Chapter 33 Do What I Want to Do

[This matter of his could have been handled lightly or severely.]

Ghost Snape in Severus's body said coldly.

[Leaving aside the theft of the potion, since you've taken responsibility for brewing it, as long as you don't admit it was stolen, then it wasn't theft.]

[As for drugging that Muggle, it does violate the Wizard's Law. But if it can be proven afterward that his actions weren't harmful, and that the Muggle had consented and both parties were willing, then it wouldn't constitute a serious crime. Strictly speaking, even an enhanced version of the Draught of Living Death isn't exactly a lethal poison.]

[The only hard-to-measure part is the violation of the International Statute of Secrecy. Only the Wizengamot members can decide how severe that offense.]

Hearing this, Severus internally picked up where Ghost Snape left off.

'This was originally a minor crime, but now that it has been escalated into such a mess, so it can't possibly be dismissed with a light sentence. In addition, Sanguini is not a wizard, but a vampire. His status in the Wizarding World is not much higher than that of a werewolf. I can't imagine the Wizengamot letting this slide easily.'

Ghost Snape's voice was cold.

[He will be sentenced to five years in Azkaban at the very least.]

Severus said calmly, 'But Azkaban isn't a place most can endure. If Sanguini is truly imprisoned there, he'll be sucked dry by the Dementors in less than two years.'

[So what?] Ghost Snape said indifferently, [This is the consequence he deserves. A vampire, daring to steal potions, expose magic to a Muggle, and kidnap a child!]

Severus didn't argue that Sanguini was innocent. Instead, he asked another question.

'Sanguini's fate is to be sucked dry by Dementors in Azkaban. What about Patty?'

[After she is rescued, the Obliviators will come to deal with her.] Ghost Snape said dismissively, [She was never supposed to know that vampire. After this, her life will return to normal.]

'Normal? I dare say without Sanguini, trapped in that family of hers, she'd find a way to kill herself within two years… just like how she didn't hesitate to jump off that building in the first place.'

[So what?] Ghost Snape's face was full of coldness and inhumanity, [They brought this on themselves.]

Severus didn't continue the conversation with Ghost Snape. Instead, he turned to Harry, who had regained his composure beside him.

"If we hand these two over to the Aurors now, Sanguini will be sentenced to Azkaban, where he'll be sucked dry by creatures called Dementors. When Patty wakes up, she'll have all her memories of magic and Sanguini erased by the Obliviators, and before long, she'll end her own life."

"Harry, do you think this outcome is what they deserve?"

Harry looked at Severus in shock, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Why would it be like this? Neither of them wanted to hurt anyone! They just wanted to escape, and Sanguini just wanted to take Patty to the place she's always dreamed of going! Why should they die for that?"

"Because one of them is a vampire, and the other is a disabled girl. They are two outcasts with no status or dignity, yet they've made this into a huge spectacle."

Severus said calmly.

"The bigwigs at the top won't sympathize with them, nor will they care why they did all this. They'll only see this as a prime example to punish to the fullest extent of the law."

"That's not fair!" Harry shook his head and shouted. He looked into Severus's eyes and said earnestly, "Professor, I think any normal person would agree this isn't fair! They shouldn't be punished like this!"

Hearing Harry's response, Severus was satisfied.

He also said sarcastically to Ghost Snape in his heart.

'Did you hear that? You freak, even Harry says you're not normal!'

Ghost Snape wasn't bothered by Severus rallying others to his side. He just sneered.

[Those who hold the power decide who's the freak! And clearly, the ones in power will only think the same way I do!]

Severus remained noncommittal, 'Then let's set aside the issue of who holds the power of discourse for now. Just between people who think like Harry and people who think like you… which group makes up the majority in the Wizarding World?'

The answer to this question was obvious. As Harry had said, the emotions of the general public were simple and straightforward.

Any normal person, after understanding the full picture, would never believe that Sanguini and Patty deserved such an ending.

So, Ghost Snape did not answer the question, but instead said, [But their story won't get out. Even if some obscure tabloids report it, who would believe the testimony of a vampire and an unknown writer with no credibility?]

[After capturing them, the Ministry will rush to trial and sentencing, just to wrap this up as quickly as possible.]

After saying this, he warned Severus as well.

[And the same goes for you. This matter should be over after these two people are caught, and the task assigned to you by Dumbledore will be completed. As long as the two of them are handed over to the Aurors, it will be enough to offset the potion incident. After all, they were the ones who stole the potion in the first place!]

Hearing his words, Severus merely smiled. Instead of responding directly, he suddenly asked a completely unrelated question, 'Let's hypothesize… If I hadn't become you, and you were still just yourself, and you told Dumbledore you wanted to take Harry away for a trip… do you think Dumbledore would have agreed?'

Ghost Snape fell silent for a moment, then his voice became irritated.

[You don't need to twist things to refute me! We're only discussing this matter at hand. The only thing you can do now is hand these two over to the Aurors. After that, at most, you could ask Dumbledore to speak on their behalf during the trial to reduce their sentences! And then, as an extra, keep an eye on that crippled Muggle so she doesn't kill herself!]

[What else can you possibly do besides that?]

Severus didn't immediately answer Ghost Snape's question. First, he flicked his wand, lowering Sanguini and Worple, who had been hanging upside down in midair.

Then, he looked at them and said seriously, "If you're caught by the Aurors, the Ministry will punish you severely, and other wizards who don't know the truth will only cheer for it."

"Because they don't know what a vampire and a disabled Muggle could have gone through. They'll just think, 'Freaks will always be freaks… that poor Muggle was harmed by you. She should have lived just fine in her own family. This was all just your own delusion!'"

Sanguini looked as if his soul had been drained. He sat slumped on the ground, dazed.

Worple didn't say anything either. He lowered his head, covering his face, trembling silently.

There was a brief silence in the cabin until Severus spoke again.

"But it would be different if I joined in!"

This sudden declaration stunned everyone, both the humans and the ghost!

Harry's eyes widened as he stared at his teacher.

Sanguini looked up blankly.

Worple's body trembled violently.

Ghost Snape seemed to have sensed something and his expression became extremely ugly!

Severus crossed his legs, and facing everyone's gaze, he said cheerfully.

"Just think about it. If the Aurors were to uncover that the ex-Death Eater whitewashed by Dumbledore, the current Head of Slytherin House at Hogwarts, the Potions Professor, the Potions Master, the Master of Dark Arts, and the Master of Defense Against the Dark Arts in the Wizarding World, Severus Snape, was actually involved in this Muggle poisoning case, and might even be the mastermind behind it..."

"Merlin's beard! The editors and reporters at the magical newspapers would go mad. This would undoubtedly be the most explosive scandal since Voldemort's fall!"

"They'd spare no effort digging up the details, exaggerating the reports… it would be a media frenzy!"

While Harry, Sanguini, and Worple were still frozen in shock at Severus's words…

Ghost Snape roared, [What on earth are you trying to do!!]

Severus smiled.

"Of course, I'm going to do what I want to do."