Chapter 937: Safeguarding the Pensieve
Chapter 937: Safeguarding the Pensieve
Since the news of Voldemort's defeat and escape spread, Hogwarts has become a bustling hub, attracting an influx of people—both familiar and unfamiliar—from all directions.
Among them were parents of students, those seeking information, and the brave-hearted who came to witness the excitement surrounding Voldemort's defeat. After all, it wasn't an everyday occurrence to be associated with the Dark Lord.
Upon arriving at Hogwarts and confirming the truth of Voldemort's escape, these visitors couldn't help but spread the news to others, further increasing the number of people gathering at Hogwarts. The castle was filled with a bustling crowd of wizards.
If there was one place in Hogwarts that remained relatively peaceful today, it was the Forbidden Forest. Bright sunlight filtered through the lush forest, casting a warm glow on the thick layer of fallen leaves.
Dragons soared in the sky, yet they didn't disturb the neighboring Hogwarts Castle. The people there continued their conversations and celebrations, unperturbed, as if the castle itself was immune to the chaos.
"As you can see, this is the truth of the matter," Kyle said softly in the garden, looking at Kanna, who was crying. "Professor Snape wasn't a die-hard Death Eater. He was actually on our side, and his situation was even more dangerous."
Kanna had woken up half an hour ago, sitting there in a daze, deep in thought.
Kyle had just entered the garden, carrying the Pensieve, allowing Kanna to witness the truth—or rather, a partial truth. Before returning here, Kyle had made some modifications to Snape's memories, removing some less pleasant scenes, including the part where Snape almost experienced death.
He felt that Snape wouldn't want Kanna to see his school days filled with complicated relationships and dark history.
Kyle had initially intended to split the memory in half, but it proved impossible due to the presence of a crucial figure in many events—Lily Evans.
Without the school life, Snape's decision to infiltrate the Death Eaters would seem illogical and lacking in authenticity.
So, Kyle had to abandon this seemingly simple approach and opt for a more complicated method.
This decision required considerable effort, as he meticulously edited the memories to create a version that maintained logical coherence while somewhat preserving Snape's dignity as an elder. Otherwise, he would have returned sooner.
To be honest, after going to such lengths, if Snape still targeted him, it would be a matter of bad luck.
Of course, this was assuming he survived.
Kyle turned to look at Kanna, and she met his gaze.
"I actually knew it," Kanna said, wiping her teary eyes. "When I first saw him in the Observatory Tower, I thought the same, but I couldn't bring myself to believe it. I thought it was just my wishful thinking."
"Is it possible that it was just your wishful thinking...?" Kyle asked, looking at her and choosing his words carefully.
"How could you possibly see through Snape's true nature as a Death Eater when he managed to remain undetected for over a decade?"
"Maybe," Kanna replied, staring at the Pensieve. "And I didn't see through him either. I just felt that his eyes were different from the other Death Eaters."
"His eyes?"
"Yes," Kanna nodded. "When he looked at Bill and the others, his eyes were calm, unlike the madness and hatred in the eyes of other Death Eaters."
"Is that so...?" Kyle pursed his lips, neither confirming nor denying.
He couldn't say for sure if this was true or not.
Not only had he not seen Snape on the battlefield, but even if he had, he wouldn't have stared into his eyes... Even during their school days, he rarely did so.
Staring into the eyes of a Legilimency master was like asking for trouble. The only ones who seemed to do this were Kanna and Harry in their first year.
"Well... If you say so," Kyle smiled. "But based on just his eyes, you dared to approach him, even if he was a Death Eater... What if he killed you?"
"I wasn't thinking that much at the time. I just wanted an answer," Kanna said. "Uncle Snape wouldn't kill me, would he? And the fact that I'm alive proves I was right."
"That's just your luck," Kyle couldn't help but say. "Look at the Crouch family. Barty Crouch Jr. desperately wanted to kill his father, as if it was the only way to prove his twisted loyalty to Voldemort. But in the end, he still..."
Kyle suddenly sighed, not continuing his sentence, but instead, he shook his head and said softly, "If he was truly a Death Eater, family ties wouldn't have mattered much."
"I understand..." Kanna's voice was light, sensing Kyle's mood. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Kyle shook his head. "I just feel a bit conflicted."
"Because of the Crouch family?"
"Yes. I always thought it was what he deserved, but seeing him so lost and desperate, even wanting to die with Barty Jr., I can't help but feel a bit of pity."
Kanna remained silent.
She hadn't met the Crouch family and wasn't familiar with them, unsure of how to comfort Kyle.
"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore," Kyle shook his head, taking a deep breath. "Anyway, wizards generally have longer lifespans. Barty Crouch is still relatively young, and if he can come to terms with what happened, he still has time to start anew."
"Let's talk about you now," Kyle said, turning back to Kanna. "Do you remember what happened after you chased after Professor Snape?"
"I remember most of it, but I don't think it's of much use," Kanna replied after a moment's thought. "Thinking about it now, Professor Snape could have easily shaken me off during the chase, but he didn't. He maintained a distance, as if intentionally leading me to that specific location."
"Where?"
"The corridor leading to the North Tower," Kanna said. "The one we take for Divination classes, across from the Quidditch Stadium. It's quite secluded, and usually, there aren't many professors or students around."
"Even when I was chasing after Professor Snape, there wasn't a soul in sight."
"He went to great lengths," Kyle muttered.
"What did you say?" Kanna asked, not quite catching what he said.
"I was saying that Professor Snape must have intentionally led you there, wanting you to be in a safe place during this war," Kyle explained. "He even took the risk of delivering you to Sirius Black, his former enemy."
"But he probably didn't anticipate that Sirius would encounter a few Death Eaters who were up to no good, and they chased him all the way to the Quidditch Stadium nearby."
"Death Eaters up to no good?"
"Ah, that's just a minor detour, not important. What matters is that you know Professor Snape isn't a Death Eater."
Kyle waved his hand, changing the subject. "To be honest, many wizards out there have strong opinions about him now. If you hear any harsh words, don't take them to heart. After all, they don't know the truth; they only see that Professor Snape saved Voldemort."
"I know what to do," Kanna nodded.
This memory had finally lifted a heavy burden from her mind. If not for this, she wouldn't have known how to face other wizards.
"Do you remember anything else?" Kyle asked.
"No," Kanna thought for a moment. "After I caught up with Professor Snape, I had many questions for him, but before I could ask, I was hit by his Stunning Spell."
"When I woke up, I was here," Kanna looked around, her gaze falling on the Romanian Longhorn Dragon lying on the ground not far away, and then turning to the Warthog with half a wing missing beside it.
"Is this inside your box?"
"How did it change again?"
With so many dragons, Kanna's first thought went to Kyle's box, but she vaguely recalled that his box didn't seem this big, and it wasn't this monotonous either.
She remembered that beside the forest, there was also a cliff where time was reversed, where it was night during the day, and you could just see the Mooncrazed Beast dancing.
But now, all around were lush trees, some tall, some short, stretching as far as the eye could see, completely different from what she remembered.
"Ah, I did put you in my box at first, but later I found this place quite nice."
"Where is this?" Kanna asked curiously.
"The Forbidden Forest," Kyle said. "After I became a professor, I managed to get a garden approved by the school."
"The Forbidden Forest? That's impossible... How can dragons fly over the Forbidden Forest without being seen from the Hogwarts Castle direction?" Kanna blurted out.
"That's a long story," Kyle said, not offering an explanation. Instead, he led Kanna in another direction, allowing her to see the Hogwarts Castle in the distance.
It was more convincing than any explanation, and Kanna immediately believed that this was indeed the Forbidden Forest.
"Incredible," Kanna marveled, looking at the Pensieve in her hand once more.
"You've watched it twice already," Kyle reminded her. "I think instead of watching it a third time, we should head to the Great Hall for lunch. You haven't eaten anything for almost a whole day, right?"
It was already the second day, and Kanna had been unconscious all this time, naturally not having eaten anything. If you add the preparation time before the battle, it was almost a whole day.
"I... I'd really like to watch it again," Kanna admitted, but after Kyle's reminder, she also felt a wave of hunger. She could only reluctantly lift her head and hand over the Pensieve to Kyle.
Kyle took the Pensieve, first putting the memories back into the glass bottle, and then skillfully packed the Pensieve into the box.
Kyle had no other intentions; he just wanted to entrust Dumbledore with this precious alchemical item.
Now that Voldemort had just been defeated, and Headmaster Severus Snape had fled, what if the Ministry of Magic didn't allow Professor McGonagall to resume her position and instead appointed someone randomly?
The original text is in the sixth chapter of the ninth book of the series.
Such a valuable item must be kept among their own, and when Dumbledore returns from Nurmengard, he can give it back to him.
Yes, he was just temporarily keeping it safe, preventing outsiders from taking it away, nothing more.
Kyle's heart was at ease as he continued his actions.
Afterward, he led Kanna out of the garden and toward the castle.
Kanna was quite interested in Kyle's cabin, especially how the furniture arrangement seemed so familiar... Oh, right, the dormitory.
The layout here was exactly the same as the dormitory, not at all like the residence of a professor.
"I'm feeling nostalgic," Kyle shrugged, "The dormitory is quite nice, isn't it?"
Kanna smiled but didn't speak.
They strolled leisurely towards the castle, and along the way, Kanna had several times wanted to say something but held back. It wasn't until they had passed the Black Lake and were about to reach the castle that Kyle noticed this and turned to her, asking,
"What is it you want to say?"
"Nothing, nothing..." Kanna unconsciously shook her head in denial, but soon she became conflicted again. In a soft voice, she asked, "Are all the memories you showed me real?"
"Of course, I've said this many times," Kyle replied without turning his head, continuing to walk forward. "These are Snape's memories that he gave to Harry, which I found by accident. How could they be fake?"
"So..." Kanna's voice became even softer, "Uncle Snape, did he really like the witch named Lily Evans?"
Kyle paused in his steps, a slight upward curve forming at the corners of his mouth. "You've asked the right person. Whatever you want to know, I can tell you."
"It's what I just asked about."
"Of course it's true, and it's definitely authentic," Kyle said. "Remember when Snape and Dumbledore were in the office? He summoned his Patronus, do you remember what he said?"
Kanna recalled, "Uncle Snape said his Patronus changed."
"That's right, and that's the proof," Kyle said. "Usually, only when one experiences a significant emotional upheaval or a major blow, will their Patronus change.
"For example, when Tonks fell in love with Lupin, her Patronus changed from a wild rabbit to a wolf. And Lily Evans's Patronus was a doe, just like Snape's..."
"But..." Kanna's expression was filled with hesitation, "She's Harry Potter's mother..."
"They weren't at the time," Kyle said.
"Does Harry Potter know?" Kanna asked cautiously.
"Of course," Kyle glanced at her, "I've said it many times. These are Snape's memories for Harry, and I accidentally found them. They were in the Pensieve, obviously already viewed by someone."
"Oh..." Kanna responded absentmindedly.
"What's wrong, do you feel uncomfortable?" Kyle asked with a smile.
"Not at all," Kanna shook her head repeatedly, speaking seriously, "Uncle Snape is an adult wizard, and he has the right to choose who he wants to protect.
"I just feel that his attitude towards Harry Potter is strange. Why did everyone think they were enemies in the end, even though he was supposed to be protecting him?"
Snape's dislike for Harry was almost completely unconcealed, and any wizard with a normal IQ could tell."
Moreover, Snape deducted points from Harry every year, enough for most students to start the school year with deductions... and still have some left over.
This was also a place where Kanna couldn't understand.
"Who knows," Kyle said, "Maybe Snape didn't want Harry to find out."
"I still find it incredible."
"That's because you've experienced too little," Kyle said, "I suggest you spend some time at the Three Broomsticks when you're free."
"Why, what does that have to do with the Three Broomsticks?"
"You can broaden your horizons and improve your resilience at the same time." Kyle walked up the stone steps of the castle,
"If this news reaches the Three Broomsticks, I bet a second version will emerge within five minutes."
"A second version?" Kanna was taken aback, "What is it?"
"The grudges and love triangles between Snape and James, and Lily Evans stealing the love," Kyle revealed a mischievous smile, "You'll never guess how fascinating the thoughts of those drinking customers can be.
"The matter between Snape and Harry might seem extraordinary to you, but to them, it's as ordinary as water... After spending more time with them, you'll find yourself unconsciously understanding their situation."
Kanna clicked her tongue.
"Of course," Kyle said.
"But how do you know all this?" Kanna looked at him, and the two of them stopped at the bustling entrance of the Great Hall.
There were many outsiders, and their reasons were almost all to help Hogwarts, fearing Voldemort's return. So, even if Professor McGonagall was unwilling, she wouldn't drive them away at this time.
This was a matter of etiquette.
There was just one thing, the Great Hall was a bit too crowded.
"Let's go to the kitchen." Kyle suggested, "Or the Hufflepuff common room, it's better than here."
"I agree." Kanna didn't think much and agreed, she didn't want to have lunch with so many unfamiliar wizards, it felt strange.
"You haven't answered my previous question." On the way to the kitchen, Kanna asked again, "How do you know so many secrets?"
"Secrets? I don't think so," Kyle muttered softly, "Because I've experienced it myself, so I know these things."
Kanna's face changed, as if she had thought of something, her expression suddenly became serious, and she looked at Kyle suspiciously, "What have you been doing at the Three Broomsticks... Is there something noteworthy there?"
"I haven't been at the Three Broomsticks all the time," Kyle asked, "Who told you that?"
"No?" Kanna was taken aback, "But you just said..."
"Oh, I wasn't talking about the Three Broomsticks, but another place called the Valley Pub." Kyle said with a smile, "I stayed there for a month."
"The Valley Pub?" Kanna frowned, thinking hard, certain she had never heard of this place.
"Oh, it's in Godric's Hollow," Kyle smiled, "It's also a pub in a wizarding village, similar to the Three Broomsticks."
(End of Chapter)
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