Chapter 19: Unlucky Harry and Ron

Dusk had fallen, taking with it the cheerful laughter and merriment that had pervaded the atmosphere. Harry and Ron felt the weight of their predicament pressing down on them, their spirits dampened.

Whether everyone at Hogwarts was looking at them differently, they couldn't say. However, when they were hauled into the imposing presence of Professor Snape, his solemn face and frosty demeanor made it abundantly clear where he stood on the matter.

"Well, well, well, the miraculously competent Harry Potter and the perpetual troublemaker, Ronald Weasley, in all your misplaced glory." Snape sneered with a malicious tinge in his voice.

They had the audacious appearance of escapees from a disastrous misadventure. Their clothes in tatters, barely clinging onto their bodies. Ron's wand, split in half, was precariously held together by jagged splinters of wood. His arm rested at an unnatural angle, the agony from the fracture turning him deathly pale, lips trembling incessantly and anguished whimpers escaping his throat.

As for Harry, he stood hunched beside Ron, faring no better with a steady stream of blood trickling down his face. If the extent of their injuries was to be judged from their appearances alone, Harry's condition seemed even more pitiful.

The car they had commandeered had lost control moments before reaching Hogwarts, ploughing them directly into the Whomping Willow at the rear of the castle. The furious tree retaliated as if its life was under grave threat, savagely attacking the marauders till they finally managed to limp away.

Harry felt an intense light-headedness washing over him, a nauseating sense of vertigo that threatened to have him retching. His injury was not the handiwork of the Whomping Willow; instead, he had been thrown forcefully against the windshield when the car had collided with the tree. He attempted to string together a response, forcing the words past his stiffening lips.

"Professor... I think we…"

"Silence" Snape sharply interjected, his voice as cold as the winter breeze.

"Don't you dare attempt to move from this spot!" He ordered, confining them to a tiny room adjoining the Great Hall. Snape soon reappeared, bearing two medicinal potions.

"Drink these." Snape instructed, thrusting the potions toward them.

Harry's instinctual suspicion and resistance flared up at the sight of the potions, but Snape's terrifying and unyielding gaze quickly subdued his apprehension. He conceded, the bitter potion quickly warming his insides and noticeably easing his discomfort. Encouraged by Harry's recovery, the injured Ron followed suite, the pain slowly ebbing away, leaving him in a marginally better condition.

Though the faint flicker of gratitude towards Snape ignited briefly, it was swiftly extinguished by his subsequent icy words.

"So, the famous pair of miscreants have finally arrived. You have ridden an unauthorized vehicle, revealing yourselves to the Muggles, found fame in the daily newspapers, and even succeeded in inflicting damage upon the school's invaluable Whomping Willow. An impressive operation indeed, Mr. Potter!"

Leaning back in his chair smugly, he lamented, "What a pity it's not within my jurisdiction to expel you. However, rest assured I'll seek out someone who possesses such privileges. Just sit still."

Exiting the room, a satisfied smirk plastered on his stern face, Snape abandoned the pair to wallow in their misery and guilt.

"The damned tree was practically homicidal. It nearly killed us!" Ron complained.

Harry, gingerly cleaning the blood off his face, replied, "It didn't want to kill us. It considered us a threat."

"Why on earth is our luck so horrendous today? First, the platform 9¾ wall, then the malfunctioning car and finally, almost getting murdered by a tree!" Ron groaned.

"Don't forget, our repeated mishaps might just cost us our place at Hogwarts."

The reality of the circumstances sank in, filling the air with a heavy silence and making their hearts plummet in unison. They both knew they were in hot water, and given the severity of their offense, it was doubtful that even Professor McGonagall or Dumbledore would show them leniency.

However, Dumbledore would never resort to expulsion. Upon learning about their ill-fated adventure, he handed the responsibility of metting out suitable punishment to Professor McGonagall while he returned to the welcome feast taking place in the Great Hall.

In the Great Hall, the students savoured their feast in animated conversations as Sherlock Forester concluded his brief exchange with Professor Flitwick. However, it was mostly the smaller professor chattering away about strategies and experiences handling the disobedient students of Hogwarts, sporadically punctuated with agreement from the tall newcomer.

The celebrations were momentarily silenced as Dumbledore rose from his seat. The serene voice reverberated across the Great Hall, "I am delighted to introduce a new addition to our staff, Prof Sherlock Forester."

Applause filled the room. Even though it wasn't extravagantly enthusiastic, it wasn't lukewarm either. Sherlock's attractive, cordial demeanor had impressed the majority of the Hogwarts' residents, especially the young ladies.

As the evening concluded and the students filtered out of the Great Hall, Sherlock was led to his accommodation by Argus Filch. The caretaker was vocal in his praise, "Professor Forester, I'm delighted you've returned as a teacher at Hogwarts."

Ignoring the blatant flattery, Sherlock replied nonchalantly, "I promised at my graduation, I'd return. I'm keeping my word."

He then casually inquired, "Do you patrol the castle at night?"

To which Filch responded, "On the first night of the term, some disobedient students venture around. So, after I show you to your accommodations, I'll conduct a brief patrol."

Sherlock acknowledged kindly, expressing his intentions to join in, securing an opportunity to reacquaint himself with the castle that has been his home away from home for seven years.