The Old Bat's Nemesis

"Veritaserum?!" Everyone's eyes widened.

"What's wrong with Sean?" Hermione asked anxiously, clutching Harry's robe.

Harry put away the Invisibility Cloak and said, "I didn't dare get too close. I only heard a few vague things, but it sounded like the explosion in the Common Room was caused by Sean. The Guard Corps suffered heavy losses. The man we saw being carried out by the healers earlier was their captain."

"How could this happen..." Daisy covered her mouth.

Hermione pursed her lips, her brows furrowing. "Sean didn't tell us... but if he really caused this much damage, he wouldn't be allowed to stay at school, and Professor McGonagall just helped him out... that's enough to prove he wasn't the one who caused this... but why was Sean given the Veritaserum...?"

Daisy seemed to recall some unpleasant memory. Her face paled slightly, and she bit her lip as she spoke slowly, "Could it be that Sean's memories were also altered? He might have done something under control, which led the Guard Corps to trace it back to him, and then the memory switch was triggered, causing what happened next?"

Her memories were also altered.

Hermione grasped Daisy's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "It's possible. The people and things Sean has been in lately are beyond our imagination, but judging from Professor McGonagall's attitude, it shouldn't be a big problem..."

As she spoke, her pupils suddenly contracted, and she pulled Daisy to another corner and whispered, "We're doomed. Even if Sean has nothing to do with tonight's incident, he's still an illegal Animagus, and the pets he keeps in the box are all of danger levels xxxx and xxxxx!"

Daisy realized what was happening and said anxiously, "What are we going to do? Just the illegal Animagus will get us taken to the Ministry of Magic... No, I have to write to Dad. He's still in the Ministry of Magic and can still say something..."

"This is probably beyond Mr. Potter's ability to handle," Hermione said in a low voice. "The Guard Corps are after Sean, and if they find something on him, things will get complicated..."

The two whispered for a while but still couldn't come up with a solution. Harry, growing impatient, called out from behind, "What do we do? That old bat Snape is coming!"

"Huh?" Hermione turned her head sharply. "Professor Snape?"

"Yes, the Guard Corps outside were ordered to go to Hogwarts to fetch Snape. You can imagine, they must have gone to him to get the Veritaserum."

"Why didn't you say so earlier!" Hermione didn't even say goodbye, and grabbed Daisy as they ran away.

"Huh?" Harry scratched his head, puzzled, when Hermione pulled Daisy back and took the Invisibility Cloak.

"Harry, can I borrow this room?"

"Hermione?" The Little White Flower was led around in a daze, her face full of confusion.

Hermione grabbed her hand and ran towards the castle gate. Two Guard Corps stood watch at the gate. She stopped in a corner and looked at Daisy.

"Daisy, listen, Hogwarts and Newmontgard are thousands of miles apart. Professor Snape will have to use the Portkey to get here, but Newmontgard is protected by magic just like Hogwarts. The Portkey network access is still in Grindelwald's hands, so the Portkey flashing point must still be at the main entrance on the outside."

She placed her hands on Daisy's slightly panting shoulders and said earnestly, "Professor Snape has been treating you well! You have to persuade him to switch the Veritaserum so that you can save Sean!"

Daisy's swan-like neck twitched slightly. She had always been clever and naturally knew that the cold and gloomy Professor Snape at school was different when he was with her.

Although she didn't know the specific reason, she could guess that it was related to her parents— Professor Snape looked at her in the same way Uncle Big Black Dog and Uncle Lupin looked at her, and even in the way her father doted on her.

Although he always moves away immediately.

Thinking of this, Little White Flower nodded earnestly. "I will!"

"Okay, they're heavily guarding the area now. The Invisibility Cloak alone probably won't be enough to get past those two. My Disillusionment Charm isn't as good as Sean's; it's easy to see through. Besides, the Invisibility Cloak still makes noise, so I'll go to the other side to distract them!" Hermione said quickly.

"You need to be careful, Hermione."

"It's alright." Hermione shone the Invisibility Cloak onto Daisy, then ran off.

Daisy, who was hiding in place, soon heard a huge explosion coming from the corridor to the right of the door.

The two guards exchanged a glance, and one of them carefully raised his wand and walked over.

Then another explosion was heard, and the remaining guards couldn't help but turn their gazes in that direction.

Daisy quickly slipped out at the opportune moment, while Hermione's tearful voice drifted over. "Waaaaah, I don't know why, my wand suddenly stopped working..."

Wearing Invisibility Cloak, Daisy ran across the square as fast as she could. Panting, she reached the outermost gate and found a corner to crouch down.

The temperature difference between day and night in the mountains is extreme, and the night rain is bone-chillingly cold. Daisy was still wearing her pajamas, and the Invisibility Cloak did not have any warming function. Fearing being discovered, she dared not use any spells to keep warm.

The Little White Flower stood there, trembling, waiting for the person to arrive.

Just as she felt her limbs were about to freeze, the space at the main entrance distorted, a candlestick fell to the ground, and a long-haired man with a gloomy face and wearing a huge black robe walked steadily down from the air.

Beside him was a male wizard dressed in Guard Corps.

"Mr. Snape, I hope you can ensure that the Veritaserum is truly effective. I've heard of your reputation; I've heard that there's an enhanced version of the Veritaserum now, isn't it? Stronger and longer-lasting—"

Snape, who had been striding briskly inside, suddenly stopped. He turned to look at the man, his face grim and cold. "I never produce counterfeit Potions, and besides, please don't try to teach me how to do things, sir—"

The man chuckled. He had originally intended to use the title of Minister for Magic to intimidate the other party, but the gloomy expression of the man made him give up on the idea.

Daisy blinked anxiously twice in her beautiful dark green eyes; she hadn't expected there to be other people around.

The Little White Flower was so anxious that it wanted to spin around in place, just as Snape was about to walk past.

"Professor..." In her haste, she managed to utter a small voice, which was somewhat hoarse from the night rain.

However, the two did not notice this commotion and continued to walk inside.

What to do, what to do...

Just as she was about to speak, Snape suddenly and silently fell two steps behind, and his wand slipped from the tip.

The pale silver Imperio "Imperio" struck the unsuspecting Guard Corps, leaving him stunned.

Snape turned around expressionlessly and pointed his wand at Daisy's location.

"Sneaking out of the castle in the middle of the night, I'm right, you and your father are equally keen on breaking the rules and taking pride in it, no matter where you are," Snape's expression turned disgusted and cold. "If you can't give me a reasonable explanation, I think the harsh punishments of Newmontgard might teach you to restrain yourself, Potter— "

"I'm sorry, Professor..." Daisy pursed her lips and removed the Invisibility Cloak, revealing her head in mid-air, her beautiful face showing a hint of grievance.

"Daisy ..." Snape was shocked. The look of disgust on his face vanished instantly, and the tip of his staff, which had been steady, swayed up and down. He looked somewhat at a loss.

Daisy didn't know why Professor Snape, who had always been kind to her, had suddenly become like this. She was both scared and worried, and her petite body, which had been soaked in the night rain, was trembling slightly.

"Professor, I'm sorry... I... I wanted to ask you for a favor... but I didn't know..." She sniffed because of the cold, and looked timid.

When Snape saw the girl's expression, his steps stiffened. He took a difficult step forward, his joints feeling like they were rusted, and his left hand, hidden under his robe, kept rubbing against himself.

"Don't cry..." He reached out his hand, then suddenly realized he was still holding the wand, and quickly put his hand behind his back.

"I didn't cry, Professor..." Daisy said anxiously, "I need your help. They want you to interrogate Sean with Veritaserum. Could you... could you..."

Snape remained expressionless, his lips pressed tightly together. He caught sight of Daisy's timid yet pleading dark green eyes, and he shifted uncomfortably.

Daisy was about to continue speaking when she saw Snape wave his wand, and a warm current instantly dispelled the chill in her body.

"I can assure you, Sean is not that kind of bad person. He, like you, is a very good and trustworthy person."

Snape unconsciously raised his head slightly.

"Professor?" she asked, looking at him expectantly.

Snape took a deep breath and then pulled out two crystal bottles.

Daisy recognized one of them; it was Nutrient Potion that she had drunk a lot of during the first semester. But she hadn't seen the other bottle before.

Snape uncorked the bottle and slowly poured the unknown pale silver potion into the Nutrient Potion, explaining in a calm tone, "It's an extract from the roots of Paleroot. This liquid can make Potions transparent and clear without any odor, and it won't destroy the efficacy of most Potions. The side effect is that the user will be prone to drowsiness within 24 hours—this stuff is usually used to disguise poisons."

Daisy opened her eyes wide and watched as the Nutrient Potion turned transparent and clear.

"It looks exactly like the Veritaserum." Snape said, then plugged the bottle, waved his wand, and a small note flew out of his inner pocket and stuck to the bottle.

The label originally read "Vomiting Potion," but now it reads "Veritaserum."

Daisy understood immediately. She smiled happily and said in a soft voice, "Thank you, Professor!"

Snape looked up and put the vial back in his pocket. In the inner pocket, unseen by anyone, another vial of clear potion lay quietly inside.

Then, expressionless, he handed over two bottles of medicine.

"Invigoration Draught, I'll drink a spoonful when I get back. Nutrient Potion, one spoonful before bed every night."

Daisy took the Potions and her smile widened.

The smile, like Little White Flower, was too dazzling. Snape awkwardly looked away and said in a muffled voice, "Don't catch a cold, and don't cause me any trouble."

"I will, Professor!"

Snape nodded. "Put on that damn Invisibility Cloak and come back with me, then go to sleep, or I'll put you in solitary confinement, understand?"

"Okay, Professor..." Daisy blinked, "But this is Newmontgard?"

Snape paused, then flicked his sleeve in annoyance. "I am your professor! Now, let's go."

"Oh~" Daisy's eyes curved into crescent moons.

Once Daisy's figure disappeared again, Snape waved his wand, and the Guard Corps members, who were standing there dumbfounded, shook their heads in confusion.

"Um, Mr. Snape?"

Snape gave a mocking smile, "Can't even the Guard Corps withstand the aftereffects of the Portkey's dizziness?"

The man paused, then gave an awkward laugh, "Perhaps the symptoms have worsened due to the frequent movement I've been making lately..."

"Let's go." Snape didn't reply, and the giant bat spread its wings and went inside.

The Guard Corps followed behind him, patting their heads in confusion.

Then he noticed that Snape was usually very fast, had slowed down considerably, so he no longer needed to keep up.

"It seems that Mr. Snape is quite kind after all..." he thought to himself.

Snape walked steadily into the castle, glanced back discreetly, and then, led by the others, strode quickly toward the vice- Headmaster's Office.

Entering the office, he gave everyone a gloomy look, his tone cold and sarcastic. "Can't the Guard Corps and Newmontgard even get a bottle of Veritaserum?"

Pont stepped forward. "Professor Snape, this is to put everyone's mind at ease. You brought the Veritaserum, didn't you? Oh, our Guard Corps will reimburse you for the cost of the Potions ingredients."

Snape pulled out a crystal vial containing a clear, transparent potion, with the words "Veritaserum" labeled on it.

Pont exchanged a glance with the wizard who brought Snape without showing any emotion. After receiving a "no problem" signal from the wizard, he stepped aside, revealing Sean sitting in the chair.

Sean stared stubbornly and aggrievedly at the potion in Snape's hand, his wand already slipped into his sleeve and pointed at his throat.

Snape poured out a few drops of liquid and said to Sean with a gloomy and annoyed expression, "Just three drops, and you'll reveal your deepest secret, Mr. Wallop. If you don't behave, I'll reward you with a few drops every now and then in your third-year classes. Maybe you can even give them to your disobedient friends, so your unruly first-year girlfriend won't have to come to me begging for mercy every time you get into trouble."

Pont's eyes lit up. Sure enough, Snape and this Wallerup didn't get along!

The reward... Sean, who was originally prepared to use the Transfiguration Veritaserum, suddenly realized that Snape was reminding him.

The reward, and I'm going to share it with my friend, my first-year girlfriend... Isn't this just like when Snape rewarded himself with Nutrient Potion in second-year Potions and then shared it with Daisy?

Besides, when did Daisy become my girlfriend...?

However, it seems that Snape ran into Daisy before he came in... Did the Little White Flower go to plead for me?

Now there's even less to worry about...