Even Draco couldn't fully grasp what Snape was truly thinking.
But one thing was clear—because of the intelligence Draco had brought him, Snape's resolve had wavered. Otherwise, he would never have handed over the news of Weasley's accident.
And that piece of information, which seemed unrelated to Draco at first glance, had already exposed something important...
Hermione frowned at him.
"Do you think it was an accident?"
"I don't know. But the odds of a wizard meeting with an 'accident' are about the same as you, Hermione, failing an exam."
"…That's impossible!"
"Exactly. So it was almost certainly an attack by another wizard. It might even have been the Dark Lord himself, or one of his Death Eaters. As for the reason… most likely he had accepted some important task from Dumbledore."
"I see… But how did Snape know?"
"Because Harry Potter showed up there."
"Potter? You ran into him?"
Astoria, standing off to the side, gave a soft nod in place of Draco's answer. The way Harry Potter had looked then—like someone recovering from a serious illness—had left a strong impression on her...
As the saying goes, the truth hides in the details.
Draco had only overheard a few angry reprimands and warnings directed at Harry Potter, but even from that short exchange, he caught several key phrases.
Calm your mind. Empty your thoughts.
And Harry Potter's pale face.
From those fragments, Draco had already guessed what kind of magical training Harry Potter was undergoing...
But that wasn't what concerned him right now.
What caught his attention was the shift in Snape's attitude toward Harry Potter.
Before, Snape's treatment of him had been laced with disgust and something faintly reminiscent of the past. Now, however, there was a sharp edge of agitation in him—as though he were trying to protect Harry Potter.
Draco had rarely seen Snape lose his temper and berate a wizard so openly.
Well… aside from Dumbledore.
More than that, Harry Potter's own attitude toward Snape was just as telling.
For Harry Potter to accept Snape—the professor who had always made his life difficult—in such a short span of time…
Draco could think of only a few explanations.
And the most likely one was this—
They shared the same goal.
Or there was someone who had earned the trust of them both.
In short—
The real reason they were willing to reveal the secret of the Dragontongue to Snape wasn't just the natural foundation of trust between them. It was also because Snape's strength was exactly what they needed.
On top of that, Draco had noticed something unusual about the relationship between Snape and Dumbledore. That was why he wanted to leave himself an extra safeguard—a move that might prove useful at some unforeseen moment.
What Draco hadn't expected, however, was that the return he received would far exceed his imagination...
Looking at the newly appointed Divination professor standing at the front of the classroom, Draco glanced sideways at Harry Potter.
"Occlumency… That's hardly surprising."
"I borrowed quite a few books on Occlumency from the library. Honestly, I don't think Potter could ever master that spell."
"Clearly, Snape thinks the same."
"So…"
"So there must be something going on that's forcing our Savior to endure Snape's nightly torment."
Draco's unmistakable note of schadenfreude earned him an eye roll from Hermione, who had leaned closer to speak in a low voice. She didn't believe for a second that Draco wasn't curious about what was really happening.
Beside him, Pansy idly played with Draco's long fingers. It was hard not to wonder whether Hermione's eye roll was actually aimed at that instead...
Unlike Draco, who was focused on Harry Potter, the other young wizards had their attention fixed on the new Divination professor.
"Four legs… Is that a horse?"
"Not a horse—that's a Centaur!"
"And a handsome one."
"So Professor Trelawney really was driven out of Hogwarts?!"
The whispers undoubtedly reached the Centaur's ears, but he showed no sign of irritation or offense.
Once he had confirmed that all the students had arrived, the Centaur professor lightly stamped a hoof, drawing everyone's attention.
"Headmaster Dumbledore has been most considerate in arranging this classroom for us."
Indeed, unlike Trelawney's old classroom, which had always been heavy with the overly sweet scent of tea, this room felt open and serene.
It carried the scent of the forest.
Draco immediately realized that the classroom resembled a miniature Forbidden Forest...
Although the Centaur had yet to introduce himself, Draco and Hermione—who had once encountered him in the Forbidden Forest—had already recognized him.
It was the Centaur, Firenze.
With his striking blue eyes and pale blond hair, he cut a refined and handsome figure. After Trelawney had been driven away by Umbridge, Dumbledore had invited him to take over as the new Divination professor.
Yes, the one replacing Professor Trelawney was Firenze—the very centaur Draco had once met in the Forbidden Forest...
When the room finally quieted and all eyes settled on him, Firenze raised a hand.
"This space has been arranged to closely resemble the environment I am accustomed to, though I would have preferred to teach you within the Forbidden Forest itself."
"Excuse me… um… Professor." Hermione raised her hand.
"I remember you, Miss Granger. Please."
"Why? If it's only the outskirts, it shouldn't be dangerous."
"This has nothing to do with your courage," Firenze replied calmly. "It concerns my own circumstances. I can no longer return to the Forbidden Forest, as my herd has exiled me."
The words were spoken evenly, but Hermione still caught the faint trace of regret beneath them.
"I'm sorry, Professor."
"It is of no consequence. It was my choice, and it was theirs. No one is at fault… only the paths we chose differ."
As those words lingered in the air, half philosophical and half deliberate, Draco noticed Firenze's gaze drift toward him.
It almost felt as though the statement had been meant for him alone.
Could this be another prophecy from the Centaur?
Draco couldn't help recalling what Firenze had said back then...