[HP] Astringent

The summer in London came to an abrupt end this year, and the sky at the end of August was covered with dark clouds every day.It was even worse on the first day of school, Vanessa took out the thickened robe in advance.Instead of doing the Hogwarts Express with the kids, she went straight into Hogwarts from Hogsmeade.

Recently, she eats seriously every day, but the flesh on her face has never grown.She stood in front of the mirror and turned around, black and white robes, short black wizard robes, and a pair of high-heeled short boots.She didn't forget to put on a warm camel scarf, which covered her pointed chin, leaving only a pair of warm brown eyes.

Within a quarter of an hour, she returned to Hogwarts, which began to feel like a real home compared to the deserted home.She packed up all the teaching materials and teaching aids, put flowers in the empty vases, changed the sheets and quilts herself, and arranged the newly bought coral fleece pillows with fluffy balls.

After her body warmed up, she unhurriedly went down to the principal's office on the third floor.She had already made an appointment for today's meeting in advance, and Dumbledore had prepared afternoon tea and was waiting for her.There was a faint scent of jasmine at the entrance. Cucumber sandwiches, black tiscons and small red velvet cakes were arranged in turn on the tray. Vanessa squinted her eyes in enjoyment.

"Have you made up your mind?"

"Yes, Professor."

She could call him Albus directly, but she still prefers to call him Professor, admiring and respecting him.

Dumbledore was also ready, and he took out a piece of parchment with a contract spell on it, which could prove that everything was signed by Dumbledore voluntarily.

"Professor, do you really think it is necessary for me to keep it?" Vanessa folded the parchment and put it in her pocket, "I mean, if anyone among us is most likely to survive, it must be you. Voldemort is powerful."

"No, Vanessa, I've lived long enough." Dumbledore explained patiently, "Sometimes it's not easy to live long."

Vanessa seemed to see the weary soul of this cynical old man. He became like an ordinary person. He should sit in the rocking chair by the fireplace every day and take a nap when he was tired, instead of worrying about the magic world every day.She felt that she could confide in him, because he was like a kind elder at the moment.Dumbledore had always had a knack for being irresistibly trustworthy, and it just so happened that he wasn't in a hurry to send her away.

"Is it possible to not care about anything at your age?"

"It's not, dear." He also picked up a piece of red velvet cake. "It's just that I learned how to live with regret, but it's hard, sometimes harder than facing death."

"You also have regrets?" She felt incredible, and it was hard to imagine that a person as perfect as Dumbledore would make any mistakes.

He blinked mischievously: "I'm just a mortal, and I was young."

"How long does it take to get used to it?"

"A long, long time..." He remembered the past, with a slight sadness on his face, but it didn't last long, and he smiled again, "Maybe one morning you wake up and find that you can't find your dentures. Old stuff doesn't matter so much when it's not your favorite strawberry muffin."

Vanessa also laughed, and her heart relaxed a little.

The dinner party was about to begin, and Vanessa walked to the auditorium.Snape was already sitting there, and it was obvious that the empty seat next to him was still reserved for her.Vanessa took a deep breath and walked over without squinting.She didn't send that card in the end, she didn't want to appear so hypocritical.She convinced herself in her heart that falling out of love is a trivial matter that everyone will experience, and it is not worth mentioning.Snape also didn't look at her, and there was an awkwardness between the two of them.

She turned her head and looked to the other side. There was an empty seat on the other side of her, and she didn't know if it was reserved for McGonagall or the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

Snape completely refused to continue to provide Lupine with the wolfsbane potion, but still sold the potion formula to Lupine according to Dumbledore's request.Lupine also felt that he was no longer suitable to be a teacher-he was now temporarily living in Black's old house and found a job in the black magic prop shop in Knockturn Alley.He doesn't earn much, but he is leisurely enough. He can rest peacefully in the top attic of the old house every month when the full moon is full.

The ceiling was bewitched to look like the sky outside, with black and purple clouds billowing above it, and a forked bolt of lightning streaked across the ceiling as a thunderclap sounded outside.

The sorting ceremony ended soon, and the freshmen dragged their wet robes to their respective long tables.Dumbledore announced with a smile: "I regret that there will be no Quidditch match this year."

There was a gasp underneath, and only a few raised their heads reservedly.

He continued: "This is because a large event will start in October and continue throughout the school year, taking up a lot of teachers' time and energy - but I am sure you will have a lot of fun with it. I am very pleased Announce to everyone that this year at Hogwarts—”

At this moment, a deafening thunder was remembered, and the door of the auditorium slammed open.

A man stood in the doorway, leaning on a long cane, wrapped in a black traveling cloak.Lightning flashed outside the window, illuminating the man's face extremely vividly.Vanessa couldn't help but gasped—the face was carved out of a piece of decayed wood, every inch of skin on the face was scarred, and the place where the nose should be raised was missing.The most frightening thing was his eye, which was always very small and dark, while the other was as big as a coin, and it was a sudden blue color, which kept turning around in the eye socket.

He walked over to Dumbledore's side, holding out his hand, which was still scarred like his face.Dumbledore shook hands with him, said something in a low voice, and motioned him to sit next to Vanessa.

Vanessa no longer stared at him impolitely, but touched her face unconsciously - if one day her face became like this, she really didn't have the mood to worry about being rejected anymore - solve a The solution to affliction must be a bigger affliction.

Ignoring anyone, the man took a small knife from his pocket and sliced ​​the sausages on the tray.The scary blue eyes kept turning, looking at the auditorium and classmates.

Dumbledore happily broke the silence: "Please allow me to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody."

Apart from Dumbledore and Hagrid, there was very little applause.They also put down their hands knowingly.

Vanessa was very curious about the origin of this person, it seemed impolite to ask directly, and it was not good to bother Snape anymore, poking the sausage in front of her sullenly.The sausage was split in the middle, like the scar on Moody's face, and she lost her appetite in an instant.

Moody, unmoved by the indifference, reached into his traveling cloak, pulled out a curved decanter, and took a swig.Vanessa was familiar with the smell of wine, but it was strange that there was no smell of wine wafting over.

"Did you drink vodka?" Vanessa asked casually.

Moody turned his eyes in unison, looking at Vanessa, she couldn't help shrinking back: "No offense, I just..."

Moody said coldly, his voice harsh as sawing wood: "It's vodka." The blue eyes turned aside, and only the black eyes remained on her.

Vanessa smiled bluntly and looked away.

Dumbledore cleared his throat and rescued Vanessa: "As I said just now, we will be very honored to host a competition that has not been held for more than a century-the Triwizard Tournament!"

"You're kidding!" Fred exclaimed.

The tension that had been hanging over the auditorium since Moody walked in was broken, and almost everyone laughed.Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively.

Dumbledore then introduced the rules of the Triwizard Tournament.Vanessa was a little happier listening to the lively discussions among the students. It was better to have more things to do than to be idle.

The next morning, Vanessa woke up early and hungry.The weather improved slightly, she changed into a slightly thinner wizard robe, and still wore high heels, just like she did when she was a student.

When she came to the auditorium, no one was there, but Snape was already eating.She remembered that no Potions class this term had been scheduled for a Monday morning.

The atmosphere was even more awkward than last night, because they were the only ones on the teacher's table.Every time Vanessa took a step closer, she asked herself if she wanted to say hello.I didn't think of an answer until I sat down, so I didn't say a word at all.Snape was even more silent.Fortunately, he cut things almost silently, and Vanessa felt relieved as if there was only air around her.She also tried not to make unnecessary noises, pretending to be another mass of air.

The number of students gradually increased, and owls also flew in to deliver packages and letters.After throwing a package to Harry, the dark gray owl flew towards Vanessa and dropped another box with the same packaging.Inside were four shaken cupcakes beyond recognition.

Seeing that she had the same gift, Harry smiled and held up his box, then waved the card.Vanessa pulled it out from the bottom of the box, and it was written by Blake, saying that Molly was teaching him how to be a competent parent, so he and Lupine decided to challenge the one with the lowest difficulty, and gave her four if they baked too much.

Vanessa took a sip of sweet and uncomfortable.She shook her head helplessly at Harry.The three children had already tasted it, and they smiled wryly at the same time.

Just when Dumbledore and McGonagall walked over, Vanessa decisively picked up the rest of the cake and handed it over: "You must try it, Blake baked it himself, he said he wanted me to help him distribute it to everyone."

Dumbledore took a sip with a smile, and said to McGonagall, "Minerva, the taste is very good."

Mag also showed a faint smile on his face, and took a sip.The three looked at each other and smiled, and no one took a second bite.There was another one lying in the box, and Dumbledore greeted with a smile: "Severus, are you full? Would you like a cake too?"

Snape said dryly, "No, thank you."

Vanessa didn't look at him, but stared at the door, waiting for the next bad guy to come in.Malfoy happened to walk in with two burly followers, and Vanessa immediately walked over, not forgetting to cover the box, and forced the cake into his hands: "Mr. Malfoy, your uncle asked me to bring your."

Malfoy's horrified expression of something you've eaten is twisted slightly by his eagerness to appear disgusted.Probably Vanessa's expression was too serious in order to hold back her laughter, and Malfoy didn't dare to refuse.

Vanessa smiled and greeted the two teachers on the bench, and hurried out of the gate.Almost unable to hold back, she covered her mouth and laughed.