Chapter 954: The Beautiful Amulet
Chapter 954: The Beautiful Amulet
"Patrolling the castle? That's no problem at all."
When Kyle found Nearly Headless Nick on the third-floor corridor, he readily accepted the task and immediately disappeared into the ceiling above.
But he soon floated back down.
"Can I ask why, though... or what I should be looking out for while patrolling?"
"Just keep an eye out for any suspicious individuals," Kyle thought for a moment before replying. "Professor McGonagall suspects that Voldemort might still be in the castle, so she..."
Before Kyle could finish his sentence, a sudden scream interrupted him.
"Oh, Merlin's beard, who are you talking about being in the castle?"
Whether it was an illusion or not, Kyle felt that Nearly Headless Nick looked even paler than before.
"Don't be alarmed, Sir Peverell," Kyle quickly explained. "Voldemort certainly isn't in the castle. Professor McGonagall is just taking precautions, like when you leave home and always double-check if the door is locked."
"And, Sir Peverell, I don't understand why you're afraid. Even if Voldemort were here, he couldn't harm you."
Nearly Headless Nick paused.
Indeed, why would a ghost be afraid?
"Well, even though I don't need to open doors to leave a room, I think you're right."
Nearly Headless Nick, seemingly wanting to redeem himself from his earlier embarrassment, tried to put on a serious demeanor.
"I'll invite my friends to help. You know, I have many ghost friends, and we can check every corner of the castle at the fastest speed without worrying about safety."
"Of course, Sir Peverell, the well-connected ghost of Hogwarts," Kyle said with a smile.
Ghosts always enjoyed a bit of flattery.
Nearly Headless Nick instantly forgot his previous embarrassment and happily floated away to gather his ghostly friends.
After that, Kyle went to the school entrance.
"Kingsley, I never expected that you, of all people, would be the Auror left at Hogwarts."
"It's quite fortunate, isn't it?" Kingsley smiled. "My current job is much easier than that of my colleagues at the Ministry of Magic."
"That's one way to put it."
"I heard you disappeared in the castle earlier," Kingsley said. "What happened? Even Chris came."
"It was nothing, just a misunderstanding."
"Well, I'm glad it's nothing serious." Kingsley nodded. "So, what brings you here this time?"
"Professor McGonagall wants the Aurors and the Strike Force to check the Forbidden Forest again to see if there are any stragglers hiding in there."
Learning from his previous lesson, Kyle decided not to mention Voldemort this time and skipped that part.
After all, Voldemort was not likely to appear, and there was no need to unnecessarily worry others.
"Alright, I'll do it." Kingsley agreed after a moment's thought.
"I'll leave a few people here, but you need to ask Minerva to find a professor familiar with the Forbidden Forest to guide us."
"That's no problem. You can just find Professor Hagrid, who lives on the edge of the Forbidden Forest."
"Oh, that's the one with the pumpkin patch." Kyle suddenly remembered that he was Hagrid's neighbor and quickly added, "I know."
Kingsley nodded and headed towards Hogsmeade.
To be honest, constantly patrolling the surroundings was a tedious task, and Professor McGonagall's request was a welcome change.
Moreover, the target was the Forbidden Forest, a place that piqued the curiosity of every Hogwarts graduate. This was a rare opportunity to explore it openly and experience something they couldn't during their school days.
After Kingsley left, Kyle returned to the Quidditch Pitch, where Professor McGonagall was.
Professor McGonagall seemed to be waiting for him.
Upon seeing Kyle, she didn't say a word, merely nodding and continuing to walk forward naturally.
The two of them didn't try to hide anything, and it didn't take long for the people across from them to notice.
"Professor McGonagall..." Kanna stood up nervously, "I..."
"You don't need to say anything, Miss Prince," Professor McGonagall shook her head, indicating that she didn't need to be nervous.
Then she looked up at the middle-aged wizard behind Kanna.
"Severus..."
"It's me." Snape said after a moment of silence.
Professor McGonagall moved her mouth, wanting to say something, but feeling it was inappropriate. After hesitating for a long time, she finally looked at Snape.
"Your Transfiguration is really not up to par, full of loopholes. I don't understand why you didn't use Polyjuice Potion?"
"I was going to do that..." Snape never expected Professor McGonagall's first words to be a critique of his Transfiguration skills.
"But when he passed by me, I managed to get a strand of his hair."
Kyle subconsciously looked at the top of 'Snape's' head.
Hmm... His hair volume is slightly better than Slughorn's, but it would still be quite cruel to pluck one out.
Kyle tightly pursed his lips, suppressing a laugh.
Even Professor McGonagall's lips curled up for a moment, but the smile quickly faded.
However, the ice was finally broken, and they skipped the usual pleasantries.
"I've already seen that memory, so there's no need for you to explain certain things, including your role as a messenger for Albus," Professor McGonagall said straightforwardly. "I already know about it all."
"I must apologize to you first. Before this, I always thought you were a traitor to Hogwarts."
"You don't need to apologize. Because I am a traitor," Snape said.
"It's not the same," Professor McGonagall said, extending her hand. "I'm glad we didn't end up as enemies in the end. Welcome back, Severus."
"Thank you."
The two shook hands, as if they were meeting for the first time.
"But Severus, there's something I must tell you in advance, as a reminder from a colleague."
Professor McGonagall spoke solemnly, "First, that memory can prove your innocence, but only to a certain extent... There are still some questions that the memory doesn't answer, and we need you to provide those answers."
"I think you know what I'm talking about."
"Yes, I know," Snape nodded.
It could only be about him saving Voldemort.
Snape had already decided what to say about this.
"That's good," Professor McGonagall didn't say anything further.
"Before coming here, I asked Evera to use his portrait in the Ministry of Magic to inform Amelia about this matter.
"She should be waiting for us in her office by now, or perhaps in the interrogation room. Are you ready?"
As she spoke, Professor McGonagall glanced at Kanna again, "Or we can go later, but we shouldn't keep her waiting for too long."
"No, it's fine fine," Snape transformed back into his original form, causing a series of gasps from the onlookers.
They had noticed Professor McGonagall and Kyle coming here and had been watching them. When they saw the middle-aged wizard transform into Snape, they all looked incredulous, and some even drew their wands.
This action indicated Snape's attitude... After being exposed, he could no longer stay here.
"Since you've made your decision... That's good," Professor McGonagall said softly.
After watching that memory, her attitude towards Snape became quite complex.
She really wanted to sympathize with Snape. In the memory, he seemed truly helpless, and even after learning that Lily was killed by Snape, his lost and broken appearance was heart-wrenching.
However, Professor McGonagall couldn't bring herself to feel sympathetic. She knew who was responsible for all of this. If Snape hadn't leaked the contents of the prophecy, Voldemort wouldn't have hunted down Lily.
Thinking of this, Professor McGonagall's sympathy dissipated. But Snape's sincere efforts to make amends did lessen her resentment.
The original text is available in Chapter 6 of the book!
"Let's go," Professor McGonagall said, "I sincerely hope we can continue to be colleagues in the future, Severus."
"I feel the same."
"Do you need any help?" Kyle, who had been watching from the side, finally found an opportunity to speak.
"By now, many people who have received the news should be rushing over... To avoid being blocked by others on the way, I can ask Fawkes to take us there.
"With just three herbs, we can instantly reach the Ministry of Magic. It's very cost-effective, and not everyone has this opportunity."
"Fawkes... that's possible..." Professor McGonagall pondered.
"No!"
Snape reacted as if he had been stepped on a cat's tail, almost jumping up on the spot.
"I'd rather walk here than be carried by a phoenix."
Professor McGonagall was surprised by Snape's strong reaction and looked at him curiously.
"Believe me, Minerva, I don't mind walking to the school gates."
Snape stared at her, his face serious. "And if you don't have to, don't let the Phoenix Apparate with you, ever."
"Don't ask what happened." As Professor McGonagall was about to open her mouth, Snape spoke first, "Consider it a well-meaning advice from a colleague. Stay away from the Phoenix, by all means."
Professor McGonagall was a bit confused by his words, but seeing Snape's expression as if he was in pain, she didn't press further.
Kyle was a bit unhappy.
How could he talk about the Phoenix like that? It was so impolite. If it weren't for the Phoenix bringing him to that forest, he might not have been able to return from there.
It's a pity that Snape was so resistant; his new photo couldn't be taken...
Kyle sighed and put the camera he had prepared for the Phoenix back into his leather bag.
But there was one thing he didn't get wrong.
Since Snape's appearance, the number of people around had been increasing. It was only because Professor McGonagall was there that they didn't swarm them.
And even more people were rushing towards them, including the silhouettes of Aurors and the Strike Force. It wouldn't be long before this place would be surrounded.
"There's no other way... I don't know if it'll work, but let's try." Professor McGonagall took out something and muttered under her breath.
A few seconds later, something seemed to flash.
Then Professor McGonagall grabbed Snape's arm tightly.
"Crack!"
With a crisp sound, the two of them disappeared from their original spots.
"Apparition, how is this possible!" Someone exclaimed in surprise, "Hogwarts forbids Apparition..."
As he spoke, he tried it himself, but his face turned red, and his position didn't change at all.
That's right, Hogwarts does forbid Apparition, but how did it work just now...
"Consider it a privilege of the Headmaster." Kyle explained to Kanna, who was also a bit stunned, "The Headmaster of Hogwarts has the right to lift restrictions in certain areas."
"For example, when sixth-years are learning Apparition, they do it in an area where the restrictions are lifted."
"Mhm." Kanna nodded.
"My uncle told me everything. Thank you..."
"Thank me?"
"You saved him, I know." Kanna glanced at the direction where Snape had disappeared, "Although he doesn't want to talk about it, I know it was you who saved him. Thank you."
Kyle shook his head, his gaze shifting to Kanna's wrist.
"Strictly speaking, it was you who saved him."
The Phoenix bracelet had been returned to Snape, and now it reappeared on Kanna's wrist.
But now, only one Phoenix remained, the other was gone.
"I never thought you would give that to him." Kyle said, "But it's a good thing you did, otherwise he might not have been able to return so easily."
In that situation, only magic targeting the soul could possibly drive away the Voldemort that was parasitizing Snape, otherwise he might have become the next Quirrell, growing a face on the back of his head.
But Kyle's mastery of magic was limited, and the only soul-targeting curse he knew was the Fiery Magic, which could barely be considered.
Burning the soul... that should count, right...
But this definitely couldn't be used on Snape.
If the Killing Curse couldn't be used, he could only let Rozier try the Cruciatus Curse.
Voldemort's soul was inherently fragile, and it would definitely give out first. But doing so would also cause Snape to suffer, and over time, it might also affect his soul.
It's better to use the Killing Curse directly; it's convenient, straightforward, and there are no other concerns.
It's just a bit extravagant.
"I just wanted to try, I didn't expect it to succeed." Kanna raised her wrist and looked at it, "After all, I've tried to give it to you several times before, but I couldn't take it off."
"It's probably because of the Phoenix Elixir, its main ingredient is the Phoenix Elixir, which Snape brewed."
Kyle shrugged, "It's just a bit of a pity, it can only help you resist the Killing Curse once from now on."
"It's okay..." Kanna put her hand down, "Even if the two chances are used up, it's fine. As you said, the Phoenix Elixir was brewed by Uncle Snape, so it's like returning it to its rightful owner."
"And..."
Kanna looked at Kyle, her tone pausing, before she spoke softly, "With you here, I'll never have to worry about any curses, right?"
"So it's just a pretty accessory to me, nothing more."
...
(End of Chapter)
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