LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 11 After Class Story
"I'm so angry!" Hermione fumed while sorting herbs and labeling potion ingredient bottles.
She and Glenn were now doing manual labor in Snape's office. After that Potions class, an indignant Hermione had dragged Glenn to confront Snape, and then...
Hermione had pushed open the door.
Hermione: Professor Snape, why...
Snape: Perfect timing. You two, sort and store that pile of new materials in the corner. Don't leave until it's done. I have business to attend to.
BANG! He brushed past them and closed the door.
Hermione: ?
She laughed bitterly. Not even bothering with Glenn, she left him on the sofa and ran to the door intending to chase after Snape.
Click, click. The doorknob wouldn't turn.
Hermione: ??
Well well, he even locked it.
"Alohomora!" Hermione pulled out her wand and cast the unlocking charm. Light flashed and connected with the keyhole, and then...
Nothing happened.
Hermione: ???
She pulled Glenn over from the sofa to take a look.
After sensing the magical circuits, Glenn's expression turned peculiar as he looked at Hermione: "There's an anti-unlocking charm on it."
Hermione: ????!
They had no choice but to obediently sort the potion ingredients.
"Snape must have some conflict with Harry or his parents. There's no better explanation," Glenn suggested while skinning toads.
"How can he act like this! But putting that aside, what about my points? My performance should have earned points for Gryffindor!"
"From what I've gathered, Gryffindor hasn't earned a single point in Potions class since Snape started teaching," Glenn consoled her.
"...That's not fair! How can he be so arbitrary?"
"Maybe because he's Head of Slytherin and the Potions professor?"
"...Glenn, sometimes you're really annoying, you know that?" Hermione said exasperatedly.
They chatted idly while working, time ticking by slowly. Just as Glenn was considering blasting open the door to free the little bookworm whose mind had clearly drifted to the library, Snape returned.
"You..." Hermione slammed the table, about to say something when Glenn covered her mouth from behind.
"Professor, we've finished organizing everything," Glenn said while holding the struggling Hermione.
Snape grunted, clearly in a good mood, and didn't say much as he walked to his desk to begin brewing potions.
Feeling Hermione still squirming, Glenn asked, "Professor, may I ask if you have some history with Harry Potter or his parents?"
Snape's face darkened. He wanted to lash out, but considering who was asking, he only gave an icy warning of "No comment" before ignoring them.
Hermione finally broke free and pinched Glenn's waist in embarrassment, bidding goodbye to Snape through gritted teeth before dragging Glenn out of his office.
The whole way back, Hermione kept her head turned away from Glenn. He suggested they could try asking Dumbledore if she really wanted to know why Snape targeted Gryffindor, but the little girl just humphed acknowledgment without looking at him.
Glenn wasn't quite sure what he'd done wrong this time, so he just quietly followed Hermione.
They quickly ate lunch then went to the library to work on their Potions essays and study. By dinnertime, Hermione showed no intention of seeking out Dumbledore, though her anger had subsided and she was speaking to Glenn again.
"If Professor Snape doesn't want to tell us, then I won't ask. Maybe there really is an important reason," the little girl seemed to have given up on earning points in Potions class?
"But I'll definitely perform excellently in Potions classes, assignments and exams. I refuse to believe he'll never give me points!" Well, apparently not. Hermione's steak was cut to pieces, a pitiful sight.
Hermione pushed her steak to Glenn and got herself a fresh plate, eating contentedly.
Glenn: ?
Well, it all tastes the same to me anyway.
Hermione's absence all day had caught her roommates' attention, and the girls quickly gathered around.
Parvati Patil excitedly grabbed Hermione's hand, eyes shining: "Wow Hermione, you were amazing answering those tricky questions in Potions class!"
Another roommate added enthusiastically: "Yeah, and you helped control the situation when Neville and Seamus's cauldron exploded! Parvati and I were right next to Neville - that potion almost splashed on us!"
Hermione's heroic performance in Potions class had successfully won over the girls.
Hermione was both pleased and embarrassed: "It was nothing, really. The cauldron incident was mostly Glenn's doing - he controlled the splashing potion first so I had time to vanish it." She turned to look at Glenn, "Right, Glenn?"
Glenn neither nodded nor shook his head, choosing not to participate in the girls' conversation.
Lavender Brown teased from across the table: "Little Hermione, be honest now, what's going on between you and this Slytherin? You can't seem to talk without mentioning Glenn Hawthorne!" She raised her eyebrows suggestively, demanding an answer.
The other roommates surrounded Hermione and Glenn, preventing escape, and began their "interrogation."
The little girl blushed bright red: "Wh-what do you mean?! I don't mention him that much! We're, we're... oh you're all so annoying!" Hermione buried her face in her plate, stuffing her mouth with food. "Can't talk now, eating!"
The girls exchanged knowing smiles. Their brilliant classmate might excel at studies, but she was terrible at lying. Despite her usually proud demeanor, she would get shy and blush whenever Glenn was involved, often hiding under her blankets like an ostrich during their evening gossip sessions.
They'd discovered that since becoming closer to Hermione after that incident, and getting to know her personality better, they increasingly liked this tsundere little girl. She was smart and studious, but struggled to express her goodwill. Once you understood her personality, you'd realize she genuinely cared about her friends, even if she showed it rather directly.
Such a clever yet pure-hearted little girl was rare indeed.
The girls' eyes sparkled as they plotted how to tease Hermione in revenge for her demanding study schedules. Though they did study seriously under her influence, it was exhausting!
Glenn quietly ate his dinner.
The girls immediately shifted their target - clearly they wouldn't get anything more from ostrich-Hermione. Besides, they'd long been curious about this quiet Slytherin boy.
Though not romantically interested, they were intrigued by his relationship with Hermione.
If Hermione was going to get serious with this Slytherin, they as her good friends needed to properly evaluate him!
The girls' predatory gazes focused intensely on Glenn. Even he felt the pressure and nudged Hermione for help, but the little ostrich remained absorbed in her meal, oblivious to Glenn's predicament.
Glenn quickly finished his food, picked up his cane, and stepped out of their circle.
"Professor Snape needs to see me. Ladies, Hermione, I'll take my leave."
Glenn nodded politely and calmly departed, leaving the girls looking at each other helplessly, smiling wryly at his escape.
They turned back to Hermione - the monk might escape, but the temple remains. Time for more teasing!