章 192: Chapter 192: Potions Class Controversy
A week later, in a bid to seem heroic, Ron started telling a thrilling story of his supposed kidnapping. He claimed he had fought off fifty fully armed merfolk barehanded before they tied him up, and how, during the ordeal, he heroically protected Lillian, Hermione, and Gabrielle with a stolen merfolk spear, guarding them like a knight of the sea for hours. The three girls, however, maintained a diplomatic silence.
Ron's newfound notoriety earned him increased attention from Padma Patil. Whenever they crossed paths, she eagerly struck up conversations with him.
"Don't worry," Ron assured her. "I had my wand hidden in my sleeve. I could've taken down those merfolk fools any time I wanted."
Hermione, irritable from being teased constantly about Viktor Krum's apparent affection for her, snapped sarcastically, "What were you planning to do? Snore at them until they gave up?"
Time passed, and it had been nine days since the Eastern Exchange Delegation arrived at Hogwarts. After their remarkable debut in the Care of Magical Creatures class, the five exchange students had blended into the daily routines of the fourth-year classes. They remained relatively low-profile, and most students had grown accustomed to their presence. Among them, Gryffindors seemed to get along well with the group.
Augustus, Lillian, and Malfoy entered the Potions classroom, where a crowd of Slytherins had gathered around Pansy Parkinson, passing around the latest issue of The Daily Prophet. Malfoy took the magazine and read aloud with mock interest. The front cover featured a curly-haired witch smiling broadly as she pointed her wand at a massive sponge-like cake.
"Tsk, tsk. Hermione Granger is making headlines again," Malfoy sneered. "Listen to this: 'Miss Granger, an ambitious but plain-looking girl, seems to have a soft spot for renowned wizards. Ever since Viktor Krum, Bulgaria's Seeker and a hero of the last Quidditch World Cup, arrived at Hogwarts, Miss Granger has been toying with the affections of not one but two boys. Krum, clearly besotted, has fallen victim to the cunning Miss Granger.'"
Spotting Harry and his friends entering the room, Malfoy raised his voice deliberately.
"Krum's infatuated with Hermione? Since when? It sure doesn't seem that way," Lillian remarked, her crimson eyes glinting with skepticism.
Pansy feigned regret. "With her looks? Of course, Krum couldn't possibly be smitten. She probably brewed some kind of love potion—she's clever enough for that."
Augustus, flipping through Advanced Potion-Making, shook his head lightly. Rita Skeeter strikes again, he thought. Her knack for stirring up sensational gossip likely contributed to Dumbledore's disdain for her. However, he felt her constant meddling bore little significance to him.
Malfoy took his derision further. "Granger, a pure-hearted girl? Don't be fooled! It's Potter's scheme—using Granger to enchant Krum and secure second place in the Triwizard Tournament. A dirty, underhanded deal."
Lillian sighed, disinterested in the exchange.
Furious, Ron waved the magazine at Hermione. "I told you not to mess with Rita Skeeter! Now she's painting you as some kind of—of scarlet woman!"
Hermione, instead of looking upset, burst into laughter.
"Scarlet woman?" she repeated, glancing at Ron with mock indignation.
"Well," she said, still giggling, "if all Rita can come up with is this kind of drivel, she's hardly proving herself clever. It's all garbage." She tossed the magazine onto a nearby chair dismissively.
"Miss Granger," a cold voice interrupted from behind, startling the trio, "however vibrant your social life may be, I must remind you not to gossip in my classroom. Ten points from Gryffindor."
Lillian sighed softly. Poor Hermione ran straight into the line of fire. Despite her general indifference to the Golden Trio, Lillian had a certain admiration for Hermione, ever since she boldly defended Augustus in their third-year Divination class.
Malfoy's smirk widened as he anticipated more entertainment.
"And sneaking a magazine under the desk?" Snape added, seizing the Daily Prophet. "Another ten points from Gryffindor. Of course," he continued, eyes gleaming maliciously, "Potter must collect clippings about himself. How touching."
The Slytherins erupted into laughter as Snape sneered.
"Harry Potter's Secret Heartache… Oh, Potter, have you been nursing another case of the blues? Perhaps he is a special boy…"
Harry's face burned with embarrassment.
"Professor Snape," a deep voice from the back of the classroom interrupted. "Reading someone's personal material in public doesn't strike me as particularly gentlemanly."
The room fell silent, shocked at the audacity of the comment. The speaker was one of the Eastern exchange students—Yang Fan, his face adorned with a lazy smile.
Snape's black eyes narrowed. "Does your Eastern academy not teach you classroom etiquette? In my classroom, you raise your hand to speak. For your interruption, Gryffindor loses twenty points."
Harry's expression darkened. Though Yang Fan had spoken on his behalf, it hardly seemed fair that Gryffindor should bear the brunt of Snape's ire.
Yang Fan's face flushed, but before he could retort, Snape interjected icily, "Say another word, and it'll cost Gryffindor ten more points. Go on, continue if you wish."
Yang Fan clenched his fists, but wisely chose silence, his expression tight with suppressed anger.
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