Sean fled in panic. This venom spray was unprecedented, attacking Sean from both physical and mental aspects.
Actually, Sean understood clearly that Snape didn't truly mean it that way. He was willing to help Sean proofread papers, he was willing to help Sean come up with ideas, and he would even help Sean conduct experiments. But he didn't want any credit on his student's papers. He wanted Sean to receive all the glory himself, not wanting to diminish it even by the slightest bit.
It's just that this way of expressing care and affection was something Sean really didn't want to experience again.
The next day, Saturday.
Since it was a Hogsmeade weekend, the atmosphere at Hogwarts was quite good. Students in their third year and above basically all had smiles on their faces, except for a few who couldn't go to Hogsmeade, like Harry.
Sean briefly chatted with Harry, then they separated. Sean directly followed the group and left Hogwarts. On the way, he saw the Dementors stationed near the Hogwarts gates, gave them a brief look, then after Filch checked his credentials without issue, left Hogwarts and arrived at Hogsmeade.
The Three Broomsticks Inn.
Sean walked in and looked at the customers inside, easily finding Aldrich sitting there.
When Aldrich saw Sean looking at him, he naturally saw Sean too. He immediately stood up, walked toward Sean, and bowed with his usual smile: "I'm very pleased to see you, young master."
"I'm also very pleased to see you, Aldrich."
"That the young master is pleased to see me is my honor."
"Aldrich, you're still the same as always."
Bowing again, Aldrich asked: "Young master, shall we rest here briefly, or..."
"Let's depart immediately. After all, we don't know how much time we'll need."
"Very well, then please follow me, young master."
Hogwarts students visiting Hogsmeade were naturally not allowed to leave Hogsmeade, let alone go to Diagon Alley. So when Sean followed Aldrich to leave Hogsmeade, they naturally couldn't do so in broad daylight. They needed to go somewhere with fewer people.
The two left Hogsmeade together. They were being quite low-key, both wearing hoods; otherwise, with Sean's current fame at Hogwarts, he might immediately be surrounded and discovered for leaving Hogsmeade without permission.
In the mountain forest near Hogsmeade, Sean reached out and grabbed Aldrich's arm.
At this moment, Aldrich looked at Sean with slight concern: "Young master, people experiencing Apparition for the first time inevitably experience some discomfort. The degree of discomfort is roughly slightly worse than using a Portkey. Please be mentally prepared. I'll try not to cause too much burden for you."
"It's fine, Aldrich. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. I'll be fine."
Sean wasn't boasting. His constitution was still continuing to grow, with his Troll Strength and Troll Hide both approaching LV2. His physical condition had naturally improved proportionally, so the burden from Apparition wouldn't have too great an impact on him.
"Then please prepare yourself, young master. I'm about to begin."
"Good!"
Aldrich gripped his wand and gently exhaled. The next second, he and Sean transformed into a twisted vortex, spinning rapidly in place before quickly contracting into a point and disappearing without a trace.
Simultaneously, Aldrich and Sean emerged from the vortex, appearing in a small alley in Diagon Alley.
Many people used Apparition to reach Diagon Alley, and they were also wearing hoods, so naturally they wouldn't attract any attention. What was noteworthy was that although no Dementors were visible in Diagon Alley, there were some Aurors patrolling, obviously guarding against Sirius.
Ignoring those Aurors, Sean led Aldrich directly into Gringotts.
As soon as they entered Gringotts, the people and goblins inside immediately became alert upon seeing two hooded figures.
There were truly many clueless people in this world, and many such people in the magical world too. Every year there were one or two clueless hotheads who came to Gringotts to cause trouble and rob the place. Gringotts had experience dealing with these types.
When Sean and Aldrich removed their hoods, the people in Gringotts finally relaxed their vigilance. After all, the probability of two handsome and clean-looking wizards being crazy enough to rob Gringotts was infinitesimally small.
Walking directly to the counter and looking at the goblin whose appearance was quite ugly by human aesthetic standards, Sean said directly: "I'm here to retrieve items belonging to Mr. Antonius Hopkins."
The goblin behind the counter immediately looked down to check something upon hearing this, then said to Sean with suspicion: "Mr. Antonius Hopkins died many, many years ago. Even his descendants have disappeared. Who are you to come retrieve his items?"
"So I've brought the password!"
Upon hearing the word "password," the goblin's expression immediately turned very ugly, because when Antonius originally stored his items at Gringotts, there were indeed password requirements. As long as someone came with the password, the items corresponding to that password had to be given to them, no matter how much time had passed or who came.
The goblins of Gringotts had always regarded items stored in Gringotts as their own. If not for the Ministry of Magic's supervision and suppression here, they might have already claimed the items as their own.
"Tell me the password!"
Sean, hearing the other party's tone, didn't feel offended and simply said: "Knowledge!"
"Password correct!" Saying these words through gritted teeth, the goblin looked at Sean and Aldrich: "Follow me."
Sean and Aldrich followed the goblin. They rode something like a mine cart, racing along winding tracks in all directions, then passed by a completely albino dragon chained in Gringotts' underground vaults, and arrived before a vault located quite deep underground.
The goblin walked to the vault door and took out a key to open it.
At this moment, Sean saw the scene inside the door. Countless gold and gems, countless alchemical items, and even some magical items that clearly emanated powerful magical energy, leaving Sean dumbstruck. Of course, the most numerous items inside were books and stacks of parchment. These were all Antonius's manuscripts.
According to the items corresponding to the password, the goblin retrieved a total of twenty-three books. The thin ones are about a palm's thickness, and the thick ones are more than a palm's width. Sean packed all these books into his Undetectable Extension Bag, then together with Aldrich, followed the goblin, who was constantly wary of them as they left the underground vault.