Chapter 86

[A month later.] 

Severus left the office, and a satisfied smile flashed across his face, because he finally passed the last exam and could return home today without waiting for the fifth and seventh years to pass the OWL and NEWT, like last year, when the commission from the Ministry was supposed to come , but in the end everything was left to the teachers and the Headmaster because of the threat of Voldemort, and this year it's not a fact that they will also deign to come to the educational institution, so then they dragged on until June, waiting for them arrival, although the last classes with exams were supposed to end at the end of May.

But instead of going to his room, he stood at the door and waited for Professor Slughorn, because it was also his last lesson for today, and he didn't have to wait long. As soon as the last student left the office, the professor himself came out, covering the door. 

"Did you decide to say goodbye before leaving the castle?" he asked with a smile, looking at Snape, and waved his wand in the direction of the door - there was a click, and after the potion master put it back into its holster.

"You can say so, but in general I warn you that, most likely, from July to August I will not be able to study with you, I will need to go somewhere."

"Hmm… I won't ask where and why, but if you have a free minute there, don't forget to work out. I will also send you some books towards the middle of July so you don't get bored." Slughorn nodded.

"Not a moment of peace," Severus sighed "bitterly," catching a mocking glance from the teacher. 

"Mr. Snape, don't forget our goal, if you can really get the rank of Black Cauldron, then doors will be opened for you anywhere!" 

"Professor, didn't you talk about gold? How did it happen that in nine months it turned black?" In response, Slughorn coughed and smiled awkwardly. "Of course, I didn't tell you this yet, I didn't want you to become arrogant, but you can already pass the certification and get the rank of Golden Cauldron. Well, I thought that since you were able to overcome such a huge gap in such a short time, then by the end of the seventh year you have a chance to advance to the Black Cauldron …" 

"Professor, you should not set impossible goals. Of course, I will try to meet your expectations, but I do not promise that I will succeed, because it is almost impossible. There is not enough simple cramming here, what is needed is experience: years or even decades of work in this direction. It's too early for me to take it on. And, to be honest, I already know that I can easily pass the certification for the Golden Cauldron, and I myself want to achieve the same, but this is still impossible."

The potion master froze for a few seconds, "digesting" the words, and finally, when it dawned on him, the man narrowed his eyes unkindly. "So you're embarrassing your own teacher…" he reached for his wand, never taking his eyes off the grinning student. 

"Professor, I have one request for you."

"Request?" His hand stopped a few centimetres from the holster. 

"Yes, I wanted you to teach someone during the holidays, I have little experience in this, and you have forty years of teaching experience, and you are one of the best teachers at Hogwarts," the man even straightened up a little at Severus' words. "She has a very good memory and is already at the level of a fourth-year student, she mainly helps me with the store, prepares those potions." 

"All right, bring her to me tomorrow and I'll decide." Smiling, Severus shook his head. "She is here."

"Here?" Slughorn raised an eyebrow at that.

"Nellie," and in the next moment, under the shocked look of the head of Slytherin, a house-elf appeared next to Severus in a black dress, over which was a white medical coat. "I talked about her."

"House elf..?" 

"Yes, I've been teaching her for about nine months, although she has almost no talent, but her memory is excellent," he patted the elf's head, which made her eyes shine. "Nellie thank the master for the compliment! Nellie is very happy!"

"It's just that you need to get rid of servility somehow, and you will become a normal "person." 

Slughorn's gaze darted between Severus and the house elf, while he wondered: whether the slytherin was telling the truth or again decided to play a trick on his teacher. But, seeing the serious expression on his face, the man realised that his student was not joking, and after a short brainstorming session, he finally focused his attention on the nervous housekeeper. "You're not kidding, are you?" 

"Why would I joke?" Severus said, shaking his head.

Nevertheless, for the potion master it was, to put it mildly, "a novelty", because in all his life he had never heard that the house elves were taught something like that, so he himself did not think about it, although it was understandable, because they are already stronger than wizards, therefore, if they also knew how to prepare potions, make artifacts, and the like, then the latter would feel disadvantaged, and especially pure bloods, because some slaves outperformed them in everything. 

Of course, this was not the main reason. What the wizards feared the most was the powers of the house elves. Although they were in the minority, but each of them owned non-verbal and wandless magic, and also knew how to transgress anywhere, and if wands also fell into their hands, then wizards would hardly have lived long. 

Therefore, there is a law forbidding magical creatures to use them for fear of rebellion, as was once the case with goblins. Of course, there is no law prohibiting the teaching of artefacts and potions by house elves, but Slughorn had no doubt that when this came to light, exclamations of discontent among the Purebloods would begin, and because of this, the "poor Ministry under mass pressure" would have to ban this to the elves as well. 

After all, it's okay, even goblins, although they owned magic, they were only a few, and even then weak, when, like the house elves, they were real death machines. Give them potions and artefacts, and the end of Magical Britain will come. 

And although the wizards were still paranoid, they thought and acted sensibly, cutting out the problem at the root, and no matter how Severus felt sorry for the situation of these creatures, he agreed with them, the elves cannot be free. 

After all, if they really rise, then the losses will be colossal, and it's not a fact that the people will win. 

Taking a deep breath, Slughorn nodded. "I've never had the opportunity to teach House elves, but you can try, and it became interesting to me what could come of it, but ..." he continued more seriously. "Don't tell anyone about her yet." 

"Professor, I'm not that stupid," he calmly replied, stroking the little house elf's head. "And thank you, then I'll send her here in August."

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After Slughorn, Severus also dropped in on Madam Pomfrey to say goodbye, but as soon as he entered the office, he saw two more piles of books on the table and a woman sitting behind them, drinking tea, and as soon as she noticed him, she smiled "warmly" and pushed the books forward. 

And in the late afternoon, after dinner, he met with Regulus, who, with his head held high, created four fiery spears, and even "almost" creates a fifth ond, but only an image. But he didn't win the dispute * that they started at the beginning of the school year, because the young man fulfilled part of the condition: to create three spears, but he couldn't support the barrier all day long, therefore he didn't receive the prize in the form of information. Although he tried to negotiate, as soon as Severus took out the dress and shoes, Black quickly fell silent and no longer tried to challenge the decision.

But still, the pure blood slytherin surprised Snape very much, because his core was already comparable to the "Master of the middle rank", now he could pass much more magic through the body, so the number of copies increased to four. When Regulus can create eight, then this will be a sign of reaching the "Master of the highest rank", and ten - the peak of the rank. 

Further development would be very difficult due to the meagre magical background, but even a "Master" in this world was already a great achievement. 

If Regulus reached the rank of "Master", then only a few in Magical Britain would be able to match him, but of course, everything depended on Regulus himself. 

If he continues to develop at the same pace, then in ten years he will be able to call himself the youngest "Master", of course, after Severus himself, except for the years lived from his past life. However, Snape came to him not only to say goodbye, but also gave a couple of tips on how to develop further, because he really liked Regulus, and it was not just because he was Bella's cousin, but for the reason that Black resembled both in character and and the appearance of his good friend from a past life. 

Therefore, from time to time, he liked to spend evenings in the company of Regulus, having a little drink (juice) and chatting about life and magic, just like in the good old days… 

Severus also wanted to look at Dumbledore and Minerva, but they were a little busy, so he didn't disturb them, and, returning to the room, he moved home with the others. And, following the canons of one catchphrase: "We only dream of peace," Severus began to prepare for the upcoming performance.