nownovels Chapter 143 Severe Punishment
Chapter 143 Severe Punishment
Chapter 143 Severe Punishment
Although Snape's words were harsh, they pointed out the undeniable truth—this was a horrific violation of the rules.
Before this, the worst transgression Professor McGonagall had dealt with at Hogwarts was the Weasley twins and Peeves painting a classroom with paint.
The behavior of Harry and Ron now is far more serious than that.
Professor McGonagall glanced at the two panicked boys covered in wolves and foxes in front of her, and then at Snape standing beside her.
Snape stood outside the castle gates, half his body hidden in shadow, his usually gloomy face now filled with joy.
He is awaiting her verdict.
Professor McGonagall knew that any punishment below the "horrifying" standard would be immediately interpreted by Snape as utterly biased and would become an excuse for him to attack Gryffindor and himself in the future.
Hogwarts discipline must be upheld, and fairness—at least in form—must be maintained.
Thinking of this, she took a deep breath, and when she spoke again, her voice became unusually cold and clear, each word like a stone hitting the floor and striking the hearts of the two boys.
"Given the seriousness of your actions, the extremely dire potential consequences they could have, and the fact that they completely violate the rules of Hogwarts and the code of conduct expected of a Gryffindor student,"
She paused for a moment before making her final judgment.
"You two! 150 points deducted from each of you!"
The moment Professor McGonagall's words fell to the ground, Harry felt as if he had been slammed into hell.
He instantly recalled what had happened in the previous school year: in order to get rid of Hagrid's Norwegian spineback, he, Hermione, and Neville had a total of 150 points deducted, almost costing Gryffindor the House Cup.
That period was the most difficult time for him at Hogwarts. The strange looks and whispers from his classmates pierced his heart like sharp blades.
And now, just him and Ron have lost three hundred points!?
This practically sealed the fate of the Academy Cup competition.
Overwhelmed by immense fear and shame, he could already imagine what kind of pariah he would become in the common room, and even in the entire Gryffindor Tower, a pariah everyone would want to kill.
A desperate impulse drove him to grasp at the last straw. A thought flashed through his mind, and he blurted out almost immediately, "But—Professor! We weren't even on campus when we got on the bus! This—strictly speaking, this isn't a violation of campus rules!"
"Oh?" Snape immediately interrupted him with a slick, undisguised pleasure. "So, Potter, that Willow that's groaning in agony, does it grow in Hogsmeade? When you drove your ridiculous flying can of metal into it, didn't you already enter Hogwarts territory? Or does your pumpkin-juice-filled brain think the school's boundaries only extend to the castle gates?"
Harry was speechless, his face turning deathly pale.
Just then, Lin Qi spoke calmly.
His voice was like a piece of ice thrown into boiling water, instantly freezing the tense atmosphere for a moment and igniting a faint hope in Harry's heart.
"Strictly speaking, Professor Snape, the full implementation of school rules usually begins after the opening banquet and when students officially move into their dormitories. Tomorrow, September 2nd, is the start of the new semester's courses and full administration. Today, theoretically, is still part of the preparation period before the start of the semester."
Harry looked up at Uncle Lynch with surprise and gratitude in his eyes.
He didn’t expect that Uncle Lin Qi, who had previously been unfriendly to him, would speak up for him at this crucial moment, which meant that Uncle Lin Qi was not completely disappointed in him!
Snape abruptly turned to Lynch: "Whether a student's behavior is punished should not depend solely on when the behavior occurred! It should also depend on where it occurred!"
Lynch smiled. "I completely agree with you. The location of an action is very important. In this case, the action took place outside Hogwarts, but the consequences occurred within Hogwarts."
"So I agree to punish the two of them, but the punishment should not be borne by the entire Gryffindor school."
Snape's dark eyes narrowed even more, the cold rage within them almost materializing: "Sophistry, Professor Lynch! Their actions, no matter the day, are as foolish and dangerous as—"
"Enough!" Professor McGonagall took a deep breath and interrupted Snape, her expression shifting several times in a complex manner.
Lynch's words reminded her of the precision of the rules, but this did nothing to lessen the seriousness of the two boys' behavior.
Deducting 300 points may be too harsh in terms of procedure, but the punishment must not be lenient.
"Even considering the time factor, your actions are absolutely unforgivable!" Her gaze sharpened once more, becoming as keen as an eagle's. "Gryffindor loses one hundred points! For failing to teach you two fundamental principles of conduct!"
Harry and Ron's hearts sank simultaneously, but compared to the previous 300 points, this was almost a "relief"—although it was still a start that could crush a house.
However, Professor McGonagall's trial is not yet over.
"Furthermore, solitary confinement! Three months!" Her voice brooked no argument. "Every evening during the week and all of Saturday, you will be at the beck and call of your respective professors, handling the dirtiest and most exhausting tasks at Hogwarts! Until she deems you fully aware of your mistakes and have made amends for your destruction!"
She paused, her gaze especially fixed on Ron: "And I will write to both of your families immediately, detailing everything that happened tonight! I must let your parents know that their son almost got himself into St. Mungo's on the eve of school—or worse!"
Finally, she delivered the devastating verdict that was nothing short of a nightmare for Harry: "Mr. Potter, you are forbidden from participating in any Quidditch training or matches during this period! Until the end of your confinement! Mr. Weasley, you are also barred from the upcoming Quidditch Selections!"
"No! Professor!" Harry blurted out, his face turning even paler than when he heard about the deduction.
Not being able to play Quidditch? That's a million times more painful for him than cleaning toilets for a whole year.
Ron let out a groan; he had been waiting for the second-year school team tryouts, and now they were gone. "No room for negotiation!" Professor McGonagall snapped. "Now, go to the school hospital with Mrs. Pomfrey! I want you to look like you've done something right when I see you in class tomorrow!"
Mrs. Pomfrey immediately stepped forward and took the two distraught boys into her arms. "Alright, children, come with me. You need a strong calming potion and a night's rest."