Snape, the Sunshine of Hogwarts

"What do you want to say?"

“I want to say that our current situation is already predetermined. You are the ghost Severus Snape, and I am the Potions Master, Head of Slytherin House at Hogwarts, Professor of Potions, former Death Eater, a potential future Order of the Phoenix, and Severus Snape whose hair is destined never to be greasy again.”

As he rattled off this long string of prefixes, Severus completely ignored Snape's increasingly dark expression and couldn't help but flick his very flowing short ponytail.

"We are not only indistinguishable in an objective sense, but also share the same goal subjectively."

"Your obsession with becoming a ghost is to protect Lily's son, Harry Potter, and so do I."

"Because only in this way can I live carefree in this world as Severus Snape and enjoy life. It's just that your protection of Harry is a form of atonement, not caring about your own fate, while I want a better future."

"But this difference isn't a conflict at all, is it? It's just a difference between good and better."

"But is it really better for you to do it this way?"

At this moment, Ghost Snape suddenly spoke in a low voice.

“I know what you’re trying to do. You’re bringing Poot out of the Dursleys’ house ahead of time so you can build a good relationship with him and make him forget that you were one of the main culprits who killed his family!”

"But are you so sure that the hatred that erupts when Potter learns the truth won't be ignited by the sudden betrayal, making him hate you even more?"

"Moreover, your actions have ruined Dumbledore's plans! That man will come back sooner or later, and if you want him to continue to trust you, you must hate Boole! Not give him that ridiculous favor!"

Severus neither confirmed nor denied Snape's accusations, but simply stated calmly.

"You don't need to worry about Dumbledore's plans at all. Dumbledore will definitely think of them more thoroughly than you do."

“I guess part of the reason he agreed to let me try to get Harry out of the Dursleys’ house was that Harry was only 9 years old, and it would be two years before he could enroll in Hogwarts after he really showed his magical talent.”

"In the past two years, as long as I conceal it properly, it won't be conspicuous to have him around. If I fail to give him any surprises in these two years, he can still get things back on track after Harry enrolls, and I can even help leave him some room to maneuver."

"Whether I can surprise Harry with me is something we should wait and see, rather than making empty promises."

"As for what you said, that I am Harry's enemy..."

Severus raised an eyebrow and sighed softly.

"Alright, since I said it, we're already inseparable, so we can't just take the benefits without bearing the consequences. Let's just say I was one of the main culprits in the murder of the Potters."

“If I continue to hide the truth and treat him as his mother’s best friend, he will naturally feel betrayed when he finds out the truth.”

"But, it's still that same word."

"Do you remember what I told you before I came here, what kind of person is most worthy of admiration, trust, and reliance?"

Upon hearing this, Ghost Snape was taken aback at first, and then a huge sense of panic welled up in his heart!

Through the window, Severus could see Harry struggling to carry a worn-out suitcase that Vernon had discarded years ago, walking with difficult yet cheerful steps out of the room without any help from anyone.

“Sincerity, and a sufficient degree of sincerity,” he murmured.

"What else do you want to do? Just how big of a mess are you planning to make!" Ghost Snape gasped, his voice trembling as he questioned.

“I’ve been honest enough with Vernon Penny and with you, so why would I lie to Harry Potter or hide anything from him?”

Severus straightened up and quickly tidied his robe, which was neither too messy nor dusty.

"Just because he's still a child? But I don't think that's a suitable reason."

After saying that, he didn't stay where he was, but strode towards Harry who came out of the house.

Chapter 7 Bloody Feud

Harry had never felt so good.

He carried his suitcase and walked out of the Dursleys' house alone in the quiet, without anyone seeing him off. It was as if the air he breathed had become sweeter and the gloomy sky had become more pleasant.

Although he and the mysterious Mr. Snape had barely exchanged a few words, Harry felt that Mr. Snape must be a very nice person, based on the way he treated the Dursleys.

In particular, the other party was his mother's former best friend, a fact that Aunt Penny had confirmed.

Just as Harry stood in front of the door, looking around at the courtyard, Severus, dressed in a large black robe, appeared beside him like a bat swooping low in the night.

"Mr. Snape? Where are we going now?" Harry asked instinctively, startled.

Severus looked up at the overcast sky, then picked up the teacup from the ground. After making sure no one was around, he casually tossed the teacup into the air and then gently tapped it with a small stick as it fell naturally.

Harry swears!

He didn't even blink!

As the delicate teacup fell, it was like clay, instantly twisting, stretching, and reshaping!

And when the thing finally fell into Harry's arms, the teacup turned into a black umbrella!

Harry stood there dumbfounded, as if he were a clay statue.

Behind them, at the Dursleys' house, a Venetian blind behind the window that originally faced the yard was pulled down forcefully by someone with great anger, making a loud noise.

Severus, the culprit behind all this, waved to the Dursleys' roof as if no one else was around.

Soon, a peek-out owl, like one that had been hiding on the roof, poked its head out.

Upon seeing Severus waving, it spread its wings, leaped from the rooftop, glided through the air, and even did a somersault as it passed Harry before finally landing proudly on Severus's shoulder.

Severus glanced at the owl borrowed from Hogwarts, inwardly complaining to the still-cold-faced ghost Severus that it was quite dramatic, while pulling a blank parchment from his pocket.

The wand tapped the parchment again, and a short, beautiful cursive script appeared on the paper.

The dramatic owl grabbed the parchment that Severus had rolled into a tube, raised its right wing as if in salute, and flew high into the sky, disappearing into the distance behind the clouds.

The wind gradually picked up, and rain began to fall from the sky.

Severus patted Harry, who was still in a daze, as if breaking his petrification and bringing him back to his senses.

"Don't just stand there like an idiot, open your umbrella and come with me."

After saying that, Severus took out a black umbrella from somewhere and used it to shield himself from the drizzle, then strode out of the Dursleys' yard.

Harry's mind was completely blank. He didn't even realize how he had opened the umbrella. He walked mechanically, quickly following behind Severus.

He didn't speak until he had completely left the Dursleys' house and reached the street of Privet Drive.

"Snape, Snape, sir, you! You! You just now..."

"Do you think that's magic?" Severus asked without turning his head.

"I...I think...I don't think magic tricks can achieve this level of skill."

"Aha, that proves you're not like those mediocre people who, even at this level, still deceive themselves. That's a very good quality."

Harry's chaotic mind finally began to recall the things that Severus and Peregrine Vernon had said at the Dursleys' house that he hadn't understood.

His eyes widened instantly, and his brisk pace turned into a jog as he caught up with Severus, who was striding ahead.

"You're a wizard!"

It's the height of summer in July, a time when the weather on the British Isles is incredibly unpredictable. Just a moment ago it was only drizzling, but now, in less than a minute, the raindrops have started to grow larger, the rain intensifies, and it's pattering loudly against the umbrella.

On Privet Road, pedestrians who didn't have umbrellas and were rushing home could only scatter and run towards roadside shops or cafes to take shelter from the rain.

Severus continued leading Harry along the cobblestone path, without denying the extraordinary accusation.

"Of course, I am a wizard."

“But you clearly told Uncle Vernon that you were a professor and dean of a vocational school!”

"Isn't a magic school a vocational school?" Severus shrugged, puzzled.

"The magic school! You said the school's name, Hogwarts, in the house, didn't you?!" In his excitement, Harry didn't even notice that he had stepped into a puddle, causing Severus to move aside in disgust.

"Yes, it's Hogwarts, the only magic school in Britain."

"So you're going to take me to Hogwarts to learn magic? I can become a wizard too?"

"Only children who are 11 years of age or older and have shown magical qualities will be admitted to Hogwarts."

As Severus walked forward, he extended his wand and cleaned Harry's dirty shoes and trouser legs. With magic around, taking care of a naughty child would be much easier.

Are you 11 years old yet?

Harry shook his head awkwardly.

"Have you demonstrated magical abilities?"

Harry recalled some strange things that might have happened to him, but Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon dismissed them as trivial matters.

He lowered his head in even greater frustration.

At this moment, Severus suddenly changed the subject.

"But you will eventually turn 11, and you will eventually show the magical qualities of a wizard."

Hearing this approval, Harry looked up in surprise and grabbed Severus's black robe, splashing water droplets from the umbrella onto Severus's face.

"So I can learn magic too! Is that true, Mr. Snape?!"

Severus stopped in his tracks, sighed, took a handkerchief from his robe pocket, wiped the rain from his face, and glanced around.

They had long since left Privet Road and entered some narrow alleyway.

There was no one else there except them; only rainwater kept gathering from the rooftops and flowing into the drainage ditch.

The heavy rain is still falling, and it shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.

Seeing Harry cheering and jumping for joy, Severus placed his hand on his young shoulder and said earnestly.

"You can learn magic, and of course you can become a wizard in the future. Even now, your name has already been forever etched in the history of magic."

Harry was somewhat taken aback by his solemn and exaggerated statement, and he stammered.

"Me? Am I that amazing?"

"All of this is thanks to your deceased parents, especially your mother."

Inside Severus's body, the ghost Snape clenched his fists uncontrollably. He lowered his head, making it impossible to see what changes were happening on his face, but the constant heaving of his chest was enough to show how much he was reacting to what Severus was about to say!

Harry was stunned for the second time. The suitcase he had been carrying fell to the ground with a loud thud.

The sound seemed to startle a stray cat that had been hiding somewhere under the eaves, and a series of thuds came from its four paws.

After about four or five seconds, Harry stared at Severus and murmured.

"Aunt Penny...Aunt Penny said they died in a car accident."

"They were all wizards, and graduates of Hogwarts. They did not die from disease, nor from a car accident. They died at the hands of a villain, a villain who once almost ruled over all wizards in Britain and spread his evil throughout Europe."

The umbrella in Harry's other hand had fallen to the ground at some point.

The rain soaked him, turning him into a drowned rat.

"Shut up."

The deep, suppressed voice came from within Severus's body, from the ghostly Snape, head bowed, his expression hidden by his greasy hair.

Severus ignored him and simply stared at Harry in the pouring rain.

“I was indeed your mother’s best friend, but we broke off our friendship at Hogwarts.”

"Shut up!"

The roar rang out again, echoing only in Severus's ears.

"Not only that, your father and I also see each other as thorns in our side. He and his group of friends almost killed me, and I wish I could kill them too."

"Why are you saying these things! What right do you have to say these things in my name?!"

Harry couldn't hear the ghost's voice. His face turned pale, and he instinctively backed away. Severus, whom he had previously liked, now seemed like some kind of monster.

Beneath that black umbrella, a long black robe enveloped a man shrouded in darkness, as if he could devour everything!

Happiness, excitement, joy, anticipation, hope.

Harry, who was walking backward, accidentally bumped into the wall and fell to the ground. He was soaked to the bone and his body was trembling, whether from the cold or from fear, he didn't know.

He braced himself on the ground with both hands and kept backing away, as if he wanted to escape from here, to get as far away as possible!

But the voice still seemed to be ringing in his ears, so calm, indifferent and clear!

"but me"

"He was once a trusted subordinate of the monster who killed your parents, and also one of the accomplices who indirectly caused your parents' death."

"I have a blood feud with you for killing your father and mother, do you understand, Harry Potter?"