Hogwarts: What are the four great masters doing?

Ryan was certain that the reason why the Marauder's Map could affect a powerful wizard like Dumbledore was definitely not because of the spells cast by those students, but because of the material of the map itself.

It inherently possesses powerful magic, and is incredibly powerful.

In fact, Ryan spent most of the latter half of last night analyzing it.

In the end, Ryan came to the conclusion that the basic materials of this map seemed to have traces of fairy craftsmanship, and they were very advanced.

Ryan had seen similar craftsmanship before, in a place unknown to most wizards today.

"Fairy Kingdom!"

This is the source of Ryan's excitement - he found some traces of fairy craftsmanship on this map, and it is very likely from the fairy kingdom!

When it comes to the Goblin Kingdom, Ryan naturally thinks of Godric Gryffindor... Oh, and the Goblin King Ragnark I who was bullied so badly!

In other words, this map might hold clues about his four teachers—or at worst, it might be related to Gryffindor!

"Padfoot, Wormtail, Moony, and Prongs..."

Ryan muttered these nicknames in his mind, thinking about where to look for the four people, while knocking on the door of the office in front of him.

"Come in."

Snape's distinctive gloomy voice came from inside the door, and the door opened automatically.

And when Ryan walked into the office, the door closed again - and then Ryan found that he could not see anything.

The entire office was pitch black, even the windows seemed to be sealed, and a pungent smell filled the office.

Ryan could smell the scent of armadillo bile, but it was much weaker than the last time.

And soon...

A figure stood up in the darkness, and then the green candlelight in the office lit up.

Only then was Ryan able to see the surrounding scenery.

Hundreds of glass jars line the walls of the office, filled with things like Achilles tendons, snake skins, glands, hearts, or even stranger things.

These things made this already somewhat gloomy office seem even more bizarre.

The dark green velvet curtains were drawn, and Snape was now standing in the center of the office.

Behind him was an ebony desk, on which were placed quills, ink, and a mess of books.

There was an armchair next to the desk, the newest and cleanest thing in the entire office, and next to the chair were a number of armadillos in cages.

Seeing this office that can't be described as messy, but can only be described as eerie and strange, Ryan could only sigh - no wonder the little lions privately called this place the 'Bat's Nest', it really wasn't a wrong nickname.

"Professor, I'm here for detention."

However, even though he thought so in his heart, Ryan remained calm on the surface.

And Snape surprisingly did not show his sharp tongue to Ryan.

He simply nodded and gestured to the armchair nearby. "Mr. Elias, your detention this week will be to process the bile of 100 armadillos... You're apparently quite good at this."

He said slowly.

But Ryan could tell - although the professor maintained his usual annoying style, the meaning of these words was clearly an admission that the way he had previously said about dealing with armadillo bile was correct.

and...

"Isn't this chair newly brought in today just for me?"

Ryan took another look at the armchair that didn't fit in with the office at all and muttered to himself.

But he still didn't say anything. Instead, he walked to the armchair and sat down obediently, and began to deal with the armadillo.

He was not in a hurry at all - because judging from the current situation, it was obvious that someone else was in a hurry.

And this is indeed the case.

"Mr. Elias."

Just as Ryan finished dealing with the third armadillo and made it spit out its bile, he heard Snape's voice.

"Malfoy—I mean Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father."

Snape looked at Ryan: "He has arrived at the school and will call a meeting of the school directors in half an hour... There is no need to say more about the content of the meeting."

He raised his head and looked at Ryan proudly: "Speaking of which, I have some personal relationship with him - you may need..."

"Oh, no thanks, Professor."

Ryan said without looking up.

This made Snape's words stop in his throat, and he looked at Ryan: "...What?"

"I say, favors are valuable—perhaps I don't need your help, Professor."

Ryan looked at Snape with a smile, he found it very interesting.

Professor Snape had a strange temper, much like a Slytherin - but strangely, he was obviously impatient with some urgent things.

"I believe Headmaster Dumbledore will convince the school directors for me."

After hearing Ryan's words, Snape's expression became visibly ugly.

He pursed his lips, as if he wanted to say something.

But then he took a deep breath and said, "Headmaster Dumbledore may not be able to convince them. You may not know that the school directors have always funded Hogwarts. Your teaching aids, the renovation of the castle, and the professors' salaries are all funded by them."

"If they cut off this investment because of you..."

He only finished half of his words.

Because he saw Ryan finally raised his head.

"money?"

The young wizard smiled and looked at him with his pale blue eyes. "Professor, you may not believe this, but if the reason for becoming a so-called school director is just Galleons... then I think I can become a school director too."

He said casually, his voice seeming to have weight.

The weight might have come from determination, or from the mountain of Galleons in the ring in his hand.

But Snape could only sneer at Ryan's words.

"Mr. Elias, I don't know how much wealth you inherited from your so-called family's treasury... but you clearly know nothing about the wealth of pure-blood families."

As a master of potions, Snape was of course well aware of the background and financial resources of the pure-blood families.

It is a behemoth formed by the inheritance from generation to generation and the fusion of pure-blood families.

He didn't believe Ryan's inheritance was anything like that—whose coffers did he think he'd inherited? The Big Four?

In response to Snape's ridicule, Ryan just spoke calmly.

“I probably really don’t know how many generations of wealth they’ve accumulated.”

"But Professor, regardless of how many Galleons I have...if money alone can make Hogwarts a place where you can casually say "Mudblood" to young wizards, then I think it's better for Hogwarts not to exist!"

At this point, seeing Snape's face gradually turn pale, Ryan smiled and said the final words that crushed the bat: "What's more - if I really don't have enough money on hand, I can definitely sell some rare materials in the vault... Well, for example, branches and leaves of the two-headed sun wood, which will definitely sell for a good price!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ryan heard Snape's voice, which was no longer able to bear it.

"enough!"

His expression suddenly turned grim, and he looked at Ryan with cold eyes. He knew that the other party had seen through his purpose.

"Go ahead, Mr. Elias."

He spoke each word with emphasis.

"what do you want?"

Chapter 45: Sharp-tongued people always have painful old scars in their hearts

"Feel sorry?"

After hearing Snape's words, Ryan blinked: "Professor, what did you say?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Elias..."

Snape's voice was almost squeezed out from between his teeth: "You are very smart, yes... very smart, so of course you know what I am talking about - I want the branches and roots of the two-headed sun tree."

"What about you? What do you want as a bargaining chip?"

"Oh!"

Ryan then suddenly realized.

"So that's what you mean."

He grinned, revealing a sunny smile.

"But Professor, I think the word transaction is not nice. This should be called 'cooperation'!"

"You know, I'm a restless person, so I might need to use some potions in the future..."

He finally revealed his true purpose.

Yes, as Snape said, the method of brewing potions is very humble, but it is indeed a great art.

Healing injuries, enhancing magic power, strengthening perception, assisting in combat... For any wizard, a bottle of potion of sufficient quality and extraordinary effect is precious.

For example, Ryan really needed some potions to protect himself - especially after last night, he was even more certain of this.

He encountered a three-headed dog in Hogwarts Castle, so he couldn't imagine what he would encounter after leaving the castle!

Ryan could of course make the potion himself, but it would be troublesome.

Some precious potions take as long as one or two months to brew. It is difficult for him to find time, and it is not convenient to brew them in the dormitory.

What's more...isn't there a ready-made potion master right in front of us?

"You want to hire me? With a branch from a two-headed yang tree?"

Snape sneered: "You may have overestimated its value, you..."

In front of Ryan, Snape always found it difficult to finish his vicious words.

Because at the same time Snape spoke, Ryan had already taken out several potion boxes that he had prepared long ago.

As a master of potions, Snape could tell at a glance the origins of the materials in several of the boxes.