Snape, the Sunshine of Hogwarts.

Chapter 164 Capturing a Ghost

It wasn't until after they boarded the plane that Harry and the others finally stopped hearing Lockhart's incessant chatter.

Regardless of whether what this showy young man said was true or false, he didn't leave Harry and Draco with even the slightest good impression.

But Angelo clearly suffered; Lockhart's seat after check-in was right next to him, which meant he would have to endure torture all the way.

Before boarding the plane, Angelo and Severus had a conversation and learned that their main purpose for going to Albania was to explore some primeval forests.

Upon receiving this information, his expression became somewhat subtle.

Later, when Lockhart turned his attention to Lupin and began to boast about his recent research into werewolves and his plans to write a monumental work, Angelo quietly slipped a note into Severus's hand.

He stared into Severus's eyes and whispered.

"Don't let that show-off know! My cousin is actually adventuring in the Albanian forest. I originally came to visit him, but I got stuck with this trouble and can't go."

"If you are interested in the natural forest over there, you can go to my cousin and show him this note. He will give you a warm welcome."

Severus, of course, had no intention of refusing such an unexpected treat; he gladly accepted it.

Then, he glanced at Lockhart, who was tormenting the good-natured Lupin, and reminded Angelo.

"If possible, try to shake him off. If you really can't, then just tell him where your cousin is, and I'll help you stop him from harassing you any further."

Severus could certainly deal with someone like Lockhart at any time if he wanted to, but they weren't in England right now and had important things to do. Even if they dealt with Lockhart, they wouldn't have time to send him back.

As for using him as a teaching tool, Harry has already been brought up by him so early, there's even less need for that.

Therefore, if Lockhart doesn't turn on him later, Severus isn't in a hurry to expose him; he can wait until they return to England.

But if he doesn't know what's good for him...
Severus had no shortage of Galleons on this trip. With someone sponsoring their entire journey, they didn't have to be too frugal with Muggle money.

So their seats on the plane were in first class. However, Severus was taking his two children on their first flight and wanted them to experience Muggle travel, so they waited in the public waiting area, which is how they met Angelo and Lockhart.

Draco's seat was by the window, and after the plane took off, he could clearly see the endless sea of ​​clouds and the orange sun through the glass.

Even though he had never ridden a flying broomstick before, Lupin, an adult wizard who was not unfamiliar with flying in the sky, was still very impressed by the view outside the window.

Even a wizard's flying broomstick wouldn't normally fly that high.

At altitudes above 10,000 meters, not only does the temperature drop to nearly -50 degrees Celsius, but the oxygen is also much thinner than at lower altitudes.

If a wizard doesn't make adequate preparations beforehand, it will be difficult for him to withstand such a harsh environment.

"The scenery is quite nice, isn't it?"

Upon hearing the sudden sound beside him, Draco immediately pretended to be nonchalant and turned around as if he were used to it.

"It's just average."

He said, pursing his lips.

Severus took the glass of juice from the flight attendant for him, without exposing Draco's insincerity.

"In terms of comfort alone, flying in an airplane is much more comfortable than riding a flying broom. Even the most advanced flying broom today cannot completely block the wind."

"Cars, ships, airplanes—these modes of transportation created by Muggles are quite ingenious, aren't they?"

This time, Draco didn't speak again, not because he didn't want to refute, but because he couldn't think of anything to say in rebuttal.

Severus looked at him, not emphasizing anything positive about Muggles at this moment, but simply spoke to him softly.

Do you know what the most precious quality each person can possess is?

Draco didn't look at Severus; he just pursed his lips and looked out the window.

"Kindness? Cheerfulness? Civility? Politeness?"

"It is sincerity, or you could say it is being realistic."

"Be realistic?" Draco clearly hadn't expected Severus to use such a word.

"Doesn't sound like it's that hard to do?" Severus shrugged.

After hesitating for a moment, Draco turned his head and nodded.

Severus was not surprised by his response and smiled as he spoke.

"But in reality, most people can't do that. They are influenced by all sorts of hearsay, and even if they haven't seen something with their own eyes, they will still make judgments about it."

"Sometimes, even when the truth is seen, some people will choose to cover it up in various ways, deceive others, and even deceive themselves, because of their different positions and roles."

Draco looked at him suspiciously.

Are you saying that what my father taught me is untrue?

"From the time I brought you out until now, do you think the things he told you about wizards and Muggles have been truly useful?"

Severus said seriously.

"I won't tell you any answers, I'll just take you out to see what you see and understand during this time, that's what it is."

"Of course, if you do make some discoveries, you don't need to blame Lucius for deliberately corrupting you. He received the same education as you, and he never truly verified things firsthand from a young age. Later, even if he knew the right and wrong of some things, he couldn't treat them objectively and fairly. Because his position and the interests he held had replaced his brain and helped him think."

"But you're far from that point yet."

Since bringing Draco out, Severus hadn't really lectured him; at most, he'd just corrected his rude and disrespectful behavior.

Even now, I only let him see things with his own eyes, and let him think for himself if he can think for himself. If he can't figure it out or doesn't understand it, then I'll explain it to him.

This approach is far more acceptable and profoundly useful than simply explaining abstract and illusory principles to him.

About two and a half hours later, they arrived safely at the airport in Tirana, the capital of Albania.

First-class passengers naturally have the privilege of disembarking first.

Neither Harry and Lupin nor anyone else wanted to hear Lockhart's voice or see his flamboyant smile again. So, they went straight to the first-class exit, disembarked, and entered the airport.

Compared to Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport, Albanian airports do not have the same bustling crowds.

Instead of leaving the airport immediately, Severus first took out a pre-prepared map from his suitcase, which contained a panoramic view of Albania.

In the VIP lounge, he explained their destination to Harry, Draco, and Lupin.

"Although this country is not large, forests cover about 36% of its total land area. Before leaving England, I identified a total of six primeval forests."

He pointed to the six circles marked on the map.

"Rajika Beech Forest, Logara National Park, Hotova Fir National Park, Siss National Park, Dity National Park, and Kolab-Kritnik Nature Park."

"Later, I obtained more relevant information in France and selected these six forests."

“The Rajka beech forest and the Kolab-Kritnik Nature Park can be ruled out first, as they are not purely primary forests, and their transformation by humans in the last hundred years has been particularly evident.”

"Of the remaining four national parks, we can go to Logara first."

Severus finally pointed to the largest green area on the map.

"This is Albania's largest primeval forest, rich in biodiversity and sparsely populated. The Muggle government has established protected areas along the perimeter of the forest, and only a small number of survival adventurers venture out to explore it. And most importantly, before I boarded the plane, Angelo secretly slipped me a note with the address of his cousin, a troll research expert and wizard adventurer named Pico Andrus."

“Andrews has traversed almost all of Albania’s uninhabited forests, visiting the troll tribes there. He is now in Logara National Park and can assist us on our journey ahead.”

Harry and Draco had nothing to say about Severus's arrangements; they simply followed the adults wherever they went.

Lupin, however, was somewhat puzzled.

He had assumed that Severus's trip was simply a journey to take the children to see a wider world.

But now Lupin realizes that Severus clearly had a specific purpose in coming to Albania.

"What are you planning to look for in these forests?" Lupin couldn't help but ask.

Severus simply gave him a mysterious smile.

"A ghost in a special state."

"ghost?"

Not only Lupin, but even Harry and Draco turned to look at Severus.

Even Ghost Snape couldn't help but hold his breath.

Compared to the others, Ghost Snape clearly knew more.

He was well aware of the agreement between Severus and Malfoy and their associates, and who the main purpose of his trip out of England was to find.

In the process, he also obtained a special alchemical tool from Nicona, which was in preparation for meeting that person.

But deep down, Ghost Snape always felt that Severus's series of actions gave people a strange sense of absurdity.

With two children under ten years old and a werewolf, they left England in Muggle transportation.

He leisurely helped the Aurors solve a case in France, obtained a mysterious parchment and a banshee teacup from Nicol, and then flew directly to Albania, clearly targeting the forests.
Is it all to find the Dark Lord, whose name is so feared that almost every wizard in the magical world dares not utter a word?

In Snape's eyes, their group looked more like a primary school summer camp activity!

Throughout the entire process, Severus remained confident, as if he knew exactly what he was going to do.

"Yes, it's a ghost, a weak ghost without a physical body, who can only live by parasitizing some animals, hiding in a forest in this country, too afraid to come out!"

"Those forests are so big, will we be able to find it?"

Upon hearing Severus reveal his purpose, Harry's first question wasn't about who the ghost was or why they wanted to catch it, but rather his excited inquiry about how to find it.

Draco's eyes also showed eagerness, and he pretended to be clever as he spoke.

"Aren't ghosts just spirits? Living people can't catch spirits!"

“Strictly speaking, he’s not a ghost, because ghosts are dead, while he’s still alive, just without a body,” Severus casually explained.

Lupin didn't think much of it.

Because Severus's tone was so casual, it was as if he didn't take the ghost seriously at all.

After determining their destination and objective at the airport, they did not linger. They took a taxi from the airport to a car rental company in Tirana, rented a car, and arrived at the city closest to Logara National Park before dark. There, they found a hotel to stay temporarily.

Meanwhile, on the other side, as Severus and his group arrived in Albania...

France, Paris.

On a seafood truck traveling from Calais to Paris, a large, jet-black dog jumped off the truck under the cover of darkness.

It shook off the remaining water stains on its body and then began to wander through the streets and alleys of Paris.

This was clearly a completely unfamiliar city to it, but in less than half a day, before midnight, the black dog successfully found the mysterious and ancient gathering place of wizards hidden beneath the bustling metropolis of Paris.

It never revealed its human form, and thus silently slipped into France's largest wizarding commercial street.

This is the street that Severus took Harry and the others to before they went to the Flamel family's house.

Although the black dog was unaware of this, once it arrived on the street, its eyes, which were not those of a normal animal, were fixed on a newspaper that had been thrown next to a trash can!
The headline on the front page of that newspaper was bolded and enlarged, written in French that the black dog couldn't recognize.

However, the animated photo under the title needs no explanation.

The photo clearly shows Harry, Draco, and Lupin surrounded by a group of reporters. Draco is pushing Harry in front of him, trying to block him from being photographed and disturbing the Malfoys' conversation.

Such behavior was clearly etched into the mind of the black dog, whose eyes were filled with cold anger!

(End of this chapter)