Chapter 24: The Spy
Just as the iron triangle was in conflict, Vaughn was stopping Professor Snape.
“Professor, do you have time this weekend? I have some questions I’d like to ask you.”
Snape glanced at him from the corner of his eye and said curtly, “No ti—”
But Vaughn acted as if he hadn’t heard, and continued respectfully, “Many potions don’t have recipes available on the market, and I’ve already mastered the foundational ones. You don’t know how happy I was when I received my Hogwarts letter.”
“From the time I brewed my first Blood Replenishing Potion at the age of eight, I’ve hoped to become your student one day.”
“……”
Snape swallowed the words he was about to say. His lips twitched a few times, as if trying to conceal his emotional fluctuation.
“Sunday,” he said, “in the evening. Don’t be late!”
“Thank you very much, Professor, I will be there on time!”
Snape quickly left, the loud footsteps of his leather shoes hitting the floor seeming much lighter than usual.
Vaughn was also very happy.
He needed Reputation Points to increase his Power, and currently, Potions had the greatest effect on spreading his Reputation. At least, he had been deeply involved in this field for several years and had a theoretical Foundation.
From now on, as long as he could learn advanced Potions and improve his knowledge, it would not only greatly enhance his understanding of Potions and Materials, optimize Recipes, and verify his own theories, but he could also consider developing new Potions.
The “Vaughn’s Beauty” series was only suitable for making money; its effect on Reputation had already reached its limit.
Having received Snape’s promise, Vaughn, in a good mood that evening, went to the Ravenclaw Common Room to hang out— the logical riddle password posed by the bronze door was not difficult for him.
When he and Guo Guo Cha mixed a pile of snacks from the senior students and prepared to take a walk by the Black Lake to aid digestion, he saw Hermione sitting by the Lakeside.
As night fell, the wind picked up. The water of the Black Lake rippled under the night sky. A giant Squid swam in the lake, and in the distance, several Gryffindors seemed to be feeding it.
“I heard from Fred and George that the big Squid is Gryffindor transformed.”
Hermione, staring blankly at the Black Lake, was startled when she suddenly heard someone speak.
She quickly wiped her face, and as she looked up, she saw Vaughn sitting beside her, handing her a piece of Chocolate: “Here, eat this. It might make you feel a little better.”
Vaughn’s Bag was filled with many Candies, bulging.
Guo Guo Cha, holding a piece of jerky, wagged its head and played at their feet.
Hermione knew he must have just come from Ravenclaw; he and Guo Guo Cha were very popular with the girls there.
“Thank you……”
She thanked him in a low voice, then looked at the large Squid in the lake and couldn’t help but retort, “Gryffindor was a person from a thousand years ago. How could something he transformed into still be alive? They must be talking nonsense.”
As soon as she spoke, Hermione felt a bit regretful.
Why couldn’t she control her mouth? Did she have to be so pedantic at a time like this?
Was her personality really that bad?
Vaughn noticed her unusual mood and, after thinking for a moment, asked, “Did you have a falling out with Harry and Ron?”
“Uh… how did you know?”
“You don’t usually come here to space out. You’re either in the Library or on your way to it,” Vaughn said with a smile. “Up to now, it seems you only get along well with us. Besides them two provoking you, I can’t think of anyone else who would make you hide here.”
Hermione froze. She hadn’t noticed before, but thinking about it carefully, she seemed to not have any friends.
Besides Vaughn, the only two others, today…
Her mood growing more dejected, the girl pursed her lips.
After a moment of silence, she still recounted Ron’s grumbling about her behind her back.
After finishing, she asked in a low voice, “Vaughn, do I really annoy people? I just… I just want everyone to follow the rules.”
She had initially expected to hear comfort, as Vaughn was always humorous, warm, and a little mischievous.
But she heard Vaughn nod: “A little bit!”
“……”
Vaughn patted her thin shoulders and looked into the distance against the night breeze:
“Far from England, there’s a country with a proverb that means honest advice sounds harsh.”
“Of course, this isn’t a problem with you or anyone else, but human nature. People always love to avoid their own mistakes. When someone constantly reminds them, they will instinctively resist.”
At this moment, Hermione, looking up at him, suddenly found that he possessed an indescribable aura.
Such words, spoken at his young age, would normally be strange.
It would seem like he was trying too hard to act mature.
But at this moment, he was so natural, as if time itself would settle around him, making it hard to notice anything unusual.
She asked blankly, “But why have you never found me… annoying?”
“Because I like this sincerity!”
Under Vaughn’s smiling gaze, Hermione’s cheeks turned a bright red, and then she heard him say, “The more you’ve been through, the more you realize how precious a friend like you is. Ron is still naive; he doesn’t understand these things.”
Hermione suddenly wanted to ask, why do you understand?
But for some reason, she felt she might not get an answer.
There are always some things people are unwilling to talk about.
She didn’t know what to say for a moment.
They sat quietly by the lake, feeling the wind, watching a large Squid swim and flip a small Boat with its tentacles, causing the Gryffindor students on it to fall into the water with screams, and then laugh.
“Hermione, no matter what, for my sake, forgive Ron, and please keep an eye on them for me.”
Hermione heard Vaughn say.
She didn’t quite understand: “What do you mean?”
Vaughn smiled first, then showed some helplessness: “Harry’s situation is complicated. Dumbledore seems to be testing him. I’m uneasy with Ron following him, but I have no reason to break up their friendship.”
“So, I hope you’ll help me watch them. If anything happens, make sure I know!”
Hermione was a bit surprised. She understood the hidden meaning and couldn’t help but lower her voice: “Are you saying Harry will be in danger at school?”
“Not danger, but a test, but…”
Vaughn spread his hands. “No one can ensure everything is under control, not even Dumbledore.”
Hermione’s head was a bit chaotic. She really wanted to ask Vaughn exactly what he knew.
But Vaughn had already gotten up and left with Guo Guo Cha. Before leaving, he gave her a few more pieces of Chocolate:
“That’s it. Go back and rest early, Hermione.”
Finally, he turned back and smiled, saying, “Keep it a secret, my spy.”
Hermione blushed again, completely forgetting what she wanted to ask.
Vaughn, who was leaving, had a calm expression. He had never considered following The Boy Who Lived.
The goals he had set for his Hogwarts learning career were, first, to study Potions and spread his Reputation, and second, to learn advanced Magic and accumulate Power.
With these goals set, he didn’t have the energy to pay attention to every move of The Boy Who Lived.
