"Bloody hell, here it comes again..."
The lava-like burning sensation showed faint signs of resurgence. The stinging pain and restlessness slowly flowing beneath his skin made Tiger somewhat unbearable.
He casually stripped off his wizard robe, tossed it aside, planted his hands on his hips and tilted his head back, drawing deep breaths as he tried to quell the turmoil within his body.
Fortunately, the intensity of this heat gradually stabilized, no longer raging as savagely as before.
As if restrained by some invisible force, it maintained itself at a bearable threshold.
"Tiger, what's wrong?"
Detecting her friend's distress, Hermione immediately dropped her broomstick and hurried toward Tiger, sweeping her previous vow completely into the rubbish bin.
"Are you alright?"
Hermione regarded Tiger with deep concern.
"Mmm... I'm fine..."
Tiger frowned deeply, beads of sweat forming at his temples. Within moments, his shirt was half-soaked.
As if fearing Hermione wouldn't believe him, he waved dismissively before adding two more reassurances.
"Really, don't worry."
"Go practice."
However, in Hermione's eyes, Tiger's expression resembled someone with a dodgy stomach—or perhaps Mrs. Granger when constipated. Utterly indescribable. (?_?)
"Tiger, don't lie to me. My dad may be a dentist, but he's still a doctor. You don't look well at all."
"Did you eat something off?"
"Should I take you to the hospital wing?"
As she spoke, Hermione attempted to drag Tiger away.
But the instant she touched Tiger's wrist, it was like grasping a scalding coffee mug. With a startled cry, she jerked her hand back.
"Good Lord, Tiger!"
"Why is your body so bloody hot!"
"Are you ill?"
"So you're on sick leave, not expelled?"
"No, no, no..."
"Do you have a fever? A cold?"
"Have you taken any medicine?"
Hermione's eyes widened like saucers. With a hint of uncertainty, she gripped Tiger's wrist firmly once more.
The burning sensation against her palm transformed her surprised expression into pure anxiety. She glanced around frantically, searching for anything that might cool Tiger down.
"Right, I said I'm fine."
Tiger pinched Hermione's little head and turned her to face him, staring expressionlessly at the girl's lips and front teeth. No matter how he looked, they resembled a machine gun with twin ammunition clips.
"Look, don't worry."
"These are just aftereffects. I've already taken the medicine—Magic Power Stabilizing Potion brewed personally by Snape."
"Six bottles. Every last drop."
To silence this chattering little mouth, Tiger held up six fingers with complete seriousness, hoping to lend his words more credibility.
"What!"
"Six bottles of Magic Power Stabilizing Potion?!"
"You drank them all?!"
However, Hermione released an incredulous shriek. She stamped her feet in exasperation.
"Tiger! You can't drink too much of that!"
"You... you need to sick it up!"
(s°□°）s(?_?)
Tiger stared at Hermione speechlessly.
What the hell are you on about?
That's a bloody potion, not dishwater.
"Blaise, listen—this bloke's ill. What's Magic Power Stabilizing Potion meant to treat?"
Not far away, Draco Malfoy had been eavesdropping on their conversation.
Faced with Malfoy's question, Blaise Zabini's expression was pure absurdity and disbelief. He'd also overheard Tiger and Hermione's exchange.
"Magic Power Stabilizing Potion..."
"That stuff isn't meant for humans."
(???)(???)(???)
"What's the problem with it?"
Tiger appeared equally puzzled.
Hermione clenched her fists, struggling to find words Tiger could grasp.
"Magic Power Stabilizing Potion... it's..."
"It's a potion designed to ensure magical energy releases at a constant rate or within predetermined intervals. It prevents magical chaos and power valleys caused by rapid magical discharge."
Hermione was breathless after delivering this explanation in one go.
"..."
Tiger's expression remained utterly blank.
Even somewhat vacant.
When Hermione strung together these individually comprehensible words into a sentence, his brain simply went white.
Completely incomprehensible...
Hermione instantly recognized Tiger's mental state. She weakly pressed her forehead and cried out:
"Tiger! That's veterinary medicine!"
"It's not for human consumption!"
"Only magical creatures drink this potion when experiencing magical power loss of control!"
"And they only need one bottle!"
"One bottle is enough!"
In her mind, Tiger had essentially consumed an anesthetic dosage meant for six elephants.
Never mind running a fever—if he dropped dead the next second, she wouldn't find it remotely surprising.
"Well, aren't I bloody impressive."
Tiger stroked his chin, his seemingly smug lips betraying a hint of mockery.
Hermione was still just a child, unlike him. Since Dumbledore had authorized his use of this potion, it obviously couldn't harm him.
Nothing to fret about.
He simply rarely witnessed Hermione so furious she was practically bouncing, and wanted to savor the spectacle a bit longer.
"Miss Granger, I believe you've misunderstood something."
Just then, Theodore Nott emerged from behind Hermione.
His pale, youthful features displayed emotionless coldness—like stagnant water.
"A word of advice—don't underestimate Slytherin, and certainly don't underestimate Dumbledore and Hogwarts."
As he spoke, Theodore Nott's eyes shifted slightly toward Tiger, his lips curving upward stiffly.
"I mean no offense, but I suspect Shelby has transcended ordinary human limitations..."
What appeared to be a mocking expression surprisingly carried undertones of deference and subtle inquiry.
Observing Theodore Nott's cramp-like smile, Tiger frowned slightly.
Under the shocked gazes of Malfoy and the others, he reached out and tugged Theodore Nott's cold cheek.
"Bloody Dumbledore—I knew that moldy dungeon wasn't fit for human habitation."
"Nott, being unable to smile and not wanting to smile are entirely different matters. Facial nerve paralysis stems from damp and cold. You should move your bed near the fireplace."
"Or ask Snape for some potions."
Gray eyes flashed with faint menace, his perpetually cold and rigid expression growing even more forbidding.
Theodore Nott remained silent for a moment, tossed a serpent bone necklace to Tiger, then turned and departed without another word.
"Keep it. You'll need it..."
"Hmm?"
Tiger raised an eyebrow, lifting the serpent bone necklace. Under the sunlight's reflection, it emitted an eerie, cold luminescence.
The needle-like scorching and stinging pain actually began dissipating from his fingertips under the necklace's influence, slowly spreading toward his palm.
Like standing in blazing summer heat and suddenly hearing ice cubes chiming crisply in a glass.
Threads of coolness penetrated his skin, seeping into Tiger's core. His restless, savage eyes instantly cleared by several degrees.
Watching Theodore Nott surrounded by Malfoy and others firing questions at him, saying nothing in response.
Tiger grinned with fierce satisfaction.
"Ha, I like this lad."
"Perfect underworld material."
Without hesitation, he slipped the serpent bone necklace around his neck.
Hermione reached out somewhat anxiously.
She wanted to stop Tiger, but worried she might be acting from Slytherin prejudice. Finally, she pressed her lips together tightly and withdrew her hand.
"Right then, gentlemen and ladies."
"Come over here..."
Moments later, Madam Hooch hurried from the castle with Neville trotting behind her.
Tiger returned the whistle to Madam Hooch, waved at Hermione, and strolled back toward the castle alone.
Though Madam Hooch suggested he remain to complete the lesson, after hearing Tiger's words, her face drained of color and she fell silent, helplessly urging him to leave immediately.
"Madam, Venom has two favorite foods—chocolate and brains."
"Perhaps you weren't aware."
"We haven't eaten all day..."
After returning to the castle, even Tiger failed to notice that at his wrist, a charcoal-black carbonization had appeared—and this palm-sized mark was slowly healing at a visible rate...
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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