The Sunshine of Hogwarts, Snape

At this moment, Severus certainly wasn't paying attention to what Harry was thinking.

While he was complaining to Ghost Snape in his heart about how universally disliked he was in the Wizarding World, he responded to the remark from the Leaky Cauldron's owner, Tom.

"I'm quite satisfied with my new hairstyle. First, a room with two beds, since we'll be staying here for the night. As for drinks..."

"Two glasses of apple juice, please, along with two double-loaded ham sandwiches and two bowls of creamy clam chowder. Oh, Dudley, would you like some dessert after the meal?"

When Harry got on the train to London, Severus had already informed him that he would officially change his name to Dudley Dursley from now on.

At this time, he was stunned for a second before realizing the question was directed at him.

But before he could nervously organize his words to reply, Severus casually made the choice for him.

"For dessert, we'll take two blueberry cakes. Remember to give us the small portions. Our appetites aren't that big."

As Tom noted down Severus's order, he glanced up in surprise at the man whose attire and demeanor were different from his usual habits but was unmistakably recognizable as the Head of Slytherin House at Hogwarts, Professor Snape.

Severus Snape rarely left Hogwarts Castle, but he wasn't some isolated hermit either.

On the contrary, due to his need to purchase ingredients for potion-making, he frequently visited Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron, sometimes sitting alone in a corner to have a few drinks.

However, he had never stayed overnight here, nor had he ever ordered something like apple juice instead of alcohol!

Especially today, his tone and attitude seemed unusually amiable.

Tom instinctively stole a glance at the boy beside him. He had never seen this child named Dudley before, and the boy clearly wasn't old enough to attend Hogwarts yet.

However, he only observed Harry for a couple of seconds out of the corner of his eye, his hands never pausing in their work.

Soon, he pulled out a key from behind the counter and handed it to Severus.

"The third-to-last room on the right side of the second floor. Would you like the food and drinks delivered to your room?"

"That would be appreciated."

Severus tossed the key lightly into the air, caught it smoothly, and then turned to head upstairs.

Harry didn't dare fall behind. He followed Severus nervously and climbed the stairs to the second floor together.

After the two of them left, the Leaky Cauldron fell silent for a moment before erupting into even livelier chatter than before!

"Merlin's beard! Was that really Severus Snape? Since when did he start caring about his hair?"

"Is that the point? The point is, did you hear what he just ordered from Tom? Apple juice and blueberry cake! Can you even imagine Snape and those two things in the same sentence?"

"Could it be someone impersonating him? You know, using that potion… what was it called? I had very poor grades in Potions when I was in school."

"Polyjuice Potion, but that's impossible. Who would dare to impersonate Snape? Aren't they afraid that some potion might be put into the soup they drink one day, and they would turn into a toad for the rest of their life?"

"And who was that boy with Snape? Hogwarts doesn't have students that young, does he? He looks no older than nine."

"No idea. He doesn't seem like any family's child I recognize."

Even the most gossip-prone drunks only dared to speculate to this extent behind his back, and they wouldn't dare spread any outright rumors about Snape.

This is a truly ruthless person, far more than just the Head of Slytherin House.

Many people knew that Severus Snape had once been that man's staunch supporter, even one of the top Death Eaters.

After that man's fall, not only was he not purged, but he was even taken under Dumbledore's wing, becoming a professor and Head of House.

Calling him someone with influence on both sides of the law wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Right now, the man was staying upstairs, so spreading rumors here would be no different from poking a sleeping dragon.

Meanwhile, on the second floor of the Leaky Cauldron-

Severus was still bickering with Ghost Snape.

"Look at that, just look. Your reputation in the Wizarding World is so bad that the tables on the right acted like you were the plague… they nearly spat out their drinks at the sight of you."

Ghost Snape just sneered disdainfully.

[Those idiots with the brains of trolls? They're wizards from Northern Europe. Half a year ago, they tried to buy rare potions from me at inflated prices, but the gold galleons they paid were mixed with leprechaun coins. If it were ten years ago, I'd have killed them myself.]

Hearing this, Severus couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"And now? Did you let them off?"

Ghost Snape replied nonchalantly.

[I have to consider Hogwarts' reputation. They even begged me not to find the Aurors, so I had each of them cut off their own pinky and ring finger. I kept the ring fingers for potion ingredients, and they took their pinkies to St. Mungo's to get reattached."

As he spoke, Severus also dug up this particular memory from his mind.

The scene of that group wailing as they severed their own fingers sent a chill down his spine.

The further back he delved into Snape's memories, the more bloody and brutal the scenes became… especially during his years serving Voldemort. He was a true villain, with no redemption to speak of!

Severus often didn't want to recall these things, but these memories also served as a bloody reminder: 'Hogwarts might be a sanctuary for young witches and wizards in the Wizarding World, but that didn't mean the Wizarding World as a whole was equally idyllic.'

'Hmm.'

'I, Severus Snape, had once been one of the evils that tarnished that sanctuary.'

Not long after, Tom brought the lunches for the two of them, and a copy of today's Daily Prophet was also included on the tray.

Severus picked up the newspaper, munching on his double-loaded ham sandwich while skimming through an article featuring the witch who had been Minister for Magic for nearly a decade now, smiling and winking at the camera.

Harry had been lost in thought the entire journey here, clearly still shaken by Severus's revelations from that morning.

But upon seeing a newspaper where the photos moved for the first time, he couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity as he sipped his apple juice.

"Those tedious reporters have interviewed Millicent Bagnold yet again. The most famous thing this female minister said before incidentally involves you, Harry."

Harry was a little confused when his name was suddenly mentioned.

"Me?"

"On the night the Dark Lord was vanquished by you, wizards across the Wizarding World celebrated wildly. Many of their actions violated the International Statute of Secrecy. As British's Minister for Magic, she had no choice but to answer to the International Confederation of Wizards."

Severus explained to Harry.

"She handled the inquiry brilliantly, and many people still cheer when they hear her statement, 'I assert our inalienable right to celebrate'."

"But she's held the position for nine years now. She'll likely retire next year, which is why the Daily Prophet keeps running these interviews recently, trying to get her to predict who will be her successor."

When talking about this matter, Severus acted very casually, but Harry couldn't help but feel a little depressed again.

He obviously thought of his parents.

Noticing the shift, Severus deliberately flipped the newspaper over, steering the conversation elsewhere.

"Things have been rather quiet in the Wizarding World lately, with only a few minor incidents appearing in the newspapers."

"Bestselling author Gilderoy Lockhart has released another book, much to the delight of witches everywhere."

"Someone has reported that there are suspected to be more than a dozen werewolves gathering in Wales. The Ministry urges local wizards to come forward with any information."

"An Irish Quidditch team accidentally let a Golden Snitch escape during practice. The Muggles claimed that they saw a 'flying golden ball with wings', and the Ministry had to send Obliviators to deal with it."

"Oh, there is one more important thing. The Ministry of Magic has received a report that a wizard is suspected of using potions to poison Muggles. The Aurors are investigating the matter in detail."

These were indeed some trivial matters that were not worth talking about. But Harry, who had been listening with little interest, suddenly asked hesitantly, "Pro... Professor, why are we here?"

Severus wasn't surprised by the question. He finished the cream of clam chowder in the bowl in one gulp, glanced at the time on the clock, and answered offhandedly.

"The back of this pub connects to the largest wizarding shopping district in Britain, Diagon Alley."

"It's got all sorts of shops, and Gringotts, the wizarding bank run by goblins, is also there. Traveling requires funds, so we'll head to Gringotts this evening to withdraw some money and pick up essentials for you."

Harry, who had somewhat recovered from the morning's revelations, asked cautiously.

"Why not go right after lunch?"

Instead of answering immediately, Severus looked out the window.

Through the thinning rain, there was a black dot in the distance that was approaching them at a very fast speed.

Not long after, the overly dramatic owl flapped its wings and landed on the windowsill. It was puffed up with pride, as though it had just circumnavigated the globe. It tapped the glass imperiously with its beak, urging Severus to open the window for the hero.

"Because we were waiting for a message."

Severus walked to the window, opened it, and let the owl in.

"From who?" Harry asked curiously.

"From the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore."

Severus replied softly as he took the letter from the owl's talons.