It wasn't until after boarding the plane that Harry and the others finally escaped Lockhart's incessant chatter.

Regardless of whether the flamboyant young man's words were true or false, he hadn't left Harry and Draco with even a slightly good impression.

But Angelo clearly suffered. Lockhart's assigned seat was right next to his, meaning he was in for a long journey of torment.

Just before boarding the plane, Angelo had another brief exchange with Severus and learned that their trip to Albania was primarily for exploring some primeval forests.

Upon hearing this, his expression turned somewhat subtle.

Later, when Lockhart shifted his attention to Lupin, boasting about his recent research on werewolves and his plans to write a monumental work, Angelo secretly slipped a note into Severus's hand.

He looked Severus in the eye and whispered, "Don't let that peacock know! My cousin is actually staying in the forests of Albania for his adventures. I was originally coming to find him, but now that I'm stuck with this nuisance, I can't go."

"If you're interested in the natural forests there, you can look for my cousin. Just show him this note, he'll be happy to host you."

Severus, of course, had no reason to refuse such an unexpected offer and accepted it gladly.

Then, he glanced at Lockhart, who was now tormenting the good-natured Lupin, and advised Angelo, "If possible, try to shake him off later. If you really can't get rid of him, just tell him where your cousin is. I'll help you stop him from causing further trouble."

Someone like Lockhart could be dealt with easily by Severus at any time. However, they were not in Britain now and he had important matters ahead. Even if he disposed of Lockhart, he wouldn't have time to send him back.

As for using him as a teaching tool, with Harry being brought out so early, it was even less necessary.

So, if Lockhart didn't push his luck later, Severus wasn't in a hurry to expose him immediately… it could wait until they returned to Britain.

But if he didn't know his place...

…

Thanks to full sponsorship for this trip, Severus wasn't short on Galleons. Even when spending Muggle money, they didn't need to be too frugal.

Thus, their seats on the plane were in first class. However, since it was the first time Severus and the boys were flying, he wanted them to experience Muggle travel fully, which is why they waited in the public lounge and encountered Angelo and Lockhart.

Draco's seat was by the window. After the plane took off, he could clearly see the endless sea of clouds and the orange sun through the glass.

Not only had he never flown on a broomstick outside, but even an adult wizard like Lupin, who wasn't unfamiliar with flying, was deeply impressed by the view outside.

Because even wizards' broomsticks generally don't fly this high.

At altitudes above 10,000 meters, the temperature drops to nearly -50 degrees Celsius, and the air is much thinner than at lower altitudes.

Without proper preparation, wizards would struggle to endure such harsh conditions.

"The scenery is quite nice, isn't it?"

Hearing the voice beside him, Draco immediately pretended to be nonchalant, turning his head as if he were long accustomed to such views.

"It's just alright." He said, curling his lip.

Severus took a cup of juice handed by the flight attendant for him and didn't call out Draco's dishonesty.

"In terms of comfort, flying on a plane is much more comfortable than riding a broomstick. Even the most advanced broomsticks today can't completely block the wind."

"Cars, ships, airplanes... the transportation Muggles have created is quite ingenious, don't you think?"

This time, Draco didn't reply. It wasn't that he didn't want to argue, but he simply couldn't think of anything to retort.

Severus looked at him. He didn't choose this moment to emphasize more positive things about Muggles. Instead, he said softly to him, "Do you know what the most valuable quality a person can possess is?"

Draco didn't look at Severus, just kept watching out the window, his lip curled.

"Kindness? Cheerfulness? Civility? Politeness?"

"It's sincerity, or you could also say…seeking truth from facts."

"Seeking truth from facts?" Draco clearly didn't expect such words from Severus.

"Doesn't sound too hard to achieve, does it?" Severus shrugged.

After hesitating for a moment, Draco turned his head and nodded.

Severus wasn't surprised by his response. He smiled and said, "But actually, most of the time, the vast majority of people can't do this. They are influenced by all sorts of hearsay. Even without seeing some things with their own eyes, they will make judgments about them."

"And sometimes, even when people see the truth, some will, because of their different positions and roles, choose to cover up the truth in various ways, deceiving others, and even deceiving themselves."

Draco looked at him suspiciously. "Are you saying what my father taught me isn't true?"

"From the time I brought you out until now, do you think the things he told you about wizards and Muggles were true and useful?" Severus said seriously.

"I won't give you an answer. I'll just take you out to see. What you see and understand during this time is what matters."

"Of course, if you do discover something, there's no need to blame Lucius for intentionally teaching you wrong. What he received was the same education as you. He never truly verified things personally from a young age. Later, even if he learned the right and wrong of some matters, he couldn't treat them objectively and fairly. Because the position he sits in and the interests he holds have already replaced his brain, doing the thinking for him."

"And you are far from that point yet."

Since bringing Draco out, Severus indeed hadn't preached any grand principles to him, at most correcting his rude and impolite behavior.

Even now, he only let him see with his own eyes, think for himself what he could, and if he couldn't figure it out or didn't understand, then speak up.

This approach was much more acceptable, profound, and useful than directly telling him abstract, grand but illusory principles.

Roughly two and a half hours later, they smoothly arrived at the airport in Tirana, the capital of Albania.

As first-class passengers, they naturally had the privilege of disembarking first.

Neither Harry and Draco nor Lupin wanted to hear Lockhart's voice or see his flamboyant smile again.

So, they directly took the first-class priority channel off the plane and into the airport.

Compared to Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport, Albania's airport was not nearly as crowded with people.

Not leaving the airport immediately, Severus first took out a pre-prepared map of Albania's entire territory from his suitcase.

In the VIP lounge, he explained their destination to Harry, Draco, and Lupin.

"Although this country isn't large, its forest coverage accounts for about 36% of the total land area. Before leaving Britain, I identified six primeval forests."

He pointed to the six circled areas on the map.

"Ancient and Primeval Beech Forest, Llogara National Park, Hotova Fir National Park, Shebenik National Park, Dajti National Park, and Korab-Koritnik Natural Park."

"Later, in France, I obtained more relevant information and screened these six forests."

"The Ancient and Primeval Beech Forest and Korab-Koritnik Natural Park can be ruled out first. They aren't purely primeval forests, and in the last hundred years, the degree of human intervention and modification has been particularly significant."

"Among the remaining four national parks, we can go to Llogara first."

Severus finally pointed to the largest green area on the map.

"This is Albania's largest primeval forest, with diverse species and very few people. The Muggle government has established protected areas along the forest's periphery. Only a few survival adventurers venture there. And most crucially, before boarding the plane, Angelo secretly gave me a note with the address of his troll research expert, wizard adventurer cousin… Pique Andrews."

"Andrews has traveled almost all of Albania's uninhabited forests, visiting the troll communities there. Right now, he's in Llogara National Park. He can provide assistance for our upcoming journey."

Regarding Severus's arrangements, the two children, Harry and Draco, naturally had nothing to say… they would follow the adults wherever they went.

But Lupin was somewhat puzzled.

He had originally thought Severus's trip was just for travel, to show the children a broader world.

But now, Lupin realized that coming to Albania, Severus clearly had a specific purpose.

"What are you planning to find in these forests?" Lupin couldn't help but ask.

Severus just gave him a mysterious smile.

"A ghost in a special state."

"A ghost?"

Not only Lupin, but even Harry and Draco turned to look at Severus.

Even Ghost Snape couldn't help but hold his breath.

Compared to the others, Ghost Snape clearly knew more.

He was well aware of the agreement between Severus and the Malfoys. The primary purpose of leaving Britain this time was to find a specific someone.

Moreover, during this process, he had specifically obtained a special alchemical device from Nicolas, preparing for an encounter with that person.

But deep down, Ghost Snape had always felt that Severus's series of actions carried a sense of absurdity.

Taking two children under ten years old and a werewolf, they left Britain using Muggle transportation.

They leisurely helped the Aurors solve a case in France, got a baffling piece of parchment and a Banshee teacup from Nicolas, then flew directly to Albania, targeting those forests with clear purpose...

All to find the Dark Lord, whose name most wizards in the Wizarding World dared not speak?

In the eyes of Ghost Snape, their group seemed more like a primary school summer camp activity!

Yet from start to finish, Severus had always appeared confident, as if he knew exactly what he was doing.

"Yes, a ghost. A weak one, without a physical body, surviving only by parasitizing on some animals, hiding in some forest in this country, too afraid to come out!"

"The forests are so vast. Can we find it?"

After hearing Severus state the goal, Harry's first question wasn't about who the ghost was or why they wanted to catch it, but excitedly asked how they could find it.

Draco's eyes also showed eagerness. He pretended to be clever and said, "Aren't ghosts just specters? Living people can't catch specters!"

"Strictly speaking, he isn't a specter. Specters are dead, but he is still alive, just without a body." Severus explained casually.

Lupin didn't think much of it because Severus's tone was so light, as if he didn't take the ghost seriously at all.

After confirming the destination and target at the airport, they didn't linger. They took a taxi from the airport to a car rental company in Tirana, rented a car, and before dark, arrived at a city closest to Llogara National Park. There, they found an inn to stay temporarily.

Just as Severus and the others arrived in Albania, on the other side...

France, Paris.

A black dog with pitch-black fur jumped down from a seafood truck that had traveled from Calais to Paris under the cover of night.

It shook off the remaining water droplets and began prowling the streets and alleys of Paris.

The city was clearly very unfamiliar to it, but in less than half a day, before midnight, the black dog successfully found the mysterious and ancient wizarding enclave hidden beneath Paris's bustling metropolis.

It never revealed its human form, silently blending into France's largest wizarding commercial street.

This was the very street Severus had taken Harry and the others to before visiting the Flamel Residence.

Although the black dog didn't know this, upon arriving on this street, its eyes, which held an intelligence far beyond that of a normal animal, fixed intently on a newspaper discarded beside a trash can!

The headline on the newspaper's front page was bold and large, written in French the black dog couldn't read.

However, the moving photograph beneath the headline needed no language to explain.

The photo clearly showed Harry, Draco, and Lupin surrounded by a group of reporters. Not wanting to be photographed and affect the Malfoy Family's reputation, Draco was constantly pushing Harry in front of himself, trying to use him as a shield.

This action was deeply imprinted in the black dog's mind, its eyes filled with cold anger!