HP - Shadow Monarch! [BOOK 1]

Chapter 170 - Shadow creatures?

[Chapter Size: 1800 Words.]

Third Person POV

Hogwarts.

...

...

The Forbidden Forest was beginning to fill with Aurors, centaurs, and even professors from the school, all trying to find the source of the events amidst the chaos while also attempting to control the fire. Some of them managed to catch glimpses of shadows, but there wasn't much they could do beyond reporting it. No one could say exactly what was going on.

Madam Rosmerta was calmly cleaning a glass after witnessing all the commotion in the forest. She had already opened her shop, despite having no customers, as people were still out watching the burning spots in the distance during the early hours of the morning while the sun was about to rise.

Her gaze lifted from the glass when she saw someone entering her tavern at that very moment, making her raise an eyebrow.

"A student?" she said immediately, almost accusatorily, upon seeing the Slytherin student stopping at her counter with the utmost nonchalance. She remembered seeing him there only once before, last year at the beginning of the term.

"You shouldn't be here. Did you sneak out of school?" she asked, eyeing him with some suspicion.

"I came to check out the commotion in the forest and figured I'd have a Butterbeer while I'm at it. After all, it's been a long time since I last had one," Snape said.

"This could get you into trouble," she remarked.

"Just like many other students who sneak out of school, isn't that right?" he raised an eyebrow, knowing full well that there were always a few students who managed to slip out unnoticed throughout the year, outside of the scheduled Hogsmeade visits.

"Whatever, that's your problem. You want a Butterbeer, right?" she said as she began preparing the drink.

Within two minutes, she was placing the tankard on the counter in front of Snape.

He took a sip.

"I'm surprised you're opening the bar while the entire town is watching the forest. Some are even helping with the search," Snape commented, taking another sip. He had only tasted this drink once before.

"Yes, everything was quiet until I started hearing explosions. Flames started rising in various parts of the Dark Forest. They say it started in the acromantula nests," she replied before continuing.

"It seems no one knows for sure, but honestly, I don't feel the least bit sorry for them after what they did. They killed a student yesterday," Snape said.

"So, that means someone went after them... Not just them, but all their nests?" she asked.

Snape listened and simply shrugged, offering no response.

He finished his Butterbeer and decided to leave.

Upon returning to the school, he walked through the corridors. He noticed many people pointing at the windows, watching the smoke on the horizon. Several areas of the Forbidden Forest had burned.

He made his way to the Great Hall. It was still earlier than he usually arrived, but he sat at the Slytherin table, satisfied after all his nighttime activities.

Only Professor Flitwick was at the staff table, while all the other professors were probably in the Forbidden Forest, assisting the Ministry of Magic officials.

"You're already here?"

It was at that moment that Clarisse approached and sat beside him, surprised to see Snape there so early.