"Good heavens, those Dementors have harmed another child. Did the Ministry bring them here to find Black, or do they want these filthy Dementors to attack the children in the school!"
Looking at the furious Madam Pomfrey, Dumbledore glanced at Snape, who stood before the hospital bed with his nose in the air, looking at Brook, who lay trembling on the bed, with complete disgust.
For Snape, people who engaged in academic conspiracies were his second most hated targets. As for the first most hated group, they happened to all be at Hogwarts currently.
"Poppy, unfortunately, this child's condition wasn't caused by a Dementor attack, but by being hit with magic from another child."
"Magic? That's impossible. What magic could make someone look like they've been given the Dementor's Kiss?"
"This isn't necessarily impossible, Poppy." Dumbledore glanced at Snape, and seeing that Snape had no intention of chiming in, Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued helplessly: "Actually, if there's no mistake, this magic should also originate from Dementors. The magical effect is almost identical to the Dementor's Kiss, so Poppy, you can just treat it as you would normal Dementor-inflicted injuries."
Madam Pomfrey wasn't careless. On the contrary, she was quite perceptive. Aside from initially being shocked by Brook's injuries and not immediately noticing, after Dumbledore spoke, Madam Pomfrey naturally sensed the subtle atmosphere between Dumbledore and Snape. She naturally didn't say another word and instead followed Dumbledore's suggestion, beginning to treat Brook.
Seeing Madam Pomfrey had begun busily treating Brook, Dumbledore looked at Snape again: "Severus, I think we should have a good chat, and of course with Sean as well. What do you think?"
Hearing Dumbledore's words, Snape maintained his expressionless demeanor, looking at Dumbledore with ancient, still eyes: "Of course we should talk. Actually, Sean is prepared to discuss with me, and with you, the problem of someone within Hogwarts attempting to steal his experimental data and materials.
Dumbledore, you know what level Sean's papers are currently at. The paper he's recently preparing is the second-phase thesis on altering Wolfsbane Potion materials. This concerns how much Sean's new Wolfsbane Potion can reduce costs and brewing difficulty, whether it can make Wolfsbane Potion available to all werewolves, reduce werewolf dangers, and whether it can help werewolves reintegrate into wizarding society. Whether for the magical world or for the vast population of werewolves and normal wizards, this is extremely important.
If someone really stole this data and materials, it would certainly be a major blow to this matter, possibly even severely damaging something that could benefit wizarding society. Regarding this, Sean also wants to have a good talk with you as Hogwarts Headmaster."
These words certainly weren't something Snape could have thought up himself.
Actually, after Snape had stopped Sean from continuing to drain Brook's happiness and joy, Sean immediately returned to his room, wrote down these words, and before Dumbledore learned of the matter and came to handle it, stuffed the paper with these words into Snape's hands.
As for the effect of these words...
At least in Snape's view, being able to see Dumbledore show surprise and slight embarrassment for once made this speech very worthwhile.
"Ahem..." Clearing his throat lightly, the embarrassment on Dumbledore's face flashed by. He looked at Snape, once again resuming his original gentle and kindly appearance, asking Snape quietly: "Severus, did Sean ask you to say these words?"
Just as Snape understood Dumbledore, Dumbledore also understood Snape.
Although neither could completely understand everything about the other, just as Snape could see Dumbledore's embarrassment and surprise, Dumbledore was also very clear that Snape's speech just now was definitely not something he could have said himself.
Snape had no intention of concealing anything. Hearing Dumbledore's words, he immediately nodded: "These words were given to me by Sean, and they represent his meaning. But regardless of whose meaning it is, Dumbledore, I think he's completely right."
Nodding lightly, Dumbledore said: "Of course, Severus. Sean's words are certainly correct. However, there are some things we should still discuss, don't you think?"
"I'll go find him. See you in the Headmaster's office in a bit."
"Very well. Thank you, Severus. I'll prepare sweets and hot drinks. See you in a moment."
Dumbledore and Snape separated, each heading to the Headmaster's office and the Slytherin common room, respectively.
When Snape came to Sean's room, he immediately saw Sean sitting at his desk writing something. Walking forward, Snape looked at Sean calculating. Having become somewhat familiar with Sean's calculation methods by now, he hesitated slightly and didn't immediately interrupt Sean.
Instead, it was Sean who, sensing Snape's arrival, continued writing while saying to Snape: "Professor, does the Headmaster want to see me?"
"That's right. Dumbledore wants to talk with us."
"Very well, I'll finish calculating immediately."
"You don't need to be too hasty. Dumbledore can wait a bit."
"It's fine. This isn't important calculation content anyway. Better not keep the Headmaster waiting, especially since I'm hoping to get the Headmaster to approve some special privileges this time."
Hearing this, Snape immediately nodded: "Then let's go now."
As soon as Snape finished speaking, Sean ended his calculations. He stood up and packed everything into his Undetectable Extension Bag, then left the Slytherin common room with Snape. Under the gaze of others in the common room, the two left together, heading to the Headmaster's office.
"Hey, do you think Sean will be punished by the Headmaster?"
"I think it's possible."
"I don't think so. As long as our Head of House is there, even the Headmaster probably can't punish him."
"That's true. Our Head of House really likes Sean."
"That's obvious. No matter who it is, if their student could write several papers worthy of top journals in the subject they teach, any professor would treasure and protect them. Moreover, this incident was clearly the fault of those Slytherin Brotherhood people. He just went to seek justice. In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with that!
Instead, it's those Slytherin Brotherhood guys who bear the Slytherin name, yet...
Tch...
Despicable!"