Ron's Astonishing Gift for Prophecy

At Snape's answer, the narrow peephole in the door slowly slid shut, followed by the sound of a lock being opened from the other side.

About a minute later, the doors of Borgin and Burkes finally opened from within, revealing Borgin standing behind them, thin and hunched over.

"The Dark Lord is very displeased with you, Snape." Although Borgin stepped aside to let Snape in, he frowned and spoke with an indignant expression. "You'd better think about what you can report today. We all have serious doubts about your loyalty."

Snape said nothing. With a cold expression, he walked deeper into Borgin and Burkes.

At dinner that day, Harry received Sirius's reply.

The letter was brief. Sirius eagerly asked after Harry's physical and mental well-being and arranged to contact him through the Floo Network in the Gryffindor Common Room at seven thirty that evening.

Besides the letter, there was also a small square wooden box delivered with it, resembling a music box. It was only as large as Harry's palm and looked very old, yet it felt unexpectedly smooth and gleaming, like metal.

Sirius did not explicitly explain what the little box was. In the letter, he merely said in a mischievous, joking tone that it was a very, very interesting little Magical Item that could stop Snape from using private lessons as an excuse to torment Harry again.

Soon, Snape's second private lesson arrived. Just like the first session, nothing had changed. It was still dreadful, and there was no sign that things would improve in the future. On the contrary, Harry felt his condition getting worse and worse—

It made Harry feel as though he had returned to his fifth year.

Before learning Occlumency—or rather, ever since the battle at the Ministry of Magic last term—his scar had