know,"

Harry was still very excited.
"But my magic is wonderful."

"Of course, you sent me flying, Harry. Why didn't anyone tell me that your weapon could also send people flying?"

Ron complained incessantly.

As Sheen entered the Great Hall, Ron was still complaining that Harry had hit too hard, Justin was still discussing the procedures for the Herbology exam with Neville, and Hermione didn't dare look at Sheen at all.

She could foresee that she wouldn't get a perfect score in her Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

As for Sheen, who was sparring with Professor Snape, she could only pray that Professor Snape would continue to show some favoritism, just enough to prevent her from falling too far behind a certain junior wizard.

The days after the exams melted away like butter, and Hogwarts Castle slowly welcomed the splendid summer.

However, even on a Sunday, the castle seemed unusually quiet at this time of day.

Everyone was outside in the bright sunshine, enjoying the relief of the exams being over and the prospect of a few days without the hassle of studying or exams in the final days of the upcoming semester.

Sheen walked slowly down the empty corridor, looking out the window as he went.

He saw people strolling around the open-air Quidditch pitch, and two students swimming in the lake with a giant squid.

He looked away and silently resumed looking at his notes.

The days when Professor Snape taught him the Unforgivable Curse felt like a phantom.

After he returned to the cellar yesterday, the professor refused to tell him any more techniques.

However, Professor Snape was strict and serious about how to prevent the Unforgivable Curse, especially in resisting the Cruciatus Curse and the Imperius Curse.

Although Sheen did not intend to use the Unforgivable Curse, he did not mind learning about it.

Just as Professor Snape said:

"If you are facing something you know absolutely nothing about, how do you defend yourself against it?"

Therefore, Sheen still put in his best effort to learn about defense against the dark magic, and this afternoon he was going to the cellar again.

In the cellar.

This place is colder and more gloomy than the main castle building above. Glass jars line the walls, and the animal specimens inside always make the young wizards shiver.

"Potions class needs a teaching assistant...it's always been the case..."

Snape stood where he could just get some light and spoke his mind.

Sheen held the notebook, somewhat at a loss.

"I don't need fools to desecrate the rigorous and elegant craftsmanship of potions..."

Snape continued, while keeping a close eye on Sheehan.

"Professor, I can..."

Sheen understood, he said “voluntarily.”

Not too stupid...

Snape thought this to himself, but his words were laced with sarcasm:
"Looks like I can only pick one who isn't too stupid from a bunch of idiots."

Sheen fell silent.

He knew Professor Snape as well as the professor knew him.

"The Potions Tournament is just around the corner, you'd better make a good impression..."

As Snape said this, he turned around, a look of satisfaction almost radiating from his face.

"Today you will learn a dangerous spell..."

"what?"

Sheen asked.

"Fierce Fire".

"Snape said coldly."

(End of this chapter)