HP: It's a snake, not a badger.

Chapter 63 Emeric Disappearance

"Bang"

"Five points deducted from Gryffindor for disrupting class. Are you going to sit down or do I have to ask you to?"

The potions professor, who was busy until midnight yesterday, was not in a good mood. In addition, he had to teach an early class today, so he was annoyed by everyone.

The man, emanating a dark aura, walked to the podium, ready to begin his lecture. When he saw the familiar breakfast on the table, he paused slightly, then turned back to continue his lecture as if nothing had happened.

This is a second-grade class. The two troublemakers were sitting down there yesterday, yawning all the time. The man who hadn't slept well was staring at them, and the other two were definitely accomplices.

"Mr. Weasley, what should we do with the Sleepy Beans?"

"I'm sorry, Professor, I don't know."

"Gryffindor -5 points."

"Mr. Potter, you can answer this?"

"Huh? Oh, I didn't know, Professor."

"Gryffindor -5 points"

.........

After one class, Gryffindor lost over thirty points, including but not limited to daydreaming in class, exploding the cauldron, and making mistakes with the number of times the cauldron was stirred. As a result, the lion cubs tightened their skin, and even the snakes dared not move. They cursed the person who angered the professor, wishing that person would trip and fall while walking or choke on water.

Fueled by overwhelming resentment, Emeric fell to the ground with a thud. Gallian, who was walking beside him, silently helped him up; this was the second time he had helped someone up in half an hour.

He always felt a resentment surrounding Emeric, though he didn't know why, but he was sure Emeric had done something heinous.

After all the students had left the classroom, Severus opened the glass cover on the podium. A sweet aroma wafted out, whetting his appetite. It was all food he loved to eat.

"Fufu, give these and this button to Emerick. You don't need to come here anymore."

"Okay... okay, Professor."

Severus sat for a long time after returning home yesterday, the image of Emeric cutting his wrists repeatedly flashing before his eyes, until Occlumency sealed that memory. After calming down, he began packing his things, putting everything Emeric had brought into his alchemical pocket, along with a contract termination notice.

Severus knew that Emerick was involved in this mess because of him, so severing all ties between the two would put things back on track. He could continue being his double agent, while Emerick could have a brighter future.

The pain in his heart grew stronger over time, so strong that he couldn't sleep all night. But reason told him that this was the best choice. Once everything returned to normal, Emerick wouldn't be hurt, and he could focus on protecting Harry.

After returning everything to Emeric, Severus thought he should go check out the herb garden, since no one would be able to provide him with so many herbs in the future.

Severus pulled out a long-unused hoe and small basket from a cabinet by the wall, wrapped his clothes tighter around himself, picked up the items, and headed toward the Forbidden Forest. He didn't want to stay in the cellar any longer; the biting cold made him very uncomfortable.

The herbs, neglected for a long time, grew wildly, and the ground was covered with ripe fruit. Severus allowed himself to immerse himself in physical labor, only in this way could he forget the pain in his heart.

"Severus, come to the principal's office."

A silver-blue phoenix flew to the Forbidden Forest and landed in front of him. Severus, annoyed by the disturbance, stormed into the principal's office.

"Dumbledore, you'd better really be busy. Your Tooth-Strengthening Potion is waiting for me to gather herbs. If you miss the feeling of a toothache, then continue."

"Severus, Ellie has taken a long leave of absence. What happened between you and him?"

"It's nothing, everything just needs to get back on track. I'll be going if there's nothing else."

Severus practically fled in panic. Dumbledore didn't know if what he did was right, but he didn't want his two beloved children to have any regrets.

"Fox, bring Gellert over here. I need to speak with him. Don't let anyone else find out."

"Chirp"

Dumbledore now only wanted Gellert to know what Emerick had been up to; a vague unease in his heart made him very worried.

After leaving the principal's office, Severus closed his eyes and leaned against the wall until the side effects of the Occlumency wore off. When he opened his eyes, he had returned to being the cold and ruthless Potions Professor.

"Hufflepuff deducts 5 points."

"Ravenclaw loses 5 points."

"Gryffindor loses 10 points."

"Slytherin minus 1 point."

All the young wizards lost points along the way, including Slytherins, leaving a huge psychological scar on their young minds.

"Who angered the giant bat? Our academy points are at stake!"

"I don't know, that's terrifying. Wait, did you forget to use honorifics just now?"

"Huh? What's wrong? No, I'm doomed."

"Hehehe, look what Peeves caught! Two disrespectful little wizards! Fat monk, go and call the goblin professor. Peeves, follow them, and Peeves can get a new toy!"

"Okay, but you have to promise me you won't cause trouble."

"Mischievous Ghost will behave..."

The fat monk left with a worried expression; he didn't quite trust the mischievous ghost.

"Yeah, right!"

"Let me think of what punishment you should receive. Help Professor Sprout repot the biting cabbage. I'm sure you'll like it~"

Flitwick arrived breathlessly and found his two rascal children being carried by Peeves. The elderly goblin professor immediately jumped up and told Peeves to put them down.

"You little devil, if you keep causing trouble I'll call Bloody Barrow! Here's the toy I promised you, don't go too far."

"Alright, alright, here you go. Mischievous Ghost, go now."

"Alright kids, tell me what you did to get caught by Pippi."

The fairy professor was both angry and heartbroken. His face turned red with anger. He felt sorry for the two little eagles being hung up by Peeves, but when he heard them say it was because they were called Severus the Great Bat, he felt no more heartache.

Flitwick turned and walked away, completely uninterested in them. Disrespect for the professor should be punished. He let the fat monk take them away. Severus was also his student; students shouldn't bully each other!

The fat monk brought two eaglets to Sprout's office and told her why they had been caught and what their punishment was. The witch, who also felt sorry for Severus, agreed, as there was a batch of biting cabbage that needed to be divided into pots.

News of Professor Snape's bad mood quickly spread among the young wizards, and no one dared to cause trouble for the past few days. No one even dared to go out at night, for fear of running into trouble and being caught and suffering a terrible death.

The young wizards were very well-behaved, which reduced McGonagall's troubles considerably. There was no way around it; Gryffindor was the most restless and adventurous of the four houses.

But they were worried about Severus, and the three of them got together to think about why he had been unhappy lately.

"Minerva, you know what? Should we ask Dumbledore?"

"I asked him, and unfortunately, he said he didn't know either. Philius, do you know?"

He shook his head at the two witches, and the three of them sat together trying to find the answer, but they still couldn't figure it out, and even Dumbledore was of no use.

"Since we can't find the reason, let's cheer Severus up first. Albus has been idle for so long, it's time to get busy. Pomona, we haven't had a break in a long time."

Sprout immediately knew what McGonagall was up to. She nodded slowly. "Yes, I think Severus hasn't had a break in a long time either. Felius, it's time for us to have a party, just the four of us. Albus probably won't have much time lately."

Both witches felt it was worth sacrificing a riddle-maker for the benefit of Hogwarts.