Twilight seeped into the Forbidden Forest like spilled ink.
Damp mist, carrying the scent of rotting leaves, churned through the trees.
The old man turned to face the Bronze Door.
"Professor!" Hermione was beside herself with worry, hesitating as she tried to rush forward, only for Snape to stop her. For once, the Potions Professor did not mock her, merely speaking in a low voice.
"Don't make trouble."
His voice was filled with helplessness. As someone mature enough to know better, Snape understood that this was not something he could step in and help with.
In a sense.
He and the young witch beside him were not even on the same level as wizards. If Dumbledore could not pass the Bronze Door's test, Snape did not believe his own soul was more qualified than Dumbledore's.
In fact.
It was precisely because of his respect and admiration for Dumbledore that Snape understood: if anyone in this world could bring Ian back, it had to be the Headmaster of Hogwarts before them.
If even the Headmaster could not do it, then perhaps no one in the entire wizarding world could—not even if they released the imprisoned Grindelwald.
After weighing it all.
Snape knew Dumbledore's decision was unquestionably the best one under the circumstances—of course, giving up on Ian was also an option, perhaps even the one that better served the greater good. But judging by Dumbledore's expression, and by what Snape himself wanted, that would not be the path they chose.
"Dumbledore is always right. Trust him."
Snape spoke to Hermione in a deep voice.
And was that not a form of self-reassurance as well?
"But..."
Hermione suddenly realized that this might be the last time she saw Dumbledore. The thought tightened her throat. She wanted to say something, but all her