Chapter 652 Potent Veritaserum
Evan smoothly slid his right hand, resting it naturally on his wand at his waist.
Then, he noticed Snape withdrawing a small glass bottle of a completely clear potion.
"Since you are clueless about what occurred tonight, do you know what this is?" Snape inquired, his eyes dangerously gleaming once more.
"Veritaserum!" Evan responded nonchalantly.
Indeed, he was familiar with this substance. He had observed the formula and the final product of this potion more than once.
"It seems you are not as ignorant as I presumed. Yes, it's Veritaserum... A Truth Potion so potent that with just three drops, your innermost secrets would spill out for the whole class to hear!" Snape proclaimed.
"Professor, it is unlawful to use this potion!" Hermione couldn't help but interject.
She couldn't fathom that Snape had gone to such lengths as to threaten them with Veritaserum.
"You are correct, Granger, the usage of this potion is governed by strict Ministry guidelines. However, unless you are cautious, you might find my hand... slipping," Snape lightly shook the glass bottle, "perhaps right into your pumpkin juice from tonight, for instance. And then we shall discover if you have been in my office, or if you hold any secrets."
Evan remained silent, his gaze fixed on the small vial of Veritaserum in Snape's hand. He harbored too many secrets, and if Snape were to indeed let a few drops fall, the repercussions would be dire...
In truth, Hermione also felt uneasy upon hearing Snape's words.
Everyone had something in their heart they didn't wish others to uncover. Veritaserum was, truly, a dreadful potion.
Unlike Legilimency or the Imperius Curse, there was no resisting the effects of Veritaserum. It was colorless, flavorless, and precautions against it were challenging. Even mighty wizards such as Dumbledore would be affected by this potion.
"You cannot do this," Evan softly protested.
"Are you afraid, then?" Snape sneered. He spoke softly, "Let me contemplate what manner of punishment you two should receive for wandering the castle at late hours and deceiving me. One hundred points from Gryffindor, and then you will be in detention until the end of the term... every week..."
Before he finished speaking, there were sudden noises and cries coming from upstairs.
Snape swiftly ascended, with Evan and Hermione exchanging glances before following suit.
There, they found Filch with his cat, alongside the Golden Egg, on the staircase leading to the second floor.
Almost instantly, Evan suspected that was Ron's Golden Egg, and he and Harry must be close.
While he didn't know what they were doing with the egg at this hour, only Harry's Invisibility Cloak could render them unseen.
This situation was truly grave. If left unresolved, two more individuals would end up in detention.
"What is happening?" Snape inquired.
"It's Peeves, Professor," Filch maliciously whispered. "He threw this egg down the stairs."
Snape hastened up the stairs and halted beside Filch.
Harry and Ron looked apprehensive, casting glances at Evan and Hermione at the foot of the stairs, their attire disheveled and muddy. What were they doing outside the castle?
"Peeves," Snape uttered softly, eyeing the egg held by Filch. "That is intriguing!"
"Professor, them!" Filch pointed at Evan and Hermione.
Mrs. Norris trotted over to Evan, tenderly brushing against him.
Truly, that cat was quite homely!
Thanks to Mrs. Norris, Filch's relationship with Evan wasn't entirely adversarial.
At times, when Evan roamed the castle late at night, Filch would let him pass, but that was all. It was futile to expect him to intercede with Snape on Evan's behalf.
"Someone trespassed into my office. I chased them and saw both of you!" Snape murmured.
"Could it have been Peeves?" Filch rejoiced. "Was this egg in your office, Professor?"
"Absolutely not," Snape retorted. "I heard noises and cries..."
"It was Peeves who filched the golden egg and hurled it down the stairs," Filch interjected, rubbing his hands eagerly. "If this egg was in your office, then he..."
"I said it couldn't have been him, Filch!" Snape reiterated. "I seal my office with a spell only a wizard could break. There is also potent defensive magic, and the intruder should be injured!"
Snape cast a glance at Evan and Hermione, then ascended the stairs once again, passing directly by Harry and Ron, before gazing down the hallway below.
"It wasn't them who entered my office, nor was it Peeves," Snape stated. "He can't be far. I want you to come and help me search for the intruder, Filch."
"What, Professor?" said Filch, surprised. He looked anxiously up the stairs, passing directly by Harry and Ron. Harry could tell he was very reluctant to miss the chance to catch Peeves.
"Close the doors and search the entire castle!" Snape commanded coldly.
At the foot of the stairs, Evan was speechless. Snape knew that he and Hermione were not the culprits.
Nevertheless, he seized the opportunity to employ Legilimency on him and also threatened him with Veritaserum. He truly was a dangerous individual.
"The thing is, Professor," Filch grumbled, "I believe I still have something else to do. The headmaster will have to listen to me this time. Peeves has been stealing from a student; it could be my chance to have him expelled from the castle once and for all..."
"Filch, I couldn't care less about that damned poltergeist; it's my office that's..."
Clank. Clank. Clank!
Snape abruptly halted speaking, and all eyes turned to the bottom of the stairs.
Through the narrow gap between their heads, Evan saw Caresius limping and back in his Moody guise. He wore his old traveling cloak over his nightshirt and leaned on his staff as usual.
This man was the one who caused all this tonight, and now he appeared, late.
If he hadn't barged into Snape's office and foolishly tampered with defensive magic, Evan and Hermione would've been back in their rooms asleep by now, instead of standing here waiting for Snape to announce a severe punishment.
If he could, Evan really wanted to stride forward and give Caresius a good thrashing.