Hatred

In fact, when Cyberlina caused trouble for the Gaunt Family back then, she had initially intended to be discreet about it and keep it hidden from Ominis. Otherwise, she would not have chosen to sneak out of Hogwarts one night to do it when she still had classes the next day.

Unfortunately, she had failed to rein in her temper. She had made such a huge commotion that practically everyone knew about it.

Even the student who had been buried in building his business in Europe at the time had found the time in his busy schedule to send her a letter. He said it was a shame he had not been there to witness the magnificent flames, hear those beautiful screams with his own ears, or see his teacher's heroic figure in person. Between the seemingly polite lines, schadenfreude filled every word: You really went overboard, didn't you?

So Cyberlina had sent him that issue of the Daily Prophet, which contained reports of his recent exploits and short-term plans, with clues provided by an anonymous professor of magical theory. She had also clearly stated that Dumbledore would be subscribing to the Daily Prophet.

After that, she never received a reply. However, she heard that a rising power in Europe had undergone some internal upheaval during that period because of suspicions that there was a traitor among them.

As for the other student, who had only just become her colleague, he seemed not to have commented much on her actions. But that was precisely where the problem lay. Cyberlina had noticed that his emotions toward her had changed subtly.

At the time, however, she had not had the energy to consider the reason for that student's change. Her mind had been completely occupied with how to tell Ominis about the matter that weekend. After all, only a few days before that night, she had helped Ominis sever his ties with the Gaunt Family completely. The timing was so close... too subtle. It made it feel as though she had done it deliberately.

But she had never thought about what explanation to give the Ministry of Magic, nor had she considered what to say in an interrogation room—because she had never intended to go there in the first place.

She denied having done it herself.

In any case, the Gaunt estate, which had burned for an entire month, no longer had much evidence left. Marvolo Gaunt, who had escaped with his wife and child midway through and survived by sheer luck, was also a habitual troublemaker. The Ministry of Magic had far too many records on him, so his testimony was completely unreliable.

The Minister for Magic at the time was Venusia Quigley, a formidable witch who had a fairly good relationship with Cyberlina. She was certainly fair, but she was also very good at handling situations. Seeing that some members of the Wizengamot were unwilling to make an enemy of Cyberlina, she took advantage of the opportunity to do everyone a favor and dismissed the interrogation of Cyberlina on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

And so, the arson case involving the Gaunt estate became an unsolved mystery in which everyone knew who the culprit was.

—Therefore, when it came to the burning of the Gaunt estate, the only person she had ever explained it to was Ominis.

But now, perhaps she would have to add a younger Slytherin to that list.

The emphasis of her explanation, however, would definitely be different.

When she had faced Ominis back then, Cyberlina had focused on describing what had happened before the conflict began. She had played up her suffering where appropriate and cried when necessary, vividly and clearly explaining how those cruel and heartless members of the Gaunt Family had driven her into a corner and forced her to fight back.

But now, facing this little Slytherin who had also lost the person he loved—

"Severus, I don't know how much you understand about the Gaunt Family, but from what I know, they're an utterly vile and extremely heartless family. My Omi... suffered greatly there. So—I hate them. I hate them very much. I hate them even more than Omi does.

"To be honest, that night was my first time going to the Gaunt estate. I never intended to burn the place down, either, but unfortunately... I discovered some things. I discovered that—"

Cyberlina tilted her head back slightly, the smile at the corners of her lips exceptionally pronounced.

"—even though Omi had never gone back, he was still being hurt and affected by the things they had done in the past. And they continued to... speak cruelly to him. So I got angry."

Hearing Cyberlina's voice, which held a smile yet sounded especially sinister, Snape instinctively avoided looking directly into those eyes that could see through people's hearts.

Cyberlina had not said it outright, but Snape understood—Mr. Ominis's worsening physical condition later on was related to what he had experienced during his childhood.

Although his death had not been directly caused by the Gaunt Family, to her, those Gaunts were no different from murderers.

Snape tightened his grip on his wand.

He did not believe Cyberlina would tell him that he ought to forgive them. After all, even now, she was still preparing to destroy Voldemort bit by bit because of Gaunt blood.

Then what did she want to say?

"My hatred for them turned into loathing, then into vengeance—I believe that's something that can never change—ever." Cyberlina let out a soft laugh. "Do you want to know what I did that night?"

No.

Snape answered immediately in his heart, but he said nothing aloud. It was like preparing to turn around at any moment but never actually moving. He was intensely resistant to Cyberlina now, because he knew she might once again lead his thoughts somewhere he did not want them to go. Yet he truly wanted to know what she intended to say.

Cyberlina saw his state clearly, and her eyes were filled with amusement.

In truth, even now, she could not accurately describe how she had felt that night, when she discovered that Ominis had most likely suffered damage to his soul since childhood.

She could only be certain that the energy she had stored inside her for years without ever using had erupted in that instant.

Boundless power had flooded her body in the blink of an eye. Her thoughts seemed to have stopped as well—but she had quickly calmed down again when her hand touched her wand.

"I used the Imperius Curse and made them use Crucio on one another.

"I saw them let several younger members escape, but I only let Marvolo get away, because no one would believe him.

"Their resistance was weak and feeble, so naturally, I couldn't use any particularly powerful spells.

"I wouldn't kill them directly. But I would slowly draw out their souls, and then—put them into the fire.

..."

The more Snape listened, the colder his back became. For the first time, he directly sensed the resemblance between Cyberlina and Voldemort—a resemblance different from the one Dumbledore had mentioned.

"...But none of that was useful." Cyberlina gave a rare scoff. "I did feel satisfied back then, but that hatred never disappeared."

Cyberlina's voice gradually faded, and Snape raised his head. Only then did he realize that at some point, Cyberlina had lowered her eyes. Her hands were clasped behind her back, her body held straight, and her feet slightly spread apart, her stance like a drawn bow and braced horse, ready to cast a spell at any moment.

After a moment of silence, Cyberlina spoke again. "Later, Omi's health gradually deteriorated, and my hatred for those people grew as well... But in the end, Omi wasn't as cold-blooded as the blood flowing through his veins. He truly hated the Gaunt Family, but he didn't hate every member of his family. Given the state of his health, I couldn't do something he wouldn't have wanted."

—Ominis had been periodically falling into slumber.

Snape, who had read Professor Sharp's notes, understood Ominis's condition all too well. He also understood the years of research that had produced no results whatsoever.

But the latter half of the notes contained only Professor Sharp's handwriting. Cyberlina's thoughts were absent. Snape guessed that she had gone to study souls at that time. The notes Voldemort had obtained were probably part of that research.

"I believe my hatred for them can never change—ever."

Cyberlina repeated the sentence once more.

"But they can't exist forever.

"They'll die.

"In the end, I still went and killed Marvolo and crippled his son before I died.

"But until the day I died, I never felt that my hatred had weakened because of any of this. I hated them so much..."

"So that's why you were so shocked when Dumbledore told you the Gaunt Family still had descendants..." Snape picked up the thread, remembering the horrifying aura that had filled the office at the time.

"Yes, that's right. It really was my oversight. I never imagined that his missing Squib daughter would have a child with a Muggle—a textbook cold-blooded Gaunt."

Cyberlina lifted her eyes. She was still smiling, but the smile made Snape's heart tremble. He noticed that the palm gripping his wand had already begun to grow clammy.

"So, in the end, we're actually hating the same person, Severus."

Snape felt his mind go blank with a boom. Cold sweat instantly covered his back, and his hands and feet went numb. The fingers gripping his wand curled twice of their own accord, and the question escaped him instinctively. "Sekerei—how did you know that I was because of—"

He did not believe Dumbledore would tell anyone what he had promised to keep secret. Therefore, he had assumed Dumbledore's warnings meant only that Cyberlina knew he was being restrained by emotional matters. He had never expected her to know with such frightening accuracy!

"—It was today." Snape gritted his teeth. He was certain that he had not looked directly at Cyberlina while off guard today, so it could only be—"It was that rat!"

"No, Severus." Cyberlina shook her head and gave Snape an apologetic look. "It was the night of the opening feast. I spoke to Albus about Harry's mother because of the complicated magic on Harry—that exceptionally gifted child."

Snape's breathing stopped for a beat. The events of that day flashed rapidly through his mind. There really had been something like that, but he had also activated Occlumency in the same instant. Right—Cyberlina had a unique way of identifying emotions and feelings.

Remembering the incredible ability Dumbledore had told him Cyberlina possessed not long ago, Snape clenched his teeth and glared at her.

"So you went to all that trouble to make Harry spend more time around me because of this?" Snape found it absurd, and inexplicable anger rose in his heart.

"No, Severus. I would never try to improve your relationship with Harry because of that." Cyberlina looked at Snape seriously. "I simply thought he ought to know that you were protecting his existence. Otherwise, it would be too unfair to you. That's all."

Snape confirmed that Cyberlina was not lying.

"Then what exactly did you want to tell me tonight?"

"I wanted to use my own experience to tell you that hatred can never be erased. Especially for us—for Slytherins." Cyberlina gave a self-mocking smile. "Am I being too arrogant, making a sweeping generalization? But I do believe that's the truth. I've never seen a broad-minded Slytherin—including my kind Omi."

Snape felt that he had already guessed what Cyberlina wanted to say.

"...So?"

"So, Severus, what will you do after every one of Tom Riddle's souls has been destroyed?" Cyberlina asked calmly with a smile. "What will you do after you can no longer continue your hatred?"

Snape felt his heartbeat stop in an instant.

—He had guessed correctly.

"I know you've never thought about what comes after that."

—She was right.

"But you should start thinking about it, Severus. Otherwise—" Cyberlina stared into those dark yet hollow eyes. "You won't be able to live."

"Whatever happens afterward, we'll deal with it afterward." Snape failed to notice that his voice was trembling slightly.

"By the time it's over, it'll be too late." Cyberlina's voice was very soft, almost cautious, yet also like a sigh. "We don't have that kind of broad-mindedness. We live by the pillars we've chosen for ourselves. Once those pillars fall... we disappear with them..."

Snape opened his mouth, but no words came out. He could not sneer at someone who had lived through it herself and say, "You don't understand." Besides, the blank future he had never considered, which he had suddenly become aware of, left his mind somewhat empty—but that did not mean he had no thoughts of his own.

"Then it'll be over."

—He heard himself say it.

"No."

—He heard Cyberlina say that.

"No, Severus." Cyberlina looked at Snape seriously, her tone gentle. "You and I have both experienced the loss of someone important. It isn't pleasant."

"Then I don't care. I'm not important." Snape knew he had once again followed the path Cyberlina wanted him to take, but he could not stop himself from saying what she expected him to say—because it was indeed true.

"How could you not be?" Cyberlina tilted her head slightly. Her eyes, whose color was impossible to make out, were filled with tenderness. "Does Albus not think you're important?"

"Does he?" Snape scoffed.

"Does Minerva not think you're important?"

Snape paused, then said somewhat hoarsely, "All her students are important to her."

"What about your students?"

"What?"

"Are your students important to you?"

Snape opened and closed his mouth. After several seconds of silence, he let out a scoff as though to hide his discomfort.

Cyberlina smiled. "Then do you think you're important to your students?"

Snape gave a confident scoff. "They're too busy hating me to care."

"I don't think so. You're only focusing on the students you criticize often. You're so responsible—how could every student think you're a bad professor?" Cyberlina looked at him with a smile. "You're very important, Professor Snape."

Snape fell silent. He did not know how to respond. He realized that his body was trembling slightly, but he did not know why.

Cyberlina watched Snape with a smile for several seconds. Just as he seemed unable to hold back any longer and was about to speak, she suddenly changed direction. "Actually, even if Riddle is gone, you can still maintain your hatred."

Snape: "?"

Cyberlina beamed. "Little Black—don't you hate him? What about Lupin? Don't you hate him? And Potter—how about we make the son pay for the father's sins? Go hate Harry for a while."

Snape: "..."

Snape took a deep breath.

Snape ground his teeth. "So you really did see quite a lot of that rat's memories!"

"He failed to protect his own mind." Cyberlina blinked innocently. "You could hate Albus too, if you want. He's the biggest target. He hasn't done many awful things, but the quality is excellent."

"..." Snape looked at Cyberlina with a complicated expression. "I never knew you also spoke ill of Dumbledore."

"If he did something wrong, shouldn't people say so?" Cyberlina continued to stare at him innocently. "Besides, he's said plenty of bad things about me to you. I haven't even held it against him. I'm only saying one thing in front of you—and it's the truth."

"...Yes, you're extremely magnanimous."

Cyberlina smiled proudly, then stepped forward and patted Snape on the shoulder. "Severus, I'm being serious. Think carefully about your future—the day won't be far off."

Snape said nothing, but he did not show much resistance either.

"Besides, Little Black will be out soon. If you choose to hate him... you'll be able to beat him up very soon." Cyberlina seemed to have started choosing his "targets for hatred" again. "Actually, Lupin would be easy. Since he's a werewolf, you could send him in to suffer with hardly any effort. If it's Harry... you'll have to wait a few years. You can't abuse children when you're a professor. As for Albus—"

"Wait!" Snape could bear it no longer. Ignoring the vein throbbing on his forehead, he interrupted her. "Do I really have to choose someone to hate?"

"No, you don't." Cyberlina answered immediately.

Snape paused, realizing that once again he had said exactly what Cyberlina wanted him to say.

"It's just that you haven't realized yet that you're an important person. Oh, right, I almost forgot—" Cyberlina's hand was still resting on Snape's shoulder. She leaned closer, her smiling eyes filled with affection, her voice gentle. "You're important to me too, child."

Unsurprisingly, Snape once again found that tone and that form of address unbearably embarrassing.

Unexpectedly, however, he did not feel the same resistance as before.