Snape's Secret Is Spreading Fast

As Andy stepped into Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

The tea shop was cramped and narrow, decorated with tacky lace trim. The little round tables inside were utterly ordinary, with no distinguishing features whatsoever.

Who told me this was some kind of dating hotspot?

Forget fancy Muggle cafés—even the milk tea shops by the roadside looked much better than this place.

However, Hermione seemed very happy.

This was her first time eating at a little shop run by wizards.

In Hermione's eyes, the shop was full of wizarding charm. It was somewhat romantic, yet also shrouded in mystery.

"What would you two like?" Madam Puddifoot came over. She was plump, with a glossy black bun arranged at the back of her head.

"Rose Butter Biscuits, and two fruit teas. Thank you," Andy said.

"Twenty Sickles!" Madam Puddifoot said.

That expensive? Before Andy could raise an objection, Madam Puddifoot continued, "Your order only costs twelve Sickles. As for the other eight—consider it payment for me keeping quiet about seeing two First Year Little Wizards sneak out of Hogwarts."

That's some pretty cheap Hush Money.

Hermione was a little nervous. She wanted to argue with Madam Puddifoot, but when she remembered that she and Andy had indeed snuck out, the Little Witch lost her nerve.

"Madam, don't you think it's a waste to leave that wall empty?"

Andy smiled and pointed at one of the walls. "You could make it into a wishing wall. For example—people could write down their wishes and stick them there."

"Not a bad idea."

Madam Puddifoot looked rather pleased. Generously, she said, "Your order is on the house today."

"Thank you, Madam."

Andy went along with it smoothly. "Then we'll have two portions of Rose Butter Biscuits."

Madam Puddifoot: "..."

"You really are a clever Little Wizard." Madam Puddifoot chuckled, clearly in a good mood.

The biscuits were not expensive. Madam Puddifoot served Andy three portions, one of which was packed for him to take back.

"Happy birthday, Hermione." Andy raised his fruit tea and clinked it against Hermione's.

"Thank you!"

Hermione took a sip of fruit tea and asked curiously, "How did you find that Secret Passage?"

"George and Fred found it," Andy said.

Hermione looked at Andy strangely. Why did he blame everything on George and Fred?

"Did they offend you or something?"

"It really was them!" Andy waved for Hermione to lean closer. "I traded Professor Snape's secret for it."

Hermione asked doubtfully, "What secret does Professor Snape have?"

"Well... it concerns Professor Snape's reputation, so you can't tell anyone else," Andy said seriously.

Hermione immediately promised, "I'll definitely keep it secret."

"Professor Snape was in Slytherin. When he was at school, it was the height of Voldemort's power."

Andy lowered his voice. "Apparently, Snape once tried to recruit a Gryffindor girl into the Death Eaters, hoping to divide Gryffindor."

"Ah?"

Hermione gasped softly. "You're saying Professor Snape was—a Death Eater?"

"Probably not?"

Andy spread his hands. "Dumbledore wouldn't let a Death Eater teach at Hogwarts!"

"That's true!"

Hermione nodded. "Maybe Professor Snape turned over a new leaf in the end. Perhaps that Gryffindor girl changed him."

"He's single!" Andy struck straight at the heart of the matter.

"Maybe they just didn't end up together," Hermione guessed.

"Fair enough!"

Andy scoffed, "What girl would like Snape? Just look at him, then look at his hair—I'd bet Professor Snape washes it once a month at most."

"How can you talk about a professor like that!"

Hermione rolled her eyes at Andy, then said, "I'm guessing once every six months."

"Isn't that way too long?" Andy put on an exaggerated expression.

As they laughed and chatted, time flew by.

Although Hogsmeade had quite a few shops, the only ones suitable for Little Wizards were Zonko's Joke Shop and Honeydukes Sweetshop.

Andy took Hermione to buy plenty of sweets and Zonko's joke products.

All the sweets here had been enchanted, producing plenty of amusing effects after being eaten. Zonko's joke products were also quite interesting, all sorts of little items meant for pranks.

Honeydukes Sweetshop.

"Hermione, let's head back. It's almost two o'clock." Andy winked at Hermione.

Hermione immediately understood.

The two found a corner in Honeydukes Sweetshop, and Andy cast the Disillusionment Charm to conceal them both.

While Mr. Flume was not paying attention, Andy and Hermione quickly slipped into the cellar and returned to Hogwarts through the Secret Passage.

"Hogsmeade is pretty fun."

Hermione said reluctantly, "Andy, what is your village like?"

"Ours?"

Andy thought for a moment and said, "St. Catchpole Village doesn't have that many shops, but there's a forest near the village. Quite a few Magical Creatures live there."

"Come to think of it, if we get the chance someday, take me to the Muggle world for fun!"

Hermione nodded. "Sure! There are lots of fun places in the Muggle world too. I can take you to an Amusement Park."

As they spoke, the two arrived at the Transfiguration classroom.

Ravenclaw had a Transfiguration Class and a Defense Against the Dark Arts Class that afternoon, followed by a History of Magic class that evening.

Other than History of Magic, they were all classes Andy rather liked.

Ravenclaw's Transfiguration Class was held together with Gryffindor. So when Andy entered the classroom, he saw Ron waggling his eyebrows at him.

"You find a seat first."

Andy said this to Hermione, then walked over to Ron and Harry. "Ron, what is it?"

Ron lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Andy, do you remember that thing?"

"What?" Andy was taken aback.

Ron mouthed, "Malfoy."

Andy: "..."

"You beat him up?" Andy asked.

Ron and Harry nodded together. Ron said, "We wanted to ask you to come with us, but you left too quickly. We couldn't find you anywhere."

Andy breathed a sigh of relief. Good thing he had run off quickly back then.

"Uh, nothing major happened, right?" Andy made sure.

"No!"

Harry shook his head. "We just wanted to teach him a lesson. We didn't mean to hit him too hard."

"Then why did you find me...?" Andy frowned.

Ron said excitedly, "We were just letting you know. This was a joint plan between the three of us!"

Well, thanks for that.

"That was the two of you acting."

Andy sighed, then waved a hand. "I'm off!"