"The wand movement is key when casting a spell. Remember the feeling you had when you first successfully cast it. After that, it's all about familiarizing yourself with that sensation and practicing diligently."

That afternoon, Severus didn't do anything else… he spent the time teaching Harry how to cast spells properly.

In truth, Severus had already begun teaching Harry the moment he handed him that birch wand at Hogwarts.

Harry's natural talent for magic was anything but lacking… in fact, it was downright exceptional. In just a week, he'd already managed to cast two spells: the Levitation Charm and the Full Body-Bind Curse, though his proficiency still needed work.

The lack of proficiency was mainly because Harry was a bit of a troublemaker and didn't like dedicating all his energy to studying.

Of course, Severus didn't think this was a bad thing.

Since Harry had learned about his parents' past from Severus earlier than in the original timeline, he already had far more self-control than he otherwise would have.

Besides, he'd just turned nine not long ago, so he was starting to learn magic two years earlier than most children. If he'd buried himself in books and spells at this stage, it would've been excessive.

Learning when he felt like it and playing when he got bored… that was the way to keep his love and enthusiasm for magic alive.

When Severus was teaching, Harry also listened very attentively.

Draco wasn't there at the moment… Lupin had taken him to apologize to the staff at the Ministry's Broom Regulatory Control office.

That morning, Harry and Draco had snuck into the broom shed again to play. But when Draco tried riding the Moonshine, he still couldn't control it properly. In a fit of anger, he threw it to the ground… and snapped the broomstick in half!

By the time Severus and Lupin returned, Draco didn't even try to hide it. He just haughtily declared that Severus should ask his father for money… he'd just buy the French Ministry a new broom.

That attitude earned him a scolding from Severus. Destroying someone else's property and not immediately owning up to it was no different from stealing. In the end, Lupin dragged him off to apologize.

Before long, Lupin returned with Draco in tow.

"The broom keeper was very understanding. He'd actually noticed the two of them sneaking in to play with the brooms yesterday. But those public brooms are just slow, outdated things anyway, and the shed has protective charms to prevent accidents, so he didn't bother stopping them."

"As for the broken broom, he said it was already due for retirement and didn't ask for compensation, but I left him three Galleons anyway."

Lupin's handling of the situation was perfectly reasonable. Severus, meanwhile, looked at Draco, who was still sulking and acting aggrieved, and said calmly, "When you make a mistake, own up to it. Focus on how to make amends, not on running away… that's the mark of a coward, not the bearing of someone who claims to be noble."

Draco pouted, pretending he didn't care as he crossed his arms and jiggled his leg.

"A letter just arrived from England… your mother wrote to you. Do you want to read it?"

The moment Severus said this, Draco's act crumbled. He snatched the letter from Severus's hand and scurried to a corner, not wanting anyone to see his reddening eyes or the tears threatening to spill. He hunched over, reading it in secret.

Right then, Yuma found Severus and Lupin.

"Girard has news. She asked me to bring you over."

Lupin's spirits lifted immediately. He turned to Severus, but Severus's expression remained unchanged… he was studying Yuma's face instead.

"Good news or bad news?"

At the question, Yuma's expression turned odd. He frowned and replied, "I'm not sure what she meant. You'd better hear it from her yourself."

Hearing this, Severus's heart sank.

'A result was a result. No result was no result. But now Yuma was saying he didn't understand Girard's meaning… what did that mean?'

Following him, Severus and Lupin returned to Girard's office.

She did look busy… piles of documents and applications were stacked on her desk, waiting for her review and signature. When Yuma brought the two in, she set aside her work and handed back the photos Severus had given her earlier.

"This lead is a dead end. Don't keep digging… you won't find anything no matter how hard you try. Let Yuma take you to the Auror Joint Investigation Unit instead. We've already been in contact with the British Ministry."

Severus just stared into her eyes. The Head Auror avoided his gaze, turning her attention back to the documents in her hands after speaking.

"What do you mean, 'no matter how hard you try'? So when you went to the Minister's office, did you find what should've been there or not?"

Girard set down her papers again. This time, she met Severus's eyes and shook her head.

"No."

Severus stared at her silently for a few seconds before speaking.

"That's a lie. Your Occlumency is mediocre. Even without actively using Legilimency, I can tell when you're lying."

Girard's eyebrows shot up. Her tone turned sharp.

"You're probing the mind of the French Head Auror? Do you have any idea what the consequences of that are?"

"You didn't deny it… you just talked about consequences?" Severus's expression remained calm, "I was actually lying just now. My skill in Legilimency isn't advanced enough to read your thoughts without you noticing."

"But your real attitude has already come through, hasn't it?"

The office fell dead silent.

Yuma's mouth hung open in shock as he listened to the exchange. He was stunned by Severus's audacity… and even more bewildered by how the atmosphere had turned so tense so quickly.

Lupin also furrowed his brows, sensing something amiss in the exchange between Severus and Girard.

"Take this photo back. This isn't advice or a suggestion… it's the official decision of the French Ministry of Magic. The lead tracing the alchemical ritual site is dead. No matter what, you won't find anything further."

Girard spoke coolly, her patience clearly wearing thin.

"If you still want to investigate, join the joint task force between the British and French Ministries. If you've lost interest, you're free to walk away at any time."

The air seemed to freeze. Yuma and Lupin both held their breaths.

Severus narrowed his eyes. He didn't appear angered by Girard's blunt dismissal… instead, he analyzed calmly:

"The British and French Ministries aren't fundamentally different. Politicians aren't wise or foolish… they only speak to protect their own interests. Because of the Dark Lord's uprising, his followers became a taboo subject in Britain. No matter what, those politicians can't, and won't accept even the slightest sign of his remnants resurfacing."

"But the French Ministry wasn't as affected by the Dark Lord's rise. His activities were mostly confined to the British Isles, so France shouldn't have any reason to avoid this subject. Yet now, you, representing your Ministry, don't want me digging deeper with this photo. Especially when you've already reviewed classified French intelligence beforehand."

Severus's tone turned mocking, as if he had already pieced everything together.

Sometimes, even when people or organizations refused to speak, their unusual reactions were evidence enough.

"With my photo, you must have found something in those classified files. But those secrets involve people your Ministry doesn't want to acknowledge… people whose mere existence would bring shame, even terror, to all of France. Just like how the British Ministry fears the Dark Lord..."

"Director Girard, let's take a guess: which people, which forces, once tormented and terrified the wizards of France so deeply?"

"Enough!"

Girard cut him off sharply. Her body was obviously trembling, though whether from rage or fear was unclear!

"Save your wild theories for your friend Worple to put in his next novel! Don't slander the entire French Ministry here!"

"If there's nothing else, I've said all I need to say. I have work to do… get out!"

Her furious dismissal was unmistakable.

Anyone, even Yuma, could see Severus's words had struck a nerve, making it impossible for her to keep her composure.

Yuma floundered helplessly, unsure how to mediate.

Lupin's expression had turned cold. He now understood that it wasn't that the lead had gone cold, but that the French Ministry was afraid of what they might uncover.

Severus remained unfazed, and said lightly, "Very well. We won't disturb you further, Director Girard. Let's go, Remus."

With that, he turned and walked out.

Lupin caught up quickly, whispering,

"Are we really dropping this?"

"Of course not." Severus chuckled, "Do you think France's dark history is known only to them?"

Lupin frowned and asked, "Then who else can we turn to?"

"Who else?" Severus stopped and jabbed a finger at Lupin's chest, grinning, "Have you lost your mind? We're Dumbledore's men!"