At this moment.
The night grew darker.
The moonlight was obscured by thick clouds at some point.
As if foretelling a major event tonight.
Still, it was exceptionally calm at Hogwarts.
"Mr. Weasley, you really are an impolite brat." Snape suddenly stopped, lifting Ron's chin precisely with his magic wand, forcing him to look up and meet his gaze.
"Didn't your mother teach you to look someone in the eye when you're lying?" Snape's tone was very displeased, with disdain in his black eyes so strong it almost spilled over.
Moonlight shone on Ron's pale face.
It seemed to add a touch of pitiful expression.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about." Even after Snape's instruction, Ron couldn't suppress his instincts, his eyes continued to dart around evasively.
In other words.
It's not that he couldn't learn.
But the pressure of a direct gaze from Snape was truly daunting.
Not the kind of pressure a little wizard could endure. After all, he was only a first-year student, and didn't have any leverage over Snape, but instead was caught by Snape harshly.
Even if he wanted to retort forcefully, he lacked the confidence to do so.
"This is a pathetically poor performance!" Anger surged in the cold black eyes of the old bat, as he indeed felt Ron was mocking him like a fool.
"Mr. Weasley, how arrogant must you be—to think I wouldn't notice this?" Snape said suddenly, reaching out with fingers as thin as eagle claws directly into Neville's pocket.
He precisely pulled out the sleepy Leif from Neville's pocket.
The unfortunate toad croaked continuously as it was whisked out, its hind legs kicking desperately, yet unable to escape Snape's control; perhaps it was the one that suffered the most tonight.
First the Forbidden Forest.
Then here.
Not dying on the spot for Neville to see was considered deep affection.
"Breaking school rules, and still daring to lie." Snape brought the toad to Ron's nose, its slime dripping onto Ron's nose causing an allergic reaction.
Clearly.
This was intentional by Snape.
Being a Master of Magic Potions, he knew exactly what Ron was allergic to—Snape was indeed petty, though Ron's deception was the main factor.
"Brat, how stupid and arrogant must you be to think you can fool me? Do you think I'm like your indulgent father?" Snape detested stupidity in his presence.
And Ron was consecutively being foolish.
Being a Gryffindor student.
This made Snape feel Ron was mocking him intentionally. The toad croaked in Snape's hand, then was tossed back to the pale Neville. Neville's lips trembled, hurriedly catching the toad, fearing to complain or even comfort his pet.
Hermione nervously twisted her robe corner.
Her mind raced yet she couldn't think of anything.
And Ron seemed choked, unable to speak.
He still ended up as the most miserable of the three, Ron's little mind couldn't comprehend why Snape singled him out, while his friends were ignored.
"Caught breaking school rules for nighttime wandering, still unrepentantly deceiving a professor…" Snape lowered his voice, biting his words, each sounding squeezed from between clenched teeth.
"Without some lessons, none of you understand the meaning of rules! I'll make sure you learn that any act challenging authority at Hogwarts will bear a painful price!"
"A special punishment is needed to make you stubborn kids remember. For example... it's time to clean Hogwarts' septic tank." His gaze swept over the three.
"Of course, I might directly expel you, students like you who don't follow rules don't deserve to study at Hogwarts; I think wandering the streets suits your thirst for adventure." Snape's tone was fierce, his threat perhaps brutal, yet truly meant to leave a lasting lesson for students.
In reality.
Few little wizards were actually expelled.
Even he.
Had never given such a punishment to Gryffindor students he disliked; the last expelled student not only broke school rules but also the Ministry of Magic's laws.
Regarding students.
Hogwarts was remarkably tolerant, unlike so-called strict schools in the Muggle World. Naturally, this was unknown to Hermione, Ron, and even Neville.
Neville's face was paler than moonlight; Ron's freckles stood out starkly on his pale face.
"Professor, you can't use your power for revenge!" Ron regretted blurting it out instantly. He wasn't truly stupid, he knew yelling and shouting would surely anger Snape.
And indeed.
Snape's face tightened suddenly, the air seemed to freeze. He turned slowly, moonlight casting on his twisted face, as fearsome as a demon from Hell.
"Revenge? You think I'm that kind of professor? Fine, Mr. Weasley, I'll grant your wish, ensuring your punishment becomes a 'wonderful' memory you'll never forget."
"Starting tomorrow, for a whole week, every night from ten to two in the morning, come to my office. You'll be responsible for cleaning all the crucibles; if they're not clean, you'll use your tongue to lick them!"