HP: It's a snake, not a badger.

There's a problem with Chapter 192.

The table was unusually quiet. Emeric was busy eating and had no intention of speaking, while Severus, who was not a talkative person, naturally had no desire to speak.

After being suppressed, Draco and Harry dared not be too unruly, and could only exchange glances when Lucius and Narcissa were not paying attention.

The two parents simply didn't want to talk, nor did they know what to say. They had raised the two children, and they couldn't bear to see either of them sad.

In a sense, there's no need to worry about the children messing around outside. This is also why Narcissa didn't get involved; she'd rather the two of them be together than see them get hurt.

After the meal, Lucius shooed the two children away. He sat down opposite Severus, watching them silently without saying a word. Narcissa picked up her teacup and left. She didn't want to see Lucius go crazy; she could guess the outcome anyway—she'd just get a scolding from Severus.

Severus waited for a long time without hearing Lucius speak. He impatiently tapped the table, realizing that the man was still lost in his own thoughts, so he could only break the silence, "So, why did you call us here? If there's nothing else, we'll be leaving now."

"Uh...it's nothing, I just wanted to talk to Emeric about our upcoming collaboration." Lucius made up an excuse; he hadn't figured out how to ask Severus yet. He couldn't very well ask him how he maintained his youthful appearance, how he seemed to be getting younger and younger lately.

When Emeric heard the topic turn to him, he finally spoke up and replied, "For collaborations, you should contact my father. He's still handling the family business."

"Huh? Didn't you graduate?" Lucius was surprised by the answer. He thought he was going to work with Emerick next and wanted to take the opportunity to thank him for the shop he had given Draco.

“Yes, we’ve graduated, but I didn’t say I was leaving Hogwarts,” Emeric saw his confusion and continued, “Severus is still at the school. We haven’t decided what to do next, so we’re planning to stay for a few more years.”

"Alright." After saying that, Lucius didn't know what to say next. He could only subtly express his need to Severus, "Severus, do you have that kind of drug, the one you and Emeric use at night..."

"?"

"What is this?" Severus frowned. He felt that Lucius had finally gone mad and couldn't even speak properly. The man, who had never dealt with this kind of knowledge before, had no idea what he was talking about.

Emerick did figure out what Lucius wanted, but he was a good boy; how could he possibly know anything about such things?

"How could you not know?" A thought suddenly popped into Lucius's head. "You two haven't even had a close encounter yet, have you?"

"Why don't you take Emeric to see a doctor? It's better to treat any problems as soon as possible." His face was full of sympathy, and his eyes were fixed on Emeric's legs.

The person suspected of having a problem wasn't angry. Emeric rolled his eyes, not wanting to talk to Lucius. There was no need to discuss his relationship with Severus with this man.

Severus followed Lucius's gaze, finally settling on Americh's crotch. At that moment, he understood Lucius's words. His eyes widened instantly, and he stared at the other man in shock. "You and Narcissa's relationship has broken down? No, you're having an affair?"

After the initial shock, Severus remembered Lucius's suspicions about Americh. "You don't need to worry about him. Think about how to explain to Narcissa that you have a lover outside."

Hearing the man's words, Lucius felt a headache coming on. He looked at Emeric, hoping someone else would speak up for him. But unfortunately, having just had his abilities questioned, Emeric pretended not to see it and stared intently at the plate of cookies.

"When did I say I had a lover?" Lucius, seeing that Emeric was ignoring him, had no choice but to speak up himself. "Besides, you and this kid have been together for so long and nothing's happened, can't I even be a little suspicious?"

"Ha, if you don't have a lover, then what do you need this for?" Severus didn't let him change the subject, still clinging to his earlier guess.

"I'm just preparing this in case, look at Harry's physique, how could Little Dragon possibly overpower him? If he gets injured, he'll have to take medicine, right?" Lucius simply said it outright, having nothing to lose.

"You're such a good father," Severus said in a sarcastic tone, almost calling Lucius crazy for caring about something like this.

He reluctantly took out a bottle of White Essence, a mutated version of the Emeric species. There was no need to waste good stuff on such a small matter; he would just give him a little to appease him and avoid Lucius bothering him every day.

Afterwards, Severus pulled Emeric away, and the two went straight back to Thaddeus Manor. He didn't want Lucius to gossip about his love life anymore.

As soon as they got home, Emeric immediately hugged Severus and acted like a spoiled child. Since no one was home, they wouldn't be disturbed no matter what they did.

"Severus, Uncle Lucius is so mean, he actually slandered me like that!!!" Emeric pulled Severus into his arms, making him sit on his lap, one hand on the man's lower back, the other stroking his back. "Severus, you don't suspect me too, do you?"

"Get lost, don't get horny in broad daylight." Severus felt the spot where they were touching burning, and he braced himself on Emeric's shoulders, trying to break free from his embrace. "It wasn't me who said that, go find him."

Emeric didn't speak, choosing instead to prove himself through action, kissing the man's lips until they were swollen and red, his face flushed. "Severus, I'm going to the bathroom, I'll make you afternoon tea later." He released his hand from Severus's lower back and reached out to wipe the saliva from the corner of Severus's mouth.

"You..." Severus started to say something, then paused and decided against it, "I understand."

His desires were weak; if it weren't for Emerick pulling his hand and tugging at him, men often ignored such things. So he had never paid attention to them, but after Lucius brought them up today, he felt that he might have really wronged Emerick.

As if knowing what he was thinking, Emeric kissed his lips and smiled, saying, "I don't feel wronged, don't overthink it. We'll talk about it when you're willing, and besides, doesn't Severus often satisfy me?" His gaze fell on the man's fair hands.

"Go to the bathroom quickly, don't get aroused in the living room." The man didn't know how to answer for a moment, so he pushed the person away and sat down next to her, smoothing out the clothes he had just messed up.

Severus picked up a book and forced himself to immerse himself in the words. He wanted to get rid of all the junk in his mind so that Emerick wouldn't take advantage of him.