Phineas Burke and Hector Rook were two third-year Slytherin students under Tarquin's command. As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. They both deeply believed in the pure-blood ideology, so they were naturally attracted to Tarquin, who also believed in pure-blood supremacy and was very high-profile. Coupled with their naturally unruly personalities, they gradually gathered under Tarquin's influence.
The two of them knew about Sean. They had known about this audacious first-year since the beginning of the school term. Naturally, when they looked at Sean, they found him very displeasing. However, considering that Sean was somewhat related to the powerful Bulstrode family, they had not yet come to trouble him.
Now, with a conflict of interest and Tarquin's direct orders, they both came cheerfully to block Sean, ready to teach him a lesson.
This time, with Tarquin's instructions, Phineas Burke and Hector Rook didn't choose to block Sean at the entrance of the Potions Club. Instead, they chose the entrance of the Slytherin Common Room. This place was far from Snape's office, separated by a Potions classroom and a Potions warehouse. Even if they fought, they wouldn't be discovered by Snape.
Returning from the Potions Club, Sean's face was full of helplessness.
Just as the club had ended, the Slytherin Snake King had given Sean another small note. As usual, it was a book list, this time listing eight books. Although it seemed shorter than the previous lists, Sean knew very well that the thickness of each of these eight books was comparable to two books from the previous lists.
Moreover, three of these eight books belonged to the Restricted Section. Therefore, along with the book list, Sean was also given Snape's signed permission to enter the Restricted Section. Sean couldn't even find an excuse to be lazy.
The Snake King's favoritism was so heavy it made Sean want to transfer to Gryffindor.
Of course, if he really dared to do that, the Snake King would likely pull out his wand and hit him with a Killing Curse, eliminating the Slytherin traitor on the spot.
Holding his books, Sean looked at the entrance of the Slytherin Common Room ahead. Just as he was about to say the password, he suddenly saw Phineas Burke and Hector Rook walking out from the dark corridor beside him.
Although Sean didn't know them, the moment he saw them, Sean knew they meant trouble.
"You are Sean Bulstrode? Are you interested in playing with us?"
Looking at them, Sean's expression became a little strange. He took a step back and refused very bluntly, "Sorry, I am male and prefer females. I really have no interest in playing with you two. Go find someone else. If absolutely necessary, I can recommend first-year Draco Malfoy to you. He might be very happy to play with you two."
Phineas Burke and Hector Rook's expressions both stiffened slightly, but soon, Phineas Burke stepped forward again and said to Sean, "Sean Bulstrode, there are some things you can't escape. I know you can understand, so either you come with us, or we'll do it here and then take you away!"
Sean looked at them. At this moment, he also realized that these two were very likely Dorian and Tarquin's people. However, while he understood this in his heart, he still said, "Hiss… you actually covet me so much. Well, I have no choice then. I can only play with you two."
Raising his hand, Sean's wand was instantly in his grip. Without the slightest hesitation, he continuously waved the wand in his hand, drawing streaks of dark green trajectory.
"Incarcerous!"
From the ground, thorny vines with sharp barbs quickly grew, spreading along the stone floor and walls towards Phineas Burke and Hector Rook.
Seeing Sean make the first move, Phineas Burke and Hector Rook also immediately pulled out their wands and cast spells in Sean's direction. One used the Petrification Curse, and the other used the Disarming Charm. Their movements were quite skilled, definitely among the better spellcasters for third-year students, but only "quite skilled."
Thorny vines appeared in front of Sean, coiling up like shields to block Phineas Burke and Hector Rook's spells. Seeing this, Phineas Burke immediately wanted to cast the Flame Charm, but before he could finish chanting the spell, Hector Rook stopped him.
"It's too narrow here, we can't use the Flame Charm! We'll hurt ourselves!"
"Then what should we do?"
"Use the Cutting Curse! Use it a few more times, that can deal with these vines!"
Hearing Hector Rook's words, Phineas Burke was about to use the Cutting Curse. But at this moment, the two of them suddenly saw a bright ball of fire appear in the dim corridor. Immediately after, the fire quickly spread, expanding along the thorny vines. Sean, on the opposite side, had actually set fire to the thorny vines he had summoned himself!
"This guy is really crazy, he'll be caught in the flames himself," Phineas Burke muttered.
Phineas Burke and Hector Rook felt the scorching fire in front of them and quickly retreated, no longer caring about Sean.
And at this moment, streams of fire shot out from the blaze. Looking closely, inside these flames were vines that hadn't completely burned. Clearly, Sean had shot these vines over, and the flames on the vines flew along with them.
"Is this just a first-year?"
"Stop talking so much! Aguamenti!"
A stream of water shot out from Hector Rook's wand, extinguishing the flames on the incoming vines.
Water and fire met, immediately generating a large amount of steam, obscuring their vision.
This made the visibility, which was already poor due to the large fire, even harder to see through.
Subconsciously, Hector Rook felt a bad premonition, but it was too late. A figure, with reactions and speed surpassing ordinary people, darted along the ground to Hector Rook and Phineas Burke's side. Before the two of them could react, two hands reached out from thin air, one for each, grabbing Phineas Burke and Hector Rook by the ankles. He actually lifted the two of them up and slammed them against the wall and ground twice consecutively, instantly knocking Hector Rook unconscious.
Although Phineas Burke didn't immediately fall unconscious, his whole body ached as if it were falling apart, and he had no strength to resist at all.
Casually throwing Phineas Burke and Hector Rook onto the ground, Sean glanced at the still-conscious Phineas Burke, then followed with a punch to his face, making him completely unconscious. Only then did he wave the wand in his hand, completely extinguishing the flames and clearing away all traces on the ground.
Not long after, Snape arrived. He looked at Phineas Burke and Hector Rook lying on the ground, then glanced at Sean, who was using magic to clean the last stain on the corridor. The corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. He said, "Go back and rest. I'll handle this."
Sean looked at Snape and felt he should explain, "Professor, the two of them suddenly…"
"The two of them fainted after failing a magic experiment," Snape cut him off. "If there's nothing else, go back to sleep. Otherwise, I'll have to deduct a point from my own House because a student didn't listen to advice and was wandering around at night."
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