Chapter 762: I Don't Want to Hear It!!
The colors drained away.
The scene shifted again.
Now they saw Snape standing with Albus Dumbledore in the Entrance Hall.
The last students from the Yule Ball were passing by, laughing softly as they went.
"How is it?" Dumbledore asked.
Snape spoke in a low voice.
"Karkaroff's Dark Mark has turned black again. He's panicking—afraid of punishment."
A faint sneer touched his lips.
"You know what he's done in the past. So he's planning to run the moment the Mark starts burning."
"And you?" Dumbledore asked calmly. "What will you do?"
Snape lifted his head.
For a brief moment, his gaze drifted—toward Darren, who was being dragged along by Harry in the distance.
Then he said, steady and firm—
"I am not a coward."
Dumbledore nodded, satisfied.
"Yes. I know that."
He paused, then added lightly,
"Though perhaps the Sorting Hat made a mistake… putting you in Slytherin may have been… rash."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Snape remained where he was.
One hand came up to cover his face.
---
The memory shifted again.
Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore stood there, smiling faintly.
"I'm going to set things in motion," he said. "I'm preparing for my death."
Snape's head snapped up.
"Are you insane?"
Dumbledore chuckled softly.
"No. Haven't you noticed? I've grown old."
Snape's eyes narrowed.
"You have aged. And your magic… it's weakening."
"Yes," Dumbledore said calmly. "I am old."
"And I've realized something—I may not be able to defeat the next Dark Lord."
He met Snape's gaze.
"So I intend to use my death… to push him even further into arrogance."
Snape's anger flared immediately.
"You're planning to die just like that? Leaving everything to those two children?"
His voice sharpened.
"No… not even both of them. You're leaving it all to Darren, aren't you?"
Dumbledore didn't deny it.
He only smiled faintly.
Then, as if changing the subject—
"I hear Voldemort has arranged for Draco Malfoy to kill me."
Snape gave a cold snort.
"He never intended Draco to succeed. It's just punishment for Lucius."
"Lucius smuggled dangerous objects into Hogwarts. Failed repeatedly."
"He wants them to watch Draco fail. Watch him die."
Dumbledore's expression didn't change.
"So… both Draco and I have been sentenced to death."
He almost sounded amused.
Snape said nothing.
A long silence followed.
Then Dumbledore spoke again.
"Keep an eye on Draco. That boy has always respected you."
Snape's lip curled.
"He hasn't respected me since his father lost favor. He thinks I replaced him."
"I know," Dumbledore said gently. "But Severus… reckless children make mistakes."
He looked at Snape more seriously now.
"If we want to free him from this path… there is only one way."
Snape let out a dry laugh.
"That would be Draco killing you, wouldn't it?"
"No."
Dumbledore shook his head.
"He is still a child. I will not let him carry that burden."
He stepped closer.
"I want you to do it."
Silence.
Only the soft song of Fawkes filled the room.
Snape's expression hardened.
"Shall I do it now?" he said coldly. "What epitaph would you like?"
Dumbledore smiled.
"Not yet."
"My life may be nearing its end, but that does not mean I must die immediately."
"If I wished, I could live much longer."
He paused.
"I will choose the moment—when I am weakest."
"Then everything will fall into place."
"Voldemort will grow more reckless."
"And when people grow reckless… they reveal everything."
Snape stared at him.
"Why not let Draco do it? You'll be weak anyway."
Dumbledore's voice softened.
"Because his soul is still intact."
"He has done wrong things—but he has not killed."
"And I will not be the one to push him over that line."
Snape's voice rose, sharp and raw.
"And what about my soul?"
"Does mine not matter?"
"And that boy—"
His voice shook.
"He will know I killed you."
"He will hate me for the rest of his life."
"He'll look at me and want to kill me."
"I'll become a knife… cutting him to pieces."
Dumbledore lowered his gaze briefly.
"Severus… this is necessary."
His voice was quiet—but unyielding.
"Only this way will Darren understand."
"That kindness alone can destroy both himself… and the people around him."
"He must learn what it means to choose."
Snape's throat tightened.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then—
slowly—
he nodded.
Dumbledore smiled.
"Thank you, Severus."
---
The office faded.
Now they were walking across the Hogwarts grounds at dusk.
"These days, keep Harry occupied," Dumbledore said. "Don't let him wander."
"I don't want him focusing on anything except what I intend him to know."
Snape gave a sharp, irritated laugh.
"I'd rather lock myself in a room with Darren than Potter."
"I—"
"That's enough, Severus," Dumbledore cut in gently.
"Darren has very little time like this."
"I want him to have some peace."
Snape's voice turned cold.
"And then you'll make him face your death?"
Dumbledore was silent for a moment.
Then he answered—
"Yes."
"I will make him face it."
"It's something he must learn."
Snape's jaw tightened.
"Even so… can you at least tell me what you've told them?"
"They're still children. I could help—"
"No."
Dumbledore's tone was firm now.
"Only they can know certain things."
"Too many secrets in one place is dangerous."
"Especially in a place that must remain close to Voldemort."
Snape exhaled sharply.
"I've done everything you asked."
"Yes," Dumbledore said softly. "I know."
"I know how much you've risked… for those two boys."
A pause.
"But there are things I cannot tell you."
"If you remain by Voldemort's side, there is always a chance he will discover them."
"I cannot know whether his Legilimency will become stronger after my death."
Snape's frustration broke through again.
"And what about Potter?"
"He's reckless, arrogant—he couldn't even master Occlumency."
"You're trusting him with secrets like this? What if the Dark Lord finds out?"
Dumbledore's expression remained calm.
"Voldemort avoids entering Harry's mind."
"His soul is too fractured. It causes him pain."
"He has tried before."
Dumbledore's eyes softened slightly.
"He has never understood love."
"And love… is powerful."
"I don't understand any of this," Snape said sharply.
Dumbledore nodded.
"That's all right."
He glanced around, then stepped closer.
"Listen carefully. After you kill me—"
"I don't want to hear it."
Snape's voice exploded, cutting him off.
"I've changed my mind."
Dumbledore sighed, but there was still that faint smile.
"Don't be angry."
"Come to my office tonight. I'll explain everything then."