Under the dim light, Snape had been staring at the letter for an hour.
The Resurrection Stone...
Snape had of course heard of the Deathly Hallows.
Even though his childhood had not been particularly pleasant, his mother had read him the 'Tales of Beedle the Bard' which included the 'Tale of the Three Brothers'.
After Lily's death, Snape had briefly wanted to find the Resurrection Stone.
But he had no clue where to start, and he had even thought that the Deathly Hallows was just a made-up term from a bedtime story.
Now someone had found the Resurrection Stone!
Snape would have dismissed it as nonsense if anyone else had mentioned it.
But Andy Collins...
The thought of that young wizard made Snape's face darken.
To be fair, any professor would love a bright, eager young wizard.
But Andy Collins was different.
Snape always felt that Andy was dangerous. Every time he taught Andy, Snape felt like he was teaching the next Dark Lord.
The young wizard was intelligent and quick-witted, with unparalleled talent in magic. He was fanatically pursuing power, just like Voldemort when he was a student.
After only two years of learning magic, his power had already surpassed his own!
Thinking about that duel in the Forbidden Forest, Snape's expression suddenly turned extremely ugly.
However, Snape did not mind teaching the Dark Lord.
He also revered dark magic, and when he was young, he even followed a real Dark Lord.
If it weren't for the need to protect Lily and her child, Snape felt that he might not have betrayed Voldemort.
"The Resurrection Stone..." Snape muttered to himself.
Although Andy had written in the letter that the Resurrection Stone could not resurrect the dead, it could only summon their souls.
But even just seeing Lily again for a moment was more than enough for Snape – he never dared hope for more.
What's more, Andy had also mentioned in his letter that he was studying the Resurrection Stone and had discovered something very interesting.
Snape didn't think Andy was just making things up.
Andy had made a deal, so he must have been sure of it, and he was sure that he would agree.
This feeling of being manipulated is very annoying.
But Snape really couldn't refuse.
Besides, Snape was also very interested in the 'dark green potion' Andy had mentioned.
If Andy was willing to 'lend the Resurrection Stone' as a bargaining chip, the dark green potion must involve a very big secret.
After a long time...
Snape threw Andy's letter onto the table, took out a new piece of paper, and wrote on it: August 15, 3:00 p.m., private room on the second floor of the Three Broomsticks.
***
Andy received Snape's reply at 11:00 noon on the 15th of August, leaving four hours until the meeting.
After lunch, Andy accompanied Isabel for a while, and when Helen had finished tidying the kitchen, Andy stood up with a worried look on his face.
"Mum, there's something I want to talk to you about," Andy said hesitantly.
"What is it?" Helen asked.
"Er...we better go somewhere quieter," Andy suggested.
"Annoying Andy, is there a secret you can't tell me?" Isabel cried discontentedly.
"This is an adult matter!"
Andy rubbed the little girl's head and said, "I'll buy you snacks tonight."
Isabel instantly changed her position and chimed in, "Mum, Andy may be in a bit of trouble."
Helen stared at Isabel in disbelief, then tilted her head and said, "Let's go to the potions room and talk!"
"No problem!" Andy said.
Once they were inside the potions room, Andy waved his wand to lock the door and cast an Imperturbable Charm to ensure that Isabel wouldn't hear anything from the outside.
"What is it? Out with it!" Helen asked casually as she checked the brewing of the potion.
Up until now, Helen had never thought that Andy could have some big and dangerous secrets.
After all, he was only thirteen.
What kind of big secrets could a thirteen-year-old have?
Even if he had made a mistake, at most he would have hit someone else's child. As Andy's mother, there was no shame in her helping to apologise.
Because she didn't think Andy could lose.
"Ahem!"
Andy cleared his throat and said, "Mum, here's the thing. I want Professor Snape to analyse the ingredients and effects of a potion."
"But before that, I have to make an unbreakable vow with him to ensure that he won't reveal any secrets."
"I would like to ask you to be our witness."
Helen: "…"
Helen felt that she might have heard it wrong.
To ask a professor to help analyse the ingredients and effects of a potion…does such a thing require an unbreakable vow?
What kind of potion is it?
An elixir of immortality made with a Philosopher's stone?
"Why did you go to that Slytherin?" Helen was a little resentful.
"Well..."
Andy pondered for a moment, and then said carefully, "Because this potion is a bit special, I... I got it from the Department of Mysteries's Brain Room."
Helen: "..."
What did you say?
Helen pressed her temples. She felt that her child might have gone crazy.
"Where did you get it?" Helen asked incredulously.
"The Brain Room!" Andy said.
"The Department of Mysteries's Brian Room?" Helen tried to confirm once more, hoping to hear a negative answer.
"Mmm!" Andy nodded pitifully.
"Oh, Merlin!"
Helen stared at Andy with wide eyes, "So, the person who attacked the Ministry the night before last... was you?"
"Mmm!" Andy nodded innocently.
"Perhaps before long I'll have to visit you in Azkaban." Helen's heart sank.
"Don't worry, Mum, I didn't leave any evidence."
Andy hastened to reassure her. "With those arrogant Aurors at the Ministry, they'll never suspect me, even if they had a hundred years."
Helen: "..."
Is that the point?
"Why did you do it?" Helen felt as if she could hardly breathe.
"To study magic,"
Andy said, "The Department of Mysteries has always been researching the ultimate mysteries of magic, and I want to get the research data there."
This reason...
Okay! This is something Andy could do.
"Andy, seriously, can you recall whether you have left any evidence behind?" Helen asked again.
Andy put his hands up and said, "Dad already told us the answer when he came home from work last night!"
Helen: "..."
Kyle came home from work last night and said that the Aurors have been investigating the Ministry's internal employees. They suspect that the person who infiltrated the Department of Mysteries was an insider.
The Apparition was prohibited inside the Ministry of Magic, and no one left that night.
So it can only be an insider!
Helen looked at Andy fixedly. She felt a little incredulous.
Not only was my son able to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic without anyone noticing, but he was also able to fight five Aurors, including Scrimgeour, and fool the entire Ministry.
Are you aiming to become the Dark Lord?
----
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