Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 411, Page 409: One Type of Person
In the vast white borderland, pitch-black animals flashed by like fluffy balls.

While Sheen's soul ran through the world behind the veil, his body remained peacefully asleep.

Dumbledore leaned against the doorway, his mustache slightly twitching.

"Yes, dreams are such magical things that they can reach any land. Except, the dream of another wizard."

Dumbledore, carrying a warm, magical lantern, checked the students again to make sure they were alright, then carried the lantern into the breezy corridor.
"But things can always turn out unexpectedly... Looks like I'm going to have a wonderful dream tonight?"

In the distance, you could see Dumbledore's tall figure casting a blurry shadow on the wall, which was then obscured by another shadow.

"Dumbledore?"

Snape, on night patrol, stared coldly at Dumbledore, and for the first time, the old wizard seemed somewhat uneasy.

"Ah, Severus, good evening."

Dumbledore put on his usual smile.

Snape snorted and didn't answer, instead heading straight for the school hospital.

Aside from the school hospital, what other place on the second floor could attract Dumbledore?

Perhaps their "savior Potter" broke his leg again?

Ah……

Snape's robes billowed, the black fabric shimmering like ocean waves in the moonlight.

Dumbledore stood still, looked at the knight's portrait on the wall, then at the bright moon outside the window. He said nothing more, and the wrinkles on his face slowly and naturally smoothed out.

Several tens of seconds, or perhaps several minutes, passed.

Dumbledore remained with his fingers crossed, as if waiting for something. Sure enough, a moment later, a suppressed roar rang out:

"Dumbledore!"

It was Snape. He strode towards Dumbledore, his expression visibly turning angry.
"what have you done?!"

"Ah, Severus, calm down."

"Dumbledore said softly."

"He should be in solitary confinement in the cellar... not with you, or at the school hospital..."

Snape moved closer to Dumbledore with a chilling tone, his voice sounding like it was being squeezed out of his throat.

"Severus was just an accident."

Dumbledore explained.

"An accident? Ha... An accident always happens?"

"When did the greatest white wizard of this century become so ruthless that he'd even resort to using a fool?"

Snape stared intently at Dumbledore.

“Don’t think of me that way, Severus. You know I don’t deserve those titles.”

"Dumbledore said slowly."

"Let him go..."

After a long silence, Snape finally uttered a few words.

"Severus."

For the first time, Dumbledore's expression turned somewhat pained.
I thought you would understand.

The corridor was silent at night, and the conversation between the two did not even disturb the owl perched by the stained glass window.

"He's stupid enough, and I'm not."

You take everything for granted, Dumbledore, and the most foolish thing is that someone else thinks the same way you do.

Snape stared coldly at Dumbledore, then recalled the cursed arm on the hospital bed; he knew who it came from.

He felt an unprecedented panic, and a voice whispered in his ear, something he would say if the man were a knight:
“Ah, Severus, how can I make you understand?”

This is what we have to face, what we inevitably have to face...

Because falling in love with someone, yes, is like creating a faith, serving a god who may fall at any moment…” The two fell silent until Dumbledore shook his head:
"How many men and women have we witnessed dying over the years?"
Hogwarts is lucky enough, but things don't always go smoothly.

Dumbledore seemed to remember something, and his gaze became deep.

"It's not his turn!"

Snape was furious.

“A very interesting topic, Severus. When the snow mountain collapses, it doesn’t care whether you’re a rabbit or a snow fox.”

Dumbledore tapped his forearm with his fingers.

There was another long silence.

Dumbledore looked at Snape, and finally sighed:

“I think we are aligned on one point, Severus.”

We must always leave some hope for the future... I want you to understand once again. There is no other way in this world to make him, instead of me, the one in danger.

I am not the greatest wizard of this century. If I could, I would gladly share that title with those wizards who are eager to claim it.

But Severus, you know who I most want to see succeed him.

If you feel this conversation has gotten what you wanted, then let's part ways here... I need to rest; as one gets older, one always longs for sweet dreams.

Snape stood in the shadows of the corridor. He knew much from Dumbledore's overt and covert hints, but he still couldn't help but question him:
"If that's the case, why did you let him come with you?"

"Um……"

Dumbledore's expression looked somewhat unnatural.

“I was forced, Severus.”

"You mean, he insisted on facing our difficult struggles with you, putting himself in the most dangerous situations..."

Snape sneered, but as he spoke, his voice grew softer and softer, until finally he realized that he seemed to have gotten the truth.

"That's right, Severus."

Seeing that his expression was unnatural, Dumbledore added a comment.

“Sheen Green…”

The voice sounded like it was coming out of Snape's teeth.

Dumbledore happily popped a lemon sorbet into his mouth, then watched Snape head toward the school hospital.

He was always willing to say more when facing Sievert.

Severus Snape, a name that has fought alongside Albus Dumbledore for many years, has been unseen by Snape himself. His heart has already wavered, and he is determined to move in the direction that Dumbledore most wants to see.

They became a type of person.

When this change occurred is something even they themselves probably cannot explain.

But Dumbledore always believed that when the world changed to the point where it needed them, Severus Snape would be the last young wizard he placed his hopes on.

“I believe in Severus.”

For a long time to come, this will serve as evidence of Dumbledore's unwavering will in court.

The night was so bright, especially after we had a lot of anticipation.

Dumbledore headed cheerfully toward the headmaster's office, but suddenly felt a little awkward upon seeing a face that had returned from the school hospital sometime earlier.

"Minerva, oh, you haven't rested yet?"

Dumbledore put down the lemon Olaf he was holding.

“Someone in Ravenclaw is staying out all night, and soon that name will appear on the leave list. I hope you won’t tell me that this is because of you, Headmaster Dumbledore.”

Her voice sounded dangerous.

Dumbledore is finding it hard to be happy anymore.

　There's another chapter before midnight.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)