A magical journey that begins at Hogwarts

Umbridge was carried back to the university hospital, and Dumbledore rescued her from the Forbidden Forest, but the specifics of the rescue are unknown to anyone but the two of them.

Umbridge was already exhausted both physically and mentally from the torment of the centaurs. After finally being rescued, she received an order to be suspended from her duties pending investigation, especially since her backer Cornelius Fudge was also in dire straits.

Although only a day had passed, it felt like an eternity to her. All her rights had vanished, and she desperately wanted to leave Hogwarts, a place that made her so embarrassed that she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

But her injuries forced her to stay at the school hospital. It seemed that the students and professors had agreed to visit her at the hospital from time to time, and their mocking voices and smiles made her feel like she had no will to live.

Chapter 518 Snape steals the painting, but he refuses to be a triple agent?

12 Grimoire Place.

Severus Snape went into a room on the third floor. He glanced back to make sure no one was there, then closed the door, acting like a thief and not daring to make a sound.

The room contained two beds, a wardrobe, and a blank portrait; there was nothing special about it, in fact, it was extremely simple.

Snape took a deep breath, removed the blank portrait from the wall, carefully put it away, and then left as if nothing had happened.

A dozen minutes later, green flames suddenly burst into the fireplace in the Potions professor's office at Hogwarts, and Snape walked out with a dark expression.

“Welcome back, Professor.” Aaron warmly poured him a cup of hot tea. “You should have retrieved what I asked for, right?”

"Here you go." Snape placed the blank portrait on the desk with annoyance. "I really don't understand what you need this painting for?"

"Don't try to trick me into saying anything, Professor. I have my reasons for wanting it."

Now that we have the goods, we can talk about what to do next.

Snape's lips twitched. "Is there anything else you need me to do?"

“Go talk to Professor Dumbledore,” Aaron said calmly. “The time will be after curfew tonight. I need you to go to his office.”

You can make up your own topics. If you really don't know what to say, just tell him my attitude towards the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore.

"Of course, that's not important. What's important is that you need to let Phineas see this blank portrait; I have some personal matters to discuss with him."

“That’s impossible.” Snape shook his head. “After Phineas learned of Sirius’s death, he became completely depressed, and no one could talk to him for a while.”

"Others may not be able to, but you definitely can."

Also, it's best to speak in a natural tone, so as not to arouse Dumbledore's suspicion.

Upon hearing this, Snape fell into a brief silence.

After pondering for a while, he looked at Aaron with a serious expression and said, "Don't tell me you want to plant a spy among Dumbledore?"

Aaron blinked, then gave Snape a thumbs up. "You figured that out."

“I refuse,” Snape said firmly, showing unusual resistance. “You can ask anyone else for this, but you absolutely cannot ask me.”

“But you’re the only one I can turn to.” Aaron shrugged helplessly. “Besides you, the only other people who can enter the Headmaster’s office and speak face-to-face with Dumbledore at any time are Professor McGonagall and Hagrid.”

Not to mention Professor McGonagall, she's still lying in St. Mungo's Hospital. Even if she weren't injured, given her loyalty to Dumbledore, I wouldn't dare let her play like that!

As for Hagrid... it's not that I don't trust him, but with his carefree, naive, and easily fooled nature, he could probably sell me out in less than three sentences.

"That's enough," Snape roared angrily. "You can't expect me to do all the disgusting things, can you?"

I've told you the truth about the Department of Mysteries. You and Dumbledore both think I'm the best person to explain it to you, and I accept that. So be it if I lose face!

This morning I went to the Phoenix Order headquarters to steal a painting. This is the first time in my life I've done something so shameless, but out of guilt towards you, I once again risked all my dignity.

But asking me to cooperate in planting an undercover agent is going too far; I absolutely cannot accept it.

"Uh... calm down, Professor, let me explain before you make a decision."

Upon hearing this, Snape sat down expressionlessly, picked up the teacup on the table, and slowly sipped his tea. "I'd like to hear what explanation you have for this."

“Actually, I completely understand your feelings and your difficulties,” Aaron said slowly. “First, you became a Death Eater, working for Voldemort, but then you abandoned your allegiance and joined the Order of the Phoenix…”

"puff!"

Snape spat out a mouthful of tea, coughing several times before finally putting down his cup. "You give me..."

"Please listen to me patiently. If you disagree, I will get out."

Before Snape could finish his curse, Aaron interrupted him, leaving him only able to express his anger with a murderous glare.

"In other words, you are now a double agent," Aaron said admiringly. "You are dedicated to serving the Order of the Phoenix, but you haven't neglected to provide intelligence to Voldemort either."

When Voldemort arrived at the Department of Mysteries, he said that his servant would buy him enough time. That servant must be you, right?

“That was Dumbledore’s idea,” Snape said speechlessly. “He told me to tell the Dark Lord that I would do my best to hold off the Order of the Phoenix.”

Aaron: ......

"It seems our principal is even more shameless than I thought."

But to get back to the point, both Dumbledore and Voldemort trust you very much.

In a sense, you've upheld the noble Slytherin quality of self-preservation; you've truly mastered the art of espionage.

"Hehe! I'll take that as a compliment."

"You're a double agent, but if you help me today, you'll be a triple agent."

The reason you refused is because you felt I was insulting your self-esteem.” Aaron patiently analyzed, but seeing Snape’s horribly dark face, he immediately added, “But don’t worry, I’m not asking you to be a spy, and I can guarantee I won’t harm any of the Order of the Phoenix’s interests.”

If you don't believe me, we can make a contract.

"Sigh!" Snape sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead and shaking his head. "Sometimes I really don't know what to say to you."

"Isn't this all because you forced me into this situation?" Aaron said dejectedly. "The moral bottom line of the Order of the Phoenix opened the door to a new world for me. If I don't want to get screwed over, I have to be prepared."

“Thank you for telling me so much, but…” Snape paused, “I’m sorry, I still can’t help you with this.”

Aaron wasn't surprised; he simply said a name, "Harry Potter."

Snape's expression changed slightly. "What are you trying to say?"

“I can do my best to protect him this time. Professor, you should know that protecting him voluntarily and being forced to protect him are two different things.” Aaron said very casually. “I just need you to help me cover for him tonight. I don’t need to pass on any intelligence, and I won’t harm any of the Phoenix Order’s interests. It’s a one-off deal.”

"A one-off deal?" Snape rolled his eyes at him speechlessly. "You make it sound so easy."

"Then let me ask you another question. Do you think Phineas would betray Dumbledore?"

"Ah this..."

Snape's expression became incredibly complex, and he was speechless for a moment.

Phineas would betray Dumbledore? That's a complete joke, absolutely impossible.

Those wizards whose names are displayed in Dumbledore's office are all wizards who have dedicated their lives to Hogwarts. They have all sworn allegiance to the current headmaster of Hogwarts, making them far more reliable than the Order of the Phoenix.

"I believe you already have the answer, Professor."

My reason for contacting Phineas was largely personal; as for planting a spy, you're overthinking it.

I just need some trivial information, such as Dumbledore's itinerary and who he met. I'm sure Phineas knows what's important.

"Of course, if you still don't want to, just pretend I wasn't here today." Aaron said, standing up and turning to walk towards the door. "It's just a pity for Harry Potter; with his talent for causing trouble, who knows..."

"and many more."

Aaron immediately turned around, slammed a piece of parchment on Professor Snape's desk, and quickly handed him a quill. "I've prepared the contract, just like I said, a one-off deal."

Your signature in the bottom right corner will take effect immediately. Once you've finished your business tonight, your task will be complete. None of the three of us can disclose this information in any way.

Professor Snape's forehead was creased with dark lines, and his hand holding the pen seemed to weigh a ton as he trembled as he wrote his name on the parchment.

"The contract has been signed."

Believe me, Professor, you will be incredibly glad you made this decision later.

"roll."

Snape pointed at the door through gritted teeth.

"Uh... the feelings have faded, huh? We haven't even finished our tea yet!"

"Get out of here."

......

Shenming Palace.

Aaron placed the blank portrait in the morgue, directly opposite Sirius's coffin, which was shrouded in illusion.

As night deepened, an old man appeared in the portrait.

“Welcome, Principal Phineas Nigellus Black,” Aaron said politely.

"Where is this?" Phineas looked at Aaron with suspicion. "Are you a child of the Gaius family?"

"Oh, I see. You wanted to see me, and Snape was covering for you?"

“Yes, it took me a lot of effort to convince him.” Aaron nodded, then asked with some curiosity, “If I may ask, how did Professor Snape manage to persuade you to take back the portrait in front of Dumbledore?”

"Hmph! He didn't say anything, but he made sarcastic remarks about the death of my great-grandson."

He didn't utter a single swear word, but his language was incredibly offensive. Even Dumbledore couldn't stop him. I couldn't take it anymore, so I decided to avoid him for a while.

"hiss!"

Aaron gasped in surprise, never expecting Professor Snape to do something like this.

"Why did you call me here?" Phineas asked. "Isn't the Gaius family supposed to stay out of the affairs of the magical world?"

“Senior, the world has changed, and people’s hearts are no longer what they used to be!” Aaron cursed with a face full of grief and indignation, as if he had suffered a great injustice. “You should know what happened to me in the headmaster’s office. Dumbledore is too ruthless.”

"I don't deny that he did something rather unethical, but I also can't deny that he is a qualified leader with a great sense of the big picture."

Also, I'm in a very bad mood, so you'd better just say what you want to say.

“Okay.” Aaron calmed himself down and stated his conditions directly, “I want you to act as a notary and transfer ninety percent of the Black family’s assets to my name in three days.”

"Are you crazy?" Phineas exclaimed in surprise. "Even if you're obsessed with money, you can't be this greedy!"

Wait, you're short of money? Are you kidding me?

Compared to the Gaius family, the Black family's wealth is probably not even a drop in the ocean!

"You said it yourself, that's the Gaius family, not me."

My assets have been frozen since the day before yesterday. It would be an exaggeration to say I'm penniless, but I'm definitely destitute.

Moreover, I have many expenses: potions, alchemy, magical research, and I also keep a dragon that eats an enormous amount...