"This is not a Petrification Curse! What kind of magic is this?" It was a pure thirst for knowledge of magic. She felt that Snape's magic was very different from the Petrification Curse she knew about.
How should one put it.
It exceeds the scope of her knowledge—it was actually quite a reasonable situation, after all, Snape is the Half-blood Prince, a genius who could create Sectemsempra during his student years.
One could say.
If Dumbledore and Grindelwald are in the first echelon of wizards, Snape could definitely be considered the next tier, being among the most gifted wizards of this era.
Not only in potion-making.
Even in spells, he's exceptionally gifted.
Even if he doesn't match Riddle.
He's not too far off.
Riddle's talent is very high, but not to the extent that many of Voldemort's fans believe—this is actually why Dumbledore did not consider him much in the early years.
No one could have anticipated that Riddle was ruthless to others and himself, utilizing the study of Dark Arts to prematurely tap into his potential, becoming the frightening Voldemort.
If Snape were as ruthless as Riddle.
He probably wouldn't be too far behind Voldemort.
You must know.
Creating an unsolvable spell like Sectemsempra and being able to create a Counter Curse himself, Snape's talent is packed with gold value. One could say if Snape hadn't encountered those events later and hadn't fallen, but rather continued to study magic, he would definitely have become a master renowned in history for his achievements in both potions and magic.
Of course.
Snape now is still exceptional, which is the unreasonable nature of talent monsters—despite significant setbacks, their power far surpasses the majority of mediocrity.
Snape in the wizarding world now has few who can claim a sure victory over him. It's for this reason that Voldemort would highly regard him in the original timeline.
One could say.
Ian's good uncle.
He might be considered the Kakashi of the magic world.
"We're doomed!"
Ron exclaimed in despair.
Neville was so frightened his eyes rolled upwards.
Always on the verge of passing out but not quite there, in the [Like a Halo] state. Snape slowly approached, his cold gaze sweeping over the three little wizards wandering at night.
"If you run again, it won't be just this result." Snape sternly warned, after which he waved his wand to cancel the Petrificus Totalus he had cast.
This might have been his self-created magic, or possibly an improved Petrification Curse. Regardless of what it was, based on the knowledge level of these three little wizards present, they couldn't determine it.
"Thunk~"
All three fell to the ground with a thud.
"Look at what I've found?" Snape's voice seeped from the shadows like a snake's hiss, the hem of his black robe sweeping over the gravel road, stirring up a fine haze.
The man held a kerosene lamp.
The yellow halo outlined the curve of his hooked nose.
The shadows in his eye sockets were unfathomably deep.
He looked terrifying.
"Three little mice that don't regard school rules, wandering outside the castle in the middle of the night—you treat the school rules as boring scribbles on parchment?"
"So this is the Gryffindor courage, such recklessness?" Snape's voice slithered down their spines like a snake, the harshness overtly indicative.
Every word he said.
Seemed to hang a sharp blade over their heads.
"It's not, it's not."
Ron crawled back half a meter, bumping into the cold stone wall. Hermione and Neville lowered their heads, daring not to refute, neither having the courage to rebut Snape at this moment.
After all.
They really did what they shouldn't have done—and got caught. According to the seniors' remarks, this was perfectly normal to be scolded and disgrace Gryffindor College.
Professor McGonagall would scold them too.
Except probably not as sneeringly as Snape.
"Not? Still want to argue?" Snape shot Ron a fierce look, slowly circling around them, his black robe billowing like living creatures ominously.
"Maybe you absolutely enjoy the thrill of rule-breaking? Does it make you feel like you've gained rights that others don't have?" Snape condescendingly stared at the three sitting on the ground.
The emotionless gaze sent chills down their spines.
Ron's Adam's apple bobbed, struggling to force a strained smile, which looked worse than crying: "Professor, we, we were helping Neville find his lost toad. A pet is a wizard's partner, you know that, we can't abandon friends… I think Hogwarts wouldn't want us to ignore a friend's difficulties either."
It was an obvious attempt at moral coercion.
Though still not quite proficient yet.
So it appeared a bit awkward and lacking confidence, his voice growing weaker. There was nothing to be done about it. Under Snape's gaze, which seemed capable of penetrating the soul, even Ron felt the excuse was absurd.
"Oh, helping partners find pets? So should I praise you a few words for that?" Snape paced around the three, his black robe dragging on the ground with a rustling sound.
Like the footsteps of the God of Death.
Continually pounding on the hearts of the three little wizards.
Making their hearts palpitate.
Involuntarily rotating their heads in sync with Snape—Snape remained expressionless, his wand casually pressed against his palm, with black strands occasionally flickering from its tip.
It was so obvious that he was deliberately creating psychological pressure for the three. Neville felt his knees trembling, Hermione biting her lips tightly, and beads of sweat were appearing on Ron's forehead.
Sliding along his cheeks into his collar.
He was indeed a person with a rich imagination, and now, he couldn't help but recall his brothers, even his parents' evaluations of the head of Slytherin College.
An utterly evil person.
Moreover, once a loyal supporter of the Mysterious Man.
Indeed a bona fide Dark Wizard.
Despite Ron's inability to fathom why a Dark Wizard could teach at a school like Hogwarts and even become a college head, it didn't prevent him from fearing they might be silenced.
In the stories he heard as a child.
Dark Wizards were always fond of killing.
And the head of Slytherin College, being a Dark Wizard, was indeed the head of the Dark Wizard cradle that was Slytherin College, perhaps liking killing even more?
"Mom!"
The more Ron thought, the more horrifying it became.
His complexion turned pale.
His teeth began to chatter.
His eyes were fixed on Snape continuously circling them, sweat dripping profusely, his face growing ever paler as if he believed his doom was imminent.
In contrast.
Neville and Hermione weren't thinking as much, despite being terrified, their faces pale, yet they weren't worried Snape would turn them from little wizards into dead children.
Hermione acknowledged that Snape was stern and snarky; nevertheless, he would add marks in Magic Potion Class for her outstanding performance without praising her overly.
So.
Regarding Snape.
Hermione felt just purely afraid.
More afraid than other professors, that kind.
Certainly.
Ron had indeed mentioned many bad things about Snape.
However.
The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry gave Hermione an overall feeling of safety and order, with most faculty members regarded as respectable and trusted by students. Snape, being part of this, without concrete proof of wrongdoing, Hermione wouldn't easily believe in Ron's stories.
After all.
Being friends.
Hermione knew Ron's tendency to exaggerate. And as for Neville, he knew Snape was once a Death Eater, but his entire family was Albus Dumbledore's steadfast followers.
Since Dumbledore trusted this man and allowed him to teach at Hogwarts, even if he was still a bad person, Neville believed Snape wouldn't dare cause trouble at Hogwarts.
"Hm."
Snape seemed to have sensed the three individuals' differing attitudes toward him and glanced over them, finally settling his gaze on Ron whose eyes screamed terror.
Clearly.
Someone was going to be specifically unlucky.
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