Chapter 10: Professor Snape (Edited)

If Ivan had to evaluate the trip in one word, it would be bad.

Especially considering that by the time they reached Hogwarts the car was losing power and ended up hitting the boxing willow next to the school's forbidden forest made an already bad trip even worse.

Branches hit the car and, seeing that it was in danger of being smashed to pieces, Ivan closed his eyes in fright and could hear Ron and Harry screaming.

The car was badly damaged, and shards of glass cut the boys' faces.

Ivan tried to pull out his wand but was unsuccessful, the car was shaking vigorously causing Harry and Ron to crash into it. Outside, a branch that was as big as the car was hitting the roof of the car causing the roof to dent.

Ron yelled, "Run!"

Then Ron opened the door with all his might in an attempt to escape, but was hit by another branch.

Harry shouted, "We're done!"

If the branch hit the ceiling one more time, it was certain that the roof would collapse completely.

Just as the three of them gave up hope, the car suddenly started up and pulled them out of the tree's reach.

Before Ivan had a chance to breathe a sigh of relief, he was thrown from the car, and beside him was Harry, Ron and the three's luggage. Then he saw the car pull into the darkness, its taillights still flashing furiously.

Ron said angrily, "Can you believe our bad luck, of all the trees, we hit the one that can hit back?"

Then Ron looked at his wand, which broke on landing and had only a few pieces of wood holding it together.

He looked back at the Boxing Tree that was menacingly swinging its branches.

Harry said wearily, "Come on, we need to get to the castle, as Ivan needs to take part in the house selection ceremony!"

This was not how Ron and Harry thought they would get to school, all three boys were cold and sore.

They grabbed their chests and started dragging them towards the two oak doors.

Then Ron pointed to the window and said, "Look, it's already started."

Ron said quickly, "We'd better hurry, I saw Professor McGonagall bringing out the Sorting Hat, it's about to start the Sorting Ceremony."

Harry and Ivan looked out the window Ron pointed out.

In the Great Hall, countless candles floated in the air, below were long tables full of people, glittering with golden plates and goblets, matching the stars on the ceiling.

Based on what Ivan read in Hogwarts history, the ceiling was enchanted to reflect the sky outside.

Ivan saw a long line of first-year students, and among them was Ginny who was looking for them.

Shortly after Professor McGonagall placed the Hogwarts Sorting Hat on a stool in front of the first-year students.

Professor McGonagall began announcing names and a skinny blond boy was called and put on the sorting hat.

Ron said, "From the corridor to the Great Hall will take five minutes, I hope Peeves doesn't bother us."

Harry stopped suddenly and said, "Wait!"

Then Harry looked at the teachers' table and whispered, "There's an empty set at the teachers' table, where's Snape?"

Ron said hopefully, "Who knows, maybe he's sick!"

Harry excitedly, "Maybe he quit because he couldn't get the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher position!"

Ron said excitedly, "Maybe he got fired because too many people hated him!"

Ivan sighed heavily and said, "Maybe, he's standing outside the door, waiting for us to explain why we didn't take the train to school."

He saw a thin, pale-skinned, hawk-nosed man with long, greasy hair that fell to his shoulders standing on the castle steps, looking at them coldly.

The smirk on Snape's face told the three of them that they were in a lot of trouble.

Snape said with a slight, low hiss, "Look who I met, the famous Harry Potter, and two of his mates. They must be tired from the school train and decided to have some fun, right?"

And as Snape spoke, Ivan felt Snape's unpleasant gaze on him,

Harry tried to explain, "Sir, we couldn't get through the barrier at King's Cross and..."

Snape said coolly, "Silence. come with me!"

Harry, Ivan and Ron followed Snape down the steps into the vast, echoing entrance hall, which was lit with flaming torches. A delicious smell of food wafted through the Great Hall, but Snape led them away from the warmth and light, down a narrow stone staircase that led to the dungeons.

Harry gathered his courage and said, "Sir, we have to go to the Great Hall, Ivan still has to go through his house selection ceremony."

Snape interrupted Harry again, "Silence!"

Then Snape opened the door to a room in the gloomy corridor and pointed inside as he said, "Come in!"

Under Snape's gaze, the three boys shivered into his office.

The dark walls were lined with shelves of large glass jars, in which floated all sorts of disgusting things. The fireplace was dark and empty.

Snape closed the door and turned and looked at them.

Snape watched his prey for a while before coldly asking, "What did you do with the car?"

Ron shouted, "What?"

Ron's eyes were wide, he wasn't sure why Snape knew about the car, could he be able to read people's minds?

Snape looked at Ron and said coldly, "Weasley, even though I know your head is empty, I can't read minds."

Then Snape picked up The Daily Prophet and said, "You were seen."

He showed them the title of the paper, FLYING FORD ANGLIA DISCONNECTED THE MUGGLES.

A grimace crossed Snape's face as he began to read aloud:Two Muggles in London, convinced they saw an old car flying over Correos.... tower. At noon in Norfolk, Mrs. Hetty Bayliss, while hanging out her clothes.... Mr. Angus Fleet, of Peebles, reported to the police. Six or seven Muggles in all. I believe your father works in the Muggle Artefact Misuse Office, doesn't he?"

Snape looked at Ron as he had a nasty grin on his face and said, "Dear, dear...his own son..."

Ivan noticed that Harry and Ron were looking depressed, and seemed to think that if people found out, that Mr. Weasley hexed the car, the consequences would be disastrous.

Snape continued, "I noticed, in my search through the park, that considerable damage seems to have been done to a very valuable Box Willow."

Ron said angrily, "That tree did more damage to us."

Snape said coldly, "Silence!"

Then Snape's gaze turned to Ivan and said, "And you, Mr. Mason, I believe you will be the first person in history to be expelled on the first day."

Harry shouted anxiously, "No, you can't expel Ivan!"

Snape said triumphantly, "Obviously, I have this right!"

Then Snape's eyes turned to Harry and Ron and he said, "Most of them, unfortunately, are not in my house, and the decision to expel them does not rest with me, so I will go find the people who have that happy power. You will wait here while I go find someone who can."

Harry looked at Snape's back as he left, and tried to comfort Ivan, but he couldn't think of anything to say, and if Snape had gone to find Professor McGonagall, the head of Gryffindor House, they were no better off.

She might be a little more impartial than Snape, but she was still very strict.

If Ivan was expelled by Snape, he and Ron would be punished the same way by McGonagall, and he wasn't sure where to go after leaving Hogwarts, the Dursleys would never welcome him, maybe he could help Hagrid and become a school warden.

Just as Harry imagined what would happen, Professor McGonagall walked in with Snape.

Her lips were pursed and she raised her wand as soon as she entered, which made all three boys shudder in fear.

Professor McGonagall was pursed-lipped and raised her wand as soon as she entered, which made the three boys flinch in fear, but she merely pointed it at the empty fireplace, where flames suddenly burst into flames.