Hogwarts: I am Snape

Chapter 17 Old News
"No, I have some things to do later."

Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, Abbott's face appeared rosy.

After saying goodbye to Abbott, Snape hurried to the library on the fifth floor of Hogwarts Castle. The library would be closing in a little over an hour.

"Hello, Ms. Pince."

It took Snape quite a bit of effort to find Ms. Irma Pines, who was sweeping dust in the narrow aisles between the bookshelves.

"Is there something you need, child?"

“I want to know where the Daily Prophet was kept from 1940 to 1950,” Snape said.

“Come with me.” Mrs. Pince draped the feather duster over her arm and led Snape through the bookshelves.

They walked to a corner deep inside the library, where Ms. Pince pointed to a neatly stacked pile of newspapers and said:
"This is it, the Daily Prophet from the entire 1940s. Remember to put it back in its place after you've finished reading, or you know what will happen."

After thanking Ms. Pince, Snape quickly moved a large stack of newspapers to his desk and began to read through them, arranged by date.

The light from outside the window had dimmed somewhat, and the candle with its protective cover on the desk lit up.

Finally, on June 15, 1943, he saw a report in the Daily Prophet—

"A bizarre murder has occurred at Hogwarts, and the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets has sparked panic."
The investigation into the mysterious deaths at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on June 13th is ongoing. Several students were reportedly injured in the unexplained attack.

Principal Armando Dipette stated that the victim died in a bizarre accident, and that the legend of the locked room monster was completely unfounded. He added that the school has strengthened security measures and will do its utmost to ensure the safety of students.

However, Cassius Malfoy, a board member of the school, revealed that, so far, all the victims have been Muggle-born wizards.

"I don't want to blame the principal or the school's policies," Mr. Malfoy told our reporter, "but for the safety of all students, unless the perpetrators who planned these attacks are caught, the board will consider closing the school if necessary."

According to reliable sources, the Ministry of Magic has dispatched specialists to the school and launched an investigation.

This newspaper would like to remind our readers to pay attention to their personal safety.

May this poor girl rest in peace in another world.

Snape then turned the pages of the remaining newspapers.

In the June 22nd edition of the Daily Prophet, he found a sequel:
"An investigation revealed that the culprit behind the 'Hogwarts attacks' was actually a 'giant spider'."

A fifth-year Slytherin student was awarded the "Special Contribution to the School Award" for his outstanding role in resolving the incident, based on his "extraordinary courage and wisdom".

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Magic and the school confirmed that the student who caused the accident has been officially expelled from the school, and his wand was destroyed on the spot.

This is exactly what Snape wanted.

He secretly stuffed a few relevant old newspapers into his robe, and then folded up the other newspapers that had been spread out and put them back in their place.

At that moment, Ms. Pins's voice, amplified by magic, resounded throughout the entire library.

"It's almost time! Please pack your things and leave the library within five minutes."

At 8 o'clock sharp, Ms. Pins turned off all the lights and came over to shoo the students out of the library.

The flow of people pouring out of the library was mainly composed of Ravenclaw students. Inside, Snape also spotted Gilderoy Lockhart, a small man with blond curly hair.

Back at his dormitory at the bottom of the lake, Snape read "The Practical Potions Master" for a while before going to sleep. Even as he drifted off to sleep, Abbott still hadn't returned.

In the later Potions classes that week, Slughorn praised Snape's abilities highly.

He said that over the years, he had rarely encountered a student more talented in potion-making than Snape.

So, after the fourth Potions class, Snape let Abbott go first, while he deliberately dawdled over packing his bag.

Finally, only he and Slughorn remained in the classroom.

"Professor, I'm a little curious. Where do your more talented students work now? I wish I could meet them."

“Alas, I don’t know where he is now,” Slughorn said with a regretful expression. “Many years ago, I wanted to introduce him to the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, but he refused me.”

"I really don't understand why he went to work as a clerk at Borgin-Bock. I haven't heard from him in years."

“Bogin Burke?” Snape’s eyes widened, his voice filled with surprise. “Isn’t that a dark magic shop in Knockturn Alley?”

“Yes, it’s such a pity,” Slughorn said as he packed his things and walked out of the classroom. “Such a talented young man.”

"Alright, Severus, see you on Saturday. Remember to invite Albert."

“Professor,” Snape asked, looking at Slughorn’s retreating figure, “what’s his name?”

“What? Oh, okay, his name is Tom Riddle.”

……

On Saturday noon, Snape told Abbott about his findings.

Although he didn't want to put his friend in danger, he didn't want to hide these things from Abbott because of some inexplicable impulse.

"So, like you, Riddle was once the darling of the old snot-nosed?"

Abbott was writing an article called "The Principle of Ghostly Manifestation" and said without looking up.

"Keep your voice down," Snape quickly said, worried that the name would cause Abbott trouble. "I'm asking you to do a friend a favor: don't mention his name, okay?"

"But this isn't—"

“I know this isn’t the name that can’t be mentioned, but please consider this my unreasonable request. From now on, call him Little Tom,” Snape added. “After all, I don’t want to have another competitor on my path to becoming student council president.”

“Fine.” Although Abbo didn’t seem convinced, he still agreed. “Let me see your paper. It’s a real headache.”

Snape pulled a roll of parchment from his bag and handed it to Abbot, then buried himself in his Defense Against the Dark Arts homework.

The time spent without classes in sixth grade was not as free as Snape and Abbott had hoped for; instead, it was mostly spent working hard to complete a large amount of homework assigned by the teachers.

Although students complained about too much homework, every teacher repeatedly emphasized that the assignments they gave could be completed in just a few hours, as if students could complete multiple assignments in the same amount of time.

Snape had only finished about half of his homework by dinner time.

“Perhaps we should do it tomorrow,” he said to Abbot, putting down his quill. “Slughorn’s party is about to begin.”

(End of this chapter)