Chapter 115: Does a Man Three Years Older Bring Prosperity? Plotting and Surveillance!

The drama by the hospital bed ended with an unexpected outcome.

After Eris said what she did, all the Hogwarts faculty members who were unaware of the truth, including Snape who was involved in the "romantic misfortune," believed her.

There was a difference in the degree of belief.

Seeing this, Dumbledore slowly removed the look of scrutiny from his eyes as he looked at Eris. His acting was truly masterful.

When it was time to leave, this centenarian had to talk in an official tone as the principal:

"Professor Eris, everyone understands the situation now. We can't entirely blame you for this, so there's no need for punishment. However, I must remind you not to misuse the Unforgivable Curses.

Also, your... feelings for Professor Snape... though we outsiders have no right to interfere, within Hogwarts, you need to be more careful with your actions. Don't let it affect the school's normal teaching and student life. Do you understand?"

"I'll be careful, Principal Dumbledore! And thank you all for not mocking my love."

Eris responded very sincerely. Her acting was so meticulous that she deserved a whole bunch of Oscars.

Professor McGonagall was obviously deeply moved by her acting. She was kept in the dark and thought she had witnessed a sincere love story, being greatly touched.

She slowly stepped forward, held Eris's pale and slender hand, and said very considerately:

"Professor Eris, no love should be mocked. You can rest assured. Although Professor Snape has a gloomy personality and doesn't usually like to communicate with others, he is extremely talented, powerful in magic, and knowledgeable. He's a good man. Your choice is right!

You should be brave enough to..."

"Minerva, the visiting hours set by Madam Pomfrey are over. Professor Eris needs to rest. Let's not disturb her."

Dumbledore interrupted Professor McGonagall's endless chatter. The reason he gave was very legitimate, but it was obviously not his real thought.

The real reason was that Dumbledore just couldn't stand it anymore.

Eris watched everyone leave the ward, a sneer rising in her heart.

Unexpectedly, Dudley, who was the last one, turned back and whispered to her:

"I seem to have misjudged you, Professor Eris. Please don't make things difficult for me in class from now on!"

"Don't worry, Teaching Assistant Dursley. Your suspicion was reasonable. If our positions were reversed, I'd have made the same choice as you."

Eris responded gently and politely, as always having high emotional intelligence.

"That's good." Dudley was as thick - skinned as ever. Without even apologizing, he just let go of the matter of openly opposing Professor Eris just now.

Eris was so angry that her face twitched slightly involuntarily, but she had to maintain her persona and could only continue to smile in response.

"By the way!" Dudley was about to leave when he suddenly turned back and asked in a startling manner, "Professor Eris, how old are you this year?"

"Teaching Assistant Dursley, it's not gentlemanly of you to ask. A lady's age is a secret."

Eris didn't know what new mischief Dudley was up to, so she gave a conservative response.

"Fine, forget it then."

Unexpectedly, Dudley turned around and walked away, giving her the silent treatment.

Eris's forehead was covered with a metaphorical black line (indicating annoyance), and her mood instantly soured. After a moment's hesitation, she slightly raised her voice a bit and shouted:

"I'm eighteen... twenty - eight years old this year."

Hearing this, Dudley stopped in his tracks, turned back, and smiled:

"Twenty - eight. Twenty - eight is great! Snape was born in 1960. He's exactly thirty - one this year, three years older than you.

There's a Chinese saying: 'If the man is three years older, he's like a mountain of gold (meaning good fortune and prosperity).' Professor Eris, you're going to strike it rich! Hahaha—"

After saying this, Dudley left with a strange laugh.

Only Eris was left slumped on the hospital bed, utterly confused and with a question mark on her face.

How could she know that Dudley had another saying that was more fitting for the future relationship between her and Snape.

If the man is three years older, they'll have a big falling - out (a Chinese saying for a less harmonious relationship).

Dudley was very much looking forward to Eris driving Snape crazy and causing a big stir.

Jie hahaha... (a maniacal laugh)

Dudley sneered inwardly as he walked out of the ward. Outside the door, Filch was waiting there, being very perceptive.

Dudley glanced at the ward door and gave Filch a wink. Filch immediately showed a sly and understanding smile, indicating that he got it.

Then, Dudley quickly caught up with the old man, who had walked some distance away.

Dumbledore was walking alone towards the headmaster's office at the moment. Seeing Dudley catch up, he immediately slowed down and silently cast a sound - proofing magic.

"Twice! I've shown you respect twice, Dumbledore." Dudley started the conversation bluntly.

"I know, but Dudley, you have to pay attention to the occasion, right?" Dumbledore was extremely helpless.

"I'll pay attention to the occasion, but you also have to promise me one thing."

Dudley directly revealed his true intention. "Don't tell Snape about Eris's background until there's really no other option.

I've got a hunch that Eris is going to be an absolutely perfect torture tool."

"Sigh... Alright! I promise you."

Dumbledore sighed deeply for Snape once again and agreed to Dudley's request.

Dudley nodded in satisfaction and started talking about other topics:

"I've temporarily asked Filch to keep an eye on Eris, but this definitely isn't a long - term solution. Filch isn't very good at staying hidden, and he has other jobs to do.

Peeves doesn't need to sleep, so he's more suitable for this surveillance job, but his invisibility isn't that great either. He might not be able to avoid Voldemort's main soul's perception. What's your plan?"

Dumbledore looked at Dudley in surprise. He had expected Filch, but Peeves?

Good grief! Dudley had only been enrolled for less than a week, and he had already tamed the two most hated characters in the Castle?

He strongly suspected that if this went on, he, the headmaster, would be upstaged by Dudley.

"Since you've tamed Peeves, I have some ideas."

Despite his surprise, Dumbledore didn't forget about the main matter. "Ask Peeves to come to the headmaster's office to see me. I'll modify and enhance him to ensure he can handle this job."

With a suitable candidate, or rather, a ghost candidate, Dumbledore was glad to have an easy job.

He would never wear the Invisibility Cloak himself and follow the young female professor around all day long!

It's a task that's hard to do well and doesn't sound good either.

"Alright, then it's settled. Peeves will go to the headmaster's office soon."

Dudley trusted Dumbledore's magic skills and means. This tricky matter was temporarily resolved.

After a brief discussion between Dudley and Dumbledore, they went their separate ways.

To outsiders, it seemed like they had just walked side by side for a short distance.

Guided by the general consciousness of Hogwarts, Dudley first found Peeves and asked him to go to the headmaster's office for a modification. Then he went back to the Gryffindor common room. He went to the Great Hall for breakfast with Harry and other first - years.

After breakfast, they went to the spell - casting classes classroom together.

It's Thursday. The first - year Gryffindors have spell - casting classes and Transfiguration in the morning.

They have flying classes in the afternoon.

Their schedule is quite full.