The night is like thick ink, enveloping Hogwarts Castle, with only sporadic lights gleaming weakly from the tower windows in the darkness. In the distance, the hoarse cries of crows shatter the silence, startling a flurry of dry branches into rustling, as if foretelling the impending misfortune of three little wizards.
"You three! What are you doing here?!"
A cold and angry voice emerged from the darkness.
Hermione, Neville, and Ron froze in place, chilled by the angry shout from behind. They turned sharply and saw Professor Snape drifting out of the shadows like a giant bat. His black robes billowed like a moving shadow, closing in with an intimidating presence. The face of the Slytherin College's head was ominously dark.
He wore an angry expression, his eyes glinting with dangerous light.
"It's Professor Snape!"
Hermione's face, under the moonlight, appeared cold and pale. She nervously twisted her scarf, Neville's fingers covered his face entirely, and Ron's Adam's apple moved up and down with his swallowing instinct.
With minds utterly blank.
Sometimes, people just make foolish decisions.
Like now.
"Damn! Run!"
Ron's immediate reaction was that they must not be caught; everyone knew the longstanding rivalry between Slytherin College and Gryffindor College, a conflict spanning nearly a thousand years.
Obviously.
Being caught by the head of Slytherin College during a night patrol meant nothing good would come to the three Gryffindor College students; they would face severe punishment, as anyone could surmise even with a pig's brain.
Perhaps they would become the laughingstock of all Hogwarts—despite Ron having already caused enough embarrassment since the term started, he certainly did not want to be stripped and hung in the Great Hall.
Indeed.
This was the scare tactic the Weasley Twins used on their younger brother; Ron had once resisted believing it, but after encountering Slytherin's head several times, he began to firmly believe it.
Just like that.
Believing what should be doubted, doubting what's not meant to be believed—perhaps this was Ron's contradiction. Nonetheless, being a mere child, unreasonable judgment is somewhat understandable.
Ultimately.
Just like many kids threatened by parents with being sent to an orphanage or given away if they misbehave, most children do not consider its reasoning.
Ron was in the same situation.
He wasn't thinking of the impossibility for parental approval of such a punishment as being hung naked in the Great Hall, nor about how the Ministry of Magic would never allow Hogwarts to conduct itself in such a manner.
As long as it was scary enough.
Therefore, he was indeed scared.
In truth, yes, there might have been strict punishments at Hogwarts in the past, similar threats when student discipline was most stringent. This is recorded in the book "Hogwarts: A School History."
Wizards are humans.
They also represent civilization gathering.
They certainly follow societal progress and enhance civilization standards. Even if some aspects stagnate for long, Hogwarts hasn't trailed behind Muggle humans in becoming more civilized.
In some areas, they are even ahead.
Current era.
Muggle society still pertains a degree of discrimination to certain unique affections, whereas, in the Wizarding World, tolerance precedes the Muggle World by decades.
More than just that.
Even America decades from now must concede in this respect to the Wizarding World, acknowledging the Wizarding World's advances, as it truly enables transitions from male to female, female to male—from previous research by Snape on magic potions, such magic potions possibly existed many years ago.
In the Wizarding World, another accomplishment is existing with identities such as "Walmart Shopping Bag"—beyond singular identities, wizards are exceptionally advanced where they shouldn't be.
"Run!"
Ron immediately began to move.
However.
He noticed his two companions appeared utterly petrified and didn't act.
"Don't be stunned! We'll be doomed if Professor Snape catches us!" Ron anxiously shouted, grabbing Hermione and Neville's arms and starting to sprint.
The two, finally snapping out of their daze, also began struggling to move their feet.
Ron finally said something right today.
If they were caught by Snape, it wouldn't end well; their fellow Gryffindor peers had proven this early on, mere days after the school year began.
"Huff, huff, huff~"
The trio ran breathlessly, their steps chaotic in the night, breathing more rapid as they unleashed their utmost running speed. However, in the open castle area outside, they couldn't fly, how could they escape Snape's gaze in a blink?
"What utter fools!" Snape shouted angrily, his eyes flickering in frustration. He wielded his magic wand and a red light shot towards them, instantly fixing them in place.
The three suddenly felt their bodies stiffen like stone, unable to move despite their efforts. Ron and Neville screamed in terror, while Hermione, in her fear, oddly felt curiosity.