Madam Snape

The twins: "Pretty." ×2

Draco: "Now this is art."

Oren rolled his eyes at the twins. "Draco's right. This is fucking art."

"Tut, tut, tut." Malfoy sighed. "Never thought Potter could turn into a redhead."

Oren said, "I never thought this potion could activate hidden traits either. This painting is one of my finest works. I call it Hana Lisa's Smile."

Draco turned back and said seriously, "Give me that painting, and we'll call it even."

"I can only give you a copy."

"Fine!"

Oren cleared himself of suspicion, Draco got the painting, the twins got Galleons and no longer had to clean the bathroom until graduation. A nobody-gets-hurt ending had been achieved.

Harry???

Back at Gryffindor Tower, the trio was still brainstorming in a corner of the common room.

Hermione asked, "What were you doing, Oren?"

"I ran into Draco, turned him into Miss Malfoy, and painted an oil portrait of him while I was at it."

Harry instantly perked up. "Quick, Oren, let me see it!"

Ron was also staring at Oren with shining eyes.

Oren pulled out the painting. "Not bad, right? Friendship price: ten Galleons per copy."

Bang! Harry slapped down ten large coins. "I'll take one!"

For some time afterward, Hogwarts was bursting with life. There was Peeves with unlimited firepower, the Bloody Baron transformed into a ghost hunter and crazily pursuing Peeves, as well as a mysterious Dungbomb arms dealer and the shadowy Heir of Slytherin.

But most young wizards believed that Harry, the Parseltongue speaker, was the heir to the Chamber of Secrets.

"Harry's infamous again," Oren said with some emotion.

Hermione shot him an unhappy look. "What do you mean, again?"

Oren reminded her, "Don't tell me you forgot. Last year, when you guys wiped out Gryffindor's House points. Too bad this time only Harry's getting infamous."

Harry...

"No, I have to find Justin. I have to explain things to him."

"Good luck." Oren shrugged. "I'm going to find Headmaster Dumbledore first."

Inside the Headmaster's Office, Harry cautiously walked in. After scanning the room and finding that Dumbledore was absent, he picked up the Sorting Hat from a shelf.

Harry said, "Sorting Hat, there are some things I want to ask you."

"You want to know about the sorting?" The Sorting Hat grinned widely. "I still stand by what I said before. You should have gone to Slytherin."

Creak. A chair scraped against the floor. The chair that had been facing away from the door turned around, its high back having kept Harry from noticing that Oren had been there the whole time.

Oren and Harry stared wide-eyed at each other for a while. Harry hurriedly tried to explain, "I wasn't... I didn't... Oren, you heard wrong just now."

Oren rolled his eyes. "You almost got sorted into Slytherin. It's not a big deal."

"Back then, I almost got sorted into Slytherin too. I think that old hat sees everyone as Slytherin. Dumbledore should really throw it out and get a new one."

Harry asked somewhat doubtfully, "Is that really true?"

"Of course. Harry, how could you possibly be Slytherin? Look at yourself. I've never seen anyone more recklessly thickheaded than you. Gryffindor needs talent like you."

Harry...

"But why did you come to the Headmaster's Office?"

"Ugh..." Harry sighed. "Don't mention it. Justin and Nearly Headless Nick were petrified together."

"Is that so?" Oren sat in the Headmaster's chair, resting his chin on the backs of his hands. "He may have had a bit of a conflict with you, but that doesn't prove anything."

"Oren, you don't understand. Before he was petrified, I asked his classmate where he was. I only wanted to explain what happened at the Dueling Club that day."

Oren...

"Harry, you should just turn yourself in. There's no room left for... defense."

"Ugh..." Harry slumped into the chair opposite Oren as if resigned to his fate, idly observing the Headmaster's Office.

"Ugly, isn't it?" Oren followed Harry's gaze toward Fawkes the phoenix. "That's the Headmaster's turkey."

Fawkes struggled to lift his head and cried out at Oren in displeasure. It was hard on him too. At that moment, Fawkes looked sickly, with barely a few feathers left on his body.

"Fine, fine, it's Headmaster Dumbledore's phoenix. Harry, don't be fooled by how it looks like it's about to breathe its last."

"Actually, it is about to breathe its last. Of course, a phoenix won't die. It'll just be reborn and become a fine fellow again... a fine bird."

Harry...

Perhaps Oren had angered it to death. Fawkes, who could have held on for a while longer, directly transformed into a ball of fire.

A chick crawled out from the ashes left behind by the flames. The little chick glared fiercely at Oren.

The door to the Headmaster's Office was pushed open. When Dumbledore saw Oren, the corner of his mouth twitched. He walked over and hauled him out of the Headmaster's chair.

Oren patted Harry on the shoulder. "Don't worry. Headmaster Dumbledore won't suspect you. He'll clear your name."

"Even if it were Coal Ball, Headmaster Dumbledore could whitewash him. I'm gonna make myself scarce."

Dumbledore... I'm still here.

Walking out of the Headmaster's Office, Oren muttered, "Ugh... Time for Snape's little Potions lesson again."

Feeling the potion bottle in his pocket, he suddenly had a bold idea.

When he arrived at Snape's office, his dear old professor was tinkering with a cauldron.

"The potion you mentioned is complete." Snape's calm voice came through. "It can only preserve the body from aging. Its effect on extending one's lifespan is extremely limited."

"Just as expected of you, Professor Snape."

Oren took the potion formula, then quietly pulled a capsule from his pocket, broke it open, and sprinkled all the powder inside into Snape's teacup.

"Here, Professor, have some tea." Oren handed the cup to Snape with excessive eagerness.

Snape glanced at him with his emotionless dead-fish eyes, took the tea, and drank it in one gulp.

"There are still some areas that can be improved..."

Snape!!!

His clever CPU ran at high speed for half a second before he figured out the change in his voice.

He glared at Oren, his eyes practically glowing red.

Click. The shutter sounded, accompanied by Oren's muttering. "Too careless. I forgot to turn off the flash."

Snape shot to his feet and charged at Oren. Oren reacted just as quickly, darting out the office door at top speed.

"Calm down! Professor Snape, calm down!" Oren shouted from outside the door. "There are lots of people outside. The moment you step through this door, your image at Hogwarts will be completely ruined from now on."

"But I have to say, Professor Snape, your female version... mm... you really are quite charming."

Feeling that was about enough, Oren knew that if he provoked the old bat any further, Snape would come charging out to hunt him down. He swiftly ran back to Gryffindor Tower.

"Oren, Harry was taken to the Headmaster's Office. How is he now?" Ron asked anxiously.

"He's fine. Headmaster Dumbledore won't suspect Harry. Right now, the old Headmaster is probably worrying over how to clear this up."

Oren took out his painting supplies and got to work.

"Who is this? Hiss..." The young witch sucked in a sharp breath.

Fred walked over. "Oren, want to come with us and pickpocket a Niffler... Holy shit, are you trying to get yourself killed?"

George said, "We're outta here."

Oren glanced at them speechlessly. Did they not understand that fortune was found in danger? He dared say that even at fifty Galleons per portrait, people would buy a painting of Madam Snape.