The Sunshine of Hogwarts, Snape

"Is this for us? Dudley, you're too generous!"

"Percy never treated us to anything… he'd spend all his money on himself!"

"Shut up!"

After leaving the Gringotts' entrance with the three Weasley brothers, Harry took the initiative to invite them to an ice cream parlor at the end of the street.

Hearing the compliments from the Weasley twins, Harry felt a little embarrassed and honestly admitted, "This is the money my teacher gave me."

At the mention of 'teacher', Percy's gaze toward him turned peculiar.

"I've never heard of Professor Snape having juniors before? Everyone thought he was always alone, even the Slytherin students."

Faced with this question, the young Harry couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. But before he could stammer out an explanation, Fred and George had already jumped in to defend him.

"Since when do Hogwarts professors have to report their family matters to students?"

"I always thought that no matter how ambitious you were, Percy, you would be satisfied with just being the Head Boy. I never thought you even wanted to be the Headmaster of Hogwarts!"

The twins sang in unison, drawing Percy's attention back to them, making him yell about telling their mother about their behavior today.

Harry didn't find their noise annoying at all. In fact, he was happy to steer the conversation himself.

"Is everyone in your family a wizard?"

"Our parents are both wizards. Bill has already graduated, Charlie and Percy are still in Hogwarts, while Fred and I will be enrolled this year. We also have a younger brother, Ron, who is the same age as you, and a younger sister, Ginny, who is one year younger. Unless something unexpected happens, our whole family is indeed wizards."

Fred, however, playfully contradicted George.

"Ron and Ginny aren't confirmed yet, one of them might be a Squib!"

"Don't say that at home! If you make either of them cry, Mum will definitely scold you."

"Ha! Compared to seeing Ron or Ginny cry, getting scolded is nothing!"

"You're right!"

Harry looked at them with envy. He couldn't even imagine how wonderful it would be to have so many siblings.

"What about you, Dudley? Is your whole family wizards?" Fred asked curiously.

"My parents should be." Harry replied calmly but cautiously, "But they died when I was very young. Before my teacher took me in, I lived with my relatives, and they are ordinary people."

"Oh Merlin, I'm so sorry!" Fred quickly apologized.

Harry just waved it off. After the emotional turmoil earlier that morning, he wasn't as sensitive about it anymore.

"Don't worry, it's fine."

By then, George had already stuffed the last bite of ice cream into his mouth and slung an arm around Harry's shoulders.

"You should come visit our house! Ron will definitely like you. He's always complaining that Ginny's too young and that we never include him!"

"Come on, let's not stay here! We should head to Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop before it closes. Dudley, you must go there with us. There are a lot of interesting gadgets there!"

However, Percy kept a straight face.

"I think Professor Snape would prefer it if we took Dudley to Flourish and Blotts instead."

"Just go there alone if you want! I'll never understand how you can stand those horribly boring books!"

"Let's go, Dudley!"

After George and Fred finished speaking, they grabbed one of Harry's arms each and walked towards the other side of Diagon Alley, completely ignoring Percy.

Harry was caught of guard. He staggered and leaned forward, but just when he was about to fall, he suddenly bumped into someone.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry, sir!"

He clutched his forehead and hurriedly apologized. When he looked up, he saw that the person he bumped into was a very tall but extremely thin man with a sickly pale complexion.

Strangely, after being bumped into by Harry, the young man seemed more panicked than Harry himself.

Hearing the apology, he waved his hand quickly and left in a hurry.

Harry looked at the strange man's retreating figure, feeling an odd sense of familiarity.

'Come to think of it, I'd seen this person earlier at the Leaky Cauldron too.'

"Come on, let's go, Dudley."

But with Fred and George urging him on, Harry didn't dwell on it. Instead, he grabbed the reluctant Percy and followed the twins at a brisk pace.

…

"Potion-poisoning case?"

Severus stroked his chin and quickly recalled today's issue of The Daily Prophet.

"I did read about such an incident in the newspaper."

Kingsley glanced around, then patted Severus on the shoulder, signaling that they should discuss the matter in a more private area within Gringotts.

The three of them soon arrived at Gringotts' VIP reception room. It was Severus himself who went out of his way to ask for the room from the group of snobbish and difficult goblins.

This surprised Kingsley.

He had no idea when Severus Snape had become so... accommodating.

But it was obvious that the case was more important. After arriving at the VIP room, Kingsley wasted no time on pleasantries and cut straight to the point.

"If this were just an ordinary poisoning, it wouldn't be so troublesome, but this case involves high-ranking Muggles. The victim holds significant status in the Muggle world, and her father is a Muggle duke. The Muggle Prime Minister personally reached out to Minister Bagnold, demanding answers from our side."

Severus pretended to listen attentively, and after Kingsley finished speaking, he raised his eyebrows.

"Then... why does this concern me? Do you suspect me of committing this crime?"

Kingsley quickly waved his hands.

"No, no, no, Professor Snape, we have never suspected you. Headmaster Dumbledore himself has vouched for your whereabouts, confirming that you haven't left Hogwarts Castle since the start of summer break until today. You have no motive or opportunity!"

"So then..." Severus looked at Kingsley calmly.

Kingsley then said seriously.

"Are you familiar with the Draught of Living Death?"

Severus didn't answer immediately. Instead, he smirked, "An N.E.W.T.-level potion, and you're asking if I know it? Is this a joke, Mr. Shacklebolt?"

Kingsley coughed awkwardly and then continued seriously.

"But this wasn't an ordinary Draught of Living Death. We've tried numerous antidotes, yet none have succeeded in reviving the victim."

Hearing this, Severus frowned slightly.

"Are you sure it was the Draught of Living Death and not something else?"

"The Ministry has several potions experts, and they all confirmed it. But it is different from the ordinary Draught of Living Death. The wizard who made that potion used extremely sophisticated techniques to double its effect, leaving us helpless!"

At this point, Kingsley's expression became extremely solemn.

"However, this also narrows the scope of our investigation. Only a handful of individuals in the Wizarding World possess the skill to brew such a potent potion. We want to start from the source of this potion. Today, we came to ask if anyone has ever commissioned you to brew an enhanced Draught of Living Death?"

"An enhanced Draught of Living Death..." Severus shook his head, "If there was an order with such specific effect, I would definitely remember it clearly, but I'm afraid I have no recollection of it."

Kingsley sighed in disappointment at this, but he still stood up and expressed his gratitude.

"Thank you for your time. If you uncover any leads, please don't hesitate to contact us."

Severus showed no objection, quietly watching as Kingsley prepared to leave. Then, just as the Auror turned to go, he suddenly spoke again, "Have you asked... the others?"

"Before coming to you, we visited Mr. Arsenius Jigger and Mr. Horace Slughorn, but neither had any leads. Next, we plan to question Mr. Libatius Borage." Kingsley shook his head.

All three names belonged to renowned potioneers in the Wizarding World.

Severus nodded without changing his expression.

"Very well. Good luck with your investigation."

"If you're willing, Professor Snape, you could accompany us to examine the victim. The poor girl remains unconscious, and we're still struggling to brew an antidote. The Ministry will cover the expenses." Kingsley added as a final offer before leaving.

"If my own affairs permit, I'll consider it."

With that, Severus bid farewell to Kingsley and the accompanying Auror.

Once they were gone and he was alone in the VIP room, a satisfied smile crept onto Severus's face.

Relaxing into the sofa, he addressed the silent Ghost Snape within him, gloating.

"I told you… I know Dumbledore."

"There's no way he would assign me an impossible task!"