Harry Potter: From Muggle Cousin to Conceptual Wizard

Chapter 236 Both Sides' Schemes! A Logical Arrangement!

"What if that crazy woman, or even Voldemort's main spirit, reveals her identity and orders me, the undercover agent, to do things?"

After agreeing to Dumbledore's arrangement, Snape thought for a moment and then asked a crucial question.

"Then I'll have to trouble you to play it by ear, Severus. You can outwardly comply with them, but when they ask you to do something, handle urgent matters slowly and avoid less urgent ones, focusing on delaying the inevitable."

If things really can't be delayed any longer, we need to give them a result before we can discuss things further.

What Voldemort wants now is nothing more than the materials for the Philosopher's Stone, the Elixir of Immortality, unicorn blood, and the Potion of Resurrection. We can easily get some defective or counterfeit products to appease him.

"We'll make the fakes so sophisticated that neither Ecclesia nor the crazed Voldemort's main spirit can spot them!"

Dumbledore quickly provided the answer.

He had already prepared a plan for this question when Snape discovered something amiss with Ecclesia and reported it to him.

He just didn't make it as clear to Snape that time.

Snape was out of immediate trouble, and he and Dumbledore continued towards the special care ward of the university hospital on the second floor.

Dumbledore removed the soundproof barrier, and soon the two arrived at their destination.

The two knocked on the door, identified themselves, and only entered the special care ward after receiving permission.

When Ecclesia, lying in her hospital bed, saw Snape, she put on a pitiful and longing expression, gazing affectionately at Snape's gloomy and sour face.

This made Snape feel nauseous and physically uncomfortable.

Before he was certain that Erkris was connected to Voldemort, he avoided this madwoman like the plague.

Now that he knew Eckeris's hidden identity and that she was probably just putting on a show to use him, he loathed this crazy woman even more.

And now, he can freely express his disgust.

Because that's the persona he's always presented, even if he has no choice but to take care of this crazy woman later, he can't just change his persona.

Moreover, it's best to keep it unchanged.

Snape simply couldn't do it—to dream of Lily's resurrection and work towards it while simultaneously fawning over and smiling at other women.

Dumbledore stood to the side, watching a beautiful, sickly woman lying in bed awkwardly staring at a disheveled, greasy-haired, cold-hearted middle-aged man, and couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

But he knew it was time for him to break the deadlock.

"Professor Eckeris, I heard from Mrs. Pomfrey that last night... you had a bout of lovesickness, which triggered a lot of pain in your body. You were crying out in pain, and the situation was quite serious. Are you feeling any better now?"

Dumbledore asked Ecclesia, who was lying on the sickbed, with a gentle expression.

"I... feel much better."

Eckeris replied in a weak and feeble voice, "I'm so... sorry to have worried the headmaster, but I... I... I..."

"Speak slowly, don't rush! The patient comes first, Professor Ecclesia. Don't worry, I've brought Professor Snape with me today. Please feel free to make any reasonable requests you may have!"

What happened last night must not happen again! If anything were to happen to you, even fewer wizards would be willing to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Dumbledore acted as a competent respondent, laying the groundwork for Ecclesia's request in a logical and well-reasoned manner.

Despite the old and new pain in her abdomen, as well as the tingling and weakness throughout her body caused by poisoning and the curse, Erkris felt a surge of joy.

Because things were going very smoothly, even better than she had expected.

The reason she used Snape as an excuse again was not only to rationalize the screams from last night, but also to find herself a capable but useless teammate.

One thing is certain: Dudley and Dumbledore overestimated Ecclesia.

Ecclesia is not Voldemort, nor is she Quirrell, who is completely terrified and obeys Voldemort's every word. She is Voldemort's parasite, an infiltrator at Hogwarts, and also a clever person who is afraid of death.

She hasn't been driven to a dead end yet, so she wouldn't dare to sway Mrs. Pomfrey or the other students and faculty.

Because it's uncontrollable, because we're afraid of being exposed.

She is currently very weak and cannot guarantee the effectiveness of the Soul-Stealing Curse, nor can she constantly exert her mental energy to micromanage it.

Finding just anyone and using coercion, enticement, words, and schemes to bewitch someone is not only very risky, but also not very feasible for a patient who cannot get out of bed.

Once Dumbledore and the other astute professors discover her, she will almost certainly face certain death.

Snape, who was once, and now is still, Voldemort's half-one, is the best person Ecclesia can use right now.

She didn't need to cast the Imperius Curse on Snape, or even tell him that she was Voldemort's host.

All you need to do is make good use of the image of a devoted lover you've cultivated in the past, risk your reputation and innocence, and then use the secret that Snape is Voldemort's spy as leverage, and you won't have to worry about Snape not giving in.

She doesn't need Snape to work for Voldemort; she can be Snape's master herself.

Although this path still carries considerable danger, it is the best option Eckeris can think of at this stage.

She was bedridden for a long time and needed someone to do things for her.

A person whose reputation and vulnerabilities are exploited is always easier to manipulate than others.

Moreover, this person is a very capable professor, capable of accomplishing far more than others.

"Then...I'll...tell you."

Eccles' mind raced, and she quickly said haltingly, "I...I really...love...Professor Snape so much."

Headmaster Dumbledore... could... could Professor Snape... come to see me... once a day?

If... if that's not possible... then come see me every two days... that would be fine too.

"Alright, Professor Ecclesia, you don't need to say anything more."

Dumbledore responded generously, "I understand what you mean. This request is not excessive, in fact, it is too simple."

Well then! The school hospital has recently received new patients, which has increased Mrs. Pomfrey's workload, and she may be overwhelmed.

Hogwarts will be making curriculum adjustments soon, hiring an additional Potions professor, which will give Professor Snape more free time.

If you have no objections, then Professor Snape can take over Mrs. Pomfrey's daily care.

In matters of medicine, Professor Snape's expertise far surpasses that of Madam Pomfrey. I believe that with Professor Snape taking care of you, you will surely recover soon and return to the classroom!

Upon hearing this, Eckeris's eyes lit up, and she quickly replied, slightly louder, "I have no objection!"

Then, feigning a shy expression, she lowered her voice back to normal and continued weakly:

"As long as...as long as Professor Snape...agrees."