Ministry of Magic.
Upon entering the Department of Mysteries, Vizet and Professor Snape found themselves in a black circular hall.
The ceiling, walls, floor, and even the doors set into the walls were all a deep, austere black.
Only the candles decorating the walls flickered with cold blue flames, like the chilling ghostly lights drifting across the surface of the Black Lake.
As the firelight fell across Professor Snape's face, a chill slowly rose from the depths of his soul, stirring something within him.
What Barty Crouch Jr. had done earlier still lingered uncertainly in his mind.
At that moment, his thoughts swayed and flickered like the flames atop the candles.
Now that he and Vizet had entered the Department of Mysteries, only two paths lay before him: either let Vizet enter the Time Hall, or reveal Voldemort's entire plan, just as Barty Crouch Jr. had done.
He had every reason to believe that Voldemort had seen his every move, including his encounter with Barty Crouch Jr. just now, through the "Heavenly Eye."
If he chose the second path, it meant letting years of endurance come to nothing, just like Barty Crouch Jr.
If he chose the first path, it meant sending Vizet into Voldemort's trap with no idea what lay ahead.
Just as Snape's thoughts churned in confusion, Vizet spoke. "Professor Snape, did you notice something?"
Snape came back to himself and looked into Vizet's eyes.
Even in the darkness of the Department of Mysteries, those eyes remained bright, as though they possessed the power to pierce the darkness—like a lamp illuminating the road ahead.
At that moment, Snape finally made up his mind. He slowly shook his head. "No! I was merely considering... which door we should open."
A deep rumble came from all around them. The walls