His speculation about and search for the Chamber of Secrets served as a small diversion Vaughan had found for himself amid his busy life.
As for the new potion, all his preparations were complete. He was simply waiting for Professor Snape to find time to take him to see a werewolf.
Two days later, when Vaughan emerged from the Slytherin common room, fully dressed and ready, he saw Snape waiting for him in a dark corner of the corridor.
With that sinister, mysterious look, he seemed as though he were conducting some clandestine underground meeting.
"Professor, you should get some sun. It won't melt you."
"Shut—up!"
"Yes, Professor."
They went to the office together, where Snape handed him a pot of Floo Powder with a stern face.
"Go to Knockturn Alley. Don't say it wrong!"
Vaughan suddenly missed the reborn Fawkes. How convenient that had been—unlike Floo Powder, which left him covered in ash.
He grabbed a handful and stepped into the fireplace.
After following the standard procedure, he opened his eyes to find himself in a dark, narrow alley.
Unlike nearby Diagon Alley, the public fireplace here looked shabby and dilapidated. Numerous furtive figures lurked in the surrounding corners.
Whenever green flames surged up and someone appeared through the Floo network, they would pull their cloaks tight and hurry away without daring to linger.
Vaughan, however, did not care much. He brushed the ash from himself and waited for a while. Then the fireplace behind him flared to life.
But Snape did not come out immediately.
Vaughan saw him standing in the fireplace, discreetly waving his wand...
Vaughan called out with a smile, "Professor, are you secretly cleaning off the ash?"
Then Snape's gritted response came from inside the fireplace. "Shut! Up!"
Before long, Snape emerged looking clean and