[HP] Astringent

Vanessa was late for a full half an hour, and Hermione didn't blame her, but just teased: "Don't panic, we don't have any other appointments anyway, you can come later." Harry was confused Looking at the two, no one wanted to explain to him.

There were two other people sitting at the table—Rita and a little blond girl, whom Hermione introduced as Luna Lovewood, a fourth-year Ravenclaw student whose father was the editor-in-chief of The Quibbler. .This little girl seems to be immersed in her own world forever, and her voice is so ethereal that she doesn't seem to be from this world.Vanessa was polite enough not to say what she really thought, but she got approval from Hermione's eyes.

Due to the mass escape of the Death Eaters, Hermione felt that now was a good time to tell the truth, so she organized this interview.Since Vanessa's capture and rescue involved Snape's identity as a spy, she couldn't say much, so she only talked about how she found Barty Crouch Jr.At the same time, she was reprimanded by Hermione: "You can't always give house elves Veritaserum!"

"I swear this is my way of treating people equally. If the other party is a wizard, I will also use Veritaserum." Immediately afterwards, she received a lecture from Hermione and a sympathetic look from Harry.

The Quibbler was such a hit that Umbridge angrily issued a ban on reading the magazine in school.Played into Hermione's favor, because there's nothing like banning a magazine so that people will go out of their way to read it.Soon almost everyone in the school read the magazine and believed in Harry.

Harry and Vanessa mentioned it several times in the interval before Muggle Studies class, and now the DA has more and more members.Everything was going well, except Harry's Occlumency didn't make much progress.Occasionally, Vanessa would take advantage of Snape's time to give Harry their Potions class to occupy a table and help Harry make some tranquilizers.

But not everyone is so united, there are always one or two who will do some stupid things under Umbridge's power.Vanessa also only heard about it after it happened. A Ravenclaw student in the DA betrayed them and privately reported the meeting to Umbridge, and Umbridge led his inspection team-a group of Slytherin students led by Malfoy captured Harry them.As a result of the questioning, Dumbledore took all the charges. He said that he ordered Harry to organize a student army to try to rebel, and then he knocked down three Aurors in full view, and the Minister of Magic and Umbridge slipped away.The only happy thing is that the informer got his retribution, Hermione cast a jinx on the roster, and the informer's face was covered with spots, and those spots spelled the word informer.Hermione really failed to learn from the two boys, but even Madam Pomfrey couldn't undo her spell, the poor girl might faint from crying.

Umbridge temporarily became the headmaster, but she underestimated Gryffindor's naughtiness, and Dumbledore didn't forget to seal the headmaster's room before leaving, so she couldn't get in at all.But she also got a lot of people, including Filch and a group of Slytherin students.

Vanessa really doesn't understand why Slytherin's little snakes always like to work under such an unpopular leader who has no style and means.When Voldemort was young, he was talented and beautiful, and it was not unusual to be able to entice the old Slytherins to follow him, but now this group of young people are blinded by power, and they don't consider long-term interests at all.

Unbearable, Vanessa called Malfoy to the Potions Office. She no longer had to hide anything from Malfoy. Anyway, he had guessed everything he should have guessed, and never disclosed these things to others.

Malfoy was still slightly taken aback, after discovering that Vanessa was alone in the office.Vanessa poured him a cup of lemon green tea: "Kids seem to like this taste, would you like some sugar?"

"No need, thank you." He sat on the armchair in an orderly manner, not daring to make too much trouble in the dean's territory.

Vanessa also believed that he could listen to her own words, after all, the Slytherin team had replaced several powerful players.So she asked softly: "I heard that you joined the investigation team?"

"If you want me to withdraw, I advise you not to waste your words."

Vanessa took a sip of the green tea, which didn't taste good, and added half a bag of sugar into the teacup: "I didn't mean to say this. I just don't understand. What good does it do you?"

"It's enough to make Potter uncomfortable. Besides, I'm only on my side." He stared at the teacup, not wanting to taste it.

Vanessa laughed: "Which side do you think you should stand on?"

"My dad is on the Ministry's side."

"You really think so?" Vanessa didn't say anything, she paid attention to Malfoy's expression without blinking, and sure enough his head was lowered.Vanessa knew he couldn't have been unaware.Just when Malfoy thought she would get to the bottom of it, Vanessa changed the subject: "Do you know Occlumency?"

"My dad taught me some."

"Well, you Slytherin's talent in this area will never be compared to others." Malfoy raised his glass uncomfortably, took a big sip, and Vanessa continued, "You have to study hard, it's very important. "

"What do you mean by that?" Malfoy met Vanessa's eyes for the first time.Vanessa did not explain: "You have to spend time, look with your own eyes, and figure out where you should stand. Maybe it will save your life and your family's life in the end."

"I don't know……"

"Don't rush to refute me, you are a smart kid." She blinked, this movement was learned from Dumbledore, but without the glasses, it was not so deterrent.

Malfoy hesitated for a moment, then shook his head firmly: "There is no place for us on the other side."

"How do you know, Mr. Malfoy, you haven't tried." She put down the teacup, and there was a crisp sound when the bottom of the cup collided with the tray, "If you need help, you can come to me, Harry doesn't know, but you always know Where can I be found." She mentioned Harry deliberately, just to make Malfoy realize that he was special to Vanessa, so that he knew that Vanessa was on the side of Slytherin.

Malfoy was picking at the handle of his teacup, which Vanessa had brought from home with a dozing cat on it.Vanessa was not in a hurry to get an answer, she sipped her tea slowly.

When Snape came back from get out of class, he saw such a strange scene. Malfoy hurriedly stood up and bowed slightly: "Professor Snape."

Seeing Snape's puzzled look, Vanessa gave a smirk: "I punished Mr. Malfoy for confinement, because he abused his power and deducted points from other houses. Don't you still have a few pots of slugs to deal with?"

Malfoy looked at Snape in a panic, hoping that he could help him refuse, but his hope was immediately dashed, and Snape had no objection: "There are still fox eggs that need to be dealt with, Draco, take Pa Miss Jinsen called over."

Malfoy knew that this was not to punish himself at all, but to make himself see the situation clearly.If he hadn't experienced it personally, he would never have imagined that there would be a day when his dean didn't look at his college at all. He blanked his eyes and walked back to the lounge with nothing to love.It seems that we have to carefully consider the issue of standing in line.

Snape turned his gaze to Vanessa: "Perhaps you would like to explain now, what is it for?"

"You don't really want the Slytherin kids to go the wrong way, do you?"

"Mind your own business." He sat on the sofa and pulled Vanessa into his arms.

"I'm doing this for you, Sev. Will this matter be properly recorded when "Hogwarts, A School History" is republished in the future."

"I don't care." Snape curled his lips. "Need I remind you that Malfoy can't be trusted?"

"But I don't think Draco Malfoy is like his father."

Snape barely resisted the urge to sigh, it could all be summed up in four words: "Gryffindor."

Vanessa stuck out her tongue and teased, "Whoever told you to like Gryffindor."

Vanessa didn't know that Snape called Malfoy alone the next day, tested his Occlumency without any explanation, and threw him two self-study books.Malfoy didn't figure out what was going on until the whole day of class.However, he consciously restrained himself a lot. Although he did not withdraw from the investigation and action team, he was more cautious in deducting points. Except for Harry's trio, he rarely deducted points for others.

Slughorn threw another party, and this time he kindly sent Vanessa an invitation.Vanessa persuaded Snape to promise not to say a word to Greengrass, and not to drink at all, so she got the chance to walk out of the school.She didn't forget her mission to win over more neutral pure-blood wizards.

But she was at the party and worried about Harry's Occlumency lessons.He was somewhat improved, otherwise she wouldn't feel at ease leaving Snape and Harry alone.After being asked by Greengrass for the third time if she was unwell, Vanessa decided to leave early.Slughorn graciously granted her request.Vanessa also thoughtfully sent a bottle of red wine, and put a business card of an American potion material store on the ground - that store occasionally sells precious potion ingredients that are not so legal.Not for nothing, at least he talked about Voldemort asking him about an evil dark art - Vanessa knew he was talking about Horcruxes - but he sternly stopped him.

When Vanessa returned to the potions office, the lights were on and Snape wasn't there, leaving Harry alone with his head in the Pensieve - looking at Snape's memory.Vanessa grabbed his arm and pulled him out. Harry gasped for breath, as if he was about to be suffocated, with a look of despair on his face.Without waiting for Vanessa to question, he first asked, "You hate my dad because of this, right?"

"You..." Vanessa's heart sank, "What did you see?"

"I saw my father and Sirius hang Snape upside down... Remus was watching... and my mother, she said that even if it was a choice between my father and the giant squid, it would not be the same He's out to play!" Harry became more and more excited as he spoke, almost growling the last few words.

"Listen, you shouldn't be watching—"

The door was opened again, and Snape walked in with his long black robe rolled up, his dark eyes fixed on Harry, his lips were trembling: "What did you see?"

He heard the entire conversation.

"Sev!" Vanessa wanted to walk over, but Snape fended him off, and he said to Harry angrily, "Who allowed you, who let you--are you enjoying yourself?"

"I didn't," Harry argued.

But Snape didn't listen to him at all, and Vanessa grabbed Snape's hand again, and this time he didn't pull away.She held the tightly clenched hand, and could feel the pulsating veins on it.

"Harry, you go out first."

"I..." He wanted to say something, but Snape stopped him immediately: "You are not allowed to tell anyone what you saw! Now, get out!"

Vanessa winked at Harry, and he dashed out of the office.

Snape stood upright, his eyes half-closed, as if he had been punched suddenly, with a distorted mixture of hatred and shame on his face.Not only did he recall that unpleasant memory, Vanessa was also dragged back to that time and space, and she regretted why she had to go to that useless dinner party tonight instead of watching Harry practice honestly.

She didn't dare to hug Snape too hard, just like a chick just hatched, for fear that any inappropriate movement would disturb him.She padded her feet with difficulty, her cheek was pressed against his, and she slowly combed his shoulder-length black hair with her hands, comforting him bit by bit.

Gradually, Snape's hand slowly loosened, and the palm was scratched with a few dark red marks by the nails.After a long time, Vanessa's feet were numb, and he tentatively wrapped his arms around Vanessa's waist.Vanessa gently led him to sit on the sofa, Snape hunched over.Vanessa didn't give him a chance to shrink back, she just sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.Maybe this person in his arms was too much of a hindrance, and Snape also broke free from the unbearable memories little by little.

Vanessa let go of her thoughts halfway, and then she stood up, and Snape himself didn't realize that he would hold her hand tightly and not let go.

"I'll go find Harry and just erase his memory."

"You know how to use the Forgetting Charm?" He raised his eyebrows, and Vanessa immediately knew what he remembered - after she kissed Snape for the first time, she was going to erase his memory because she couldn't use it well. He was forced to choose to ignore the curse.

"Hope Professor Dumbledore doesn't blame me for sending his baby savior into St. Mungo's and Gilderoy Lockhart's company."

The last bit of coldness in Snape's eyes also disappeared, and Vanessa followed his strength back into his arms with his slight movement. .

"Since you stopped me, I'll let Harry go this time."

"After defeating Voldemort, I'd rather send him to see Merlin."

Vanessa kissed his forehead and coaxed him in a soft voice: "Okay, okay, I'll listen to you." Snape was able to react, Vanessa only regarded him as a kindergarten child, and she was vicious. glared at her.

Vanessa couldn't stand Snape looking at her like this, as if she was afraid that others would not know how fierce he was.In fact, it won't hurt anyone at all.Her throat tightened, and she spoke as if bewitched: "Sev, are you hot?"

Because Vanessa was afraid of the cold, the fire in the room was always stronger than other places, and Snape always wore thick black robes.Snape squinted his eyes and looked at her vigilantly. Vanessa moved her fingers deftly, and the first two buttons of her robe were unbuttoned, exposing his pale chest that had not seen the sun for many years.

"Nissa..."

Vanessa dragged her breath and said word by word: "I'm afraid you're hot."