Snape, the Sunshine of Hogwarts.

Chapter 134 We are Dumbledore's henchmen

"The way you swing the staff when chanting the mantra is key. Remember the feeling when you first successfully used the mantra. After that, you need to keep getting used to that feeling and practice diligently."

That afternoon, Severus did nothing else but teach Harry how to cast spells correctly.

In fact, he had already begun teaching after Hogwarts personally handed the birch wand to Harry.

Harry's magical talent is not bad at all; in fact, it can be said to be absolutely top-notch. In just one week, he was already able to use two spells: a levitation spell and a petrification spell. However, he still lacks a lot in terms of proficiency.

The main reason for Harry's lack of proficiency is that he is rather playful and doesn't like to put all his energy into studying.

Of course, Severus didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

Having learned about his parents from Severus beforehand, Harry already possesses much greater self-control than his counterpart in the original timeline.

He's only just turned nine, which is two years earlier than other children. If he focuses solely on books and spells at this point, it would be excessive.

Learn when you're interested, and play when you get tired of learning. This way, you won't ruin your love and fondness for magic.

Harry listened attentively during Severus's lecture.

Draco wasn't there; Lupin had taken him to apologize to the staff at the Ministry of Magic's Flying Broomsticks Office.

This morning, Harry and Draco went to the Broom House again. However, when Draco was riding the Moon Dream, he still couldn't control the broom and threw it to the ground in a fit of anger, breaking the broom handle!
When Severus and Lupin returned, he didn't intend to hide the matter. He simply arrogantly told Severus to ask his father for the money, and that he would just pay the French Ministry of Magic with a new broom.

Severus reprimanded him for this attitude, saying that his behavior of damaging other people's property without informing the owner immediately was no different from stealing, and Lupin finally dragged him to apologize to someone.

Not long after, Lupin returned with a dejected Draco.

"The broom manager is very easy to talk to. He discovered the two of them sneaking in to play with brooms yesterday, but those public brooms are slow-moving old relics, and the broom house has corresponding protective magic to ensure that nothing goes wrong, so he didn't bother them."

He said the broom that broke was a relic discarded by the Ministry of Magic and he didn't intend to make us pay for it, but I still kept it for three Galleons.

Lupin handled it without any problems, while Severus, looking at Draco who seemed somewhat unconvinced and aggrieved, calmly said...

"If you make a mistake, you should dare to admit it and think about how to make up for and make amends, instead of just running away. That is the behavior of a coward and not the cultivation of a self-proclaimed noble person."

Draco pursed his lips, pretending he didn't care at all, and stood there shaking his leg with his arms crossed.

"A letter just arrived from England. It's from your mother. Would you like to see it?"

As soon as Severus uttered those words, Draco could no longer pretend. He snatched the letter from Severus's hand, then hid in a corner, not wanting anyone to see his reddened eyes and the way he was about to shed tears, and secretly went to read the letter.

It was at this time that Yuma found Severus and Lupin.

"I have news from Gilar; she asked me to take you there."

Lupin's spirits lifted, and he turned to look at Severus, but Severus's face remained unchanged; he was simply observing Yuma's expression.

Is it good news or bad news?

Upon hearing Severus's question, Yuma's expression turned somewhat strange. He frowned and answered.

"I don't know what she means either. Anyway, you should go over and hear what she has to say to you."

Upon hearing this answer, Severus felt a slight unease.

There is a result, and there is no result. But now Yuma says he doesn't understand what Gilar means. What does that mean?
Following behind him, Severus and Lupin returned to Girard's office.

She did seem very busy lately, with a pile of documents and applications that needed her approval and signature. When she saw Yuma bring the two of them, she temporarily put down her work, took out the photos that Severus had given her, and handed them back.

“This is not the right direction. Don’t continue investigating. No matter how you investigate, you won’t get any results. Let Yuma take you to the Auror’s joint investigation team. We have already made contact with the British Ministry of Magic.”

Severus simply looked into her eyes, but the Auror supervisor didn't look at him; instead, after speaking, she refocused her attention on the documents in her hands.

"What do you mean by 'no matter how you investigate, you won't find anything'? So, after you went to the minister's office, did you find anything you should have found?"

Girard put down the documents in her hand again, looked up and met Severus's eyes, and shook her head as she spoke.

“No.” Severus simply stared at her silently for a couple of seconds before speaking.

"That's a lie. Your Occlumency technique is mediocre. Even without deliberately using Legilimency, I can tell whether you're telling the truth or a lie."

Girard's eyebrows shot up, and her tone became serious.

"You're spying on the mind of the head of the French Auror command? Do you know the consequences?!"

"You didn't deny it, but instead talked about the consequences?" Severus's expression remained calm. "I was actually lying to you just now. My mastery of Legilimency is not that high. I can't sense your thoughts without you noticing."

"But your true attitude has already been revealed, hasn't it?"

The office was extremely quiet.

Yuma listened to their conversation with his mouth agape, both astonished by Severus's audacity and horrified that the atmosphere had suddenly turned this way.

Lupin frowned as well. He listened to Severus and Gilard's conversation and sensed that something was amiss.

“Take this photo back. This isn’t advice or a piece of advice; I’m just conveying the French Ministry of Magic’s current decision. The investigation into the location of the alchemy ritual has run its course, and you won’t be able to find anything new in any way.”

"I'm getting impatient," Gilal said calmly.

"If you want to continue investigating this matter, then join the joint investigation team of the British and French Ministries of Magic. If you no longer have the desire to continue investigating, you can withdraw at any time."

The air seemed to freeze at that moment, and Yuma and Lupin both held their breath.

Severus narrowed his eyes. He didn't seem to be angered by Gilard's almost merciless words, but calmly analyzed the situation.

"There's really no fundamental difference between the British Ministry of Magic and the French Ministry of Magic. Politicians don't care about being wise or not; they only speak for their own benefit. Because of the Dark Lord's past misdeeds, that group has become taboo for the British Ministry of Magic. No matter what, those politicians cannot accept or tolerate any signs of the Dark Lord and his gang making a comeback."

"But the French Ministry of Magic has not been affected too much by the rise of the Dark Lord. His main area of ​​activity is still the British Isles, so the French Ministry of Magic should not be shy about this matter. But now, you, representing the Ministry of Magic behind you, are unwilling for me to continue investigating this photo, especially since you specifically consulted some top-secret French documents before this."

Severus's voice held a hint of amusement, as if he had seen through everything at this moment.

Sometimes, even if certain individuals or organizations are unwilling to say anything, their unusual attitudes can serve as more direct evidence!
"With this photo I took, you must have found something from those top secrets, but those secrets involve a group of people that the French Ministry of Magic doesn't want to see or even think about. The mere existence of these people would bring shame and even fear to all of France! Just like the British Ministry of Magic fears the Dark Lord."

“Director Girard, let’s guess what kind of people and forces the wizards in France have been tormented and intimidated to this extent?”

"enough!!"

Gilal stopped Severus from continuing, her body visibly trembling, whether from anger or fear, it was hard to tell!
"Such unfounded speculations can be suggested to your friend Volpe and included in his new novel! Instead of using them to slander the entire French Ministry of Magic in this setting!"

"If there's nothing else, I've conveyed everything I needed to tell you. I need to get back to work now, please leave!"

She angrily ordered them to leave.

Anyone, even Yuma, could see that Severus's words had clearly hit a nerve, making her unable to suppress her emotions any longer.

Yuma stretched out her hands nervously and helplessly, feeling that she should say something to comfort him, but she didn't know what to say.

Lupin's expression had turned cold. At this moment, he naturally realized, just as Severus had said, that it wasn't that the clues from the photo had run out, but rather that the French Ministry of Magic was afraid to continue investigating based on that photo!
Severus remained as nonchalant as ever, he said softly.

“In that case, we won’t disturb Supervisor Gilard’s work for now. Let’s go, Remus.”

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the office.

Lupin quickened his pace to follow behind him and said in a low voice.

"Are we really just going to stop investigating like this?"

“How could we not investigate?” Severus chuckled. “Do you think only they know the mess that happened in France in the past?”

Lupin frowned and asked, "Then who else can we turn to?"

“Who else can we turn to?” Severus stopped and pointed at Lupin’s nose, mocking, “Are you out of your mind? We’re Dumbledore’s henchmen!”

(End of this chapter)