#chapter5. She lied to him

With the arrival of October, the first month of England rainy season, temperatures drop sharply with more and more rainy days. Sometimes, it even could rain for days in a row, making Severus's dungeon frustratingly much damper and making him have to spell charms from time to time to keep room warm and dry.

But today, Severus didn't give it too much attention.

He was entertaining his guest.

Severus was never a social person. When he had to, however, there was absolutely no doubt that he could do it as well as perfect.

A bottle of good wine showed accidentally could help him catch his prey, who nearly walked into the trap on his own initiative.

Looking at the bald, fat man sitting opposite, he smiled slightly and filled his glass with wine in time, earning himself a look of admiration.

For now, he had successfully made Professor Slughorn drink a lot during their tracing back of his youth time in Hogwarts twenty years ago (mostly, it was Slughorn who kept talking), making him both jubilant and stoned.

Taking this advantage, Severus slowly drew out his intention.

"Horace, even after so many years, I still appreciate your generosity of letting me be one part of Slug Club, given to my situation at that time, which did mean a lot to me."

Flattery could always get what he wanted from Horace Slughorn.

"That's — na(not a) big deal—" slurred Professor Slughorn drunkenly and merrily in his ill-concealed complacency, waving his hands casually. "Ssseverus— I just did what I could do, you low(know) — watching, and handpicking." He pointed his own eyes with two stubby fingers, as close if going to poke them out.

Shaking his head, Severus said silkily, "can't say it's not marvelous." Taking a sip of red wine, he continued, "is there any student living up to your standard this year?"

"Oh — yeah, yeah — of course!" Slughorn seemed even much more excited when mentioning his trophies. His eyes got bigger and as much brighter as two lights in his gloomy dungeon. "Firstly, it must be Harry Potter! Oh, Severus, I shall say he's one of my favorites! All studen(students) adore him, ja(just) like his father! Then, it's Mr. McLaggen, whose uncle's Tiber-Tiber-Tiberius! You must remember thy guy, do you? And Blaise Zabini, whose mother is one charming female — and… hum, wait, let me think— Right! Hermione Granger! A very talented witch, a Muggle-born, always reminds me of Lily. Oh… poor Lily…"

It seemed like that no matter how hard they tried, they would never be able to skip this woman.

"Severus, do you still—"

"Yes." Severus forestalled him, knowing where he would go.

"Oh … " said Horace glumly, "oh… that's add(sad)…"

Talking about the dead witch, excitement suddenly dissipating, Slughorn fell into silence and thoughts, swaying his glass of wine in sadness and nostalgia.

Their quietness enabled them to hear the cold rain and strong wind outside the castle more clearly.

Lily was always good enough for people to memorize and miss.

Kind, smart, pretty Lily…

Severus unconsciously hold his goblet tightly, lowered his head, and took another sip of Bordeaux without saying anything.

Granger, however, except Muggle-born and smart, had nothing to do with Lily … of all places.

Kind? Yes. But in a totally different way … Pretty? He had never thought (or judge) her in that dimension … She's kind of stubborn while Lily's not, especially when she thought she was doing the right thing … She loved reading. Maybe he could leave all of his books to that little bookworm after his death, which wouldn't be so far away. However, would she take them when she had already …

Thoughts wandered everywhere.

It was Professor Slughorn's long sigh drawing his attention back. Although his cheeks were still red, he looked like much more sober than before.

"Fortunately, at least we still have Harry Potter here," beamed Professor Slughorn. "He is a rather smart boy, and the best of them. I think he will make me proud — Don't give me that face, Severus — Really, you should take a look at the boy's potions, almost perfect! I've heard about your underestimates to him, maybe they can change your opinion."

Severus didn't try to veil his disdainful sniff at all. "Potter? The best? Even better than Miss Granger?"

"I never knew you thought so highly of Miss Granger— But, yeah, even better than Miss Granger," chortled Slughorn as seeing Severus's surprised face. "Well— as a potion teacher, at least I suppose so. Harry has a talent while others don't."

Severus raised one of his brows in disbelief. "To be frank, Horace, that's more than I can imagine. If you have read this boy's O.W.L results, you will think it is rather strange to —"

"I did!" Slughorn cut him off in a hint of impatience, before downing his wine and calming himself down. "Yes, I did read his scores, Severus — But It doesn't bother me. As we all know , boys can grow up, not to mention — he — is the — chosen — one."

When he emphasized that word, even a child could see something flaring in his eyes.

Severus stared at him for a long while, finally decided not to go any further. Instead, he inclined his head with a elegant smile. "Of course, Horace. I believe he will give you his best gift." He said in his baritone voice, seductively.

They all understood what does this gift mean.

But what Severus wanted to get was much more.

To his disappointment, Slughorn just smiled at his words with no response, standing up from his chair and said, "too much wine today. I think I'd better go, or Albus would kill me for failing in getting up and doing my teaching job tomorrow."

"Easy, he's not that kind of boss."

"No, you are right, he's not." Laughed Slughorn, persevering in his going back . "Anyway, thank you for your Bordeaux. I do enjoy them. By the way, I also have some treasures, well, maybe cannot compared with yours, but still not bad. Come to share with me when you are free, Severus. I will save them until you come."

Seeing no point in detainment, Severus nodded his head.

"My pleasure, sir."

Along with Slughorn's leaving, the curvature at the corner of his lips disappeared, chill swiftly swept through the whole dungeon. Sluggish but overwhelming fury started to burn his heart. His knuckles got white and chest kept up and down in trying to vanquish his turmoil moods.

Granger was lying.

She told him that those ingredients were for one secret gift Potion for Professor Slughorn to show her appreciation of being invited into Slug Club, while she refused to tell him the name of potion.

Given that he would finally figure out what exactly it was, he didn't insisted her further explanation. (He refused to admit that he's kind of enjoying her guessing game to some extent and quite looking forward to what she could eventually achieve.)

Nevertheless, two hours of chatting, not even one word about her damned gift for Professor Slughorn.

Look, people like Horace would never stop showing off the benefits they received in return, for one instance, a great potion, to boast their knack for choosing promising people.

Yes! He was pretty sure that if Granger did make a potion for Horace as a present, Horace would definitely be mightily impressed.

She had that ability! He believed her!

But no!

Horace just kept talking and talking and talking about that fucking stupid Potter!

What the real function of that potion she made in hasty did no longer matter to him at all now. He didn't give it a shit!

She lied to him.

She used his trust and teased him like a hopeless clown.

Did she plan all these things with Potter and her little daft boyfriend? Were they laughing at his stupidity and smug about their successful prank?

Never mind —he thought with scarcely a gleam of emotion in his countenance, while his eyes were filled with billowy irritation — they must pay the price for their short happiness.

With thunder roaring hysterically in the inky dark sky, wind whirling widely, no one heard the snap of broken table in the dungeon.

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Thank you thank you thank you for reviews!!!

You guys have no idea how I was extremely excited when I saw your encouragements!!!

I just love you so much!!!

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Right, another thing: I saw some of you mistook that Hermione would be pregnant while i definitely won't let it happen when she was still a student. I mean, she was only sixteen... that's too cruel ... and it would be kind of silly if she knew nothing protecting herself.

(But I still adored this review so so so much! )

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