Chapter 198: Snape (3)

Orli released her hand, and Dobby suddenly seemed to recall something. "Dobby has seen this gentleman before, back at Malfoy Manor..."

"Malfoy Manor?" Snape raised an eyebrow, stepping closer to scrutinize Dobby before glancing at Orli.

"So, Lucius' house-elf ended up with you? You certainly have a knack for inviting trouble."

Dobby gasped and shrank behind the sofa, peeking out timidly. "Sir knows the old master! Sir knows the old master!"

"Dobby, don't be afraid," Orli reassured him. "He won't take you back. You're free now."

"This gentleman is a good person."

"A good person?" Snape's voice came from behind her, dripping with silent derision.

"But this gentleman is staying! For two whole months! Dobby was worried the rain would ruin the herbs and rushed back, only to find Miss Orli secretly letting a gentleman stay overnight! Without telling Dobby!" Dobby rambled indignantly.

"Alright, I'm sorry, Dobby," Orli raised her hands in surrender.

"This is Professor Snape. He really is my professor. We're conducting potion research at home. Do you understand?"

"You apologized to a house-elf?" Snape sounded as if he'd heard the most absurd joke.

"Why waste your concern on such inferior creatures?"

Inferior creatures? Orli suddenly realized that Snape, once a Death Eater and a true Slytherin, could never see house-elves as equals. According to Dobby, his treatment at Malfoy Manor was no better than that of pests like doxies and goblins.

"Dobby is not an inferior creature!" Dobby raised a hand angrily at Snape, his fingertips glinting coldly.

"Dobby is free! Miss Orli pays Dobby wages!!"

"You actually pay him wages?!" Snape raised a hand casually, sending Dobby flying onto the carpet. Thankfully, he held back enough not to injure him.

"Dobby!" Orli rushed over to help Dobby up. After confirming he was unharmed, she turned sharply to Snape.

"Professor, I was raised by house-elves. They are not inferior creatures!"

Snape seemed taken aback by her revelation. He stood there, as if about to speak, but ultimately said nothing.

"Sir attacked Dobby," Dobby muttered with a hint of grievance.

"If Miss Orli wants to give Dobby a male master, Dobby would rather choose Harry Potter. Harry Potter used to stay here during the summer. Why didn't he come this year?"

Orli's face turned crimson instantly. She couldn't fathom how Dobby's mind worked! Meanwhile, Snape's face turned a dangerous shade of gray.

"Potter? Stayed here during the summer?" he repeated in a low, threatening tone.

"Harry only stayed for two nights, and one of them was on the carpet!" Orli quickly explained, forgetting her earlier irritation.

"He ran away from his aunt's house and had nowhere to go, so I took him in temporarily!"

Snape's expression softened slightly. His gaze lingered on Orli's back. She was still wearing her nightgown, revealing a large expanse of smooth, unblemished skin. Her recovery seemed to be going well.

"Put your clothes on properly," he said, turning to head upstairs while buttoning his shirt with one hand.

"If your 'free' house-elf still knows how to work, have him prepare breakfast quickly. We have much to do today."

Orli looked up at his retreating figure. She couldn't tell if it was her imagination, but Snape's hair seemed cleaner and smoother than before.

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Notes:

Do you remember at the beginning of the third year, Orli was scratched by a Hippogriff, leaving a deep and long wound on her back? Snape specially made a scar-free potion for her (though he never mentioned it, and the potion was given directly to Madam Pomfrey). Orli later found out the truth by chance (Snape told her not to eat sweets during the healing process).

It's worth noting that the wound-cleaning potion used by others was a purple, smoky, foul-smelling substance (referencing Harry's fight with the dragon in Goblet of Fire). Meanwhile, the ointment Madam Pomfrey applied to Orli at the time felt cool and soothing, even in her semi-conscious state.

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