Dumbledore watched Harry leave the Headmaster's office and walk in the direction of the Gryffindor Tower, confirming through the portrait that he was back in the dormitory before turning back to his desk.

With a double flick of the wand, two cups appeared on the table. I ordered it again, and the butterbeer automatically filled the cup.

"I thought you'd be later, Severus." Dumbledore pushed one of the butterbeers forward, looked up, and smiled at Snape as he appeared in front of him.

"That's all there is to it, Dumbledore." Snape's tone was cold, ignoring the glass of Butterbeer. With a flick of his clothes, he sat directly opposite Dumbledore and stared at his intact right hand.

"Strive's doing?" He asked.

"Yes." Dumbledore nodded, picked up the cup in front of him and took a sip, white flowers accidentally getting some foam on his beard.

"Humph!" Snape snorted disdainfully, "He just likes to do flashy things, just like his bells and whistles magic!" ”

"Severus, you have to admit that sometimes these flashy things are useful." Dumbledore put down his glass and said with some disapproval.

"Moreover, those are not flashy, Akinbad was so embarrassed that he almost lost his life."

"I don't want to get smacked." Dumbledore shook his head, looking terrified.

Snape watched Dumbledore perform in front of him quietly, and suddenly his eyes swept over the ring on his left hand, and his face couldn't help but turn a little colder.

"Don't you think it's too early to tell Potter about that? His impulsive personality can't keep secrets at all. Snape said, "Just like his stupid father." ”

"Harry isn't a kid anymore, Severus, I'm sure he can tell what can be said and what can't be said." Dumbledore pushed his glasses.

"You still believe he can defeat the Dark Lord?"

"Just him?" Snape said dismissively, "You're foolish, Dumbledore. ”

"Perhaps." Dumbledore shook his head slightly, he wasn't ready to continue the conversation with Snape.

After taking a sip of Butterbeer, he asked, "How's that thing I asked you to think about, Severus?" ”

Snape didn't answer, just looked away unnaturally, and lowered his head slightly. After a long while, he asked in a muffled voice, "You have already decided?" ”

"You know, I only have a year left." Dumbledore sighed and said, "The curse that Tom left on Gaunt's ring can't be removed, and I may have even less time. ”

He was silent for a moment before slowly spitting out a sentence.

"Draco is a good boy, he still has a conscience in his heart."

"What do you mean, I don't have a conscience anymore?"

"You know I didn't mean that, Severus." Dumbledore shook his head, "That kid hasn't completely fallen into darkness yet, and we can still save his soul...... Besides, isn't it you who Narcissa is turning to? ”

"Humph!" Snape stared at Dumbledore coldly and said, "You can find other people, don't you have a tacit understanding?" ”

"Stride doesn't fit." Dumbledore said, "He has more important things to do." ”

"What's the matter? Keep killing those followers of yours? ”

"I'll be very happy if he kills that stupid dog." Snape's tone was full of disgust.

"But he won't, he'll keep that stupid dog's life! Just because you won't allow that stupid dog to die! ”

"None of us can escape death, Severus, and the difference is only whether our death is worth it or not." Dumbledore said calmly.

"You mean, that Fletch smuggler died a worthwhile death?"

Dumbledore was silent, but Snape sneered sarcastically. As soon as he picked up the cup in front of him, he raised his head and drank half of it.

"It's ugly, Dumbledore." He said coldly, "People who believe in you will not believe it until death, and his fate has long been used by you as a bargaining chip......

"It's all about the final victory, Severus. For the sake of it, there is no one who cannot be sacrificed. ”

"Like Lily?"

"It was an accident......

There was silence in the office, and neither Dumbledore nor Snape were staring at each other and not speaking again.

"Hey......"

After a long while, Dumbledore let out a long sigh and said, "Severus, you didn't come today to quarrel with me and talk about things that have passed, right?" ”

Snape looked up, his eyes bloodshot red. It was closed slightly, and when it was opened again, it was calm.

"As you instructed, I told Granger something to stabilize her for the time being."

"Good." Dumbledore nodded, "We're a little more sure. ”

"You don't really think she's going to help that idiot Potter all the time, do you? We all know that sooner or later she's going to leave to pursue Stred. "And, I think, with Stred's gloomy personality, the Dark Lord is far more likely to die at his hands than the fool to defeat him." ”

"Strive's pursuits are different from none of us." Dumbledore shook his head slightly, "His obsession with magic has a strong purpose, and for that purpose, he can sweep away anyone who stands in his way. ”

"Yes, we can indeed hope in him, that Tom will be the one who stands in his way, that he will kill Tom before we do...... But Severus, none of us can guarantee that things will happen the way we hope. ”

"So at the end of the day, you still have to go according to the original plan?"

"I'm afraid so, because we don't have a choice." Dumbledore said, "And we need to be prepared for even more dangerous things......

"You think Stride is going to stop us?"

"We can't rule it out...... I know that he made an unbreakable vow never to hurt anyone who truly regarded him as a friend, and never to hurt Hogwarts, but at some point, he didn't have to break his oath, just blocking it was enough......"

"As long as doing something like this will bring him closer to his goal......"

Snape looked directly into Dumbledore's calm eyes, and the seriousness in them made his heart palpitate. Inexplicably, he felt a hint of fear.

"Granger ......"

"I'm afraid, Miss Granger is the last safeguard, Severus ......"

Snape was silent for a long time. He got up, lifted his robe, and turned away, leaving only a sentence echoing in the headmaster's office.

"You're wrong, Dumbledore, I'm not going to let that happen......"

Watching Snape's figure disappear into the doorway, Dumbledore's eyes remained calm. Looking at the butterbeer in the cup, the wand turned into honey water a little.

As soon as he drank it, the sweet taste made him squint his eyes unconsciously. Looking at the empty bottom of the cup, he muttered:

"Forgive me, Severus......"

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