HP: Wormwood and Lightning Wood

After the few Death Eaters who had been turned left, Snape also turned and left.

"Severus..."

Snape slammed the drawing room door shut with a bang, the heavy oak door cutting off West's last words.

Ruined.

West's fingers unconsciously traced the warmth emanating from the head of the family ring, recalling Snape's steady heartbeat from the previous night.

He wasn't unaware of Snape's actions; he knew that Snape had discovered his little trick.

Lucius and Narcissa stayed behind, seemingly wanting to say something more. West, suppressing his anxiety, asked, "What is it?"

"Perhaps you know... Bellatrix Lestrange has escaped from prison," Lucius said hesitantly.

Narcissa's pale fingers clenched her shawl as she spoke quickly: "Bellatrix is ​​my sister. She wrote to me asking us to participate in an attack at the upcoming Quidditch World Cup."

West, who doesn't pay attention to Quidditch, almost forgot about this incident, but the attack was indeed reasonable. It both built momentum for the Dark Lord's return and tested the Ministry of Magic's reaction and countermeasures, making it a win-win situation.

"You must participate," West said without hesitation, "otherwise you will completely lose Voldemort's trust."

"We know," Lucius said, "besides informing you of this, we also want to ask you to look after our son Draco."

West shrugged. "Let him go with Harry. Harry will protect him."

Lucius and Narcissa were shocked, their pupils contracting. Following the Order of the Phoenix and the first Dark Lord, the Somerset family was now connected to the Saviors!

"Oh, right, this is for you." West pulled a notebook from his alchemical ring, exactly the same as the Riddle Diary that Harry had destroyed. "If Voldemort asks about it later, you can use this to deal with him; he won't be able to tell if it's real or fake."

Lucius caught the diary that was tossed to him, nodded his thanks, and his eyes revealed regret and annoyance.

If he had known it was a Horcrux, how could he have dared to put it in the Weasley's youngest daughter's cauldron? In the end, he even harmed his own son.

After the Malfoys left, Dumbledore stood up, walked over to West, and said, "It feels good to have power, doesn't it?"

"Old fox," West muttered under his breath, "Stop testing me. I have no interest in ruling the wizarding world like that idiot Voldemort—"

Dumbledore sighed, "Because of you, our original plan must be scrapped."

West knew what he meant, and coldly lifted his eyelids. "I'm capable, why should I let him get involved in this mess?"

"Mr. Dumbledore, you have really ruined something for me tonight."

Grindelwald looked up, his heterochromatic eyes fixed on West. "You rude brat, how dare you talk like that?"

"I'm not beating you up only out of respect for elders, Mr. Grindelwald," West raised his wand, "a duel?"

"Alright, you two," Dumbledore sighed. "Actually, there's something else I wanted to tell you, West. I've remembered the address of Gaunt's old house. Would you like to come with us?"

"Of course, but not today," West shook his head. "Tomorrow, I have other things to do." With that, he hurriedly left the conference room.

Dumbledore watched West's figure disappear at the end of the corridor, his gaze complex.

"He's very capable, Al, you know that," Grindelwald couldn't help but say. "You've already done too much for the wizarding world. Wouldn't it be better to leave the rest to the younger generation?"

Dumbledore gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "You know it's impossible, Gale."

How can you just give up something you've invested so much effort in protecting? Especially considering Tom Riddle's example. Dumbledore is truly someone who, once bitten, twice shy.

Grindelwald raised an eyebrow, his expression calm. "Then I'll have to go with you."

West was already standing outside Snape's door at that moment.

The door was tightly shut, clearly indicating that its owner did not want to see anyone.

"I was wrong, Severus, I was really wrong, I repent." West practically lay on the door, his voice low, sounding like a puppy purring.

"I shouldn't have sneaked into your room in the middle of the night without your permission, I shouldn't have touched your desk, I shouldn't have removed the Black Magic Mark, I shouldn't have counted your eyelashes while you were sleeping..."

West paused, then continued, "...I shouldn't have kissed you..."

The door suddenly opened, but luckily West wasn't leaning against it.

Snape stood behind the door, half his face showing, his dark eyes glaring fiercely at him.

So cute, like a kitten. (Harry's comment: Lover's filter.)

West hurriedly squeezed into the room.

Snape glared at him. "What else did you do...?"

West quickly raised his hand. "I swear to Merlin, that's all."

He carefully held Snape's cold fingers and shook them. "Are you still angry, Severus?"

"Can't I be angry? You did it without my permission..." Snape's eyes were like knives, as if he wanted to slice West to pieces. He held out his hand. "Can't you forge the Dark Mark?"

West answered without hesitation, "I refuse."

Snape frowned and said coldly, "What do you mean?"

"I refuse to follow your and Dumbledore's plans, Severus," West said firmly. "I have the ability to protect you, so I refuse to let you return to Voldemort's side."

It would be a lie to say he wasn't moved, but Snape still said, "It's all for the final victory."

"You don't trust me," Wester said, looking down into Snape's eyes. "I told you I could defeat Voldemort. You should trust me, Severus. I have my plans."

"Your plan? What plan do you have?" Snape couldn't help but ask.

"Destroy all the Horcruxes, then send Voldemort to meet Merlin," West said.

Snape: "..."

What a brilliant plan.

"I only trust myself, West. You shouldn't have so hastily placed all your bets on yourself."

"I don't want to, but this world is just so absurd, Severus, just like Dumbledore would place the responsibility of saving the wizarding world on Harry, an underage savior," West couldn't help but complain.

Snape: "..." He couldn't refute it. Although Snape disagreed with Dumbledore's approach, before the variable of West appeared, Harry, who had defeated Voldemort, was indeed highly anticipated.

"Why do you think Dumbledore condoned your plans? You got what you wanted, becoming part of his scheme." Snape scoffed.

"In any case, don't even think about it, Severus, unless you want to stay in Somerset until I kill Voldemort," West said.

The atmosphere around Snape suddenly turned tense. He shook off West's grip on his hand. "Are you threatening me?"

West was not afraid at all, and said softly, "I beg you, Severus."

"Give me a chance. I've said it before, we will have a bright future."