Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 131 Cold Noodles, Kind Heart

It was cold, as if my soul had been frozen.

The white light at the tip of Harry's staff trembled precariously, as if it would go out at any moment. He kept thinking about happy things and chanting the Patronus Charm over and over again.

"Sizzle!"

A tearing sound seemed to ring in Harry's ears as he watched a Dementor rip through the white light, a long bone claw pressing against his throat.

The hood was pulled back, revealing a terrifying face. Harry immediately felt something being sucked out of his body, his limbs grew weaker and weaker, and he finally collapsed to the ground.

His vision grew increasingly blurry, and he could only vaguely see Sirius Black surrounded by several Dementors, and Lupin lying to the side, having recovered, also surrounded.

In his last conscious moment, it seemed as if someone stood up, and then there was a dazzling white light!

"Call upon the gods to protect us!"

Snape stood ramrod straight, waving his wand. A doe strolled through the air, scattering the swarms of Dementors. Each time a Dementor was kicked or gored by the doe, it seemed to suffer a great injury and quickly shrank to the side.

"Call upon the gods to protect us!"

The doe grew stronger with each battle, and the Dementors were no match for her, being driven away in a frenzy. Seeing the Dementors driven away, Snape finally put away his wand and coldly looked at the people sprawled on the ground.

"They'll all be petrified!"

Suddenly, Snape cast a petrification spell in a certain direction, and then a flash of blue light appeared, and Peter's figure suddenly appeared.

"Hmph." With a cold snort, he took out a bottle of potion from his robe, walked to Lupin's side, pried open his mouth, and poured it into his mouth.

After the Dementors left, the moonlight shone again, and even in his unconscious state, Lupin had transformed into a werewolf, his sharp teeth gleaming coldly. Snape ignored him, roughly downing the potion and tossing it aside.

"Come here, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley." Snape turned around, his face still icy. "Should I say you're brave, or foolish! To actually come back like this, do you really want to taste death?!"

"Professor, I...I..." Hermione was still in shock, her expression complicated.

"Hmph! Why aren't you taking all these people back to the castle? The Levitation Charm is only for first-year students, you haven't forgotten such a simple spell, have you?" Snape waved his wand, and Lupin's massive body and Peter both floated up.

"They are none of your business."

"Hurry up and get Harry and Sirius out of my sight!"

"I find it annoying to look at it for even a second longer!"

"Okay...okay, Professor." Hermione's voice trembled as she pulled at Ron, who was standing there in shock. The two of them struggled to lift Harry and Sirius into the air, holding onto their clothes as they walked towards the castle like kites.

Snape stood there until Hermione and Peter were far away before slowly leading Lupin and Peter back to the Shrieking Shack.

"Brainless beasts..." Snape scoffed, looking at the claw marks scattered across the walls. After quickly cleaning them with a Cleansing Charm and conjuring a chair for himself, Snape placed the two of them on the ground.

With another wave of the wand, a rope bound Peter up like a dumpling.

"Come out. How long are you going to hide?" Snape suddenly said. "Dumbledore will get the news soon, and you don't have much time left."

"Good evening, Professor." Ike's figure suddenly appeared in the darkness, and he casually conjured a chair for himself and sat down.

"Hmph!" Snape crossed his arms naturally on his lap, still holding his wand. "Your healing potion is just like the mass-produced stuff from St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries. It took three seconds longer to brew, and it's 20% less effective."

"Actually, I've been selling healing potions since summer vacation, and St. Mungo's is one of my biggest customers." Ike scratched his head, pulled a paper bag from his robes, and handed it to Snape. "Want one?"

"Only you and Dumbledore would like this," Snape refused outright. "You don't have much time left, Strayle."

"Dumbledore will appear in ten minutes at most."

"Then I'll be frank, Professor." Ike put away the paper bag. "I'd like to ask you..."

"Wait!" Snape suddenly interrupted, flicking his wand and casting a stunning spell directly on Lupin.

"continue."

"...Alright, I'd like to ask you to let Peter go..."

"Impossible!" Snape gritted his teeth. "Do you know what you're saying, Strayle!"

"I know perfectly well." Ike nodded, looking directly at Snape without fear.

"You don't know! He killed... Lily, he killed many people, he's a Death Eater!" Snape waved his wand, revealing the Dark Mark on Peter's left arm.

"Look what this is! Don't think I don't know what you're up to, this is impossible!"

"Professor," Ike said calmly, "you know very well that the man is not dead, and he will come back."

"At that time, the entire magical world will surely be shrouded in fear once again!"

"What will we rely on to defeat him again? Just a prophecy and a son of prophecy? I don't deny the accuracy of the prophecy, but what will be the cost? How much will we have to pay?"

"Then what do you think you are?" Snape scoffed.

"Of course it can't be me," Ike shook his head. "But we should at least do some preparation. I have a plan..."

Ike explained his plan in detail, and Snape listened quietly. After Ike finished, Snape thought for a moment before saying, "It still won't work. I... Dumbledore won't agree."

"Professor, regardless of whether others agree or not, I will ensure this plan proceeds," Ike said resolutely. "Besides, don't we have you here?"

"snort!"

With a wave of his wand, the ropes binding Peter vanished into thin air, and Snape slowly closed his eyes, sitting motionless in his chair.

It looks just like a statue.

Ike bowed silently to Snape, waved his wand, and cast the Disillusionment Charm on himself and Peter.

"Squeak"

The door opened and closed, but Snape didn't open his eyes. After a while, a crisp sound was heard, and Dumbledore appeared directly in the room.

After checking on Lupin, Dumbledore said, "You saved those children, Severus."

"snort!"

Snape didn't speak, but simply opened his eyes and looked at Dumbledore.

"So, Peter took the opportunity to run away?"

"When I woke up, I didn't find him," Snape said, shaking his head.

"Ah, that's a bit of a shame. But it doesn't really matter; Sirius can still clear his name." Dumbledore pushed up his glasses. "I've already informed Fudge; there's a lot to do tonight."

"Let's go, Severus, Minerva and the others are waiting for us."

.........

"Stop the curse immediately!"

Ike stood quietly, silently watching Peter, who was tied to the tree, slowly wake up.

"Hello, Peter."

Peter Pettigrew snapped out of his daze and his pupils constricted when he saw Ike clearly.

He knows this person!

Two years ago, Ron was leading him through the hallway when, peeking out of his pocket, he caught a familiar scent emanating from the boy—the scent unique to the person he feared most. From Ron and Harry's conversation, he also learned that this person and… his master might have an unusual relationship.

"Mr. Stradl, what...what can I do for you?"

"I need you to do something, Peter," Ike said expressionlessly.

"At your command."

"Tomorrow, I'm leaving England for Albania..."

"Find him!"

(End of this chapter)