Chapter 33. Ministry of Magic. Part 2. Surprise
For the next hour, Severus simply gave what he had earlier called a lecture, going over the Alchemy lessons his teachers had drilled into him. Strangely enough, he managed to hold the attention of three examiners at once, and they listened to him with real focus, especially the old man among them. The old man only nodded sullenly, doing his best to hide the amazement on his face.
".Also, during my research, I noticed several additional properties in the leaves of Alichocia, which are mainly used for laughter potions. For example, if you mix them with white vine root, you can make a powder that, when inhaled, instantly improves your mood. It can even help with depression and similar negative conditions, and it does so without the side effect of uncontrollable laughter. Or, if you mix Alichocia with owl's eye, lyre root, and moonstone powder, you can brew a night-vision potion, and its effect is doubled."
"That is enough, young man, you have passed," the old man said with an encouraging smile, stroking his long beard. "Slughorn is raising a worthy replacement for himself."
"Do you know Professor Slughorn?"
"How could I not know him, when before him, right up until 1920, it was I who taught Potions at Hogwarts? And it was I who introduced him, a simple youth and the last of the Slughorn line, to the world of potions."
"And do not hold it against us, it is our job to put pressure on the candidates," the two men seated to the old man's right and left said, looking at Severus with embarrassment.
"It was obvious from the very beginning. Even though you tried to look like villains, your eyes gave you away."
"Alright, that is enough, we still have a few more candidates," the elderly wizard said, raising a hand and squinting slyly toward the exit. "Congratulations, you have passed. Give Slughorn my regards from the stupid old fart."
The two men coughed at the same time. Severus only nodded. The corners of his lips lifted slightly as he said goodbye, and then he left the office. Outside, a slightly agitated Slughorn was waiting for him, even though he was trying very hard to act like everything was completely different.
"Everything is fine. Now I am a Master."
"And I would not have expected anything less," Slughorn laughed, raising his chin proudly and clapping him on the shoulder.
"I am surprised. Congratulations, Mr. Snape," Andrew said, nodding with a calm smile.
"Thank you. By the way, Professor."
"Yes?"
"They asked me to pass on greetings to you from the stupid old man," and the joy vanished from Slughorn's face in an instant, replaced by a sudden pallor.
"H-he is still alive?!"
"Are not you happy?!" a cheerful elderly voice called from inside the room, and Slughorn flinched. Without thinking, he bolted under the slightly shocked gaze of his former student and several dozen people on the floor.
"Well, since we are done here, follow me to get your license." Andrew muttered.
"Yeah."
After he finished the registration and it was entered into the database, Severus received a sheet of paper with the Ministry seal confirming his rank, as well as a gold badge with a silver cauldron, handed over by a still slightly stunned employee. Severus did not have time to talk, though. After saying goodbye, he went down to the first floor. Passing a small fountain, he spotted Slughorn peeking out from behind the fireplace, looking around warily.
"Professor, are you alright?" Severus asked, still a little surprised by that reaction.
"Oh! Severus, of course everything is fine! Let us get out of here quickly!" Slughorn babbled. He grabbed Severus's hand, threw a handful of Floo powder into the fireplace, and the flames flared. They stepped in together and vanished.
Hogsmeade. The Wizarding Trinket Shop.
Back in that familiar room, Slughorn finally let out a long breath.
"Professor, why did you run away from that old man?" Severus asked, genuinely a little intrigued by their story.
"The less you know, the better you sleep. Come on, show me!"
With a tired sigh, Severus pulled the badge out of his shirt pocket and handed it over.
"I still do not understand why, when I." But then he noticed Slughorn freeze, his face locked in genuine shock, and Severus raised an eyebrow in bewilderment. "Professor, are you feeling unwell? Maybe you should go to St. Mungo's. If you want, I will go with you."
"This badge. sixteen years and a silver cauldron."
"Maybe I should give you some mandrake root tincture?"
"Huh? Why would I need a laxative?" Slughorn blinked, still staring at Severus.
"Oh! You are back to yourself. By the way, here is the tincture," Severus said, and a glass vial of unpleasant brown liquid appeared in his hand.
"STOP! Put it away, stop shoving it in my face, and why do you even have that?! Merlin! Not that! Look, that is a silver cauldron!"
Severus put on a serious face and leaned in to study the badge.
"Hmm. you are right."
"Are you making fun of me?"
"A little."
"Stop it! I am your teacher!"
"You are the one making a scene. Can you explain normally what is wrong?"
"This is a silver cauldron!"
And Severus started peering at the badge again, thoughtful, while Slughorn's eye twitched.
"There are four ranks of badges: bronze, silver, gold, and black," Slughorn began, letting out a weary sigh. "There is only one person in our country with a black badge, and that is my teacher, the old man who administered your exam. There are only three gold badges, and one of them is mine. I do not know how many silver badges there are, but they are not awarded until after thirty. I got mine at twenty-six. Usually everyone starts with bronze, but you." Slughorn grabbed Severus by the shoulders, his eyes blazing as he stared at him. "A genius! If my teacher, who is famous for his strictness, rated you for a silver cauldron, then his judgment cannot be wrong! You are a true GENIUS!"
"Professor, I understand everything, really, but do not get so close." Severus said. He pushed Slughorn's frantic face away, opened the door, and finally left the little room.
"Severus! From now on, you will come to me every evening after school for extra lessons! I will make you a Gold-ranked Master before you graduate Hogwarts, and you will fulfill my dream and surpass that stupid old man! Knock him off his pedestal!"
Listening to Slughorn's wild laughter, Severus closed his eyes with a heavy sigh as he climbed the stairs, thinking about a cure for the dementia that had crept up on Slughorn so imperceptibly.
"What is wrong with him?" Mark asked, looking toward the basement in bewilderment.
"Senile dementia. Call St. Mungo's quickly, he needs help," Severus said with a very serious face.
"Who has got senile dementia here?! And what does this call of yours even mean?"
"Oh, a miracle! The professor has recovered. Call is just a Muggle thing, do not pay attention to it."
"Severus, come with me into the basement, I will show you something very interesting." Slughorn purred, clenching his fist and pointing behind him with a warm smile.
"I have to refuse. Hungry Nagini is waiting for me. Let us do it on Monday. Oh, and right, Professor, I have a favor to ask," Severus said, taking the badge Slughorn offered him.
"What is it?"
"Can you give me permission to leave Hogwarts this evening? I need to find a competent manager for the shop and finish some business in Diagon Alley. I will be back tomorrow evening too."
"Hmm. usually that is not allowed without parental permission." Slughorn muttered, but after a few seconds he nodded with a smile. "Alright. I will talk to Albus. And thanks to this badge, you are officially recognized as an adult, so you will not have to wait until you are seventeen anymore. But even though you received the badge along with the papers, it will not take effect until Monday. That is the rule."
"Thank you, Professor."
"No need, but I will be expecting you on Monday after classes. I still intend to hammer everything I know into your head."
"Certainly."
At the same time, the shop owner, who had been watching them leave, only came to his senses afterward and smiled.
"After the incident with Tom, I have not seen him in such a good mood in a long time. I can only hope it does not end the same way."
Severus did not put on the badge. He did not want to draw too much attention to himself, so after parting with Slughorn he returned to his room, where Nagini was waiting for him. and Nagini was snoring.
You are killing me, lazy. He kept the last word to himself and, looping her around his neck, left the room so he could take care of business quickly. Besides, Bella was supposed to come see him today, and he simply could not miss that meeting.
But Severus did not even make it downstairs, because his path was blocked by a very angry Regulus.
"Have not you forgotten anything?!"
"Morning, Regulus. Sorry, but I do not have time to talk now. Let us do it Monday evening."
"You said that the day before yesterday, but you never came!"
"Professor Slughorn detained me. What was I supposed to do?"
Regulus tried to get indignant again, but he could not find the words. Severus was right, and even now, after thinking it through more rationally, Regulus understood he had acted too rashly.
"I. I am sorry."
"I am glad you understand. I would discuss magic with you today, of course, but I cannot. I need to get home urgently, and I will not be back until Sunday, around seven or eight."
"I see. I just remembered one incident about Cousin Bella, but once." Regulus did not even get to finish before Severus's hand landed on his shoulder.
"You should have told me that right away," Severus said with a beaming smile, dragging him along. "I will definitely have an hour to spare today."
"Idiot."
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