[It's all your fault! It was you who insisted on bringing Potter out!]
[If anything happens to Potter... If anything happens to Potter...]
The voice of Ghost Snape echoed relentlessly in Severus's mind. It had never stopped since he received that ransom letter.
Compared to Snape, who was panicking and furious, Severus remained far calmer.
Without hesitation, he had Apparated back to Badminton Estate the moment he learned of Harry's disappearance. After confirming that Harry was indeed missing, he immediately set off for the location mentioned in the letter.
"Stop shouting, stop shouting, Old Snape. Where has your usual wit gone? Harry won't be in any real danger."
Severus gripped his wand tightly as he stepped into the dense woods, which is roughly seven miles from the manor.
"Setting aside the fact that Dumbledore is the one who involved us in this mess, as he would never allow Harry to be put in real peril, just consider the fact that the ones who kidnapped Harry and sent me that threatening letter demanding a meeting, Worple and Sanguini, clearly have an agenda. They'll protect Harry, not harm him."
[Who can guarantee that?!] Ghost Snape's face snarled, his face dark with fury, [What if something goes wrong? What if they go too far?!]
Severus mentally rolled his eyes at him.
"Then don't you dare try to shift the blame onto me, with all your 'what ifs'! I could just as easily say, if you hadn't betrayed his parents to your master, would they have died? If they hadn't died, would I have needed to take him in the first place?"
Ghost Snape was so angry that his lungs were about to explode.
He and Severus had argued many times before, but he had never once gained the upper hand. Severus always knew exactly how to strike where it hurt most, leaving him fuming but utterly defenseless!
"Enough arguing. We should be close now."
Catching sight of the abandoned wooden hut hidden among the trees, Severus's eyes, which had always been as gentle as water no matter who he was facing, had now become cold.
Though he had assured Ghost Snape that Harry would be fine, Severus was still a little angry.
Everything had been going smoothly… he had identified the culprit and was ready to make his move.
But not only had he arrived too late, missing his target entirely, the culprits had somehow turned the tables and taken his student hostage!
Still, despite his frustration, Severus remained methodical.
He didn't recklessly approach the wooden cabin. Instead, he carefully scouted the area, checking for any traps or ambushes.
In Severus's estimation, the fact that a wizard and a vampire had managed to seize Harry in the brief window of his absence, and with such precision, suggested they were no ordinary foes.
Their boldness in sending him that taunting ransom letter likely meant they had laid meticulous plans, setting a perfect trap for him to walk into.
For all he knew, remnants of the old regime could be lurking behind them. After all, ever since he had pledged himself to Dumbledore, there were many people who regarded him as a thorn in their side.
But after thoroughly scouting the area three times, Severus found nothing.
No traps. No ambushes. No hidden enemies.
The place was so clean that even a unicorn would prance around in delight!
Severus frowned and cautiously approached the cabin's entrance.
Before he could even raise his wand, a familiar voice drifted out from inside.
"There, there, Mr. Sanguini, it's not your fault. Please, stop crying."
"But... but things have gone too far... Everything's ruined now!"
"It's alright. You'll be forgiven. You're a good man... er, a good vampire."
"I'm not... I bit her..."
"That wasn't your fault. You didn't mean to, and you didn't really hurt her, did you?"
"Dudley... you're such an understanding boy..."
"No, no, I'm just telling the truth. Please, stop crying, Mr. Sanguini. Your tears and your snot are getting on my robes. These are new, my teacher just bought them for me."
"I'm sorry..."
"It's alright, it's alright. I'll just wipe it clean."
Severus was stunned, and even Ghost Snape, who had instinctively held his breath, was also stunned.
They both recognized the voice offering comfort was Harry's!
And the one sniveling and being comforted by a child, judging by the conversation, was clearly one of the kidnappers… the vampire, Sanguini!
'What in Merlin's name was going on here?'
'A hostage playing therapist to his captor?'
'A 9-year-old boy counseling a supposedly vicious vampire?'
Whatever was happening, after hearing this, Severus couldn't just stand there any longer.
Boom!
With a flick of his wand, he silently cast a Blasting Curse, obliterating the rickety wooden door in an explosion of splinters and dust!
Amid the smoke, Sanguini, who had been nervously sucking on a blood-flavored candy, and Worple, who had been pacing anxiously, both leapt to their feet in panic.
They fumbled for their wands, but before they could even raise them-
Silently, another spell took effect!
Amid the panicked screams of Sanguini and Worple, their bodies suddenly floated into the air, then their bodies flipped upside down as they dangled helplessly!
At the same time, two sharp red streaks of magic struck them, yanking their wands from their hands and sending them clattering uselessly to the ground.
A dark-cloaked figure emerged from the dissipating smoke.
With a casual flick of his wand, the ropes binding Harry fell away.
Then, with another casual wave of his hand, the small bench on the ground beside him instantly twisted and transformed into an exquisite and comfortable high-back chair.
Severus sat down, crossing one leg over the other. He put his arms on the armrests, held the wand in his hand, and looked in disbelief at the wizard and vampire hanging upside down in the air.
"Do you know who I am?"
Harry stared at the scene in amazement.
Ever since being taken from the Dursleys, he only learned from other people's reactions that his teacher seemed to be quite 'famous' in the Wizarding World.
But it was not until now that he truly realized how Severus had earned that reputation!
Sanguini's face was extremely pale and he didn't dare to look Severus in the eyes.
Meanwhile, Worple looked like a man who had already accepted his doom, and all the bravado he'd shown earlier was completely gone.
"You are neither Albus Dumbledore nor Voldemort, so what in the name of Merlin possessed you to kidnap my student and think you could use him to threaten me?"
At the mention of the forbidden name, both Sanguini and Worple flinched violently.
Finally, at this time, Sanguini mustered every ounce of courage he had left. He looked up at Severus, then begged in the most humble, lowest, weakest tone.
"Professor Snape... you can punish me however you want… even kill me if you must… but I beg you... please, let Miss Patty live. Just... just let her survive..."