Dumbledore walked into the infirmary, shot Horatio—who was pretending to be sick in bed—a fierce glare, then went over to Harry's bedside, took his hands, and began telling him what had happened after he fainted.
Listening to Dumbledore talk Harry in circles, Horatio could not help but sigh. Experience really did count for something. If he had not been part of the plan, even he would have been moved by the old bee's heartfelt speech.
Dumbledore told Harry about the tangled history between his father and Snape, explaining that although Snape hated him, he would never harm him.
Horatio was discharged before Harry. After pretending to be ill for several days, he was like a monkey let out of its cage, joyfully running around Hogwarts to have some fun.
That day, Horatio was using the Philosopher's Stone to turn Gryffindor's wooden tables into Golden Tables when Daphne from Slytherin came looking for him. Ever since he had scared Daphne last time, she had generally gone out of her way to avoid him around the school.
"Horatio, Professor Snape wants you in his office," Daphne said to him with a trace of fear.
Horatio waved a hand. "Got it."
With that, he tapped the Philosopher's Stone against the Gryffindor table. The battered old table instantly began gleaming with golden light, drawing cries of surprise from the young Wizards nearby.
Horatio gazed at his masterpiece with satisfaction, then turned and found Daphne still standing there. He asked in confusion, "Is there something else?"
"Well, there's something I wanted to talk to you about," Daphne replied.
Horatio refused. "I have nothing to talk about with Pure-blood purists like you. You take your broad road, and I'll cross my single-plank bridge. As long as you don't provoke me, I can't be bothered with you."
"But..." Daphne had just begun to say something when Professor McGonagall's furious voice cut her off.
"Horatio!!! What have you done? Do you start itching all over if you go a day without causing trouble?" Professor McGonagall charged toward Horatio in a rage.
"Haha, Professor McGonagall, I just thought the table was too old and gave it a renovation. No need to thank me." Horatio turned and ran. "Professor Snape needs me, so I'm off!"
"Horatio!!!"
Professor McGonagall's roar echoed through the entire Great Hall. The young Wizards gave Horatio a thumbs-up. Only Horatio could push the dignified and steady Professor McGonagall to this point.
Horatio arrived outside Snape's office and pounded on the door. "Open up, water meter inspection."
There was no response from inside. A few question marks seemed to appear above Horatio's head. Was my C4 not powerful enough, or had Snape gotten too full of himself?
Just as Horatio was about to stick C4 onto the door, a beautiful woman opened it.
Horatio looked at the Stand User No. 2 he had made before. "I never thought you, Snape, you old closet pervert, would be into keeping dolls in a gilded cage. Let me make this clear: for this book's safety, I definitely didn't install that kind of function in it."
Snape said coldly, "I haven't done anything to it. I merely had it serve as my assistant."
"Oh, I get it." Horatio punched his left palm with his right fist. "Who would have thought a respectable-looking pervert like you wanted to play Japan's tricks?"
Snape said, "What games???"
Horatio said, "You know, the boss, the female subordinate, and her husband routine. Want me to make you an Alchemy Golem of James?"
Snape said, "Do you think I'm that kind of person?" He then tossed Horatio a bag.
Horatio opened it and saw that it was full of potions. He disdainfully handed it back to Snape. "You think this is enough to test an old cadre? What old cadre couldn't withstand a test like this?"
Snape's face immediately darkened, and he threw another bag at Horatio.
Horatio opened it and found all sorts of materials inside. "You really know how to read people. So, what kind of model do you need?"
"The rest isn't important. The main thing is that it has to be tough enough to take a beating, and withstand the abuse of potions and curses."
"It can be done, but the materials have to be forged from Orichalcum mixed with Mithril. With this little stuff of yours, it'll be hard for me to work."
After some haggling, Horatio and Snape reached an agreement.
"If I mixed Life-Death Flower, Sword-shaped Grass, and Dragon Blood together and brewed them, what would I get?" Snape suddenly asked.
"That depends on the proportions of the three ingredients. More Life-Death Flower makes it a poison, more Sword-shaped Grass makes it a treatment for osteoporosis, and more Dragon Blood makes it a tonic that strengthens the body," Horatio answered without even thinking.
Snape said in surprise, "It seems that head of yours, licked by a troll, isn't completely stupid after all."
Horatio flushed. When my potion talent was only six points, I let you call me stupid. But now I've raised it to eleven, and you still dare call me stupid? Then I'll have to turn up the pressure on you.
So Horatio turned the tables and asked, "Then do you know what you would get by mixing Nine-leaved Paris Herb, Winter Solstice Cicada Molting, and Year-Old Snow together and brewing them?"
Snape said, "I've never even heard of those ingredients. You didn't just make them up, did you?"
"Hmph. Two liang of Nine-leaved Paris Herb, one qian of Winter Solstice Cicada Molting, brewed with Year-Old Snow, can cure the pain of people who know each other yet long in vain." Horatio spoke meaningfully.
Snape fell silent. After a long time, he finally said, "I understand. I won't pursue the matter of you attacking me before. You may leave."
Horatio turned to go. When he reached the door, Snape suddenly asked, "You were behind that dream of mine, weren't you? If you faced those two choices, what would you choose?"
Horatio did not turn around. "Every difficult choice in this world comes from the person involved lacking the ability to choose both. My choice would be to take everything. Even if I smashed my head bloody, I would still give it everything I had."
Then Horatio walked out of the office, and a faint sigh seemed to drift out behind him.
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