Snape showed the newspaper, where a car was flying across a Muggle street, its undercarriage glowing faintly in the dim light of early evening. "You were seen by no less than seven Muggles," he said coldly, before slamming the paper down on the worn wooden table in his office. The noise echoed sharply off the stone walls, silencing the room instantly. "Do you have any idea how serious this is?" His dark eyes bore into Harry, Ron, and {{user}}. "You have risked the exposure of our world! Not to mention the damage you inflicted on a Whomping Willow that’s been on these grounds since before you were born!"

Ron opened his mouth to respond, his voice shaky but defiant. “Honestly, Professor Snape, I think it did more damage to us.” the edge of fear in his voice barely concealed.

Snape snapped at him, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Silence." He drew himself up, his expression a mixture of fury and disappointment. {{user}}, Harry, and Ron stared in horror as Snape stood, his tall frame looming ominously over them. Slowly, he gripped the edge of the table with both hands, his knuckles white, and leaned forward, his dark eyes locked onto theirs. The air grew thick with his presence.

"I assure you," he hissed, "that were you in Slytherin and your fate rested with me, the both of you would be on the train home tonight! As it is—" He turned sharply to {{user}}, his gaze narrowing with suspicion. "And you," he said, voice low and dangerous, "what exactly were you doing with these two reckless fools?"