https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-565-Magical-Creatures-in-the-Arctic/13461541/
Chapter 564: Suspicious Snape
Chapter 564: Suspicious Snape
After Christmas, life at the Black Family Manor became rather dull.
Harry, Ron, and Ginny were writing their homework at the dining table. Every half-hour, Kreacher would bring a steaming pot of tea.
"Thanks, but I can't drink any more", Ron said, his face turning red. Not long after, he bent over and ran upstairs to the bathroom, causing Ginny to look at him with disgust.
She slowly picked up her teacup and sipped a small mouthful. "Miss Ginny is a graceful lady", Kreacher bowed, praising her. Harry, puzzled, raised his head from his potion essay. What did Ginny do? "Did you twist your waist, Ginny?" "No!" she said angrily.
Ron returned.
"Snape is still in the study", he said briefly.
Harry knew what he meant. Snape had come over the day after Christmas and had been at the Order of the Phoenix headquarters for three consecutive days, which seemed quite suspicious given that the Order members were still busy.
"Let's think positively, maybe he's just coveting the Black family's library", Ron said.
"I saw him last night", Ginny said in a shrill voice, and Harry and Ron immediately turned their heads. "I was going to the kitchen for a drink of water, and I saw him glide down the stairs like a ghost, without making a sound..."
Harry and Ron exchanged glances, finding this even more suspicious.
"Is he looking for something?"
"Maybe he's trying to break the Order of the Phoenix's protective magic!"
"Don't be silly, the Fidelius Charm has been cast here, no one can force Dumbledore to reveal the secret!"
"Why don't we write to Hermione? She knows a lot about obscure magic", Ginny suggested eagerly.
"Good idea."
Over the next few days, Harry and Ron discussed what Snape might be up to while anxiously waiting for Hermione's reply. It took nearly a week for them to realize that the Black Family Manor was heavily protected by magic, and Hedwig couldn't find her way back.
Harry took the opportunity during lunch to go out and bring back Hedwig, who had been hovering around Grimmauld Place for several days. Hedwig angrily pecked at Harry's ear and fingers, and Harry kept apologizing. After she had vented enough, she dropped a bulging envelope on Harry's forehead.
Hermione's letter was long:
"Mom and I went to Switzerland, where the atmosphere is very peaceful, with no hint of war. I tried to convince them to stay here for a year or two, but they refused and even forced me to write a letter every week!
I taught them how to order the Daily Prophet and 'New Interpretations of Runic Script,' though they don't understand the latter, they can find my name in it. They also took an interest in the Quibbler, but I managed to dissuade them in time. I don't want them asking me about goblin pies in their letters.
Regarding your question, I do know some spells, but I'm not sure if they will work on Professor Snape. I recommend a Muggle method I got from a detective novel my dad recently read. The idea is to place a strand of hair between the pages of a book. If someone moves the book, the hair will fall out... I've included other methods at the end of the letter..."
"What do you think?" Harry asked Ron and Ginny after putting down the letter.
"Let's use the Muggle method!" Ron and Ginny said in unison, and Harry didn't object. Clearly, he had little confidence in his ability to outsmart Snape.
Two days before the start of the term, Harry went upstairs to call Sirius down for dinner. At the fifth-floor landing, Harry saw Sirius leaning against the door frame. Just as he was about to greet him, he noticed that Sirius wasn't looking at him but was lazily twirling his wand, speaking to someone in the room.
Harry took a few steps closer, and the voices became clearer.
Sirius's tone was unfriendly, "So, how did you end up in my room?"
Who is he talking to? Harry's mind was just forming this question when he got his answer. A slow, deliberate voice said, "Naturally, I have business with you. Did I get lost, perhaps?"
It was Snape!
Harry's breathing quickened, and his heart raced. He held his breath. Snape's recent activities were too suspicious, and he desperately wanted to know why.
"Is that so", Sirius said, glancing sideways into the room, "I thought someone was sneaking into my room to look for something..."
"Look for something?" Snape's cold voice asked, filled with a strong sense of disdain. Harry could almost imagine his thin lips curling, like a snake ready to strike, "Oh... do you mean the bikini photos on the wall?"
Sirius, who had been confronting Snape, froze. He licked his lips, "What are you talking about?"
"I must say, your taste is quite unique and courageous", Snape said sarcastically. Sirius's face turned red, "They're old photos!" he growled.
Harry didn't want to listen any further. He backed away, and at that moment, Snape suddenly appeared at the door, shoving Sirius aside. He was surprised to see Harry stealthily retreating.
This moment was incredibly awkward.
A few seconds felt like an eternity. Harry stood frozen, and Snape's lips curled into a sneer. "Looks like someone has discovered your little secret, Sirius. Will you cast a forgetfulness charm on him?" Snape strode away.
Harry slowly turned to leave, "Stop", Sirius said expressionlessly. Harry stammered, "I didn't hear anything." Sirius couldn't help but mutter a curse, not sure at whom, "Follow me."
With great courage, Harry entered the room.
He had never formally come in before, only knocking to call Sirius for meals, catching glimpses of the carved bed and velvet drapes. Once inside, Harry realized the room was spacious and beautiful.
Sirius sat on the bed, fuming, and pointed to the wall behind Harry.
"Look for yourself."
Harry slowly turned his head, expecting to see some strange photos. He did. The first thing he noticed were the Gryffindor banners on either side of the silver satin walls, setting the tone for the entire photo wall, making it clear which house the room's owner belonged to.
Harry inwardly approved.
Then he couldn't help but notice the wall covered in stickers and photos. Harry blinked; it wasn't quite what he had expected. There were many Muggle motorcycle photos, and only a few of the "bikini photos" Snape had mentioned. The faded smiles of the girls were frozen on the yellowed photos—motionless, as if cut from Muggle movie posters.
These were the photos Sirius had stuck on the wall during his school days, Harry realized. He had to admit, Snape was right; Sirius was indeed very brave, likely during his rebellious phase...
Besides these, there were also many wizard photos. Harry was surprised and a bit uneasy to find where Sirius had hidden the set of photos he had gotten from the Weasley twins. Dozens of Harry Potters were winking at him from the wall.
Harry wasn't sure which emotion was stronger—embarrassment or gratitude. His eyes felt a bit moist. After a while, he noticed a few unusual photos:
One showed four Hogwarts students standing together, arm in arm. Harry stared at the photo of his father, Sirius, Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, each smiling happily at the camera.
Another was of Sirius and a young man with their arms around each other. Harry knew that was Regulus; they were both young, and Sirius hadn't run away from home yet.
The last photo—Harry's breath caught in his throat—showed a black-haired baby riding a small broom, giggling, with two adult legs chasing after him. It had to be his father, James Potter.
"Lily sent this to me. I found it while cleaning, hidden in my motorcycle repair manual. I almost threw it away", Sirius said, pointing to the baby photo.
Harry was silent, not knowing what to say.
"I also have a few letters from James and Lily..." Sirius hesitated, "I've been unsure whether to give them to you."
"Of course you should!" Harry said immediately, his face full of anticipation.
Sirius smiled.
"They might not be what you expect... most of our conversations were about the war. Except for your mother, Lily. She always had a great passion for life..." He mumbled, then paused, got up from the bed, and opened a drawer from the bedside table, pulling out a stack of letters.
Harry greedily gazed at the slightly faded ink, wondering why he hadn't thought of this before. But then he remembered he never kept letters from Ron and Hermione... He decided to change that, starting now.
"Is James' invisibility cloak still with you?" Sirius suddenly asked.
"What? Oh, yes, Headmaster Dumbledore returned it to me in my first year", Harry replied, not sure why Sirius was asking. His attention was entirely on the letters. He saw a line of elegant handwriting, possibly from his mother.
He eagerly took them, hoping to feel the warmth of the letter writer.
Sirius fell silent, looking dispirited. He waved his hand, and Harry headed for the door. He suddenly turned back, "Um... Sirius, I think your taste is actually pretty good." Without waiting for a response, he quickly left.
---
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
