Chapter 146 — I’m Lying

Chapter 146: Chapter 146 — I’m Lying

Chapter 146 — I’m Lying

Dumbledore gave Harry a searching look, and Harry felt as though he had been seen right through.

Under the gaze of Dumbledore’s blue eyes, he guiltily lowered his head.

But Dumbledore wasn’t angry. Instead, he looked magnanimous as he said,

"Severus, there is no evidence that Harry lied about this matter. As long as he isn’t guilty, he shouldn’t be punished."

Snape glared angrily at Dumbledore.

It was Dumbledore who had asked him to find a way to force Potter to reveal what he was hiding, and now Dumbledore was the one declaring Potter innocent.

How biased could he be?

Filch was just as unhappy.

He shouted loudly,

"My cat was petrified, and no one is responsible?!"

His bulging eyes turned toward Harry.

Dumbledore immediately said,

"I told you, there is a way to save Mrs. Norris. We can restore her to her original state."

Filch’s love for his cat prevailed.

He looked pleadingly at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore wasn’t angry. He calmly explained,

"The mandrakes Professor Sprout planted recently have now been repotted. Once they mature, they can be used to brew an antidote, which is..."

Before Dumbledore could finish, Lockhart quickly interrupted.

"I can do it, Headmaster! Leave it to me. I dare say I’ve brewed hundreds of potions!"

Vesey immediately looked at him with admiration.

"Really? Then, Professor Lockhart, could I ask you some questions about potions in the future? Just like the things I read in books before..."

Vesey actually asked him a question.

Lockhart immediately faltered.

He couldn’t answer.

He didn’t even know where to begin.

Snape, standing beside him, smiled.

He was extremely satisfied with Vesey’s brilliant move.

Yes, that’s it.

Vesey should understand by now that this Lockhart is a fraud.

Sure enough, as the seconds passed and Lockhart still couldn’t say anything, a trace of confusion appeared on Vesey’s face.

She seemed to be asking silently,

Professor, you don’t know either?

But Vesey was considerate enough not to say it aloud.

Instead, she tactfully changed the subject.

Snape helplessly shook his head.

Vesey’s temper was simply too good.

If it were him, he would have already started mocking Lockhart.

A bitter thought crossed his mind.

It would be better if Vesey weren’t so much like Lily.

He was always worried that good people didn’t live long.

He was even afraid that Vesey would eventually follow the same path described in the diary.

"Professor, are you worried that no one will be able to brew the potion?"

The concern in Snape’s eyes was so obvious that Vesey immediately noticed it.

Without waiting for him to answer, she quickly continued,

"Don’t worry. I’ll work hard to develop the antidote. I’m currently researching a potion, and I think I may already have some experience that could help. You don’t have to worry."

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[...]

Another large amount of Energy Points came in.

Snape sighed softly.

He looked at Vesey and said,

"I can brew this kind of potion. Don’t tell me you think the Potions professor at Hogwarts is incapable of doing anything?"

Vesey’s eyes immediately filled with surprise.

She pretended to be delighted.

"That’s wonderful! Actually, I was just lying. I don’t have much confidence in brewing this antidote. I just didn’t want everyone to worry!"

Her straightforward confession was far more likable than Lockhart’s evasive blustering.

The room filled with good-natured laughter.

Only Dumbledore wasn’t smiling.

He deliberately put on a curious expression.

"Vesey, what potion are you working on recently? Do you need any help?"

Snape gave him a disdainful look.

Ha. Does this old fox really not know what potion this child is researching?

What is he pretending for?

Dumbledore wasn’t embarrassed at all. He continued looking at Vesey.

"Can’t you tell me?"

Vesey shyly shook her head.

Then she hesitated before saying,

"Well... I suppose I can say that I’m researching a Vampire Conversion Potion.

"That’s why those vampires said they wanted to capture me. I want to turn Millicent back into a normal witch.

"She became like this because of me, so I also hope this potion can help other wizards and witches who don’t want to become vampires turn back into normal people.

"Do you think I’m being a little too ambitious? I’ve seen many people say that it’s impossible for a second-year student to research something like this. Even many accomplished potion masters couldn’t do it..."

Snape, Hermione, and Professor McGonagall all looked at Vesey with complicated expressions.

The child was right.

So many people had been unable to develop this potion, yet Vesey had actually succeeded.

And she had done it while only in her second year.

She was simply a genius among geniuses.

"Believe in yourself, Vesey. You can definitely do it!"

Hermione gave Vesey an encouraging look.

Vesey smiled sweetly at her.

Dumbledore finally seemed to have received the answer he wanted, and a smile appeared on his face.

"I also believe Vesey can do it. Of course, Vesey, if you encounter any problems, you can always go to Severus. I’m sure Severus will be very willing to answer your questions."

The corners of Snape’s lips curled upward.

He glanced rudely at Lockhart before speaking sarcastically.

"Of course. I’m always willing to answer questions from outstanding students in my House.

"I only hope that certain people will stop fooling around."

Lockhart immediately wanted to angrily retort.

But before he could say anything, Dumbledore interrupted.

"All right. Everyone can go back now."

Everyone filed out of the office.

Vesey originally wanted to say goodbye to Harry, but Snape had already taken her by the hand and led her toward the Slytherin dungeon.

Vesey only had enough time to call back,

"See you tomorrow!"

It wasn’t until she was completely separated from Harry and the others that Vesey remembered she still had some work to do.

She immediately began asking Snape all sorts of questions about potions.

Naturally, they were all related to vampires.

With her current Potion Talent, Vesey was undoubtedly a genius. Not to mention that she had already used Energy Points to study countless books, she had no trouble keeping up with Snape’s thoughts.

Moreover, she could occasionally come up with several novel ideas of her own.

This made Snape both delighted and slightly shocked.

As expected of Vesey.

She was the genius who would eventually develop numerous new potions in the future, and her extraordinary talent was already beginning to show in her second year.

Snape believed Vesey’s talent was even greater than his own.

At least, there were times when he couldn’t keep up with her thoughts.

His heart throbbed again.

It would be wonderful if Vesey were really Lily’s and his child.

Then he could even mock Potter about it.

Potter’s child was completely inferior to Vesey.

But that was fine.

Every time he praised Vesey in his mind, he felt as though he were giving his greatest enemy an advantage.

Yet the thought still made him happy.

After all, his sworn enemy had never even met her.

Vesey was completely his child.

Thank you, Lily, for sending me such a lovely child.