Chapter 292: Exchange
The arrival of Sean and Snape immediately attracted the attention of some people present. They quickly recognised Snape. After all, the famous Slytherin Snake King had unforgettable appearance features that could be identified at a glance. Having recognised the Slytherin Snake King, everyone naturally deduced Sean's identity.
"Hello, are you Master Sean Bulstrode?"
Shaking hands with the extended hand, Sean smiled and said: "Just call me Sean. At my age, having the senior colleagues present call me 'Master' is somewhat inappropriate."
"There's nothing inappropriate about it. Potions only recognises achievements and ability. You're fully qualified for the title of Master."
Sean turned to look at the speaker. A middle-aged man with a proper appearance, black curly hair, and brown eyes. The person who had been talking to Sean earlier, as well as those approaching to speak with him, immediately made way when they saw this man and greeted him one after another.
"Master Damocles."
"It's you, Master Damocles."
"Greetings, Master Damocles. Last year you discussed the solidification of potions with my father."
"Master Damocles..."
Hearing these people's forms of address, Sean knew that the middle-aged wizard approaching was the original inventor of Wolfsbane Potion. Damocles Belby!
Damocles nodded to acknowledge those greeting him, occasionally saying a few words, then stopped in front of Sean. He first smiled and nodded at Sean, then reached out to shake hands with Snape, saying quietly: "Severus, I've told you before that you should interact more with other Potion Masters. No one knows your abilities better than I do. If you were willing, your status in Potions would definitely be higher than it is now."
Snape and Damocles obviously knew each other, and their relationship seemed quite good. Hearing Damocles' words, he directly replied: "I still think Hogwarts is where I belong. Besides, I have no interest in competing for power and profit with those people. I just need to do my own job well."
Damocles obviously wasn't hearing these words from Snape for the first time and showed no surprise.
Sighing slightly, Damocles stopped pursuing this topic and turned to look at Sean, shaking hands with him: "I've heard about you long ago. If Severus hadn't stopped me before, I might have come to see you already.
I've read your papers on the improved Forgetfulness Potion and the new mental restoration potion many times. You introduced a new method of potion brewing and processing in them. I've read it many times and tried some things, generally succeeding, but I don't quite understand why you do it this way, nor do I understand whether these methods can continue to be used if other materials are substituted. So if there's an opportunity in the future, I'd like to have some exchanges with you. Would that be possible?
Of course, what I've actually read most is your new Wolfsbane Potion, but let's not discuss that issue for now. We need to find a better place to exchange ideas in detail."
"Alright, no problem. I'd be very willing to exchange ideas with you."
"Master Sean, Master Damocles, you are respectively the inventor and populariser of Wolfsbane Potion. Would you be willing to take a photo together?"
The newcomer was followed by someone with a camera. Sean glanced at the badge on the person's chest and realised they were a Daily Prophet reporter. This reporter appeared gentle and polite, with words and actions that gave people a refreshing feeling. Obviously the Daily Prophet knew what kind of reporter to send to an event like the Golden Cauldron Awards ceremony. At least reporters like Rita Skeeter, who spread rumours and caused trouble, absolutely couldn't be sent here, or even the Daily Prophet couldn't bear the consequences.
Bullying the weak while fearing the strong was a universal phenomenon.
Looking at them, Sean first glanced at Damocles, then reached out to pull back Snape, who wanted to leave, smiling at the reporter: "This is my teacher. My Potion skills were taught by my professor, and my papers were also reviewed by him. Without my professor, my papers certainly couldn't have gone so smoothly, so let's take a photo of all three of us together."
This Daily Prophet reporter was quite observant. He indeed didn't recognise Snape, but he had seen earlier that Damocles chatted with Snape as if they had known each other for a long time, and Damocles seemed to respect Snape considerably. Now hearing Sean's words, he knew Snape must be a low-key Potion Master, so naturally had no reason to refuse.
"Of course. Please stand ready, all three of you. We're about to start taking photos."
Watching the Daily Prophet reporter prepare to take photos, Snape tugged but found he couldn't break free from Sean's grip. He could only stand helplessly beside Sean, frowning and looking displeased at the camera.
Click!
After the photo was taken, the Daily Prophet reporter and his staff said goodbye and left.
They needed to take enough photos, then finally select photos based on the awards ceremony results to write news.
After the photo session, Sean, Snape, Damocles, and the people gathered around them formed a small circle and chatted.
Just then, a somewhat portly middle-aged man came to Sean's side and said somewhat ingratiatingly: "Master Sean Bulstrode, hello. I'm Andy's father."
Andy's father?
The Morgan family head?
"Mr. Morgan, hello."
Old Morgan looked at Sean and smiled repeatedly: "Master Sean, starting two or three years ago, Andy has been mentioning you at home. He said you're a very good friend who has always taken care of him. I never expected that in the blink of an eye you'd have such great achievements. Compared to you, Andy really falls far short."
Sean looked at Old Morgan but sneered inwardly.
He knew very well that Andy never mentioned him at home, and Andy never talked about his school life with his family. As for saying they were good friends...
Andy simply wasn't someone who liked to put friendship on his lips, and he definitely wouldn't mention these things at home. Old Morgan was telling him these things simply to get close to him through his relationship with Andy.
What a pure businessman indeed.
Looking at Old Morgan, Sean was about to find an excuse to brush him off when the rear doors opened again. Dumbledore and two other old wizards wearing purple-red Wizengamot robes walked in from outside, immediately attracting everyone's attention.