[HP] Astringent

Vanessa sank herself into the soft sofa, rubbing her sleepy eyes, with a copy of the first edition of "The Tales of Beedle the Poet" spread out on her lap.She swirled a glass of whiskey, and there was a rhythmic sound as the ice cubes collided against the walls of the glass.

This is a dilapidated and narrow single apartment located in a slum area of ​​New York, with second-hand furniture, dim gas lamps, and bookshelves occupying an entire wall full of old and cracked books.There was a thick stack of books piled up on the coffee table in front of her.She restlessly stacked the books on her lap on the top of the book tower, and the dark blue eyes revealed her exhaustion.

The black figure she saw in the Albanian jungle two years ago appeared in her mind-it was obviously a creature between life and death, but she had never seen it in the book.And she also saw it talking to a giant python, to be precise, ordering a giant python to help it hunt and kill a unicorn.Of course she couldn't understand the snake language, but everything that happened before her eyes pointed to this fact.As far as she knows, the last person in the world who can speak Parseltongue is the mysterious man, who should have been killed 14 years ago.

In the past two years, Vanessa has temporarily put aside her adventure life and pursued clues related to the mysterious person all the way. She is afraid that her terrible guess will come true.Knowing that she had only heard about the life experience of the mysterious man from a few old wizards a few months ago, she went to the place where the mysterious man was born in the legend with a skeptical attitude. She did not expect to make a major discovery, but what followed It's an endless mystery.

She drank the wine in the glass, and she lay down on the bed, obviously too sleepy to open her eyes, but her mind was exceptionally clear.She turned over a few times, and finally curled up into a ball, hiding her chin in the quilt, and felt a little relieved.

Vanessa's family has never been rich, especially since her father passed away when she was very young, and the family's expenses depend on the meager income from her mother's work in Lihen Bookstore.When I was a child, my mother would buy what she wanted even if she cut down on food and clothing to make up for her lack of fatherly love. When she grew up, there were always boys lining up to give her what she wanted with both hands.

It was not until she left the UK to work alone that she realized that life was not easy. Over the years, she has made a fortune by writing her own adventures.This apartment and its contents are all her wealth.Gilderoy Lockhart doubled her sales last year when she went to Hogwarts as a teacher and had no time to write.Not long ago, I heard some rumors that the position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts is cursed, and all the professors have been in the position for less than a year.It's not like Lockhart didn't make it to the end of the term before being sent to St. Mungo's Injury Hospital.

Vanessa was also a little happy, she already knew that he was a liar who stole other people's stories everywhere, and this was considered evil as evil.After that, she was not the only author in the category of adventure novels. Thinking about the upcoming manuscript fee, she felt secretly happy again.

Isn't this a good opportunity, she can go to Hogwarts to apply for a teacher, and there just happens to be a vacancy for the Defense Against the Dark Arts class.She couldn't help but be moved when she thought of the rich collection of books in the first section of the library.This is a good opportunity to find information.

Thinking that he might see Snape, his long-silent heart sank, and his breathing froze for a moment.The bottom of my heart was like a sleeping lion cub, rolling over at this moment, a sore, itchy feeling ran down my spine.

The strange fluctuation didn't last long, and a long breath came from the quilt.

Vanessa didn't expect Dumbledore's reply to come so quickly.She was dazzled by the bright sun as she drew the curtains to let the owl in.Feeling timid due to the closeness of the country, she held the heavy letter, and felt a little bit of urge to refuse.

Dumbledore's interview with her was at two o'clock on Saturday afternoon.She belatedly prepared a scribbled resume the night before departure.

Vanessa put on her most expensive wizard robe and walked into the long-lost castle.Hogwarts was still the same, forcing her to realize that something was wrong.

In fact, except that she looks a lot more mature than before, and there are two more fine lines at the corners of her eyes when she smiles, she has hardly changed, and she is still beautiful. With the passage of time, the firmness and introversion in her eyes have added extraordinary beauty to her.She walked through the long old corridor, and the heels of her shoes knocked on the floor crisply, and the marble floor tiles reflected a capable figure.

There was already a person standing in front of the huge stone beast at the end of the corridor on the third floor.His robe was shabby, and he had a few puddings on it, but it was ironed perfectly.Hearing the sound, the man turned his head and looked at her gently.Soft, warm brown hair hung down his head, and there were two shallow scars on his face. The hardships of life did not crush him, but tempered him to be neither humble nor overbearing.She felt a little familiar, but didn't dare to confirm it for a while.

The man stretched out his hand first: "Hi, I'm Remus Lupin, and I'm here to interview for the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. May I ask who you are?"

"Lupine?" Vanessa remembered him, one of Potter's best friends. "Hi, I'm Vanessa Weasley."

"Weasley?" Lupine gave her a surprised look. "I didn't expect you to change so much. If it wasn't for your hair, I wouldn't even be sure it was you."

"The prefect has a good memory. He still remembers me after so many years." In the past, she didn't like these people who got close to Potter.After many years of reunion and his downfall, he still felt a little bit sad, and his smile was a little more sincere, "I never thought I would see you again."

"After graduation, many people inquired about your whereabouts, but they didn't expect to see you here again. What position are you applying for?"

"I went to live in the United States after graduation." She continued, "It seems that we are competitors, and I am also applying for the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Lu Ping obviously paused for a few seconds. Vanessa couldn't help but feel a little guilty when she thought of her disastrous grades in various subjects when she graduated. She motioned him not to mention it again, and waved her hand: "Fortunately, I have traveled around after graduation, and I have learned a little bit. "

"I'm sorry to disturb your reminiscence." Accompanied by the sound of footsteps, a deep voice sounded behind Vanessa, "It's best like this. I hope you two will live up to Dumbledore's expectations."

Although he knew that Snape was teaching at Hogwarts, he did not expect to see him so soon.Vanessa's back went stiff, her neck stiffened.For so many years, even if she knew that she hadn't forgotten this person, the time she missed was pitifully seldom, and most of the time was running around in her own life. She even felt that she had forgotten his appearance.And now she closed her eyes and began to picture him in her mind, and she could imagine Snape's smirk without turning around.

Lupine was not surprised, and stretched out his hand and said, "Long time no see, Snape."

Snape gave him a cold look, did not shake hands, and smirked: "I sincerely hope this is the last time we meet." He turned to Vanessa, "This..."

Vanessa didn't have the confidence to bet that he still remembered herself, and she couldn't help but feel a little depressed.She took a deep breath, turned around and smiled, while extending her hand: "Hi, I'm Vanessa Weasley."

Snape's icy gaze stayed on her face for a second, the furrow between her brows deepened, the corners of her mouth curled into a downward arc, and she walked sideways between the two of them.Vanessa withdrew her hand in embarrassment, and Lupine smiled at her.She didn't see it though, her eyes were fixed on Snape.He has hardly changed, his figure is still as thin and pale as before.

"Pile of cockroaches." Snape grudgingly squeezed the password between his teeth, and the stone statue unscrewed in response.The three spiraled up the stairs, and Dumbledore was waiting for them at the door.

"Welcome back, Mr. Lupine, Miss Weasley." After shaking hands in turn, he said to Snape, "Severus, thank you for bringing them up."

Even facing Dumbledore, Snape still had a gloomy face: "I don't think these two would be suitable candidates, especially in this period."

Dumbledore motioned him to stop talking, and he looked at Snape seriously: "Severus, Harry seems to have encountered a little trouble recently, I hope you can help me take a look."

Snape moved his lips, and Vanessa read out what he wanted to say almost at the same time: "You know a troublesome bastard everywhere." He didn't say the words, but a cold snort instead.

Is he taking care of Lily's son for her?

Vanessa turned her head furtively, and Snape had already walked to the door, his hand resting on the gilded doorknob.He paused for a moment and turned his head suddenly, she was caught off guard into those deeper and more hollow black eyes, was shocked, turned her head away hastily, and was relieved only when she heard the sound of the door closing.

"Then let's start the interview. Mr. Lupine will follow me, and Miss Weasley will sit here and wait for a while." Dumbledore nodded at her, and the light blue butterfly strap on his beard swayed accordingly, " Maybe you'd like a cup of black tea and some cockroach heaps first."

Looking at the cockroaches jumping on the table, she felt nauseated: "A glass of soda is fine, thank you."

In less than half an hour, Lupine came out. The interview seemed to be going well, with a happy smile on his thin face.Vanessa was invited into the inner office, and Dumbledore thoughtfully refilled her a glass of soda.He opened Vanessa's resume and read it carefully: "Miss Weasley hasn't been back to England for a long time?"

"Yes, I have been living in the United States since I graduated, but most of the time I have been exploring everywhere-I am an adventure novelist." Vanessa added, "Please believe that there is a fundamental difference between me and a liar like Lockhart .”

"Miss Weasley, don't be nervous, I fully believe that you are capable of this position." Vanessa had just breathed a sigh of relief, but Dumbledore changed the subject, "May I ask why you want to apply for this position?"

"You know, my mother died when I was 16, and Hogwarts was my last home. I have dedicated my life to watching every little British-born wizard grow up."

"Hogwarts is willing to open its doors for every wizard. It's just that maybe I've found the right person for the position."

"Lupine?" Vanessa said hopelessly, tapping her fingers on the table. "If there's another seat available, I'd be happy to try it, like Muggle Studies?"

Dumbledore smiled and said, "I still need to think about it carefully, and I will inform you within a week."

"Looking forward to your reply. I can come back anyway, and it is my honor to see you again."

Almost with a grateful heart, Vanessa once again admired the familiar lawn and the wide and quiet black lake. She gradually drifted away along the tree-lined path, and did not see a black figure on the observatory of the castle behind her. Watch her until the figure is out of sight.

"Miss Weasley may be trustworthy, Severus, isn't she?"

"I think what happened with Lockhart has taught you enough." Snape said sarcastically, "IMHO, picking one out of a werewolf and a guy with an A in Defense Against the Dark Arts It's not a good idea to be in such an important position."

"People are not static. I read Miss Weasley's resume and it meets the requirements."

Snape sneered: "So powerful that it can resist the Dark Lord's curse?"

Dumbledore looked at him with interest, half-moon eyes shimmering: "You care about Miss Weasley?"

He didn't answer, and the corner of his mouth curled into a displeased arc: "Albus, you don't trust me to take this position."

"I trust you very much, so I can't let you take this position." Dumbledore interrupted him, but looked out of the window, seeming to be interested in the birds circling over the Forbidden Forest, "Before Sirius Black was caught, there must be Keep Harry safe. I'm glad to have your help, Severus."

"I don't need you to remind me, I'll secretly take a fancy to your golden boy." He curled his lips as if he had said some indecent words, "As long as he doesn't do anything out of line again."

Dumbledore sighed and shook his head as Snape strode back to the dungeon.