Chapter 1094

"Actually, that's not entirely the case," Snape said calmly, looking calmly at Bellatrix in front of him who looked almost annoyed.

"He wouldn't let me be a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, you know. He seemed to believe it would cause me to relapse... and lure me back into my old ways."

"This is the sacrifice you make for the Dark Lord, not being able to teach your favorite subject?" she mocked. "Then why are you still there, spying on Dumbledore for a master you thought was dead?"

"Reluctantly," said Snape, "although the Dark Lord was pleased that I had not deserted my post: when he came back, I gave him sixteen years of information about Dumbledore as a welcome gift, much more than Much more useful than recalling those endless memories of that nasty Azkaban prison..."

"But you stayed-"

"Yes, Bellatrix, I stay," Snape said for the first time, showing signs of impatience. "I have a much more comfortable job than being stuck in Azkaban. You know they were hunting the Death Eaters. Dumbledore's protection allowed me to escape prison to a great advantage. I'll say it again : Even the Dark Lord didn't complain about me staying there, I don't know what reason you have for doing so."

"I suppose you'd like to know," he went on, raising his voice slightly because Bellatrix looked like she was about to interrupt him again, "why I stand between the Dark Lord and the Philosopher's Stone. This Easy to answer. He wasn't sure whether to trust me or not. He thought, like you, that my transformation from a loyal Death Eater to Dumbledore's clown was in a pitiful, very weak, and ordinary wizard's situation. Sharing a body. He didn't dare reveal himself to any of his former comrades, for fear that they would betray him to Dumbledore or the Ministry of Magic. I deeply regret that he could have come back earlier. In fact, I only saw greedy and mean Quirrell trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone, so I admit that I tried my best to stop him."

Bellatrix's mouth twisted as if she had swallowed some unpleasant medicine. "But you didn't return to him when he came back, and you didn't fly back to him immediately when you felt the burning pain of the Dark Mark—"

"That's right. I won't go back until two hours later. I'm going back on Dumbledore's order."

"Following Dumbledore's orders—?" she said angrily.

"Think about it!" Snape became impatient again. "I only need to wait two more hours, just two hours, and I ensure that I can still stay in Hogwarts and continue to be my spy! Let Dumbledore think that I just went back according to his orders. After that, I Still getting news from Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix! Just think about it, Bellatrix: The Dark Mark has been getting stronger and stronger in those months, I know he must be ready to make a comeback, all the food! All the Dead Apostles know that! I have enough time to think about what I'm going to do, plan my next move, and slip away like Karkaroff, don't I?"

"The Dark Lord was initially very unhappy with my tardiness, and I assure you, after I explained that even though Dumbledore thought I was on his side, I remained loyal to the Dark Lord. Yes, the Dark Lord thought I was Leave him forever, but he made a mistake."

"But what role did you play?" Bellatrix sneered. "What useful information did you give us?"

"My information was passed directly to the Dark Lord," said Snape. "Perhaps he chose not to tell you -"

"He told me everything!" Bellatrix was immediately angry. "He said I was his most loyal and trustworthy—"

"Really? Is that really the case, Bellatrix?" Snape said, very calm.

"After the fiasco at the Ministry, does he still think so?"

"It's not my fault!" Bellatrix blushed. "It was a conspiracy, from Dumbledore and that mudblood kid, and we were deceived."

Bella defended loudly, "Besides, the Dark Lord has already got what he wants, in the Department of Mysteries..."

Bella spoke loudly, while Snape just squinted his eyes and listened quietly, but Bellatrix still had some sense of restraint after all, and she did not say more about what Voldemort wanted to obtain.

"The Dark Lord has always entrusted me with what he holds most dear - if Lucius had not -"

"How dare you - how dare you accuse my husband! We have no idea what it is, or whether it matters to the Dark Lord..." Narcissa looked up at her sister, furious Yes, but he suppressed his voice and whispered.

"Spreading the blame won't help," Snape said quietly. "It's hard to recover after flooding."

"It's not your place to say that!" Bellatrix roared angrily. "While the rest of us were taking risks, you were once again absent, weren't you, Snape?"

"I'm like you, Bella - my orders were to stay behind," Snape said. "Maybe you don't agree with the Dark Lord's approach, maybe you think that Dumbledore won't notice me if I join the Death Eaters to fight against the Order of the Phoenix? And - with all due respect - you are still talking about danger... Aren't you facing a sixteen-year-old child? I should say, two sixteen-year-old children, it looks like..."

"You know very well that they were then reinforced by half the Order of the Phoenix!" Bellatrix roared. "And speaking of the Order, you're still claiming that you can't tell where its headquarters is, aren't you?"

"I am not the Secret Keeper and I cannot name the place. I think you should know what this magic is about. The Dark Lord is satisfied with the information I passed on to him about the Order. Perhaps you have guessed it, This directly helped you find and kill Emmeline Vance, and also helped you get rid of many informants in the Ministry of Magic. Isn't this enough to prove... its usefulness? "

Snape paused for a moment, then the evil spirit demon said, then he tilted his head towards her and toasted to her. But her expression did not soften.

"You are avoiding my last question, Snape. Harry Potter. You had countless opportunities to kill him over the past five years. But you didn't. Why?"

"Have you discussed this issue with the Dark Lord?" Snape asked. "He...recently, we...I'm asking you, Snape!"

"If I kill Harry Potter, the Dark Lord cannot be reborn with his blood and become invincible."

"You mean you foresaw that he was going to take advantage of the boy?" she taunted.

"I didn't say that; I didn't know his plans; I've admitted that I thought he was dead. I was just trying to explain why the Dark Lord wasn't unhappy with Harry Potter's existence, at least until a year ago... …”

"But why did you let him live?"

"Didn't I tell you? It was Dumbledore's protection that kept me from going to Azkaban! You won't deny that if I kill his most beloved student, I will make him stand against me, right? But there is more Many reasons. I should remind you that when Potter first walked into Hogwarts there were many stories circulating about him. Rumors said that he was a great dark wizard in his own right, otherwise how could he have become the Dark Lord? In fact, many of the Dark Lord's followers felt that Potter might become a new banner, and we could rally around him. I admit that I was curious, and when he stepped into the castle. There was no thought of killing him at that moment."

"Of course, I soon discovered that he had no special talents at all. In critical moments he always got out of trouble with a little luck and more talented partners. He was extremely mediocre, but he was just like his father. Obnoxious and smug. I tried my best to get him kicked out of Hogwarts, where I believed he didn't belong, but for me to kill him, or for him to be killed in front of me? It’s so close that a fool would do such a stupid thing.”

"Are we to believe that Dumbledore never doubted you?" Bellatrix said. "He doesn't know who you are truly loyal to? He still trusts you absolutely?"

"I played my part very well," said Snape. "And you ignore Dumbledore's biggest weakness: he believed in the best in human nature. When I turned to him, I made up a story that I deeply regretted and wanted to make a complete break with my past life as a Death Eater. He welcomed me with open arms - even though, as I said, he kept me away from the Dark Arts. Dumbledore was a great wizard - yes, he was, and the Dark Lord acknowledged it.

However, I'm happy to say he's getting older. The duel with the Dark Lord last month was enough for him. He has been plagued by serious injuries ever since as his reflexes have been diminished. But over the years, he has always trusted Severus Snape, and even let me teach his two most beloved students. To the Dark Lord, this is my greatest value. "

Bellatrix still looked displeased, though she didn't know how to attack Snape next. While she was quiet, Snape turned to her sister.

"So...you came to me for help, Narcissa?"

"Yes, Severus. I-I think you're the only one who can help me. I'm at the end of my rope. Lucius has just come out of prison, and..." She closed her eyes, with two big eyes. Tears oozed from under the eyelids.

"The Dark Lord forbids me to speak of this," Narcissa continued, his eyes still closed. "He wanted no one to know about the plan. It was... very secret. But—"

"If he forbade it, you shouldn't have said it," Snape said quickly. "The Dark Lord's word is law."

Narcissa took a breath, as if she had been submerged in cold water. Bellatrix looked satisfied for the first time since she had entered the room.

"Look!" she said to her sister triumphantly. "Even Snape said the same thing: If he doesn't let you mention it, just shut up."

But Snape stood up, strode to the window, looked through the curtains at the deserted street, and yanked them shut. He turned and frowned at Narcissa.

"But it happens that I know the plan," he whispered. "I am one of the very few people who was informed of this plan by the Dark Lord. However, if I had not happened to know this secret, Narcissa, you might have committed the grave crime of betraying the Dark Lord."

"I knew you knew it!" Narcissa said, breathing easier. "He trusts you so much, Severus..."

"You know about this plan?" The expression of satisfaction on Bellatrix's face quickly turned to anger. "you know?"

"Of course," said Snape. "What help do you seek, Narcissa? If you try to ask me to persuade the Dark Lord to change his mind, there is no hope, not at all."

"Severus," she whispered, tears falling down her pale cheeks. "My son...my only son..."

"Draco would be proud," Bellatrix said nonchalantly. "The Dark Lord has given him a great honor. I have to say this for Draco: he has not backed down from his responsibilities, he seems very happy to have such a chance to prove himself, and very excited about the future-"

Narcissa began to cry, her eyes staring pleadingly at Snape.

"That's because he's only sixteen and he doesn't know what's waiting for him! Why, Severus? Why my son? This is too dangerous! This is Lucius's fault. Revenge, I know!”

Snape said nothing. He looked away from her tears as if it were an offense to stare at her, but there was no way he could pretend he hadn't heard what she said.

"That's why he chose Draco, isn't it?" she insisted. "Using this to punish Lucius?"

"If Draco succeeds," Snape still didn't look at her, "he will get more credit than anyone else."

"But he won't succeed!" Narcissa sobbed: "How could he, even the Dark Lord himself..."

Bellatrix gasped; Narcissa looked a little overwhelmed.

"I'm just saying...no one has ever succeeded...Severus...please...you are, you've always been Draco's favorite teacher...you're Lucius's old friend... I beg you...you are the Dark Lord's favorite and most trusted advisor...please talk to him and persuade him -?"

"The Dark Lord will not be persuaded, and I will not be foolish enough to try to persuade him," Snape said quietly. "I don't deny that the Dark Lord is angry with Lucius. Lucius should be responsible. He himself was caught and implicated a lot of people. Furthermore, he has not been able to bring back the prophecy ball, and the most important thing is , Narcissa, you know - yes, the Dark Lord is angry, Narcissa, very angry in fact."

"Then I guessed it right, he chose to take revenge through Draco!" Narcissa held her breath. "He doesn't expect him to succeed, he just wants him to die in pain!"

Snape said nothing, and Narcissa seemed to have lost the last bit of self-restraint. She stood up, staggered towards Snape and grabbed the collar of his robes. With her face so close to his that her tears fell onto his chest, she gasped, "You can do it. You can do it for Draco, Severus. You'll make it." , no doubt, and he will reward you more than anyone else—"

Snape grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand away. Looking down at her tear-stained face, he said slowly, "I think he was going to let me do it last. He decided to let Draco try first. You know, if Draco got away with it, I would To stay at Hogwarts longer and play my role as a spy."

"In other words, even if Draco is dead, it doesn't matter to him!"

"The Dark Lord is very angry," Snape repeated softly. "He failed to hear the prophecy. You and I both know, Narcissa, that he never forgives easily."

She broke down and fell to the floor crying. "My only son...my only son..."

"You should be proud!" Bellatrix said cruelly. "If I had sons, I would be more than happy to have them work for the Dark Lord."

Narcissa screamed in despair, clutching her blond hair with her hands. Snape bent down, grabbed her arm, lifted her up, and dragged her back to the sofa. Then he filled her glass with more wine and forced the glass into her hand.

"Narcissa, stop it. Drink this. Listen to me." She calmed down a little; the wine spilled on herself, and she took a shuddering sip. "Maybe I still have a chance... to help Draco."

She sat up, her eyes widening in her pale face. "Severus - oh, Severus - will you help him? Will you watch over him and make sure he doesn't get hurt?"

"I can try." She threw the glass away suddenly; it slid across the table, and she fell to her knees before Snape, took his hand and kissed it. "If you were there to protect him...Severus, do you dare to swear? Do you dare to make an unbreakable oath?"

"Unbreakable Vow?" Snape's expression was empty and unreadable: but Bellatrix giggled triumphantly. (To be continued)