Bargaining (2)

The philosophy in those words was nothing an eleven-year-old should have been capable of saying.

Snape looked at Vaughn and suddenly began to doubt his earlier thoughts.

Vaughn saw his hesitation and asked, "Professor, is there something you want me to do?"

Looking at that smiling face, Snape somehow found himself thinking of Dumbledore—that old man always smiled at him like that too.

In fact, from the moment Vaughn had arrived at the Quidditch Pitch and seen the Gryffindors, he had known what Snape wanted. This ancient shut-in only ever left his Basement voluntarily when it came to Harry, to watch what he considered a "stupid sport"!

Sure enough, after maintaining his cold and aloof persona for a while, Snape dryly asked, "What do you think of Potter's Quidditch skills?"

"Very good." Vaughn looked up at the Little Lions, who had already begun training. Harry's thin figure darted rapidly through the wind and rain.

He looked at Snape and said mischievously, "Everyone says Harry inherited his Dad's talent. Gryffindor believes no Seeker from any other house team can match Harry."

Crunch!

Vaughn seemed to hear the sound of teeth grinding.

He saw Snape clench his fists, and powerful emotions surfaced in those pitch-black eyes for the first time in a long while.

It was impossible to tell whether it was reminiscence or hatred.

But clearly, he no longer beat around the bush. "Vaughn Weasley, if I have you join the Slytherin Team, can you defeat him?"

Vaughn showed just the right amount of surprise. "Professor, why? You know Harry and I are friends, and I don't really like Quidditch."

"Hmph, friends... You only need to tell me whether you can do it."

"Well... I probably can."

Vaughn wore an expression of confidence and innocence. "But Professor, I have a lot to do. Especially experimenting with Medicinal Material—it not only takes up a great deal of my time, but also requires a lot of money. I still have to brew potions to earn money..."

"I'll provide the materials!"

Snape practically forced those words out through gritted teeth.

"I also need to keep up with my studies. You know I love learning, and my daily homework takes up a lot of time..."

"I will speak with Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick." Snape's expression grew colder still. "Given your level in Transfiguration and Charms, I believe they will cancel your assignments, including those for my Potions Class! But you cannot skip assignments from your other classes."

"That would be wonderful." Vaughn's expression brightened as he continued, "Also, I noticed that aside from Obliviate, the books you gave me this time didn't contain any memory Magic, such as Legilimency..."

Snape's face had turned iron-blue.

He was now certain that this Weasley before him had a personality every bit as vile as Dumbledore's!

Insatiable greed, refusing to let up once he had the upper hand!

Absolutely detestable!

But after taking several deep breaths, he still dryly said, "Next Summer Vacation, I will mail you a book... Don't push your luck too far, Weasley!"

Vaughn was still unsatisfied. Such a wonderful opportunity for extortion...

Unfortunately, judging by Snape's expression, these demands had already reached his limit.

Still, he made one more request. "I want the Slytherin Team to change captains. Marcus Flint is an idiot."

Snape had instinctively been about to flick his robes and leave.

But after carefully recalling Marcus Flint—that tall, burly fellow who looked like a gorilla, with well-developed limbs and decent athletic ability, but an unknown composition of brain matter.

He was even stupider than a Troll.

Snape suddenly felt that Vaughn's request did not seem unreasonable.

He had no choice but to ask dryly once more, "Do you have someone in mind?"

Vaughn's expression was hard to describe. "No..."

By the time the two of them, having settled the terms, left the Quidditch Pitch beneath the wind and rain, they still had not found anyone who could replace Flint. Vaughn himself was definitely impossible; no matter how much Snape wanted to strike at Harry, he would not ask Vaughn to waste too much time on Quidditch.

Still troubled over a candidate, Vaughn sighed to Snape before they parted.

"Professor, could the house recruit a few more normal people next year? The standards aren't high. A little brainpower would be enough."

Snape: "..."

Two mornings later, while gracing Gryffindor with his presence, Vaughn received a package delivered by an Owl.

At the time, he was eating with the Trio.

Though Vaughn had spent all his energy these past few days learning new spells and potions, he knew Harry's movements like the back of his hand.

One member of the Trio was his brother, while another was his Secret Agent.

Harry was also famously loose-lipped, nicknamed "Wide-Mouthed Jar."

Even though Vaughn had never actively paid attention, he still knew Harry was investigating the little package Hagrid had taken from Gringotts.

They had even found the room where Fluffy was kept.

That had happened one night over two weeks ago.

On the last day of Harry's detention, Ron and Hermione had gone to meet him, only to run into Mrs. Norris and Peeves on the way.

Ever since Vaughn had taught Peeves a lesson, then taught Hermione the Magic that could deal with him, Peeves, feeling outnumbered and alone, had begun forming an alliance with Filch.

Or so he thought.

In reality, he had begun acting together with Mrs. Norris. He was responsible for passing through walls and leaping over obstacles to find Young Wizards wandering the castle at night.

Mrs. Norris was responsible for fetching Filch.

Enemies meeting were especially hostile. Peeves feared Vaughn, but he was not afraid of the Trio at all. He shouted and screamed through the corridors, working with Mrs. Norris to chase the Trio all the way to the Fourth Floor and drive them into a room.

"You're dead! The three-headed dog will definitely bite you to death!"

Peeves gleefully rolled around in midair.

The Trio saw the Three-Headed Dog in that room, and Hermione also Noticed a Trapdoor beneath its paws.

"That package Hagrid took must be hidden beneath the Trapdoor."

Harry had sworn this to Vaughn yesterday. "It belongs to Dumbledore, so it must be very important. Too bad we don't know what it is."

So Vaughn mischievously egged him on. "Why not just ask Hagrid directly?"

Having spent some time around the school, Harry was much more confident now and no longer as shy as before. He questioned, "Hagrid is very tight-lipped. He won't tell me."

"Not necessarily. Just tell him you saw the Three-Headed Dog."

So early that morning, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had eagerly come to find Vaughn. "How did you know Hagrid would reveal something if we said that?"

Vaughn merely smiled without answering.

Where do you think Harry learned to be so loose-lipped?

"Hagrid said that Three-Headed Dog is called Fluffy. He lent it to Dumbledore to guard something."

Harry paused to catch his breath, and Ron continued, "It has something to do with Nicolas Flamel."

Hermione spoke last. "I'm sure I've seen that name before, but no matter how hard I think, I can't remember it. I looked through materials last night and found nothing. Vaughn, do you know?"

All three of them looked at Vaughn expectantly.