章節 175: Chapter 175: Snape's Compromise
"Boom!"
In the Three Broomsticks, the fireplace suddenly flared up with a burst of green flames.
A portly middle-aged man emerged from it, looked around, and then walked towards a table in the corner.
"Sorry, Harry, I was delayed on the way!" Arthur Weasley looked a bit tired, as if he had indeed been very busy. After sitting down, he grabbed a butterbeer from the table and drank it in one go.
"It's alright, Uncle Arthur! How is he doing over there?" Harry's eyes sparkled with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
"Fantastic! He's eating more than the ghoul in the attic!" Perhaps noticing Harry's unease, Arthur joked to lighten the mood.
Hearing this, Harry visibly relaxed, and so did the other three at the table.
Ginny, in particular, looked delighted as she asked, "Dad, did he ask you to give Harry any message? Or anything else?"
"A message? Oh, right!" Arthur suddenly slapped his forehead and pulled a letter from his inner pocket, handing it to Harry.
"This is from him! Oh, and Dumbledore also replied. It'll take some more time. You know how Fudge is these days, a bit jumpy. We really can't afford to provoke him further, or things might go wrong…"
Harry nodded seriously, understanding Arthur's caution. He had read the newspapers recently and knew there was a lot of commotion.
"I'm not in a hurry. Besides, I don't have many family members left."
Harry spoke calmly, as he picked up the letter from the table.
He had come to realize that clearing Sirius's name was more important than seeking revenge on Peter Pettigrew.
"As long as you understand! At most, it'll be a month. We're working on smoothing things over." Arthur patted Harry's shoulder reassuringly.
"Alright, I'll leave you now. By Christmas break at the latest, you should be able to see him, a free Sirius." With that, Arthur stood up and walked towards the fireplace.
At the same time, Harry eagerly tore open the envelope.
Sirius, perhaps because of his long stay in Azkaban, had handwriting that was shaky and uneven.
But despite the childlike script, Harry read the letter with rapt attention.
The concern and care evident in the words made him feel the warmth of family for the first time.
The letter also described Sirius's current life, even praising Mrs. Weasley's cooking.
After a while, Harry gently folded the letter, carefully placing it in his pocket.
Seeing his friend's brightening mood, Ron couldn't help but ask curiously, "What do you think, why would the old bat agree to hand over Pettigrew?"
"You should call him Professor Snape!" Hermione corrected, somewhat disapproving. In her view, Snape's situation was truly pitiful.
Girls, being emotional, Ginny also couldn't help but nod in agreement.
There was no denying that Snape had done many unlikable and even repulsive things, but a tragic figure could easily evoke sympathy.
…
Meanwhile, in another part of the castle.
In the basement potion classroom.
Snape finished his daily task of "feeding" Peter.
Listening to Peter's heart-wrenching screams, he closed the hidden compartment door without looking back.
His expertise in potion-making allowed him to concoct a potion that wouldn't damage the mind but would ensure ample pain.
The reason for not harming the mind was simple: Peter's screams were only satisfying when he was fully conscious, giving Snape a sense of redemption.
Of course, this redemption ritual wouldn't last much longer, as Dumbledore needed to take this scum to save another rat.
Snape sat quietly at his desk, on which lay an open, old notebook with a three-inch photo tucked inside.
The photo showed a girl with a sweet smile, her green eyes clear and bright like the tender leaves of spring, stunningly beautiful.
Gazing at the photo, Snape recalled his conversation with Dumbledore at the start of the term.
"Lily's protective magic requires a bond of family, but Harry hasn't felt much familial love in his aunt's house."
Knowing it was a plea, Snape had to compromise.
The Dark Mark had not faded, and no one understood what that meant better than he did.
…
Simultaneously.
Hogsmeade, after a day of hustle and bustle, had settled into its evening tranquility.
Students in groups of threes and fives were laughing as they returned to the castle.
At the gate, Filch stood ready with an oil lamp, looking like he was gearing up for a major inspection.
However, facing the large number of students in the first week, Filch would only focus on those known for causing trouble.
Today, though, he found a new target: a Slytherin boy shivered as Filch approached, a clear sign not to be ignored.
As Filch drew closer, Draco grew increasingly nervous.
It wasn't because he had contraband but simply because the sight of Filch with his lamp made him anxious.
Hard to imagine, on the first day of school, Ino had looked like a dark wizard, one hand holding an ancient oil lamp and the other a wand, pointing and mumbling strange words like "gnarled fly."
As Draco recalled, Filch had already reached him.
"Open it! Routine inspection. The castle grants me this authority."
A few minutes later.
Filch looked complexly at the student before him.
He really wanted to yell at him for just buying candies and acting so scared.
But considering it might be a tactic, Filch scrutinized the students behind him even more.
…
As Filch conducted his thorough inspection, night fell over the castle.
Draco, holding a brown paper bag, gently pushed open the dormitory door.
"Ino! I got some candies, just bought them."
"Thanks! Be there in a moment!"
Responding to Draco's invitation, Ino continued watering the remaining two pots with his wand.
On the shelf were four potted plants, one with lush foliage from the berries Narnia brought, and three bare pots containing the magical beans the Grimm brothers had given him.
Though they hadn't sprouted since planting, the harvest festival at the end of September was approaching.
As seeds blessed by the harvest goddess in the story, according to fairy tale logic, there should be some change by the first harvest festival after planting.
Though thinking, Ino didn't delay his task. After watering the last pot, he set down his wand and walked toward Draco.
Taking a toffee from the table and popping it into his mouth, the familiar taste filled his senses.
Meanwhile, Draco sat by the table, chattering about the day's events.
Hearing about Filch's lamp inspection, Ino apologized, "Sorry, it's my fault! I was out of my mind then."
"It's nothing!" Draco waved it off nonchalantly.
After a moment, he seemed to remember something and asked, "Ino, your book is being published on the 12th, right?"
"Yes, on the 12th. Next Wednesday, it'll be released in England first, along with a matching record. Don't worry, I'll give you a signed copy with a personalized message."
Ino wasn't surprised Draco knew about the book release. In the small circle of pure-bloods, news traveled fast, especially with a repeat student like Marcus Flint around.
"A gift is fine, but I still want to buy some to keep in the common room!" Draco said earnestly.
Ino shook his head decisively at the gesture. "There's no need. We're friends, and I'm not looking to make money from this."
"Even if I don't buy it, others will to keep in the common room. Just wait and see."
Faced with Draco's certainty, Ino didn't argue further. It probably would happen as he said.
Ino admired old Flint's timing, releasing the book while the Dementor craze was still fading.
In such a climate, at the very least, Hogwarts alone would consume several hundred to a thousand copies.
The only upside was the pricing. Unlike Gilderoy Lockhart's money-grabbing, old Flint seemed to understand the purpose of the publication through Newt.
The overall price was just 11 Sickles, breaking even with the record, making it a labor of love.
Ino quietly noted the favor, planning to repay it with a new business opportunity.
After chatting with Draco for a while, he turned towards the washroom.
Tomorrow would be the first elective class of the term, and he didn't want to be late.
…
A quiet night passed.
The morning sun once again shone on the Scottish Highlands, and Hogwarts, like a sleeping giant, began to wake up.
Outside the castle, near the Forbidden Forest.
Hagrid woke up early, not only applying hair-smoothing tonic but also unusually using scented oil.
Today was his first lesson as a teacher, and he wanted to give the young wizards a unique experience.
He chose some gentle magical creatures for the first lesson.
Leaving his hut, after confirming Buckbeak's condition, he led the hippogriff towards the open lawn.
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