The Sunshine of Hogwarts, Snape
Chapter 170 - 170 Strange Things
Since Andrews knew the legend of Ravenclaw's Diadem, it was much easier for Severus to explain further.
"That ghost we're looking for must know the whereabouts of the diadem! So, we want to find him in these forests to get information about the diadem from him."
Severus's request was reasonable and well-founded. Moreover, he wasn't lying, he was just telling part of the truth. Even if he were given Veritaserum and asked if what he just said was true, he would nod and say yes.
After listening to Severus's account, Andrews began to frown in recollection.
"I've traveled in Albania for a long time. I've covered almost all the large forests in this country. As for ghosts... I have encountered a few, but they were either Banshee ghosts obsessed with their lairs or local Albanian wizard ghosts. I haven't seen any ghost claiming to be from Britain or acting strangely..."
Severus knew very well that Voldemort couldn't appear in a true ghost form.
In fact, in his current state, it was debatable whether he could even simulate an ethereal human form. Based on Severus's memory of the original work, Voldemort at this point could only survive by possessing small animals, and he couldn't exist independently!
"From what I understand, this ghost is very special," Severus explained to Andrews, "He usually doesn't appear in an ethereal spirit form but attaches himself to living creatures!"
"Living creatures? Ordinary ghosts don't have that ability. Is he a special type of spirit?"
"Yes! You graduated from Hogwarts, so you should know about Peeves. After death, he became a spirit similar to Peeves."
Andrews stroked his chin… his abundant beard hadn't been groomed for a long time.
"If that's the case, finding him in the forest is like looking for a needle in a haystack. He can attach himself to animals. How are we supposed to determine which animal is his hiding place?"
Severus was clearly prepared for this.
He said, "First, we can rule out magical creatures. Given his personality, to hide, he wouldn't likely choose animals associated with magical beings because these creatures are monitored by the Albanian Ministry of Magic. He's afraid of being discovered by such wizards."
"You seem to know him well?" Andrews looked at Severus in doubts.
"There's a ghost at Hogwarts who had close ties with him in life. I learned a lot from the Hogwarts' ghosts." Severus said frankly.
Andrews didn't dwell on it, as it was just a casual question. Even so, he didn't think Severus had a high chance of finding the ghost he was looking for.
"Even excluding magical creatures, the number of ordinary animals in the forest is countless. This is still very difficult."
"I understand the difficulty, but that's what makes it an adventure, right?" Severus smiled, "Precisely because it's fraught with challenges, achieving success brings even greater joy and surprise!"
Andrews was persuaded by Severus's words. His expression became inspired.
"You're right! It's because the path ahead is full of unknowns that someone must take the first step and become the pioneer. That's the spirit of adventure!"
"My work here is also entering its final stages. I can spare some time each day to provide you with the help you need."
Hearing his agreement, Severus didn't hesitate. He took the initiative to ask, "You've traveled in Albania's forests for a long time. Have you ever encountered any peculiar ordinary animals, especially in areas without magical creatures?"
"If you're asking me about strange things I've encountered, there's plenty to talk about!"
Seeing his strong desire to express himself, Severus had to remind him, "Preferably strange things related to animals or spirits."
"Preferably something weird involving animals or spirits."
"Of course! For example, regarding animals, the forest we're in now, which Muggles call Llogara National Forest Park, has some rather peculiar animals."
"Have you ever seen an eagle fighting a dragon?"
Almost every adventurer is a good storyteller. With just one sentence, he captured the attention of Lupin, Harry, and Draco.
"A dragon?" Draco exclaimed in surprise.
"An eagle?" Harry expressed doubt.
"Yes!"
Andrews said vividly, "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it either! Just through this valley, heading southeast, about three or four days' walk, you'll reach the dragon nature reserve jointly established by the Albanian and Greek Ministries of Magic. About a dozen dragons live there."
"About a year ago, not long after I started studying Lulu's tribe here, I approached that reserve to gather some Aconite. There's a lot of that grass in that area, as dragon dung is highly nutritious for it."
"Besides me, I had a Troll with me. I named it Anderson, one of the smarter ones in this tribe. It liked to follow me when I went out, incidentally protecting my safety."
"At that time, I was searching for suitable Aconite when suddenly I heard a tremendous roar. It terrified Anderson! I had never seen it so scared before!"
"This is a Troll! You should all know what level of magical creature a Troll is, right?"
Andrews suddenly looked at Harry and Draco, who were listening intently.
The two boys, who hadn't even started school yet, instinctively shook their heads like rattles.
"XXXX-class!" Andrews emphasized loudly, "Although they're not as powerful as giants, in most cases, they dominate the land. But at that time, Anderson was scared like a little mouse with nowhere to escape!"
"I looked up at the sky, towards the direction of the roar. But the moment I raised my head, a small mountain blocked the sky!"
Andrews widened his eyes, looking at the boys.
"Guess what kind of dragon it was?"
Harry and Draco continued shaking their heads. Goosebumps had risen all over their bodies… they were completely immersed in Andrews's story.
"It was an Ukrainian Ironbelly! The largest dragon in the world! It can weigh over 6 tons! Flying in the sky, it's like a floating small mountain!"
