Felix knocked on the basement door. Snape was wearing the same black coat that never changed, with curly black hair stuck to the back of his head. His motionless black eyes always reminded Felix of the grilled fish he had eaten in the courtyard in the cold wind that day.

The person who opened the door silently made way, revealing Professor Bubbage, who was lying on the table. Her hair was disheveled, as if she was holding a pile of straw, and her wide glasses were like a pitchfork stuck in the hay. Professor Bubbage was carefully examining a flower pot.

"Did I miss anything?" Felix asked happily.

"You came at the right time, Felix." Professor Bubbage said excitedly, her face still not moving away from the flower pot, "I told Severus that I must wait for you to come and witness this scene..."

"There's nothing to witness." Snape said.

He slammed the door shut, strode to the table, and took out a glass bottle from his jacket pocket. "Excuse me." He said coldly. Professor Bubbage quickly stepped aside and held his breath as he watched Snape carefully unscrew the cork and drip a drop of liquid into the flowerpot.

A magical scene happened.

The brown soil in the flowerpot bulged up a small bag, revealing a barely detectable green. Under the silent gaze of the three people, a few minutes later, a palm-sized green sprout swayed gently in the flowerpot.

"This is..." Felix asked.

"Rejuvenation potion, a magical potion that promotes plant germination." Snape said.

"Don't you need to add resurrection potion? I remember that these two potions can restore most withered plants to health when used together." Felix asked curiously.

"There is no need to waste it," Snape said, "The seeds provided by Bubbage are nutritious enough."

"Can I take it back?" Professor Bubbage said pleadingly, looking at the seedlings in the flowerpot eagerly.

"Oh, no." Felix said immediately, "We agreed."

He wanted to take this pot of plants for testing, mainly to see the changes in the nutrients in the soil and the subsequent growth of the plants. Bubbage also knew this, but she was reluctant to do it. Now she looked at Snape pitifully again, "Severus..."

"I only prepared this bottle of potion." Snape snorted, "According to someone's request, using the simplest materials."

Felix comforted Professor Bubbage, "There is no need to worry, Caridi, there is enough time. From the germination of seeds, growth, flowering, and fruiting... For the time being, we only need to understand the first step. Compared with the normal growth cycle, can it be accelerated by at least half a month?" He asked Professor Bubbage.

"Yes, absolutely." She vowed.

"That's enough." Felix said, "Don't think it's insignificant. It's amazing to study this process thoroughly. It's completely worthy of a Merlin medal..."

Professor Bubbage left with a red face. She now wanted to apply to Headmaster Dumbledore for a piece of land to build an experimental greenhouse.

"Sprout will definitely be able to help, and she is willing to do so." Snape said dryly at the door, hoping that she would bother him less in the future. Turning around, he found that the culprit was sitting on the sofa leisurely flipping through a magazine.

"What have you thought of, a new 'trump card'?" he said sarcastically.

"I was wondering if the Avada Kedavra curse could kill bacteria in the water... OK, I'm kidding, forget it." Felix saw the expression on Snape's face and said hurriedly. "I have something to tell you. Mr. Scamander has found a way to make the blasting-tailed skrewts reproduce stably. He said in the letter that the larvae of the blasting-tailed skrewts are now rampant and asked me if I need it..."

Snape thought seriously for a while.

"The mucus of the blasting-tailed skrewt larvae is corrosive, but if it is handled well, it can remove the characteristics of specific potion materials. It is an excellent auxiliary ingredient."

"Then you'd better publish a few articles to help promote it." Felix said.

Snape nodded, which was what he hoped for. The office fell silent, and Snape stared at the specimen jars on the shelf against the wall and said, "Someone told me that you have the Ravenclaw diadem in your hand..."

"Dumbledore said that?" Felix asked.

"It's not him." Snape said. Felix

frowned. Only Dumbledore knew about this. He had never shown it to others. He felt too ashamed and had been using it secretly. Valen wore it for a while when he first started learning, but Valen didn't know what it was.

"Did someone from the Ministry of Magic tell you?" Felix said as he pondered, "But even if there are only a few people in the Ministry of Magic who know about this, such important filing documents will generally not be taken seriously unless someone deliberately looks for them... Oh, I see."

Voldemort still reached into the Ministry of Magic.

"What is that?" Snape said softly. He had always wanted to ask. "It can't be a simple relic of Rowena Ravenclaw. Although it is said that her crown can increase people's wisdom, the Dark Lord attaches much more importance to the crown than the legend itself."

Felix fell silent. The fewer people who know the secret of the Horcrux, the better. But since Sirius knew it... He seemed hesitant. His biggest worry was that Severus would deduce the secret that Harry was a half-Horcrux. In fact, Sirius was also a hidden danger, but Sirius didn't know much about Horcruxes, especially that Horcruxes could be made from living creatures, and Severus had a chance to know the existence of the snake.

"Is it related to the secret of his immortality?" Snape asked in a low voice.

He carefully observed the expression on Felix's face. Although he found nothing, the silence for a moment was enough for him to guess part of the truth.

Snape didn't ask any more questions, but changed the subject and said, "The Dark Lord found out about this through the Ministry of Magic's spies. He asked me to ask indirectly, but I think it's better to ask you directly. I have enough troubles and don't want to waste time..."

Felix smiled, "This is indeed the most time-saving way. Maybe Voldemort will praise your efficiency."

"I don't plan to report it immediately," Snape said, "The Dark Lord attaches great importance to this matter, even more than his desire for the thing in the Department of Mysteries of the Ministry of Magic. He revealed to me that he would find an opportunity to arrange spies to cooperate with me."

"Come to school?" Felix thought it was funny.

The plan was good, but with Snape around, it seemed a little ridiculous. He didn't take it seriously. If he arrested the spy now, Snape's undercover identity would be exposed. Felix guessed that Dumbledore might just wait for the spy to fall into his trap. Then it would depend on who would come to the school.

He was inexplicably looking forward to it.

Voldemort only had one Horcrux, and he probably felt extremely insecure. He just didn't know whether the golden cup was on him or on Bellatrix Lestrange. From all angles, Voldemort was not someone who would entrust his life to his subordinates. So...

Felix tried to simulate Voldemort's thoughts at the moment: If I were him, what would I do in Voldemort's situation?

First of all, we must confirm the safety of the Horcruxes.

I know clearly that there are three Horcruxes that have been destroyed, the diary, the snake, and the ring; the Horcruxes whose status cannot be determined include the tiara and the locket. The tiara may be in the school. Well, I don't know if it is in Felix Heppe's body at the moment. As for the locket, "Where are you going to spend the Christmas vacation, Severus?" Felix raised his head and asked. Snape looked at him in astonishment, and after a long while, he reluctantly replied: "Go to the Order of the Phoenix to do something..." Felix retracted his gaze. Very good, I understand. So I suspect that the locket was stolen by a former servant. Regulus died more than ten years ago. If the Horcruxes were not destroyed, the most likely possibility is in the old Black house that he could not enter.

In addition to that?

I also know that I have some connection with Harry Potter in school. I had to use Occlumency to protect my brain for the past two months... Although it was frustrating, it was the best solution at the moment... Because I wasn't sure if this connection would extend to other Horcruxes. Damn that half-spoken prophecy! Damn Harry Potter! Now I had to keep the only Horcrux under my nose and never separate it from the cup unless there was a last resort...

Felix thought hard, and he had to find that reason now. He continued to think:

There are two other people of his level in the wizarding world. If they fall into the trap, they will be doomed. Therefore, I must be careful enough, but I know that one of them will die soon. I just need to wait patiently... But if necessary, I don't mind sending him off when he is at his weakest. That feeling must be wonderful. The premise is that he holds a Horcrux that is vital to me...

Felix suddenly understood.

Is this Dumbledore's plan? To lure Voldemort with a Horcrux? But it seemed that he had no place in this battle. It was completely a one-on-one situation between Dumbledore and Voldemort...

"What can I do?" Felix asked himself. "Yeah, it's too simple. I should have known it earlier." He said happily.

Of course, I took the opportunity to get the last Horcrux.

This was the reason of "last resort". Voldemort and the Golden Cup Horcrux had to be separated. No one would be stupid enough to take his other life to participate in a life-and-death duel, even if the opponent was a sickly person. The only person Voldemort could trust was Bellatrix Lestrange.

Snape stared at Felix who was talking to himself, knowing nothing about his complex psychological activities.

"Want to play a game of crackling cards, Severus?" Felix asked in a good mood.

...

Of course, the cards were not played.

Felix came out of the Potions Office. The list of student clubs was still posted on the notice board in the hallway, but that was three weeks ago.

Christmas is coming soon.

Felix planned to visit Newt's house during the holidays to update his "material library". At the same time, he also planned to travel around the world and take the opportunity to collect some rare magical animals. When he passed a huge suit of armor in the corridor, he suddenly stopped to take a closer look. It seemed that there was some magic hidden inside...

The helmet of the armor also creaked and slowly lowered its head to look at Felix.

Felix: "..."

"Clang, clang, clang..."

"Huff, huff, huff..."

Felix stopped hitting the armor, turned his head and looked at the administrator Filch's light-colored furious eyes, and asked awkwardly: "Mr. Filch?"

"It's Professor Happ, I thought..." Filch muttered, "I was chasing Peeves just now, and he got a bubble gun from somewhere, and the ceiling was full of colorful bubbles... It might be Zonko's new product, I must report it..."

Felix waited silently for Filch to leave. "Bang! Bang!" He knocked twice more, and the armor seemed to finally be unable to bear it. It opened the mask on the helmet and began to retch.

"By the way, Professor Hepp, I want to ask." Filch, who had already left, came back again with an embarrassed and flattering expression on his face, but he was stunned when he saw Felix's actions. Felix also had a headache. He just wanted to check this strange armor.

At this moment, the armor laughed exaggeratedly, and spit out a red envelope. The envelope slowly fell from the air under the gaze of the two.

"Oh." Felix said softly, he recognized what it was. The howler letter began to smoke and then burned. He stepped back a few steps and reached out to grab it, confining the sound to the hallway. After a few seconds, the cheerful voices of the Weasley twins, amplified hundreds of times, rang out:

"Whether you are Peeves, Filch, or a little brat who failed the exam, or..."

Fred and George's voices appeared alternately:

"You are great"

"Of course you are also naughty"

"Adventurous "

"Caught countless times" "

Indomitable" "

Repeatedly taught

" "The number one delinquent!" The voices began to gather here, and Filch's face turned purple. The Howler continued to roll happily in the air, "Hurry up! We have provided you with sufficient help, provided that you and I have a tacit understanding!"

"Bang!" The Howler exploded into a ball of fire, and colorful fireworks flew out of it, and finally disappeared together.

After an awkward silence.

Felix patted the dust on his body. Although he was itching with hatred in his heart, he pretended to be calm and asked: "Mr. Filch, did you forget to bring any tools?"

"Oh, uh, yes." Filch said vaguely, and the sagging flesh on his face trembled unnaturally. As Felix passed by him, he heard him curse the Weasley twins' names.

While Filch was walking towards the office, Felix quickly slipped out of the castle. After stepping on the stone steps and breathing a few breaths of dry cold air, he relaxed.

Felix could see that Filch had something to say to him, and he might have been preparing for it for a long time, but the timing just now was indeed a bit subtle. He would talk to him when he had the chance. If he heard the news that the Weasley twins were in detention, he would definitely remember what happened today.

Felix went down the stairs. Seeing Valen having fun from a distance, he grinned, then turned around and walked through the greenhouse and vegetable garden to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. After several apparitions, he was already standing next to the cave where the giant Grawp lived for the winter.

There was a loud "bang bang" sound from inside, and small stones rolled down from the cracks in the rocks above his head. Felix smelled a mixture of mold and straw.

"Grop bites a lion" The sound was deafening.

"Shut up! You idiot!" Hagrid yelled, "Go brush your teeth."

There was another thumping sound, which sounded like someone was venting his dissatisfaction.

"Ouch!" Hagrid ran out, panting, holding his face and screaming in pain, with several holes in his moleskin coat.

"Are you all right, Hagrid?"

"Felix?" Hagrid said in surprise. He smiled and pushed the stone out of his beard. "It's okay. Little Grawp was just playing with me. He's improving quickly. Even when he gets angry, he can't hit anyone..." His tone became low. "Although he may still get hurt by mistake."

"Are you showing him a movie?" Felix glanced into the cave. From this angle, he could only see a huge, dirty foot.

"Yes," Hagrid said happily. "Little Grawp likes small animals, just like me! I plan to take him to the Forbidden Forest to meet some friends when the time is right. I don't need to tie him up with a rope anymore... But I can't do that now. I can only show him a movie. He has never seen a lion and is very curious about it. I also plan to give him the book you gave me."

Felix was in a trance for a moment, remembering the set of books he gave Hagrid when he first came to visit. There were pictures of various Muggle animals on them.

At this time, there was another sound of pounding the ground in the cave. Felix saw the big foot "dong dong" hitting the ground, like beating a drum.

"Stop making noise! ​​I'm talking to Fili!" Hagrid shouted into the cave.

"Fili? Filihemihagelsirihaharironge" Grawp growled inside.

Hagrid said helplessly: "His English is still not standard, and he is very stubborn. He thinks hahari sounds better..."

"Is there something going on at school?" he asked gruffly.

"Oh, no. It's a private matter." Felix said: "I want to know the address of the giant tribe. Of course I know they have gone deep into the mountains. I mean, which direction did they run to." He saw that Hagrid wanted to speak, and added quickly.

"You don't want to deal with them." Hagrid muttered uneasily, "They... They are miserable. There are not many left."

"I don't need to, but I think it is necessary to confirm their situation. You know, they have disappeared from the wizard's sight for a long time."

Hagrid was stunned for a while, "Well, I can only tell you the approximate location. Do you have a map?"

"I collected a bunch..."

...

When Felix appeared again, he had come to the edge of the Black Lake.

Valen was skating on the ice. I don't know which student conjured a pair of ice skates for it, but judging from its movements, it skates much better than most Hogwarts students.

"Valen, another one!" a student shouted excitedly.

Valen happily took out his special wand and waved it casually. A gust of wind rolled up the snow on the ice, like a rolling snow dragon. Valen rushed straight into the whirlwind, and his little yellow hat and scarf fluttered high in the snow.