Chapter 34 Then Show It to Everyone

Diagon Alley, Slug & Jiggers Apothecary.

At noon, an Auror team led personally by Kingsley and Robards raided London's largest potion ingredients store.

They obtained the shop's recent three-month sales records from the proprietor, Jiggle, and finally uncovered the most valuable lead so far.

"On June 12th, you sold a large quantity of wormwood essence, sopophorous beans, valerian root, and asphodel to a single wizard in one transaction."

Robards stared at the apothecary owner in front of him with unfriendly eyes.

"These are all standard ingredients for brewing the Draught of Living Death. Are you aware of this?"

Jiggle, the apothecary owner, nodded quickly.

"I handle most of the sales in the shop myself. I remember this transaction."

Kingsley's attitude was obviously much gentler than Robards's. He patted his colleague on the shoulder, signaling that he would take over the questioning.

"So Mr. Jiggle, do you recall who purchased these ingredients?"

Jiggle glanced at Kingsley, then at Robards. He hesitated for less than three seconds before abandoning any pretense of professional confidentiality regarding customer information.

"It's a house-elf called Laka! It serves the Slughorn Family!"

After hearing this answer, Kingsley and Robards couldn't help but look at each other, both seeing excitement in each other's eyes!

The Aurors had never considered the Muggle angle in their investigation, but by focusing solely on the Wizarding World, they had still managed to uncover a critical lead.

Without any hesitation, Robards Apparated away from Diagon Alley with his men. Kingsley, remembering his manners, thanked the visibly shaken shopkeeper before leaving.

"Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Jiggle!"

…

The Slugghorn Family's old home was no secret to most of the Wizarding World, especially among well-known witches and wizards.

Soon, under Robards and Kingsley's direction, the Aurors had the old manor surrounded, even preparing countermeasures against Apparition.

Afterwards, out of respect for the elderly, highly esteemed former Hogwarts professor… a contemporary of Dumbledore's who had taught for half a lifetime, the two senior Aurors didn't bring their subordinates inside.

Instead, they knocked on the door and were led by the house-elf Laka to Slughorn's reception room.

The portly old man with walrus-like whiskers appeared far calmer and more relaxed now that the moment had arrived.

He gestured for the two elite Aurors to sit and had Laka serve tea and pastries.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Robards remained silent and just drank his tea, while Kingsley went straight to the point and spoke proactively, "Mr. Slughorn, we've discovered that on the 12th of last month, you instructed your house-elf to purchase a large quantity of potion ingredients from Diagon Alley?"

Slughorn seemed to deliberate for a moment before answering.

Seeing this scene, Kingsley braced himself for evasive excuses or justifications.

But to both his and Robards' surprise, the former Hogwarts' Head of Slytherin House, who valued his reputation so much, actually admitted it directly after only hesitating for a few seconds!

"You've investigated correctly. I bought those ingredients, and that enhanced Draught of Living Death is indeed connected to me."

Robards was the first to react.

"So you admit you lied during the Aurors' initial inquiry? That the enhanced Draught of Living Death was brewed by you and distributed from your hands?"

Slughorn leaned back comfortably in his armchair, and he could actually smile at this moment.

"Mr. Robards, I only admitted the potion is connected to me. I never said I brewed it myself, nor that someone took it from me."

Robards frowned and his face turned gloomy.

Compared to him, Kingsley remained far more composed, and he opened his mouth to ask, "Are you saying... you procured the ingredients, but someone else actually brewed the potion?"

"I may have offered a small suggestion, but the one who truly brewed that Draught of Living Death was my former student, Severus."

Slughorn didn't beat around the bush. As agreed, he gave them Severus's name.

However, this news made both Robards and Kingsley leap to their feet.

"Snape!"

"Professor Snape?"

Contrary to before, Robards' eyes now gleamed with excitement, while Kingsley's face twisted into a grimace.

"Are you certain, Professor Slughorn? From this moment onward, you will be held accountable for every word you say!"

"If you don't believe me, you're welcome to summon Severus here." Slughorn said casually, "He was the one who asked me to lie to the Aurors in the first place. Once you bring him in, we can confront him directly."

Robards turned to Kingsley.

"Where is Snape now? You said you already had someone watching him."

Kingsley stared at Slughorn for a long moment before answering slowly, "He is at Badminton Estate. With that student of his."

…

Seven miles from Badminton Estate, inside an abandoned hunter's hut.

After hearing what Severus said, Harry, Sanguini and Worple all gaped at him, stunned into silence.

After nearly 10 seconds, the first person to react was Worple.

After all, he is a writer, and he quickly understood what Severus meant.

He pointed at Sanguini, and said, "P-Professor Snape... you mean... you're saying you're going to help him?"

Severus neither confirmed nor denied it outright.

"Don't mistake me for some selfless saint. I am helping him, but not entirely for his sake."

He had been moved by Sanguini and Patty's story, but he wasn't so altruistic as to act purely out of sympathy.

Apart from the fact that he didn't want to see this poor pair of 'outcasts', who had always been together for warmth, meet a tragic end, another reason was because of Dumbledore.

He intervened in this matter because Dumbledore wanted him to step into the light.

Well, since he was going to step into the light, he might as well make it spectacular!

He'll make a big fuss about this matter and let the entire Wizarding World see exactly what kind of man Severus Snape, who is no longer greasy, is now!

Sanguini, who had finally reacted at this time, was at a loss as to what to do. He wiped the tears from his face and kept thanking Severus.

"Professor Snape... thank you! Truly, thank you... I… I don't know what to say... but..."

However, Harry remained silent at this time.

His eyes were a little dazed. While he was young, it didn't mean he couldn't think.

Severus had outright claimed to be one of his parents' killers in that rain-soaked alley, making Harry believe his teacher was anything but a good man.

'Yet now, what is Professor doing?'

'In the Wizarding World, is this something that only people who follow the Dark Lord would do?'

Just when Harry was feeling confused, Severus had already stood up from his chair.

"If you want to save yourselves and Patty, then from this moment on, you have to follow my lead."

The moment he spoke, all three pairs of eyes locked onto him. Sanguini and Worple now looked at him with the devotion of loyal followers!

"The first step is to steal Patty out of Badminton Estate!"