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Chapter 1325: A Solution
Chapter 1325: A Solution
Within the confines of the Headmaster's office, the portraits' whispered updates hung heavy in the air, once more shrouding the room in an eerie silence. The painted figures turned as one to regard Snape, a mix of sympathy and curiosity in their eyes as they wondered how the new Headmaster would navigate this latest challenge.
They had not forgotten Snape's promise to Dumbledore—a vow to protect the students of Hogwarts with all his might. Now was the time for him to make good on that pledge.
Unfazed by their gazes, Snape turned away, his eyes fixing on the sleeping figure in the portrait hanging behind the desk.
"Things rarely go as expected," he muttered.
As if stirred by Snape's intense stare, Dumbledore's eyes fluttered open, rousing him from his feigned slumber.
"Indeed, they do not," Snape said, his voice laced with gloom. "I fear it won't be long before they turn this school upside down."
"The situation is not as dire as you imagine," Dumbledore offered gently.
"No? It is dire," Snape retorted, his face twisting with anger. "If they truly go through with forming this 'Dumbledore's Army,' with those students' penchant for secrecy, the entire school will know of it in no time. And then, you can kiss any hopes of a peaceful resolution goodbye."
"Neither Carol nor Parkinson are to be trifled with. Especially Carol—ever since Amicus Carol was killed by Anderson through Scrimgeour, she has held a deep grudge against Anderson and his Defense Association. Imagine what she'll do when she learns of these students forming Dumbledore's Army."
It was no wonder Snape was seething. These people were nothing but trouble.
From the bumbling, oafish Rubeus Hagrid to the brainless students led by Longbottom, everyone seemed intent on making a mess of things, leaving Snape to clean up after them.
At times, he felt like a fool, manipulated by the old man in the painting before him.
Especially recently, when Dumbledore had entrusted the Gryffindor sword to Potter, Snape had realized just how full of holes Hogwarts was—it had become someone's playground.
"By the way, you should be careful these days. Harry seems to have his eye on you," Dumbledore said, changing the subject.
"On me?" Snape narrowed his eyes at Dumbledore's portrait, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Does Potter plan to kill me to avenge you?"
"I don't think so," Dumbledore replied.
"Then enlighten me," Snape said coldly.
"The last time they came to Hogwarts, you were absent..."
"I believe I have a right to know," Snape interjected, his tone icy. It seemed Dumbledore had no intention of sharing the reason.
"...or you might have fallen prey to it as well. Harry even brought Albert along," Dumbledore continued as if he hadn't heard Snape's interruption. "You are no match for Anderson. That boy has already..."
"So, I'm not entitled to the truth?" Snape fixed Dumbledore with an intense stare, his eyes blazing with anger.
"They wanted to confirm something," Dumbledore said.
"What?"
"Something related to defeating You-Know-Who."
"Why come to me about defeating the Dark Lord?" Snape's irritation grew. He loathed people who spoke in half-truths, and he hated even more being kept in the dark.
"They wanted to control you, to use Veritaserum to extract valuable intelligence from you," Dumbledore warned.
"Then why didn't you tell Potter that he wouldn't get anything useful from me?" Snape asked.
"I couldn't do that," Dumbledore said softly.
"And what about Anderson? Don't tell me he knows nothing about this," Snape snapped, glaring at Dumbledore.
"He promised me he wouldn't actively cause you trouble."
"I find that promise hard to believe."
"You fear him?" Dumbledore asked, taken aback.
"Every Death Eater fears him," Snape said bitterly. "You probably don't realize that more than half of the Death Eaters have been indirectly killed by your star student."
"I believe your assessment is biased," Dumbledore said, his eyebrows arching slightly. "Not everything can be attributed to him.
"He is Voldemort's arch-nemesis," Snape said with a cold laugh. "I don't think many are worthy of that title. In fact, Voldemort has even set aside the idea of killing Harry himself, showing just how wary he is of that boy."
Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, but Snape continued, "After Potter's death, that boy will likely kill Voldemort as you predicted, and your wish will be fulfilled."
"Is that so?" Dumbledore asked.
"Of course," Snape replied.
"No, I mean Voldemort no longer insists on killing Harry himself," Dumbledore said, his expression turning grave as he understood the implications. "If Tom Riddle no longer intends to kill Harry with his own hands and instead plans to have someone else do it, Harry's situation will be worse than ever. In my opinion, Voldemort poses less of a threat to Harry than the other Death Eaters."
"Is there a problem?" Snape sensed the change in the atmosphere.
"Harry must be killed by the mysterious man himself," Dumbledore said seriously. "This is crucial."
"Even if you tell me this, I'm powerless to do anything about it," Snape said.
Snape frowned as well, unsure why Dumbledore insisted that Voldemort kill Harry personally, but there must be a reason.
However, now that Voldemort no longer intended to kill Harry himself, he was equally helpless.
"It's not my order to give, and I don't think I can change Voldemort's mind," Snape reminded him. "You should know better than anyone that both Carol and Parkinson are Voldemort's spies, keeping an eye on me."
Although they were both Voldemort's right-hand men, Snape was far inferior to Yaxley. Otherwise, Thicknesse would have informed him first before sending a group of Aurors to Hogwarts to make arrests.
As a Death Eater, Snape could be indifferent to it, but ultimately, he was in charge of Hogwarts.
What was the meaning of this reckless arrest at the school?
Even if there was an order to capture Hagrid, Yaxley should have communicated with him first, but that was not the case.
Speaking of which, that big oaf was too stupid for his own good. According to the other professors, Anderson had warned him to leave Hogwarts a long time ago. Yet, that fool not only stayed but was also captured not long after the start of the term. How could anyone be blamed for that? Even if he wanted to let Hagrid escape, he couldn't have done anything.
"Perhaps you should go to Anderson," Snape suggested. "He's the Prophecy Master; maybe he has a way to keep your plan going."
"Albert is actually quite displeased with me," Dumbledore shook his head. "Although we both want to defeat Voldemort, he doesn't really agree with my plan."
"That's truly a shame." Snape was decisive and bluntly shifted the problem back to Dumbledore. "Now I need your help. I think you wouldn't want your followers to be locked up, either. Just now, I agreed to Filch's request to reinstate the old punishment style and approved the 'Whipping Approval Form'."
"Then try to stop them. As for Albert, I'll contact him and ask him to keep those kids in check," Dumbledore said, leaving Snape dumbfounded. "You can turn a blind eye then."
"You..." Snape was speechless and took several deep breaths before continuing, "Since that's the case, then tell me, how should I solve these damned problems?"
"Severus, I'm already dead," Dumbledore reminded him.
"Don't forget, you asked me to protect the students of Hogwarts," Snape said.
"Yes, you haven't forgotten, and that gives me comfort," Dumbledore was pleased that Snape was still upholding their agreement.
"Now that I'm the Headmaster of Hogwarts, I believe it's your duty to assist me in managing Hogwarts," Snape had decided to dump all these troublesome issues onto Dumbledore, and his initially foul mood improved significantly.
"Dumbledore, we have an obligation to serve the current Headmaster of Hogwarts!" Phineas reminded them in a strange tone.
(End of Chapter)
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