A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts-Chapter 731: Side Story - Snape

Chapter 731: Side Story - Snape

Snape and Harry stood beside neatly trimmed hedges, not far from a very respectable manor. Behind them were several Aurors and a dozen hit wizards, fewer in number than the opponents reported from intelligence, but everyone present appeared relaxed.

"I really hope we don't find Draco Malfoy inside," Harry murmured.

"Maybe he's not there," Snape suggested.

"But I went to the hospital this morning, and his assistant said he went home," Harry said urgently. Snape coldly watched him, "I didn't know when you developed a habit of indecisiveness."

"Oh, I think it's because I've been busy taking care of my little daughter," Harry said at a leisurely pace. "She's so mischievous, more so than the other two when they were young. Ginny and I are a bit overwhelmed." As expected, upon finishing his statement, he noticed Snape's expression become unfathomable.

"Ginny and the kids are on the island," Harry added.

"I'll go," Snape said emotionlessly, "with a gift."

As Snape walked toward the wrought-iron gate, Harry pondered over their relationship. It should have ended with graduation, and indeed, for several years afterward, they only saw each other a few times on the Floating Island. But for some reason, after the birth of his third child, he insisted on choosing a professor, with whom he had a discordant relationship during school, as the godfather—thus each of his three children would have a godfather.

He did it, perhaps because of a chance encounter at a gravesite.

At that time, Harry realized Snape had never let go. Despite his significant achievements, he stubbornly remained at the school instead of leaving his teaching position, because it held nearly all his life's memories, both good and bad.

Even Hagrid would leave Grawp behind and disappear for a month or two every summer. The headmistress of Beauxbatons was similarly unpredictable. But Snape was always alone. According to Neville, Professor McGonagall seemed intent on pairing him with Emmeline Vance, but history always repeats itself. The two, inheriting the competitive spirit of Slytherin and Gryffindor, fiercely contested the House Cup in recent years, sparking no romance.

Rosie was starting school next year. But Harry thought of Sirius's second child, the one who almost took the name "James." Thankfully, his and Ginny's first child was born two months earlier. Sirius held a grudge over this and insisted on being "James's" godfather.

Harry waved his hand, and the Aurors and hit wizards took their positions.

...

The Malfoy Manor's living room was bustling with activity.

A group of wizards in black robes sat haphazardly around the long table, complaining about the unfair treatment and hardships they had faced over the years. The room's brightness was deliberately dimmed, reminiscent of Death Eater meetings, with the fireplace blazing, leaving a spot beside it empty.

Lucius Malfoy, with a stiff expression, sat at the first seat on the left, watching Selwyn chat with two bulky, short wizards across from him.

"What's wrong, Lucius?" Selwyn called out loudly, "We need fresh blood, or we'll rot away. Everyone here isn't just for personal gain; we're discussing the fate of all pure-blood families, so the more, the better. Right, Vincent, Gregory?"

Lucius looked complexly at his son's former friends as they nodded naively.

Selwyn was triumphant.

"Let the young ones see the world. Old friend, where's Draco?"

"He couldn't make it," Lucius replied. "Couldn't make it," Selwyn echoed for everyone to hear, then feigned confusion, "What's so important? Let me think—oh, right, he's now a person of significance, busy with public duties, many depending on him to conquer one or two more Muggle diseases, so those without magic can live as long as wizards... Yet some of our friends and family rot in Azkaban..."

Crabbe and Goyle's faces immediately flashed with hatred.

Lucius narrowed his grey eyes and said coldly, "I believe you've played your part in this, Selwyn." "Oh, cut it out," Selwyn immediately retorted, well-prepared, "Not to mention Snape, who's kept the best secrets, but you, Lucius, have revealed so much. Compared to you two, what I've done is negligible."

He stood up, body leaning against the chair facing the fireplace, as if intending to sit, everyone's eyes widened—the seat had been empty for twelve years. Was Selwyn aspiring for it?

The room was filled with evasive and anxious glances.

But Selwyn just stood beside the chair, raising his voice, "Twelve years ago, we made an agreement with Mr. Harp, thanking him for freeing us from Voldemort's ensl

avement," he bowed slightly towards the chair, "Over the years, we've tried to keep a low profile, avoiding trouble, but what's the result? Treated as outcasts by nobodies in the wizarding world, I've seen too much of this contempt... Now is the time to unite and exert our influence! Gentlemen, there's more than one Dark Lord, but pure-blood families will endure forever!"

Lucius sensed a dangerous signal, subtly leaning back in his chair.

Selwyn's speech hit many sore spots, reminiscing about past glories. When Selwyn pressed his hands down, the crowd immediately quieted, satisfied with their reaction.

"Pure-blood families are untouchable because we've signed one magical contract after another over the ages, most of which are now with the Ministry. I don't plan to take them back; there are other ways to wealth..." he vaguely said, "But using this to negotiate with the Ministry for a share shouldn't be a problem. I plan to talk to Kingsley..."

"Also, there's something else—"

"I've connected with a steward of the Queen, Mr. Edwin revealed the Queen has been mentioning court wizards," Selwyn glanced around, even Lucius's eyes heated at the mention, symbolizing titles, noble status, and a unique position.

But Lucius's thoughts quickly cooled as he recalled the breakfast conversation. Selwyn continued his speech, but Lucius's mind wandered elsewhere, hearing faint footsteps. His gaze shifted to the heavy wooden door, rubbing his eyes as the bronze knob seemed to turn bit by bit.

"Click." A gust of wind entered, cutting Selwyn off mid-speech. A figure stood at the door, the hem of a black robe fluttering with the breeze. The figure stood still, adjusting to the dim light, but everyone recognized the face amidst the murmurings.

"It's Snape!"

"Isn't he teaching at the school, researching potions..."

"I heard he's sided with Potter."

Snape strode in, looking around before fixing his gaze on Selwyn. Selwyn quickly hid his surprise, smiling, "Severus! Haven't seen you in a while, I heard you became someone's godfather, haha!"

Snape's face remained expressionless, devoid of any smile. The room fell silent as his gaze met everyone's, then spoke, "I have a message."

"What is it?" Selwyn asked instinctively.

Snape's eyelids drooped, "It's none of your business."

"How can it not concern me?" Selwyn shouted, then seeing something in Lucius's pale face, dread seeped through him, feeling like drowning, he eventually lost control of his leaden legs and slumped back into his chair.

"Are the Aurors outside, or..."

Snape offered no response.

Selwyn stared with wide eyes, lips trembling uncontrollably. He suddenly jumped up, flipping his chair, and dashed towards the door, followed by a few others scrambling away from the long table.

"If I were you, I wouldn't choose to run," Snape's voice echoed. But Selwyn was already gone, the first to leave the living room—he didn't use the fireplace, fearing it was monitored by the Ministry. He ran towards the manor's back, where a fountain and a spot for Apparating lay nearby.

Among those following Selwyn, one stopped a few steps from the door, his face cycling through expressions, conflicted about heeding Snape's advice. With his deeds, he faced at least ten years in Azkaban.

The entire room seemed to freeze, including the desperate, short, plump man at the door. Sweat on his forehead solidified, then a circle of silver light swept through every person, causing intense headaches.

"Don't resist," Snape's voice advised.

Lucius was the first to comply, realizing resistance was futile, whether against Aurors or Harp. He had no desire to fight; that wasn't his forte. Besides, Narcissa, Draco, and Scorpius were his concerns. Then, like a drowning man resurfacing, he breathed fresh air, collapsing into his chair, gasping, belatedly noticing his clothes soaked with cold sweat.

The silver ripples spread like tides, Lucius feeling an inexplicable courage, not for resistance or battle, but to join the silver light's owner against evil... Strange, the Malfoy family didn't need that.

When the fourteenth wave of silver ripples passed, the door was forcefully opened, three Aurors erecting a glowing magical barrier, taking the man at the door without a word.

"Was that... Potter outside?" someone tentatively asked. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Before Snape could reply, the door opened a second time. Seeing that face, everyone gasped—it was Harry Potter, personally leading the team. A silver corporeal Patronus flickered behind him, their hooves almost audible.

, Selwyn, Parkinson, Nott, and Rookwood are suspected of serious crimes and will be taken for questioning."

Everyone bowed their heads in reverence.

After an indeterminate time, with a "bang," the door shut, leaving everyone with a sense of narrow escape.

Snape's tone was even as he declared, "The snake of Slytherin should not crawl in gutters but soar in the skies. To prevent misunderstanding—" he paused, pulling out several parchments from his robe pocket.

"I've prepared some materials."

He dryly read from the parchments like a lengthy report. Though his thoughts wandered, Snape found a familiar feeling in this act, reminiscent of years past when he read several monotonous reports in the Black family's meeting room.

No one interrupted him. The fire in the fireplace blazed brighter, crackling logs casting him in light. Everyone sat upright, straining to find useful information in the emotionless report.

For some, this scene was all too familiar.

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