Knock, Knock~
It was the dead of night when Ethan came knocking.
But the visitor wasn't Ethan.
Instead, it was an official sent by the Ministry of Magic: Yaxley!
At this moment, Snape looked down at this man, whose face was disfigured for reasons unknown. That cold, cruel gaze resembled a wolf that could finally no longer suppress the urge to bare its fangs, staring straight at him.
In an instant, it was as if he had been yanked from a dream back into reality.
Snape felt waves of pain radiating from the Dark Mark on his left arm. It felt like scalding blood flowing over his skin.
That face, previously wrapped in vivid emotions of anger, vigilance, and mockery, turned as cold and indifferent as a rock in the blink of an eye.
Void of any emotion.
Snape silently stepped aside to let Yaxley in. In that brief moment of eye contact, they had reached a silent consensus.
Yaxley limped over to the sofa Snape had just been occupying. He flopped down heavily. Spots of dark brown stains soaked into the sofa's dark green fabric cover.
"Phew."
Yaxley exhaled heavily. Noticing Snape's cold gaze, he looked down and grinned, "Just a few stupid deer and rabbits. The Forbidden Forest is full of them. Always playing the good guy... sometimes you have to vent a little. Heh heh, I really don't know how you've kept up the disguise."
As he spoke, Yaxley used a gaze sharp as a bayonet to probe deep into Snape's eyes.
"...As long as you remember not to ruin the Dark Lord's grand plan over a moment of impulse, it's fine."
Snape's lips moved slightly. Looking down at Yaxley, his expression remained completely unchanged. When this man appeared at the opening ceremony, Snape had recognized him instantly. He trusted the other man had done the same.
The Death Eaters were making moves.
They were even more restless than before. Presumably, Ethan's blow to Voldemort had made these loyal followers unable to sit still.
On the other side, hearing that title, Yaxley trembled instinctively.
He took a deep look at Snape. A few seconds later, he slowly leaned back against the sofa. Under his robes, the hand clutching his wand tightly relaxed a little.
...Tch, if it weren't for the fact that there were so few usable Death Eaters right now, he wouldn't have come to find this inscrutable man!
For now... hmph, he was barely usable.
Yaxley crossed his legs and spoke in a condescending tone:
"You know Ethan, right? The Ministry suspects he has a connection to [Mr. Lamp]."
Hearing this, Snape raised his eyebrows slightly.
He tried his best to hold back the retort that almost slipped out—
Only now??
Looking at the entire history of magic, could you find a third person that bizarre?
Of course they're related!
"Oh, right, and Dumbledore, too." Yaxley sneered mockingly, "Heh, that new Minister actually dares to suspect the White Wizard's greatest ace. I really don't know where his loyalties lie!"
"...Indeed."
Snape nodded slowly.
He thought to himself: This new Minister is actually quite sharp. Unfortunately, like all politicians, the process is entirely correct, but the result is entirely wrong. He can't distinguish who the real enemy of the wizarding world is at all.
Snape: "So you came to me to get my advice?"
"Your advice? No, no, no, my friend." Yaxley pointed to his own eyes, speaking with disdain, "I prefer to trust my own eyes."
"...Very well," Snape replied raspily, raising a brow.
Yaxley: "I came to you about this new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
Hearing this, Snape's expression twitched.
So basically, it's all about Ethan?
[Mr. Lamp], the Spiral Man—they are all Ethan's disguises!
Snape reminded himself he was a professional and wouldn't break character easily. He frowned at his Death Eater "colleague," putting on a grave expression of "Huh? What's going on?"
Yaxley said seriously:
"The Minister also seems to think this bizarre Defense Against the Dark Arts professor has ties to Ethan."
"Looking at it now, there is indeed a high probability."
After all, looking like that... he really didn't have any intention of hiding it, Yaxley thought heavily.
"As a professor, it's easier for you to contact him without alerting the enemy. What I want to know now is whether this Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is friend or foe."
Anyway, looking at him, he doesn't seem like a good person. Suspected of pushing forward the "Hogwarts Extinction Plan".
Yaxley: "If he can be persuaded to join the Dark Lord's great mission, then that's easy..."
"If he doesn't agree... heh, then we'll just have to take him out beforehand!"
"..."
Snape fell silent.
Staring at Yaxley's unhealed face, he really wanted to ask a question:
Just you?
You want to hurt Ethan?
Do you know you are facing the "New Dark Lord"?
Snape: "What do you want me to do?"
Yaxley: "It's very simple. You just investigate that freak's whereabouts and future plans. I'll arrange the rest."
Snape nodded silently: "Fine."
Yaxley smiled with satisfaction:
"I hope you don't disappoint me, old friend."
He stood up and patted Snape on the shoulder, like a superior treating a subordinate.
Snape frowned in disgust. After watching his "colleague" leave, he immediately cast Scourgify on himself ten times.
"Ethan's whereabouts...? Heh, I can guarantee it."
"As long as you ask Ethan personally, he will spill the beans and enthusiastically share everything with you," Snape muttered, letting out a mocking laugh.
Ethan was just that "simple and straightforward."
He even welcomed chaos and malice. Because that way, he could let loose and display his "Great Art."
Just then.
Knock, knock.
The knocking sound rang out again.
Snape frowned, instinctively assuming it was Yaxley returning. He yanked the door open, snapping impatiently, "What is it now——"
Before he could finish his sentence, a terrifying spiral face thrust directly into his field of vision!
Ethan raised his hand in greeting: "Hell————"
BANG!
Snape slammed the door shut, gripping the handle tightly!
His eyes were wide, gasping for air, still in shock!
He felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest in that instant!
"...E-than!!!"
Snape growled in a low voice and yanked the door open again! His facial features, usually as rigid as rock, were twisted with rage!
"—o (Hello)."
Ethan continued holding his hand up, finishing the greeting he started earlier. He then asked elegantly and nonchalantly:
"Good evening, Professor Snape. How was your night?"
Snape: "It was fine—until you arrived."
Ethan: "Haha, that's great."
His strategy was simple: Read the message, reply randomly.
Ignoring Snape's iron-green face, Ethan opened a portal directly, took one step past the doorway, and entered the office.
Snape closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He reminded himself that he was on the White Wizard's side; killing was easy, but disposing of the body was hard.
He turned around.
He braced himself to face the demon's invasion.
However, what greeted his eyes was an incredibly cozy scene.
Warm flames burned in the fireplace. Steaming tea sat on the coffee table. The Spiral Man was leaning elegantly and leisurely back into the dark blue sofa, sipping tea.
Snape froze.
Ever since he got involved with potions and after Lily died...
How long had it been since he experienced this kind of warm atmosphere...?
If...
If this wasn't his damn room, that would be even better.
[Smile]
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