Dark Mark

Dumbledore rose to his feet again, walked over to Mulciber, bent slightly, lifted his left arm, and rolled his sleeve up to the elbow.

There was something on Mulciber's skin, something like a vivid red tattoo—a skull with a snake slithering from its mouth.

It was the Dark Mark.

"So, Voldemort has sunk to this level now? Turning students into Death Eaters," Dumbledore said.

His blue eyes blazed with anger, though his voice remained calm.

The name jolted Mulciber awake. He shuddered, shook his head violently, and looked up to sweep the people around him with a venomous glare before lowering his head again.

Dumbledore looked down at Mulciber, disgust written across his face and disappointment filling his eyes.

Then he raised his wand once more. Several ropes shot from it with sharp whooshes, arcing through the air before swiftly wrapping around Mulciber and binding him tightly.

Turning to Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore said, "Minerva, please contact Frank Longbottom and have him come take Mulciber away at dawn."

"No problem," Professor McGonagall replied crisply. "I'll put him in my office for the night."

She drew her wand and pointed it at Mulciber.

Mulciber's body slowly floated into the air, drifting out through the door after Professor McGonagall.

After the door closed, Slughorn twisted the fingers of his short, thick hands into his pale purple dressing gown.

His eyes flickered uncertainly. After hesitating for quite some time, he finally began to speak haltingly.

"Albus, I've been thinking. I'm almost eighty years old now.

"Perhaps I ought to consider spending more time enjoying these old bones of mine."

"You want to retire, Horace?" Dumbledore said calmly. "At a time like this?"

Slughorn shook his head.

"Well, there's no denying it—I'm an old man, Albus.

"A tired old man. Tonight has quite worn me out. I just want a peaceful life."

"You are not even as old as I am, Horace," Dumbledore said.

"Yes, well, perhaps you should consider retirement too," Slughorn said with a slight sigh. "We're both old. We're not what we used to be."

"You're right," Dumbledore said evenly. "But on the other hand, if we both retire—"

"Professor Slughorn," Snape abruptly interrupted Dumbledore, staring directly at Slughorn. "Why do you want to retire?

"At a time like this, I truly can't think of anywhere safer than Hogwarts.

"As you saw, tonight there was only one reckless Death Eater carrying out a despicable scheme here. Voldemort did not even dare come in person. Even when Professor Dumbledore was absent, he still did not dare."

Hearing Voldemort's name again, Slughorn let out a faint protest.

But Snape ignored his reaction and continued speaking.

"Where would you go after leaving Hogwarts? I don't believe the Death Eaters would spare a wizard as capable as you. Wherever you went, they would surely come looking for you."

"What use would the Death Eaters have for these useless old bones of mine?" Slughorn demanded loudly.

"I think they would want to put your intelligence and talents to use in oppression, torture, and murder," Snape said. "Do you think they would fail to recognize your excellence?"

Slughorn glared viciously at Snape for a moment, seemingly furious at the offense.

But after a while, his gaze gradually dimmed, and he said in a low voice, "I'm not particularly fond of danger..."

"Then you should stay at the school all the more. I believe that as long as Professor Dumbledore remains headmaster, Hogwarts staff will be safer than most people. Voldemort fears him alone, doesn't he?" Snape continued, recalling Harry's way of phrasing things.

Slughorn fell silent for a while, as though carefully considering Snape's words.

"Well, yes, the one whose name must not be spoken has indeed never dared face Dumbledore head-on," he muttered reluctantly. "I suppose that since I do not wish to join the Death Eaters, the one whose name must not be spoken cannot possibly regard me as a friend...

"In that case, I may be safer staying by Albus's side..."

Slughorn's voice grew quieter and quieter, as if he were finding reasons for himself to stay.

Dumbledore watched them with a smile.

Then he walked behind the long table, opened a drawer, took out a sheet of parchment, and tapped it with his wand.

"Horace," Dumbledore said, "as an old friend, I still hope you will continue serving as Head of Slytherin House."

"But have a look at this." He handed the parchment to Slughorn. "If you insist, all you need to do is sign it, and you may retire. I have already filled in the rest of the information on the resignation letter."

"Hahaha," Slughorn laughed dryly a few times, then abruptly changed his tone. "Albus, I was joking. Kettleburn hasn't even retired yet, so there's no reason for me to be in such a hurry..."

"I'm glad you made that decision," Dumbledore said. "After tonight, I will make new arrangements and strengthen Hogwarts' security measures."

"Yes, yes," Slughorn said, looking somewhat troubled as he frowned slightly. "I suppose my mind has been a little muddled.

"Albus, if there's nothing else, I'll be going back now. An old man can't stand too much exertion..."

"Excellent persuasion." After Slughorn had left, Dumbledore said to Snape, "Tonight... hmm... you have worked hard..."

His expression was somewhat strange, as though he did not know whether he ought to praise Snape.

"Over this period of time, you have proven through your actions your determination to fight Voldemort, as well as—your exceptional ability to act.

"However, I still hope that if you have any ideas in the future, you will discuss them with me first."

"Don't worry, Professor," Snape replied swiftly without hesitation. That lowered the credibility of his words by another two points.

Then he asked, "Professor, is Hogsmeade all right?"

"Hogsmeade suffered no major damage," Dumbledore said gently. "Fortunately, the thunderous collapse of the passage woke all the villagers, and most of the Inferi were still buried inside the Secret Passage.

"Only Madam Rosmerta, the owner of the Three Broomsticks, was seriously injured. Aberforth has already taken her to the school hospital for Madam Pomfrey to treat. She should recover in a few days.

"You should go back and rest as well."

"Yes, Professor."