The Pacifist Necromancer of Hogwarts

Thirty-nine fairy wings, a pint of dragon's blood, three ounces of dragon's liver, two cans of eel eyes, five bicorn horns, a bottle of beetle eyes, a bottle of Mortella rat tentacle juice... Snape He said slowly, glancing down at his list, Ah, and a bucket of horned toads.

Just to remind you, I picked up the bucket of toads one by one. Anthony said sarcastically.

Snape nodded: That's right, and then I spent about three times as long cleaning that bucket, because the horned toad dipped in the juice of Motla rat's tentacles is very toxic and corrosive, and it lost it All other potion effects.

Ah, okay. Anthony said, smiling at Dumbledore. Dumbledore smiled back at him.

A few minutes ago, Snape strode into the headmaster's office, followed by a hesitant Anthony. Dumbledore was writing a letter when he heard the sound of the door and looked up. As soon as he smiled at the two of them, Snape put a piece of parchment on the desk and pushed it towards him.

That's it, Headmaster, Snape said succinctly. This is a list of the damage Professor Anthony has caused.

Snape then ignored the chair Dumbledore had summoned and stood reading from the nineteen-inch parchment. Between those names, he interspersed information about the prices of potion ingredients, and occasionally commented on how rare certain ingredients were and how difficult to put a dollar value on them.

At the same time, Anthony sat on a chair, squeezing the Lemon Olaf that Dumbledore handed him back and forth. Sometimes he shook his head and retorted loudly, but most of the time he just listened to Snape's potion science.

The silver instruments in the principal's office buzzed around them. Fox stood on the top of the cabinet, holding the Sorting Hat in his paws, tilting his head to look at the tattered hat. The feathers seemed to be thicker than the last time Anthony saw it. The red is deeper. Anthony glanced at it a few more times, then it turned away dissatisfied and focused on pecking at the top of the Sorting Hat.

I'm sorry to interrupt, Dumbledore said. What happened - no, I've heard your version of it, Severus. I'd like to have the opportunity to know Henry's side of it.

Snape looked gloomy and said politely: Of course, since my testimony is not enough for you to trust. He even bowed slightly mockingly.

Severus, Dumbledore said, half sigh, half warning.

Well... I guess whatever Professor Snape told you, it must be at least partly true. Anthony admitted, So, yeah, the result is that I smashed his hourglass and destroyed these Material.

Snape said triumphantly: Ha, you heard me, Headmaster.

I'm surprised, Henry, Dumbledore said gently, but the other part, for example, is you grumpy, arrogant, dictating Severus's research, and wasting his potions with just a few words? …”

Anthony shook his head.

...and the deliberate destruction of potion materials on a large scale and the refusal to apologize.

Ah, about this. Anthony said calmly, It's true, sir.

Dumbledore looked at him with interest, the tips of his long fingers touching. Snape dragged the chair and sat down.

And what justification do you have for yourself? Dumbledore asked, looking at Anthony.

Well... you may also understand that Professor Snape is not particularly good at getting along with others, and is also very good at irritating others. Anthony said, deliberately not giving Snape any look, He said some things that caused I'm angry, he emphasized. Very angry.

Dumbledore glanced at Snape but said nothing.

Anthony continued: I will not apologize for this until he apologizes for what he said. I agree that this is a big loss and waste, but considering that I successfully controlled myself this time - Snape sneered, I've almost succeeded in controlling myself. I feel like I've made some progress.

What did you say, Severus? Dumbledore asked, his face becoming serious.

Snape paused. Dumbledore looked at him through his half-moon glasses, and then Snape said dryly: I asked him why he hadn't thought of resurrecting his grandfather.

Is that so, Henry? Dumbledore confirmed in a deep voice.

Part of it, said Anthony, taking a deep breath. I'll tell you. My grandfather was mentioned in our chat, and then—and then Snape accused me of being a mere pretense in remembering my grandfather. The argument was that I didn't think about it. I asked him to stop saying it because by then I already had some...but he didn't realize it was a warning...

Dumbledore interrupted: That's it, Henry, that's enough. Is that so, Severus?

Snape probably nodded, for Dumbledore had a look of disapproval on his face.

Severus, I think you should apologize first.

Oh, really, because I asked a question? Snape said coldly, Oh my god, there is a necromancer in Hogwarts, and his partners are cats, mice and chickens. There are no humans. I It's strange how no one took a moment to wonder. I didn't even ask 'tell me if you killed your grandfather' or 'did you hide the skeletons of your family in a cupboard in your office'...

Did you ask a question? Anthony repeated in an odd tone. Snape suddenly became quiet.

If you call that questioning, Snape, then I feel really sorry for everyone you've 'questioned'. What did you say? Anthony heard himself repeat clearly, ' It's just pretentious', 'Dear grandpa, I'm sorry, your bones have been eaten by wild dogs' -

He stopped and took another deep breath, suddenly feeling very tired. Maybe he shouldn't have come to Hogwarts today. Maybe he shouldn't have come to Hogwarts in the first place.

He could feel Dumbledore's eyes on him from across the desk. Anthony did not meet his gaze, but began to stare at the white smoke emitted by the silver instrument.

The windows of the principal's office were closed tightly, and smoke hovered in the room, floating gently all the way. Anthony wondered how he could hear his own breathing so clearly, for a moment even over Dumbledore and Snape's.

Severus, Dumbledore said seriously, I'm...disappointed.

Snape sat motionless in his chair, his face pale.

Dumbledore turned to Anthony again: I'm sorry, Henry, I'm really, really sorry.

Anthony shook his head: It has nothing to do with you, sir.

I would like to have a chat with Severus alone, is that okay? Dumbledore asked, placing a large handful of assorted sweets on Anthony's lap.

Anthony thanked him softly, then swept them unceremoniously into his pocket, pushed back his chair and stood up.

Dumbledore said behind him: If you want to go home, Henry, I completely understand. And assuming you are still willing to have a cup of afternoon tea with me -

I will, Anthony promised Dumbledore, I will feed the giant squid by the Black Lake.

Greatful.

…

Anthony sat down next to the black lake and looked at the water, suddenly feeling a little ridiculous. He forgot to bring bread.

But he didn't want to get up again. It was still the holidays, and only a few professors were still at Hogwarts. According to his experience, they should all be in the castle at this time, and no one would come to the lake.

His skeleton cat should be trying to bite the cork off the wine bottle again at this time, and if this is the second bottle, the wraith chicken will fly over and peck its head. They will fight until the wraith rat's apple is knocked off.

The waves lapped gently on the rocks on the shore. Anthony threw a stone down and remembered that his teacher in middle school talked about gravity.

She said that this is how tides come, not because of whales turning over, but because of the moon, because of the sun, and because of gravity.

He threw another stone and watched it draw a parabola and fall into the water. The giant squid seemed to be attracted by the strange movement here, lazily surfaced, and tentatively stretched out a tentacle on the surface of the water.

I was worried I couldn't find you, Henry.

Anthony stuffed the roundest stone nearby into the giant squid's tentacles—wet and cold—and hurried to his feet.

Professor Dumbledore...

Dumbledore stopped his greetings with his eyes: I must apologize to you, Henry. I deliberately involved Severus in this subject, but I did not expect such an impact.

Anthony snorted vaguely, wondering what such an influence meant.

Even if he did feel guilty, he didn't think Dumbledore would think that seventeen hundred galleons was a particularly big problem. Unless Dumbledore was going to tell him that Hogwarts was on the verge of bankruptcy at the next moment, he would then advise the principal not to allocate so much research funding to Snape and resign on his own initiative.

He will never interfere with your research again without your consent. Dumbledore said seriously, And if you are willing to trust me again, Henry, I will discuss the entire process with you, whether it is the details of the ceremony or the The curse used.

You don't have to go to his office anymore. We can find a place that's more convenient for you...because I'm pretty good at Apparating.

As Dumbledore listed each item, Anthony became more and more confused.

He had expected Dumbledore to make Snape apologize, and he was willing to bear about half of the loss.

Considering that he didn't throw glass bottles at each other with Snape, the potion materials were completely destroyed in his hands, and he was even a little worried about whether he would be less evenly divided with Snape.

But now, Dumbledore was acting as if Snape had just yelled at him and tried to strangle him with the skin of an African tree snake.

However, I'm afraid we'll still need him to simulate unicorn blood - I'm no Potions Master, Henry, and I'm guessing neither are you.

Great, Snape must have strangled him.

…

I...I don't understand, Anthony said, thinking about how Snape could strangle someone who didn't need to breathe.

Dumbledore smiled, as if he had read through his thoughts. He walked slowly back to the castle with Anthony.

By the way, the kitchen or somewhere else? Dumbledore asked.

Sorry, what?

The kitchen or somewhere else, Dumbledore repeated patiently, It's tea time, Henry.

Would you like to come to my office? Anthony recalled. I should have at least four boxes of coconut sorbet there.

Dumbledore smiled and said, It couldn't be better.

…

Anthony pushed the teacup in front of Dumbledore. Only now did he realize how strange it would be to see Dumbledore in his own office, and the fact that Dumbledore was sitting as a guest only made the feeling worse.

You have to bear the cost of all the loss of potion materials? But -

Because I put you and Severus in the same office. Dumbledore smiled. Of course it is my responsibility. I should have thought of it a long time ago.

I'm sorry, sir, but I really don't understand why it turned out the way it did, Anthony said, taking a sip of tea.

This is the herbal tea given to him by Professor Sprout. It has been sitting there for a while and is not as good as the one they brewed in the staff lounge during the semester. Snape seemed to be the only one who couldn't appreciate herbal tea, and could only frown while holding his black tea without adding anything while listening to others praise Professor Sprout.

Dumbledore said calmly: Because I know Severus. As if this explained everything.

Anthony thought of Snape's question again. If he put aside those vicious speculations and insinuations, he might also admit that there was some truth to Snape's question.

I have thought about it. Anthony said suddenly without thinking. When I... was not a necromancer, I thought about how wonderful it would be if they could be resurrected. They are good people and they deserve to live longer. .”

Like all Muggles, I also think: if I can turn back time, I can go back to my childhood; if I pick up a magic lamp, I can make three wishes; if I get magic, I can once again communicate with my deceased relatives. say……

Dumbledore's teacup knocked lightly on the saucer. He looked down in surprise and put the tea cup back on the table.

Do you know about Ouija boards? Anthony asked. I tried it... One day I walked to the store and told the boss that I wanted to buy one to play with. Its rules are that it cannot be used by one person, but I thought, no matter what As for him, besides me, who else would my grandparents want to see?

Then what?

The table didn't move at all. Anthony said, Maybe there was a party on the other side and they couldn't leave or something. Maybe their ears were not good and they didn't hear me calling them. Maybe I just bought a dish with a strange pattern. The tray claims to be able to communicate with ghosts.”

Dumbledore was silent.

Then I dialed the dial to 'goodbye'... It felt like I had just hung up a phone call that was not answered. Anthony shrugged. I tried it a few more times, but it was the same. Maybe my hands are not good. It should be so stable. I told myself that one day I would visit the other side and then I would know what happened.

But you are resurrected, Dumbledore said softly.

Yes, because death loves me, or because it hates me. Anthony said tiredly, I am just a little bit... He pinched his fingers and gestured a small distance, One little bit, and I can really die. Dropped it. But that day Death suddenly decided to play golf, and he whipped me back with one stroke.

Golf... Dumbledore said thoughtfully.

No, that's a metaphor. Forget it. I don't know exactly what happened, but I'm back, not a ghost, not an inferi. Anthony sighed, Back to the question: in I don't know death I have thought about what it was like. Because I am selfish, I feel that I will feel much more at ease with them by my side. It is I who need them, not them who need me.

He was in a trance for a little while. Dumbledore waited patiently.

But now I don't think so anymore, Anthony said in a concluding tone, raising his teacup. His tea has gone cold.

He looked at Dumbledore's slightly raised eyebrows and smiled: I won't talk to you too much about what death is like when the veil is taken off, sir. Remember? Don't blow out the candles before your birthday.