"Are you insane?!"
A student jumped to his feet, pointing straight at Snape's nose as he shouted in fury. "You have no right to do this!"
"Expel all Muggle-borns?! What about the Statute of Secrecy? What about the stability of magical society?!"
"Don't think we don't see through your petty schemes! You're just suppressing dissent, dressing it up with talk of honor and duty! Despicable!!"
More and more students stood up. And they weren't only Muggle-borns—on the contrary, Muggle-born students were actually a minority. Countless half-bloods, even pure-bloods, joined them, fixing Snape with furious glares. Their voices merged together, swelling into a vast, surging tide filled with boundless rage.
In that tide were Baron, Harry, Hermione, and every red-haired Weasley; Cedric, Shabby, Cho, Neville, and many others from every long table. Those who stood shouted themselves hoarse; those who remained seated lent their support with murmurs and burning stares…
Severus Snape stood there without moving, like a lighthouse in a storm, or a piece of driftwood caught in a whirlpool, letting the students lash at him with impassioned or crude words. Not the slightest ripple stirred in his deep-set eyes. He looked like a statue—or like a dead man.
He remained standing in silence for nearly ten minutes. Only when the students below had cursed themselves dry and their voices gradually subsided did that face—one that seemed almost incapable of movement—finally speak again.
"Of course, taking the Statute of Secrecy and the stability of magical society into account, we will not simply abandon thousands upon thousands of witches and wizards in the Muggle world, creating further chaos and danger. The Board of Governors and the Ministry of Magic would never permit such an extreme policy."
His expression was stiff, his tone utterly flat, as if the earlier torrent of abuse had not affected him in the slightest. "We will resolve this matter as quickly as possible to safeguard the educational rights of Muggle-born students. However, regrettably, the current Hogwarts…"
"Is no longer a place suitable for you to live in peace."
Below, the students who had just caught their breath were about to erupt again, but Snape cut them off with a single motion—he reached into his robes and withdrew an enormous book.
It was an unremarkable, even crude-looking volume. The cover, seemingly made of black dragon hide, had begun to peel, revealing mottled patches of pale yellow beneath. There were no patterns, no embellishments, not even a title written upon it. Yet the instant it appeared, it seized everyone's attention. Several upper-year students widened their eyes, a faint suspicion already forming in their minds—
"In addition to petrifying those Muggle-born students," Snape said, "the enraged will of the castle has taken another regrettable action."
He raised the old black book high. "The Book of Admittance."
"It is no longer recording the names of Muggle-born witches and wizards."
The previously restless hall fell utterly silent.
In the deathly stillness, Snape's devilish words continued to echo softly in everyone's ears. "This means that even if we are still willing to forcibly enroll Muggle-born witches and wizards, it can last at most ten years. After ten years, we will no longer be able to obtain the names of any witches or wizards born in the Muggle world from the Book of Admittance."
"Whether it is the horrifying petrification magic or this Book of Admittance, both have made it abundantly clear that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is fiercely rejecting Muggle-born witches and wizards. As a member of this school, I cannot defy its will."
He swept his gaze across the Great Hall, now as silent as a graveyard. His mechanical voice matched the stillness all too well. "I admit that this is not good for anyone. But the fact remains—Albus Dumbledore's folly has borne bitter fruit that all of us must share. We will have to pay many additional costs to restore stability to both the school and magical society."
"For example, the gentlemen of the Board of Governors have already decided—"
He lifted a hand and pointed toward several grim-faced wizards nearby. "They will raise funds to establish a brand-new school for Muggle-born students. As for the task of finding witches and wizards within the Muggle world, it can only be temporarily entrusted to the Ministry of Magic. After all, creating another Book of Admittance would be far too difficult."
"Relevant matters will be placed on the agenda this Christmas, and completion will likely take several years… During this most difficult period, I also hope that all Muggle-born students will strictly observe the Statute of Secrecy and refrain from placing even greater pressure on an already unstable magical society."
"Of course, your names will remain on the student rolls—you will not be expelled outright. I am well aware that some among you will refuse to submit to the will of the school and will return to Hogwarts after Christmas. To such students, I can only regretfully say…"
"I cannot guarantee your safety."
Snape paused once more. This time, what he faced was no longer a roaring outcry, but a silence so heavy it seemed to freeze the air itself.
The corners of his mouth twitched upward, as if he were trying to force a smile, but the stiffness of his muscles made the expression look thoroughly unnatural. "Although Professor Sprout has discovered that freshly matured Mandrakes can effectively cure petrification caused by attacks from the castle's will, the Mandrakes currently at the school will need another half year to mature… In other words, if you truly intend to return despite the risk, you should be prepared to wait until summer before you can open your eyes again."
"That's still better than doing nothing."
Someone seemed to be muttering to himself, yet in the dead silence his words were heard by everyone. "Either way we can't study or cast spells. What difference does it make, lying at home or lying in the hospital wing?"
"Exactly!"
His voice was immediately echoed. "I won't allow my rights to be violated by some inexplicable so-called will of the castle!"
"Today it can arbitrarily drive out Muggle-borns—tomorrow it can drive out half-bloods!"
"Today it can kick us out—tomorrow it can lock us up and turn us into house-elves!"
"So what if it's petrification? If it's got the guts, let this castle take my life!"
"If it really is the castle itself trying to expel Muggle-borns, then I'm not staying in this lousy school either! In such an absurd environment, no one is safe!"
"Yes!"
"No! Why should we be the ones to leave? We should erase that violent will together and turn Hogwarts back into the home we know!"
"What castle will? I say it's just those pure-blood lunatics putting on a show!"
The students' furious uproar rose once more, countless voices carrying the same emotion. The Gryffindors summoned their courage, determined to fight injustice to the end; the Hufflepuffs discussed which places might be relatively safe, where they could shelter the persecuted; the Ravenclaws analyzed whether everything was truly as Snape claimed; and the few Slytherins quietly pondered how the Board of Governors and the Ministry of Magic were colluding—or how that violent will of the castle might be eradicated altogether…
Snape remained motionless on the Head Table. Beneath the curtain of his black hair, the corner of his mouth lifted into a faint curve that no one could see.
(End of Chapter)