Snape, the Sunshine of Hogwarts.

Chapter 109 Lucius: You are not the original Severus!
The gathering at Malfoy Estate ended close to noon.

Severus's demands were mostly met, except for the matter of the golden cup, which was not so easy to resolve.

In the wizarding world, there's no such thing as being stripped of all your property if you go to jail in Azkaban.

The Lestrange family vault still requires a key from the Lestrange family to open; the goblins of Gringotts never care about anyone's opinion, not even the Ministry of Magic.

If these people wanted to enter the Lestrange family's vault and get the golden cup that Severus had mentioned, they would have to come up with some other unconventional methods.

Fortunately, Severus did not give them a specific timeframe, so the matter was not urgent.

After the gathering ended, the Death Eaters all left Malfoy's house.

They had no intention of staying for lunch, and Lucius clearly hadn't prepared any for them.

After everyone else had left, Severus noticed Lucius's unusual behavior much earlier.

Since the second half of the discussion began, Lucius had stopped speaking and kept staring at himself, his eyes shifting between light and shadow, his face growing paler and paler, unlike the other Death Eaters who were excited and agitated. It was unclear what he was thinking.

But with the reminder from Snape, the ghost within him, Severus quickly understood what he was thinking.

As one of Snape's few friends.

Even if their friendship wasn't entirely pure, they still shared a period of deep connection.

Therefore, Lucius was very familiar with the Ghost Snape's personality and speaking habits. Even if Severus could imitate him at first, the things he said later were clearly not things that a normal Ghost Snape could say!
Don't treat anyone like a fool.

Especially considering that Lucius was the head of a pure-blood family, he was able to become Voldemort's confidant and, despite his tainted reputation, thrive in the wizarding world for eight years, with many high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Magic having connections with him.

His cunning and methods are unmatched by ordinary people.

He noticed Severus, especially the difference in his later words compared to the earlier ones.

"When I first heard your statements at the Wizengamo trial, I told Narcissa and Draco with certainty that it was all an act. No one knows Severus better than me; he would never utter a word of repentance or apology for his past."

Lucius suddenly stared at Severus and slowly began to speak.

"But when I learned that you were at odds with Barty Jr., helped the Ministry of Magic solve the werewolf case, and almost wiped them all out, I began to doubt my judgment again. Was it really time for you to make a choice about your stance and completely align yourself with the Ministry of Magic and Dumbledore?"

"But when you walked in today, I dispelled those doubts again. You still look the same as before, still the same toad with a mouth that can't say anything good, leaving everyone speechless with your insults."

"However, just an hour later, I found that you had changed again."

Lucius stared intently into Severus's eyes. Now that they were alone in the drawing room, he could speak freely without restraint.

“I don’t know if what you’re saying is true or false, but I do know that the Severus of the past never had this kind of leadership. You’ve taken control of the whole situation with ease, and every word you utter touches the hearts of everyone else!”

"This is something that the Severus of the past could never have done. Everyone is doing things your way. Even if they think they came up with some ideas or guesses on their own, it's all because you're guiding them!"

"You have changed, but not like those people in the magic world say, that you've become a prodigal son. Instead, you're darker, more despicable, and more vicious than before! It feels like..."

He didn't say anything, but he kept staring into Severus's eyes the whole time, as if trying to see something in his gaze.

Severus did not avoid his gaze; instead, he inwardly praised Snape the Ghost.

"Your crony is actually quite capable."

Ghost Snape merely gave a cold snort with a chilling gaze, saying nothing more.

In reality, Severus remained quite indifferent in the face of Lucius's remarks.

Just as he wasn't afraid that Dumbledore's side would realize he was no longer the original Snape, he wasn't worried that anyone among the Death Eaters would notice something was wrong with him.

It could even be said that it was precisely because of Voldemort that he was able to show his differences from the past with even more unbridled behavior.

"So, what do you think caused this change in me?"

Severus spoke casually, crossed his legs, and picked up the tea that Dobby had refilled and began to drink.

Lucius never took his eyes off Severus, and his breathing became rapid at some point.

"I feel that one of your statements is definitely true: the master is indeed not dead! But the proof isn't the diary, but your change!"

“I don’t know how he turned you into this. I’m not even sure if you’re still the same Severus, but you definitely have a big plan. Goyle and the others, me, and even Barty’s group are all part of your plan!”

Severus was still smiling, and as he looked at Lucius, he winked.

"Since you see it so clearly, why do you still dare to say it to my face? Aren't you afraid I'll use the Soul-Stealing Curse?"

Lucius had somehow gotten so close to the wall that he couldn't take his eyes off Severus. His face showed a mixture of sorrow, relief, and liberation.

"I know that whoever you are, since you can do all this, I can't escape if I want to."

"I am saying this to your face now to beg you. Whether you are still the same Severus or not, whether you are related to my master or not, I am willing to give you everything! Just promise me that you will not harm Draco and Narcissa!"

He had completely abandoned his usual aristocratic demeanor; his pleading voice was almost a complete surrender of his dignity.

Severus raised an eyebrow; he clearly understood how Lucius perceived him.

As a core Death Eater, Lucius understood Voldemort's methods. Since that diary could preserve his memories before the age of 16, how difficult would it be to find a way to merge with Severus?

"Don't be nervous, Lucius. I'm not as scary as you think. I'm still your friend Severus Snape. We've been friends since our school days, haven't we? You stood up for me when I was being bullied by those four, and you were the one who introduced me to the Dark Lord. I won't hurt you; on the contrary, I'll help you."

Severus said slowly.

His voice was calm, and his gaze was not sharp, making him seem completely unthreatening.

After a brief pause, as if he had made a decision, he suddenly asked, "You care a lot about Draco, your only son, don't you?"

Lucius clenched his fists nervously.

"Of course I care about my family."

“If you really want to do him a good thing, then let him come with me,” Severus said calmly. “I’ll take him with me to find the Dark Lord.”

Upon hearing this request, Lucius almost instinctively refused.

"No! This is too dangerous! He's only 9 years old!"

"Now that you've already guessed who I might be, what version of him do you think I would be?"

Severus's words soaked Lucius's back with sweat. He gritted his teeth and gave an extremely bold reply.

"At least before a wizarding war breaks out!"

"So, in your eyes, he became abnormal after that period of time. But since you have this feeling, you should also understand that having Draco with me will only bring benefits and no danger, while staying by your side is truly unsafe."

Severus stared at Lucius.

"You can see that something's wrong with me because you know me better, but are people like Gore, Crabbe, and Carlo stupid?"

"They might believe that the Dark Lord is still alive, or they might believe that I know some secrets that others don't. However, they might not really believe that Little Barty is useless and that I can definitely bring the Dark Lord back."

“You are just like them, a true opportunist. This is true between the Ministry of Magic and the Dark Lord, and it is also true between me and Barty.”

"Don't be fooled by their promises to me. They keep saying they'll arrest Little Barty if he comes looking for them again, so as not to ruin the Dark Lord's plans. But behind the scenes, they'll definitely still be involved with Little Barty. Just like they're willing to give me money and manpower now, they'll naturally give Little Barty the same support."

"After that, whoever actually brings the Dark Lord back will be the winner."

Lucius felt a chill run through him, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"But even so, is this the kind of behavior you want to see!"

“Of course, why wouldn’t I want to see that?” Severus shrugged. “I never need their absolute trust and loyalty. As long as they don’t cause me trouble and can help me with my tasks, isn’t that enough?”

"Just like the Dark Lord at the beginning, when he first brought you to his side, did he mention that he needed your absolute loyalty?"

Severus laughed, a laugh that sent a chill down Lucius's spine.

"He was also using benefits to gain your loyalty, to build momentum, and to strengthen himself. It's just that he went to extremes later on."

“So why is it unsafe for Draco to stay with me?” Lucius struggled to keep his voice from trembling.

"You and your friends will be hedging your bets, and Barty Jr. will have the resources to do business in the UK. Do you think, given his level of madness, he will be satisfied with the support you provide? And if you are unwilling to increase your investment later, what means can he use to blackmail you?"

Severus said casually.

"Of course, this is just my wild guess. Nobody can say for sure about these things. You are Draco's father after all. The choice is in your hands. I'm not some villain who kidnaps children. It's all voluntary."

Lucius fell silent. He reached out a trembling hand, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

After a long, long silence, he finally spoke again, his voice hoarse, as if he had been walking in the desert for a long time without water.

"If you take him away, how long will it take for him to come back?"

"Don't ask questions like you're going to cut off all contact with him if I take him to some brainwashing camp. Even if he comes with me, you can write to him anytime to ask about his situation and find out what he's been through."

"As for when he'll be back, who can say for sure? The Dark Lord isn't easy to find. He's very weak right now and has hidden himself in a large area. It all depends on how things ultimately go."

Lucius took a deep breath, as if all the strength had been drained from his body, and said this.

"I need to discuss this matter with Narcissa."

“You have one day to decide. I can wait until this time tomorrow at the latest.” Severus rose from his chair. “If you agree, then have that house-elf take Draco to the Leaky Cauldron. I’ll be waiting for him there.”

After saying that, Severus turned and walked out the door without looking back.

"Think about it carefully, Lucius. Think about your family, think about your future."

Lucius remained silent, simply watching Severus's retreating figure until he was completely gone.

Stepping out of the house, I arrived at the Malfoy family's garden.

Severus went to find Harry and Lupin while listening to Ghost Snape asking questions.

"Why would you want to bring Lucius's son along?"

“It seems you haven’t truly listened to what I told you before,” Severus said calmly. “I’ve said it before, old Slytherin, we are no longer separated. Your reputation is my reputation, and the evil you have committed is the evil I have committed. That’s why I can become a respected Potions Master and Headmaster of Slytherin. Therefore, I must repent and apologize for my past in front of the entire wizarding world.”

“I am not the kind of shameless person who enjoys rights without bearing obligations. I told you before I took Harry away from the Dursleys that I was sincere with you.”

Ghost Snape fell silent for a moment; he had indeed imagined Severus to be that kind of person before.

"Lucius is your friend, right?"

Severus found Harry by the fountain, feeding the peacocks with breadcrumbs, and squinted at the ghost Snape.

“Since he is your friend, I naturally inherit that friendship, regardless of whether I choose to maintain it later. Since we were once friends, I don’t mind teaching his temporarily spoiled child a lesson when the opportunity arises.”

(End of this chapter)