Chapter 266 Library and Auditorium

In the afternoon, it really snowed. The clouds were overcast and the cold wind howled outside the glass window. All the lights in the library were lit, and the fireplace in the sitting area was burning brightly.

Anthony sat on the velvet sofa with his notebook and two ghastly flesh-and-blood magic documents, leaning on the small round table. His shoes and trouser legs were warmed by the flames dancing a few feet away.

The worse the weather was, the more he liked the library. The soft crackle of firewood beside him merged with the swishing of others turning pages and the scratching of quill tips on parchment, like some kind of warm and eternal shelter from the howling cold wind. and the long, severe winter firmly blocking the door. And, somehow, in the soft, rustling sounds of the library, anyone could understand that the blizzard or the darkness was bound to fail.

He spent the whole afternoon in the library, half of the time studying flesh magic, and half of the time reading a small book about the habits of fire dragons, and carefully comparing the black and white illustrations with Noble's behavior in his own memory. By nightfall, he had decided to give Norbert a chunk of apple wood soaked in brandy for Christmas.

Anthony closed the book and realized that he had almost forgotten to eat dinner again. He stood up just in time to see Professor Sprout and Snape enter the library.

Professor Sprout had a happy expression on his face and nodded to several students who were walking towards him. Under the patched wizard hat, her nose, cheeks and ears were all red, obviously she had just come back from outdoors.

Snape was as sullen as ever. The student hurried past him cautiously, clutching his book or bag tightly, trying his best to keep Snape's attention away from him.

"Good suggestion, Severus, I should really plant some sniffers," Professor Sprout said. "The Sylvanos sniffers would be very happy... Ah, good evening, Henry. I don't have any." Saw you at dinner."

"I'm going to the lobby," Anthony said, gesturing for her to look at the notebook in his hand. "I've been in the library all afternoon."

"There are fried fish and steak tonight." Professor Sprout told him. "The fish is fried with butter and sprinkled with black pepper. It is very delicious."

"I'm already looking forward to it." Anthony said, "By the way, Pomona, have you found the shopping list?"

Professor Sprout said "Oh": "No, but I can remember the names of a few of them. It would be great if you could help me confirm whether Flourishes and Blotts Bookstore has the series "Magical Plants from Various Places and Their Characteristics" ... Well, I think I already have "Mediterranean Magical Aquatic Plants and Their Properties", so I don't need this one... In addition, there are also "Carnivorous Trees and Carnivorous Grass Care Encyclopedia" and "Africa and Asia" Supplement to Hallucinogenic Plants" "Atlas of Fungi"..."

"Wait a minute, Pomona." Anthony said funnyly, reopening his notebook and turning to the last page, ""Magical Plants and Their Characteristics of Various Places", you don't need the Mediterranean one...what else are there?"

"Ah, of course." Professor Sprout said, speaking slowly, ""Carnivorous Trees and Carnivorous Grasses Care Encyclopedia". The plants in the second greenhouse have not been very energetic recently... probably because they moved too much. , but I ate less.”

Anthony didn't know whether he should express sympathy for these carnivorous grasses that served as pillows: "Well..."

While Professor Sprout was announcing the title of a book, Snape caught a student bringing a sugar quill into the library.

He deducted three points from Hufflepuff, while Mrs. Pince angrily pointed at the framed notice hanging above the entrance to the library: "If you simply can't read, then don't come to the library!" Article 107: No one is allowed to bring any form of food into the library, including food that has not yet rotten or that has rotten!”

Anthony looked up and said in surprise: "Kevin?"

"Mr. Anthony - er, Professor Anthony," Kevin Jones, a first-year Hufflepuff, whispered. He was holding a roll of parchment, from which the ends of several quills protruded.

Kevin glanced at Snape and said to Professor Sprout guiltily: "I'm sorry, Professor Sprout, but I had no intention of eating it in the library - I just forgot that it was not an ordinary feather. Pen, I forgot to take it out."

The skeptical looks on Snape's and Mrs. Pince's faces showed that they didn't think this was a valid reason at all.

Professor Sprout smiled kindly at Kevin: "It doesn't matter, it's normal. I forget things sometimes. Give the delicious quill to Mrs. Pince - that's right - okay, Just do what you originally wanted to do.”

Kevin said happily: "Okay, Professor Sprout, I wish you a good evening! Goodbye, Professor Anthony!" He glanced at Snape again and added politely, "Goodbye, Professor Snape , Mrs. Pince.”

"Goodbye," Anthony said, watching Kevin disappear behind rows of tall bookshelves.

Kevin still wears his sneakers and has a T-Rex sticker on the side of his right shoe. The Tyrannosaurus rex hopped away as he walked, its mouth wide open in protest at all the books Kevin passed.

"This year's Hufflepuff freshman," Professor Sprout said, "Do you know him, Henry?"

Anthony nodded and wrote in his notebook the last title Professor Sprout announced: "We are neighbors."

"Oh, I see." Professor Sprout said with understanding. "Jones is an outgoing and kind student. I can imagine that he is trying to make friends with his neighbors. They must be surprised to know that you are a professor at Hogwarts."

Anthony laughed: "Yes." He recalled how the Joneses complained about Snape's indifference, and couldn't help looking at Snape. Snape caught his gaze sharply and looked back coldly.

Anthony wondered if Snape had also noticed the different ethos of Hufflepuff and Slytherin. If Kevin, as a Muggle-born student, was somehow sorted into Slytherin by the Sorting Hat, his school life would definitely not be what it is now, and he probably wouldn't be so lively and happy to greet the professors.

Snape asked: "What's wrong, Professor Anthony?"

"Nothing." Anthony shrugged, lowered his head and looked through the list of books again, "Have you decided which books you want to buy, Professor Snape?"

"No." Snape said simply. From his tone, Anthony heard "and there is no need to ask this question in the future." Obviously, Snape's words did not mean that he really wanted to buy any books through Anthony's bookstore clerk friend, but just to embarrass Lockhart.

Professor Sprout said: "But, Severus, didn't you just say that three or four of the papers cited by Damocles were included in several hard-to-find collections of papers?"

Snape said: "I don't think Flourish and Blotts-"

"You have to try, Severus!" Professor Sprout said.

Anthony also said: "You may not believe how many strange books are stored in Flourish and Blotts, Professor Snape."

Professor Sprout encouraged: "One more opportunity to ask is never a bad thing."

Snape hesitated, walked forward a little, and stretched out his hand to signal Anthony to hand him the pen.

Anthony watched Snape quickly write down several overly long book titles on paper, and was surprised to notice that Snape did know how to use a fountain pen. He even shook it impatiently when the ink got stuck, instead of dipping the pen tip back into the ink bottle as wizards usually do.

"These three books," Snape said.

Anthony glanced at it and didn't try to read the string of reports, papers and longer subtitles from a certain year and month of a certain Potions Conference in a certain place. He closed the notebook and nodded to Professor Sprout and Snape: "Okay, I'll let you know next week if Flourish and Blotts has found what you want. But now, I need to leave quickly - maybe I can catch some butter fried fish."

Professor Sprout's eyes widened: "Oh, God, of course! Go ahead, Henry. I'm so sorry."

After saying goodbye to Professor Sprout and Snape, Anthony walked quickly to the hall and heard Professor Sprout persuading Snape to be more friendly to his colleagues behind him. Snape caught another couple sharing chocolate frogs in the library and deducted ten points from Gryffindor.

…

Anthony met many students leaving the hall along the way. Each of them was full and ruddy, talking and laughing loudly with their friends. He nodded to the students who greeted him, squeezed through a group of black school robes, and came to the auditorium exuding the aroma of food.

The half-empty long table was still filled with silver plates, which were filled with overly rich food. The auditorium was brightly lit, and the students who were still sitting at the table swept the remaining food on the plate, while not forgetting to talk to the people next to them, making the auditorium echo with buzzing voices.

There was no one in the staff seat, but Anthony still had time to take a portion of fried fish and scooped four spoonfuls of mashed potatoes. Professor Sprout was right. This was indeed the best fried fish he had eaten since entering Hogwarts. The house elves must have made a lot of efforts.

Anthony couldn't help but think of Pettigrew's body that was moved away by Toot. According to what the house elf told him, he suspected that Toot was referring to the Room of Requirement.

He took a bite of mashed potatoes, firmly suppressed what happened in Azkaban at the bottom of his mind, and made up his mind to concentrate on enjoying dinner.

…

When Anthony started to drink pumpkin juice, he saw Professor McGonagall walk into the hall, avoid a few students who wiped their mouths and hurried away, look around, and walk towards the staff seats.

"Minerva," Anthony called, noticing the dark circles under her eyes as Professor McGonagall pulled up a chair and sat down beside him. "Are you all right? Have you had dinner?"

"Not yet," said Professor McGonagall, leaning back slightly, allowing herself to rest on the back of her chair. "I've arranged a grave for Peter Pettigrew, near his mother."

Anthony poured her a glass of pumpkin juice. "Will he... um, have a funeral?"

"I don't know," said Professor McGonagall, sitting up straight and examining the food in front of her. "Did the Ministry send you an owl, Henry? The fried fish looks good."

"The fried fish is indeed good," said Anthony, before he could answer Professor McGonagall's question. "No, what's wrong?"

"They sent me at least three letters, and I think Albus got more," said Professor McGonagall, also taking a portion of fried fish. "Owls flew around with letters, and even attracted the attention of several Muggles. My God, they don't care about the Statute of Secrecy at all!"

Anthony recalled the Ministry of Magic's feat of letting countless owls swarm into his room, and said sympathetically, "I know, Minerva, they are not always strict about this."