bookbashuk Chapter 68 Snape takes the potion.
Chapter 68 Snape takes the potion.
Chapter 68 Snape takes the potion.
Children and women are always the most unpredictable groups.
Orochimaru was quite experienced in this, so he felt he could handle it.
After uttering those powerful words with a leisurely air, he immediately maintained an appropriate silence, watching the changes in Hermione Granger's expression.
To be honest, Orochimaru's expression was very strange.
This may be related to his hobbies.
Because life often has no meaning, but as long as one is alive, one can always find interesting things.
It's like you discovered the flower, and he discovered you.
Orochimaru didn't know where Hermione Granger's fate would have gone if he hadn't appeared in this world, but he was now watching with immense joy the changes taking place on Hermione Granger's face.
The first thing that appeared on Hermione's face was a hint of joy at being acknowledged; she seemed eager to grant Orochimaru's request immediately.
Because the feeling of being recognized is wonderful, especially for Hermione Granger, who has just entered the wizarding world and is still a little lost.
but----
She wasn't dull-witted; on the contrary, she was frighteningly intelligent.
"I won't believe all the flattery, Mr. Slack Anguill." Hermione put away the heavy book in front of her and said slowly.
She habitually adopted the expression she wore in the Muggle world.
She was a top student, a wealthy and pampered Hermione Granger, who was showered with love and affection.
She was proud of her intelligence, just like her chin held high at that moment.
"I will lend a helping hand as the situation warrants."
Hermione Granger stood up and looked directly into Orochimaru's slightly narrowed snake eyes.
She became the real Hermione Granger again.
Intelligent with a touch of pride, and possessing an almost frighteningly strong sense of self-will.
“This is not because I’ve been convinced by you,” Hermione Granger said lightly, her words brimming with confidence. “It’s my own judgment!”
"certainly."
Orochimaru responded with a smile.
But this was exactly what I expected.
He thought to himself, then changed his tone again, as if exchanging information with a fellow Jonin, and began to share his findings with Hermione Granger.
Orochimaru spoke at lightning speed, completely unconcerned about whether Hermione Granger could understand him.
Wise witches are always smarter than others imagine.
Hermione Granger listened intently, nodding slightly from time to time, and took advantage of the pauses in Orochimaru's speech to share her findings.
"Since the professors are intentionally concealing this matter, they must have magical means to make everything unfold as they wish. After all, magic is always wondrous, isn't it?"
As for the specific methods used, Hermione Granger couldn't figure it out for the time being.
But she was certain—
"Things will not go as you wish, Slack Anguis."
After Hermione finished speaking, before Orochimaru could respond, she had already hugged the thick volume "Hogwarts: A History of the School" to her chest.
She strode forward a few steps, then suddenly turned around.
To be honest, Orochimaru had never seen such a confident expression on Hermione Granger's face before.
What she said next surprised Orochimaru even more, making him realize that his gentle push had caused Hermione Granger to deviate significantly from her original life trajectory.
Hermione Granger grinned, revealing her large front teeth like a flower basking in endless sunshine, and said, "But I will!"
Orochimaru nodded slightly upon hearing this, as proof of the agreement between the two.
He didn't have high expectations for it, but letting flowers shine in the sunlight and letting people find themselves was always something that made Orochimaru happy.
Orochimaru watched Hermione Granger disappear into the library, then turned around and closed the book he had opened, "Introduction to Advanced Potions."
He didn't look through too many of them; the only potion that left a deep impression on him was the transformation potion called Compound Elixir.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find any hair from Itachi or Sasuke Uchiha.
This is truly a very regrettable thing.
Orochimaru felt regret, but on the other side, someone was unusually dissatisfied because they saw the appearance of the magic potion.
In the headmaster's office at the highest point of Hogwarts, Snape stared in shock at the tuft of hair that Dumbledore had produced.
"What do you mean by this, Albus?" Snape stared at the clump of broken hair, his voice almost bleeding. "You really don't want to see Slack and Harry become friends?"
Snape was completely questioning Dumbledore.
However, when he confronts the real Dumbledore, his questioning often differs from what others expect.
Dumbledore did not answer Snape's question directly, but instead changed the subject.
"Do you know the Malfoy family of the Twenty-Eight Holy Clans?" Dumbledore's eyes deepened. "They've been active in the wizarding world since William's conquest."
"Don't change the subject!"
Snape spoke again, his voice suddenly rising an octave.
"Be patient, Severus," Dumbledore said kindly, but his expression was anything but.
Looking at Dumbledore's serious expression, Snape felt as if he had returned to the night he had begged Dumbledore to save Lily's life.
Compared to the Dark Lord, Dumbledore was just another wizard who didn't like killing.
Snape bit his lip, and in the headmaster's office where only the two of them existed, he almost squeezed out his words through clenched teeth.
"I'd like to hear the details, Dumbledore!"
"Very well, Severus, patience always helps," Dumbledore said slowly. "The Malfoy family, or rather the Holy Twenty-Eight, always have some magic in their blood."
"I've never heard of this before!"
"Of course, of course, because the conditions for it to take effect are so strict that even they themselves don't know how to make it take effect."
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Dumbledore smiled and winked at Snape.
But Snape only felt that Dumbledore was showing off, and he couldn't figure out how much of the wizarding world's secrets this White Lord actually knew.
"so what?"
"Based on my observations over the past two days, our Mr. Draco Malfoy seems to have awakened the Malfoy family's bloodline magic," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "a magic that amplifies the influence of his followers."
How can there be such bizarre magic in this world?
Snape was no ordinary wizard; he was highly skilled in dark magic.
As far as he knew, the only black magic capable of changing someone's perceptions, even manipulating their thoughts, was—
"The Imperius Curse, one of the three unforgivable curses," Dumbledore confirmed Snape's guess. "It's terrifying. As time goes on, its followers will gain unimaginable influence, just like William the Conqueror of England."
Who exactly were Malfoy's followers?
Snape had only gone through the image in his mind once when the image of Slyke Anguill was involuntarily brought to mind. Even the words the two had spoken when they first met seemed to echo in his ears like a spell.
"I only need enough power to protect my loved ones, Professor."
The thought of Slyke's words made Snape feel as if a needle had pierced his heart.
But Dumbledore ignored this and continued speaking calmly.
"With immense potential, a future of great prestige, and unspeakable ambition, Slack Angus is far too dangerous for Harry's friend."
"Isn't this good!" Snape couldn't help but ask.
"not good."
Dumbledore's gaze pierced through his small glasses, staring directly into Snape's excited eyes, as if trying to flood Snape's mind with all his worries and make him understand the seriousness of the situation.
"What if they turn against each other one day? What if Harry can no longer tolerate Slack's ambition? What if one day—"
Will Harry follow in my footsteps and challenge Grindelwald like I have?
Can he win?
We can't win!
Snape subconsciously shook his head slightly, acknowledging Dumbledore's concerns.
"That's why we need to slow Slack Anguill's pace a little, so Harry can catch up a bit, so that when the two of them turn around, Harry can at least be in a safe place, you know what I mean, Severus?"
"Dumbledore said sincerely."
Snape's eyes were filled with disappointment. He looked at Dumbledore with almost anger, wanting to see what was going on in the mind of this cruel White Lord.
Why did he believe that Slytherin and Gryffindor were destined to part ways?
Why can't Harry and Slack be friends forever?
Not to mention————
"If I do that, there will definitely be conflict between Slack and Harry! Do you want that, Dumbledore?"
Snape then changed the subject, bringing up the thing he least wanted to face.
If there is anyone in this world who would want Harry and Slack's friendship to last forever, it can only be him, Snape Severus.
"I admit that what I did was excessive, and I will find a chance to clear up the misunderstanding between them." Dumbledore's gaze drifted away. "There are no misunderstandings that cannot be resolved between true friends."
"You know absolutely nothing, Dumbledore!"
Snape let out a rare roar.
But it had no effect. Dumbledore simply stared at him calmly and pointed to the potion ingredients placed in front of them in an unyielding tone.
It was a tuft of Professor Quirrell's severed hair, an essential ingredient in the compound decoction.
"Professor Quirrell is currently on leave, and we must conceal the past. Harry needs to grow, and Quirrell is the safest trial."
"Therefore, Severus, you must take this potion."
Why do you always make things difficult for me?
Dumbledore.
Snape closed his eyes helplessly, without giving a direct answer to Dumbledore's request.
But he didn't dare to hesitate in the slightest when he acted.
Severus Snape reached out and grabbed at the tuft of Professor Quirrell's severed hair, gripping it so tightly that it seemed as if it were a noose choking him.
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