In fact, Link still had many questions he wanted Snape to answer.
If he could, Link even wanted to dig Snape out of his coffin and question him properly.
He felt he had every right to do so.
After all, he had fulfilled Snape's final wish. He had pardoned Harry of all his crimes and allowed him to stay at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries to receive the best treatment.
Even the place where Snape was buried had been carefully chosen by Link. He believed it was the place that suited Snape best.
This was where Snape had first met Lily.
It was here that Snape had spent the happiest period of his life with Lily.
So being laid to rest here after death should also have been what Snape wanted most.
After doing all this, Link felt Snape should at least answer the questions in his heart.
For example, why had Snape been so stubborn? Why had he refused to live the way Link had planned for him?
Or how had Snape learned the ancient bloodline magic? And how had he managed to cast it on someone like Harry, who had no blood relation to him at all?
Had Snape altered his own bloodline?
Or was there some other reason?
There were simply too many questions Link wanted to ask.
Although he knew very well that none of those questions really mattered.
Link just wanted to speak with Professor Snape one more time.
But standing here, he could not say a single word.
His mind locked down his body, leaving him unwilling to move or even think.
Only in this way could his consciousness be protected from being swallowed by grief.
Before he realized it, Dumbledore's long speech had already come to an end.
After another moment of silence, Dumbledore lowered his clasped hands and said, "Link, it's time to seal the grave."
Link reacted slowly. After a while, he gave a stiff nod.
He gently waved his wand again.
Black marble began growing from the ground, wrapping around Snape's coffin before forming a huge black marble slab facing Link and the others.
Unlike an ordinary grave, the smooth marble surface had no words or carvings.
There was no need for them.
The great willow tree was his gravestone.
And the mottled shadow of the tree reflected on the black marble was the best epitaph he could have.
Link looked at the willow for a little longer before finally turning around with great effort and walking toward the carriage.
But that simple movement completely shattered the barrier his instincts had built inside him.
It felt as though a balloon had burst inside his chest, and overwhelming grief spread through his entire body in an instant.
His chest tightened with pain, while his nose and eyes stung with a sharp ache.
The sudden wave of emotion made Link instinctively clutch his chest, and he even stumbled.
Emily, who had been following behind him, instinctively reached out to support him, but Link waved her away.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
A strong wave of dizziness hit him.
Occlumency had started working again.
Under the effect of that cold magic, the discomfort throughout his body finally began to fade.
Only then did Link finally understand how Snape had felt.
He also understood why Professor Snape had trained his Occlumency to such an astonishing level.
It had never been for the sake of being a double agent.
It had simply been to resist grief, the most terrifying emotion in the world.
Without Occlumency, Snape probably would have ended his own life long ago.
Thinking this, Link straightened his back again.
His face had returned to its usual cold expression, but there was still a dull pain in his chest.
Because there was a huge wound there that even Occlumency could not completely close.
"Let's go."
Link's hoarse voice broke the silence.
Before anyone could react, a massive space rift swallowed them all.
Everyone felt the ground shake beneath their feet.
When they regained their balance, they found themselves inside a huge teleportation hall.
This was the teleportation hall the Department of Magical Transportation had specially built inside the Ministry of Magic so that Link and his group could make a grand appearance during their visit to the International Confederation of Wizards.
But unlike before, when it had looked grand and dignified, it was now filled everywhere with piles of valuable materials.
Many recruited alchemists were working busily under the watch of Hit Wizards and Aurors.
Under their efforts, the materials were continuously built into the floor, creating a brand-new teleportation array centered around the "Cluster Spatial Jump Technology."
Link walked out first.
Emily, Madam Flamel, John Newland, and the others quickly followed behind him.
Only Dumbledore and the Hogwarts group remained standing where they were, staring blankly at the teleportation hall, which now looked like a huge construction site.
Combined with Link's earlier public declaration of war, it was already obvious what this expanded teleportation array would be used for.
That realization made both Hermione and Dumbledore turn pale.
"Link!"
Dumbledore called out instinctively.
Hearing him, Link stopped and turned around.
But that single glance caused every word Dumbledore had intended to say to become stuck in his throat.
Because he could clearly see that behind Link's cold, deep eyes burned a blazing flame.
The name of that flame was hatred.
Only blood could put it out.
Dumbledore suddenly felt his mouth go dry.
His lips moved for a long time before he finally managed to say, "Good luck."
Link's expression remained unchanged.
He slowly nodded before leaving the teleportation hall with Emily and the others under the respectful gaze of the Hit Wizards and Aurors.
Only after they had completely disappeared did some color finally return to Hermione's pale face.
She reached out with a trembling hand, tugged lightly on Dumbledore's robe, and asked carefully, "Professor Dumbledore... is there really no way to stop this anymore?"
Before Dumbledore could answer, Ron roared, "What exactly are you still trying to stop, Hermione? Didn't you see what happened to Lani and Joseph?"
"Didn't you see all those coffins in Hogwarts? Didn't you see Harry lying in a hospital bed? At a time like this, you're still thinking about stopping it?"
The moment Ron finished speaking, Hermione's eyes turned red.
She instinctively wanted to argue back, but realized she had no right to say anything.
Because Ron was completely right.
"I don't care what you all think. I'm taking a leave from school and joining the army. I probably can't become an Auror, so I'll just be a Hit Wizard. As long as I get to fight those Frenchmen, that's enough!"
Ron shouted with blazing eyes.
Then he turned to Neville.
"Neville, what about you? What do you think?"
Neville looked around awkwardly.
Ron had spoken loudly enough that several nearby Hit Wizards had heard his somewhat offensive words and were giving him displeased looks.
But in the end, Neville still nodded firmly.
Seeing that, Ron was overjoyed and excitedly continued talking about his plans, paying no attention to Hermione's face growing paler and paler.
Watching all of this, Dumbledore let out a sigh.
There really was no turning back now.
This was hatred carved into the bones.
Even if Link himself wanted to stop, the hundreds of thousands of British wizards behind him, people just like Ron, would keep pushing him forward until the French magical world had been blasted into scorched earth.
Dumbledore waved his hand, stopping Ron and Neville from continuing the discussion.
Then, with a wave of the Elder Wand, he led them back to Hogwarts.
Meanwhile, Link and the others had already taken the elevator down to the Minister's Office on the first underground floor.
Percy and old Barty had long been waiting outside the magical elevator.
The moment they saw Link, both their eyes lit up.
Knowing the two had important matters to discuss with Link, Madam Flamel said, "Link, we'll wait for you in the lounge next door."
"Mother, and Emily, you should head back to Flamel Castle first," Link said. "I'll come back and stay with you after I'm done with work."
"The one who needs company right now is you, Link. Don't dwell on it. You still have us."
Madam Flamel's voice was unusually firm.
She stepped forward with Emily and hugged Link.
Then she headed toward the room beside them without waiting for a reply.
Before leaving, she glared at old Barty and Percy, warning them not to say anything that might upset Link.
The cold look on Link's face softened slightly.
He quietly took a deep breath to suppress the emotions in his heart before pushing open the door and entering his office.
The others followed him inside one after another.
After Skyefen carefully closed the door and turned around, he realized the relatively peaceful atmosphere from before had completely disappeared.
Without Madam Flamel and Emily beside him, Link's expression had barely changed.
But large amounts of curse-attributed magic were continuously pouring out from his body.
That magic also seemed to have been affected by the intense negative emotions in Link's heart, making it unusually excited.
It spread through every corner of the room with Link at its center, eventually seeming to form a terrifying invisible beast.
Hidden in the darkness, it stared at everyone in the office except Link with huge golden slit pupils the size of lanterns, as if eager to devour them.
A powerful feeling of gloom and violence swept through the room.
This was not some vague aura.
It was real pressure.
The moment Skyefen met Link's eyes, it felt as though he had fallen into an icy abyss.
His body became so stiff that he could hardly move.
Only his eyes quickly dropped, instinctively avoiding Link's gaze.
The others were no better.
Even old Barty, who had spent decades in politics and met countless important people, now kept his eyes lowered, pretending to be nothing more than a scarecrow.
The pressure Link gave them was simply too overwhelming.
Although none of Link's emotions were directed at them, they still felt like tiny boats caught in a violent storm at sea.
And Link was the sea tornado standing at the center of that storm, raising towering waves capable of destroying the world.
No one knew how much time had passed before Link, seated behind his desk, slowly spoke, "Let's hear it. How are things going everywhere?"
His voice was like a clap of thunder, instantly snapping everyone out of their daze.
Percy immediately spoke at an astonishing speed, almost as if he had been waiting for permission.
"The follow-up rescue work at Hogwarts has basically been completed. Under the highest wartime alert regulations, Hogwarts has now been requisitioned."
"The Third Hit Wizard Company has been stationed there to assist Professor Dumbledore in restricting movement and protecting all staff and students."
"The list of injured and deceased teachers and students from this attack has also been completed. Written notices and compensation arrangements were sent to their families early this morning."
"The remaining injured are being treated inside Hogwarts Castle by Healers transferred from St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries."
"Construction teams have also entered Hogwarts and begun repairing the damaged parts of the castle."
"Also..."
Percy spoke nonstop for nearly five minutes.
Only when Newland began worrying that Percy might suffocate himself did he finally stop.
Using both hands, he respectfully presented a thick brown file to Link.
"This contains the detailed written report on the entire operation."
Link accepted the file and nodded expressionlessly.
Only then did Percy stiffly return to his original position with his head lowered.
Perhaps because he had finally finished his report, he relaxed.
The sweat glands that had been tightly shut from extreme nervousness finally opened.
Large amounts of sweat poured down his pale face, instantly soaking his hair and collar.
Old Barty looked at Percy.
There was no mockery in his eyes.
Only sympathy.
Because he had once embarrassed himself the same way in front of the former Minister.
And now, the pressure coming from Minister Link was clearly far greater than that of any previous Minister.
Honestly, the fact that Percy had not wet himself while giving that report was already impressive.
Still too young. Not steady enough.
Shaking his head inwardly, old Barty stepped forward and said, "Lord Flamel, the publicity campaign has also been completed smoothly with the cooperation of the Daily Prophet and under your guidance."
"The operation to capture enemy spies has also produced considerable results. At present, public enthusiasm is extremely high. The Ministry's main hall is packed with people who have come to enlist as Hit Wizards and Aurors."
"Our Department of Magical Law Enforcement has decided to recruit these people through the standard enlistment process."
"Those who strongly wish to serve but do not meet the required strength standards will be assigned to logistical work."
"However, given these special circumstances, we have still encountered several problems."
"So, I would like to ask for your instructions..."
Old Barty's voice became weaker and weaker.
Because by now, the curse-attributed magic filling the office had reached its limit.
The beast formed entirely from Link's negative emotions and overflowing magic had already taken on a vague physical shape.
It was now pressed tightly against old Barty, its enormous mouth hanging open as though it were about to swallow him whole.
Old Barty's eyelids had lowered until they were almost completely shut.
He looked so calm that he seemed about to fall asleep.
But the slight trembling of his legs and the pale knuckles gripping tightly betrayed what he was really feeling.