After drinking Felix Felicis, the drinker would enjoy a state and luck far beyond normal for 12 hours!
Upon learning that Severus had taken someone to Surrey, Kingsley didn't hesitate for a moment. He questioned the two residents of the apartment and learned from them that the car parked in the spot had only started up and driven away around 11:50.
He issued orders to the police officers accompanying him, "Go wake up your chief and ask him to send people to Surrey immediately!"
After saying that, he strode off alone down the street.
The police officers stared after him in confusion, and one of them asked loudly, "Mr. Commissioner! Where are you going?"
"The government requires me to report some matters separately. Don't worry about me. I'll meet you in Surrey."
Kingsley said without turning his head.
Soon, he completely disappeared from the sight of the police officers and slipped into a quiet alley.
He used Apparation to return to the makeshift Auror office that Robards had set up.
At this moment, Robards, who had spent the entire day investigating through wizarding channels but still found nothing, had not yet slept. He immediately noticed Kingsley's arrival and heard his question, "What's in Surrey?"
Robards was stunned for a moment, then quickly reacted, "There are several villages there where wizards and Muggles live mixed together! There's also a rumor that Dumbledore might have placed the Boy-Who-Lived there!"
After hearing Robards's words, countless thoughts surged through Kingsley's mind.
He thought of the boy who had been with Severus, the one whose appearance had struck him as oddly familiar. He also recalled the words he had just heard from Mrs. Newman, that the boy had said, "We're going back to Surrey again!". He also remembered the rumors about Snape's relationship with a certain woman during his school days...
Perhaps influenced by the Felix Felicis, an extremely bold speculation emerged in his mind.
Even Kingsley himself was somewhat startled by the guess, but he quickly composed himself. Whether his speculation was correct or not, he buried that sudden idea deep in his heart!
Without revealing anything, he continued asking calmly, "What wizarding families live there?"
Robards didn't notice Kingsley's unusual behavior. Instead, he called over one of his subordinates and had them retrieve the internal Auror records.
"The pure-blood families include the Weasleys. Others include the Diggorys, the Fawcetts, the Lovegoods, and so on."
Upon hearing the surname 'Weasley', Robards fixed his gaze on Kingsley.
"Could he... be trying to find the Weasleys?"
Kingsley shook his head almost instinctively.
"No! Highly unlikely. He's never had any connection with the Weasleys, nor any reason to seek out Arthur and Molly!"
"Then who would he go there to find?"
A vague thought flickered in Kingsley's mind. He was certain it shouldn't have been his intuition but rather a stroke of inspiration brought on by the Felix Felicis!
"I firmly believe Snape is innocent!" He said suddenly, "Then if he is really innocent and is unwilling to believe the Aurors and the Ministry of Magic, choosing to flee instead… then how would he go about proving his innocence?"
Robards simply stared wide-eyed at Kingsley. He could already sense that Kingsley was in a rather peculiar state, and he couldn't keep up with the other's train of thought.
Kingsley didn't voice his speculation. Instead, he began directing the other Aurors.
"Apparate to Ottery St. Catchpole! All of you! Now!"
The moment the words left his mouth, he waved his wand, and his body twisted in the air, vanishing instantly.
Other Aurors, including Robards, also used Apparition.
At the same time, in Ottery St. Catchpole, over a dozen figures kept Apparating into view!
"Robards, take your team and check the Weasleys' place. Though it's unlikely, we still need to pay them a visit." Kingsley instructed.
Robards didn't set off immediately. Instead, he looked at Kingsley.
"Where are you taking your team?"
"The Diggorys! Amos Diggory is an employee at the Ministry of Magic, and Snape might have gone to him!"
With that, the two separated.
Robards led his team to the Weasleys', while Kingsley took his to the Diggorys.
However, not long after Kingsley and his Aurors left Ottery St. Catchpole, he instructed his team to proceed to the Diggorys' first, claiming he'd had a sudden idea and needed to search elsewhere.
Once he parted ways with his subordinates, Kingsley turned and strode purposefully toward a small hill near Ottery St. Catchpole.
By now, it was very late… close to midnight. The sky was overcast, with no stars or moon visible, and a night wind had picked up, as if rain would soon follow.
Kingsley gripped his wand tightly as he began climbing the hill.
The wind howled, whipping his robes around him!
He squinted his eyes and felt that his condition was getting better and better, as though the very world itself was favoring him!
Then, on the road leading to the hilltop, he spotted a figure.
The figure was bending over and standing in front of a car, as if speaking to someone in the driver's seat.
Kingsley stopped and looked at the figure standing in the middle of the road.
At that moment, the figure seemed to have noticed that someone was looking at him, and he turned to look at Kingsley.
Their eyes met across the distance. Though neither could clearly make out the other's features, only vague silhouettes, in that instant, it was as if they both knew who stood before them!
The figure in front of the car straightened up, patted the car door, and whispered something to the person sitting in the driver's seat.
The next moment, the engine roared to life, and the car shot forward like an arrow. The lit headlights illuminated Kingsley where he stood, allowing Kingsley to see the two figures in the front seats!
A tall, pale and nervous young man, and a boy in the passenger seat!
The car sped past Kingsley, but he didn't spare it a glance. His attention remained locked on the lone figure still standing in the road.
"Severus Snape!"
The wind carried his voice straight to the man's ears.
The silhouette stepped forward deliberately, finally revealing itself fully in Kingsley's view!
There stood the man who had already astonished him at Gringotts with his dramatic transformation… his once-greasy black hair now neatly trimmed, his perpetually sneering face replaced by an unsettlingly calm smile.
"Shacklebolt. Should I say 'long time no see', or 'what a coincidence meeting you here'?"
Severus stretched out the hand that was originally hidden in his sleeve, and the tip of his wand was already glowing faintly!
Kingsley took a deep breath and unbuttoned the top button of his robes.
"Come back to the Ministry with me! Whatever reasons lie behind these acts, I promise that you will receive the most fair trial!"