Hogwarts Raven

Chapter 294 293: Lockhart’s admiration?
Thinking back to the time when I met Professor Lockhart.

Hermione was really worried about being exposed.

She was so nervous that her fists were clenched tightly - Snape's expression also froze slightly. After all, he knew very well that Professor Lockhart always liked to do things that made him uncomfortable.

This idiot writer might not be very capable, but his observation skills were very sharp. During this semester, Snape had been discovered by him several times.

Just when the atmosphere in the air became a little solemn.

"Professor Snape? Are you there? I heard from students that they saw you return to your office?" Lockhart's voice rang out again, accompanied by a light knock on the door.

The air in the office seemed to become even more stagnant.

Hermione, who wanted to pretend not to be there, was a little panicked.

Now she couldn't pretend to be away from the office. If Professor Lockhart went to find the little wizards who saw her return, she might be discovered impersonating Snape.

"Damn it."

Hermione was flustered.

She looked at Snape for help.

Snape was obviously concerned about this as well. He believed that if he did not respond to Professor Lockhart, then Professor Lockhart would definitely bring a group of young wizards here in the name of "exposing the lie" - it had happened before. He suspected that Lockhart did it on purpose, but he had not found any evidence in the previous few times.

"I'm here, but I'm busy. Don't bother me."

He responded directly to the person outside the door in a cold voice.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.

And saw a professor appear outside the door.

"Woooooo~"

Ron was desperately begging for help. Even though his mouth was blocked, he still made a "woohoo" sound and kicked his legs wildly, as if he really hoped that Professor Lockhart would notice the abnormality in the room.

indeed.

If any other little wizard came here, they would probably want to ask for help like Ron did. You know, he and Neville came in the morning and have been trapped here for most of the day.

I can’t even begin to describe how many horrible futures I’ve imagined.

"Woooooo~"

He tried frantically to speak. Seeing Ron's behavior, Snape's eyes became fierce, and his wand shook silently - Ron immediately collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.

This was a direct spell that put Ron into coma.

In this regard.

Neville certainly didn't know.

Neville witnessed this scene, and beads of sweat instantly oozed from his forehead. He didn't know whether Ron was killed or not. In short, a sense of crisis instantly enveloped the fat boy. When Snape's cold eyes swept over him, he immediately rolled his eyes, fell back straight, and even held his breath.

It is obvious that Neville hopes to escape Snape's curse. I pretended to be dead and behaved very well. You won't mess with me, right? I have to say that he still has some wit in a critical moment.

This is not.

Snape really didn't cast a spell on him, which was considered as tacit approval of Neville's cowardly behavior - his original intention was not to torture the little wizard but to prevent the little wizard from ruining his plans.

"I just want to ask you some questions about potion brewing. It won't take you long." Lockhart outside the door continued to speak as if he hadn't noticed anything.

The tone is sincere.

"I, I'm very busy! I don't have time to waste with you, so don't bother me." Hermione hurriedly responded in Snape's low voice, but her voice trembled unnaturally.

After one day of practice.

Hermione had long since adapted to Snape's way of speaking.

"It'll just take up five minutes of your time." Lockhart drawled, "You don't want me to say in front of my students that even Professor Snape can't solve my potion problem, do you?"

"There are more than a dozen little wizards waiting for me in my office to do potion experiments together. If I go back and say that, they will definitely think I am deceiving them."

"If they come to you for verification, won't that delay you even more?" How could this not be a threat? However, Professor Lockhart did say it in a tone that showed consideration for Snape.

This tone.

This is one of the reasons why Snape hates Professor Lockhart the most. This damn narcissistic and petty man has always threatened Snape in various ways since he came to Hogwarts.

Snape's face turned pale instantly.

"Open the door for him! Don't let him in." No one knew what magic Snape used, but his voice reached Hermione's ears, but it did not spread in the air.

Only Hermione could hear it.

"Ah?" Hermione didn't want to open the door. After all, meeting a student and meeting a professor are two different things. She had heard a lot of legendary stories about Professor Lockhart since the beginning of the school year. This was the top wizard in the wizarding world. Many people said that he would become as great as Dumbledore in the future.

Who knows if she would lose her temper immediately if she had a face-to-face communication with such a wizard. You know, Hermione has already experienced how sharp Dumbledore's eyesight is.

"Hey."

Hermione sighed with sympathy, but there was nothing she could do. She felt her back soaked with cold sweat, but she could only bite the bullet and walk towards the door.

She could only hope that Lockhart was still relatively young and would not be like Dumbledore who seemed to see through everything. The little witch secretly encouraged herself in her heart and slowly walked over.

"Stand on the right after the door is opened." Snape's voice transmission spell rang in her ears. He was obviously worried about Hermione's stomach facing Professor Lockhart. "Don't let him see inside."

Hear the words.

Hermione took a deep breath and nodded to the Hanged Man Snape. She stood by the door and prepared herself mentally before carefully opening the door.

of course.

She was even more cautious than Snape had said, and opened the door just enough to completely block the view inside the office, with only less than half of her face exposed in the gap between the doors.

The gloomy face looked even gloomier from this angle. Lockhart was wearing a purple robe and had his signature bright smile on his face.

The man was also holding a copy of "Advanced Magic Potion Making Manual" in his hand.

As if he was actually interested in potions.

"Good evening, Professor Snape," Professor Lockhart said, his brilliant golden hair gleaming in the torchlight in the corridor, revealing a row of dazzlingly white teeth.

"It's a nice weather today, isn't it? I just saw a wonderful mandrake over there in the greenhouse." He looked so relaxed while chatting.

"Don't... bring up these useless things." Hermione resisted the urge to roll her eyes and tried to maintain Snape's cold tone: "I... am busy."

She didn't stutter.

But the sound was a bit too prolonged.

Trying to hide the panic in my heart.

Fortunately, Lockhart didn't suspect anything.

"Ah! You can still find time to respond to me even though you are so busy. This is the proof of our friendship. Perhaps I should call you dear Severus!" He opened his arms warmly.

"Hey, don't be so serious."

This is trying to squeeze into the office.

however.

Hermione, however, used her feet to block the door, nodded stiffly at Lockhart, and dug her fingers into the door frame, preventing Professor Lockhart from squeezing through the door and hugging her.

Professor Lockhart was a little disappointed, but he continued to nag to himself: "Students nowadays are so difficult to teach. Yesterday, Potter actually asked me which one is more afraid of garlic, vampires or werewolves. Hahaha! I heard that the weather will get worse in the next few days. Although it is a bit cold, I think this is a good time to inspire students' fighting spirit."

"dont you agree?"

Lockhart seemed to be discussing with his colleagues how to motivate young wizards.

"Ah."

Hermione nodded in response.

"They've been a little too lazy lately. Yesterday, half of the homework I assigned was about 'how to fight werewolves', but we were clearly talking about dealing with ghouls."

"Ah, the young people nowadays really give me a headache. These students are so difficult to teach. I think it's because they have never seen the world. When can the school restore the tradition of teachers taking students out to travel? Although doing so may put the students in danger, they will definitely be much better when they grow up."

This is the beginning of a small talk with Snape about the system.

"What on earth are you asking?" Hermione squeezed out a sound through her teeth, her eyes fell on the potion book in Professor Lockhart's hand, "What potion question do you have?"

Hermione really wanted to get rid of Lockhart as soon as possible.

Lockhart finally put away his chatty expression and turned the pages of the book seriously. "I'm studying the formula of a potion called 'Night Shadow Coagulant', which is said to enhance the effect of memory recovery, but I can't find the correct proportion. I heard that you are very accomplished in this area. Can you help me take a look?"

When Hermione saw that page, she froze instantly - it was a torn page from an extremely obscure ancient potion book, mixed in with the textbook, and she had never seen or heard of this formula before!
Ancient potion!

She tried to remain calm, lowered her head and pretended to study, but her mind was blank.

Just when she was about to collapse, a deep voice suddenly sounded in her ears.

"Tell him that the ingredients he needs to find are 0.3 grams of agave powder, 5 drops of moonshine water, and a pinch of silver powder. The ratio must be strictly controlled, otherwise it will cause an explosion."

It's Snape's voice!
Thanks for the timely guidance!
Hermione finally stopped sweating on her forehead!

Hermione felt relieved and immediately answered as instructed.

and.

He also followed Snape's subsequent reminders and asked the other party some more details.

"You need to slowly add 0.3 grams of agave powder, then add five drops of moon water, and finally sprinkle in a small amount of silver powder. Be careful not to reverse the order."

This is definitely proof of Snape's wide range of interests.

Hermione followed Snape's instructions and told him all the details in an indifferent voice, and she couldn't help but marvel at Snape's erudition in her heart.

This is indeed a true master of potions.

Even ancient potions were not difficult for him - Hermione's understanding of Snape was further enhanced. Putting aside his personal character, Snape was indeed excellent enough.

"Wow, you remember it so clearly? That's amazing, Professor Snape really lives up to his reputation!" Lockhart looked at Hermione in surprise, as if expressing sincere emotion and admiration.

Hermione forced a smile.

"Thank you."

This was her subconscious reaction after being praised.

Under normal circumstances, Snape would certainly not answer others like this. He would just turn his face and slam the door. Fortunately, Hermione's reaction did not seem to arouse Professor Lockhart's suspicion.

"It's okay, I'll just be busy."

Hermione also realized her mistake and prepared to close the door.

Do less and do less.

however.

Professor Lockhart's questioning seemed not to have ended.

"Oh! Wait a minute, this is my personal problem and has nothing to do with the little wizards." Lockhart suddenly lowered his voice, "Actually, I am researching a very special potion."

He moved closer mysteriously, his face almost touching Hermione's in the crack of the door. Hermione quickly moved her head back, only to see Professor Lockhart speaking cautiously in the crack of the door.

"Do you know how to use the tears of a moonbeast and the hair of a veela as ingredients for a more potent love potion?" This was more than just touching upon Hermione's blind spot.

It also made Hermione want to call the police.

however.

Just when Hermione couldn't help but guess what Professor Lockhart was going to do with the powerful love potion, Snape's voice came into her ears again like a spider silk.

[Tell him that the Moon-crazy Beast's tears need to be boiled in a golden crucible and mixed with moonlight water and left to stand for three hours - as for the Veela's hair, I'll help him deal with it if he can get it.]

have to say.

Snape was still as versatile as ever in potions - Hermione was touched by Snape's kindness, but she thought that Snape himself was also coveting the hair of the Veela.

After thinking about it for a while, Hermione responded immediately without missing a word, "The tears of the Moon Beast need to be boiled in a golden crucible and mixed with moonlight water and left to stand for three hours."

"If you can get some Veela hair, I think I'll help you with it when I have time. Of course, there will be some damage." Snape didn't scold Hermione after she spoke.

Obviously.

Hermione guessed Snape's little thoughts.

"Okay, okay, no problem, Professor Snape, you're awesome." Lockhart's eyes suddenly lit up frighteningly: "That's brilliant! What if we add the Phantom Flame?"

[Idiot! That will make you fall in love with the same sex! ]

Snape's voice transmission almost pierced Hermione's eardrums.

"It will make you... fall in love with the same sex."

Hermione blurted out.

“Oh my god!”

Lockhart clutched his heart.

"That sounds even better."

His words took Hermione a while to react. Just when Hermione opened her mouth, not knowing how to respond, Professor Lockhart suddenly reached his hand through the crack in the door, grabbed Hermione's hand and shook it hard.

"I must ask you to try my lemon cake someday! It's a wonderful recipe that even Dumbledore praised." After saying that, he turned and left, disappearing at the end of the corridor with brisk steps. When the dazzling blonde hair finally disappeared around the corner of the corridor, Hermione almost slammed the door, her back heavily against the door, and gasped.

The heart beats like a drum.

After finally coming to his senses, he discovered that there was an inconspicuous little note in his hand when Professor Lockhart held his hand just now.

"Falling in love with the same sex?"

Hermione's eyes widened.

"This can't be a love letter!"

"Lockhart loves Snape!"

She sometimes has bold ideas, but they are more traceable than Ron's.

(End of this chapter)