Snape, the Sunshine of Hogwarts.

Chapter 172 Coercion
Severus's words silenced Snape the Ghost.

After a long while, he spoke coldly inside Severus's body.

"You want to get rid of me now? You say we're inseparable, but you actually want to have all of me!"

Severus dismissed Snape's accusations, simply shrugging as he poured the freshly brewed potion from the cauldron into a potion bottle.

His hands didn't stop moving; he was answering in his mind.

"You always think of me as wicked, despicable, and shameless as you are. You've witnessed everything I've done, so why do you still doubt my initial words and the promises I made to you?"

"I tried to help you break free from this body so that you could free yourself. You're dead, and the fact that I've taken over your body is a given, right?"

"Throughout the entire history of magic, there has never been a case of a ghost being resurrected or dying completely."

"Even if I don't mind us remaining in this state of one body and two souls, what about you? Once Harry is completely safe and your former master is completely eliminated, and the obsession that has been troubling your soul to stay in this world disappears, do you want to stay in this body forever?"

After listening quietly to Severus's words, Ghost Snape's expression remained indifferent.

His empty eyes were fixed on Severus as he spoke indifferently.

"Then tell me all this after you've fulfilled everything you promised!"

Severus was not at all surprised by his reaction and reply.

That's how Ghost Snape was. Whether he truly trusted Severus or not, whether he truly believed he could protect Harry, he wanted to witness it all before all dangers were eliminated and everything was settled.

But for now, his promise is enough.

"Are you making a promise to me now? That you will leave this body once everything has settled down?"

Ghost Snape just sneered.

"You're still impatient and eager to sever ties with me. If you really can't wait, that teacup is in your hand, and I have no power to resist whatever you do. So why don't you just take action against me now!"

Severus said calmly.

"It is precisely because I respect your ideas and genuinely believe that we are one with each other that I ask for your opinion."

“But then again, you can’t keep using the fact that I’m a sincere and kind person to coerce me.” He blinked. “After we’ve resolved all the problems, our lives won’t end here. There’s still a long road ahead, and I always need to think things through in advance.”

After Severus's voice fell, Ghost Snape remained silent, offering no further comment, for he knew that these last words were no longer a question.

The now quiet Ghost Snape was somewhat bewildered.

As Severus said, they still had a long way to go after everything was over, and Severus certainly had his own considerations, plans, and future.

And what about this ghost?
Paris France.

Yuma, who had been busy at the Ministry of Magic for three days without going home, finally had a chance to rest this afternoon.

In the Auror manager's office, Gilar rubbed his temples, finished reading the latest report he had personally submitted, and said wearily.

"The search operation is now over. You're entitled to a day off to go home and spend time with your wife and children."

"I will leave the follow-up work to Stewart and his team. The Death Eaters who kidnapped the Le Maire couple in France have either already obtained what they wanted and escaped France, or they have temporarily gone into hiding. If we want to take things further, we will need to communicate and cooperate with the British."

Yuma nodded and offered words of comfort.

"You should also take care to rest. In any case, apart from that Aunt Amy, no one else was hurt in this incident, which is enough to give the public an explanation."

Gilard's brow remained furrowed, and her voice was heavy.

"Any more news from Snape?"

Since Severus left France without a word, the entire French magical community has been in chaos.

Furthermore, with Nicolas Flamel and his wife keeping their home closed and refusing to give any interviews to newspapers, journalists facing big news but unable to get firsthand scoops were like headless flies, unable to find any information to dig out. So they turned their attention to the French Ministry of Magic.

Many commentators made speculations during the Wizard Radio broadcast.

The reason Severus disappeared without a trace after rescuing the Lemaîtres was that the French Aurors couldn't stand a British wizard making a name for himself in Paris, so they ostracized this hero who had rescued the Lemaîtres.

The two boys who guarded the French Ministry of Magic, along with Remus Lupin, all left with Severus.

Such speculation was very popular among the French wizarding community, with many believing it to be the truth. Among them were numerous people who sent daily letters of protest, denouncing the incompetence of the French Aurors.

The Auror Division's reputation has plummeted, causing Gilal considerable distress. She now only wants to contact Severus and ask him to issue a public statement clarifying the matter in order to salvage the Auror's reputation.

Among the French Aurors, the person most likely to know Severus's whereabouts and contact him was clearly Yuma.

However, when faced with her question, Yuma simply shook her head firmly.

"This is the fourth time you've asked me this question. Apart from Mr. Snape saying goodbye to me before he left, I really don't know where they went."

Gilar could only sigh. She didn't say anything more, but waved her hand.

"Go back and get some rest."

Yuma nodded and then turned and left the supervisor's office.

He arrived at the main hall of the Ministry of Magic, glanced at his watch, and then instead of immediately using the fireplace to return home, he went to the wizarding commercial district in Paris.

Here he bought his son the flying broom that his son had always wanted, and the "Super Witch" brand magical housekeeping kit that his wife had always wanted but couldn't afford. Only after purchasing these gifts did he use Apparition to return to his front door.

Strictly speaking, Yuma is a half-blood wizard. His grandmother was a Muggle, but his grandfather's generation had accumulated a considerable fortune for him, and the house in front of him, located in a Muggle village near Paris, was the largest of that fortune.

Hiding the purchased gifts behind his back, Yuma pushed open the courtyard gate. He saw the flower bushes that had just been trimmed, as well as branches and grass clippings that had not yet been cleared away.

Yuma couldn't help but smile. He could already picture his wife being disturbed by their son while pruning the garden, forcing her to return inside to discipline the little guy.

“Sarah.”

He arrived at the door, called out his wife's name, and pushed the door open.

However, his shouts went unanswered; the house was quiet as if no one was there at all.

He glanced around the living room; it looked much the same as when he left home three days ago.

Sarah's flats and her son's shoes were neatly arranged on the shoe rack in front of the door, as always. On the wall was a portrait of Yuma's father, old Yuma, the old man who had passed away two years ago, dozing off as usual.

On the coffee table next to it was a plate of grapes, still damp with water droplets, which had just been washed.

"Sarah!"

Yuma called out his wife's name again, put down the gift in his hand, and quietly pulled his wand from his sleeve.

His voice echoed in the room, but there was still no response. Instead, it was his sickly father in the portrait who was awakened by the noise.

"What are you yelling about!"

The old black man in the portrait is muttering discontentedly.

At this moment, the vigilance and intuition cultivated over many years as an Auror made Yuma's muscles tense. He gripped his wand, carefully surveying his surroundings while asking in a cold voice.

"Where are they?"

The portrait yawned and said listlessly.

"They entertained your friends at noon, you lazy bum who never comes home! How could I have agreed to let you become an Auror? When I was in St. Mungo's, no one took care of me, and now my daughter-in-law and grandson are all alone at home!"

Yuma frowned deeply and whispered.

"Old man, you should know I don't have many friends. Even close colleagues wouldn't come to visit me in this kind of time. Did you see who that person was? And where are Sarah and the kids again!"

His words made the portrait extremely tense, and it even let out a gasp.

"Oh my god! I... I just dozed off! I only saw Sarah welcome a man in a gray robe into the house, and the man was speaking English! After that, I don't know where they went!"

Yuma ignored him and fixed his gaze on the stairs, where he had just heard a faint sound coming from.

"You claim to be my friend! I heard you there, and you've been hiding ever since. You kidnapped Sarah and the child just to see me!"

Amid Yuma's questioning, the figure at the corner of the stairs finally stopped concealing his footsteps and slowly descended the stairs, revealing his form.

Upon seeing the face of the tall, thin man in the gray robe, Yuma's pupils constricted.

His messy yet elegant black hair, cold and fierce demeanor, and strikingly striking gray eyes, even in his disheveled state, could not conceal his handsome charm.

"Sirius Black!!"

He gritted his teeth and practically spat out the name, his eyes fixed on the Azkaban prisoner!
Gilard's prediction was wrong.

The Death Eaters' operations in France are far from over!

Blake casually fiddled with a small wooden stick in his hand, which was Yuma's wife Sarah's wand and the spoils he had won that day.

"Don't look at me with that hateful look and tone."

He said irritably.

"I didn't do anything to your wife and children. All I need now is for every word you say to me afterward to be the truth!"

In the living room, the old Yuma in the portrait shouted.

He had clearly noticed who his son was talking to, and he angrily cursed and wished Blake a terrible death.

Yuma calmed down at this moment and simply stared intently at Blake.

"You captured the Flamels and stole the document from the Ministry of Magic, but you haven't achieved your goal yet."

Blake was getting impatient. Although he had been wrongly accused many times, he didn't think that any crime could be thrown at him!

"None of this has anything to do with me! I just want to know one thing from you: where is Snape?"

Three days have passed since Blake arrived in Paris.

Over the course of those three days, he secretly broke into the homes of many French Ministry of Magic employees through various newspapers, and all the information he obtained confirmed only one thing.

Severus and Lupin have disappeared along with Harry and the others!

All the media in the French magical world were searching for them, but to no avail. Even the Ministry of Magic didn't know where they had gone.

This infuriated Blake, who felt as if he were being led around by the neck by Severus on a leash.

After learning in detail about Severus's social relationships during his time in France, he set his sights on Yuma.

This French Auror had the closest contact with Severus!

He then took the risk and embarked on today's operation.

Just as Black said to Yuma, he certainly wouldn't do anything to harm women and children; he's not the same person he was in school anymore, and he wouldn't be so impulsive and prone to making mistakes. But using this incident to scare the Auror was a viable option.

Upon hearing Blake's words, Yuma's eyes lit up even more.

"You must seek revenge on Severus! It's because he publicly declared in England that he would turn over a new leaf, thwarted the Death Eaters' plans, and rescued the Lemaîtres in Paris!"

"That's all a facade! He's fooled everyone! He's completely fooled you bunch of idiots! He's still serving his master; it's all a charade he's putting on with his friends, a performance for you all!!"

Yuma's words struck a nerve with Black, who roared and suddenly raised his wand.

"Stop giving me that nonsense! I just need you to tell me! Where is he right now!"

Yuma took a deep breath, his clear black and white eyes looking exceptionally bright against his dark skin.

"I do not know."

“You’re lying!” Black breathed heavily. “Many people saw it. When he left the French Ministry of Magic, he only said goodbye to you! You’d better tell me the truth! Tell me the truth!!”

"I told you, I don't know!"

Yuma stared at him coldly.

"If you want to see my memories, then come and see! It will tell you whether I'm lying or not!"

(End of this chapter)