Chapter 1153: Snape's Warning
Chapter 1153: Snape's Warning
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Late at night, on a quiet street, a figure clad in a black cloak stood before an old house, raising a hand to knock on the wooden door.
"Who is it?"
After about thirty seconds, there was a stir from within, followed by a tense voice.
"It's me!" the cloaked figure replied.
"Severus?"
The door opened a crack, and a woman peered out, heaving a sigh of relief upon recognizing the visitor.
"I have important news to share with you and Draco," Snape said to the woman at the door.
"Come in," Narcissa stepped back, ushering Snape inside.
A similar scene had played out not long ago, but the roles were reversed then.
"Where's Draco?" Snape scanned the room, inquiring.
"He's resting in his room," Narcissa whispered, "The burning of the manor dealt him a heavy blow. Is there something you need from him?"
"This concerns him as well; it's best he hears it too," Snape requested Narcissa to wake Draco up.
Probably roused by the voices in the hallway, the adjacent door swung open, and a pale-faced Draco Malfoy stepped out, momentarily startled at the sight of Snape, evidently not expecting to encounter him here.
"Has Bellatrix mentioned anything to you?" Snape asked abruptly.
"Mentioned what?"
"About who might have attacked the Malfoy Manor," Snape shifted his gaze to a bewildered Narcissa, raising an eyebrow, "It seems she hasn't had the chance to deliver this message yet."
"Who attacked the Malfoy Manor?" Draco grasped Snape's arm, demanding an answer.
"Although there's no concrete evidence, there's a high probability that it was Albert Anderson," Snape replied calmly.
"That damn Mudblood," Draco Malfoy seethed.
"Calm down, you're losing your composure," Snape stated expressionlessly, observing Draco's contorted face, "Anger won't solve anything; it will only make matters worse. And you don't have time for anger; remember the task the Dark Lord has assigned you."
"I know..." Draco Malfoy forced himself to calm down, his eyes fixed on Snape, "You didn't come here this late just for this, did you?"
"Yes, I hope you will revoke the bounty on Albert Anderson," Snape turned to Narcissa, "That's a rather foolish move."
"That's impossible!" Draco blurted out.
"Nothing is impossible," Snape maintained his calm.
To be honest, Snape wasn't skilled at persuading others, but Dumbledore had asked him to convince the Malfoys to abandon the bounty on Albert and offer guidance to Draco Malfoy to prevent him from making reckless decisions.
And so, here he was.
"Why?" Malfoy interrupted, "Why would you...?"
"You don't even know who your enemy is right now," Snape bluntly cut in, "I promised your mother I'd help you, but..."
"Mother,"
Draco Malfoy stared at his mother, incredulous.
Narcissa met her son's gaze and lowered her voice, "Severus has more experience in this regard..."
"Enough, Mother. This is my task, given to me by him. I can handle it myself..." Draco's words trailed off as he was interrupted again.
"Draco, it's not that I don't trust you," Narcissa said sadly, "But we can't afford to fail again."
Draco Malfoy fell silent.
"Why are you here?" a sudden voice broke the room's silence.
Bella stood guard outside the room, her eyes fixed warily on Snape.
"Problem?" she asked, her tone challenging.
Snape glanced at Bella dismissively and turned to Draco, ignoring her question. "Remember, the bounty on Albert Anderson must be revoked."
"Why?" Draco demanded.
"The fire was a warning," Snape said, a mocking smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he glanced at Bella. "Do you really think you could have escaped the Devil's Fire unscathed otherwise?"
"A warning?" Narcissa echoed, her eyes widening with concern as she looked at Snape.
"Yes," Snape recalled, "When I informed Dumbledore that you were still alive, he mentioned it. Dumbledore believes Anderson was behind the fire, so he wants me to convince you to give up your pursuit of that man."
"So, you're here to carry out Dumbledore's orders?" Bella asked, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Does it matter?" Snape countered. "You seem to have missed the point entirely."
"Let Severus continue," Narcissa pleaded, almost begging as she cut off Bella, who seemed about to interrupt again. "I'm sure Severus has an important reason for being here."
"Dumbledore doesn't want Albert Anderson to fall into the path of murder," Snape said, his voice laced with sarcasm.
"What does that have to do with the bounty...?" Draco trailed off, confused by Snape's words.
"I've never understood why you ignore the danger that man poses," Snape continued, his gaze intense. "Has the Mudblood label clouded your judgment so thoroughly?"
"Absurd!" Bella scoffed, her lip curling in contempt. "I'll kill him soon enough and earn the Dark Lord's favor."
Snape shot Bella a contemptuous glance, his eyes narrowing. In his opinion, Bella's meager intellect would be no match for Anderson, and she would ultimately meet her end at the boy's hands.
"A long time ago, I warned Lucius not to provoke Anderson until he was certain of success," Snape said, a cold smile playing at his lips. "But Lucius failed, and many lives were lost because of it."
"How dare you..." Draco sputtered, his face twisting in anger.
"You never seem to notice," Snape continued impassively, "that many of those captured by the Ministry have been put to death."
"You mean..." Narcissa's eyes widened as realization dawned.
"Indeed," Snape confirmed. "While Albert Anderson didn't kill anyone himself, he manipulated the Ministry into executing those who tried to attack him at his wedding. Almost every day for the past two months, someone has been sentenced to death."
"Once he's no longer concerned about repercussions, there won't even be an opportunity left," Snape added, his voice grave. The fact that the fire had consumed only Malfoy Manor and not spread further was proof enough of Anderson's power and restraint.
"Remember, killing Albert Anderson is Bella's task, and you'd do well to stay out of it," Snape warned coldly.
"You think I'll fail?" Bella asked, her eyes narrowing as she seemed to grasp something. Her wand was pointed threateningly at Snape.
"The odds are not in your favor," Snape replied, his tone dripping with scorn. "That boy is a Prophecy Master, able to predict the future. Your so-called traps will be anticipated, and you won't even know it."
"Once the plan fails, he'll surely kill a bunch of people, and the Malfoy family, who offered the bounty, will definitely be on that list," Snape continued. "No one will tolerate such repeated provocations."
"So, focus on your own task and stay out of this," Snape interrupted Malfoy's attempt to speak, his voice cold and detached. "Remember, I am your assistant and backup. If you fail, I will take over, so don't make the ridiculous assumption that I'm trying to steal your glory. This was my task to begin with!"
"Remember, once Dumbledore is dead, the Dark Lord will forgive Lucius," Snape added.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
