HP: The Wizard Who Paints with Magic

Ethan's eyes shimmered with a genuine, unnerving light.

Snape was left speechless. It was like punching cotton; his words had no effect. This wasn't a question of whether the boy was "immersed" in his art or not. If he continued to be immersed, what would become of him?

"It seems Mr. Vincent's attitude towards the Dark Arts is more open than the general public," Snape mocked, snatching up the sketch. With a wave of his wand, the fireplace roared back to life, and threads of warmth finally filled the room again.

"Your task for tonight. Don't waste time. Begin." Snape pointed to the two large buckets of red and green slime on the floor, a malicious and expectant smirk playing on his lips. The last student he punished like this had ended up crying and throwing up. He couldn't wait to see this arrogant, conceited brat break down.

However, Snape soon realized he had rejoiced too soon.

Not only was Ethan not disgusted, but he even showed a look of pleasure. He squished and squashed the bloody rat livers, completely unconcerned even when the slime spattered onto his body and face. He smiled, his eyes gleaming with a strange, frenzied light, as if a serial killer were dismembering his prey, finding endless amusement in it.

This is bad, Snape thought, a deep chill running through him. I've given him inspiration. Every second spent in the same space as Ethan was torture.

"May I ask what you are thinking right now?" Snape couldn't hold back any longer.

Ethan blurted out, "Toad-men."

Snape stared. "?"

Ethan looked up, his face smeared with green slime, and smiled. "Imagine, Professor. If toads and humans were combined, what a magnificent artistic feast that would be. Humans and soft creatures… it's like the weakness in one's heart made manifest."

"Enough!" Snape roared, standing up abruptly. Just listening to Ethan's description gave him goosebumps. Evil, too evil! Had this child suffered some kind of trauma? How could his thoughts be so dangerous at such a young age?

Snape vanished the filth with a flick of his wand and stared coldly at Ethan, squeezing words through his teeth. "Do you think you are very impressive? Having an artistic talent that no one else possesses, making others find you terrifying—does that make you proud?"

Ethan blinked. "I didn't—"

"Do not interrupt a professor when he is speaking. Two points from Ravenclaw." Snape's lips curved in a triumphant smirk. "You caused severe damage to Mr. Malfoy before the start of term. I don't know how you did it, but is that how you treat your classmates? Perhaps I should suggest to the Headmaster that your bizarre and disgusting artworks be confiscated."

Ethan paused, then lowered his head.

Seeing this, Snape felt a long sigh of relief. Since he had begun teaching, no student had dared to defy him.

After several seconds of silence, a soft, sigh-like voice sounded.

"He has a pair of green eyes, Professor Snape."

"What?" Snape froze, not understanding.

"I said," Ethan looked up, meeting Snape's gaze directly, "Harry Potter has a pair of beautiful green eyes, just like Lily. Perhaps you've already noticed."

Snape's smile froze. His cheeks flushed with a sudden, violent anger. "If you wish to continue provoking me—"

"Malfoy said," Ethan interrupted again, "that if Harry Potter isn't careful, he'll die a miserable death just like his mother." Although Malfoy's original words were "Harry's parents," Ethan felt that temporarily removing "father" would have a better effect.

As expected, it was as if a pause button had been pressed. Snape froze completely, his eyes wide with disbelief. His mouth hung open, but no sound came out.

"So…" Ethan delivered the final blow in a gentle voice. "When I saw a child with such eyes being so insulted, I couldn't help but give Malfoy a little lesson. Professor Snape, was I wrong?"

Dead silence. Complete and utter dead silence. Snape stood rigid, as if petrified. In the room, only the crackling of the fireplace could be heard. If Ethan had a paintbrush at that moment and could have painted a pair of green eyes on Snape, the effect would surely have been even better. But even so, the damage was done.

After a long moment, Snape's anger returned to his face, but this time, it was clearly not directed at Ethan.

"Go… go fetch Malfoy for me…" Professor Snape's voice trembled with rage.

"Professor, my deducted points—"

"For your courage in defending a fellow student, ten points to Ravenclaw."

"Professor, my commission—"

Snape irritably pulled a handful of coins from his pocket and, without looking, shoved them into Ethan's hand.

Ethan didn't delay. Dropping a quick, "I'll go find Malfoy now," he turned and fled. It wasn't until he had run a good distance that he, panting, lowered his head and looked at the coins in his hand by candlelight.

There were five gleaming Galleons, along with some Sickles and Knuts. Enough for him to use better materials to redraw a more durable, higher-grade One-Look Open Door. He had become well-off in an instant.

Slowly, very slowly, Ethan's lips curved upward. It was his most sincere smile since the start of the term. Standing in the dark, damp corridor, illuminated by the flickering candlelight, he appeared incredibly terrifying.

Ethan found Malfoy outside the Slytherin common room, bragging to his cronies. Seeing Ethan, they all showed nervous yet triumphant expressions.

"Professor Snape is looking for you," Ethan said.

"Looking for me?" Malfoy was puzzled for a moment, but then it clicked. Professor Snape must want to punish Ethan in front of me. He knew it. How could Professor Snape let Ethan off with just a chore after what he'd done? His eyes darted around, and he came up with an even more humiliating plan.

He nudged his cronies. "You don't mind if my friends come along, do you, Ethan? Or… are you too embarrassed for them to hear?" The cronies snickered.

Ethan blinked and kindly advised, "I think it's better if only you go, actually." After all, hell awaits.

However, Malfoy clearly misunderstood. Thinking Ethan was scared, his smugness intensified. "Stop wasting time! Come on, let's go together!" The Slytherins smiled maliciously and followed.

Ethan shrugged. He had warned them. If they wouldn't listen, what could he do?

They arrived at the Potions office. The door was ajar, revealing Professor Snape's back in the dimly lit room. Malfoy smirked, glanced at the calm Ethan, knocked on the door, and walked in.

"Professor Snape—"

"For insulting a fellow student, ten points from you, Mr. Malfoy." Snape slowly turned, his gloomy, icy voice slithering like a snake into everyone's ears.

(End of Chapter)

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