Side Story — Snape 3
Snape's mood suddenly turned sour.
He began looking for faults in the classroom again.
Especially Harry Potter's angry face gave him a satisfying sense of comfort.
Until—
"Boom!"
Snape quickly turned around.
Who was it?
Who had blown up the cauldron?
There were always students like this every year.
He should have advised Dumbledore to kick anyone without talent in Potions out of his class.
It was really annoying.
Snape thought unhappily.
There was no need to hurry.
Those little cubs needed to be taught a lesson.
Once the potion spilled onto them, it would start boiling. They could go to the hospital wing when the time came!
But just as he was thinking this, he saw Darren Potter running toward the door while carrying the damaged cauldron.
Idiot! Idiot!
Was that a potion?
He was holding it with his bare hands?
Wasn't he afraid of ending up in the hospital wing and lying there for a while?
Madam Pomfrey had said that, back on the train, she had been worried enough about him that she feared he would sleep in the hospital wing for three days if he drank that potion. Even Darren himself had been somewhat afraid to drink it.
And now he wasn't afraid?
Snape knew that the little cub was so kind that he was practically stupid.
Was the Sorting Hat completely insane?
How could it possibly sort someone like this into Slytherin?
"Scourgify!"
Snape chased Darren Potter out and cleaned up the mess in his hands with a wave of his wand.
He even deliberately checked the little cub's hands.
They were white and tender.
Very good.
Fortunately, they had been saved.
For a moment, Snape had thought he would have to take the boy to St. Mungo's himself!
Snape smiled mockingly.
He raised his wand, intending to rap it against the little cub's head.
But when he looked into those eyes, he restrained himself.
"Are you crazy? You… You get back to your seat!"
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, he became angry again.
If he never taught the Potter cub a proper lesson, how could the little cub ever correct that excessive kindness of his?
He couldn't simply drag him back and reprimand him.
Forget it.
Snape looked at Neville.
"You're an idiot…"
Hmph.
He should have scolded that little cub like that just now!
Snape thought angrily.
...
That afternoon, in the common room.
Snape and Dumbledore had arrived early.
They hid in the common room.
Waiting for Darren to return.
Six o'clock in the evening.
The cub finally pushed open the door to the common room.
He looked happy when he came back.
It wasn't until he saw everyone gathered there that he remembered he was supposed to be punished.
Snape gave him a mocking look.
Why had he only remembered now?
He noticed that Dumbledore beside him was watching Darren's every move with complete seriousness.
Snape thought that the little cub might never realize in his entire life that the great white wizard could be this kind of person behind his back.
Then came the cub's punishment.
Betsy was pretending very convincingly.
For a moment, Snape suspected that the little cub really was being subjected to the Cruciatus Curse.
Fortunately, he could see the little cub screaming in pain while still looking stupidly at Betsy with those eyes.
Just as he had expected, the other Slytherin students were still only students. They weren't truly cruel.
They couldn't bear to keep casting the Cruciatus Curse on the little cub and eventually chose to give up their opportunity to punish him.
The little cub managed to get through it.
"You should be relieved now, right, Dumbledore?"
Snape looked back at Dumbledore.
From beginning to end, the child hadn't regretted meeting Harry.
He had insisted that Harry was his brother.
Even if it went against the rules of Slytherin, he had still gone to him.
With that kind of kindness, Snape didn't think Darren would become the person they feared he might.
"Severus, as I said, you have to forgive an old man's worries. But I may need your help. I need you to appear in front of him…"
"In front of him?"
Snape snorted coldly and continued irritably, "Do you want me to appear before him while he's in such a weak state and force him to confess that he cheated?"
The kid couldn't even tell a lie properly.
His sudden appearance now would be no different from a bolt of thunder to that child.
"Honesty is also a quality of kindness. Of course, I need to confirm one final point."
Dumbledore's expression was solemn.
"What decision will this child make when placed under your pressure?"
Ha!
He really was worthy of being called the greatest white wizard.
Even over such a small matter, he had to personally observe and test the child.
Snape sneered and left the common room.
After returning to his office and recovering, he came back again.
This time, apart from the invisible Dumbledore, Darren was alone in the common room.
"If I'm not mistaken, you, who have just been subjected to the Cruciatus Curse, should be lying in your dormitory right now!"
Snape said coldly.
Even if it had been a fake Cruciatus Curse, the little cub had endured several spells, and it had lasted for ten minutes.
According to Snape's reasoning, the little cub should have gone to the hospital wing by now!
Following Dumbledore's instructions, Snape deliberately put on an intimidating expression.
Sure enough, the cub was afraid.
"Professor… yes, it's me. I cheated and used my own power. It has nothing to do with anyone else!"
Snape heard the little cub say this with a pale face.
He pursed his lips.
Then he glared angrily at Dumbledore.
Did he really have to persecute this kind and foolish little cub like this?
Dumbledore's expression seemed much more relaxed.
Yes.
Darren hadn't betrayed Betsy.
That meant he valued friendship and wasn't someone who would casually shift the blame onto others.
Yes.
Dumbledore knew that after hearing such an answer, he really should be satisfied.
Snape snorted through his nose.
He saw the little cub quietly wipe away his tears, looking incredibly pitiful.
That little cub must have been frightened, sad, and worried right now…
Hmph.
The greatest white wizard.
Was this what he did every day?
Snape cursed inwardly.
In the end, he still comforted the little cub.
Although, judging by that little cub's expression, it seemed completely useless.
Hmph.
All thanks to Dumbledore!
Snape waved his hand, signaling Darren to leave.
Then he looked coldly at Dumbledore and said irritably, "You should leave too. It seems sweets have addled your brain and made you suspicious of this idiot."
"I hope you don't bother me with such a boring matter again next time!"
He turned away angrily.
Then Dumbledore's slightly serious voice came from behind him.
"Severus, Harry is her child too. You shouldn't be so partial."
Partial?
Where had he favored that Darren cub?
He had treated them exactly the same!
Was Dumbledore blind?