Hogwarts: I am Snape

Chapter 47 Agreement
Although a roaring fire burned in the Slytherin common room deep at the bottom of the lake, the basement, with fine water droplets clinging to the stone walls, was still terribly cold.

"This is the first time I haven't gone home for Christmas, so it's quite a unique experience."

Abbott sat huddled in his chair, staring at the note on the gift box for a long while before daring to wrap a long, fluffy trinket around his neck. It was a Christmas present from Pandora.

Pu Rongrong's body was covered in soft fur that was as bright as flames, and it felt soft and smooth to the touch. At this moment, it was particularly docile, lying obediently on Aibo's neck, like a small, elongated tabby cat.

"Oh~" Abbot hummed comfortably, looking quite pleased. "Wow, it even heats up! That's amazing! Maybe I can get some to sell in my shop; they'll definitely sell well..."

As if sensing Aibo's satisfaction, Pu Rongrong also began to hum a strange little tune softly.

However, the previously quiet Pu Rongrong suddenly raised her head, stuck out a long, thin pink tongue, and slithered directly into Aibo's nose like a snake.

"Ugh—" This almost made Abbot gasp for breath. He instinctively pulled Pu Rongrong off, his face full of astonishment and confusion, muttering, "What the hell is it going to do..."

"No—" Aibo screamed in terror after seeing what was on Pu Rongrong's tongue, "Yue—"

But it was too late. Pu Rongrong had already stuck her tongue into her mouth and swallowed Aibo's dried booger cleanly.

"Shouldn't it only do this kind of thing when I'm sleeping?" Abbott looked at Pu Rongrong, who was curled up in the armchair, with disgust. "At least then I wouldn't have to see it, right?"

"You did well in the Magical Creatures Protection class," Snape said leisurely, pouring himself a cup of hot tea with his wand, taking a comfortable sip, and looking quite content. "Guess why I didn't receive this gift?"

"It didn't eat you too, did it?" Abbot asked in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief. "No way?"

“Ugh—can you please stop making it sound so disgusting?” Snape replied with disdain. “This one is newly bred!”

"Alright, alright." Abbo rubbed his hands helplessly, picking up Pu Rongrong again and putting it back on, muttering, "Anyway, it's all my creation... As long as I don't take it out... Little guy, you can just stay in the dorm obediently..."

There were piles of gifts in front of them, waiting to be opened.

Snape even received a thick, bright green hand-knitted sweater from Mrs. Weasley, along with a large box of homemade fudge.

Of course, Snape also carefully selected gifts for the three Weasley boys.

He delivered Honeydukes Christmas candy gift packs, two toy flying brooms, and a copy of "How Prefects Gain Power" specifically for Percy to the Burrow.

The day after Christmas, Snape borrowed the fireplace in the headmaster's office from Dumbledore. Although he didn't go home for Christmas, Irene wrote to him saying she was looking forward to his return for his birthday.

Snape stepped into the green fire and called out, "Autrie Saint Catchpol Village!"

The words had barely left his mouth when flames engulfed him. Spinning rapidly, he vaguely saw some wizarding rooms, but the images vanished before he could make them out. Then, he slowed his spin and came to a complete stop in the fireplace of the village post office.

The houses in the village of Autri Saint Cachipol are scattered in a neat and orderly fashion, and the rolling hills are covered with a layer of white snow. Wisps of smoke are rising from the chimneys of each house.

Snape looked in the direction of his house and saw that the fence in his garden had grown thick and lush, like a green barrier.

Now the little garden goblin shouldn't be able to sneak in so easily anymore, he thought. Eileen already knew he was coming back today, and was currently wearing an apron, busily preparing a sumptuous dinner in the kitchen.

On January 9th, just as dawn was breaking, Snape was awakened by a flock of owls who chirped and brought him a whole bunch of presents.

"Happy seventeenth birthday, Siever." Eileen stood in front of the frying pan, busy with her work, and said gently to him.

The gift Eileen gave him was on the table. Inside was an exquisite silver watch with a white cloud painted on the dial, and several small birds flying in and out of the cloud.

It is a tradition for a wizard to receive a watch from his relatives when he comes of age.

Inside the large package delivered by Abbott was a complete set of twelve books from the "Bewitching Witches" series. In a world where even starting a fire and using the toilet could be solved with magic, Snape couldn't fathom what practical use these books could possibly have.

On the other hand, he also had no intention of using the homemade magic razor that Pandora had given him. After all, no one would think it would be a wise choice to put such a seemingly unreliable razor on their face and neck.

And so, Snape spent a few days at home in a state of decadence, with food served to him.

During this time, he also freely waved his wand, thoroughly plowed the garden, and threw all those annoying little goblins down the hillside.

Of course, under Eileen's orders, he had no choice but to obediently turn the chairs he had turned into hunting dogs back into their original state.

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was time to return to school. The new semester was about to begin, and Snape had to leave his warm cottage, brave the cold, and head down the mountain to Hogwarts via the post office.

"Good evening, Professor." Snape climbed steadily out of the fire.

Dumbledore was sitting at his desk with several balls of yarn on it, holding two long, thin knitting needles in his hand, intently staring at the Muggle magazines spread out in front of him.

Hearing the voice, he looked up with a kind smile on his face: "Good evening, Severus, happy birthday."

“Thank you, Professor.” Snape brushed the ashes off his clothes and used magic to clean the carpet. “What have you thought about what I told you before I left?”

Dumbledore looked at Snape very carefully for a moment before solemnly saying, "I think so, Severus. You have earned this right, or rather—responsibility."

“Yes, Professor, it’s a deal,” Snape said calmly. “I’m ready to go with you to find them when you leave the school.”

After leaving the headmaster's office, Snape unconsciously walked to the window and gazed into the distance.

The sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, turning the sky a vibrant orange-red. The snow on the ground was deeper than that on the mountains around the village of Autri Saint-Cachipol.

In the distance, Hagrid stood at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, carefully feeding a group of hippogriffs.

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(End of this chapter)