Chapter 308: Snape's Discovery, Two Kyles?
Chapter 308: Snape's Discovery, Two Kyles?
Eighth Floor, Headmaster's Office.
After sending Harry away, Dumbledore reached out to caress the phoenix, Fenix, which had just been reborn from the ashes.
"He didn't tell the truth."
Snape approached, "I could tell. He concealed a lot of things... and he knew he had a Serpent Tongue all along, but he didn't tell anyone."
When Harry entered the room, he was also present in the Headmaster's office.
"Severus, that boy knew nothing about the wizarding world before."
Dumbledore placed the wrinkled Fenix on the perch, turned, and said, "Perhaps, in Harry's eyes, being able to talk to snakes isn't that unusual. Many wizards can do it."
"If he wanted to deliberately hide this, he wouldn't have shown it during the Dueling Club."
"As for the other matters..." Dumbledore glanced at him, "Everyone has secrets they don't want others to know, Severus... including you and me."
Snape averted his gaze, avoiding Dumbledore's eyes.
"Tell me what you know."
Dumbledore walked to the side of the desk, picked up a cup of tea, and took a sip, "Regarding the Chamber of Secrets."
"I don't know."
Snape walked to the spot where Dumbledore had been standing, "The Dark Lord never mentioned this, as you should know. He never reveals such things."
As Snape bent down, he naturally collected the ashes from beneath the perch into a bottle, his expression calm as if he were cleaning his own shelf.
Dumbledore's eyes twitched slightly.
Whether for alchemy or potions, the ashes of a phoenix's rebirth were among the rarest materials.
He had previously wanted to use these ashes to upgrade the Mirror of Erised, but before he knew it, Snape had taken half of them.
Moreover, if it weren't for Fawkes pecking at him, even the remaining half might not have been left.
"Severus, you..."
Dumbledore was about to say something, but Snape had already deftly pocketed the bottle, patted his robe, and raised his head as if nothing had happened.
"Headmaster, what were you saying?"
"It's nothing..." Dumbledore sighed, "Would you like to try some tea? It's from Madam Maxime of Beauxbatons, and it tastes excellent."
"Then I'll have a cup." Snape walked over.
A new cup of tea and a dish of sugar cubes appeared on the table.
Snape casually picked up the cup and took a sip.
"You can try adding some sugar. It'll taste better."
"No, I never add those things."
Snape put down the cup and said, "There's something else..."
"What."
"I need to use the Meditation Basin." Snape said, "I saw someone in that corridor on the day Caridy Burbage was attacked."
"Who was it?" Dumbledore asked.
"The time was too short." Snape said, "I didn't get a clear look."
"Alright then..." Dumbledore pointed to a cabinet in the corner, "You know how to use it."
Snape walked over and opened the cabinet door.
Inside was a shallow stone basin with strange letters and symbols around its rim.
Snape held his wand to his head and extracted a constantly flowing silver substance... as if it were liquid light or solidified wind.
"I thought I'd never do this again."
Snape, with a complex expression, placed his memories into the Meditation Basin.
"You can watch too, I know you can..."
After saying this, he plunged his head into the Meditation Basin.
The next second, Snape appeared in a corridor... followed by Dumbledore.
Their vision kept moving as if they were walking.
When they reached the end of the corridor, their vision suddenly turned... they saw a figure flash past the corner ahead.
But the time was too short, and as their vision turned, the figure had almost left the passageway, leaving them with only a blurry silhouette.
Dumbledore's expression shifted slightly, and he turned to look at a door not far away.
"This is the room where Caridy was attacked."
"A house-elf discovered her while cleaning."
Snape nodded.
Then, the two of them returned to the Headmaster's Office.
"What were you going to say..." Dumbledore asked.
Snape retrieved his memories, closed the cabinet door, and then asked meaningfully, "Don't you think that silhouette resembles someone?"
"I think I understand what you mean, Severus."
Dumbledore paused for a moment before continuing, "But that's impossible. The time in your memory is in the morning, and almost everyone can testify that Kyle was at the Quidditch Stadium watching the game and didn't leave the entire time... It's impossible for him to have been there."
"Is there a possibility... of a Time Turner?"
"No."
Dumbledore shook his head, "The more you know, the more you realize how terrifying the consequences of tampering with time can be... She would never allow Kyle to touch the Time Turner, even if the impact is minimal."
Dumbledore didn't say the name, but Snape knew who he was referring to.
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"So, the previous two applications..."
"That's right, the ones Diana rejected," Dumbledore quipped, "After being turned down twice, I thought I was looking for a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
Dumbledore thought he had made a good joke, but Snape clearly didn't see it that way.
Not only did he not laugh, but his expression became even more serious.
"That's what I can't figure out."
"Since there's no Time Turner, how could he be in two places at once... Polyjuice Potion?"
Snape frowned.
Recently, someone had broken into his private storage room and stolen a lot of potion ingredients, including African tree snake skin and unicorn horns, which were crucial for brewing Polyjuice Potion.
But the timing didn't match up... The theft from his private storage room had happened a few days ago, while Keridi Babaji's attack had occurred a month ago.
"Don't overthink it, Severus."
Dumbledore refilled his cup with fresh tea.
"It's just a silhouette, and it doesn't prove anything. Maybe it was someone else, and you're jumping to conclusions."
"So, Dumbledore, are you saying that both of us misidentified the person?" Snape raised his head, "Don't forget, I didn't mention who the silhouette resembled just now."
"I believe in Kyle," Dumbledore looked out the window, "Just as I believe in Harry and you."
"Ha, I'm truly honored," Snape sneered, "To be mentioned alongside the great savior and the youngest recipient of the Order of Merlin award..."
"The savior is just a shackle, not an honor, but the Order of Merlin award..." Dumbledore shook his head, "You indeed haven't received it, Severus."
Snape was taken aback for a moment, then his expression darkened, "Do you think I care about such things?"
"If you cared, you would have received the First Class award long ago." Dumbledore smiled, "But others clearly don't think so, especially when it comes to personal honors. They believe you are inferior to Kyle in this regard."
"Because of a gilded medal?" Snape's expression soured.
"The Second Class is pure gold..."
"Is that what you mean?" Snape was exasperated.
As he thought about Dumbledore's words, a nameless fire rose within him, and he didn't even notice the change in topic.
Snape didn't care about anything other than potion brewing, and he didn't value reputation or honors.
He could accept that Lockhart was better than him, and that Harry Potter's fame surpassed his own... It didn't matter; he didn't care about these things.
But for some reason, when Dumbledore said he was inferior to Kyle, he felt dissatisfied.
He had never felt this way before, as if someone had taken the potion he had painstakingly brewed and carried it away.
"Severus, if you're willing to share your potion brewing techniques, I can be your nominator."
Dumbledore looked at him and couldn't help but smile, "I assure you, you'll also receive the Order of Merlin award next time."
"First Class?" Snape was a little interested.
"No, Third Class... at most Second Class..." Dumbledore shook his head, "It depends on the specific impact of those techniques."
Third Class... What's the use of that?
"No, I'm not interested, and I don't want to waste time on this." Snape firmly refused.
"That's a shame." Dumbledore blinked, "If you change your mind, you can come to me anytime."
(End of Chapter)
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