Hermione looked up, curiosity flashing in her eyes.
"Which Professor are you talking about?"
"Professor Snape, of course," Charlie said, his tone perfectly natural.
"Don't forget, Professor Snape also applied to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Although Dumbledore refused, it was only because he was better suited to be the Potion Class Professor."
Harry's face began to look troubled.
Charlie continued:
"Moreover, Professor Snape is a Potions Master. Besides using Spells to remove Dark Arts, he can also detect them with Potions. Double insurance, it's safer."
"What if the curse on the broom is very hidden, and ordinary detection can't find it? Professor Snape uses Potion detection, and those hidden Dark Arts will have nowhere to hide."
Hermione nodded, thinking Charlie made a lot of sense.
"Indeed, looking at it that way, Professor Snape is the most suitable candidate."
Harry's heart gave a violent lurch.
Are you kidding me!
If Snape got his hands on the firebolt, would he ever get it back in his life? That old bat would love to see him suffer; he might deliberately destroy the broom and then claim it had a curse!
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Snape has always disliked me. What if he doesn't check it properly and just wants me to get cursed? Professor Lupin would be better; he's a nicer person."
Ron also shook his head.
"Instead of checking the broom, I think he's more likely to just throw it into a cauldron and boil it."
Charlie patted Harry's shoulder.
"Harry, you're both prejudiced. Professor Snape is actually a good person."
Harry's eyes widened, wondering if there was something wrong with his ears.
"On Christmas Day, Professor Snape even specially gave me a Christmas gift," Charlie said with a very serious expression.
"He was worried I couldn't sleep, so he gave me a Potion that would make me fall asleep instantly."
Harry:???
Are you listening to what you're saying?
Charlie continued: "If you're really worried, you can say it's my broom. Snape will definitely check it thoroughly out of respect for me."
Harry's mouth twitched.
Are you sure?
If he said it was Harry's broom, Snape would at most dismantle it. If he said it was Charlie's, he would probably add a few curses and send it back to him.
Harry was completely at his wit's end with Charlie and could only pin his hopes on Hermione.
He looked at her expectantly, hoping she would side with him.
Hermione bit her lip, her expression somewhat troubled.
Although theoretically, Professor Snape was indeed the most suitable candidate.
But in reality, Snape being suitable was one thing; whether he would check it properly was another.
She also didn't want that priceless firebolt to be completely dismantled into parts by Snape.
She pondered for a moment and came up with a compromise.
"All the Professors are at the faculty table now," Hermione said.
"Why don't we give the broom to Professor Snape now? That way, in front of all the Professors, he shouldn't damage the broom."
Charlie's eyes lit up: "Good idea!"
He said that and then disappeared.
The magical fluctuation of instantaneous movement rippled through the air.
Before Harry and Ron could react, Charlie had already returned, holding the tightly wrapped firebolt.
Harry looked at the broom, making a final struggle:
"Is Professor Lupin really not an option?"
Hermione shook her head, her tone somewhat heavy:
"Professor Lupin's illness... probably won't get better so easily."
Charlie glanced at her.
Hermione also realized Professor Lupin was a Werewolf?
But thinking about it, it was normal. Hermione was so smart and loved reading so much; it was perfectly normal for her to have suspicions after being heavily hinted at by Snape.
Charlie walked towards the faculty table with the broom, Harry and the other two followed behind.
Dumbledore was chatting with Professor Flitwick. Seeing Charlie approach, he stopped talking and asked with a smile:
"Charlie, is something the matter?"
Charlie placed the package on the table:
"During Christmas, Harry received a firebolt from an unknown sender."
At these words, all the Professors present looked up.
A firebolt?
That was currently the best flying broom, very expensive even for Professors. Who would send one to Harry?
Professor McGonagall frowned: "Sent anonymously?"
"Yes," Charlie nodded, beginning to unwrap the package.
"So we hope to ask Professor Snape to check this broom to see if there are any curses on it."
Snape, who was holding a wine glass and drinking, almost choked when he heard this.
He racked his brain but couldn't understand why they would ask him to check a broom.
Didn't they want it anymore?
The other Professors were also stunned.
Professor Flitwick whispered:
"Let Severus check it? This..."
Professor Sprout coughed, not responding.
Only Dumbledore, for some unknown reason, looked so relieved he was almost in tears.
Charlie fully opened the package, revealing the firebolt. Its smooth wooden handle, exquisite streamlined design, and neatly arranged fine twigs at the tail.
Under the light, it exuded a sense of understated luxury.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward and inspected it carefully.
She drew her wand, waved it over the broom, and muttered detection Spells.
After a few seconds, she shook her head: "I haven't found any obvious traces of a curse."
"But I'm not skilled in this, so it might not be accurate."
"Some curses are very subtle," Dumbledore interjected.
"Especially those elaborately designed Dark Arts; they can't be detected by simple checks."
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips.
"Such an item of unknown origin indeed needs a thorough inspection."
"Entrusting this to Professor Snape is also appropriate. Let Madam Hooch and Professor Snape check it together; Madam Hooch knows more about brooms."
"I hope Professor Snape can be as careful as possible during the inspection, as this broom is extremely valuable."
Professor McGonagall actually hoped Harry could ride this broom; she also wanted Gryffindor to win the quidditch cup.
But compared to the quidditch cup, she cared more about Harry's safety.
And at this moment, the most suitable Professor in the school to check the broom really was Snape, so Professor McGonagall could only hand the broom over to him.
Snape's face showed a gloomy smile.
"I will inspect this broom thoroughly."
But at least he'd wait until Gryffindor finished playing Slytherin before checking it... Snape's voice was like a poisonous snake discovering prey, but instead of fleeing, the prey delivered itself into its mouth.
Charlie saw Snape's smile and smiled innocently in return.
Sorry, Harry, there's no way I'm letting you score points in the match!
The two foxes, one old and one young, exchanged knowing smiles.
["Your Majesty is despicable and shameless, engaging in trickery and deceit. tyrant points +10"]
"I'll give you another chance to phrase that."
["Your Majesty is wise and mighty! Unparalleled in strategy!"]
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