Snape's cold expression hadn't completely faded, but he didn't interrupt the Gori.
"And your paper on the alternative use of moonstone in Draught of Peace, I read it after I woke up from my slumber, and at that time I felt that the wizard who wrote this paper had a limitless future."
The Gori says, "I tilted my head slightly, and now that I see you in person, you certainly haven't disappointed me."
Snape snorted, but the snort was much shorter than the one before.
Although the corners of his mouth were still turned down, the taut lines between his brows relaxed slightly.
Herman observed all of this silently from behind Snape, and thought to himself, "No wonder he's an old guy who's lived for hundreds of years. His art of language is even more skillful than Snape's Potions."
After a barrage of compliments, even Snape's perpetually cold face softened.
After all, you can't hit a smiling face, especially when that smiling face specifically mentioned his professional achievements. If you just brag, it's easy to make people feel disgusted, but if you flatter him on the right spot, anyone would feel pleased. There aren't many saints.
Snape didn't respond to the Gori's lyrics, but he also didn't continue with his sarcastic remarks.
At this moment, Gori turned her head, her gaze passing over Snape's shoulder and landing on Herman behind her.
His gaze lingered on Herman's face for a moment, and a slight smile played at the corners of his lips.
The curve was slightly larger than before, just enough for Herman to see clearly, which made Herman's heart skip a beat.
"This must be a Slytherin House student," the Gori said, its tone gentle and casual. "To be personally mentored by the Headmaster, he must be one of the most outstanding young wizards."
Herman looked at the pale face before him and dared not say a word.
The smile in his eyes Gori told him that the other person hadn't forgotten him.
The emphasis in the phrase "must be the best little wizard" fell on the word "best," and Herman immediately understood that the Gori must be planning something; the lack of action now simply meant the time wasn't right.
Snape scoffed.
This time it wasn't directed at the Gori, but entirely at Herman personally. "Excellent? He's barely not a fool."
Herman silently endured the blow.
After being habitually belittled by Snape, he actually felt relieved. At least Snape didn't think he was an idiot and wouldn't just bury him anywhere.
Snape steered the conversation back to business, his tone reverting to its usual businesslike indifference. "The Headmaster has instructed me to open Slytherin's underground laboratory, to allow Assistant Professor Gori to stay there temporarily, and to hand over the key to Quirrell."
He paused after the word "ground" and temporarily changed "dungeon" to "laboratory".
That change of address was very unnatural; Herman noticed it, Quirrell noticed it, and the Gori probably also reflected it.
Quirrell quickly stepped forward and explained to Gori, "This used to be the laboratory of Slytherin, the school's Founders, where he conducted research. The headmaster, considering that Professor Gori doesn't like being disturbed, specially found this place for you to live."
Gori glanced at the dark interior of the passage in the distance, and his nostrils twitched slightly.
His sense of smell was clearly much more sensitive than that of humans; he was able to detect the lingering scents in the air.
He tilted his head slightly, as if savoring something, and then said, "This lab seems to have housed quite a few Fantastic Beasts, and even people. There's a smell of aged blood."
His tone carried a hint of a smile, as if he were commenting on a fine vintage wine.
Quirrell gave an awkward laugh, the corners of his mouth slightly stiff, and didn't respond to the conversation.
It's an unspoken understanding; the Gori also conveys that Dumbledore wouldn't allow him to move around freely at Hogwarts.
During the day, I have to follow Quirrell; at night, I'll be locked up here.
The word Snape changed to on the spot should be "dungeon".
Herman stood behind Snape, looking at the ambiguous smile on Snape's face in the Gori, secretly glad that Snape was there today.
Snape was getting impatient by this point.
He took out his wand, waved it in Quirrell's direction, and chanted a series of low, rapid incantations.
Suddenly, patterns lit up on the walls on both sides of the passage.
The patterns seemed to emerge from within the stone bricks, radiating a dark red light and extending to both sides along the direction of the wall.
Two large snakes emerged from the wall, their bodies thick and their scales gleaming with a dark metallic sheen in the light.
They wriggled and slithered out from the depths of the wall, raising their heads and staring at Quirrell with two pairs of red eyes.
The hoarse hissing of snakes echoed in the narrow corridor, like the sound of stones rubbing against stones.
"Alright, the guardian serpent here recognizes you." Snape retracted his wand, his tone flat. "You may open this door."
He paused for a moment, then turned to look at the Gori.
That turn of the head was very slow, every angle carrying a deliberate composure.
Snape's gaze fell on the pale face in the Gori, his black eyes like two unsheathed swords.
"There's one more thing."
He spoke each word carefully, as if squeezing them out from between his teeth. His voice was not loud, but every syllable carried an unmistakable weight.
"I don't care what your purpose is in coming to Hogwarts, but if you dare to lay a finger on any of the Slytherin students, whether Dumbledore or male, I will make you regret that Vampire can live so long."
As the last word fell, Snape twirled his wand between his fingers, the tip drawing a faint arc in the air, before he tucked it back into his sleeve.
He turned around and strode towards the other end of the corridor.
Herman quickly followed, walking much faster than before.
His boots stomped rapidly on the floor, their sound overlapping with Snape's footsteps, echoing in the empty corridor.
As he walked, Herman pondered Snape's words.
What does it mean to be Slytherin student? And why specifically emphasize female students?
Are male students not human?
Professor, could you narrow down the scope a bit more? How about just focusing on Harry? That would be more acceptable to me.
You're likely to be accused of double standards now.
However, he only dared to think these words in his heart, and didn't utter a single word out.
In the Gori, he stood still, watching Snape and Herman's figures gradually disappear into the distance.
His gaze fell on Herman's figure as he quickly left with Snape, and that smile reappeared on his lips.
"Almost there," he said to himself. "Everything is going very smoothly."
Quirrell didn't think much of it. He gestured "please" to the Gori, his tone returning to its usual gentleness. "Let me show you around the lab. Although, I've never been here before either."