Chapter 86: Devil’s Snare
With the automatic cleaning set in place, Snape's detentions became much easier to handle. That night, George spent just over an hour polishing all the cauldrons in the Potions classroom.
He did it so skillfully that Filch, who was standing nearby, didn't notice anything unusual—although he did find it a bit odd. He simply assumed that George, with all his detention experience, had gotten exceptionally good at it. Not that Filch was bragging, but he figured he could clean a few cauldrons himself in about half an hour.
Satisfied that everything was in order, Filch eventually left with George.
The next morning, George made a point of sharing his story with everyone. At the Gryffindor table, he recounted his late-night escapades in the Potions classroom, claiming he'd discovered a letter addressed to Snape in one of the abandoned cauldrons, only for Filch to confiscate it. While he never explicitly said it, George's hints were clear—the letter was supposedly a love letter. This bit of innuendo sent the Gryffindor girls into a frenzy; they didn't care if it was true, as long as it was entertaining.
Meanwhile, Kyle, over at the Hufflepuff table, was delighted too, though his happiness had nothing to do with Snape gossip. His excitement stemmed from the fact that they had Herbology class that day. Professor Sprout had announced at the end of their last lesson that they were wrapping up the study on rue and would soon begin learning about Devil's Snare. Nothing could be better news.
After breakfast, Kyle and the other Hufflepuffs joined the Gryffindors on the way to the greenhouses outside the castle.
"Why do I get the feeling you're unusually excited?" Kanna asked, glancing at Kyle. "The book says Devil's Snare is a very dangerous plant. Aren't you worried?"
"It's fine," Kyle quickly hid his grin. "Devil's Snare might sound scary, but it's really not that dangerous. If you know how to handle it, it's tamer than a Puffskein."
"Exactly,"