Snape, the Sunshine of Hogwarts

As the only magic academy in the UK, being a professor or even the dean there means that the next generation of magicians in recent years or even decades are all their students!

His teacher seemed to be very prestigious among the students.

But soon, his attention was drawn to the interior of the bar he had just entered.

This is clearly a secret gathering place for wizards, and only wizards can enter!

Compared to the deserted streets outside, the dilapidated old bar was much more lively, with people sitting at almost every table. These people were all dressed in wizard robes, and some even wore pointed hats.

They talked about all sorts of bizarre stories that sounded like the complete fantasy to ordinary people.

Magic, divination, alchemy, unicorns, dragons, and so on—those things that only exist in children's picture books—are described by them as ordinary things that can be seen everywhere.

Some people were trading potions that could regenerate bones, some were drunk and boasting that they had fought werewolves, and others were holding up crystal balls and rambling on about a fantastical future to their drinking buddies.

If a normal person were to accidentally wander into this place, they would only think it's a gathering of mentally ill people!

Just as Harry followed Severus through the door, many people in the bar turned to look at them.

The next second, Harry could clearly feel that the lively atmosphere of the bar had dropped a notch.

Some people tipped their hats to their teacher, some glanced at him and then immediately pretended not to have seen anything and turned back to continue drinking, and a few, like mice seeing a cat, immediately got up and hurriedly left the bar.

The bar owner, a disheveled old man sitting behind the bar, put down the glass he was wiping and came over to greet her.

"Professor Snape? It really is you! Your new hairstyle is great, welcome! What would you like to drink tonight?"

Seeing this, Harry felt even more surprised and heavy-hearted.

What was surprising was that his teacher was not only a highly "renowned" figure among Hogwarts graduates, but also in the entire wizarding world.

The heavy thing is that such a famous figure was not only his teacher.

He is also his enemy.

Chapter 10 Villains of the Magic World

Severus, of course, wasn't paying attention to what Harry was thinking at that moment.

While internally complaining to Ghost Snape about how universally disliked he was in the wizarding world, he picked up on a conversation with Old Tom, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron.

"I'm really happy with my new hairstyle. Let's get a room with two beds first; we'll stay here for the night. As for drinks..."

"Two glasses of apple juice, two double-load ham sandwiches, two servings of cream of clam chowder, and Dudley, would you like some dessert?"

As Harry boarded the train to London, he had already been briefed by Severus and was now officially known as Dudley Dursley. It took him a second to realize that the question was directed at him.

But before he could even nervously organize his thoughts to reply, Severus made the choice for him without asking any questions.

"Let's choose two blueberry cakes for dessert, and remember to get small pieces, since we don't have that big an appetite yet."

As Old Tom noted down Severus's request, he looked up in surprise at Professor Snape, whose attire was different from his usual habits, yet who was still instantly recognizable as the Headmaster of Slytherin at Hogwarts.

Severus Snape rarely left Hogwarts Castle, but he wasn't some reclusive savage.

On the contrary, because he needed to buy materials to brew potions, he actually frequented Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron, and sometimes he would sit alone in a corner and have a few drinks.

He has never stayed overnight here, nor has he ever said that he would rather drink apple juice than alcohol!

In particular, his tone and attitude today seemed a little too kind.

Old Tom glanced at Harry beside him instinctively. He had never seen this boy named Dudley before, and it was clear that the boy was not old enough to attend Hogwarts.

However, he only glanced at Harry out of the corner of his eye for two seconds, without stopping his work at all.

He quickly pulled a key from behind the bar and handed it to Severus.

"Go to the third room from the back on the right side of the second floor. Would you like me to bring the food and drinks to the room?"

"Thank you then."

Severus tossed the key lightly into the air, caught it steadily, and turned to walk towards the second floor.

Harry didn't dare fall behind, so he nervously followed Severus up the stairs to the second floor.

After the two of them left, the Leaky Cauldron bar was quiet for a moment, then became even more lively than before they arrived!

"My God! Is that still Severus Snape? When did he realize he needed to take care of his hair?"

"Is that the point? The point is, didn't you hear what he just told Old Tom he wanted? Apple juice and blueberry cake! Can you even imagine Snape with those two things?!"

"Could it be someone impersonating me? Hmm, did they use some kind of potion? I was really bad at potions class in school."

"Polyhydral formula, but absolutely not. Who would dare impersonate Snape? Wouldn't he be afraid that one day he'd drink some kind of potion that turns him into a toad for the rest of his life?"

"Who is that boy with Snape? Hogwarts doesn't have students that young, does it? He looks to be at most nine years old?"

"I don't recognize him, and I can't tell whose child he is."

Even the most talkative drunkards only dare to speculate about Snape behind his back; they wouldn't dare spread any rumors about him.

This is a truly ruthless person, far more than just the headmaster of Slytherin.

Many people know that Severus Snape was once a staunch supporter of that man, and even one of the top Death Eaters.

After the Mystic lost power, he not only escaped being purged, but was even recruited by Dumbledore and appointed as a professor and dean.

It's no exaggeration to say that he has connections in both the legitimate and criminal worlds.

People live upstairs right now, so spreading rumors here is like touching a tiger's tail.

At the same time, on the second floor of the Leaky Cauldron bar.

Severus is still arguing with Ghost Snape.

"Look, look, how bad are your reputation in the magic world? Those tables on the right treat you like you're a plague god, they're practically ready to throw up the wine they just drank."

Ghost Snape merely sneered in disdain.

"Those idiots with troll brains? They're wizards from Northern Europe. Six months ago, they wanted to buy some rare potions from me at a high price, but the Galleons they paid were mixed with goblin coins. If this had happened ten years ago, I would have killed them with my own hands."

Upon hearing this, Severus raised an eyebrow.

"And now? You're letting them go?"

"The Ghost Snape said casually."

“I have to consider Hogwarts’ reputation, and they even begged me not to go after the Aurors, so I’ll just cut off each of their little fingers and ring fingers. I’ll keep the ring fingers to use as potion ingredients, and I’ll keep the little fingers to reattach them at St. Mungo’s.”

As he spoke, Severus also unearthed this incident from his own memory.

The sight of that group of people wailing and crying as they chopped off their own fingers sent chills down his spine.

The more I recall Snape's memories, the more bloody and cruel they become, especially the years he followed Voldemort, when he was a true villain who could never be redeemed!

Severus often didn't want to recall these things, but these memories also painfully told him that Hogwarts was a paradise for young wizards in the wizarding world, but that didn't mean that the wizarding world as a whole was also a paradise.

Ok.

He, Severus Snape, was one of the evils who destroyed this paradise.

Not long after, old Tom brought out lunch for the two of them, along with a copy of today's Daily Prophet.

Severus picked up the newspaper, munching on a double-filling ham sandwich, while looking at the image of the witch who had been Minister of Magic for almost ten years, smiling and winking at the camera.

Harry had been in a daze on the way here, clearly deeply affected by what Severus had said that morning.

But after seeing the newspaper with moving photos for the first time, he still felt a sense of novelty while drinking apple juice.

"Those boring reporters are interviewing Millison Bagno again. The minister's most famous line is still related to you, Harry."

Harry was a little bewildered when his name was suddenly mentioned.

"I?"

"On the night you killed that villain, wizards throughout the wizarding world were celebrating recklessly, and many of their actions violated the International Secrecy Act. As the Minister of Magic of the United Kingdom, she had no choice but to be questioned by the International Confederation of Wizards."

Severus explained to Harry.

“She performed exceptionally well during the questioning, and her statement, ‘I defend our inalienable right to celebrate,’ still elicits cheers from many people today.”

"But she has been in this ministerial position for nine years and should retire next year. During this time, the Daily Prophet has been interviewing her every day, trying to get her to predict who will succeed her in her position."

When the topic came up, Severus acted normally, but Harry couldn't help but feel a little down, clearly thinking about his parents.

Severus noticed his change in mood, casually flipped the newspaper over, and deliberately changed the subject to talk about something else.

"The magical world has been quite peaceful lately; the only things making the newspapers are the same few trivial matters."

“Gilead Lockhart, a famous bestselling author, has published a new book, which has attracted the attention of many witches.”

"A report has been received that a dozen or so werewolves are suspected of forming a society in Wales. The Ministry of Magic is appealing to wizards living in Wales to provide any information they may have."

"In Ireland, a Quidditch team accidentally sent the Golden Snitch off the pitch during practice. Muggles claimed they saw a ball with golden wings flying around, and the Ministry of Magic had to send employees from the Memory Deletion Command to resolve the matter."

"Oh, and there's one more big thing. The Ministry of Magic received a report that a wizard is suspected of using potions to poison Muggles, and the Aurors are investigating this matter in detail."

These were indeed trivial matters that weren't worth discussing, and Harry, who had been listening with little interest, suddenly hesitated before asking a question.

"Teacher Si, what are we here for?"

Severus wasn't surprised at all by Harry's question. He finished his bowl of creamy clam chowder in one gulp, glanced at the time on the clock, and casually replied.

"The back of the pub connects to Diagon Alley, the largest wizarding trade street in Britain."

"There are all kinds of goods there, and Gringotts, the wizarding bank managed by the goblins, is also there. Of course, you can't travel without money. We'll go to Gringotts to withdraw some money this evening and buy you some necessities while we're at it."

Now that Harry had recovered from what he had learned that morning, he asked cautiously.

Why don't we go after we finish eating?

Severus did not answer immediately, but looked out the window instead.

In the now-shrinking rain, a dark dot was rapidly approaching their direction.

Before long, the dramatic owl flapped its wings and landed at the window. It was as proud as Magellan after completing his great voyage, holding its head high and pecking at the glass with its sharp beak, urging Severus to open the window for his hero.

"Because we have to wait for news."

Severus went to the window, opened it, and let the owl in.

"Whose message?" Harry asked curiously.

"A message from Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts."

Having retrieved the letter from the owl's claws, Severus replied softly.

Chapter 11 Letter

Severus took Dumbledore's reply from the owl's talons.

Without pausing, Harry was given the task of feeding the owls, and he immediately opened the letter.

In just over ten seconds, he finished reading the entire letter and then showed an expression that said, "Just as I expected."

The ghost Snape, hidden within his body, followed his gaze and read through the entire letter, a mocking sneer playing on his lips.

"I told you you couldn't have taken Potter away so easily."

Severus could only sigh helplessly at this.

"Hey, hey, don't talk like that, okay? Didn't we already say we're all in this together? What good does it do you if I lose out?"

Ghost Snape neither agreed nor disagreed with his words, but simply snorted.

So what are you planning to do now?

Severus flicked the letter with his finger.

"What else can we do? Old Deng has already shown us the way. Just do as he says."

"Do as he says? You should know who he asked you to find, and what kind of temper they have!"

"In my memory, he was a very nice old man who showed me special favor during my school years."

Hearing Severus's casual tone, Ghost Snape couldn't help but continue speaking in his sinister voice.

"That's because I displayed extraordinary magical talent, which he loves and values ​​more than anything else! That's why he would never agree to replace you!"

“We should at least give it a try,” Severus sighed. “Let’s try it first, and then see if it’s possible.”

“There’s no point in wasting time on something that’s destined to happen,” Ghost Snape said stubbornly.

Severus, however, disagreed.