Snakes at Hogwarts

Late at night, in the principal's office on the eighth floor of the castle, Dumbledore quietly stared at Snape sitting opposite him.

The expression on the latter's face was almost distorted. He raised his head, his originally cold and deep black eyes filled with burning anger.

Even though Snape could no longer control his emotions, Dumbledore's blue eyes showed only calmness.

He is actually very similar to Snape in some places.

None of them are willing to show their truest emotions deep in their hearts, but Dumbledore's brilliance lies in his ability to skillfully cover his emotions in a delicate coat.

And not like Snape.There is always a coldness on his face that prevents strangers from approaching him.

"Except Harry, no one can prevent what will happen in the future, not even me. This is the mission that has been given to the child before he was born." Dumbledore explained calmly.

"That prophecy of Sybil,"

"Because of a few words from that old madman Trelawney? With all due respect, she is just an old bastard who used the reputation of her ancestors to deceive others."

When it came to Trelawney, Snape raised the corners of his mouth with contempt, and interrupted Dumbledore angrily.

"Most of the time, Sybil is very much like you describe her. But, Severus, don't try to fool yourself. You know that on that night at the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade, Sybil did A true prophecy.”

"The one who has the power to defeat the Dark Lord is approaching... Born to the man who has resisted him three times, born at the end of July... The Dark Lord will mark him as his nemesis, but he will have the Dark Lord's incomparable The power of knowing... one of them must die at the hand of the other, for both cannot live, only one survives... The one who has the power to defeat the Dark Lord will be born at the end of July..." Dumble Lido narrated calmly, his tone was cold, like an emotionless narrator.

"I was fortunate enough to hear the entire content of the prophecy, but Voldemort only knew the first half of the prophecy. For this reason, he began to search frantically for families that fit the description of the prophecy."

"Enough, Dumbledore, enough!" Snape let out a terrible roar.

He couldn't understand what Dumbledore said, because the Death Eater who ran to claim credit from his master with excitement and joy was none other than Snape himself.

It was he who told Voldemort this prophecy that ultimately led to Lily's death.

He killed her.

Thinking of this, Snape closed his eyes in pain. He did not dare to remember anymore because tears were flowing uncontrollably from his eyes.

However, noticing Snape's painful expression, Dumbledore did not stop and continued to speak calmly.

It was hard to describe the voice as calm. It could be called indifferent, even cold.

"At that time, there were two children who fit the prophecy, Harry, and the little boy from the Longbottom family. Their parents had resisted Voldemort three times, and these two little boys were also born at the end of July. They They are the only two candidates who fit the prophecy.”

"So why not him!" Snape suddenly opened his eyes and asked Dumbledore angrily,

"Why did he choose Potter instead of Longbottom!"

"I'm not Voldemort, so it's impossible for me to know what was going through his head at that time. I can only guess that the reason why he chose this way is because Harry's family is very similar to his, and they are all mixed-race." Dumbledore explained.

"For such a ridiculous reason?" Snape sneered sarcastically, then slumped in his chair and muttered to himself.

"I would rather it was me who died that night."

Perhaps, this is the real reason why Snape was so targeted at Neville in Potions class.

If Voldemort had chosen Neville instead of Harry as his mortal enemy.

Then the only woman he ever loved might not die.

...

"Calm down, Severus, don't let hatred and self-blame blind you. I haven't finished speaking yet."

Looking at Snape who had collapsed, Dumbledore's behavior could be called callous.

He continued to speak calmly, uncovering the scars buried deep in the latter's heart layer by layer.

"Just as the prophecy said, after the attack, the Dark Lord personally marked Harry as his powerful enemy. The scar on his forehead is the clearest proof."

"I think you need to understand one thing. Whether you want it or not, Voldemort will come back. They will meet again one day. By that time, only one of them will survive."

"Severus, I hope you can understand that no one wants Harry to die. Everything I am doing now is to make him the one who survives in the end."

"Can't we be the first to stop this?"

"Do you think I really want to leave all this to an 11-year-old child, Severus? Do you think I really haven't tried hard?" Dumbledore's tone suddenly became excited.

"But this is how fate arranges it. I know you don't understand it now, but you will definitely understand it in the future. The fate of the two of them has been completely intertwined. No one can untie it except themselves."

"For this reason, I must let Harry grow up as soon as possible."

"Is that why you let Quirrell serve as the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, even if the traces of dark magic on his body are so obvious?" Snape asked.

Like Professor McGonagall, he had naturally discovered something wrong with Quirrell long ago.

"Is this part of your plan?"

"Yes." Dumbledore nodded calmly.

"You can understand it as an experience, and Quirrell is the final hurdle I leave to Harry. I can even tell you clearly that Voldemort is possessed by Quirrell." Dumbledore always said this amazing.

"What did you say!" Snape suddenly stood up. He leaned down and propped his hands on the desk in the principal's office, looking at this person he had never really known with disbelief.

"You, but, why?"

"Calm down, Severus. Now that I've told you this, I won't hide anything from you anymore. Whatever you want to know, you can just sit down and tell me."

With a groan, Snape sat back on the chair.

"Why? Since he has taken the initiative to send himself up, why can't we take this opportunity to eliminate him completely?" Snape asked.For the first time since entering the principal's office, he showed a puzzled expression.

"Because I can't do it. I don't know what means he used to turn himself into what he is now. Voldemort is now in a state of neither life nor death. He is possessing Quirrell in the form of a ghost. In his body, he is not considered a living person, so naturally he cannot completely become a dead person."

Dumbledore narrated calmly, but he still didn't seem to tell the whole story.

What he didn't tell Snape was that the way Voldemort maintained this was through Horcruxes.

This evil black magic allows wizards to split their souls through murder in order to achieve immortality or immortality.

Because even if the main soul dies accidentally, his consciousness can still be transferred to the split soul.

Unless all Horcruxes are destroyed, Voldemort can never be killed by the curse.

This may be why Voldemort dared to break into Hogwarts.

He knew that even if Dumbledore found out, there would be nothing he could do about it.

"I only know that he is very weak now, but no matter how clever magic I cast, he will not die completely. One day, he will still accumulate enough strength, but next time, he will become even more powerful than now. careful."

"That's why I let Quirrell enter Hogwarts. It's better to have Voldemort under my nose than to have him plotting plans that I don't know about in some unknown sewer."

"For this reason, you even took out the magic stone as bait to lure him into taking the bait?" Snape's eyes widened. He did not expect that things would be like this.

"You also asked Quirrell and the professors to set up those levels, but it was just a trap?"

"Yes, for Voldemort, it is just a trap. He will never be able to get the Sorcerer's Stone. But for Harry, it is an experience that he must endure."

"But, Dumbledore, he is only 11 years old! This is too early for him!"

"This is the training he must go through, Severus. You have to believe that under my control, he will face Voldemort safely."

"Do you want to see him spend seven years in school carefree, and then be brutally killed by Voldemort as soon as he leaves school?" Dumbledore's attitude gradually became tougher, and he stared at Snake. general.

"Severus, we don't have much time left. You have seen that Voldemort has already started to take action, and his power is gradually recovering. I can even feel that the days to come will become darker day by day. "

"I want to work hard to help Harry grow up as soon as possible. This is for his own good, so I entrust you to protect him. Because I know that the only one I can trust and can definitely protect Harry is you."

After saying this, Dumbledore stopped talking. He stared at Snape quietly, waiting for the latter's answer.

Snape lowered his head, his body trembling.

After a long time, Snape slowly raised his head, and his face returned to the same coldness as before.

"So, what should I do next?" Snape asked in a low voice, his voice monotone, mechanical, and emotionless.

"You will know bit by bit. Before I tell you the next step, I first need you to tell me what happened in the Forbidden Forest?"

"This is very important and related to our next plan."