Hogwarts: Don't call me Wandmaker

Chapter 418 Snape, the Ignored One

the next day.

The somber atmosphere of last night did not carry over to today. After all, Percy Weasley wasn't a famous wizard, and most people didn't really care whether he was a Death Eater or not.

By morning, many people were already in the Great Hall celebrating Hogwarts' victory in the Triwizard Tournament.

As Siron walked out of the Gryffindor common room to go to the Great Hall for breakfast, everyone he encountered in the corridors and on the stairs greeted him warmly, and some even held notebooks and quills, asking him for autographs.

Out of politeness, Xiren responded to each of them, but declined to sign autographs.

After all, for many forms of dark magic, a wizard's signature is a good medium for casting spells, so it's better to play it safe.

Even so, more and more people gathered around, seemingly wanting to make up for what they should have done yesterday and come over to say hello.
Soon, the crowded passageway was blocked. Xiren even spotted Hufflepuff students…weren’t their dorms underground? Why were they on the fifth-floor staircase?
In order to escape successfully, Siren had no choice but to ask Harry and Hermione for help. Under their cover, he secretly slipped into a hidden passage on the fourth floor.

This is a secret passage in the school, and the exit is behind a statue in the south corridor of the second-floor library.

When Siron came out, Harry and Hermione were already waiting there.

"What about those people?"

"I'm still looking for you on the fourth floor," Hermione said.

"That was terrifying," Xilen said, still shaken.

This scene should have happened last night, but the events at the awards ceremony diverted everyone's attention, causing them to briefly overlook the champion, Xiren.

"That's what happens when you win the Triwizard Tournament," Harry said with a laugh. "Luckily, the holidays are coming up soon. They probably won't be so enthusiastic after school starts next year."

“There are still several days to go,” Celen said. “Never mind that, how’s Ron?”

Harry wasn't happy about Ron's name either, shaking his head and saying, "He didn't come back all night yesterday."

“Ginny too. I went to the third-year dorm to look for her, only to find out she hasn’t gone back yet,” Hermione said with some concern.

“In that case, let’s go to the school hospital first,” Xilun suggested. “There should be quite a few people waiting for me in the auditorium right now, so I can hide there for a while.”

“No problem,” Hermione said immediately, “but what if Madam Pomfrey still won’t let us in?”

“Then let Harry wear his Invisibility Cloak,” Siron said.

“But that’s against school rules,” Hermione said worriedly.

"What, are you still afraid of losing points?" Xilun shrugged indifferently.

Hermione then remembered that Snape had deducted all of Gryffindor's house points the night before.

Of the four enormous hourglasses beside the Great Hall fireplace, the Gryffindor hourglass was empty, without a single gem.

Strictly speaking, they still owe several tens of points.

“Okay, that makes sense.” Hermione immediately understood.

It seems that Gryffindor doesn't really need to worry about point deductions now.

"I'll go get the Invisibility Cloak right now." Harry turned and ran upstairs.

When he returned a few minutes later, he was carrying a shimmering silver cloak.

"Let's go."

The three turned and walked towards the school hospital.

However, just as they were crossing the courtyard, Harry, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped and pressed himself against the wall like a thief. "What..."

"Shh!" Harry held up a finger to stop Hermione from continuing, then pointed in the direction of the school hospital and whispered a name.

"Snape."

Xilun instinctively peeked out and, sure enough, saw that familiar black robe.

Snape, who went to the Ministry of Magic to inquire about information yesterday, has returned and is currently talking to Dumbledore, who came out of the university hospital.

Xilun also pressed himself against the corner of the wall, pricking up his ears.

“I didn’t go in. They’ve closed all access to the Ministry of Magic,” Snape said coldly, clearly unhappy with his experience.

“Didn’t you say I sent you?” Dumbledore asked.

Snape didn't answer immediately, but paused for a moment before speaking in a slightly mocking tone:

“Principal, I think you overestimate yourself a bit.”

"Of course I mentioned your name. I did when they first refused me entry into the Ministry of Magic, and then they told me to wait a while. The result was obvious; I've been waiting ever since and still haven't been able to get in!"

This time it was Dumbledore's turn to remain silent.

“I’m sorry, Severus,” he said. “I should have gone by myself, but the Triwizard Tournament just ended, and I couldn’t leave the school at that time.”

“You don’t need to explain all this to me,” Snape said. “Right now we should find out what’s going on at the Ministry of Magic so we can prepare if something serious has happened.”

“That’s right,” Dumbledore said. “Last night I asked many old friends, and some told me that the problem seems to have originated in Azkaban, that someone…”

"Ouch!"

Siren was startled by the sudden sound. When she looked up, she realized that Harry had been listening so intently that he had accidentally stepped on a sharp stone.

"Who's there!" Snape exclaimed upon hearing the voice, and immediately ran over. The three of them had no chance to escape and were caught red-handed.

"It's you again, Potter." Snape's face darkened. "What are you all doing here, sneaking around like this?"

“We weren’t sneaking around,” Harry said, staring back defiantly. “We just wanted to visit Mrs. Weasley at the university hospital.”

“What a coincidence.” Dumbledore walked over and said, “Just ten minutes ago, Molly and the Weasley children left Hogwarts to go home.”

"They went home?" Harry asked incredulously.

“Because Molly is so eager to know about Percy Weasley,” Dumbledore said. “I think you should remember, about that magical clock in their house.”

Harry nodded.

What Dumbledore was talking about was something he had seen when he was a guest at the Burrow. It was a clock that looked very ordinary, but the dial did not display the time, but rather the current state of each family member.

"What about Ron and the others?"

“They’re going home together,” Dumbledore said. “Then the owls will deliver their report cards.”

“Well… okay,” Harry said. “Thank you.”

"You're welcome." Dumbledore smiled. "You'd better hurry back to the castle; you should still be able to make it for breakfast."

……

(End of this chapter)