Chapter 1238 Magic Cake

To be honest, Petunia didn't like the Snape boy from the beginning.

Not just because of his weird costumes, his mysterious words, his unpleasant pranks, or the possibility of stealing his sister away...

The more important thing is that he, like Lily, later James Potter, and even everyone in the wizarding world, has a sense of superiority.

This kind of superiority is not always reflected in direct "arrogance" and "contempt", sometimes it is condescending "sympathy", and sometimes it is a seemingly harmless "joke".

Just like when she and Vernon met that James, wizards always like to show their unique talents intentionally or unintentionally, and without magical talents, they are like those disabled people who are ridiculed, and they don't even have any initiative. The capital to resist or express anger...perhaps this is why Vernon Dursley asked for magic so much.

As her sister and she started their own families, Penny once thought that she would bid farewell to the weird magical world completely and live their own lives without interfering with each other.

However, shortly after Dali's first birthday, her infant nephew showed up at their door.

What followed was the news of the death of Lily and her husband, as well as the introduction of "magic murder" that sounded like a madman's words.

After some psychological struggle, Petunia chose to take in her nephew and made up her mind to erase all the weirdness of her nephew and stay as far away from the magical world as possible.

However, all the efforts seemed so ridiculous under the crazy owl letters and giant visits - Hogwarts didn't even bother to send a formal professor to explain.

Just like James Potter's "harmless" prank, without magical talents, they could not refuse the wizards' requests, and even the most basic respect had to rely on charity.

The arrogant magical world, the annoying wizards, the uncomfortable magic...

In fact, for a long time, Penny had been telling herself this firmly.

She hated everything about magic.

It wasn't that magic rejected her; it was that she rejected magic.

until……

She received an invitation letter from Hogwarts.

The recipient was signed by her name, not Petunia Dursley, but... Petunia Evans.

"Dear Ms. Evans, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sincerely invites you—"

When she saw this line of words, Penny suddenly realized that she had never really let go of her dream about magic.

As Severus Snape appeared at the gate of Hogwarts, Penny was surprised to find that the conflicts and contradictions in her childhood seemed to have faded away with time.

Like old friends reunited after a long separation, the two carefully recalled the past - Severus was no longer the aggressive and arrogant boy of the past, and she was no longer the willful and sensitive thirteen-year-old girl. Ci Magic School and Lily seem to be connected by some invisible link, making them seem to have returned to the amusement park decades ago.

Just like the name signed on the "invitation letter", as she stepped into this magic castle, she temporarily transformed into Penny Evans again.

Although Snape didn't say it out loud, she could hear some of the same complex emotions in the other person's words.

In this world, maybe they are the only two people left who can really remember and miss Lily, right?

On the other side, as Petunia accidentally revealed the past, many Gryffindor students and parents gathered around curiously.

Even Professor McGonagall and Filch, who were not far away, lowered their voices and quietly and quietly paid attention to the movements on this side.

Among the many professors at Hogwarts, Severus Snape is definitely the most mysterious and aloof.

Even the professors who are colleagues are not very clear about his past, let alone others - as a Potions professor specially recruited by Dumbledore, the youngest Potions professor in the history of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry , the youngest dean, this Slytherin dean is like an iceberg that holds countless secrets, making people full of curiosity and fear.

But now, a small crack seems to have opened in this iceberg, giving people a chance to peek into some of the well-kept secrets.

"So, Aunt Petunia, who is Professor Snape? How did you meet?"

"...Well, what kind of person is Severus? A clumsy, arrogant and annoying guy."

Petunia Dursley glanced at Harry, paused for a few seconds, and said with a smile.

"As for how we met..."

She looked up at the golden and red curtains next to her, as if she saw the golden and red decorations that Lily had decorated their bedroom after the holidays, with a look of memory in her eyes.

Speaking of which, Snape must have been planning the conversation for a long time.

But because he offended her, she easily messed him up for the first time.

Looking back on those trivial things now, I don't feel as angry as I was offended at the beginning, only the nostalgia that makes people sigh and yearn for them.

Penny Evans glanced at the people around her who were listening with their ears pricked up. She raised the corners of her mouth slightly and spoke softly in a tone that sounded like she was telling a story.

"I remember that Lily had just celebrated her tenth birthday. She and I were playing on the swings in the playground next to our home, and then a boy dressed in a weird way suddenly jumped out——"

…………

Meanwhile, in the Slytherin House common room.

Snape's brows were furrowed, and his thin, pale face was frighteningly gloomy.

Compared to the annoying, clumsy Pipi shrimps in the classroom, he finally discovered something even more annoying:

Some of the noisy parents of some "Pippi Shrimps" - the parents of Slytherin House are undoubtedly the most difficult to maintain among the four houses.

The most important thing is that as the dean of Slytherin House, he must follow up on all matters related to the parent-teacher meeting today, and there is no way to hide in the potions office.

"Mr. Greengrass, I repeat for the last time, I don't know where Dumbledore went -"

Snape took a gentle breath, suppressed his violent emotions, and said indifferently.

I don't know why, but since a few minutes ago, he had a particularly bad feeling of irritability, as if someone was blowing up his office door again.

"As for some of the content at the parent-teacher conference, such as speculation about the future of the wizarding world... I suggest you write a letter to consult the Ministry of Magic directly about these content."

Before the few pure-blood family "big men" gathered next to him could speak, Snape waved his hand, his voice full of impatience.

"I am just a Potions professor and the dean of the college. The future direction of magical society is not something I can influence."

"But, you obviously know more than us..."

Unlike Snape, who was agitated, Mr. Greengrass was obviously much calmer.

"Of course, after today's parent-teacher conference is over, I will naturally visit Mr. Fudge, but now I have a few questions that I hope you can help answer."

As the voice of the Hogwarts School Board, he has the patience and time to slowly work out the answer.

At the same time, this is what he must do - the "prophecies" at today's parent-teacher meeting are too dangerous. If they don't get the answers, many of them may not be able to sleep tonight.

The magical world is in decline, or in other words, magical civilization is in decline.

Even if they didn't attend the parents' meeting at Hogwarts, many pure-blood wizarding families have already realized this bad trend.

However, no one has really exposed this matter before, and from the perspective of the ancient pure-blood camp, if the sky falls, the Ministry of Magic will be the first to hold it up.

It's a pity that this balance and protection completely fell apart with the explanations given by the Hogwarts professors at the parents' meeting today - the Ministry of Magic has made a choice. They plan to launch an unprecedented social involution in the wizarding world. This kind of survival of the fittest will undoubtedly Subverting the original situation, descendants of pure-blood wizard families may one day be "expelled" from the magical society due to lack of ability.

Although the professors didn't describe that last point explicitly, people like Mr. Greengrass quickly picked up on the implication.

Unlike the parents of other houses, the parents of Slytherin House really understand the workings of magical society.

"Yes, I believe that Hogwarts' new curriculum standards can produce better wizards."

Greengrass said softly, his peripheral vision swept over the two daughters not far away, and after a half-second pause, he said quietly.

"Under the high-intensity and high-density elite education, most of the wizards who will graduate in the future will surpass the previous ones, thus being in an advantageous position in future job competition."

"However, this is like dividing bread. The strong newcomers get more and better bread. What about the old guys who are eliminated? Many of them are not even old yet. The ones from Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic The solution seems to only consider the new generation, but not the people who are working today - what I want to know is the unfinished story that will follow..."

Compared with the lively and crowded non-magical world, the magical society can be described as sparsely populated.

The sparse population means serious job saturation and a seriously unbalanced market. Competition and involution have actually begun long ago.

Even now, many wizards can only cultivate a piece of land by themselves and are as self-sufficient as the humblest Muggle - and there is no meat to eat.

For more than half a century, half of the legendary "Eighteen Pure-Blooded Sacred Clan" have gradually withered away, and most of the remaining ancient magic families are still struggling to survive.

"Sorry, I don't quite understand your question -"

Snape frowned slightly and looked helplessly at the troubled school director.

"My job is only to teach students, not to change society. Your questions may only be..."

"Oh, no, no, no, you can definitely answer..."

Greengrass wagged his fingers, thought for a few seconds, and then continued thoughtfully.

"Hogwarts is undergoing teaching reform, and the purpose of the teaching reform is mainly to prepare for entering society in the future——"

"If it is just optimization, there is no need to carry out such a large-scale and high-intensity teaching reform. This shows that the definition of 'useful talents' has changed."

"In other words, as a professor at Hogwarts, you must have a rough idea of ​​where the 'new content' will play a role in the future - I don't force you to tell me all the social changes hidden behind the scenes, but I hope You could give me a little hint in the direction. The Hogwarts School Board, the pureblood wizarding family, are obviously more trustworthy and cooperative than Muggles, right?"

Greengrass spread his hands, pointed at the parents around him, a smile appeared on his face, and said softly.

"For example, we can provide free sponsorship, or help solve some minor problems..."

"...Is this so?"

Professor Snape was silent for a few seconds, and his frown slowly relaxed.

"Well, I roughly understand what you mean. In fact, this is not a secret - anyway, it should be announced one after another in a while."

"The field of potions should see disruptive changes this year, from scattered potions and material sales to systematic, assembly-line, and professional potion standards."

"The research on common potions in the first few phases is almost over. The follow-up should be to establish factories, promote market regulations, and popularize production and sales... and some Hogwarts students will naturally participate in it after graduation. After all, these potions The foundation and logic of the industry are based on the concept of new potions, and the original knowledge of small workshops is obviously not enough."

After a slight pause, Professor Snape slowly glanced at the people around him and continued speaking meaningfully.

"The domestication and commercialization of magic potions will inevitably impact the interests of major magic injury and illness hospitals."

"On the other hand, the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts seem to have a lot of gaps in terms of exclusive potion formulas, labor, and materials. So..."

"...Industrialized magic potion? Well, this is indeed a good direction."

Greengrass nodded thoughtfully, and a smile finally appeared in his original serious expression.

"Thank you, Professor Snape - regarding these matters, we..." He pointed around, "We will discuss it as soon as possible and see if there is anything we can do to help."

The distribution of interests among pure-blood families is a very troublesome and complicated matter, and it is naturally impossible for Greengrass to discuss it directly in front of everyone here.

Even if Severus Snape didn't explain it, Greengrass could realize the huge profit behind it.

Needless to say, after the parent-teacher conference, they had to stay up late to discuss it.

While Greengrass was thinking, he subconsciously glanced at Lucius Malfoy standing on the edge of the crowd from the corner of his eye, and raised his eyebrows slightly.

Even if it is a big cake, the portion that each family can share is different. It is obviously impossible for some latecomers to compare with these established families.

However, at this time, Lucius Malfoy did not notice the gaze from Mr. Greengrass.

In fact, his mind is now occupied by another thing...

Following Severus Snape's prompt, Lucius Malfoy instantly realized a problem:

If the future layout and new outlet of the magic world are various brand-new industries, such as the potion industry that is about to be divided up.

So, the so-called "magic sanitary napkin" industry chain opportunity given to the Malfoy family by the "Miss Demon King".

A magical cake that seems complete and self-contained and doesn’t have to be shared with anyone? !

Lucius Malfoy's eyes gradually became firmer and he breathed a sigh of relief.

The weight of this gift was much more valuable than he had thought before.

No matter what, he must win the agency!

————

————

Great!