Sure enough, Snape's face was even more sullen than usual.
Harry swore that even when he saw Professor Snape facing off against his dad, James Potter, back in his memory, Snape's expression wasn't this bad.
It seems...
Snape has someone he hates more than my dad, Harry thought a bit gleefully.
At least my dad's big fat head (mom's words) isn't that annoying, right?
"Today, continue with the strengthening potion. You will see the mixture you left last class; if done correctly, it should be ready after the weekend. Instructions—" he waved his magic wand again, "—on the blackboard—begin."
The students in the classroom immediately lowered their heads and began preparing the strengthening potion—
After Professor Snape issued his orders, he turned around, his back to the students, standing silently with his hands behind his back.
To everyone's disappointment, Professor Umbridge spent the first half hour in the corner taking notes.
Ron kept his head down, eagerly waiting for her to ask Snape questions, and thus made careless mistakes while brewing the potion.
"Fire Salamander blood, Ron!" Hermione whispered fiercely, grabbing his wrist to stop him from adding the wrong ingredient for the third time, "Not pomegranate juice!"
"Oh, right." Ron seemed a bit absent-minded, secretly lifting his head to glance at Snape and Umbridge.
Ugh.
Why haven't these two started fighting yet?
In fact, this wasn't just Ron's thought; the other students in the classroom, even the Slytherins, were looking forward to the fiery clash between Professor Snape and Umbridge.
It's really frustrating that the two of them haven't squared off yet.
At that moment, Umbridge suddenly raised her head and gave Ron a meaningful look.
Ron quickly lowered his head, pretending to be very focused.
He immediately panicked, wondering if Umbridge had found out that it was him who knocked her out the other day?
The more Ron thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. If it weren't for the wrong time and place, he would have grabbed Harry and Hermione to ask them for the full story.
Ron was in a flustered state as Umbridge suddenly stood up.
The students perked up, all looking up, trying to see what Umbridge was going to say to Professor Snape.
Hopefully, say something Snape doesn't like so he might cast some minor evil curse on Umbridge's face, Ron thought viciously, and then she would stop focusing on me.
Neville also raised his head, while his hand still poured pomegranate juice into the cauldron.
"Oh dear, this class seems quite advanced," Umbridge said cheerfully to Snape's back, "but I wonder if teaching them potions like strengthening agents is advisable—I think the ministry would prefer to remove it from the curriculum."
Snape slowly straightened up, turning to look at her.
"So, how long have you been teaching at Hogwarts so far?" Umbridge asked, feather pen poised to take notes on her clipboard.
"Fourteen years." Snape's expression was inscrutable.
On the other side, Crabbe and Gall closely watched Professor Snape, with Crabbe unconsciously adding a few drops of pale yellow liquid, causing the potion to sizzle horribly, changing from green to orange.
Draco swiftly tapped the necks of the two Giant brothers, raised his magic wand, and silently cast a disappearing spell, causing the cauldron about to explode to vanish into thin air.
He breathed a sigh of relief, hoping not to disrupt their conversation!
"You're applying to teach the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, aren't you?" Professor Umbridge asked Snape.
"Yes," Snape said quietly.
"But you didn't get the position?"
Snape pursed his lips, clearly becoming more unwilling.
Isn't she rubbing salt into the wound?
"Obviously," he said, a bit impatiently.
Professor Umbridge was scribbling on the clipboard.
"You've applied to teach the Defense Against the Dark Arts class multiple times since you joined the school, correct?"
"Yes," Snape said quietly, his lips barely moving.
He appeared angry, with the profound depths in his eyes beginning to ripple slightly.
Harry had never seen Snape so out of sorts before.
"Do you know why Dumbledore repeatedly refuses to use you?"
Umbridge noticed Snape's impatience but asked uncaringly.
"I suggest you ask him," Snape replied with a stiff tone.
"I will," Professor Umbridge said amiably.
"Does it matter?" Snape asked, his dark eyes narrowing.
"Indeed," Professor Umbridge said, "the ministry wishes to fully understand the teachers'—um—backgrounds."
Upon hearing Umbridge's words, Professor Snape's expression became increasingly frigid.
He scoffed but didn't respond.
Umbridge, seeing things had reached this point, didn't continue questioning Snape but instead moved to the Slytherin seats to begin questioning Pansy Parkinson about course details.
Yet, Pansy didn't seem very willing to answer her; the fake smile on her face...was incredibly insincere.
Professor Snape also stepped down from the podium, first approaching Crabbe and Gall, seeing their table empty—the cauldron had disappeared—he asked in a grim voice, "I hope you two Little Giants haven't swallowed that cauldron."
"Oh, no, Professor." Crabbe readily sold out Draco: "Draco just cast a magic spell, and the cauldron vanished 'whoosh'."
Gall echoed with sound effects.
"Siuuuuuu~"
Professor Snape's complexion grew even darker, as if it could drip water.