Chapter 17: Dumbledore
Late at night, Hogwarts was empty and still. Any sound in the deep, dark corridors carried a long way.
Snape's professorial robes trailed behind him as his shoes clicked hollowly on the stone floor. With his cold face and slightly cruel, hooked nose, he could scare any student caught out after hours. But he was not patrolling tonight. He climbed the winding staircase, passed a corridor lined with portraits and suits of armor, and arrived at the seventh-floor landing.
A grotesque stone gargoyle blocked his path. Behind the gargoyle was a moving spiral staircase that led to his destination, the Headmaster's office.
Snape stared at the gargoyle with a blank expression, his dark eyes looking at it like it was a piece of trash. "Password: Cockroach Clusters."
The gargoyle sprang aside. Snape climbed the stairs and pushed open the office door.
The circular office was spacious and luxurious, filled with portraits of former headmasters. It was late, and most of them were snoring. Snape's entrance woke a few, who grumbled sleepily.
"Ah, Severus." Dumbledore looked up from his reading behind the enormous desk and greeted him warmly. "Good evening. Care for a Cockroach Cluster? Or perhaps a Sugar Quill?"
A dish full of candy floated toward Snape. He pushed it aside irritably. His voice was practically a hiss. "What do you want? Get on with it. I do not have time to waste."
Dumbledore's smile did not waver. He summoned the candy dish back, plucked a wriggling cockroach from it, and popped it into his mouth. He beckoned. "Come and see, Severus."
Snape approached the desk. A letter lay spread out before Dumbledore, signed by Ollivander.
"I wrote to Mr. Ollivander after the feast to ask him a few questions. I am glad my old friend still deigns to reply. He seems to be sleeping very little, however. I had expected his reply in the morning."
He rambled on. Snape had no patience for this. His eyes scanned the parchment. Ollivander was describing a specific wand to Dumbledore.
"I must admit, it is a wand of immense power. Only the most powerful witches and wizards can earn its favor and affection. I never imagined it would choose a child. Warren Weasley. It is beyond my comprehension."
But Dumbledore, in response to your inquiry, I must maintain that neither wizard nor wand is fixed at birth. Wand and witch, wand and wizard, they grow together, shaping one another. I cannot offer definitive proof to substantiate your fears. I can only ask you to exercise caution.
"Your faithful servant, Garrick Ollivander."
Snape's gaze fixed upon the name Warren Weasley. He glanced at Dumbledore, a trace of sarcasm passing over his cold features. "And what is this? Another budding Dark wizard for your watchlist?"
Dumbledore's smile vanished. He fell silent for a moment. "I trust Arthur and Molly," he said.
Snape interpreted that to mean he trusted Arthur and Molly, but as for this Warren, he was not so sure. "Humph." The answer did not surprise Snape. He let out a noncommittal, cold laugh. "So? Do I have a new task? Am I supposed to watch our dear savior and his evil classmate at the same time?"
"I did not say he was evil, Severus."
"Humph."
Dumbledore sighed. "The timing is unfortunate, Severus. We must monitor Harry's progress and ensure he fulfills the prophecy. I am not shirking my responsibility. We simply do not know what would happen if destiny were altered. Would it be for the better, or for the worse?"
He gazed into Snape's dark eyes. He would not use Legilimency on him. He simply wanted to ensure Snape recognized his sincerity.
Help me. You saw, didn't you? Harry's eyes. They're like Lily's.
Enough.
Snape's voice rose, losing control. His nostrils flared. A wave of emotion slammed into his chest, nearly shattering his Occlumency shields. It was like poison. It had tortured him for ten years.
Silence hung in the office for a long moment. Finally Snape's voice returned to its usual coldness. "If that is all, I have lesson plans to prepare. I look forward to tomorrow. I hope your savior is not shown up by his evil classmate."
With that, he swept his robes around him and left quickly.
"Thank you, Severus. Sleep well."
As Snape left, the office fell silent again. Dumbledore looked down at the letter, his thin fingers tracing each word, as if trying to imprint them on his memory. After an age, he spoke again. "Armando, have you ever wondered what might have become of Tom if we had paid more attention to him at the start?"
A portrait of an old wizard feigning sleep turned over and muttered, "Who knows?"
"Yes. Who knows."
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