Snape's Sectumsempra was indeed a powerful spell. An ordinary cutting spell wouldn't have severed Adrian's chains so easily. Moreover, Sectumsempra was released with almost no warning and without any flashy effects, which made it particularly deadly.
Having secretly learned this spell before, Adrian understood this well.
Snape's attack came at Adrian again, with no intention of holding back. Adrian was prepared and reacted quickly the moment Snape raised his hand.
Adrian had preemptively cast the Shield Charm the instant Snape raised his hand.
Snape's spell hit the transparent shield, making a crisp impact sound before veering off and striking the corridor wall. A deep crack immediately appeared in the wall, with stone fragments flying and dust spreading.
Adrian breathed a slight sigh of relief but didn't relax his vigilance, knowing Snape's offensive wouldn't stop there.
A red beam of light shot straight at Adrian, who quickly sidestepped while counter-attacking: "Expelliarmus!"
Snape's reaction was extremely fast. Mimicking Adrian's earlier move, he flicked his wand lightly, deflecting the spell.
"Useless," He said. "I advise you, Professor Westeros, put your wand on the ground."
At that moment, Adrian quickly retreated, and countless vines suddenly emerged from beneath his robes. Fortunately, he had allowed the Devil's Snare to attach to his body when he left earlier, and now it was proving to be a formidable asset.
The Devil's Snare's tendrils spread rapidly, almost instantly occupying most of the corridor's walls, floor, and ceiling. The corridor's appearance suddenly became eerie.
Though surprised internally, Snape's expression remained calm. The moment the Devil's Snare appeared, he knew exactly how to deal with this type of plant.
A burst of intense flames shot out from the tip of his wand, directly toward the vines that were trying to approach him.
The moment the flames touched the vines, they hissed and quickly burned to ash, filling the air with a scorched smell.
However, the Devil's Snare's tendrils seemed endless—parts that had just been burned were quickly replaced.
Adrian stood surrounded by the vines, his expression still calm. With a gentle wave of his wand, the Devil's Snare's tendrils rapidly contracted at his command, forming a thick barrier in front of him, standing between himself and Snape.
"Dumbledore sent me here," Adrian's voice carried through the vine wall to Snape's ears. "I don't want to be your enemy, Professor Snape. But if you insist on fighting, I won't just sit back and take it."
However, Snape clearly had no intention of stopping. Another invisible, sharp air current pierced through the barrier made by the Devil's Snare, grazing Adrian's face as it flew past his ear.
Although Adrian had already moved to dodge, his face still bore a small cut that oozed a bit of blood.
Just as Snape prepared to cast another spell, a large mass of vines descended from the ceiling, lunging straight at him.
This forced Snape to abandon using "Sectumsempra" again and instead use fire spells to repel the Devil's Snare.
A jet of flames shot toward the approaching Devil's Snare, but this time, Snape had miscalculated.
He was surprised to discover several iron chains suddenly emerging from among the Devil's Snare tendrils, their surfaces glinting with cold metallic light, clearly unaffected by the flames.
The chains, like snakes, quickly wrapped around Snape's right arm, tightly binding his wrist. Snape's brow furrowed slightly, obviously not expecting the chains hidden within the vines.
He tried to wave his wand, but the chains' grip was extremely powerful, firmly restricting his movement. His right hand was tightly entwined by the chains, his veins bulging, his wand almost immobile.
"Adrian!" Snape's warning voice rang out.
Just as he was about to make another move, Adrian quickly waved his wand, casting a spell that he was all too familiar with.
An invisible, sharp air current shot straight at Snape's arm.
Snape quickly turned sideways, but due to the chains' restriction, Sectumsempra grazed his arm, leaving a wound of moderate depth. His expression changed, and under the pain of Sectumsempra, he involuntarily released his right hand.
The sound of his wand dropping to the ground was particularly clear.
Adrian naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity. With a thought, the Devil's Snare tendrils picked up Snape's wand and brought it to Adrian's side.
Adrian gently took Snape's wand with his other hand, and quietly looked at him.
Snape's face was so dark it seemed blood could drip from it. He covered the wound on his right arm with his left hand, his expression grim as he stared at Adrian.
After recalling all the Devil's Snare in the corridor back to his body, Adrian slowly walked up to Snape.
He smiled at Snape, then extended the wand to him, saying sincerely: "Professor Snape, I believe there's been a misunderstanding between us. I don't want to be your enemy; I just hope you can calm down and listen to my explanation."
Experience proved that when you win a fight, whatever you say becomes effective.
Snape finally listened to Adrian's words.
However, he didn't immediately take back his wand, instead coldly asking: "Where did you learn that spell?"
Adrian hadn't expected this to be Snape's first question.
"Ah—you mean Sectumsempra?" Adrian blinked at Snape, then explained: "From an old textbook left by a predecessor. The Half-Blood Prince... not a bad title, don't you think, Professor Snape?"
Snape was silent for a moment, then took back his wand and put it away.
"Still lacking in finesse, your spell," he replied coldly. "If it were me, I would have severed the entire arm."
Adrian shrugged, completely unbothered by Snape's attitude—he was used to it by now.
"Do you believe me now, Professor Snape?" Adrian put away his own wand, saying casually: "Dumbledore trusts me, so you can certainly give me a bit more trust as well."
However, Snape merely let out a cold snort.
The sound of a spell being cast came, and Adrian was surprised to find the bleeding cut on his face slowly beginning to heal.
Looking up, he saw Snape holding his wand. It seemed Snape had taken the initiative to treat his wound.
This made Adrian breathe a sigh of relief; he didn't want to fight with Snape again.
Next, Snape began healing his own arm.
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