Chapter 53: Eyes Watching from the Dark
The two most gossipy sisters at Hogwarts are Poppy Pomfrey and Irma Pince. One is the gentle school nurse with a medicine tray, and the other is the irritable librarian with a feather duster. On the surface, they are completely different from each other.
However, few people know that these two ladies, who seem to have nothing in common, are actually old friends who sit together and chat and gossip every weekend.
After all, the two sisters' working environment - the school hospital and the library - allows them to always eat the freshest, steaming hot melons from Hogwarts.
The affable, slightly plump Madam Pomfrey possessed a talent: she was very perceptive and could always detect some budding "little adultery" from the unexpected visitors and the subtle number of visits to certain patients.
The stern and thin Madam Pince had her own set of methodologies. She was best at finding facts and evidence, and among those students who had studied side by side for years, she could always count on her fingers and identify some "little couples".
In the boring work life, what can be more comforting than a piece of cookie? In the words of Bobby and Irma, their common interests brought them together: they are both loyal fans of cookie.
This hobby can make them forget the crow's feet at the corners of their eyes and keep looking back at the beauty of their youth.
If you visit the famous Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop in Hogsmeade on your day off, you're likely to see these two shining sisters, who often spend entire afternoons sitting in a hidden corner of the tea shop, discussing gossip and secrets that even Professor Dumbledore doesn't know.
"It's great that the Chamber of Secrets incident has finally come to an end. We can finally stop worrying and work in peace." Madam Pince leaned back comfortably in her armchair and casually placed her wizard's hat on the empty chair beside her.
"Yes," said Madam Pomfrey gratifiedly, as she was greeting the waiters and signaling for their tea orders.
"Any gossip lately?" Madam Pince held her chin in her hand boredly and handed the selected tea list to Madam Pomfrey.
"I think... the boy named Percy from the Weasley family has an unusual relationship with a girl from Ravenclaw." Madam Pomfrey glanced at the tea list and said mysteriously.
"I know! Penelope Clearwater, the prefect of Ravenclaw. They often study together in the library. They are quite a good match, aren't they? Both are prefects, excellent students, and love books very much." Madam Pince nodded, holding her chin with the look of having everything under control.
"Speaking of Ravenclaw, I think there's something going on between Ravenclaw's Seeker, Qiu Zhang, and Hufflepuff's Seeker, Cedric Diggory." Madam Pomfrey turned around and handed the tea order to the waiter, inadvertently saying something inappropriate.
"How did you find out?" Madam Pince asked, her eyes wide and puzzled. She hadn't noticed anything at all.
"Once, when she was injured during training, Mr. Diggory came to visit her—bringing flowers and chocolates." Madam Pomfrey said with a smile, "They are a perfect match, aren't they?"
"I hadn't noticed. They don't appear together in the library very often," Madam Pince said, frowning. "Perhaps I should feel out Madam Hooch. She spends more time with the Quidditch players."
"That's right, the players! They're the easiest to spark love," Madam Pomfrey sighed, her eyes showing longing. "The romance of soaring in the air... Especially when they're both seekers and have to meet on the field, the emotions that arise from the collision are simply amazing..."
It was the Easter holiday, and the sunshine and breeze at the end of March were filled with a warm atmosphere.
Through the window, one could see a few newly sprouted green patches by the teahouse steps. They rocked leisurely in their rocking chairs, each drinking their favorite cup of tea, lost in their dreams together.
"By the way, what about the Seekers from other houses? Gryffindor's Seeker should be the one who frequents the hospital ward the most, right? Didn't he go there a few days ago? Didn't you notice any clues?" After a moment, Madam Pince came back to her senses and brought up the topic again.
"You mean Mr. Potter?"
"Yes! He's been giving me a lot of trouble these past two years. He always likes to sneak into the restricted section..." said Madam Pince, sighing helplessly.
Madam Pomfrey said disapprovingly, "I don't think he's quite there yet! He's probably happiest when Mr. Ron Weasley comes to visit."
"Mr. Potter's good friend isn't just Mr. Weasley, there's also Miss Granger!" Madam Pince took a sip of tea from her cup and looked at Madam Pomfrey. "I occasionally see them sitting together in the library. She likes to force them to do their homework."
"Oh... maybe... he seemed quite happy when she came to visit him before." Madam Pomfrey stirred her tea absentmindedly with a spoon.
"What's that perfunctory tone of yours?" said Madam Pince.
Madam Pomfrey looked around, then suddenly lowered her voice and leaned closer to her and said, "I don't think Miss Granger and Mr. Potter are a couple at all. In fact, I discovered something recently that will definitely shock you when you know it!"
"What? Tell me!" Madam Pince said excitedly, taking a sip of tea. She was very familiar with Poppy's temper. Behind this expression and action, there was often a big gossip.
"Slytherin Seeker—Mr. Malfoy—he and Miss Granger," said Madam Pomfrey, quickly throwing a tea towel over her face. Across from her, Madam Pince, as expected, spat a mouthful of tea onto the towel.
"Are you serious?" Madam Pince's eyes sparkled green, completely different from her usual stern expression in the library.
"I was also surprised at first. This story starts with Miss Granger being petrified..." Madam Pomfrey started talking non-stop...
Twenty minutes later.
"Wow—" Madam Pince clapped her hands with shining eyes. "Wow! The only antidote was given to Miss Granger. If this isn't love, then I don't believe in love anymore!"
"Besides, he came in carrying her on his back." Madam Pomfrey looked after her, "The romance of little boys and girls..."
"I thought Mr. Malfoy was rather aloof," said Madam Pince. "He seems a little haughty and withdrawn, doesn't he?"
"But he was not cold to Miss Granger at all. On the contrary, he was extremely gentle. You should have heard the tone of his voice when he spoke to her! He was always coaxing her, so gently and patiently." Madam Pomfrey said calmly, "This is very unusual. When things are unusual, there must be something wrong."
"But, I thought the Malfoy family hated Muggle-borns... Who could have imagined? If Lucius Malfoy knew about this, he would probably be furious! Not to mention the past grudges between Slytherin and Gryffindor... Just looking at the issue of pure-blood and Muggle-born, it's a huge taboo... I can eat two more bowls of rice today!" Madam Pince waved the teaspoon childishly, and as expected, she received a look of disgust from Madam Pomfrey.
"Mind your manners. There are other guests over there!" Madam Pomfrey said. Madam Pince coughed and regained some of her composure.
"I have to pay special attention to these two! If there really is something fishy going on between them, I don't believe they have no contact in the library." Madam Pince put down the teaspoon, clenched her fists, and seemed to have made up her mind.
Meanwhile, the gossip-spotted actor, the subject of the two older sisters' gossip, was brewing a Mandrake resurrection potion in Professor Snape's cellar. This was the final step; the next step was to wait for it to boil, then turn off the heat and let it sit for a while.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Standard, Draco." Professor Snape said slowly behind him. Draco smiled bitterly.
With Professor Snape supervising the entire process of preparing the Mandrake Resurrection Potion, no one would let their guard down. Not even Draco, who was considered "Professor Snape's favorite student," was an exception.
Preference sometimes means being more demanding.
"If I were you, I would add a few plantain leaves while boiling. It can relieve the fatigue caused by the patients being petrified for too long." Professor Snape waved his wand, and a plate of processed plantain appeared in front of Draco.
"I see. Thank you for your advice." Draco smiled slightly.
The newly added plantain leaves floated in the boiling potion and soon merged with the resurrection agent.
Draco observed the potion, thinking of Hermione's exhausted look after she was freed from petrification, and suddenly felt his face burning. He once again admired Professor Snape's potion skills.
It's not difficult to read from the textbook. The difficult part is to strive for excellence and innovation within the existing potion framework.
"I have to admit. Your talent for potions is outstanding among students of the same grade, and you are quite skilled in handling materials." Professor Snape's expression softened a little. "With a little guidance..."
"If you don't think I'm stupid..." Della said humbly. He was dutifully playing the role of an "admirer", just like in his previous life.
"If you were stupid, Mr. Longbottom would be a troll," Snape said unhappily. He remembered the homework Longbottom handed in last class - a horrible lump of metal - which he decisively gave 0 points.
Professor Snape was not difficult to please for Draco.
As long as you are a Slytherin student, you are halfway to success; as long as you work hard in Potions class and make him think you are a smart person, his harshness will not be able to cover you.
Of course, those non-Slytherin students were no longer in Snape's esteem, especially the Gryffindors. Professor Snape particularly liked to ridicule Harry and his two companions, as well as Longbottom, who was also in Gryffindor.
He could somewhat understand the ridicule towards Longbottom. After all, a clumsy and careless student like him was a disaster for a Potions teacher who required meticulous work.
But Hermione, why? Even if she could always give the right answer, she would still be met with Professor Snape's sneers. Every time he saw the little girl sulking after being deducted points, he felt that she was being wronged.
While I was thinking, the medicine was ready.
Professor Snape nodded in satisfaction as he watched his beloved disciple extinguish the fire under the crucible with pinpoint accuracy. He tentatively asked, "Draco, I've noticed you've been getting close to Gryffindor's Potter lately."
"Yes, Professor," he replied, staring at the still slightly bubbling cauldron.
"And perhaps Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger," said Professor Snape slowly.
"Yes, Professor." Draco was alert.
Professor Snape never discussed such boring gossip for no reason. He seemed to want to hint at something or test something.
"I thought you would be more picky in making friends." When talking about Harry and the others, Professor Snape was like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue, without a single good word.
"Professor, don't you think that Miss Granger is one of the best students in terms of academics?" Draco asked him calmly.
"Best in class? Do you mean that she copies the answers verbatim from the textbook when answering questions in every class?" Snape said contemptuously.
"Not everyone has a groundbreaking talent like you." Draco said slowly, "Compared to other young wizards of the same age, she is already quite smart."
Snape snorted.
"As for Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, there is no doubt that their ability to cause trouble is first-class—" He glanced at Professor Snape secretly and found that he was relatively stable.
"But they're not bad people and are quite friendly to me." Draco shrugged and said easily.
"A qualified Slytherin should judge the situation and not get himself involved in unnecessary trouble." Professor Snape said softly.
"Of course, Professor," Draco agreed. "However, I also believe that even the most cunning Slytherin needs a true friend or two."
"Really? I only see an ignorant, arrogant, trouble-making, reckless and brainless annoying guy." Snape shifted his gaze to the potion that was no longer bubbling and said in a deep voice.
Draco was silent. He knew he shouldn't contradict Professor Snape—it wouldn't do him any good.
But for some reason, perhaps because Professor Snape's attitude was not as intense as he had imagined, or perhaps because he had just brewed a potion that was worthy of Professor Snape's praise, he could not help but say, "Do you know where I first met Potter?"
"Why do you think I'm interested in such boring things?" Professor Snape frowned, waved his wand, and put the remaining plantains in the cabinet at the other end of the room.
Draco ignored him and continued to talk to himself while sorting out the potion supplies beside the crucible, "In Madam Malkin's robe shop. He was wearing ill-fitting, washed-out Muggle clothes, staring nervously at the automatic measuring tape, as if he had never seen a magical item before... He didn't even know how many houses there were in Hogwarts at that time... He had never even eaten candy like Chocolate Frogs..."
He was keenly aware of the flash of displeasure that crossed Professor Snape's face.
Why? Draco didn't have time to think about it, so he continued, "That he is ignorant? I agree that he is ignorant. He is a household name in the wizarding world, but he knows nothing about his own life. He doesn't even have a photo of his mother."
Professor Snape paused stirring the potion. He asked calmly, seemingly casually, "Are you feeling sorry for him?"
"No. I just want to say that his ignorance and even recklessness are justified. He doesn't know the consequences of his actions, nor does he know the dangers of the wizarding world." Draco explained carefully.
This was his true feelings, and it was a fact he had gradually come to realize during the two years he had been with Harry.
He looked at Professor Snape and saw that he seemed to be lost in thought, so he continued boldly, "The Potter family is an ancient wizarding family. Its only heir has fallen into such a state of being left without guidance and losing his heritage. I just... feel sorry for him. I just want to remind him occasionally to prevent him from going astray."
"It's amazing that a Slytherin could be so philanthropic," Professor Snape said word by word.
Draco smiled awkwardly but didn't answer.
It's better to stop while you're ahead, lest Professor Snape's anger be directed at you.
"Of course, I respect the freedom of Slytherin students to choose their friends. However, please do not bring shame to Slytherin House, and do not cause any trouble." Professor Snape remained expressionless. "You may leave."
Draco bowed politely to him, walked briskly out of the dungeon, and closed the heavy door behind him.
He didn't see that the moment the door closed, the stern face showed an expression of unspeakable heartache.
The door to the principal's office opened.
A billowing black robe brought a biting chill into the headmaster's office. Snape hurried in, his chest filled with anger, his black cloak flying behind him.
"Severus, I didn't expect you to come so soon." Dumbledore smiled as he sat in the large armchair behind the desk in the headmaster's office, stroking his beloved phoenix, Fawkes, in his hand.
Snape stood in the middle of the headmaster's office, glaring and silent. The air around the carpet where he stood turned icy.
If Harry had seen this scene, he might have thought that the sharp-tongued Potions professor had acquired a new skill - an ice-making machine.
"Well?" Dumbledore's blue eyes studied Snape curiously through his round glasses, seemingly unconcerned with the dark expression on his face. Instead, he tried to discern a conclusion from his icy expression. The phoenix also cried out, following Dumbledore's gaze and examining him.
"I wonder why this phoenix hasn't turned into a bald chicken yet," Snape said grimly. Fawkes seemed to understand and cried out in dissatisfaction at him.
"It seems the result is not as good as I expected." Dumbledore looked at him calmly and shrugged.
"On the contrary. Our young and foolish Mr. Malfoy considers Potter a friend." Snape said through gritted teeth.
Snape's words made Dumbledore look slightly surprised, but he quickly adjusted his expression.
"As I said before, never underestimate a Slytherin." He said with a smile, "We may find surprising friendships among them."
"Perhaps I shouldn't have looked down upon a Gryffindor!" Snape raised his voice, his usually slow speech speed suddenly increasing. "What did you promise me? You promised to take good care of him! Take good care of Lily's bloodline! And then what? Being abused by Muggles and knowing nothing about our world, is this what you call taking good care of him? How dare you..."
"We reached a consensus from the beginning. Young fame and premature reputation will ruin him." Dumbledore said calmly, "This is the best choice we can make."
"Isolating himself from the wizarding world doesn't mean that he will be ignorant of magic and everything about himself. You are harming him! No wonder he didn't know anything when I asked him questions at the beginning of last year! I thought he was uneducated... I should have thought of it earlier! How could Lily's son be uneducated... The funny thing is, he doesn't even know what Lily looks like!" Snape stood upright in front of the desk in the headmaster's office, his dark eyes looking down at Dumbledore who was sitting in the armchair, his anger beyond words.
A hint of vulnerability flickered in Dumbledore's blue eyes. He remained motionless in his chair, his smile vanishing. "I was indeed negligent in this regard... I didn't realize his aunt and family hated magic so much, even taking their anger out on their nephew for Lily's death."
"Don't make excuses! I warned you a long time ago what kind of person Petunia Evans is--" Snape said angrily.
"At least he is protected by his blood magic. At least he is alive, isn't he?" Dumbledore said calmly.
"To live? Is it enough to live like an ignorant pig?" Snape sneered.
"Severus, don't be silly. You know how serious the situation was at the time." Dumbledore rubbed his temple and closed his eyes tiredly. "At that time, many Death Eaters had not yet been apprehended. People thought Voldemort would make a comeback... Being able to be alive and well is a blessing in disguise."
Snape stopped looking at Dumbledore. He pursed his lips tightly together and stared expressionlessly out the headmaster's office window at the dark Hogwarts grounds.
"And now, I'm afraid, Voldemort is ready to make his move." Dumbledore stood up and paced around the room. "I believe you must remember that last year, when Quirrell was petrified, Voldemort's incomplete soul remained in his body. We have not yet found an ideal method to solve the problem of Quirrell's petrification and at the same time trap the soul so that he cannot escape."
Snape said nothing. The surging tide of anger receded a little, and the shores of rationality returned to his mind. Somewhere in his heart, he knew Dumbledore was right.
"This year's Chamber of Secrets incident is also closely related to Voldemort. He used the diary from his childhood as a carrier to deceive people, and it is very likely that he made use of the knowledge of Horcruxes that I mentioned to you earlier today." He tapped the charred diary on the table with his fingers - he had been keeping it by his side to study and examine it recently.
"According to Harry, the Voldemort in the diary wanted to kill him. I'm not sure how many of Voldemort's Horcruxes are still out there, but one thing is certain, as long as they are activated, the first thing they will do is probably kill Harry Potter." Dumbledore frowned.
Snape's thin face turned pale. He turned back, no longer looking out the window. "So?"
"As long as Voldemort is not completely destroyed, Harry will always be in danger. The future will only be more dangerous, unprecedentedly dangerous. He needs friends. Try to surround him with friends rather than enemies. I think, for young Mr. Malfoy, we might as well respect his right to make friends. Of course, there are also Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger, they can all help him." Dumbledore said thoughtfully.
Snape snorted in disgust through his hooked nose.
"In the coming period, I will have to spend a lot of energy investigating the Horcruxes that Voldemort may have left in the world. I have a feeling that this will be a huge project. I can no longer watch the school every day like before. During the time when I have no time to take care of Hogwarts, you have to protect Harry, not only as a Hogwarts teacher, but also as Lily's friend." Dumbledore said.
"...like a dutiful old woman," Snape said sarcastically. "A nanny."
"Yes. That's understandable." Dumbledore's blue eyes looked at him calmly, as if he knew he would agree.
"Don't tell anyone." Snape's face was as cold as frost. He said this coldly and strode out of Dumbledore's office.
The day before the end of the Easter holidays, the boy who was about to receive Snape's special care was sitting in a corner of the library, whispering with his two good friends.
"Hermione, please," Ron said annoyedly, "just let us take a look..." Harry beside him also raised his head hopefully and looked at Hermione eagerly.
"No, you're supposed to write it yourself, that's what homework is for!" Hermione said angrily.
"I'm still eight inches short... Who can write a History of Magic paper this long? Three feet!" Ron exclaimed.
"I wrote four feet seven inches." Hermione proudly shook the written parchment in front of their noses.
Harry noticed that the writing was densely packed... and much smaller than Ron's.
Ron tried to grab the paper, but Hermione deftly pulled the parchment away from his wishful hands.
"I think I should give you some space to work on yourselves. I'm going to find Draco." She frowned at them, shook the parchment with one hand, and with the other hand held a shaky stack of books, and quickly left.
Harry and Ron looked at each other and sighed.
"I really don't understand. Since there are no final exams, why do we still have to do homework..." Ron looked depressed and worried about his paper.
Except for Defense Against the Dark Arts, teachers of all courses have regained their enthusiasm for teaching and are assigning homework with all their efforts, as if they hope to make up for the time lost during the Chamber of Secrets incident.
According to Professor McGonagall, this was a sign of "responsibility to the students".
"She said it was to prepare for the OWLs exams later." Harry scratched his black hair listlessly.
"They're crazy! We're still several years away from this exam!" Ron looked terrified and his face turned red with fear.
"At least we don't have to take final exams this year." Harry counted on his fingers.
"It's worse than an exam! Each essay is longer and longer!" Ron said in annoyance.
"Anyway, let's write something else." Harry spread out a book, and Ron quickly leaned over to discuss the techniques of text transfer with his best friend.
The two brothers were so focused on identifying information about the medieval European wizarding gathering, trying to find some tricks, that they didn't notice a hidden figure in the corner not far away.
Madam Pince was hiding stealthily behind the bookshelves in the library. She lifted her skirt and tiptoed behind Hermione Granger, a famous good student of Gryffindor.
Passing through rows of massive books on the history of magic, turning a corner in the spells section, behind the shelf of ancient runic dictionaries... she saw with her own eyes Miss Hermione Granger, carrying a stack of thick books, walk into the Forbidden Magics section as if no one was around, pass through a miscellaneous area filled with scrap metal, and disappear in a flash.
Madam Pince knew, of course, that it was a VIP area specially designated by the school directors. She also knew that the only one currently using this area was the young master of the Malfoy family.
"Wow!" A blush crept onto her pale, thin cheeks, and Madam Pince's eyes flashed with brilliance. "Finally—I caught you!"
Hiding behind a thick row of banned books, she excitedly said to the small hand mirror in her sleeve, "Bobby, you're right! I found their secret rendezvous place!"
Madam Pomfrey's triumphant voice came from the hand mirror: "Of course I know I'm right! I've never been wrong about eating melons -"
"Oh, shut up, you boastful lady!" Madam Pince put her hand mirror back into her pocket, humming an old Celestina Warbeck song contentedly, and pretending to pick up her favorite feather duster to dust the books beside her.