The counter-curse treatment was nearing its end, with only the last two wounds on her wrist remaining. Lys was eager to get back to her experiments, many of which she had recorded on parchment and needed to perform practically.
But sitting in the infirmary, Lys couldn't wait for Snape. She glanced at her pocket watch; Snape was a punctual person, always mocking others for their tardiness.
Yet now, he was five minutes late, and Madam Pomfrey had already prepared the potions.
Lys thought for a moment, donned her cloak, and put on the protective gear on her right hand before stepping into the hallway of the Divination classroom. Lys couldn't quite understand why Snape chose a subject he despised—perhaps because Evans studied it? If that's the case, Lys understood.
As Lys expected, Evans was absent for some reason, and Snape was blocked by those four fools.
While his wand was still in his hand, Snape's mouth had been transformed, resembling a dog's fangs that injured his lips, with blood mixed with saliva he couldn't swallow dripping down.
With such a mouth shape, it was impossible to smoothly cast spells.
He barely managed a few non-verbal spells, but they weren't effective.
"Look, look, what are you going to do now, Snivellus? What good are those spells of yours? Do they make my hair stand up?" Potter brushed his hair and cast another Transfiguration spell, causing Snape's left arm to transform and grow a layer of ginger-colored fur.
There were gasps from the surrounding people because using Transfiguration on a human could have unpredictable side effects.
Lys frowned and pushed through the crowd to stand in front of Snape. "Human Transfiguration? Arrogant Mr. Potter, your mastery of Transfiguration is impressive. I wonder what Professor McGonagall thinks of your actions?"
Professor McGonagall didn't want to see it; every year, she had to deduct quite a few points from her house because of these troublemakers.
"Rat Skin, this is none of your business. You better stay away; haven't you been injured recently?" Potter's mouth twitched, but he still threatened arrogantly.
Lys laughed lightly, widened her eyes at Potter, and pulled off an exaggerated expression of disbelief. "Oh! The mighty, righteous Gryffindors are resorting to bullying an injured person with numbers now, are they?"
Lys raised her wand with her left hand. "I'll take you on with one hand, and you'll still lose to me! Now, move aside."
She lifted her chin and glared at the four in front of her. "Or should I say, scram!"
Insulting me? I can't beat four Death Eaters, but I can't beat you?
At this moment, Lys deeply felt how much she hated being compared to fools.
Three of the four recalled the scene of being kicked out of the Starry Sea Reading Room, all having the same thought:
When saying this, Starlis Black's demeanor was exactly like her mother's.
In front of so many people, Potter and Sirius Black naturally wouldn't lose face, planning to settle old scores along with new ones.
Potter's Transfiguration spell targeted the objects around Lys, attempting to attack and restrain her. The dumb dog's attacks were more straightforward and extremely harmful, while Remus Lupin began using obstacle spells to hinder Lys's movements.
Within two breaths, Lys had redirected those spells. Though her left hand had become more agile due to playing with Gagbone, it was still slightly inferior to her right hand.
Peter's sneak attack with a Freezing Charm hit Lys's left leg. Old bone injuries were most afraid of cold, and Lys was furious, disregarding technique and restraint. A large amount of magic was released, silently slamming two of them into the wall.
Another spell swept across Potter and Lupin's clothes, transforming them into a pile of caterpillars that scattered on the ground.
Lys initially intended to zap them, but pulling her injured leg caused her mouth to twitch, and she didn't know what she said.
Lupin was fortunate to still have pants, but Potter was left with only shorts, clutching his crotch tightly. They naturally couldn't retaliate, and amidst the laughter of the crowd, hurriedly found clothes, dragging the dazed dumb dog and Peter away.
Lys pointed her wand at the spot where Potter had stood and asked Snape, "What does Potter hide in his pants?"
Watching Snape blush from his face to his neck, Lys tilted her head. Did Snape not know either?
If he didn't know, he didn't know. Why was he blushing?
The counter-curse treatment was ultimately postponed. The Transfiguration spell Snape suffered extended into his bones, requiring Professor McGonagall to help stabilize him for two days of rest to solidify his form.
This incident resulted in Potter and his friends losing 30 points for Gryffindor, strongly demanded by Madam Pomfrey—not only was Snape dangerously transformed.
But also because when Lys's left leg was frozen, she hit her right hand hard against the protective gear, causing it to bleed profusely, though fortunately, only two wounds remained, and the Blood-Replenishing Potion and her body could still bear it.
Holding her bleeding arm, Lys said she was going to class, but was incredulously stopped by Madam Pomfrey. "Class! I'd be crazy to let you leave the infirmary again!"
Madam Pomfrey grumbled while tidying up, "This matter is simply outrageous. Minerva only deducted 30 points from these kids!"
And so, Lys was left to rummage through Snape's backpack for books to read. The two forcibly kept for observation ended up having a bit of a spat over why Lys shouldn't undress at midnight.
"I'm a girl, why can't I undress?" Lys asked, puzzled.
"You're a girl! Can't you be more mindful?"
Snape, looking everywhere but at Lys and trying to find Madam Pomfrey to save himself, replied, exasperated.
"Didn't your mother teach you not to let others, especially men, see your body?" Snape buried his head in the sheets, covering himself. Was she doing this on purpose?
After a moment of silence, Snape emerged from the sheets, breathing heavily, and saw Lys standing quietly by the bed.
"I don't know," Lys said softly. She stepped into her plush transformed slippers and went to the window. "I don't know; my mother doesn't like talking to me. She never told me this."
Snape paused; that wasn't the point...
But the atmosphere at the scene made it impossible for Snape to say what he wanted to.
Lys spent the night poring over Snape's potion notes, and when Snape woke the next morning, Lys was still wearing the same shirt and vest.
Snape was released by Madam Pomfrey, and he would return tomorrow for Lys's counter-curse treatment.
Lys could only stare blankly at the "Advanced Potions" book Snape left behind.
"Didn't your mother teach you..."
Mother...
By the time she could freely use her right hand again, the grass outside had started to sprout.
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