Hogwarts Raven

Chapter 290 289: Magic Potion and the Disappearing Phoenix

An eerie silence fell over Snape's office.

The flickering candlelight cast his upside-down figure on the stone wall, like a bat nailed in a specimen frame, and the messy black robe was his bat wings.

to be frank.

Being the Hanged Man is really uncomfortable.

Because of this strange posture, Snape felt extremely embarrassed and annoyed. He regretted not wearing long pants, so that when he was hanging upside down, his pale ankles and skinny calves that had not seen the sun for many years were exposed.

He was indeed blushing, but it was not because of any shame. His face was flushed because of the blood flowing back, and his black hair hung to the ground like a messy spider web.

All over Hogwarts.

It seemed as if a thick resentment was spreading everywhere.

How can the resentment not be heavy!

"That man is not an ordinary student! He is not a student at all!" Snape is now extremely sure of this. He suspects that Lyrium is Grindelwald disguised as a student.

Yes.

The blood that flowed into Snape's brain also made his cerebellum particularly flexible and useful - if it was Voldemort, he could survive, but Hermione would definitely not.

Would Voldemort take the chance to get a big bite?
All the Voldemorts who don’t need to chew the big melon are fake Voldemorts!

and.

Even if Voldemort had a problem with his brain, he couldn't possibly insult himself like this. After all, he was one of the few talented people around Voldemort.

If Voldemort knew my secret, he would definitely take advantage of me and would not give me any room to maneuver. At most, he would ask me why I betrayed him before killing me.

Think so.

The identity of that strange Ravenclaw student naturally immediately ruled out the option of being Voldemort - and the only person left who could make Snape feel so embarrassed and who had such magical skills and powerful magic was Grindelwald who was imprisoned.

This makes sense.

It is possible that Grindelwald had been keeping an eye on Dumbledore, and when Dumbledore disappeared he took the opportunity to escape from prison - which also coincided with the time when he met that Lyrium.

That person must be going to check the place where Dumbledore disappeared last. Thinking of this, everything suddenly had a reasonable explanation, as for the first student, Lyrium.

Or they were locked up.

Or dead.

Anyway, Snape didn't believe that a first-year wizard could make him so helpless - even his monster nephew probably didn't have such strength when he was in the first grade!

"Should we inform the other professors?"

Hermione nodded, looking worried.

She suddenly realized a terrible truth: whoever was disguised as Lyrium, the magic she used was far beyond her and even the professor's knowledge.

And what was even more terrifying was that if this wizard could trap Snape in a simple prank spell, then what could it do to Dumbledore and Ian who had already entered the bronze door? In the fireplace in the office, the flames made a slight crackling sound. Outside the window, the first rays of morning light at Hogwarts were quietly climbing up the sky.

“I think we need to do that.”

Hermione stood aside, twisting her hair nervously, her eyes glancing towards the door from time to time, as if she was wondering whether she should hurry up and inform the other professors.

"No!"

Snape directly stopped the little witch's behavior.

"You'll only harm other professors - that man is not someone we can deal with, except Dumbledore." At this time, Snape seemed to have determined that Lyrium was the first Dark Lord.

can only say.

His brain might already be congested enough.

But the imagination is still not big enough.

"how so……"

Hermione didn't expect that her magical journey would be so dangerous. Wasn't Hogwarts supposed to be the safest place in the world? Why did it feel like terrible things were happening wherever she went?

"You have to help me."

Snape didn't want Hermione to leave.

"Professor..." Hermione was slightly stunned. She spoke tentatively, "But I can't help you, but I can find other professors to help you. Do you think it's okay?"

This is a very reasonable idea.

however.

This is why Snape didn't want Hermione to leave - even letting other professors see him in his current state was unacceptable for a traumatized man.

Snape made no reply, merely waved his wand grimly.

The books on the bookshelf seemed to be pulled by invisible hands, flying towards Hermione and piling up into a small mountain in front of her. One of the thick black-covered ancient books almost hit her toes.

"Until Dumbledore returns,"

Snape's voice was as cold as the stone walls of a cellar.

"You can't leave."

Hermione's eyes widened, her expression full of hesitation, "But——"

She wanted to say that she had classes today, and now it was almost time to get up for class, but she didn't expect that Snape glared at her before she could finish her words.

"No buts!"

Snape interrupted her, his dark eyes flashing dangerously, "Unless you want the whole of Hogwarts to know that your dear Potions professor is now hanging from the ceiling like a dried ham?"

He directly named his concerns.

But he said it in a mocking tone that was almost threatening. Snape was indeed worried that Hermione would go back and spread the news of his current situation throughout Gryffindor.

He also remembered that Gryffindors were loudmouths.

"I certainly wouldn't do that."

Hermione's lips pressed into a thin line. She knew exactly what Snape was worried about - if she returned to Gryffindor Tower, even if she only mentioned it casually.

In less than half an hour.

The whole school would know the wonderful story of "Snape was hung upside down by a student-like monster and flew back to the castle." This kind of thing is indeed the most common thing in Gryffindor House.

It's no wonder that Dumbledore defended her, and now it's Snape's turn to defend her too - there's nothing he can do about it, it's just a reputation. Hermione didn't even know if she could keep her mouth shut.

"I won't tell anyone. Maybe you can cast a sealing spell for me, or some other magic." She promised in a low voice. Her current knowledge did not even touch upon the contract between wizards.

"Oh, and then I ask you to report me to the Ministry of Magic? I'm not that stupid." Snape sneered, obviously not believing it. He was very wary of the nerd who liked to tell tales.

"But there's no point in me staying here."

Hermione was helpless.

"Since you can't leave for the time being." Snape was hanging upside down in the air. He said slowly, with a bit of complexity in his voice, "Why not learn something useful?"

Hermione was stunned.

"What to study?"

She asked with bright eyes.

"I'm the Potions professor, so of course I'm here to teach you potions." Snape pointed at himself expressionlessly, "Don't misunderstand that I've changed my mind about you."

"You are still a disgusting Gryffindor in my heart, but... for Ian's sake, I will teach you. This is also so that I can feel better now."

Snape seemed to see something else in Hermione and Ian.

does not exist.

It's just his wishful thinking.

This was the reason why he had been increasingly displeased with Aurora recently—that blood descendant of Grindelwald had unknowingly been treated as another character by him.

"Is it a potion that you can't learn in class?"

Hermione was thrilled.

"You can learn everything in my class. If you can't learn it, it's just because you are too stupid. Now, go and move the crucible over here." Snape's mouth curled up into a sneer and began to give orders.

then.

Over the next few hours,

The most absurd class in the history of Hogwarts has begun - a professor hanging upside down is teaching students how to use potions to make the upside-down wizards feel better.

In the cellar office.

The cauldron was bubbling.

The dark green liquid medicine glowed strangely under the firelight.

Snape was still hanging upside down in the air, his black robes hanging down, like a giant captured bat, but his wand was steadily directing Hermione's every move.

"Three circles clockwise, then half a circle counterclockwise," Snape said coldly, with a hint of seriousness, "One wrong step and this pot of potion will turn into corrosive poison gas."

Fine beads of sweat oozed from Hermione's forehead, and her wrists were sore from stirring for so long, but she didn't dare to stop. Snape's eyes were fixed on her movements, and even the slightest mistake would bring a harsh comment.

"Did the troll lend you your wrist?" Snape sneered, "Stirring, not smashing the pot. Your movements are as rough as that damn Hagrid outside the Forbidden Forest."

"Okay, Professor."

Hermione gritted her teeth and tried to make her movements more precise. As time passed, the sky outside the window had already darkened, and Hermione's stomach suddenly made a protesting growl.

Snape's dark eyes slowly turned towards her.

"Are you hungry already?"

he asked, a hint of mockery in his tone.

Hermione nodded awkwardly.

Snape snorted coldly, waved his wand, and the bottom drawer of the desk suddenly popped open. A bag of crumpled biscuits flew out and landed in front of Hermione.

"Eat," he said expressionlessly, "A good potion master must learn to fight appetite. Some potions can be brewed without food even after three days and three nights."

He is certainly not exaggerating.

There is such a magic potion in this world.

"I understand. I will practice being hungry in the future." Hermione picked up the biscuit, took a tentative bite, and almost hurt her teeth.

"Professor, this cookie... is harder than a rock."

Hermione gasped and felt like her front teeth were about to be knocked out.

"If you think it's hard, don't eat it. If you can't endure hardship, you will never become a good Potions master in your life." Snape replied coldly, his eyes returning to the crucible.

"Forehead……"

Hermione stared at the cookie that was as heavy as a brick, and suddenly an idea came to her.

She quietly took a small bottle of honey water extract and a few pieces of softening grass from the potion material shelf, gently used her wand to mix them together, and then dripped them on the cookies.

After a few seconds, the cookies became soft and even had a hint of sweetness.

Snape caught sight of this scene from the corner of his eye and raised his eyebrows slightly.

"…Not too stupid," he finally commented, with a rare absence of sarcasm in his voice. "At least you know how to use potion ingredients to solve practical problems."

Hermione couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth, and was about to respond -

Boom boom boom!
There was a sudden knock on the office door.

Snape's body suddenly stiffened and Hermione held her breath instantly.

"Severus?" Professor McGonagall's serious voice came from the other side of the door. "Are you in there?"

Snape's face darkened visibly.

He quickly turned off the chandelier on the ceiling and waved his wand. The light in the entire office suddenly dimmed, creating an atmosphere where patients should not be exposed to light.

"Minerva,"

He lowered his voice, deliberately making it sound hoarse, "I am...not in a position to see anyone right now."

Hermione's eyes widened - Snape was faking illness?!

Professor McGonagall outside the door seemed to hesitate: "Are you sick?"

"There was an accident during the potion experiment." Snape continued in a weak voice, "The steam rising from the potion... affected my face."

Hermione almost couldn't hold back her laughter and quickly covered her mouth.

"You shouldn't make such a low-level mistake." Professor McGonagall was a little confused, but was silent for a few seconds, then sighed and got to the point.

"Albus's phoenix is ​​gone."

The professor's tone was serious.

Of course Snape knew what was going on.

“…That bird is often missing.”

He pretended not to care.

"But this time it's different." Professor McGonagall's voice was filled with worry, "It disappeared right in front of me. It was very urgent. I don't know what happened."

Hear the words.

Snape's brows frowned slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

"I am brewing an extremely dangerous potion and cannot be disturbed," he continued in a weak voice, "I will come to you when I am done."

There was silence outside the door for a few seconds.

"Why did I seem to hear the little wizard's voice just now?" Professor McGonagall asked suddenly.

Hermione's heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

Snape remained calm.

"I caught a student doing odd jobs, isn't that normal?"

He was incredibly candid.

Professor McGonagall seemed to think about this for a moment.

"No, it makes sense."

She had no doubts, perhaps it was also word of mouth.

The footsteps gradually faded away.

Snape breathed a sigh of relief.

"professor,"

Hermione whispered, "You seem to be quite skilled at pretending to be sick."

She probed carefully.

Snape gave the first year a cold look.

"Shut up, Granger."

Hermione pursed her lips, and suddenly thought of something, and couldn't help laughing: "If Ian was here, he would definitely say that what Professor McGonagall heard was not my voice, but the potion screaming."

Snape's mouth twitched, as if he wanted to curse, but also as if... he almost couldn't hold it in. In the end, he just waved his wand gloomily to rekindle the flames in the cauldron.

"Continue to make the medicine."

he said coldly.

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll let you taste what a real potion scream sounds like." This was a fierce threat. Hermione quickly lowered her head to stir it. She was indeed frightened.

The Hanged Man class is still going on.

(End of this chapter)