Chapter 860: Harry's Restless Heart
Chapter 860: Harry's Restless Heart
Ivan's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Harry, dampening his excitement. He hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth to speak, albeit somewhat reluctantly. "I still can't break free from the dream on my own."
Ivan nodded, not intending to blame Harry. After all, he had only practiced Occlumency with Snape for one day, and mastering it wasn't easy.
"So, what exactly did you see in the dream?" Ivan asked, his curiosity piqued.
While Voldemort already knew that Harry could enter his mind through a special connection and obtain some information, this soul entanglement was something even Voldemort couldn't control. Therefore, the information obtained this way could be false, but it also had a chance of being true.
"It was Snape! Snape has been passing us information to Voldemort—through the Ancient Clock on his office desk!" Harry said, his excitement palpable, as if he had caught something significant.
However, Ivan's gaze was somewhat odd.
Do I need to hear this from you?
"Harry, Professor Snape is an Undercover Agent sent by Headmaster Dumbledore to Voldemort's side. He now works for the Order of the Phoenix. Sometimes, to gain the Dark Lord's trust, he has to sell some inconsequential information, which is understandable", Ivan said, feeling a bit sorry for Snape.
It had to be admitted that being a double agent was incredibly difficult for Snape. Every day, he had to carefully manage the temperamental Dark Lord while also facing the harsh scrutiny of the Order of the Phoenix members and the constant questioning from Harry.
Of course, part of the reason for his current predicament was his habit of being dour and stern, his strained relationships with Sirius Black and Lupin, and his tendency to speak in a sarcastic tone. As a result, only Dumbledore in the entire Order of the Phoenix was willing to trust him.
"But... Professor Dumbledore is gone, and no one can guarantee that Snape won't defect to Voldemort", Harry said urgently.
Last night, Snape's cold sarcasm and his forceful confiscation of Harry's wand had left a terrible impression on him. To make matters worse, Snape had been trying to extract information from Harry's mind about the legacy Dumbledore left him, which only fueled Harry's suspicion that Snape had already betrayed them to Voldemort.
Ivan looked at Harry with a mix of frustration and understanding, shaking his head. He trusted Snape, not just because Dumbledore had trusted him, but because the current situation made it clear that defecting to Voldemort was a dead end. Moreover, Snape's special feelings towards Harry gave him some reassurance.
However, these reasons were not something he could share with Harry. Revealing the first would cause unnecessary misunderstandings, and the second might anger Snape, who might then hold a grudge against him.
After all, even in the original timeline, Dumbledore hadn't dared to reveal Snape's secrets.
Furthermore, Snape's deep-seated hatred for Harry was genuine. His willingness to protect Harry's safety stemmed partly from his love for Lily and partly from a sense of guilt. These complex emotions were far beyond the comprehension of the inexperienced Harry.
Given the situation, Ivan could only patiently reassure Harry, urging him to have more faith in Snape. After all, Snape was just doing his job as an Undercover Agent.
"If anything really happens, you can always call me using the Magic Mark!" Ivan pointed to the dragon-shaped mark on Harry's hand, instructing him.
While Ivan trusted Snape, he wasn't entirely without precautions. He suspected that Snape was planning something, likely a contingency plan laid out by Dumbledore before the war.
Whatever the case, Harry was still a key figure.
...
Two weeks passed in the blink of an eye, and the O.W.L. exams were drawing near. The entire castle was filled with a tense atmosphere as students prepared for the upcoming exams. Even the troublemaking duo, George and Fred, had settled down, focusing on their studies for the impending final exams.
Mrs. Weasley had given them a strict order: if they wanted to continue their Joke Items business after graduation, they needed to pass at least eight N.E.W.T. subjects.
In the days leading up to the exams, Ivan also became a bit more diligent, setting aside some time each day for revision.
Sometimes, even a high level of magical skill wasn't enough to guarantee success in exams. Complex theoretical knowledge was also essential, and it wouldn't do to rely on cheating or backdoor methods to pass.
While preparing seriously for the exams, Ivan didn't forget about Grindelwald. Winky reported on Grindelwald's activities every few days, but the former dark wizard had been remarkably quiet, only showing a keen interest in reading the newspaper. He hadn't made any suspicious moves.
But it made sense. Grindelwald had been imprisoned for over fifty years, and even with the relatively lenient conditions at Nurmengard, he would have escaped long ago if he had the means.
Ivan maintained his routine surveillance, mainly out of concern that Grindelwald might die in prison. Since they were, to some extent, acquaintances, Ivan felt it was his duty to inform Dumbledore if that happened.
Compared to Ivan's relaxed state, Harry's recent days were nothing short of miserable. Besides the tedious exam preparation, he had to unwillingly visit Snape's office every day for over an hour, leaving him mentally and physically drained. His suspicion of Snape only grew stronger.
Perhaps due to his poor mental state, Harry keenly sensed that his connection to Voldemort was deepening. The most evident sign was his frequent intrusions into Voldemort's mind, where he could more clearly perceive the Dark Lord's experiences.
Two weeks of Occlumency practice had yielded some results, allowing Harry to barely fend off these intrusions. However, the insights he gained from Voldemort's perspective made him reluctant to sever this subtle connection.
During a recent dream, Harry witnessed Snape using a magical image to report to Voldemort, anxiously assuring him that he would soon find the relic Dumbledore had left behind in Harry's mind.
Harry also learned other crucial information, finally understanding why Snape had confiscated his wand. Voldemort was eager to understand the connection between the two wands that occurred in the graveyard that night.
In other words, Snape intended to hand over Harry's wand to Voldemort!
This was something Harry could not tolerate. However, he felt discouraged that Ivan still had an inexplicable trust in Snape, while Ron and Hermione believed him but couldn't offer much help...
(End of Chapter)
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