Mysterious Walker at Hogwarts

"Dean, I heard that you have been very close to Quirrell recently?" After a while, Snape broke the awkward silence and asked.

"Nothing, except for the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, I have almost no chance to meet Professor Quirrell." Dean quickly denied.

"Really? I heard a few nights ago that Quirrell was alone with you for a long time." Snape said very slowly, every word full of suspicion.

"Professor, you misunderstood." Dean explained quickly, "I accidentally got lost that day and happened to meet Professor Quirrell. He kindly sent me back to the Gryffindor common room."

Snape stared into Dean's eyes for a long time, and for a time Dean mistakenly thought that he had invented a mind-reading spell that was more advanced than Legilimency, and even the system couldn't detect it.

Of course this was impossible, Snape didn't use any spells, he just wanted to stare into his eyes.

"Dean, I wonder if anyone has ever mentioned to you that your eyes are very beautiful." Snape suddenly said this uncontrollably.

"Never, I think it's just a normal shape, right?" Dean laughed twice, and silently added in his heart: Fortunately it's not green.

In other words, if Snape hadn't mentioned it, Dean wouldn't have realized the eye problem at all. Since he was growing up, he had only heard his mother say that he and Knightley's eyes looked exactly the same.

Snape coughed twice unnaturally and brought the topic back on track: "It would be best not to get too close to Quirrell. If he wants to get close to you, I suggest you stay away immediately. If he keeps pestering you, You can come to me or Dumbledore anytime."

Dean looked confused: "Professor, you are worrying too much. What is so special about me that deserves Professor Quirrell's favor for me?"

"Not just you, everyone in your dormitory must be careful, and of course that arrogant Miss Know-It-All. Who made you have such a good relationship with the savior Potter?" Snape sarcastically said, "You He was implicated by Potter." He said it directly.

"You mean Professor Quirrell wants to get close to Harry through us? Why bother? Wouldn't it be over if he just shows his kindness to Harry? Harry will never refuse." Dean said.

"Haha, it's a pity that the coward doesn't dare to do this. He will only use you to get close to and even spy on Potter." Snape had a sarcastic smile on his face.

"Why did Professor Quirrell do this? Is there something about Harry that attracts him?" Dean asked.

"You don't need to know that much, you just need to understand that you must be wary of Quirrell and don't get close to him!" Snape said.

"Then can I pass on your advice to my friends?"

"Whatever you say, but I guess they won't believe you at all." Snape curled his lips.

"Understood, I will try my best to remind them to stay away from Professor Quirrell." Dean nodded.

In fact, Dean knew very well that Snape was worried that he would be used or even controlled by Quirrell to steal the Philosopher's Stone. As for Harry and others being involved, it was entirely Snape's excuse.

Quirrell now wished he could hide away from Harry, because even Voldemort, who possessed him, could not break the protective spell cast on him by Harry's mother Lily at the cost of her life.

"You know what I mean - that's it for today. Don't forget to come to me for a check-up at this time every week." Snape was about to end the conversation.

"Professor, I have another question." Dean suddenly remembered something important, which he could ask Snape for confirmation.

"If it's about your father, there's no need to be so long-winded."

"No, it's another thing." Dean said quickly, "I wonder if you know the potion sequence?"

After getting the "Talent Tree: Potion Sequence" in the system, Dean couldn't find any clue, so he wanted to take this opportunity to ask Snape, the potion master, for help.

"Potion sequence?" The expression on Snape's face suddenly changed several times, and then he simply replied, "I don't know!"

But his expression betrayed him. Dean was sure Snape knew, so he looked at him stubbornly.

The two stared at each other for a long time without saying anything, until an owl suddenly flew in and threw a thick stack of newspapers onto Snape's desk.

The two looked at it at the same time and discovered that it was today's Daily Prophet.

Snape looked very angry: "There must be a mistake, I have never subscribed to this newspaper full of nonsense!"

"No, Professor, you are not mistaken. You did not order this, but someone sent it specifically to you." Dean picked up a note from the newspaper and handed it to Snape.

It says:

"Severus, I think you should look at the front page."

The note was unsigned, but Dean guessed from the font that it should be Dumbledore?

"If this newspaper is full of lies, the front-page article is even more of a lie within a lie... I really don't understand why you specifically reminded me to read this..." Snape picked up the newspaper and was halfway through speaking when his eyes suddenly widened. Big, with an expression of disbelief.

Dean quietly went over to take a look and found the headline on the front page: "The home of the Deputy Minister of Magic was stolen... Exclusive news from our special reporter Rita Skeeter... According to reliable information, Senior Deputy Minister of Magic Um Ridge's home was robbed last night...Deputy Minister Umbridge was very secretive about the stolen items...It is believed to be a premeditated theft...During the Christmas period, there was an incident in Umbridge's unknown private villa. The thieves are here..."

After a few sneak peeks, Dean knew that Rita, a reporter who was afraid of chaos, had focused on Umbridge's private villa, and the so-called theft was just an introduction.

Rita's intention is obvious, and she is using this case to insinuate that Umbridge's villa has an illegitimate origin.

Dean had a hard time imagining how this article, which was obviously unfavorable to the Ministry of Magic, passed the heavy scrutiny and made it onto the front page of the Daily Prophet.

The expression on Snape's face at this moment was extremely wonderful. Dean could clearly feel Snape's inner joy. Obviously he was happy to see Umbridge suffer, but for some reason, Dean saw it again in Snape's eyes. Saw an almost subtle hint of worry.

"Professor, are you okay?" Dean asked.

"Dean, did you notice this sentence?" Snape clicked lightly on the last line of the article.

"... News from the Auror Command... this theft may be related to a certain professor at Hogwarts..."

"Professor, is this a hint to you?" Dean had not forgotten that during Christmas, Umbridge had used the topic to use his case to drag Snape into trouble.

"Of course not. I didn't go anywhere in Hogwarts last night. Many people can prove it, but..." Snape looked at Dean and said softly: "Quirrell disappeared for a while last night."