[HP] Astringent

Harry's heart went up, and just when he thought the parchment was going to be thrown into the fire, Vanessa grabbed a handful of shiny powder from a jar on the mantelpiece and sprinkled it on the flames.

"Lupine, come here, there are some things you need to deal with here." Vanessa's voice was as cold as a winter blizzard.

Lupine crawled out of the fire, brushed off the ashes, and said softly, "Did you call me, Vanessa?"

"Yeah, because I found this from Harry." Vanessa handed Lupine the parchment, which was filled with new sarcasm. "Perhaps you can tell us what it is."

A strange, mysterious look came over Lupine's face.He pondered for a moment. "It seems to me that it's just a piece of parchment, which insults anyone who tries to read it. I think Harry got it from the phone that sells joke material..."

"I'm too lazy to listen to your words." Vanessa raised her chin angrily.

Snape said, "Don't you think Potter got it straight from the maker of this thing?" His voice was like a viper ready to attack.

Ron broke into the office just at this time, and he said out of breath, "I gave that thing to Harry, I bought it at Zuko a long time ago..."

"Ron Weasley, I'm disappointed in you too." Vanessa gave him a warning look.

"Aunt, I..."

"Shut up!" Vanessa's chest rose and fell with her breath, "Lupine, maybe I'm not qualified to discipline Harry, and no one is really qualified to discipline him now, but I think you should be able to tell him something What can be done and what cannot be done.”

Lupine's smile stiffened. "You're right, I'll take this back, okay?" He put the parchment inside his robes.

Vanessa looked at Ron: "As for you, I will write a letter to Molly and report what good things you have done."

"Aunt... I..."

"Ron, now you hurry back to Gryffindor Tower."

The litter of lion cubs finally left, and the cellar returned to its usual tranquility. Vanessa said helplessly, "Severus, don't get too angry."

"You know that thing?"

"I don't know what that's for but it's clearly theirs."

"have a finger in the pie."

Snape folded his arms and looked at her, his intention to ask her to leave was very obvious.

"No, I really want to ask you. Do you know what kind of alcohol Professor Slughorn likes? Whiskey or vodka?"

"Slughorn?"

"Yes, he organized a party tonight, and I'm going to visit him." The doubts in Snape's eyes became even more perplexing, and she continued, "The principal asked me to go, saying that I would go to talk to Slughorn first. Get involved."

"It suits you." Snape pulled a bottle of Belenikaya Vodka from the box and put it on the table.

"Thank you for the compliment, at least I can help a little bit." Vanessa cast a spell, and the wrapping paper was automatically put on the wine bottle, with a bow tied on the neck of the bottle.

She picked up the drink contentedly, and Snape stopped her, "Don't pile up all your things in my office." He glanced at the wine case.

"I'll see you off, anyway, I can't drink anymore. But you can drink less and pay attention to your health."

Vanessa picked her chin and walked away happily.

In the early spring, London was still cold and bleak. Vanessa changed into a pure black dress with a warming charm, and apparated to a villa in the forest. Self-serving dining table, several plates of delicate snacks surround the champagne glasses that will be automatically refilled.In the yard, people gathered in twos and threes, chatting happily.From time to time, slight explosions were heard, and someone apparated here.

Vanessa tidied up her clothes, trying to sneak in with a cheeky face, since she brought Slughorn as a meeting gift, so it's not easy to drive people away.She went right in, and Slughorn was standing in the doorway, greeting a couple graciously.When he saw her, he was obviously taken aback, and then walked over enthusiastically: "I'm glad to see so many former students come to my party, you are..."

"I'm Weasley, Vanessa Weasley."

Slughorn kept a smile on his face, but he didn't recall Vanessa.At this time, someone came over from behind: "Long time no see, Professor, am I late?"

The man was not tall, but he was extremely muscular. He was wearing an expensive custom-made wizard robe, with a silver cuff button pinned to the cuff.

"Of course not, Auston. You came just in time, and the dinner has not yet begun."

The two of them hugged cordially. The man turned to Vanessa and said gently, "Have you met Vanessa? We were supposed to come together, but the Ministry of Magic has something to do."

Vanessa only felt that his face was familiar, and since he helped her, she took his arm kindly.

Slughorn suddenly realized: "So it's your girlfriend, please come in, there are desserts and champagne on the table, have fun."

Walking into the courtyard, Vanessa let him go, picked up a glass of champagne and handed it over: "Thank you for helping me out."

"You're welcome." The man smiled slightly, "If I hadn't heard you say your name, I wouldn't have recognized you. You have changed so much."

"Do we know each other?" Vanessa asked in surprise.

"You don't remember me? No wonder, you are always surrounded by many people."

"Please don't laugh at me about the past." She tilted her head and raised a smile, "Why don't we get to know each other again, hello, my name is Vanessa Weasley."

"Hi, my name is Auston Greenglass."

As the night darkened and the temperature plummeted, Slughorn signaled everyone to enter the house. The living room was arranged comfortably, the sofa was moved to the wall, and a huge long table took up most of the place. The firewood in the fireplace was burning and released Fresh rosin comes out, and the wall lamp emits a warm yellow light.

Vanessa followed Greenglass to the middle of the table.After everyone was seated, she found that the famous pure-blood families like Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were not invited, but many people seemed to be half-bloods or Muggle wizards.It's no wonder that Dumbledore invited himself to the banquet instead of Snape. Slughorn always knew how to avoid suspicion. Even though some people were acquitted by the Ministry of Magic, he still wouldn't get in touch with them too much.

Slughorn tapped lightly, and said loudly, "I'm very glad to see so many talented young wizards gathered here today. Let's make a toast to our reunion."

Vanessa raised her glass with everyone and took a sip of the red wine.

"Not much to say, let's start." Slughorn raised his hand, and a small piece of foie gras appeared on everyone's plate.

The wine glass was emptied a few times, and Slughorn became happier, and he pulled everyone to talk about interesting things about their school days.He even stopped Greengrass: "Oston, I still remember that once in my class, you changed the aconite into a shouwu and almost blew up the cauldron. You are the first one who almost blew up the cauldron in class. Slytherin of the Crucible. But your talents in almanac and transfiguration cannot be underestimated."

Vanessa looked at him shyly bowing his head and smiling, and thought of something: "Are you...that Slytherin?"

"Yes, we went to self-study together for a while in the fifth grade." He laughed, without any sense of reproach, "It's really thanks to you for remembering, I don't seem to have seen you since graduation."

"I was abroad for a long time."

Slughorn said, "Vanessa, where are you working now?"

"I'm an adventure writer, but started teaching Muggle Studies at Hogwarts this year."

A witch sitting next to her turned her head: "You are Professor Weasley, I heard my son mention you, he said that you replaced Professor Lupine and taught Defense Against the Dark Arts very well, much better than Professor Snape .”

"Where is it? It's just that Severus and I have different teaching concepts." Vanessa exchanged a few words with the parents of the students.

Greengrass helped Vanessa fill up the wine glass: "My two daughters are studying at Hogwarts. The eldest daughter is named Daphne, and the younger daughter is named Astoria. I wonder if you have seen them?"

"It must be the two lovely Miss Slytherins. It's a pity that I don't see many Slytherin students in my class. But I think they must be very good." She smiled slightly, "I don't know how Mrs. Ling Didn't come to the dinner?"

"She passed away three years ago because of a family genetic disease." Greengrass said here a little sentimental.

"I am really sorry."

"It's okay, it's been so long. How about you, who among the many boys at that time finally got your heart?"

Thinking of her former self, Vanessa felt a little ashamed: "My job always takes risks, and it's hard to settle down."

"Then it's a good opportunity to go back to London now."

"Yes, yes." She looked down and swirled the glass, somehow remembering Snape's face.If you can just settle down like this... Vanessa raised her head and drank the wine in the glass, and changed another glass: "Which department do you work in the Ministry of Magic?"

Greenglass lowered his voice: "I work in the Department of Mysteries."

"Department of Mysteries? How come I've never heard of it?"

"This is a place full of secrets."

"very dangerous?"

"No one usually comes here, just doing some counting work." Greenglass waved his hand, "I can't go on, this is confidential."

Everyone had almost eaten, and Slughorn waved his wand, and the old gramophone in the corner rang, playing a melodious and faint.Vanessa walked over and handed him the gift: "I haven't seen you for a long time, this is a little thought."

He drank a little too much, his cheeks were flushed, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he leaned on the sofa chair: "You are so kind, you are my favorite, it is so kind." He said and opened the wine cork, " Why don't you come to some now?"

Vanessa brought two wine glasses: "Of course."

The two drank half a glass to each other. She hadn't had a drink for a long time, and she also felt a little overwhelmed, but she didn't forget her mission, and was thinking about how to speak. Slughorn spoke first: "Lily...you look just like Lily. It's somewhat similar. I thought Lily was a distant relative of the Weasley family. It's a pity, a pity..."

Vanessa was not angry either, and poured him another glass of wine: "Yeah, Lily's potion level is so good."

"I remember that Lily and Severus had the best potion results in your class, and even Severus was even better. It's a pity that he doesn't like to be sociable, so he followed that person again."

"I heard that person was also your favorite student?"

"That was a long time ago." He was silent for a moment. "He was a lovely student back then, studious and bright, and I don't think anyone disliked him except Albus."

"His potion grades are also good?"

"He is very talented, but unfortunately he doesn't really like potions. His mind is not on this class."

"Then what is he interested in?"

"Why do you care so much about You-Know-Who?" Slughorn suddenly opened his eyes and looked at her warily.