Chapter 30: Saving People Also Requires Level
Boom!
A loud bang echoed in the corridor.
Looking at the Troll, which couldn't withstand more than five spells, Aaron felt no joy, only a pang of regret.
They said even adult Wizards might not be able to handle a Troll. Was that just to scare children?
With its combat power and extremely low intelligence, anyone who knew a few proper spells could easily defeat it!
It was a pity. He had originally planned to use Professor Snape as a trump card against Lord Voldemort's remnant soul, Professor Quirrell. But now, it was gone just like that, a complete waste. What was the difference between using a King to trump a three?
"Sigh! This was a huge loss," Aaron said with a sigh.
Professor Snape's mood, however, was the complete opposite; he had made a huge profit this time. "Ahem! Mr. Gaius, after this, I owe you nothing."
"I understand, I understand!
Regardless, I still have to thank you, Professor, for your righteous assistance."
Just then, Hermione walked out of the girls' restroom. The first thing she saw was the Troll lying by the door. Her eyes instantly widened, and then she let out a long scream.
"Ah!"
"It's alright, Hermione," Aaron immediately comforted her. "It's alright!"
"What exactly happened?" Hermione asked, clutching her chest, still a bit scared.
"It's like this..."
After listening, Hermione couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, followed by heartfelt gratitude towards Aaron.
She couldn't fight a Troll. If Aaron hadn't come to save her, she might have been in mortal danger.
However, what she hadn't expected was that Professor Snape, who had always been at odds with Gryffindor, would also come to save her. This she couldn't quite understand.
"Thank you, Aaron," Hermione said, then looked at Professor Snape with a complex expression. "And thank you, Professor Snape."
Professor Snape paused, then let out a soft snort, but the look in his eyes was even more complex than Hermione's expression.
"I didn't specifically come to save you. I was merely fulfilling a promise," Professor Snape said haughtily. "To be honest, Miss Granger, I should thank you, because what Mr. Gaiusasked me to do was unexpectedly simple."
Aaron's eye twitched. "Professor, is that really necessary?"
He just couldn't understand why someone who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside insisted on making himself seem so aloof.
Professor Snape didn't answer, merely gave them both a deep look, then turned and left.
Just then, Harry and Ron also ran over, coincidentally bumping into Professor Snape.
Seeing these two Gryffindors, especially Harry Potter among them, Professor Snape's mood instantly cleared up.
"Why are you two here?
I recall Dumbledore just said that all students should return to their dormitories under the guidance of Prefects!
Do you think you're so important that you can ignore the Principal's words?"
"We..." Harry stammered, unable to say anything.
Ron was the same. He especially disliked this Professor, but also especially feared him.
They had originally thought it would be enough to just inform Hermione, but they never expected to be caught red-handed by Professor Snape.
This wasn't just bad luck; this was extremely bad luck.
"No explanation?" Professor Snape continued to press.
"We came to tell Hermione that there was a Troll in the school," Harry said, emboldened.
"Ah!" Professor Snape elongated his tone, pointing coldly at the Troll lying nearby. "So you two thought you could defeat that Troll?
Think about it, if Aaron and I hadn't arrived in time, I shouldn't need to remind you what would have happened, should I!
You would have died at the hands of this monster along with Miss Granger."
The two looked at the Troll's massive body and couldn't help but lower their heads.
Professor Snape was quite satisfied with their attitude, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly. Then he said coldly, "Gryffindor loses five points."
"You can't do that," Harry immediately said, his face filled with unutterable indignation.
That was five points! They hadn't lost so many points since the start of the Class!
"Yes, it is indeed biased!" Professor Snape nodded in agreement, adding, "It should be five points off each, a total of ten points for the two of you.
Of course, you can protest if you think your lives are worth less than these ten points."
Harry and Ron exchanged glances, speechless. No one would think points were more important than their lives.
"What about him?" Ron pointed at Aaron, grumbling, "Aaron came too, so why doesn't he lose points?"
"Mr. Weasley, you should know, I'm actually very pleased you asked me that," Professor Snape said with a smile. "Because Aaron and I came together. Is that reason enough?"
Ron looked at Aaron, a Slytherin student, and then at Professor Snape, the Dean of Slytherin, and seemed to understand something.
Yes!
The other person acted with a Professor. To put it nicely, it's called thinking twice before acting. To put it less nicely, it's called thinking about one's life.
But he and Harry were not like that. They had sneaked away from the student group, without telling anyone, so naturally, no one would protect them.
To put their situation nicely, it's called being flustered out of concern. But to put it less nicely, it's called being brainless, purely reckless!
Comparing the two, the difference was immediately clear.
That being said, Ron was clearly still a bit unconvinced. He was about to say something in protest, but Harry, who was beside him, held him back, and he suppressed the thought.
Just then, Professor McGonagall and Professor Quirrell also walked over. After seeing that no students were injured, they let out a huge sigh of relief.
Professor McGonagall looked at Harry and Ron, saying with some annoyance, "What happened, you two—no, you three—had better explain it to me."
"Professor..."
Hermione was about to plead for Harry and the others when Professor Snape's gaze silenced her. Although a bit wronged, she couldn't ignore her savior's authority.
"Professor McGonagall, regarding this matter, I think it's better for our Slytherin student to explain!
Mr. Gaius has always been a good student, and I don't think he would twist the facts to avoid criticism, unlike some others." Professor Snape said triumphantly, not forgetting to cast a schadenfreude-filled glance at Harry and Ron.
"Alright then! Aaron, can you tell me what exactly happened?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Uh..." Aaron glanced at the guilty-looking Harry and Ron, then at Hermione, whose eyes were still a bit moist and who hadn't fully recovered from the fright. He sighed softly, "Professor, today is Halloween, and it's already so late. How about we explain tomorrow!
It doesn't matter for us three boys, but Hermione has had quite a fright and needs a good rest."
"Aaron!" Professor Snape was a bit displeased. This was a great opportunity to embarrass Gryffindor, and while such opportunities weren't rare, such a major blunder was uncommon, especially since Harry Potter was involved this time. And seeing Harry's long face would greatly improve Professor Snape's mood.
"Professor Snape, you already deducted ten points from them. In other words, they have already received their due punishment..." Aaron said, noticing that the coldness on Professor Snape's face hadn't diminished at all. He immediately changed his words, "I think it's better to let them personally admit their mistakes to Professor McGonagall, after all, we two also know the truth, so I don't think they would lie!"
Professor Snape reluctantly agreed. Although Professor McGonagall's kindness would surely not do anything to these two Gryffindors, she would definitely be angry if she knew the truth, and that anger would only be borne by Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.
Considering it this way, it wasn't unacceptable.
"Then I'll give you two a day to think about how to explain to your Dean!" Professor Snape said, then left the corridor without looking back.
"You two, good luck!" Professor McGonagall cast a cold glance at Harry and Ron, then looked at Hermione Grangerwith gentle eyes. Among the first-year new students of Gryffindor, she was the only one who could make her worry less.
"Miss Granger, you must have been terrified today! Go back and rest first!"
"Thank you, Professor," Hermione nodded weakly.
"You two hurry up! It's not dead yet!" Professor Quirrell said sheepishly. Just then, the Troll lying on the ground suddenly snored, startling the Defense Against the Dark Arts ClassProfessor, who trembled.
The three Professors left one after another, while the four of them, Aaron, walked slowly towards their dormitories.
On the way, Hermione couldn't help but ask, "What kind of agreement did you make with Professor Snape?"
"Sigh! Speaking of that, I feel like I lost out!" Aaron said helplessly.
Hearing this, Harry and Ron both became interested, looking at him with curious eyes, hoping he would elaborate.
"Alright! But you must keep it a secret.
Professor Snape asked me to be the Seeker for the Slytherinteam, and I agreed, but I asked him to help me unconditionally once this school year.
Of course, within his capabilities."
"So what you asked him to do was come and save me?" Hermione's expression was a bit complex. She knew the favor she owed this time seemed a bit big.
"What else! I've heard the legends of Trolls, and I was afraid I couldn't handle it, so I asked Professor Snape for help.
Now it seems it was truly unnecessary. I think I could have dealt with him alone, and instead, I wasted a Potion Master's favor for nothing."
Hearing this, Harry and Ron were both a bit stunned, but what they were worried about was another matter.
Aaron becoming Slytherin's Seeker meant he would be Harry's opponent in Quidditch matches, which was not good news.