"Um... respected Professor, we won't bother you while you enjoy a leisurely stroll near your home. We'll take our leave now. Have a wonderful day!"
Adelaide spoke at a rapid pace while hurriedly grabbing Hermione's hand, turning around to make a run for it.
However, she had only taken two steps before Snape blocked her path.
With a gloomy expression, he said tonelessly, "Adelaide, I haven't heard your explanation for why you're here—shouldn't you be keeping watch near the Potter boy?"
Faced with Professor Snape's sudden questioning, Adelaide was momentarily stunned, then reached out to scratch her head.
It was then that Adelaide realized she might have truly misunderstood Snape; from his expression and words, he clearly had no idea that Harry Potter was nearby.
After hesitating for a moment, Adelaide decided it would be better to tell the truth.
So she spoke up, "It's like this: the Dursleys are adamantly opposed to Harry Potter attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. To avoid the admission letters sent by Headmaster Dumbledore, they've fled all the way here with Harry Potter and are staying in that hotel just ahead."
After hearing Adelaide's words, Professor Snape's already gloomy expression instantly became even more unsightly.
His brows furrowed deeply, and his lips were pressed into a tight line, as if he were doing his best to suppress a surging inner rage.
Then, as if trying to shake off something disgusting, Snape violently flicked the sleeve of his black robe while retorting in a tone full of loathing and contempt, "You mean to say the Potter boy and that family of idiotic Muggles are all in Cokeworth right now?"
Adelaide nodded and said, "Yes."
"Heh!"
Snape's face, already so gloomy it could drip water, slightly contorted with anger, yet his mouth curled up into an eerie, hair-raising smile.
"They... she actually has the gall to return to Cokeworth, and even brought that Potter boy along... Grindelwald, I want you to drive them out of Cokeworth immediately."
Hearing Snape say this, Hermione couldn't help but frown. Being clever, she had already figured out the identity of the man in the black robe—he must be a Professor at Hogwarts.
What shocked Hermione was that this Professor's attitude toward Muggles was so atrocious; the gap between him and Professor McGonagall or Mr. Weasley, whom she had met before, was far too large!
Standing beside Hermione, Adelaide noticed the change in her expression. She discreetly gave Hermione's hand a gentle squeeze, signaling her not to act rashly.
Then, Adelaide looked at Snape with a troubled expression and spoke cautiously, "Professor Snape, Headmaster Dumbledore instructed me to follow and monitor The Dursley Family—it might be inappropriate for you to suddenly demand their expulsion, wouldn't it?"
At those words, Snape suddenly lowered his head, his eyes as cold and piercing as ice, glaring straight at Adelaide.
"Of course, if I see the Professor's sincerity in wanting the Dursleys to leave Cokeworth, then as your student, I will certainly help."
Facing Snape's death stare, Adelaide didn't back down at all. Instead, with a polite smile on her face, she met his gaze without flinching.
The two remained at a standstill, neither willing to yield.
Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense and Hermione was considering whether to run and call Mr. Weasley for backup, Snape suddenly gave a cold snort, turned around, and dropped a sentence: "Follow me."
Then, without caring if Adelaide and Hermione were following, he strode deep into Spinners End.
Adelaide slightly raised her slender, delicate eyebrows; she knew she had won.
In truth, even if she did nothing, the Dursleys would leave Cokeworth in a hurry tomorrow after receiving Harry's admission letter—the reason she said that just now was to see if she could get something good for free from the Potions Master, Snape.
Adelaide held Hermione's slightly trembling hand and jogged after Snape.
There were also three Wizengamot guards protecting her in the shadows. Coupled with the fact that Snape himself harbored a deep hatred for Lord Voldemort for killing his white moonlight, Adelaide wasn't worried about her safety.
Before long, they arrived at Snape's residence at the end of Spinners End, a solitary, old two-story house.
When Snape pushed open the somewhat decayed wooden door, a stale, damp scent wafted toward them.
Adelaide followed him inside. The first thing she saw was a dim little living room furnished with some worn-out furniture, still in a 1960s decor style.
An oil lamp flickering with dim yellow candlelight hung from the ceiling, swaying gently in the breeze, making the entire space feel even more eerie and sinister.
The walls around the living room were occupied by densely packed books, stacked layer upon layer with almost no gaps left.
Since the room itself was very narrow and dark, the wall-to-wall books made one feel an involuntary sense of oppression upon entering, as if being in a cage.
"Don't touch anything here. Stay exactly where you are and wait for me to return. If any accident happens and you lose your life, you can't blame anyone else."
After dropping these words, Snape stepped onto the narrow staircase leading to the second floor, his footsteps heavy and hurried, as if he were eager to get an important item.
Adelaide knew well that the home of Snape, a Potions Master and expert in the Dark Arts, was bound to hide many unknown dangerous mechanisms and anti-theft traps. A single misstep could lead to eternal damnation.
Thus, she held Hermione's hand firmly. The two of them stood quietly in place, their eyes fixed on Snape's back as he disappeared around the corner of the stairs, as well-behaved as two gentle lambs.
After a short while, a slight sound of footsteps came from the stairs. Snape walked down expressionlessly and handed Adelaide a small, exquisite glass bottle.
Inside the bottle was a bit of golden liquid, like a stream reflecting sunlight, shimmering with an enchanting glow.
"This is Felix Felicis, brewed by my own hand. I presume I don't need to explain its effects; you should know them well. Expel the Potter boy and that family of Muggles as quickly as possible, understood?"
Adelaide's eyes widened, her face filled with undisguised surprise. She carefully took the small bottle as if she were holding the most precious treasure in the world.
In her eyes, Professor Snape, who usually seemed stern, rigid, and even a bit fearsome, instantly transformed into an incredibly kind and dear person.
Even his hair, which was always greasy, didn't seem so repulsive anymore; instead, it exuded a unique charm.
To be able to give away a priceless treasure like Felix Felicis so casually—as expected of a Potions Master, he was truly generous!
She hurriedly patted her chest and promised, "Dear Professor Snape, please rest assured. I will definitely have The Dursley Family out of Cokeworth before noon tomorrow!"
Hearing the phrase "Dear Professor" from Adelaide's mouth, Snape suddenly felt an indescribable sense of discomfort.
He furrowed his brows, suppressing the urge to vomit, and waved his hand impatiently, telling Adelaide to take her Muggle-born little girlfriend and leave his house at once.
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