Snape, the Sunshine of Hogwarts.

What are your thoughts on Chapter 18? - Harry

"Go to the Ministry of Magic? Are you so eager to walk right into their trap?!"

On his way away from the Slughorn family home, Ghost Snape finally couldn't contain his suppressed dissatisfaction and uttered a sarcastic remark.

Severus certainly knew what he was unhappy about.

This greasy bat spirit didn't seem to heed what he said yesterday, and hasn't fully accepted the fact that the two of them are now one.

"Old Slughorn, use your never-washed brain and think it over. If I were really going to turn myself in right now, would I need to make Slughorn wait for Shackleton to come looking for him before admitting that I made the potion?"

Severus thought to himself speechlessly that Ghost Snape might not be confused, but rather asking the question on purpose to find a reason to mock him.

"Perhaps you don't care at all about the reputation I've maintained all these years!" Ghost Snape said coldly.

His words made Severus laugh.

"Hahaha! Your reputation? Don't be ridiculous, old Slytherin. You're a filthy Death Eater, a blatantly biased Slytherin headmaster. What good reputation do you think you have? Even a student like Percy is talking behind your back!"

Ghost Snape looked as terrible as a squash!
He had a bellyful of sarcastic and bitter words, but he couldn't utter a single one. He could only listen to Severus continue.

"But the old you had no reputation. From now on, I definitely can't let my reputation get so bad. Otherwise, when I travel around the magic world, everyone will gossip about me behind my back, which would be too embarrassing."

"I took the blame for that potion, but I can't just admit guilt without knowing the facts. I need to find out what actually happened first."

"We're going to the Ministry of Magic to find Shackleton. We won't find any useful clues with Slughorn, so let's go see the victim before the Aurors find out the source of the potion. Maybe we'll find something."

After saying a few more words, Severus noticed that Ghost Snape seemed so angry that he had closed his eyes and wouldn't even look at him. He stopped grumbling and stopped making a fool of himself.

In reality, while eating grapes from his pocket and following behind Severus, Harry couldn't help but ask the question that had been on his mind.

"Teacher, how did you determine that the potion belonged to that gentleman?"

Upon hearing his question, Severus gave an answer that seemed completely irrelevant.

"Because Dumbledore asked me to go and fetch him back."

Harry, who was eating grapes, was stunned.

Seeing his confusion, Severus explained further.

“Remember the letter I received yesterday at the Leaky Cauldron? It was written by Dumbledore, inviting Slughorn to take over my position at Hogwarts. He wants me to take this letter and persuade that stubborn, fame-seeking old man to return to Hogwarts.”

"If everything goes smoothly, this is basically an impossible task."

“As you just heard, Slughorn absolutely cannot accept being my replacement, as it would make him the laughingstock behind his back. But while Dumbledore does enjoy being a riddle-maker and has eccentric ideas, he would never assign someone a task that is impossible to complete. He must have known something beforehand.”

"What else could make Slughorn make a choice that damages his reputation? That potion of living hell that not just anyone can concoct is the clear answer."

Harry nodded, seemingly understanding.

He was only nine years old after all; there were many things he hadn't experienced, and many thoughts he hadn't considered. This wasn't exactly a good educational case. Nevertheless, Severus, like those annoying language arts teachers assigning reflections, asked the question.

"So, what are your thoughts on this, Harry?"

Harry hesitated for a moment, then said uncertainly.

"Teacher, are you saying that we shouldn't be discouraged when facing problems, and that as long as we face them positively, we can always find a solution?"

Severus laughed and said loudly.

"No, I want you to know that you need to be more careful when dealing with Dumbledore in the future!"

While Harry was still completely stunned, Severus laughed heartily and led him away from the town.

London, on a dirty street with a few dilapidated buildings, a pub, and a wall covered in graffiti.

Inside the dilapidated red telephone booth, Harry and Severus squeezed in, picked up the phone, and dialed "62442".

Just as the dial pad on the phone returned to its original position, a cold female voice suddenly came from above the phone booth.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and the purpose of your visit."

“Severus Snape and Dudley Dursley, we’re here to see Kingsley Shackleton of the Auror Office to assist with the investigation into the potion poisoning of Muggles.”

Harry looked up at the top in surprise. There was silence on the other side of the phone booth for about ten seconds, as if they were confirming and preparing something, before the voice resumed.

"Thank you, Professor Snape. Please take the badge and pin it on your clothes. Also, please keep an eye on the children."

Then, a clinking sound rang out, and two silver badges rolled out from the groove where the phone booth was originally used to return coins.

The two badges bore the names of Severus and Dudley, respectively, with the words "Cooperate with the investigation" written after each name.

They each picked up their own badge and pinned it to their clothes. Then, the phone booth suddenly began to vibrate.

Harry was startled and instinctively grabbed Severus's sleeve, watching in horror as they plummeted into the ground along with the phone booth floor!
That cold, accented female voice reminded him again, as usual.

"Guests from the Ministry of Magic, you will need to have your wands checked at the security checkpoint, located at the far end of the main hall."

The sinking lasted for more than a minute before they finally saw the light again.

The golden light first shone on their feet, then quickly expanded, eventually enveloping their entire bodies, making them realize that they were now in a magnificent golden hall!

"The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day." The woman's blessing revealed her weariness with her work.

The phone booth door suddenly opened, and Severus stepped out first. Harry, like a country bumpkin visiting the city for the first time, stared in disbelief at everything around him.

Two or three seconds later, he came to his senses again and quickly caught up with Severus.

(End of this chapter)