Snape's Interrogation
First floor, Staff Room.
At this moment, the two wizards were communicating inside, their words filled with an unprecedented tension.
"Didn't you promise me that you would guarantee the boy's healthy growth?"
"Then why, you know Petunia and I have known each other for a long time, and she can't hide anything from me, so why did that boy grow up in that environment?"
"What does the Sorting Hat mean? Does it mean that the boy has suffered unimaginable hardships over the past ten years?!"
"Now! Tell me! Why!" The man's sallow face grew increasingly angry from calm, like a volcano about to erupt.
"Severus, you have to understand, this is all to protect Harry. If he stayed in the Wizarding World, he would become famous, a legend. If one day today is designated as Harry Potter Day, I wouldn't be surprised at all. There would even be many books written about Harry, and every child in our world would know his name!"
"This is enough to make any child lose their head. To become famous before they can walk or talk! To become famous for something they don't even remember! Let them grow up far from their past until they can accept it all, and then let them know that it's a better choice."
"Dumbledore, answer my question. This is not an excuse. Even if he becomes like his wretched father, it doesn't matter to me. The important thing is why you don't care at all about the boy's upbringing. In your eyes, is it enough that he's still alive?" Snape squinted, a muscle beside his thin lips twitching unpleasantly, and he kept clenching his fingers as if he wanted to strangle Dumbledore.
"Yes, Severus, my answer is that my primary concern is to keep Harry alive."
"His mother (Snape twisted his neck awkwardly) gave her life to save Harry. She gave Harry an unexpected and lasting protection that still flows in his blood to this day."
"I handed him over to his mother's sister, his mother's only surviving relative."
"Yes, I admit, she didn't like Harry. She may have reluctantly, unhappyly, reluctantly, and complained about taking him in, but she accepted Harry nonetheless. In that way, the spell I cast on Harry took effect. His mother's sacrifice made the bond of blood the strongest shield I could give Harry."
"As long as Harry can still call the place where his mother's blood resides home, he will not be disturbed or harmed by Voldemort there. Voldemort caused his mother's blood to flow, but that blood still exists in Harry and Petunia. Lily's (don't say it, Snape pleaded) blood is his refuge. Harry only needs to return once a year, but as long as Harry still calls it home, Voldemort cannot harm him there," Dumbledore emphasized.
"Then why not keep the boy with you? You can teach him yourself," Snape said dryly.
"At that time, Voldemort had been defeated a few hours earlier, but his supporters were still at large. They were angry and brutal outlaws, and many of them were just as terrible as Voldemort."
"Severus, I think you can understand how dangerous his situation is."
"I am a failure, Severus. I did not have the confidence to raise the Harry you expected, and the circumstances at the time did not allow me to take Harry with me. Leaving him at Hogwarts would have been irresponsible to the students of that era," Dumbledore emphasized.
"I don't care, as long as that boy—you promised me, and, what's the deal with Dudley," Snape said excitedly.
"Those are the remaining traces of magic on Dudley's body, the memories left behind. It's likely that when Harry left his home, a wizard attacked Dudley, and even Petunia and her family, for unknown reasons. This caused his magic to awaken after a period of time, and he became a wizard."
"Severus, I even suspect that Dudley was also harmed by that strange wizard, since that magic is deeply etched into Dudley's body. So, the Sorting Hat may not have read all the information, and tall boys are also within its hunting range."
"Severus, fond of strong men and big boys, magically skilled enough to break through the protective charms after Harry left, cruel—do these characteristics remind you of any wizard? Which surviving Death Eaters?" Dumbledore said seriously.
"These features? That's you, Dumbledore."
"Well, let me think. There are plenty of Death Eaters who like men, but as for magic, which you might call sophisticated, frankly, there isn't any," Snape joked.
"Severus, I hope you can pay extra attention to Dudley. He was attacked because of my decision (to put Harry in their house). You know how much Petunia longs to be a wizard, but her child is likely destined to be a mediocre wizard because of this."
"And keep an eye on Quirrell, okay?" Dumbledore knew Snape wasn't one to joke, so he wiped his eyes and gave Snape the new order, while he searched his mind for wizards who met the criteria.
"Quirrell, he was able to become a professor of Muggle Studies right after graduation, so he must be someone you trust."
"Could it be that he's the one with the peculiar taste?" Snape said.
"He went to the Albanian Forest," Dumbledore said.
"Then..." Snape, his face filled with shock.
Meanwhile, Harry and the others were in the Transfiguration classroom, attending Transfiguration.
"Seriously, what's wrong with you all today?" Professor McGonagall said, as she transformed the table back into its original form with a soft pop, and looked around at the students.
"That's alright, but this is the first time my Transfiguration hasn't earned applause from the whole class."
Everyone turned their heads toward Harry again, but no one spoke.
"I understand. You must understand clearly that this is not me flattering Dumbledore. In my long teaching career, Dumbledore has never told a lie, nor has the Sorting Hat."
"Potter, I think you're the one who truly understands the Dursley, so does he match the first few lines of the Sorting Hat?" Professor McGonagall said.
"Yes, Professor, Dudley isn't a cruel person. He's bad, like Gian Vader, but that's about it," Harry said with relief, while Ryan, standing to the side, curled his lip in boredom.
"Alright, then please listen carefully. Transfiguration is the most dangerous of all the courses at Hogwarts. Please be careful not to eat any food that has been Transfiguration, or inhale any substance that has turned into a gas." Professor McGonagall continued her lecture.
This afternoon's class is A History of Magic and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Ryan noticed that Harry breathed a sigh of relief after checking his schedule after class.
"Thankfully, Flying Class and Potions Class aren't today," Harry suddenly said.
"Are you crazy, buddy? Potions Class is only on Fridays, right? Harry, are you still thinking about your cousin?" Ron said.
"Yes, the thought of Dudley becoming a wizard and reappearing in my life makes me..." Harry said somberly.
"Brother, I'm here for you! Besides, you're the one who defeated Voldemort, and you even beat Professor Quirrell Peeves," Ron comforted Harry, and Neville patted Harry on the back reassuringly.
"Alright, it's almost 11:30, boys, it's time to go to the Great Hall for dinner." Hermione, who was reading a book in the lounge, suddenly closed her book and comforted them. Having read "Doraemon," she understood what kind of person Darth Vader (Gian) was.