Snape, the Sunshine of Hogwarts

“Of course I understand, Severus. When I first came to Hogwarts, I was much more focused than you are.”

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Harry, who was sitting next to Severus.

The boy with black hair looked strangely familiar to him.

Especially those eyes, yet he couldn't find the legendary lightning scar on the boy's forehead.

"Who is this"

“My friend’s child is not yet of school age to attend Hogwarts, so I’m taking him out to travel around and broaden his horizons.”

"What's his last name?" Slughorn asked while sipping his tea.

“Dusley Dursley.” This time, Harry took the initiative to say his pseudonym.

Upon hearing this surname, which was completely unfamiliar to the wizarding world, Slughorn remained unfazed, clearly having lost interest in Harry.

He then continued his conversation with Severus.

The two had a lot in common.

From various studies on potions to the recent discovery of some rare materials, the conversation then shifted to interesting anecdotes that happened at Hogwarts, and finally to the Ministry of Magic's various measures regarding education and examinations in recent years.

Finally, Severus could hear the sadness hidden in Slughorn's eyes when he talked about how many of the wizards who had graduated from Hogwarts in recent years didn't even know him.

"If you could return to teach at Hogwarts, Professor, you would certainly be very popular," Severus said casually, steer the conversation toward the main purpose of his visit.

Slughorn, however, paid no attention to the deeper meaning of his words, and simply patted his large belly lightly, sighing.

"But clearly Hogwarts doesn't lack teachers these days, well, the Defense Against the Dark Arts position is another story."

"We're not just missing a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, we're also missing a Potions professor and the Headmaster of Slytherin."

Severus suddenly said.

His words startled Slughorn, who took two or three seconds to react before meeting Severus's eyes again.

Without keeping them in suspense any longer, Severus took out Dumbledore's letter and handed it to Slughorn.

“I can see that you miss the days when you taught at Hogwarts, and now Hogwarts is in dire need of a renowned and talented wizard like yourself to continue Slytherin’s glory.”

Slughorn looked down and read the entire letter, and also heard Severus's sincere invitation.

But instead of showing any joyful smile, his expression turned ugly.

Chapter 16 Go turn yourself in, Professor

"No, I will never return to Hogwarts, no matter who invites me, even if Dumbledore comes in person."

Slughorn said coldly.

He revealed an expression completely different from when he had been having a pleasant conversation with Severus, instantly bringing the atmosphere of the meeting to a freezing point.

Severus had anticipated this reaction.

This is precisely why, when Ghost Snape learned that Dumbledore had given him the task of inviting Slughorn back, his first thought was that it was an absolutely impossible mission.

If Severus were to die unexpectedly and be unable to continue serving at Hogwarts, leaving Hogwarts in the predicament of not being able to find a new Headmaster of Slytherin, Dumbledore would then personally come to invite Slughorn back.

The fat walrus in front of him, who had said he would never return to Hogwarts, would not hesitate much and would definitely agree on the spot.

Because this would bring him immense fame.

But now, Severus himself has asked Dumbledore for a leave of absence.

This is a temporary leave that could last anywhere from one to two years, and it doesn't mean he won't return to the castle later.

At this time, Slughorn was invited back to Hogwarts to teach, not as a firefighter, but as a replacement for Severus.

As soon as Severus returns from his vacation, he'll be fired!

This will not only fail to bring him any fame, but will also diminish his reputation in the wizarding world, making others think that he is inferior to Severus.

Moreover, Severus clearly saw something else in Slughorn's eyes—the reason why he didn't want to return to Hogwarts.

It was a sense of unease and guilt hidden deep within my heart.

Severus crossed his arms in front of him, met Slughorn's gaze calmly, and asked earnestly.

"Professor, do you care that much about what other people think of you?"

Slughorn snorted and gave a forced smile.

"Hehehe, what kind of family do you think the Slughorn family is? I never represent just myself, but the reputation of a family, of countless glorious ancestors."

“I have never done this for personal face, Severus, you wouldn’t understand.”

Severus couldn't understand it, but he respected that everyone had their own different ideas.

He didn't offer any further advice, but after nodding, he asked another question.

"What if I could find a way to get Dumbledore to come forward and announce to the public that I need to take a two-year leave of absence due to health reasons and I have to ask you to return to preside over Slytherin?"

Slughorn remained unmoved and shook his head.

"So what's the difference? You'll still come back in two years. What will people think then?"

He deliberately used a sarcastic tone, waving his hands around.

"Look! If Severus Snape needs it, Dumbledore can just kick Horace aside and invite him back! There's no doubt now who can lead Slytherin and who is the true Potions Master!"

“So,” Slughorn shrugged at Severus, “how can you expect me to agree?”

Severus sighed and nodded again.

“I understand. It was presumptuous of me to bring this up.”

His politeness won Slughorn's favor.

Few people can remain so gracious when their requests are denied.

“You should tell Dumbledore to find someone more suitable,” Slughorn said, rocking back and forth in his recliner. “There might be a wizard in the wizarding world who is more suitable than me.”

The atmosphere in the drawing room returned to harmony. After the house-elves brought tea and refreshments, they went about their chores. Harry took a liking to the fresh grapes in the fruit bowl, hesitating whether he could just reach out and take them.

It's time to turn the page on this matter.

Severus suddenly asked.

"Professor, did Kingsley Shackle come to see you a few days ago?"

Slughorn's relaxed expression froze again.

He seemed completely unprepared for Severus to suddenly ask this question.

But he quickly realized what was happening and tried to act as if nothing had happened as before.

"Ah, of course, he came to see me, just as he should have come to see you too, right?"

As he spoke, Slughorn pulled a swarm of cockroaches from the candy box (seeing this, Harry disgustedly abandoned his idea of ​​eating grapes), stuffed it into his mouth, and pretended to be busy to hide his nervousness.

Severus maintained his calm smile, his legs crossed, his hands clasped together on his knees.

"Yesterday afternoon, he found me at Gringotts in Diagon Alley. He said it was about a potion poisoning case. Someone had given Muggles a potent Living Hell Potion, which caused a poor girl to remain unconscious. It has had a very bad impact on Muggles, and they are looking for the source of this potion."

Slughorn casually took over the topic.

"Oh, right, these past two days, both the Daily Prophet and other newspapers have been reporting on this. The Muggle Prime Minister contacted Millison Barnard, wanting her to give an explanation."

At that moment, Severus pulled out today's Daily Prophet, and the front page of the newspaper had become the story of the poisoning of the magic potion.

“Mirison Barnold will retire at the latest next year. She has served as a minister for ten years, during which time she has experienced so many ups and downs, and now, just before her retirement, she has been embroiled in such a heinous case.”

"In an interview with The Daily Prophet, she assured the public that she would thoroughly investigate the matter, find the real culprit, and uphold the Wizarding Law."

Slughorn also expressed his rejection and dissatisfaction with the killer.

"To use a magical potion to poison a Muggle is an insult to the art of potion making! They must severely punish the murderer. This is not only about the secret relationship between wizards and Muggles, but also a violation of the laws of both sides!"

Severus stared into Slughorn's eyes, remaining silent for a good three or four seconds, until Slughorn became restless, before he suddenly spoke.

"So, Professor, when do you plan to turn yourself in?"

The reception room fell completely silent at that moment!

Harry, who had finally mustered the courage to reach for a grape in the fruit bowl, dropped it on the ground after hearing those words.

Slughorn's body was tense as if he had been petrified, and it took him a while before he managed to smile.

"Are you kidding me, Severus? Why would I turn myself in? What does this have to do with me?"

"I don't know who the murderer is, but you must have prepared that bottle of medicine."

Severus was still smiling.

“It must be you, Professor Slughorn.”

Chapter 17 Defamation

"Do you have evidence?"

Slughorn said, feigning calmness.

Severus stared into his eyes.

“Professor, regardless of whether there is evidence now, and regardless of how you evaded Shackleton when he came, if the investigation into the potion matter is thorough, he is very likely to find you.”

This caused Slughorn to grip the armrest of the recliner tightly, his hand, which had been resting comfortably on his stomach.

But he remained defiant.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying, Severus! I’ve never concocted any potent Hellfire Potion! If you’re trying to use this as leverage to threaten me into returning to Hogwarts, you’ve miscalculated!”

“This is not a threat, Professor,” Severus advised. “There is no room for luck in these matters. Millison Barnold will be retiring soon, and she will not let this be the last stain on her tenure. She will definitely find a way to get to the bottom of this, and you should understand.”

Slughorn slumped in his recliner, silent, no longer arguing or admitting anything.

Severus did not stop talking.

"The Aurors have basically locked onto their target. In the entire British magical world, there are no more than five wizards who can brew that Living Hell Potion: me, you, Assani Giger, and Libashe Pollach. The other two mainly focus on theoretical research and writing books, and their practical skills are far inferior to yours and mine."

"Moreover, Polach is a South American, and he only spends one or two months a year in England, so it's easy to rule him out. Gigg is a rigid and honest man, and the Aurors will not have any more doubts about him once they conduct their own investigations."

"After ruling out those two people, who else could they suspect?"

"Zigmund Bach? He was indeed the greatest pharmacist of all time, but he died in the seventeenth century."

These words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back, leaving Slughorn unable to remain silent any longer.

He shouted excitedly.

"I am innocent! That bottle of Hellfire Elixir was just a personal heirloom of mine! Someone stole it! How could I know that the person who stole it intended to use it to harm people!"

The drawing room became extremely quiet, with only Slughorn's heavy breathing audible.

Harry's eyes widened in surprise.

He didn't quite understand the verbal exchanges between adults, but at this moment he could certainly see that the chubby old man in front of him, with a walrus-like beard and a sweet tooth, had completely admitted that he was involved in the poisoning case.

When Slughorn finally admitted that he was the one who made the potion, Severus did not smile. He simply nodded seriously.

"I believe you, Professor. No matter what, you would never intentionally harm anyone."

Slughorn didn't speak. He looked at Severus and remained silent for a long time. After almost a minute, he finally spoke irritably.

"Fine, believe it or not, that's how things are now!"

"Just like you said, the Auror will soon eliminate other suspects and focus on me. Once this gets out, what will others think of me? Even if I didn't sell that bottle of medicine, what will they say about me behind my back?"

Severus simply watched him quietly until Slughorn had completely calmed down before he spoke again.

“I can help you with this, Professor.”

"You'll handle it?" Slughorn instinctively raised his voice.

“I will resolve this problem and, afterward, have Dumbledore publicly invite you to return, minimizing the impact on your reputation, as long as you agree to come back to Hogwarts.”

Slughorn hesitated.

He avoided looking directly at Severus and began to weigh the deal in his mind.

"How do you plan to solve this?" Asking this question means that he is actually already interested.

"Push that bottle of medicine on my head."