A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

Chapter 580: Night Talk

Dumbledore handed the dazed and battered Umbridge over to Hogsmeade's proud Albus. Voldemort had forcefully delved into her recent memories, leaving her mind foggy and potentially with lasting effects.

He took some time to reassure the anxious villagers of Hogsmeade after calming them, saying, "Aside from the recent sandstorms, there won't be any other effects." Then, he headed to the Hog's Head Inn.

Aberforth sat at the entrance, looking weary and battered.

"You shouldn't have come out. Your injuries are severe—"

"Let me lie amidst corpses?" Aberforth angrily retorted. "Why don't you try it yourself?"

Dumbledore remained slightly silent. "Fine, I'll take you to St. Mungo's. You need treatment."

"No big deal, that mongrel wanted to see me beg, but I didn't comply," Aberforth gruffly said, spitting blood onto the ground. "You came quickly, faster than I imagined."

But Dumbledore insisted on taking him to the hospital. At St. Mungo's, Dumbledore found a moment to chat with the portrait of Deirdre Devant. She had been the Headmistress of Hogwarts and also served as a healer at St. Mungo's, a renowned wizard with portraits in many wizarding institutions.

"The Ministry is in chaos. Those dark wizards disregarded the secrecy laws entirely, blowing up a massive hole at the reception," an elderly witch with long, silvery curls spoke incessantly.

"Yes, many Muggles saw it," Deirdre said indignantly. "The Ministry will be busy with this for quite a while. I hope it doesn't delay the trial of Wisingamot; they've captured many dark wizards," she added.

Dumbledore smiled, "Perhaps not so soon. The trials from the last war lasted a long time. But our new Minister is good; she'll handle it... How's the situation at the school? Minerva sent a Patronus with some updates, and I'd like to know the latest."

"Oh, they're getting more and more capable, those little ones!" Deirdre was enthusiastic. "They seem unwilling to wait for Ministry support and are solving problems on their own—they've even formed a relief force, going out of the school to help the nearby Hogsmeade deal with Dementors and Inferi. It's exhilarating!"

"Minerva agreed?" Dumbledore asked in surprise.

"Opposition was futile; the students are very enthusiastic..."

Fifteen minutes ago—

Felix, Harry, Sirius, and others returned to the school. Ron, Neville, and Fred hurried over.

"How's it going?" Ron asked the returnees. "We found Avery on the way; he took a nasty fall. We didn't dare move him; left him there for the professionals. What about Umbridge?"

"She ran," Harry said briefly. Ron widened his eyes, and Harry added, "But her scheme failed; Professor Lupin appeared at a 'critical moment.'" He glanced subtly at Felix, who smiled back, not denying the statement.

This frustrated Harry. He hinted so clearly, yet the professor didn't respond. Well, he planned to privately discuss it with Ron and Hermione later.

"Okay, a minor character ran away, got it," Ron said, pursing his lips. Then, he got a bit excited, "Neville just came up with an idea, I think it's good. Do you want to hear it?" He looked at Harry and then at the others.

All eyes turned to Neville, who shyly said, "There are quite a few Inferi and Dementors outside. Some might have made it to nearby Hogsmeade, where many wizarding families live. Not everyone can handle these things..."

"You want to support Hogsmeade?" Harry said in surprise. Felix also glanced over; the idea was intriguing. Harry praised, "Neville, your idea is good. We can indeed help."

Neville shook his head, "I just suggested it; Ron, Luna, and others helped refine the plan, especially Luna. She sorted out the issue of insufficient brooms—"

"She's here too?" Harry asked, looking towards Hagrid's hut. He easily spotted Grawp—he was too big, pacing along the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Using Grawp's position, Harry faintly saw a few small dots around him. He strained to identify the person with blonde hair and found Luna petting a black, winged horse—

"The Thestral?" He was both surprised and enlightened.

"Our brooms were taken, had to brainstorm for substitutes," Fred said with a grin. Moody's magical eye glanced over, making him nervously gulp. "Just kidding, Professor Moody, don't take it seriously!"

"I must remind you," Felix interjected, "Your idea is good, but it needs the school's approval first... Professor McGonagall is the one in charge at the moment." He nodded towards McGonagall, who was running towards them from afar, half her hair flying loosely, looking quite determined.

"Um..." Harry hesitated, glancing at Felix, "Will you speak up for us, Professor?"

Felix blinked, "I'd love to be on your side, but... I need to maintain relationships with my colleagues, so you'll have to convince her yourselves." Harry stared at him in astonishment.

In the end, Professor McGonagall was convinced, but she strongly demanded several professors to accompany them. Sirius, Flitwick, Sprout, Tonks, the Longbottoms, and Madam Vance led a group of thirty students on brooms and Thestrals.

The students who remained watched them like heroes, applauding and cheering enthusiastically as they flew out of the bright Hogwarts school towards Hogsmeade. When he turned back, Harry saw Draco Malfoy's figure among those left behind—he stayed at the school, eyes fixed on the sky. In Malfoy's eyes, Harry noticed a mix of resentment and envy, surprisingly not disliking the gaze because he suddenly realized Malfoy wanted to be one of those on brooms supporting Hogsmeade.

Resentment and envy, in another sense, could be called admiration.

The ones left behind continued their respective tasks.

Moody watched over the captured dark wizards, Mrs. Pomfrey treated young wizards injured by Inferi or knocked down by stones, Kingsley returned to the Ministry, Felix and McGonagall stayed at the school, calming—or more accurately, ordering—the excited students to return to the safety of the castle. They seemed overexcited tonight, eager to party outside.

"We could move the kitchen outside, waiting for those returning from Hogsmeade."

"Do you think they'll bring back some of Honeydukes' candies?"

This idea was swiftly quashed by the dark forces on campus led by Professor McGonagall. Despite the sky over Hogwarts shining as bright as day, the area outside the castle wasn't entirely safe. Perhaps a corner hid an Inferius or a Dementor.

They needed to carefully inspect the surroundings.

Later, Dumbledore returned to the school. He went around, inquiring about the situation from Moody, McGonagall, Felix, and Snape as the night grew deeper. Snape stayed in his office, feeling the burning and pain in his arm, expressionless as

he stood up.

The Dark Lord was summoning him.

...

"So, you've come to see me empty-handed, Severus?"

"Master, I've done all I could. Even revealing myself wouldn't have been better," Snape said, head lowered. "Allow me to explain. I dare not hide anything." Moonlight streamed through the tattered window, casting a pale hue on his face.

Voldemort sat in the darkness, surrounded by absolute absence of light, his snake wand hissing softly in his hand. He had seen glimpses from Umbridge's memories, knew what Snape had done, yet fury still burned within him.

Snape waited for a moment, seeing no objection from Voldemort before speaking:

"You instructed me to act accordingly, and I did: I provided Umbridge with the password to the Headmaster's office at the critical moment and then led Potter away. Soon after, the army of Inferi broke in. Although Dumbledore wasn't present, McGonagall promptly exercised the Deputy Headmistress's authority: gathering the other three Heads of Houses and all the professors. My absence would have been too suspicious, you know, I haven't gained much trust from the Order. Too many eyes are on me at the school.

"Felix Harp and I are enemies with Sirius Black, not particularly close with Mafalda Prewett either. Harry Potter and his friends don't hide their animosity towards me, especially considering Potter has the original Marauder's Map. Even if you advise me on concealing myself, I can't easily do that without raising more suspicion.

Felix Harp and I have a teacher-student dynamic, but my recent attempts to pry into certain information about the crown might have eroded some trust. As for Dumbledore, he never keeps all his secrets in one basket. Like this secret arrangement for the Order of the Phoenix to enter the school... he must have sensed something, but I'm in the dark.

I even feigned a mistake to prevent Potter from catching Umbridge when Felix Harp suddenly appeared, foiling the plan.

After Dumbledore's return, he directly took the locket and the crown. I had no chance to intervene."

Snape recounted the events, furrowing his brow. "Something odd happened. I'm unsure if I've been exposed: I hinted my spy identity to Umbridge, but Dumbledore caught her. If she divulges something—"

"Don't worry, I messed with her mind," Voldemort's sharp, clear voice echoed in the darkness.

"Felix Harp is a Memory Master..." Snape reminded.

Voldemort chuckled darkly.

"If they investigate, Umbridge would finger a lot of spies, and you're just one of them. You haven't told Avery your identity, have you?"

"No. I've been cautious," Snape replied.

"That's not secure," Voldemort stood up, pacing the empty room, "He's at St. Mungo's now?" Snape nodded, "Avery's heavily injured, seems like it's affecting his mind; he hasn't regained consciousness."

"Then let him stay that way," Voldemort hissed. The hissing of the serpent-wood wand grew louder, as if the room housed countless snakes hissing.

"Master? Do you still want me to return to the school?" Snape asked in a low tone, revealing a hint of displeasure.

"You don't want to, Severus?" Voldemort softly inquired. Walking closer, he bathed in the moonlight, his bare, pale skin seemingly glowing. Two red eyes fixated on Snape from his snake-like face.

"No—of course—not," Snape stuttered, "I thought—I could come back this time—rejoin the ranks of the Death Eaters."

Voldemort silently observed him for a moment.

"Does years of being an undercover agent weary you?" he said casually, twirling his wand, "I need you for one last thing, Severus. Once it's done, you can rejoin the Death Eater fold."

Snape looked up excitedly, then lowered his head again. "Thank you, Master. I'm willing to serve you, just like years ago."

"Good. Dumbledore and I have agreed to a duel that requires a death... but I haven't set a specific time. Do you know why?"

"I don't know, Master," Snape said.

"How's Dumbledore's injury?" Voldemort suddenly changed the topic.

"He's keeping the injury contained to his right hand, requires periodic potion doses. It's powerful magic; stronger than any curse. An ordinary person would have died long ago—"

"I have confidence in my magic," Voldemort interrupted, and Snape fell silent.

After a while, Voldemort spoke again, "Weaken Dumbledore as much as possible, Severus, but don't kill him. I want to see him fall before me. Your talent with potions is unrivaled; I trust you to act discreetly."

"But Dumbledore might suspect—"

"It'll be too late by then, Severus. You'll have achieved your goal and stepped back. I'll return all the glory that's rightfully yours. So, be bold, Severus. I await your good news."

"Voldemort is ready to let you go."

Dumbledore's voice was grave; Snape stared at him. It was past midnight, yet Dumbledore showed no signs of sleep. He was dressed neatly, sitting at his desk, toying with a black gemstone ring.

"He's uncertain if Umbridge will spill. Those words were just to reassure you. I guess he's assigned you other tasks? Urgent ones?"

"He's ordered me to poison you," Snape said coldly. "The sooner, the better."

Dumbledore smiled.

"Ah, I see. Perhaps this is tonight's greatest risk. When Voldemort left, he was furious, and his mood hasn't been pleasant lately... I've been concerned he might redirect his anger toward you."

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