Chapter 718: The Conversation in the Headmaster's Office
Chapter 718: The Conversation in the Headmaster's Office
At Hogwarts, inside the sealed Headmaster's Office, Dumbledore was seated, flipping through letters from parents with keen interest. Occasionally, an Owl would fly in through the open window, carrying a red Howler, and the room would fill with shrill, roaring voices.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, Dumbledore waved his wand and shut the window, intercepting more Owls outside.
The roaring in the Headmaster's Office abruptly stopped, and the Howlers instantly turned to ash.
A moment later, the door to the Headmaster's Office opened, and Snape, dressed in his black robes, walked in. He took a bottle of golden potion from his pocket, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Dumbledore.
"Your medicine!" Snape said coldly.
"Thank you, Severus. I owe you a great deal!" Dumbledore nodded, took the vial, and drank it in one go.
"This is the last dose. The next time the injury flares up, I won't be able to suppress it", Snape said sharply.
"Severus, I remember you telling me that this injury, even if it recurs, won't kill me immediately. Is that correct?" Dumbledore's face remained calm. He set down the empty vial and looked at Snape, asking.
"Indeed, it won't kill you immediately. However, it will spread throughout your body in a matter of months. Trust me, it won't be any easier than death!" Snape said with a sneer.
"Months? How long exactly?" Dumbledore looked at his blackened right hand and asked softly. "I mean, how long before it affects my basic mobility and casting abilities?"
"About two or three months?" Snape said uncertainly.
"Too short!" Dumbledore shook his head, pondered for a moment, and then said with a serious expression. "Perhaps I have a way to delay it further..."
"A few more days or weeks won't make a difference. If you really had a way to ease it, you wouldn't have waited this long, would you?" Snape said impatiently, thinking that the start-of-term feast next semester might turn into Dumbledore's funeral.
"We shouldn't think like that, Severus. If we plan well, even a few months can be enough to accomplish something!" Dumbledore said in a light tone.
"Like ending the Dark Lord's life?" Snape looked at Dumbledore with a mocking expression, unable to understand where his optimism came from. He didn't see how living a bit longer would change anything.
Dumbledore didn't respond but continued, "What about Voldemort? Any recent movements?"
"Thanks to us, he's as lively as ever!" Snape said with an uncomfortable expression.
Voldemort's injury should have required at least a month of rest, but a few days ago, Dumbledore suddenly found him and gave him a few drops of Phoenix Tears, asking him to prepare a special potion to treat Voldemort's injury...
"What are you trying to achieve? Voldemort was seriously injured this time. We could have had a respite for a while." Snape's tone was harsh.
He couldn't understand why Dumbledore would have him heal Voldemort. When they confirmed Voldemort's injury, he thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A surprise attack could have finished him off!
"If it were that easy to kill him, Voldemort wouldn’t have lasted until today..." Dumbledore naturally understood Snape’s doubts and explained in a solemn tone.
For Wizards like them, escaping with their lives in a battle was far too easy. Even when faced with dozens of well-trained Aurors, Voldemort could still turn the tide and secure a victory with ease.
The reason he was injured this time was entirely due to his recent resurrection and subsequent overconfidence. After this lesson, Voldemort would only become more cautious.
"Even so, we shouldn’t have healed him for Potter’s safety!" Snape paced anxiously in the Headmaster's Office.
After recovering from his injuries, Voldemort flew into a rage and immediately called the Death Eaters to plan a retaliatory strike. This made Snape somewhat regretful.
"He won’t be able to find Harry!" Dumbledore said, and he believed Voldemort wouldn’t seek Harry out again until he understood the connection between the two Phoenix Wands.
"What about the others?" Snape asked.
"I’m glad you’re starting to consider the safety of others, Severus!" Dumbledore looked at him with a mix of surprise and delight. "However, I’ve reformed the Order of the Phoenix, and most of those who need protection are already in safe places..."
"Most? So there are exceptions?" This time, it was Snape’s turn to be surprised.
Dumbledore stood up, furrowing his brow and raising his voice slightly. "Asia! Hals’s mother. I tried to convince her to join the Order of the Phoenix a few days ago, but she refused my offer without hesitation, even more decisively than I expected!"
"Perhaps she thinks her son is capable of standing up to the Dark Lord..." Snape said with a cold smile.
He had met with the Death Eaters the day before and knew that some of them were hiding in Knockturn Alley.
Moreover, Voldemort had been planning to expand his power in secret, not only by allying with the Dementors to free imprisoned followers but also by recruiting Dark Wizards from Knockturn Alley.
If Asia and Ivan stayed in Knockturn Alley, it wouldn’t be long before they encountered Voldemort.
Dumbledore shook his head. He didn’t believe Asia would be so overconfident, especially since Ivan had personally participated in the battle and should have a clear understanding of Voldemort’s strength.
He had expected that after leaving school, the boy would come to him for help, or that Asia would change her mind. But neither happened, and Ivan left without a trace, which made Dumbledore very curious.
"To the best of my knowledge, there is only one Magic that can ensure safety from Voldemort’s pursuit..." Dumbledore muttered to himself.
"You mean the Fidelius Charm?" Snape paused, quickly realizing what Dumbledore was referring to.
Dumbledore remained silent, but that was indeed his suspicion, though he wasn’t certain.
After all, the Fidelius Charm was an extremely advanced form of Magic, not even recorded in the Restricted Section of Hogwarts. They had no way to learn it...
(End of Chapter)
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