Because this was an advanced class, there were only sixteen students in the room.
And whether by coincidence or not, exactly four students from each of the four houses had met Snape's cutoff for the advanced class.
In any case, compared with their previous lessons, the number of students in this class had dropped sharply.
That change alone made it obvious that from sixth year onward, Hogwarts had begun moving toward a more elite form of education.
It also meant the professor could keep much better control over every student in the advanced class.
Even so, Snape, standing at the front of the room, didn't seem to notice the little movements going on between Draco and Pansy below.
Of course, that was probably because most of Snape's attention was focused on mocking Harry Potter.
It had to be said, Snape really was remarkably "persistent" when it came to Harry Potter...
...
The focus shifted to Draco.
More precisely, to Pansy.
After first fussing over the length of Draco's fingers, Pansy suddenly began studying the silver patterns on his robe instead. The seriousness of her movements made it seem as though she were examining something incredibly important...
As her fingertips gently traced the fabric, as though she could sense the fierce power hidden beneath the robe, Pansy spoke softly.
"Draco, did you notice?"
"Hm?"
"Have you noticed the way Potter looks at you? It's kind of hateful. He was always like that before, but lately it's gotten even worse."
As if she had sensed someone looking over, Pansy, who had still looked sweet and dreamy just a moment ago, instantly straightened up. The cool, aloof air on her face made it hard to connect her with the Pansy from just now.
But that was the Pansy Parkinson most people knew.
Not the little puppy who looked as though Draco had just slipped a collar around her neck...
But if you looked closely, you could still see the faint flush on Pansy's cheeks and the uneasy way her body shifted.
Because resting on her soft thigh was a heat that felt capable of melting her, along with a strange sensation darting through her like an electric current.
It was Draco's hand.
And it was the culprit behind the unusual look on Pansy's face...
Under the table.
The feel of that expensive magic ice silk made Draco reluctant to let go. As his hand moved, he even had the illusion that his thoughts were becoming clearer.
Well... whether the magic ice silk on Pansy's legs really had that kind of effect, no one knew, but doing something like this in class really was unlike Draco.
It had to be said, Draco had seemed as though some switch had been flipped lately. His behavior had grown noticeably bolder.
Especially now that, in the mind once filled with nothing but the pursuit of knowledge and thoughts of resisting the Dark Lord, there were also impulses born of pure instinct.
Just like what Draco was doing to Pansy right now.
Though to be fair, Pansy had been the one to provoke him first...
...
A body that shifted and yet stayed stiff.
Eyes full of anticipation, yet mixed with pleading.
Pansy couldn't understand how such contradictory feelings could exist inside her at the same time.
And as time passed, the unfamiliar sensations rising from deep within her body slowly left her mind blank. The hand gripping Draco's arm unconsciously tightened as well.
Just as Pansy was on the verge of letting a soft sound slip from her throat, Hermione, sitting beside them, finally sensed that something was off and looked over.
Naturally unwilling to let Hermione notice anything, Pansy hurriedly bit down and forced her expression back under control...
"W-What are you looking at?"
"You seem weird."
"Ugh... you're the weird one... ah!"
"Ah?"
When Hermione saw Pansy suddenly let out that soft cry and then drop forward onto the desk, a clear look of astonishment crossed her face.
What was this woman doing?
Of course, Hermione, unable to see Pansy's expression clearly, had no idea what was actually happening.
And she would never have guessed that Draco would dare do something so improper right under Snape's nose, something no one else could see.
But a girl's intuition, along with that subtle little cry Pansy had just made, still made Hermione turn a suspicious glance toward Draco at once...
Meeting Hermione's gaze, Draco, whose face showed no trace of guilt, reminded her, "Stop looking around. Don't forget Snape would love nothing more than to strip Gryffindor of every last point."
"...."
Other than matters involving Draco, points were Hermione's weak spot. So the moment she heard that, she immediately withdrew her gaze and put on the serious face of someone paying close attention in class.
What she didn't know was that Snape had already noticed the commotion on Draco's side.
The main reason he ignored it, however, still had to do with Harry Potter...
Just as Pansy had said earlier.
Harry Potter had seemed far more irritable than usual lately. Whether that was because his good friend Ron hadn't shown up at school, no one knew.
At the front of the room.
"Pathetic, Potter. You can't even manage a spell as simple as a Nonverbal Spell?"
"..."
"Come here. Let me show you."
It turned out that while Hermione had been distracted, Harry Potter had already been called to the front by Snape.
And from the sound of it, Harry Potter was being picked on because of his performance with Nonverbal Spells.
Originally, everyone had assumed Harry Potter would endure Snape's venom the same way he always did, and today's lesson would end there.
At worst, Harry Potter might snap back a little, and then Gryffindor would lose points as usual.
But today, Harry Potter did the very thing every wizard wanted to do but didn't dare...
In an instant, Snape suddenly pointed his wand at Harry Potter. Harry Potter reacted on instinct and completely forgot all about the Nonverbal Spell.
He raised his wand and shouted, "Expelliarmus!"
Harry Potter, who truly was skilled in this area, caught Snape completely off guard. Snape only had time to lift his wand in defense before the blow knocked him off balance and sent him crashing hard into the table beside him.
Bang!
A vase and books crashed to the floor.
Snape staggered there in disarray.
As that scene unfolded, the air turned heavy and still.
And sure enough, Snape's face was twisted with fury.
"Do you remember that I told you we were practicing Nonverbal Spells, Potter?"
"I do."
"Yes, sir."
"There is no need to call me 'sir,' Professor."
If what had just happened could still be called an accident, then Harry Potter's deliberate provocation afterward truly shocked everyone.
The next second.
Draco clearly saw the look on Snape's face, twisted, yet still restrained as he fought to keep from losing control.
It seemed that this time, Snape had really been enraged by Harry Potter...