The Prisoners of Hogwarts

Chapter 39 Evening Walk

Lynch walked toward Snape.

Snape stood still, coldly staring at Lynch's approaching figure, his eyes like invisible blades that seemed to want to pierce holes in Lynch's suit.

After meeting the boy, he could almost effortlessly guess what Lin Qi wanted to say to him, so he resisted Lin Qi's invitation from the bottom of his heart.

At this moment, all he wanted was to return to the potions office in the cellar, sit quietly behind that desk, and immerse himself in that familiar darkness filled with the scents of wormwood and dragon liver.

But then he remembered Dumbledore's instructions and the new strategy he had devised for Lynch.

His sense of mission and responsibility overcame the reluctance churning within him.

"Where?" The two words were forced out of his lips.

"Let's go for a walk in the courtyard outside the castle," Lynch suggested, his voice carrying clearly through the corridor. "The night is lovely tonight; a stroll would be perfect."

Snape, his face grim, did not reject Lynch's suggestion, but responded with an even deeper silence.

So one of them, with a warm smile on his face, and the other with a cold, hard face like a stone, walked side by side toward the castle gate.

Occasionally, teachers who came out of the auditorium and passed by them would look at the pair with surprise.

It's important to know that Snape was always a loner at Hogwarts. He only followed Headmaster Dumbledore's orders, never got close to anyone, and his eyes were always only on his Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Slytherin House.

In private, Snape was never seen at group activities among teachers, such as dinners or outings.

If someone tries to chat with him, he won't refuse directly, but he'll use sarcastic and cutting words to mock you indirectly until you can't take it anymore and give up.

And now, Snape, who always walked alone, is walking with someone!?

The teachers who have joined Hogwarts in recent years are talking about it.

Those senior teachers who had served at Hogwarts for more than fifteen years, such as Professor Flitwick and Professor Kettleburn, all showed expressions of reminiscence, followed by a look of understanding.

Lynch and Snape walked out of the castle gates.

As Lynch said, the night was indeed beautiful.

A cool night breeze, carrying the moisture from the Black Lake and the scent of grass, swept over us. A huge, bright moon hung in the sky, its silvery light bathing the area and outlining the dark silhouette of the Forbidden Forest in the distance.

Lynch and Snape walked along the edge of the field, stepping on the grassy path illuminated by the moonlight.

A black raven flew off Lynch's shoulder and circled above their heads.

The two walked along the grassy path, their footsteps making a rustling sound that was particularly clear in the quiet night.

Lynch deliberately slowed down, and Snape also slowed down his pace to match Lynch's speed.

Neither of them spoke, and they walked quite a distance away.

Lynch glanced at Snape, his gaze sweeping over Snape's taut jawline and tightly pursed lips, his gloomy demeanor almost tangible.

He realized that Snape was determined not to speak first.

"You saw the boy." Lynch's gaze was fixed ahead, his tone casual, as if discussing the weather. "How did it go?"

Snape's brows furrowed deeply, as if he had swallowed a fly.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he squeezed out two words through clenched teeth: "Disgusting."

Lynch let out a very soft chuckle, just enough for Snape next to him to hear.

"Is it because of his striking resemblance to James?" Lynch asked, but before Snape could answer, he continued, "Indeed, he looks like a young version of James. It would be strange if you didn't dislike him."

Snape clenched his teeth, but he simply continued walking forward in silence, without responding to Lynch's words.

The crows circling overhead took in Snape's subtle reactions.

"But you shouldn't hate him." Lynch's gaze remained aimlessly fixed ahead. "After all, he has eyes exactly like Lily's... doesn't he?"

Snape stopped abruptly, as if he had been petrified, frozen in place.

Lin Qi ignored him and continued walking forward at a leisurely pace, leaving his frozen figure behind.

His gaze was fixed on Lin Qi's receding figure. His hands, hanging by his sides, were clenched into fists in the wide sleeves of his robe, his knuckles turning white from the force. He took a deep, deep breath, the icy air piercing his lungs and bringing a sharp pain. He tried to escape the abyss of being manipulated by his emotions.

Then he strode forward, quickly closing in on Lynch's back.

Hearing the sound of robes swaying rapidly behind him, Lynch slowly turned his head and glanced at Snape.

They seemed surprised that he could adjust his mindset so quickly.

"What exactly do you want?" Snape caught up with Lynch and uttered his second question since leaving the castle.

"I want to warn you, Severus..." Lynch's reply instantly heightened Snape's vigilance to its peak.

He instinctively recalled that prophetic warning from many years ago.

He squinted, his gaze fixed on Lin Qi's face, his voice as deep and menacing as a corpse just risen from its grave: "What do you want to say?"

Lynch stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Snape: "What I'm trying to say is that no matter how much that child looks like James, he is Lily's child, and he has the same eyes as Lily."

No one in this world knows better than you and me how much Lily means to you.

Only you know how important her only surviving child is to you.

But I can guess the general idea, so I wanted to advise you immediately—

Don't be too harsh on that child, Severus, don't let him hate you...

Snape stood there for a long time, head bowed, before finally looking up into Lynch's eyes and saying, slowly and deliberately, "This is none of your business!"

Lynch sighed helplessly and looked at Snape with regret: "That's right, it's none of my business."

This is a private matter between you and him.

But deep down I know that you are the only person in the world who would unconditionally give his life for him.

How heartbreaking it would be if he hated you like this...

Snape took a sudden half-step forward, and the heavy shadow almost completely enveloped Lynch.

He lowered his head, his eyes bloodshot, and the icy anger emanating from him was palpable: "This is none of your business!"

Lin Qi took half a step back and raised his hands at his sides: "Okay, okay, I understand. This is your private matter."

If you don't want to talk about your relationship, then let's talk about something that interests you~

Snape remained silent, still glaring fiercely at Lynch.

"I'll take that as your agreement." Lynch paused, looking into Snape's eyes. "Headmaster Dumbledore must have told you something."

So now, please tell me—

What are your thoughts on Professor Quirrell?