"Is that Potter really that perceptive?" Karkaroff didn't notice Snape's little move, kicking the snow on the ground anxiously. "I noticed that his girlfriend looked at me in a strange way. Today I was attacked by their pet."

Snape sneered: "Karkaroff, you have always been a fool."

"But your stupidity always breaks the bottom line of my cognition. At that time, how did you think of giving Potter four points? Even if Ms. Maxime was critical, she would have given him nine points."

"Do you think Krum can be a match for Potter?"

"Why not?" Karkaroff asked stubbornly.

Snape raised his hand and poked his chest: "Now you know how to repent, and want to be a good principal in school like Dumbledore?"

Karkaroff's expression became even uglier: "You have to find a way out for yourself. It's the same for you, Severus. You have become Dumbledore's lackey now."

"I just made a deal with him." Snape said in a cold tone, "Tell me, what happened to the mark that made you, a master of such high status and the headmaster of Durmstrang, so panicked?"

"Didn't you feel it?" Karkaroff was extremely surprised.

Snape narrowed his eyes: "It seems that not only your brain is not good, but your eyes have also become bad."

He lifted his robe, revealing his bare left arm.

"I heard that Potter did it?" Karkaroff was surprised and stretched out his hand to try to touch it. His fingers passed through without any hindrance. It was not a Disillusionment Charm or an Invisibility Cloak. He really was missing an arm.

Snape nodded and sneered even harder: "It seems that you are not completely ignorant of things other than yourself."

"I have a grudge against Potter. I don't like him and he doesn't like me either."

"It wasn't until last year that I finally couldn't help but want to kill him, but Potter does have some skills under Dumbledore's guidance."

Karkaroff swallowed, his voice trembling: "You didn't use your full strength?"

"I was going to kill him." Snape shook his head. "Karkaroff, it seems that you are becoming more and more useless. I just said that."

Karkaroff was furious: "But since you showed no mercy, how is that possible? You are so strong."

Among the Death Eaters, Snape was the strongest fourteen years ago. After such a long time, how far this genius could grow was something he didn't dare to think about, and it was difficult for him to imagine.

"Now is not the time to discuss Potter." Snape frowned, his tone becoming more and more impatient. "You won't understand what he is capable of just by telling me."

"Now. Immediately."

"Tell me what the mark is all about, and what you are planning."

Snape paused and said, "I am far more capable than all of you idiots combined, and I know Potter best, and I have the strongest desire to kill him."

Under the Invisibility Cloak.

Hermione gritted her teeth and squeezed Harry's arm tightly.

How is that possible!

She had always thought Snape was a good man, but why did he do such a thing now...

Do you think you don't have to hide your true face when you're not in front of Harry and Dumbledore?

Harry held her hand and comforted her.

Karkaroff frowned and spoke in a heavy tone, "It has been getting more and more active recently. Before the Quidditch World Cup, about a month or two ago, it suddenly sent a message asking us to gather together."

"Not from the master, but from others to whom the master has given power."

Snape's face turned serious. "What are they planning for the Quidditch World Cup?"

Karkaroff shook his head. "I don't know. I wasn't in Great Britain at the time, and I didn't dare go."

As he spoke, he shuddered violently. "And recently, it has become more and more active, gradually coming back to life. You should understand what this means. He... the master, may be coming back soon."

"You don't even know about the Goblet of Fire?" Snape approached him, his wand against his waist.

"Severus, what do you mean?" Karkaroff was even more panicked. "I don't know what the Goblet of Fire wants to do, but, but..."

"Just what?" Snape continued.

Karkaroff shrank his head. "On the night I first arrived at Hogwarts, when I returned to the ship, there was a letter on the bedside table. I couldn't recognize whose handwriting it was."

"But the letter had that mark on it, and the person who wrote it asked me to put Harry's name into the Goblet of Fire."

Under the Invisibility Cloak.

Harry narrowed his eyes slightly.

Well, the second person to put his name into the Goblet of Fire appears, the Death Eater Karkaroff.

This group of guys really had a conspiracy against me.

"You did it?" Snape demanded.

Karkaroff's voice became sharper and higher: "How could I not do it? He knows my secret. He is very likely to be the same person as us. He may even be a servant who has been given power by the master."

"Severus..."

Snape's tone was calm and firm: "If you are afraid, then run away. I can keep this secret from the master."

Karkaroff frowned and paced in front of Snape.

"But if you still want to live," Snape suddenly said, his tone cold and calm, "I can kindly give you a suggestion."

Karkaroff stopped and looked at him eagerly: "Severus, my best friend, I knew you would help me."

"Now is the time when the master is weak." Snape said meaningfully, "Although he will soon make a comeback and show his greatness to the world again, but Igor, now is now, and the future is the future."

"Do you want me to take the initiative to find the master?" Karkaroff's face turned ugly.

"The master loves you, so your life is safe." Snape waved his hand. "Just like Bella, not many people like her, but she is one of the most favored ones, isn't she?"

Karkaroff's eyebrows knitted together.

"Because of Potter, I lost the chance to contact the master." Snape said with a cold face, "My arm was cut off by him with that poisoned sword. I need the master's grace to connect my arm."

Under the Invisibility Cloak, Hermione was stunned.

etc?

What did Snape say?

The snake bone sword cut off his arm?

But I remember clearly that Harry used the Sword of Gryffindor...

She turned her head and breathed in the small space. Even in the dim light, she could see all the expressions on Harry's face. On that face that seemed unchanged to outsiders, she could catch a hint of joy and excitement, like a hunter seeing his prey fall into his trap.

She seemed to understand something.

"I see." Karkaroff took a deep breath and nodded, "Severus, let me think about it."

Snape sneered and said nothing, watching him leave in panic.

Under the illumination of the fairy rose, Karkaroff's shadow became long and narrow, and his body became illusory, blurry, and ghostly.

Make sure he actually walks away.

Snape turned around and looked at Hermione through the Invisibility Cloak: "Miss Granger? And perhaps Mr. Potter?"

"Do you all use this thing for dates?"

Harry pulled off his invisibility cloak, expressionless: "Sorry, we just happened to run into you and Karkaroff dating, and we were curious, so we came over to eavesdrop."

Hermione blushed.

"Are you satisfied with the content?" Snape asked coldly.

Harry shook his head, "I thought I could hear about that person. Among the Death Eaters, who are the people who have the power given by Senior Tom?"

Snape summoned his memory: "I only know of three."

"Bellatrix Lestrange, that is a crazy woman who is loyal to the Dark Lord to an unreasonable degree. She is in Azkaban now, and there is no rumor that she has escaped from prison."

"Corban Yaxley, a very taciturn man. He is very powerful, even stronger than I was back then. He became a lackey of the Dark Lord very early on. Like Lucius, he escaped the trial of the Ministry of Magic."

"I strongly doubt it was him. He has the brains and the ability."

Harry nodded and continued, "What about the other one?"

"That man is dead." Snape continued, "Barty Crouch Jr. He was very talented - of course, among the Death Eaters, there are many talented young people, but he is the most special one. The Dark Lord has granted him permission to call him 'Father'."

It's him again.

Barty Crouch Jr.

Hermione frowned.

"Are you suspecting Barty Crouch Jr?" Snape's eyes widened, his tone surprised.

Harry nodded. "You should know that the Death Eater leader at the Quidditch World Cup can command the Crouch family elf."

"Is that Coban Yaxley related to the Crouch family?"

Snape also frowned, his expression complicated: "They have always been at odds. Crouch is a man who hates evil. His mind is empty and there is only so-called 'justice'. It is impossible for him to be on good terms with Coban."

"Professor, thank you for your help." Harry said gently.

Snape looked at him, his eyes falling on the stag brooch with emerald eyes on his chest, and sneered: "Who picked this ridiculous ornament for you, Black?"

Harry looked down and said, "Professor, don't you like it? I thought you would like this pair of emeralds very much."

"Gemstones are good." Snape's expression remained unchanged, "but stupid creatures like stags are not suitable for you at all. Isn't a doe good?"

"Thanks, but I like it." Harry nodded.

Snape sneered: "Continue your date, don't show off in front of me, it will make me unable to help--"

"Ten points will be deducted from Gryffindor for talking back to Professor Potter."

Harry and Hermione both nodded perfunctorily.

Snape walked towards the castle. When Harry and Hermione held hands again and prepared to walk towards the Black Lake, he suddenly turned back and stared at Harry: "Potter, don't learn from those two idiots from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw."

Harry nodded seriously, "Of course, Professor."

Snape quickened his pace and left.

Hermione pounded Harry's shoulder. Without the restraint of armor, she couldn't let go of the feeling.

Something seems a little uneasy tonight.

They walked carefully, afraid to step on others, all the way to the Black Lake. When they walked out of the garden, a cold wind blew the accumulated snow. Hermione couldn't help shivering. There was no sign of other people around.

Harry waved his wand, adding the spell to her.

"At first I thought Professor Snape really wanted to harm you." Hermione exhaled a thick, milky white mist, "But it seems that he wants to get more information."

Harry nodded.

"Karkaroff is unexpectedly timid. Will he agree to Professor Snape's proposal?" Hermione was a little worried.

"Trust Professor Snape." Harry led her to the lake.

Hermione wanted to say something else.

Harry used a little force to hold her in his arms: "Do we really want to talk about these things tonight?"

Hermione was startled, her face turned even redder, all the strength in her body disappeared with these words, she leaned on Harry and slowly closed her eyes.

The two heads gradually came together.

The moonlight reflected on the ripples of the Black Lake, and the shadows of Harry and Hermione fell in the shimmering waves like mistletoe.