Snape, the Sunshine of Hogwarts.

Chapter 15 Continuing Slytherin's Glory

Horace Slughorn, a renowned wizard in the British magical world, a social butterfly who moves in high society, and a master potions master, has not attended or hosted a party for a week.

He's been in a bad mood lately.

A week ago, he spent three days searching his house from top to bottom, and then spent two more days using the connections he had cultivated over the years to gather all sorts of information. Now he's in his own home, tearing his hair out in worry.

And on this very day, both the weather and the air quality were completely different from yesterday, making it a remarkably sunny day.

Two uninvited guests knocked on the gate of his old family house.

As one of the oldest wizarding families in the UK, the Slughorn family naturally has house-elves as family heirlooms.

After greeting the two guests who rang the doorbell, the little elf named Raka quickly found his owner.

“Severus Snape?” Slughorn was surprised to hear the name.

He certainly hadn't forgotten the name of his former student, not only because Severus had taken over all his positions and become the new generation of Potions Master, but also because of his particularly unsettling identity ten years ago!

But Slughorn, sitting in the soft recliner, only muttered twice, "What's he doing here?" "Haven't been in touch for years?" "He won't even come to a party when invited," before having Raka bring the two guests in.

Regardless of Severus's past identity, Dumbledore stood by him during the great trial following the disappearance of the Man of Void.

Slughorn never doubted Dumbledore's judgment.

Since Dumbledore believed Severus was fine, Slughorn completely believed he was fine too.

Soon, the student he hadn't seen much in six or seven years was led by a house-elf, along with a boy who looked no more than 10 years old, into the old house.

Slughorn was immediately stunned when he saw Severus.

Although the memories from ten years ago are somewhat hazy, Severus's image has still appeared in some magical newspapers and magazines over the years.

He always had that gloomy, indifferent, and eccentric image, not caring much about his appearance, and always dressed in a long black robe.

But what is this Severus now?
Anyone who knows him can imagine a Severus Snape with a ponytail, neat clothes, a smiling face, and clear eyes.
If it weren't for the fact that his face hadn't changed at all, with that aura and that smile, Slughorn would almost have thought that it was a young Dumbledore standing in front of him!
"Professor Slughorn!"

Severus took the initiative to greet his old professor, whom he hadn't contacted for many years.

"It's been a long time! I'm so glad to see that you still have the same radiance as before. Time seems to have left no trace on you!"

Upon hearing this, Slughorn looked as if he had seen a ghost!

No, that's not right. He wouldn't be this shocked if he really saw a ghost.

"Who are you!"

Slughorn nervously stood up from the recliner, his right hand already touching the wand that had been on the coffee table.

His alarmed demeanor made even the loyal little elf Laka on the side become alert.

Harry, who had been focused on Raka and examining this humanoid creature he had never seen before, was startled and instinctively took two steps back, hiding half of his body behind Severus.

Severus was somewhat speechless. He blinked and met Slughorn's wary gaze with a wry smile.

"Professor, I am Severus Snape."

Your reaction is that of a monster Snape!
Slughorn's face darkened, and his displeasure was palpable.

"Stop joking, Albus! I know it's you! You're not a kid anymore, this kind of joke isn't funny!"

Severus didn't understand how Slughorn had mistaken him for Dumbledore, but he knew he had to find a way to prove his identity.

Fortunately, proving that he is who he is is not difficult for him at all.

As a master of Occlumency, even someone as powerful as Voldemort could not peek into Severus's memories. Moreover, having dealt with potions for many years, only a very few people in the wizarding world have the same amount of potion knowledge as Severus.

He briefly recounted a few moments from their school days, including several private conversations between the two.

He touched the crucible lying on the edge of the living room and said that the last time Slughorn used this pot to brew a stimulant was probably when he was drunk.

He then convinced Slughorn that the man in front of him, who no matter how he looked, did not resemble Snape at all, was indeed Severus Snape!
"Unbelievable! You...unbelievable! What could have happened to cause such a dramatic change in a person!"

Slughorn scrutinized Severus with a look of astonishment that swept over him from head to toe like a searchlight.

If this change happened overnight, then of course it's inexplicable, and it can't be faked.

So Severus never intended to hide it from Dumbledore; Severus Snape's core had actually already changed.

But for Slughorn, who hadn't communicated or contacted his students for many years, this change can be explained by time.

“Everyone changes,” Severus said calmly. “Especially after what happened eight years ago, she died in that disaster. It was from that incident that I gradually began to emerge from my former self.” Hidden inside him, the ghost Snape, who had been coldly observing Severus’s initial humiliation when they first met, suddenly revealed a chilling, man-eating gaze.

Because he spoke so cryptically, Harry, who sat down on the sofa with Severus, didn't understand what his teacher was talking about.

But Slughorn clearly understood.

He favored talented young people, and among Severus's classmates, no one was more talented than that girl.

When he talked about this, a look of gloom and frustration appeared on his face.

However, Slughorn quickly composed himself, accepted the black tea offered by Raka, and also noticed the gift Severus had brought specifically for him.

A whole box full of all kinds of magic candies.

That's right, Slughorn, like Dumbledore, is also an extreme sweet tooth; he loves all things sweet.

"This change is a good thing for you."

He praised her lightly, "I still remember the shock I felt when I first learned you were employed at Hogwarts. It's unbelievable that you were only 21 years old, just three years after graduating! Even now, at only 29, I heard you've already led Slytherin to four consecutive House Cup and Quidditch Cup victories!"

"However, why didn't you respond when I invited you to my banquets so many times after that?" Slughorn suddenly changed the subject.

Severus gave a sincere answer to this.

"At that time, I devoted myself entirely to teaching at the school and researching potions. I couldn't take my energy away from it. You should understand, Professor."

Slughorn believed his "heartfelt words," but Ghost Snape was already fed up with Severus's readily available "sincerity."

The former Headmaster of Slytherin, sitting in a recliner, smiled relaxedly and took a sip of his black tea.

“Of course I understand, Severus. When I first came to Hogwarts, I was much more focused than you are.”

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Harry, who was sitting next to Severus.

The boy with black hair looked strangely familiar to him.

Especially those eyes, yet he couldn't find the legendary lightning scar on the boy's forehead.

"Who is this"

“My friend’s child is not yet of school age to attend Hogwarts, so I’m taking him out to travel around and broaden his horizons.”

"What's his last name?" Slughorn asked while sipping his tea.

“Dusley Dursley.” This time, Harry took the initiative to say his pseudonym.

Upon hearing this surname, which was completely unfamiliar to the wizarding world, Slughorn remained unfazed, clearly having lost interest in Harry.

He then continued his conversation with Severus.

The two had a lot in common.

From various studies on potions to the recent discovery of some rare materials, the conversation then shifted to interesting anecdotes that happened at Hogwarts, and finally to the Ministry of Magic's various measures regarding education and examinations in recent years.

Finally, Severus could hear the sadness hidden in Slughorn's eyes when he talked about how many of the wizards who had graduated from Hogwarts in recent years didn't even know him.

"If you could return to teach at Hogwarts, Professor, you would certainly be very popular," Severus said casually, steer the conversation toward the main purpose of his visit.

Slughorn, however, paid no attention to the deeper meaning of his words, and simply patted his large belly lightly, sighing.

"But clearly Hogwarts doesn't lack teachers these days, well, the Defense Against the Dark Arts position is another story."

"We're not just missing a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, we're also missing a Potions professor and the Headmaster of Slytherin."

Severus suddenly said.

His words startled Slughorn, who took two or three seconds to react before meeting Severus's eyes again.

Without keeping them in suspense any longer, Severus took out Dumbledore's letter and handed it to Slughorn.

“I can see that you miss the days when you taught at Hogwarts, and now Hogwarts is in dire need of a renowned and talented wizard like yourself to continue Slytherin’s glory.”

Slughorn looked down and read the entire letter, and also heard Severus's sincere invitation.

But instead of showing any joyful smile, his expression turned ugly.

(End of this chapter)