Archaeologists at Hogwarts

As soon as he entered Slughorn's house, Toby felt as if he had returned to the former dean's office. Everywhere was filled with gorgeous decorations. The velvet sofa was essential, and emerald green hangings hung on the ceiling and walls.

, deep red and gold curtains, with a golden lantern hanging in the center, illuminating the surrounding area red. Toby also noticed that there was a piano placed on the left side of the living room, and a magnificent pine bookshelf stood next to it, which was full of books.

books.

"My dear great writer."

Slughorn picked up "Ancient Magic" on the coffee table and joked: "I wonder when I will be able to read your next book."

"Don't mention it, Dean."

Toby waved his hand and said: "That book is a mistake, I might as well divide it into several articles and publish it - first look at the gift I gave you, I also brought Severus's copy.

"

He let the package fly to the coffee table, and the wrapping paper slowly and elegantly fell layer by layer, revealing the valuable gift inside.

"Mead, two large bottles, both of good vintage, enough for you to drink for a long time."

"These are amulets brought back from Egypt. No, no, no, dean, don't look at me like that. These amulets are genuine, not deceptive gadgets. As long as you wear them on your body, you can avoid some small things.

Trouble, like stubbing your toe on the door frame.”

"This is an African sacrificial feather crown, with a ball escape bird, a soundless bird, and even a phoenix feather. I spent a lot of effort to get it - oh, no, it was bought from a local

People are very enthusiastic.”

"Of course, candied pineapple is also a must. The ingredients are all the freshest. I specially ordered them early and only got them this morning."

Slughorn looked at the dazzling array of gifts on the coffee table, and he just felt that Toby had made up for all the gifts that had not been delivered over the years at once.

"As expected of you." Slughorn praised: "I know that no matter where you go, you will not suffer any loss. Even if you really die, you will enjoy it in advance before then."

"Okay." Toby said helplessly: "It seems that even looking at astrological charts is of no use. Almost all my acquaintances think I died outside."

Slughorn chuckled twice, the buttons of his vest trembling.

"What is this?" he asked, pointing to the last unopened gift.

"Oh, this."

Toby showed a hint of a bad smile and unwrapped the wrapping paper himself: "This is the meeting gift that Severus gave you. You also know that he is a shy person, so he only asked me to help deliver it - produced in Bo

Although the shampoo company later changed hands on the Te family's quick and smooth hair shampoo set, it doesn't matter. This shampoo set is the latest model, and it is said to have the function of growing hair."

Slughorn took the bottles of shampoo as if he was seeing a treasure. He smiled with satisfaction and said, "This is really precious, Toby."

"It's nothing." Toby said nonchalantly: "At the worst, I will help you turn your gratitude into a gift, and just thank Severus extra. We are colleagues now, and we haven't seen each other for many years. We just need to improve

When it’s time to feel.”

Slughorn took the gifts to the room one by one and put them away. At the same time, he was still talking: "Toby, you really surprise me. I know you are very good, but I really didn't expect you to be able to do it."

It's developing so well. I thought you left England because of a quarrel with Albus. When this happened among the teachers, I said how could it be possible? Toby is not this kind of person. You are simply like me.

I am the most obedient student I have ever seen, but he is often interested in banned books in the library. This made me worried at first, afraid that you would go astray. It is only now that I understand you. Look at these two bottles of honey bar -

—”

He held the honey in his hand, looked at the sticker on it carefully, and made a tut-tsk sound in his mouth: "I will definitely wait until the next party to take it out. As for the other bottle, I will save it for myself at Christmas."

Well, I can’t share the students’ kindness with everyone, so I have to keep a bottle for myself to experience it.”

Toby was helping Slughorn carry the large bucket of pineapple preserves. He seemed to be also lost in memories: "Yes, Dean. I still remember that you were the only professor who was willing to sign the approval note for us. At that time, there were

Lily, and Severus, and occasionally others, if it hadn't been for your help, I would have really been dying in Loch Ness."

"Lily..." This name aroused the nostalgia in Slughorn's heart: "Oh, Lily, it's a pity that she is no longer here. You three little guys really caused me a lot of trouble back then, but Lily...

She is my favorite student, even if she is a Gryffindor, I can't refuse her request."

The atmosphere became gloomy for a while.

Toby said with emotion: "I saw her child."

"Oh?" Slughorn immediately turned his head: "You mean Harry Potter?"

"Yes, Dean." Toby nodded and placed the barrel in the dry storage room: "After taking a look at it from a distance, I saw that the child had a very bad life. He was dressed in rags and looked similar.

James is exactly the same, but his eyes are very similar to Lily's - both are stunningly green."

Slughorn didn't speak. He was silent for a long time.

The two people walked back into the living room and sat down opposite each other on the sofa. Al was constantly fiddling with the glass at the bottom of the lampshade, which might also be a transparent gem.

"It seems like it happened in the blink of an eye."

Slughorn sighed with tears in his eyes: "In the blink of an eye, the students have grown up, and some of them are not even here anymore."

"I know you like teaching." Toby asked sincerely, "But why do you want to leave Hogwarts?"

Slughorn shook his head and suddenly asked: "Did Albus ask you to come?"

"The principal just told me your address." Toby said, reaching out to pull Al back from the lampshade: "I decided to come here on my own initiative this time, and he didn't say anything. I thought you guys had a quarrel.

, you all have known each other for so many years, maybe I can help unblock it."

"Forget it, Toby." Slughorn's expression became complicated: "It's hard to say, and it won't be clear for a while. Is there anything else you want? Maybe we can have dinner together."

"I'm sorry, Dean." Toby comforted Al, who was struggling: "I am now a professor in the school, and I need to make a lot of preparations. I am a little late in time - but I do want to ask you to help me.

busy."

"I knew it." Slughorn smiled and pointed at Toby with his fat finger, but he didn't mean to blame him at all: "Tell me, what do you need me to do for you?"

Toby coughed twice in embarrassment, and said seriously: "You may not know yet, but I am now an archaeologist, specializing in exploring those ancient magical ruins, which is often accompanied by various unexpected dangers.

So - blessing elixir, is that okay? Dean?"

The Potion of Fortune, also known as the Lucky Potion, is a very difficult potion to prepare. It is very complicated to brew. Once you make a mistake, the consequences will be disastrous. Only a few potion masters can successfully prepare it.

"You're really going to give me a problem." Slughorn's beard twitched: "But if it's just the elixir, why don't you go to Severus? He's also an excellent potion master."

"It's hard to say." Toby said in a complicated tone: "There are some small misunderstandings between Severus and I. These misunderstandings have existed since school. You should also know some of them later."

Slughorn thought carefully: "I vaguely remember that the three of you did have a falling out and stopped getting together. Why, you haven't reconciled yet?"

Toby smacked his mouth twice: "I told you, Dean."

"Severus is a shy man. He doesn't admit his mistakes easily."

At the same time, in the basement of Hogwarts, an owl carrying a package flew into the Potions Professor's office.

The cauldron was beeping and bubbling. Snape frowned and took off the package. He casually gave the owl some water. The owl was so angry at such a stingy treatment that it wanted to peck his fingers hard.

"Get out! Get out!"

Snape shouted angrily, raising his wizard robe, forcing the owl to fly away angrily.

There was a card on the package. There was no signature on it, only a short sentence: "It's time to face your heart."

Snape's frown deepened.

He used his wand to open the package and immediately saw the quick-smoothing hair spray set inside.

"Damn Toby."

He said with gloomy eyes and threw the shampoo against the wall.

Dumbledore, who had just reached the door, stopped and heard the sound of objects being thrown from the office.

"It's Toby again, he's really going to get me into trouble."

Dumbledore shook his head and walked away silently.

"I hope Severus' bad mood won't last too long... Oh, by the way, ancient magic is a formal course. Unfortunately, maybe Toby should be allowed to be a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."