HP: Let professors walk towards the light

"Although it is indeed your fault, there is nothing to be sorry about. At least we made it back successfully - if now is the right time and place." Snape said.

"Yes, this is my home. I can only bring you here first."

"Then I am really lucky—"

"Well, I've already written to Dumbledore about Hogwarts. He'll take care of it. You should just rest up in the manor. I can help you with anything you need."

"Of course I need you. I need you - don't give me your weird potions anymore. I don't want to become a potion professor who is poisoned by potions."

"Then...are potions bought from St. Mungo's okay?"

Snape rolled his eyes at her.

?

Hogwarts Headmaster's Office.

"You just came back? How's Severus?"

Dumbledore asked as he looked at Reyna who had walked out of the fireplace.

"Thank you for your Phoenix Tears. He... is fine now."

"That's good, but I have to add that it's Fawkes's stuff." Dumbledore smiled kindly, "But you didn't come here just to say thank you."

Reina didn't look particularly relaxed.

"You said you promised me, didn't you?"

After hearing this, Dumbledore's tone became serious: "What happened to you?"

"My time magic took Snape and I to a place where we met Nagini."

"So what's your point?"

"Everything. I will dedicate time magic to Voldemort, get close to him, and find a way to kill Nagini. But you must abide by the agreement - everything about Snape." Reina was a little serious.

"That was your plan?" said Dumbledore.

"I no longer care about your plan. Potter, please make your own arrangements. You can still come to me if you need anything, but--" Lena placed a roll of brown paper in front of him.

Dumbledore unwrapped the ribbon and glanced over it briefly.

"You want to drop out of school?" Dumbledore looked at her with some disapproval.

"Not now, I still have a mission to complete, but anytime," said Lena.

"Reina, I want to make one thing clear. It seems to me that you admire Snape very much, but this is not enough to support you to do this." Dumbledore clasped his hands in front of him and tilted his head to look at her.

"Do you know my guardian beast?" Lena asked.

"Yes, it's a very cool flying eagle, and it also witnessed my death. I am very grateful for your action of wanting to catch me in the air at that time. Your magic is very powerful, and you can use the Patronus Charm to perfection. You are excellent..."

Dumbledore seemed to have suddenly thought of something and stopped. He stared wisely into Rena's eyes, trying to see everything about her through the crescent-shaped glasses.

"Could it be..."

"Expecto Patronus." Reina raised the wand gently, and a silver mist slowly spurted out from the top of the wand.

"I don't know when it changed, but I haven't summoned it since I went to the Shrieking Shack. Maybe it's because I witnessed the death and my personality changed? Or was it the self-doubt after rebirth? Or was it the illusion that turned me into a murderer? But when I realized it, I could already feel it changed, but..."

A reindeer with huge antlers gradually walked out of the silver mist, and all its physical characteristics were clearly visible. After coming out, the reindeer stood on the ground, looking at Lena quietly, tamely and gently.

"I never thought it would turn out like this." Reina looked at the reindeer with a trace of sadness in her eyes, "You've changed, you shouldn't be like this, you can't be like this..."

The reindeer understood. It slowly walked forward, gently touched Reina's hanging hand with its head, and slowly disappeared into the air.

"Reina, you..." Dumbledore looked at her, wanting to say something, but ultimately did not open his mouth. He had seen in Reina's memory that Snape had once shown his patronus to Dumbledore. Everything he had done was not for Potter, but for Lily.

The doe that looked exactly like Lily.

"Don't tell anyone." Reina smiled self-deprecatingly, "I should go now. The professor is still in the manor. He should be back by Christmas."

Reina walked into the fireplace and sprinkled the Floo powder.

"Tallos Manor."

?

"Where have you been?" Snape was sitting on the sofa in the living room, facing the fireplace.

"I'll get you some medicine from St. Mungo's." Reina took out the potion from the bag and placed it in front of Snape.

"If you have a good rest, you will definitely get better before Christmas. Then you can celebrate Christmas peacefully." Lena said with a smile.

"What a boring festival. It's the same every year. Even the food on the Hogwarts table has never changed." Snape said while reading the newspaper.

"Me too. I had to spend time preparing the place, only to spend the night eating a piece of turkey that was so dry..."

Reina clapped her hands suddenly as if she had thought of something.

"Professor, why don't you stay and spend Christmas with us at the manor."

Snape slowly lowered his hand holding the newspaper, with an expression that said, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Let's celebrate Christmas together. I'll prepare a gift for the professor." Lena smiled.

"I don't have the time to prepare any childish gifts for you." Snape continued to read the newspaper.

"If there is no gift... it doesn't matter, but I will definitely prepare a gift for the professor. That's it. There are still three days left. I will ask the house elves to decorate the manor and buy a bigger Christmas tree."

Reina stood up and walked upstairs.

"Professor, are there any dishes you like or want to eat?" Lena suddenly turned back.

"No." Snape said calmly.

"Is there anything you don't like to eat?"

"No."

"Okay!" Lena agreed happily.

Snape looked at Rena as if he was looking at a fool.

“That’s so inelegant…”

?

In fact, Snape's injuries have basically healed, but since he can choose not to go to Hogwarts, of course he won't go. Although the pink toad is disgusting, Dumbledore is still in charge of Hogwarts.

Snape also skipped work, but he did not stay in Tallos Manor all the time. After connecting to the fireplace in Spinner's End, he went back.

After Snape left, Reina thought he would not come back for Christmas. After all, it was just a sudden thought, even though she was already prepared.

In fact, after suggesting that Snape stay to spend Christmas together, Lena began to regret it when she returned to the room.

It was very embarrassing. Her strange feelings became a strange barrier. When Reina realized that her guardian beast had changed, she tried to convince herself that the guardian beast would change when the emotions were greatly shocked or the individual underwent great changes. Studies have shown that the guardian beasts of two close people may be related or similar, but the owners of related or similar guardian beasts are not necessarily close.

Moreover, Reina's patronus has distinct features, with huge antlers and standard markings to distinguish reindeer. So, maybe it was just a coincidence, and she told Dumbledore just because she wanted to find someone to share the burden.

Reina believed that Dumbledore would not be such a treacherous person.

After Christmas there will be the Azkaban prison break, and then Voldemort will definitely take action against the Ministry of Magic.

However, when she went downstairs on Christmas Day, Reina was still surprised to see Snape appear in the manor.

"Professor?" Reina hesitated.

"After not seeing you for a day, have those two balls on your nose rotted away to the point that I can't even recognize them?" Snape sat on the sofa, drinking tea leisurely.

"Of course not! I'm just a little surprised that you're here." Reina quickly denied.

"Surprised? Why do I remember - it was your suggestion? Could it be that you just said it casually?" Snape put down the cup and stood up. "In that case, I'd better go back. Remember your detention after school starts."

"No, no, no, I'm not saying this casually, I'm serious!" Lena took two big steps forward and grabbed Snape's robe.

"I've prepared it, but I thought... um... it's nothing, not important, so... you should just sit down... Oh, by the way! I'll get you the gift, wait for me, I'll be right there."

Reina went upstairs again and returned to her room. She went straight to the bedside table and took out the small box wrapped in black wrapping paper from the drawer. It was tied with an exquisite bow with a green silver satin ribbon, and silver powder was sprinkled on the packaging.

Then, Reyna went back downstairs, sat next to Snape, and placed the gift on the table.

"Merry Christmas, Professor."

Snape murmured "hmm" softly, took out his wand and waved it, and the gift on the table disappeared, but was replaced by a small green gift box.

Reina picked up the gift box, looked at Snape with surprise, and asked, "Is this for me? Can I open it now?"

"As you wish." Snape said calmly.

Lena carefully opened the lid of the gift box. The inside was lined with satin fabric, and in the center was a blue topaz pendant with a wavy twisted chain. It was obvious at first glance that it was of high quality.

"This... is it really for me?" Lena was a little bit unbelievable. It was the first time she invited the professor to celebrate Christmas together, but she didn't expect to receive such a precious gift.

(Because of what the professor said, she had even prepared herself for not receiving any gifts...)

"Doesn't it look like it?" Snape frowned.

"Thank you, Professor Snape, I love it!"

Reina said happily, and then she gently took out the pendant and prepared to wear it around her neck. But the embarrassing thing was that she put it on with her backhand for a long time but couldn't fasten the buckle properly, and her shoulders were sore.

Reina put her hand down somewhat embarrassedly and pinched her arm quietly.

"If you haven't completely degenerated, you should know that you are a wizard who can wave a magic wand instead of a giant monster with strong limbs."

Snape couldn't bear to watch it any longer, so he waved his wand and made the pendant float up, flying it towards Lena's neck, easily completing this task that couldn't be simpler.

Reina suddenly felt a little ashamed, her face flushed, and she lowered her head, trying to find a way to crawl under the carpet.

"Do you have any plans for today?" Snape asked suddenly.

"Ah? No, what's wrong?" Reina raised her head.

"Then, let's go somewhere together." Snape finished the tea in the cup, stood up and tidied his clothes.

Only then did Reina realize that Snape was wearing a black robe as usual today, but he was wearing a somewhat formal dress underneath. Although it was also black, including the lining, this was the first time Reina saw Snape's clothing style change.

"Where are we going?" Lena asked confusedly.

"A small party."

"Banquet?" Lena doubted if she had heard it wrong. Did Snape mean to take her to the party?

"Let me think you should know Laverne de Montmorency," Snape asked.

"I know her, love potion, right?"

"Yes, they are those weird potions, but I have to admit that Montmorency is indeed a good potion family. They have many achievements that can be brought to the table. Recently, they improved the stimulant and are going through official certification, so they held a small banquet and invited many potion masters, and I happened to be one of them."

A smug smile appeared on Snape's calm face.

“Um… now?” Reina scratched her face.

"Go, change into something more decent. I'll take you to see him. It will help with your Potions thesis."

Reina looked at her wizard coat and thought...it shouldn't be inappropriate, just that it might not be suitable for attending a party.

"I don't think so."

Reina took out her wand and tapped her clothes, and the simple wizard coat turned from top to bottom into a blue-gray suspender dress, with a rabbit fur shawl for warmth, and the blue topaz on her neck sparkled.

Reina held up her wand, shrugged and said, "I know, I'm a wizard, saving time."

Snape looked it over.

"Quite decent."

In other words, it’s a good idea, Reina smiled.

"We will be back before sunset and will not miss your Christmas dinner." Snape extended a hand to Reina.

Reina gently took it.

"I've seen you Apparate," Snape added.

Then, they left the manor the next second, and after Rena's followers appeared three times in a row, they arrived at the gate of a manor that did not look so luxurious.

The reason why it is not so luxurious is that there are plants growing around the building, most of which are herbs.

It seems that this is also a family that practices both potions and herbal medicine. After all, those who are proficient in potions may not be proficient in herbal medicine, but only potion masters who are also proficient in herbal medicine can create great achievements.

The sign beside the manor gate reads Montmorency, and occasionally people who are also attending the party can be seen. When Reina and Snape appeared at the door, a house elf greeted them.

"Dear potion master Mr. Snape and Miss Tallos, hello and welcome. I am the elf Cheese, please follow me."