Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures - H.P.S.T Chapter 1487: Departure

“Please let me finish,” Dumbledore waited until Harry had nodded curtly, then went on. “I can understand your anger, Harry, but things are not what you think. Professor Snape made a terrible mistake. He was still in Lord Voldemort’s employ on the night he heard the first half of Professor Trelawney’s prophecy. Naturally, he hastened to tell his master what he had heard, for it concerned his master most deeply. But he did not know — he had no possible way of knowing — which boy Voldemort would hunt from then onward, or that the parents he would destroy in his murderous quest were people that Professor Snape knew, that they were your mother and father —”

“He didn’t know?!” Harry let out a yell of mirthless laughter. “How could he not know? He hated my dad like he hated Sirius! He wished my parents would be killed by Voldemort, haven’t you noticed, Professor?”

“No, things are not what you think. He never wanted your parents to be killed. Never,” Dumbledore shook his head. “You have no idea of the remorse Professor Snape felt when he realized how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy, Harry. I believe it to be the greatest regret of his life and the reason that he returned —”

“He only returned because Voldemort failed, or because Voldemort needed a spy at Hogwarts,” said Harry, whose voice was shaking with the effort of keeping it steady. “Snape tricked you with a false story. He’s a very good Occlumens; he can fool anyone if he wants to, can’t he? And isn’t Voldemort convinced that Snape’s on his side, even now? Professor … how can you be sure Snape’s on our side?”

Silence fell again. Dumbledore did not speak for a moment; he looked as though he was trying to make up his mind about something. At last he said, “I am sure. I trust Severus Snape completely.”

Harry looked at Dumbledore in shock with wide eyes. He tried to stabilize his emotions, but to no avail.

“Professor, why are you willing to trust him? Do you believe that Professor Snape is truly on our side? Did he do something?” Evan interjected. He felt that it might be better to get everything out in the open now. “You just mentioned that Professor Snape felt great remorse when he realized how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy, and that you believe it to be the greatest regret of his life. Why is that?”

“Because he never wanted Harry’s parents to die. From the beginning, he didn’t. Of all people, he suffered the most from what happened. I can vouch for that,” said Dumbledore, gazing thoughtfully at Evan. “As for the specific reason, I promised Severus I would keep it a secret. Perhaps one day, he will be willing to tell you himself…”

If that day ever came, it would probably be when Snape was ready to sacrifice himself.

“Snape feels pain over my parents’ death?!” Harry took a few deep breaths, seemingly trying to process Dumbledore’s words. But the moment he thought about Snape going to Voldemort that night to report the prophecy, a surge of uncontrollable anger welled up in him. He shouted, “I don’t believe it, Professor! You trust him too much; he’s not that kind of person. He wasn’t in the past, and he still isn’t! He’s up to something with Draco Malfoy right now, right under your nose, and you still —”

“We have discussed this, Harry,” said Dumbledore, and now he sounded stern again. “I have told you my views in that conversation during the Christmas holidays.”

“Hmph, you’re leaving the school tonight, and I’ll bet you haven’t even considered that Snape and Malfoy might decide to —”

“To what?” asked Dumbledore, his eyebrows raised. “What is it that you suspect them of doing, precisely?”

“I … they’re up to something!” said Harry, and his hands curled into fists as he said it. “Evan and I just passed by the Room of Requirement and ran into Professor Trelawney. She was trying to hide her sherry bottles in there, and she heard Malfoy whooping, celebrating! He’s trying to mend something dangerous in there and if you ask me, he’s fixed it at last and you’re about to just walk out of school without —”

“Enough,” said Dumbledore. He said it quite calmly, and yet Harry fell silent at once; he knew that he had finally crossed some invisible line. “Do you think that I have once left the school unprotected during my absences this year? I have not. Tonight, when I leave, there will again be additional protection in place. Please do not suggest that I do not take the safety of my students seriously, Harry. And I do not wish to discuss the matter any further!”

“But, I…” Harry was a little abashed, and he was also scared that he had gone too far, that he had ruined his chance of accompanying Dumbledore to Azkaban. He turned around and looked at Evan uncertainly.   

Evan had been there too. Didn’t he also think something suspicious was going on? Wasn’t he concerned about Malfoy’s intentions?

In fact, Evan had previously discussed this matter with Dumbledore.

But even then, the conversation hadn’t gone very deep. Dumbledore was particularly evasive when it came to anything involving Malfoy.

Perhaps he was trying to protect Draco Malfoy. Even if his motives weren’t entirely pure, Dumbledore was still a responsible teacher.

“He must have fixed that thing!” Evan could only say at last, “Maybe something will happen tonight!”

“A lot of things will happen tonight,” said Dumbledore. “If you two are ready, we will depart for Azkaban. There, we may meet the most influential Dark wizard in history. Will you come with me?”

“Yes,” said Harry at once.

“That’s why we’re here, sir,” said Evan.

“Very well, then: Listen.” Dumbledore drew himself up to his full height. “As before, I take you with me on one condition: that you obey any command I might give you at once, and without question. Especially you, Harry. I mean that you must follow even such orders as ‘run,’ ‘hide,’ or ‘go back.’ Do I have your word?”

“Of course, I … I promise!” said Harry. He and Dumbledore looked at each other for a while.

“Very good. Then I wish you to go and fetch your Invisibility Cloak and meet me in the entrance hall in five minutes’ time,” said Dumbledore. “Evan, you don’t need to go back — once I’m ready, we’ll go down together.”

Harry glanced at Dumbledore standing by the window, then turned his head and looked at Evan, whose expression remained calm.

He walked quickly from the office and down the spiral staircase. His mind was oddly clear all of a sudden. He knew what to do. …

Translating_Wizard

Hey there! Translating_Wizard here! Chapter 1716 just dropped on Patreon! If you've enjoyed reading and want to read more, I'd greatly appreciate your support ♡

•