A black sailing ship rose and fell with the waves amid howling winds, carrying Snape and the others toward Azkaban.
They stood on the narrow deck as cold, salty seawater periodically splashed up and struck them hard.
Seeing this, Dumbledore immediately waved his Wand, and a transparent shield sprang up over their heads.
As they continued onward, the sky gradually darkened, as though an enormous black curtain were slowly descending to cover the once-azure heavens.
An unnatural chill and spreading mist came at them from every direction, and the three of them could not help tightening their traveling cloaks around themselves.
Yet the cold still burrowed relentlessly into their bodies. An indescribable negative emotion spread through their hearts like vines quietly growing in the dark.
Snape's body began to tremble uncontrollably. All those unpleasant things from the past seemed to have been dragged from the depths of his memories by an invisible hand, replaying endlessly in his mind.
Before Dumbledore could act, Snape could not help raising his Wand. "Expecto Patronum!"
A silver-white giant snake surged from the tip of his Wand.
This time, it was finally no longer as vague and blurry as before. Strange patterns shimmered across its solid form.
The giant snake affectionately coiled around Snape, flicking its tongue in and out with a soft hiss.
"Oh, so you're a snake," Snape muttered. "I thought you'd grow antlers and eagle talons."
With the appearance of the Patronus, the cold and despair vanished within the reach of its light, and happiness and hope returned to their hearts.
"You can summon a full Patronus, Severus." Dumbledore looked at the white snake, his eyes full of gratification. "That truly puts me at ease. Although it is a snake."
"What's wrong with snakes? Aren't they adorable too?" Snape said, gently stroking