Free Web NovelChapter 850: Chapter 719: The Many Affairs of Newt and the Snake Woman
"What’s up with Professor Snape?" ƒrēewebnovel.com
Kael was almost knocked over as he watched Snape hurry away and asked, "Professor, you didn’t dock his pay, did you?"
"Of course not."
Dumbledore adjusted his mood and said with a smile, "Actually, the salary for the Defense Against Dark Arts professor is ten Galleons more than other subjects... There’s no choice; otherwise, we can’t recruit suitable professors at all."
Kael believed the part about the high salary was certainly true, but as for whether those professors were suitable, he didn’t express any opinion. Dumbledore should have a clue about it.
"Kid, I feel like you’re thinking some very impolite things," Phineas Black suddenly said from the portrait. "Trust me, my intuition is always accurate."
"Good afternoon, sir." Kael looked up at the portrait, "I admit, I was just thinking of reminding Sirius to properly clean his house and get rid of some useless things.
"...Like, for example, the portrait beside the staircase in the living room."
"I guessed it, you’re indeed a rude little brat." Phineas shrieked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, "I warn you not to do that, and Sirius won’t throw away his grandfather’s portrait either."
"Really?" Kael said lightly, "That may not be certain..."
Beside the staircase at No. 12 Grimmauld Place hangs Phineas’s portrait. He can use this advantage to move freely between the Headmaster’s Office and there, conveying some of Dumbledore’s requests or plans.
However, usually, Dumbledore prefers to deliver the message himself rather than let Phineas do it, so that portrait is practically useless.
Sirius had thought more than once about getting rid of that thing.
"I warn you..." Phineas said, inwardly fearful, "That’s my residence; you can’t kick me out."
"Don’t get me wrong, I’m just suggesting." Kael shrugged. "How to actually do it depends on Sirius, but I think he wouldn’t mind swapping for a new painting."
"You!" Phineas’s beard stood up in anger, and he bolted out of the frame, probably heading to No. 12 Grimmauld Place to find Sirius.
"Hahaha, well done!" said a bearded wizard nearby, "This is interesting; you’re the first student to make him eat crow like this."
"Thank you for your praise, Headmaster Dippet." Kael said with a smile.
Visiting frequently, he was quite familiar with these portraits. The one before him was Armando Dippet, Dumbledore’s predecessor as headmaster.
He never got along with Phineas Black; for the ten times Phineas was beaten, nine were initiated by him, and the only remaining time was because he was too slow to join in.
"Kael," Dumbledore said softly, "keeping Phineas at Grimmauld Place is quite useful."
"I know, I was only scaring him," Kael said, "Anyway, his portrait has a Stickfast Hex, even if one wants to throw it away, they can’t."
Dumbledore’s lips twitched slightly. If he hadn’t tried, how would he know the portrait has a Stickfast Hex?
"Don’t misunderstand, Sirius discovered it; it has nothing to do with me." Kael explained briefly, then changed the topic: "Professor, what do you need me for?"
"Yes, there’s a small matter."
"What is it?" Kael asked.
"It’s about the Soul Artifact," Dumbledore said.
He took out an ancient stone basin from the cabinet, "But before that, shall we take a look at a memory? It’s the one I’ve searched for a long time and is the most important piece among the memories I found."
Dumbledore’s words made Kael naturally not oppose.
From the inside pocket of his clothes, Dumbledore pulled out a small crystal vial, whose contents seemed slightly congealed due to time, making it less fluid. He took some effort to pour it into the Pensieve.
The Pensieve began emitting a misty glow.
Kael approached and felt his consciousness plunging down into the silver substance. When he opened his eyes again, a person appeared in front of him.
It was a much younger Horace Slughorn, still with thick blonde hair.
Perhaps due to getting used to Slughorn’s bald appearance, Kael felt awkward, as if he were topped with a headful of straw.
"Professor Slughorn started losing hair pretty early." Hearing footsteps behind him, Kael turned around and said.
"What?" Dumbledore hesitated, a bit unclear about Kael’s meaning.
"Look here," Kael pointed at Slughorn’s scalp area, which already had a small bald spot about the size of a Galleon.
Dumbledore said nothing. Kael’s focus was surprisingly unexpected.
Was the effort of retrieving this memory all to determine when Slughorn went bald?
Fortunately, Kael didn’t dwell too much on this issue but instead observed the other people conversing around.
Judging by the ambiance, this should be Slughorn’s office, surrounded by six or seven boys.
Among them, sitting closest to Slughorn was a young Voldemort, who at this time should still be named Tom Riddle.
He gifted a bag of pineapple confectionery to Slughorn, then spoke of a professor’s retirement.
