The Hogwarts Emerald

Chapter 426: Secret Conversation in the Underground Classroom

After class, Ada got zero points as expected because her crucible was emptied and there was not enough time left for her to complete it again, so she could only hand in a half-finished product.

It has to be said that in addition to being a potion master, Snape is also a master of time management, and he knows how to use time very accurately. It seems that there is plenty of time left for Ada to start over after the crucible is emptied, but in fact it is not enough.

First give you hope, then let you slowly experience despair. When the bell rings, you can only sigh at the unfinished potion.

The classroom door opened and seven or eight students rushed out at once. They didn't want to stay in the underground classroom that had been filled with smoke and fire for a long time.

After packing up her belongings, Ada walked out of the classroom slowly. According to her experience, you must not run, because the more you run, the hotter you will get. Moreover, exercise will increase the amount of sweating, and your body will be sticky, which will make you even more uncomfortable.

Ada was the last student to leave the classroom leisurely. When she walked out of the classroom, the shadows of other classmates could not be seen.

There was only one person in the corridor outside the classroom, Igor Karkaroff. This was not the first time Karkaroff came to see Snape. The first time he came to see the Potions Master was in April.

When he first came to Hogwarts, Karkaroff gave Ada the impression that he was arrogant, like a shark that was attracted by the smell of blood. But then Karkaroff was confronted by Mad-Eye Moody, and he dared not say anything.

Ada's new evaluation of Karkaroff is that he looks tough but is actually weak. And that is the truth.

Since April, Karkaroff's face has lost its previous calmness, and every time he came to see Snape, his face became more anxious.

At this moment, Karkaroff was leaning against the wall, curling his goatee with his fingers. The calm look on his face had long gone, and he was just using his habitual action to comfort his panicked heart.

Seeing that Ada had left and no one else came out behind her, Karkaroff immediately walked into the basement classroom and closed the door.

In the hot weather, two men closed the door and talked secretly in the room. A hot pot feast had just been held in this room. Aren’t they hot?
In the classroom, Karkaroff said in a panic: "Severus...you can feel it, right? Teach me, what should I do!"

"Open the classroom door, Igor, it's hot." Snape said impatiently.

"Severus, help me, and help yourself!" Karkaroff said, earnestly, "He is getting stronger every day, it is more obvious every day, you know what that means."

Snape still looked impatient, and he waved his hands to fan the air, but this action was more like shooing away flies. He said, "Open the door, Igor. Are you afraid that others won't know what you're here to talk to me about?"

"No one, I've checked, there's no one outside!" Karkaroff said, "Don't run away, Severus, running away won't solve any problems! You and I, we, we must face this problem."

Karkaroff walked around the classroom, the hot weather making him even more confused. Karkaroff suddenly walked up to Snape, yanked his sleeves open, and said,

"It's getting clearer and clearer. I can even feel it burning my body sometimes. Just think about how he will treat us when he comes back, how he will treat us who betrayed him!"

Snape took two steps back in disgust and said in his unique tone: "I am different from you, Igor. I will not betray my colleagues."

Karkaroff's expression suddenly changed, as if he thought Snape's words were too ridiculous. He argued loudly: "You don't really regard those people in Hogwarts as your colleagues? Do you think Dumbledore will continue to trust you?"

"Don't forget who you are!" Karkaroff said word by word, pressing Snape step by step as he spoke.

Snape continued to retreat, growing annoyed by Karkaroff's approach. He said again, "I am not like you, Igor. I will not betray my fellow officers."

"You are still as slippery as before. Yes, it is precisely because of your slipperiness that Dumbledore helped you escape trial." Karkaroff backed away dejectedly until he hit a table.

Karkaroff's voice grew weaker and weaker. He continued, "I know he will be back soon. I also know how cruel he is to traitors. I may be the first one, and you will never be able to escape."

Karkaroff was no longer approaching Snape, but now Snape was approaching Karkaroff. He walked up to Karkaroff and said slowly: "This is the difference between you and me, Igor. I know he will come back, and I am always waiting for that day to come."

Karkaroff, who was leaning on the table, turned pale instantly, as if he was frightened and couldn't believe it.

He stumbled and said, "It's impossible... There's no reason, it's impossible... How could he trust you and help you so much! "

Snape continued to move closer, forcing Karkaroff to look him in the eye. He continued, "Igor, do not compare yourself to me. You are not worthy. Death is the best outcome for you!"

The pressure from the Potions Master made Karkaroff even more flustered. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead. His eyes were lifeless and he muttered, "Impossible... There's no reason..."

Snape let go of Karkaroff and stepped back again. He had said what he had to say and done what he had to do. The rest depended on what Karkaroff would choose.

Having said that, Snape had no expectations of Karkaroff. The man in front of him, the headmaster of Durmstrang, was a coward.

Panicked, Karkaroff leaned on the table absentmindedly, muttering to himself. After a long while, he raised his head and looked at Snape in horror, then he ran out of the classroom in a panic.

Anxiety and fear filled Karkaroff's heart. He pushed open the classroom door and breathed in the air outside, as if he had just been in the same room with some monster.

Hearing the footsteps behind him, Karkaroff, who was still gasping for breath, struggled to stand up, held on to the wall of the castle, and walked away quickly without looking back.

Behind him was Snape, standing at the classroom door and watching him.

Snape stood at the door of the classroom, neither returning to the dungeon nor leaving.

After a long while, Snape whispered, "Come out, don't hide."

The corridor was quiet and deserted. When Karkaroff rushed out the door just now, he didn't see anyone either. Who was Snape talking to?
As soon as she finished speaking, Ada walked out from the corner like a chameleon. She reached out and slapped her forehead to lift the Disillusionment Spell.

Eavesdropping was a very untouchable thing to do, but Ada really wanted to know why Karkarov was so flustered and what he was going to do.

So Ada pretended to leave here and deceived Karkaroff. When she thought the time was about right, she turned around and went back, putting her ear against the door of the underground classroom.

Seeing Snape take out his wand, Ada also put her hands behind her back.

Ada believed in Snape. If he wanted to take action, Snape could have just not exposed her, not let her show up, and directly launched a sneak attack. This would be much simpler than calling her out and having a 1v1 fight.

"Did you overhear everything?" asked Snape.

"It's almost the same. I heard the main points clearly." Ada replied, and her hand behind her back clenched the wand.

Although Ida believed in Snape, she couldn't be completely unprepared. Snape's words just now not only frightened Karkaroff, but also frightened Ida who was eavesdropping.

"Hear what?" Snape continued, his wand still in hand.

"Who is he? Who is he? What does it refer to?" Ada asked, answering with a question. This is what she heard, and she also thought of the answer, but she still had to verify it.

"You've heard everything." Snape nodded. "Did I ever tell you that your curiosity will eventually get you killed?"

(End of this chapter)