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HRHL# CHAPTER 191
🕑 Added 2025-05-23 19:15:29 +0000 UTCA pet?
The students in the room exchanged strange looks.
Even the Slytherins knew that this "Unicorn Lady" was the new school governor, not some pet of Harry’s.
Everyone felt a pang of worry for Poppy. For a governor inspecting teaching quality to be publicly mocked by a professor?
That was not a good sign.
Yet Professor Snape pressed on with his verbal assault.
“Mr. Potter…” he drawled, “due to your unauthorized bringing of a pet into the Potions classroom, Gryffindor will lose ten points.”
With that, Snape flashed a smug smile.
Just as Harry opened his mouth to retort, Poppy gently tugged at his sleeve with her mouth.
Harry turned to see Poppy’s expression clearly saying, “Let me handle this.”
“Professor Snape,” Poppy began, her tone firm, “firstly, I am not anyone’s pet. I am a governor of Hogwarts. Therefore, your reason for deducting points from Gryffindor is invalid, and the deduction is nullified.”
The students seated below held their breath, eagerly anticipating how the Unicorn Lady Governor would deal with the biased, greasy-haired old bat.
“Secondly,” Poppy continued, “your earlier statement constitutes an insult to a school governor, and I require an apology.”
“And finally…”
Poppy narrowed her eyes.
“Professor Snape, for insulting a governor, you will be docked fifty Galleons from this term’s research budget.”
Snape’s eye twitched.
This was bad.
All this time, he had been the one recklessly deducting points from other houses’ students. Never in a million years did he imagine that one day, he would be the one penalized—
And not with points, but with research funding! Galleons!
True, as a Potions Master, he wasn’t exactly strapped for cash… but those fifty Galleons were free, and everyone knew free things were the sweetest.
More importantly, this wasn’t just about losing Galleons—it was a slap to his face!
This was intolerable…
But then again, she was a governor, and he was in the wrong…
Snape swallowed his pride, deciding to let it slide.
After all, he was the one who provoked her first.
As the saying goes, “The one who strikes first is the fool.”
“So, Governor,” Snape drawled, stretching out the word, “have you come to my Potions class to instruct your pitiful professor employee on how to teach properly?”
“No, I’m merely evaluating your teaching progress,” Poppy replied leisurely. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll stand at the back and not disturb your lesson.”
With that, she walked to the back of the room with a victor’s smile.
The students gazed at Poppy with something akin to reverence. It wasn’t just the Gryffindors—even the Slytherins thought this was a miracle.
Merlin’s beard, she actually docked the old bat’s money!
All this time, he was the one deducting points from others. When had anyone ever seen the old bat punished?
The Gryffindors, in particular, had already decided in their hearts: From this day forward, Miss Poppy, you are our goddess!
Even if Merlin himself returned, he wouldn’t loom as large in their hearts as she did!
With Poppy presiding, Snape taught the entire lesson with a face as dark as a storm cloud.
It was clear his mood was foul.
But every time he tried to deduct points, Poppy intervened.
And she didn’t just protect Gryffindor—she shielded Slytherin too.
“Mr. Thomas!” Snape barked. “If you could remember what I just said, you’d know the ingredients must be added in order! Gryffindor will lose two points for your carelessness!”
“And you!” he snapped, turning to another. “Does standing idly by make you look clever? Gryffindor will lose two points for your inaction, Miss Brown!”
No sooner had Snape’s venom spewed forth than Poppy spoke up.
“Professor Snape, I don’t believe either of them deserves to lose points—at least, I don’t recall you explaining the correct order for adding ingredients to the cauldron. Furthermore, Miss Brown was merely sitting beside him, not in his group, and shouldn’t be held responsible for Mr. Thomas’s mistake.”
Snape’s face froze, his expression resembling the one he wore when he saw James Potter.
The Gryffindors’ admiration for Poppy soared to new heights. Merlin’s beard…
Snape let out a cold snort and turned his gaze to two Slytherin trolls.
“And you,” he said icily to one, “do you think giggling like a fool will improve your potion-making skills, Mr. Crabbe? Slytherin will lose two points for your schadenfreude!”
“I believe the Hogwarts Board of Governors should reassess your suitability as Potions professor, Professor Snape,” Poppy said gravely. “Mr. Crabbe merely opened his mouth—he didn’t laugh, didn’t disturb anyone, and was diligently following the steps to brew his potion. Should he be penalized just for being happy while working, Professor?”
If speaking up for Gryffindor could be seen as favoritism, then defending Slytherin proved Miss Poppy’s impartiality.
At this point, the students looked at Poppy with an urge to call her “Mum.”
No, even their own mothers might not have stood up for them like this…
Miss Poppy was simply too great!
Under the mighty hand of Miss Poppy, Snape only managed to deduct four points—and those were indisputable. After he repeated the potion-making steps, Dean Thomas still added the ingredients in the wrong order, costing two points.
The other two points were for Ron, who kept exchanging looks with Draco during class.
Yes, Draco chickened out. He didn’t shout that phrase in class.
After class, Ron cornered Draco in the Great Hall.
“You broke your word, Malfoy!” Ron said, arms crossed.
Draco slumped in a chair, head in his hands. “Yeah, yeah, Weasley, because you weren’t the one who had to shout it at Professor Snape!”
“Ha, what’s that got to do with me?” Ron said, spreading his hands. “All I know is you broke your word, plain and simple—Flint! Flint!”
Ron called out loudly for the Slytherin Quidditch captain.
Marcus Flint approached, and Ron quickly recounted how Draco had backed out, without a hint of exaggeration.
Hearing Ron’s words, Marcus shot Draco a dark look.
“Malfoy, you know the consequences of breaking your word, don’t you?” he said coldly. “Slytherins honor their bets. Glory is our motto—do you want to lose that glory?”
Glory? I didn’t see any of your so-called “glory” when you were breaking your arm in Quidditch, Ron thought.
But he kept that to himself. After all, he was counting on Marcus to pressure Draco into keeping his promise.
“What’s going on?” Miss Farley joined them. “What are you talking about, Flint?”
“Malfoy broke his word and didn’t honor a bet with Gryffindor,” Marcus said, clearly displeased. “This shames all of Slytherin!”
“That’s not something a Slytherin should do, Malfoy,” Miss Farley said sternly. “You need to take responsibility and keep your promise!”
“I didn’t!” Draco protested. “I just… forgot. Forgot…”
“You’d better hope so, Malfoy,” Flint said, his face hard. “I was planning to bring you onto the Quidditch team as Seeker once you kept your word. You know we’ve been short a good one.”
“Really?” Draco’s eyes lit up again. “If I keep my promise, you’ll let me join the team as Seeker?”
“I don’t lie, Malfoy,” Flint said before returning to his seat.
“You know what you need to do, Mr. Malfoy,” Miss Farley added.
Then she smiled at Harry. “Mr. Potter, could you come with me for a moment? I have something to ask you.”
“Sure,” Harry said, standing. To Ron, he added, “Wait here for a bit. I’ll talk with Miss Farley and be back.”
“Got it,” Ron said, sitting behind Draco, ready to give him a hard time.
Leaving the Great Hall, Harry followed Miss Farley to a quiet corner.
“Mr. Potter, I recall you and Miss Grindelwald are quite close?” she asked tentatively. “I know you’re like siblings…”
“We’re closer than siblings,” Harry replied.
Miss Farley nodded. “Do you know where Miss Grindelwald has been lately? She only attends a few classes she cares about. She barely shows up for Charms or Herbology… Could you remind her to balance her studies?”
“She doesn’t need those classes, Miss Farley,” Harry said with a sigh. “If it weren’t for Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape being so strict, she wouldn’t even bother with those—especially Snape’s Potions class.”
“I see,” Miss Farley said, concerned. “I know she’s fascinated by Muggle things, but I worry she’s neglecting her magical education. Magic is what wizards should focus on, after all.”
“Maybe,” Harry said noncommittally. He didn’t believe wizards should only study magic. Ignoring the Muggle world was just arrogant blindness.
“But I’m looking forward to Miss Grindelwald’s results in Muggle Studies at the end of the term,” Miss Farley said with a smile. “From what I hear, few students score an Outstanding in that subject. I’m sure she’ll ace it.”
After chatting about Veratia, Miss Farley and Harry returned to the Great Hall.
Harry noticed Poppy in the center of a cheering crowd of students.
“Miss Poppy is our queen! She doesn’t give a fig for the old bat! Miss Poppy is our queen, Miss Poppy is the best! The old bat can’t touch her! Hogwarts sings as one—Miss Poppy is our queen!”
Some student had come up with the tune, and Poppy was clearly loving it, bouncing around and even pulling a few girls to dance with her.
“Harry, I’m loving this!” she said, beaming. “Come on, dance with me! Dance with me, Harry~ Harry~”
Seeing Miss Poppy so friendly with Harry, the others felt a twinge of jealousy.
But what could they do? Harry was the one who’d saved Miss Poppy from You-Know-Who.
Jealous? They’d just have to deal with it!
Not happy? Go duel You-Know-Who yourself!
Seeing Poppy so popular, Harry couldn’t help but feel happy for her.
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T/N: If you find any typos or incorrect names, please leave a comment. Thanks, and enjoy reading!
