Chapter 4: Severus Snape

As the knocking sound rings out, Mr. Merick gets up to open the door, and John also follows his mother to the door to welcome them.

Standing outside the door is a tall man with a hooked nose, pale skin, an overcast expression, and long hair.

This person stands outside the door in a black robe, motionless, like a solidified statue.

Only until he sees Mr. Merick open the door does he nod slightly.

"Severus Snape, Hogwarts Potions Professor. The school sent me to deliver the admission letter."

Snape, seeing the people, introduces himself coldly, then silently reaches out, holding a letter with two fingers and handing it to John's father.

The first time John sees this person, he knows this teacher is definitely not easy to get along with.

"Oh, hello, Professor. Sorry to trouble you for the trip. Please come in..."

Seeing Snape deliver the admission letter so swiftly, and with this expression that looks like everyone owes him a million, John's father is stunned for a moment before reacting, inviting Snape into the house first.

However, Snape doesn't go in directly, but walks to John's side, looking down at John with cold eyes.

John isn't afraid, but instead stares at Snape with great curiosity, because he smells some strange odors on Snape.

At this time, Snape conjures a green bean from somewhere and holds it in front of John's eyes.

"Crush it. If you don't drool within three seconds, it proves your magic power is at least stronger than a troll."

John takes the bean. It looks like there's nothing special, but listening to this professor's meaning, could it be some kind of entrance test?

Thinking of this, John doesn't hesitate anymore, uses a little force on his hand, and the bean is crushed.

The process of the bean being crushed doesn't encounter any resistance, just like an ordinary bean, falling apart, and even flowing out a little faint juice.

John blinks his eyes. At the moment of crushing it, he suddenly feels a bit sleepy, having a feeling of falling as if his consciousness is being pulled away.

However, John immediately steadies his mind, counts to three silently, and looks up at Snape.

Snape has been watching John's reaction just now with cold eyes. Until John looks up at him, he snorts coldly.

"Hmph, it seems you are at least not inferior to a troll, but that's all."

After saying that, Snape takes out his wand and waves it simply, and the bean residue remaining on John's hand is cleaned up.

Snape doesn't explain what the bean just now was. That was actually an immature Sleep Bean. Crushing it will cause strong sleepiness, and while struggling against the sleepiness, it will make people unconsciously drool.

And only people with sufficiently powerful magic power can completely resist this sleepiness or ignore it directly.

Clearly, John belongs to the latter.

According to news, John Merick's name suddenly appeared on the Book of Admissions in July last year.

Without any magical outburst or accidental spellcasting, he was detected by the Book of Admissions.

This kind of person is eight or nine times out of ten a genius, with magic power so powerful that he can be directly detected by the Book of Admissions without casting spells, and at the same time has extremely strong restraint, allowing him to never have a magical outburst.

However, these don't matter to Snape at all. He has seen plenty of geniuses, and others often call him a genius too.

He is more concerned now about some guy who just escaped from prison a few days ago, and that guy who snatched his Defense Against the Dark Arts professor position.

Snape walks into the house on his own and sits on the sofa in the living room.

"Now you have ten minutes to ask me questions."

Professor Snape's attitude makes Mr. and Mrs. Merick frown slightly.

But they don't say anything.

And John doesn't care at all. This appearance fits John's first impression of him: difficult to get along with.

He thinks it might be because his "mediocre talent" makes this professor uninterested.

If that's the case, it's not hard to see that even in the wizarding world, it's the same law of the jungle where there is no profit, no early rising.

John walks to his father's side, takes the admission letter just now, and opens it to see the precautions for enrollment.

One must take the train from King's Cross Station to get to Hogwarts. The ticket will be sent the day before school starts, and the shopping list required for enrollment, where to buy these, are all indicated.

It's just that he doesn't recognize the place name Diagon Alley at all.

"Professor, may I ask where Diagon Alley is?"

"Charing Cross Road, find the owner of the Leaky Cauldron."

"Is any password or proof needed?"

"If you can find the Leaky Cauldron, that is the best proof."

Hearing this question, Snape sneers.

Regarding this cold snort from Snape, John ignores it directly. The "Basic Guide to Magical Families" mentioned a type of magic called the Muggle-Repelling Charm.

This kind of magic can make Muggles unable to perceive some behaviors or buildings of wizards. This is the main means for wizards to hide in this society.

The "hallucinations" of walking through walls and people appearing out of thin air that he saw before should have used this type of magic, making Muggles unable to notice them.

The Leaky Cauldron should be the same. Since he can see those "hallucinations," he must be able to find the Leaky Cauldron.

"Will there be anyone to help guide Muggle families in Diagon Alley?" John continues to ask.

"Why, can't Muggle families even buy things?"

"If you need help even for the first step of stepping into the wizarding world, then I suggest you don't step into it."

Snape's words are still so sharp, but it seems there is no problem?

In England, Diagon Alley is theoretically where Muggle-born children first come into contact with the wizarding world. That is a world completely different from the Muggle world.

Perhaps it is to let little wizards understand and explore by themselves to integrate into this new world.

So this is essentially the training of the magical society for newcomers.

"Okay, I have no questions. Mom, Dad, do you have any questions?"

John looks at his parents and asks.

The previous conversation between John and Snape was all seen by Mr. and Mrs. Merick, and they didn't interrupt.

Even if Snape's words made them dissatisfied, they didn't speak, but let John talk to Snape alone, because this is what John will have to face sooner or later at Hogwarts.

Perhaps they themselves understand that in that so-called wizarding world, as ordinary people, they cannot give John too much help, so they can only let John face it alone.

And they also have confidence in John. After all, John has never let them down since he was a child.

Parents look at each other, and finally, mother speaks: "Professor, I want to know something about Hogwarts. What kind of school is it? Is the process of learning magic safe?"

Snape, hearing this question, glances at John coldly: "As long as he isn't like some idiots who run around the school making trouble all day, or like a troll with no brain at all, then I think he is safe."

It feels like Snape is implying someone, but John's family doesn't understand. The meaning is that if he is obedient, there will be no danger?

So actually, there is still danger...

After saying that, Snape takes out a heavy book from somewhere and throws it on the table.

"For all other basic questions about Hogwarts, pages 3 to 47. You only have 5 minutes left."

John leans in to take a look. It is a book called "Hogwarts: A History," which should be somewhat similar to a Hogwarts encyclopedia?

"Can this book be bought in Diagon Alley?" John won't flip through a thick book in this little time, so he asks directly if it can be bought.

Snape: "Yes."

John: "Then it's fine."

After saying that, the living room falls into a strange silence.

John has no questions, Mr. and Mrs. Merick don't know what to ask for a while, and Snape is too lazy to speak.

"... By the way, I'll make a cup of tea. Is black tea okay, Professor?"

Mrs. Merick, seeing the atmosphere is a bit awkward, although Snape's attitude just now made her very unhappy, out of politeness, she still intends to make a cup of tea to entertain the other party.

"Thank you very much, but, no need." However, Snape is still as cold as ever.

"Since you have no questions to ask, I will take my leave."

Snape, seeing John's family has no questions, doesn't intend to stay any longer, stands up, waves his black robe, and like a bat spreading its wings, walks with wind, leaving John's house without looking back.

Before they can say anything, they see Snape turn into a black wind, and after a distortion, disappear in the hallway.

Hiss, the annoyance is real, and the coolness is also real...

Watching Snape's departure, John can't help but think that he must learn this move. If not for anything else, just to show off.

Eh, he didn't take that book.

John notices that Snape didn't take back the history book he threw down.

So he pretends to pick up the book and chases to the front door, shouting twice, "Professor, you forgot your book, hey."

After no one responds, John keeps the book with peace of mind... ah no, keeps it temporarily.

When he arrives at Hogwarts, he can return it to Professor Snape if there is a chance. ===== CHAPTER 5 =====