A Hogwarts Magic Professor Chapter 188: The Era of Closeness - Novel Cool

Chapter 188: The Era of Closeness

Chapter 188: The Era of Closeness

Hermione's strange behavior left Harry momentarily stunned, and the angry expression on his face quickly faded.

He wasn't sure whether to continue being upset, but it might make him seem unreasonable.

Ron seized the opportunity to put a hand on his shoulder. "Harry, let's talk about it over lunch. Hermione's right—we really are running late."

During Transfiguration class, Harry was completely distracted, still wondering where Hermione had gotten her information. Maybe it was from Professor Hup? But the timeline didn't match up.

He was so lost in thought that he barely noticed the frequent glances others cast his way.

In the previous Divination class, Professor Trelawney had interpreted the shape of Harry's tea leaves, predicting a death that sent shivers down the spines of all the young wizards—a black dog, ghost-like and wandering through graveyards.

Her words deeply unsettled Harry, as he had seen the black dog, a symbol of death, more than once. From the cover of the book Omens of Death in the bookstore to the suspicious shadow he had seen on Magnolia Crescent the night he ran away from the Dursleys.

After the Divination class, Hermione, in her attempt to refute Trelawney's prediction, inadvertently revealed something to Harry—she had known about his father for a while but had kept it to herself.

This was the real reason Harry was angry.

At lunch, the young wizards noisily flooded into the Great Hall. Harry took some sausages and fried tomatoes but found he had no appetite, feeling as if his worries had already filled him up.

Hermione pushed a small dish of sauce towards him. "Harry, you heard what Professor Mcgonagall said. Trelawney predicts a student's death every year; it's her way of welcoming new classes."

But Ron, looking worried, asked, "You haven't seen a black dog wandering around anywhere else, have you, Harry?"

Harry's stomach suddenly tightened. "No, I have", he said, "the night I left the Dursleys' house."

Ron's fork clattered to the floor, and he looked genuinely frightened.

But Harry was more concerned with other matters. He turned to Hermione, his tone harsh. "You haven't told me about my father."

"Oh, um..." Hermione averted her gaze, looking flustered. "Alright." She took a deep breath. "Remember when we were given detention by Professor Hup?"

"Of course, it happened last year." Harry tried to recall the details. "We suspected Professor Hup was involved in the Chamber attacks and followed him into the Forbidden Forest. We got caught, lost ten points, and were given a full weekend of detention. And we had to do it with Malfoy."

He didn't see how this related to his father.

Hermione looked at him. "It's what we had to do for our detention, Harry. Professor Hup had a stack of old records from Professor Mcgonagall for us to copy—records of student infractions and their corresponding punishments."

Harry remembered more details, including how Malfoy had been incessantly talking next to him while they copied the records.

But he quickly caught the significance of Hermione's words. He widened his eyes. "You saw my father's name in those records!"

"Not just his, Harry." Hermione continued. "All four of them. I mean, the names I saw were James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew—"

"So that's why you looked so surprised when you heard Professor Lupin's full name! You already knew." Harry's confusion cleared up, and he suddenly felt hungry again. He picked up a sausage and took a large bite, but his eyes remained fixed on Hermione.

"Exactly", Hermione said. "In fact, it's possible that the part I copied was from those years... anyway, I saw quite a few infractions."

Harry stammered, "You mean my father... he..."

Hermione said softly, "Similar to the twins, but perhaps a bit more lively." She chose her words carefully. "Your father's name is often mentioned alongside Sirius Black, and occasionally with two others. This suggests—"

"They were friends! And clearly, your father was closer to Sirius Black!" Harry slammed his fist on the table.

He recalled overhearing the Weasleys' conversation before the start of the school year. When he learned that Sirius Black had escaped prison with the goal of killing him, he hadn't felt much fear.

The fugitive had killed thirteen people with a single spell, and he should have been terrified, but Hogwarts was the safest place. There was Headmaster Dumbledore, and Professor Hup, who was quite friendly with him.

The only thing that puzzled him was Mr. Weasley's private conversation with him just before boarding the train the next day. Mr. Weasley made him promise, swear not to seek out Black...

Why would he go looking for someone who wanted to kill him?

But now everything was clear. That Black was a good friend of his father, and they had broken rules together, wandered the castle, and explored the Forbidden Forest...

It was hard to imagine such friends becoming enemies.

'After all, he was a Death Eater. War can drive people mad. Think of Voldemort!' Harry told himself.

Ron stared at the two of them, especially Hermione. It had been almost ten months since the detention! She had kept the secret to herself, not letting a single word slip.

Hermione nodded at Harry. "I think so too, and..." She continued in a rush, "And I also saw Severus Snape's name. There are about seven or eight records of him and your father getting into fights."

Harry was stunned and involuntarily looked at the staff table.

Fifteen minutes earlier.

The staff table was also discussing similar matters.

Snape slowly picked up a piece of potato, chewed it slowly, and said, "Felix, the new professor isn't trustworthy. In fact, he was a close friend of that fugitive criminal, and they were comrades in crime even back in school."

Felix looked up, nonchalantly. "I wasn't aware of that. Could you tell me more, Professor?"

Snape glared at him. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything you can tell me."

Snape looked at him with disdain. "There's not much to say. Potter, Black, Lupin, and that Peter Pettigrew were almost inseparable, always loafing around and causing trouble."

"Especially Potter, arrogant, stupid, and he trusted the traitor..."

"Your relationship with him was bad when you were in school?"

Snape's expression stiffened. He said slowly, "You've dug up quite a bit of information."

Felix smiled, the corners of his mouth curling. "It's all public knowledge. After all, you were both standout students of that era. Many people still talk about you, like the owner of the Three Broomsticks."

"Stop prying into my affairs, Felix. I warn you—"

"We're on the same side, aren't we, Head of House?" Felix changed his tone. "But you need to give me more information. If it's personal, then I can only say I'm sorry. I won't help you against Professor Lupin."

After a long pause, Snape lifted his head slightly and said softly, "Personal? When you see Lupin's true nature, you'll be shocked, Felix. You can stay out of it; I can catch Black on my own and savor the sweetness of revenge."

"Did they corner you? Professor, did you get beaten up a lot in school?" Felix asked curiously.

Snape's gaze turned terrifying. Felix quickly added, "Oh, of course not. At least it was a fair fight, or how else would you have tested out those little hexes?"

Snape abruptly stood up, the chair scraping the floor with a harsh noise. He instinctively glanced at the Gryffindor table, and at the same moment, Harry looked over. Their eyes met.

The surprise on Harry's face hadn't faded, and Snape's eyes were as calm as deep, still waters.

After a moment, he swept his sleeve and left.

(End of Chapter)

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