Chapter 750: Both Sides Testing Each Other Draco’s sudden laugh was not completely inexplicable, but it was definitely abrupt.After all, they were in the middle of a life |
Disapparate.
Apparate.
If Hermione’s performance was astonishing enough to live up to her title as a prodigy, then what Draco was displaying at this moment could only be called unbelievable.
Or rather, it had already gone beyond imagination...
After all, with years of accumulated skill and rich combat experience, it was not surprising that Snape could do something like this.
In fact, if he did not possess the corresponding strength, Snape would never have been trusted and chosen by both Dumbledore and Voldemort, much less been able to sit in the Headmaster’s position.
In the wizarding world, bloodline was certainly valued, but even more than that, people spoke with their own strength.
Only those with power had authority.
But when this was applied to Draco, who had not even graduated yet, it became something terrifying enough to send a chill down one’s spine...
...
Gorgeous.
Flashing.
Even as he fought, Snape did not forget to use words to disrupt Draco’s concentration.
“I dare say that even the Dark Lord, at your age, could not have done better than you.”
“My dear godfather, you seem to have forgotten... As early as second year, I already defeated that Dark Lord you speak of.”
“Hmph. That is true... Sectumsempra!”
Whoosh!
The invisible magical blade swept past Draco, who had just vanished into the air, and slammed directly into the stone wall behind him with an ear-piercing sound.
From the deep gouge left behind, it was clear that Snape was completely serious. He really wanted to kill Draco, with no intention of holding back at all.
Seeing this, Hermione, whose heart was full of confusion and worry, finally could not help shouting.
“Why are you attacking us?! Professor... No, Snape, have you really defected to the Dark Lord?!”
“Defected? Granger, what very Gryffindor foolishness. Or is it because... Diffindo!”
Because she had been distracted, Hermione was almost struck by Snape’s sneak attack.
She could not help crying out in shock.
And seeing Hermione attacked, Draco naturally could not allow her to remain in danger.
Magic instantly surged through his entire body.
Then, with his next Apparition, Draco found Snape, who had exposed a slight opening because he had attacked Hermione.
“Are you looking down on me a little too much, my dear godfather?”
Sectumsempra.
The same spell shot from Draco’s wand.
Perhaps because Snape’s attention had been partly on Hermione, he could not Apparate in time. He had no choice but to remain where he was and use Sectumsempra as well to block the attack.
Boom!
Scattered magic.
A bursting wave of air.
The chaotic magical aura made the Chamber of Secrets feel even more oppressive...
...
Panting.
Vigilance.
Whether it was Snape or Draco, after such a long stretch of continuous Apparition, it was not as if they had not been worn down at all.
In fact, it had drained even more mental and magical energy than expected...
Draco straightened slightly and looked deeply at Snape standing opposite him.
To be honest.
Even now, Draco still could not figure out what Snape was planning.
Could it be that his guess had been wrong?
Had Snape come here not to wait for him at all?
“Wait...”
Draco suddenly seemed to realize something, and in this tense moment, he inexplicably laughed.
Hermione, hiding behind Draco, blinked at him strangely.
Surely not...
Had Draco accidentally hit his head during the fight just now?!
...
Draco’s sudden laugh was not completely inexplicable, but it was definitely abrupt.
After all, they were in the middle of a life-or-death battle. Who could possibly laugh at a tense moment like this?
Aside from some battle maniac, there probably was no one who could laugh out loud at such a critical time.
Yet Draco had really done it...
And he sounded rather relaxed.
At that moment, Hermione could no longer care that Snape was still watching them like a predator from across the room.
She leaned straight toward Draco in exasperation and asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong with you?”
“Don’t forget, our enemy is still right in front of us!”
Perhaps she was too tense, or perhaps Draco’s behavior had startled her too much.
At that moment, Hermione did not notice that the wand opposite them, which had originally been pointed their way, had been lowered at some point. It had even disappeared from Snape’s hand.
Aside from that, the malicious magic that had filled the air earlier seemed as if it had never existed at all...
Faced with Hermione, whose emotions seemed a little agitated, Draco lightly shook the wand in his hand.
“Calm down and think about it, Hermione. Don’t you think there was something slightly wrong with what Snape said just now?”
“What he said? Now that you mention it...”
Hermione froze for a moment.
Only then did she remember the single sentence Snape had spoken during that battle.
And only after Draco’s reminder did Hermione belatedly notice that the atmosphere and magic, which had felt ready to explode at any second, had suddenly dissolved into the air.
Simply put, the fight was over...
...
Draco and Hermione’s conversation was especially clear in the silent chamber.
Naturally, Snape across from them could hear every word.
Tap, tap, tap!
Perhaps because his robes brushed against the floor, when Snape walked toward them, the sound reaching their ears was like that of a snake slithering.
Paired with Snape’s cold face, it became even more terrifying.
In fact, if Hermione had not truly trusted Draco’s judgment, she might already have attacked Snape...
When Snape came closer, he first silently glanced at Hermione, who still had her wand gripped tightly. Only then did he speak in a cold voice. “Very good. Although I could smell the stench of Gryffindor foolishness from you even at a distance, Granger, it seems our Miss Know-It-All does possess a little ability.”
Perhaps he was simply not very good at praising others.
Those words sounded extremely awkward to Hermione, making her feel wrong all over.
Ignoring Hermione’s conflicted expression, as if she wanted to say something but could not decide how, Snape turned his gaze directly to Draco in the next second.
“As for you, Mr. Draco Malfoy, very good. Very good indeed.”
Although Draco did not know exactly what was so good, he still bowed slightly and performed a wizard’s salute. “Thank you for your guidance, Godfather.”
“Hmph. Don’t misunderstand. I merely wanted to know what your current strength was. From the looks of it, at the very least, you won’t die without value.”
“...”
Was this what counted as Slytherin-style concern?
Or was this simply the familiar Snape?
After all, he was a tsundere...
