Chapter 81. Fate Like Sand
Headmaster's Office.
Albus Dumbledore stood silently beside the Pensieve, body leaning forward, both hands braced on the stone basin's rim.
But within the basin there was only silver substance coalescing and dispersing, with no image appearing.
Dumbledore stared blankly down at the Pensieve, as if thinking, wanting to use it, yet hesitating.
"Albus, what is the matter with you?" asked Phineas Nigellus on the wall, curious, for it was the first time he had seen such a conflicted look on Dumbledore's face.
The old man before him had a life rich in experience, having weathered all manner of storms, and anything that could make him conflicted was certainly not a small matter.
Thus the interest in Phineas's eyes grew ever stronger, and he wished he could step out of the frame and pat Dumbledore on the shoulder to ask.
Dumbledore was roused by Phineas's voice and returned from his reverie.
He smiled and said, "Nothing, Phineas.
I was merely wondering why Honeydukes has yet to launch a new flavour of Cockroach Clusters.
I am nearly sick of the old ones.
Do you think I should write them a letter with some suggestions?"
"You can only fool Hagrid with that sort of talk!" Phineas did not respond aloud, rolled his eyes, and muttered in his heart.
Just as Dumbledore was about to enthuse to Phineas about his ideas for improving the flavour of Cockroach Clusters, the door was suddenly pushed open, and Professor McGonagall and Snape entered one after the other.
Snape glanced at the Pensieve before Dumbledore, his brow tightening slightly, and he said nothing.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward and asked quickly, "Albus, why have you asked us here?"
"It is about those spiders," said Dumbledore.
He put the Pensieve away in a cabinet, closed the door, and with a casual wave sent two chairs in the corner flying towards Professor McGonagall and Snape.
"Sit first, and then we shall talk."
When the two had settled, Dumbledore described to them the general situation in the forest, and then said, "Although the centaurs and I have already cleared things out once, there may still be omissions."
Dumbledore looked at Professor McGonagall.
"Minerva, I need you to organise several careful patrols in the forest to see whether any frenzied animals remain.
Shut them away as early as possible, lest they harm those students who often play near the edge of the forest."
"If Pomona can crack the secret of that sort of mushroom and restore those animals, we shall release them back into the forest.
If Pomona has no way either, then we shall know to send them away, or dispose of them."
"I understand," said Professor McGonagall.
"I will tell the other professors about this.
When they have time, they should walk the forest more often — consider it exercise.
They should not always be sitting in their offices."
"Duncan Scamander may also join the patrol.
He knows the forest very well," Dumbledore added.
"But..." McGonagall hesitated.
"Albus, he is only a first-year student.
It is too dangerous..."
Dumbledore smiled and said, "If you had seen Duncan's performance in the forest earlier, perhaps you would not have this doubt.
He has full strength to bear this responsibility.
And the forest, to members of the Scamander family, is like another home.
When you meet danger, he may not suffer any harm at all."
"Very well..." Seeing Dumbledore speak with such certainty, Professor McGonagall unwillingly chose to agree.
"Mm.
I must trouble you.
The sooner we deal with the matters in the forest, the better," said Dumbledore.
Professor McGonagall nodded.
As she rose, she saw that Snape still sat motionless.
She gave him a look.
"I have other matters to discuss with Dumbledore," Snape said with a set face.
Professor McGonagall's brows twitched.
Her suspicious gaze swept over the two of them, and she strode out of the Headmaster's office.
As the door shut, Snape immediately asked, "Is the frenzy of those spiders connected with Quirrell?"
Dumbledore did not answer, but asked another question instead.
"Has Quirrell shown any oddities of late?"
"Roughly once a week he returns to the forest.
But I told you this long ago.
He is going to feed that troll," Snape said in a low voice.
"Albus, how did he know he would attempt to steal the Philosopher's Stone?"
Dumbledore replied with a smile, "The matter of my obtaining the Stone is not exactly a secret.
Anyone who suddenly came to Hogwarts during this period would be suspect."
Snape gazed intently at Dumbledore.
He felt the answer to this matter was not so simple.
But as Dumbledore was unwilling to speak, he could not press, and could only curl his thin lips and show a smile of disbelief.
"Next, I still need you to keep watch on him," said Dumbledore.
"So long as he makes any move, you are to inform me at once.
Most important of all, do not let him harm a single student in the castle, especially Harry Potter."
Snape pondered a moment, guessing at Dumbledore's true thoughts.
He asked, "I have long had a question to put to you.
Since you suspect Quirrell, why do you still let him remain at the school?
Albus, can you tell me the reason?"
Dumbledore did not reply.
He merely looked at Snape with a face full of smiles.
Snape frowned, and in his mind there suddenly surfaced the name Dumbledore had just mentioned.
His eyes widened a fraction.
"Is it because of Harry Potter?"
The corners of Snape's mouth drew up in a cold smile.
"No wonder those traps on the fourth floor are designed to be so simple.
So they are prepared for that reckless and conceited Potter?
But, Dumbledore, do you think Harry Potter truly has the ability to pass those obstacles?
Are you not afraid he will really die there?"
"Though Harry looks very small now, he will grow in time.
And rest assured, Severus, I will guarantee his safety," said Dumbledore earnestly.
"He is our key to victory in the future.
Even if we sacrifice all of us, he will live to the end."
Snape gave a cold snort.
After a moment of silence, his face darkened and he said, "Will that man truly return?"
Dumbledore might be the only one in the wizarding world now who firmly believed that Lord Voldemort would rise again, and he had been making preparations.
"Though I very much wish to tell you he will not, you and I both know that would be a lie to fob people off," Dumbledore replied.
"That foolish Potter merely happened to kill that man, and you have placed everything upon him.
Albus Dumbledore, that is not much like your way of doing things.
Do you really think he can win again?" said Snape.
"No, you are wrong.
Our hope is not in him," Dumbledore fixed Snape with a deep gaze.
"It is in the charm on him — the charm Lily laid on him with her life.
That is our key to victory."
At these words Snape's breath halted for an instant, and the image of that beautiful girl involuntarily rose in his mind.
He took a deep breath and pressed down the restlessness in his heart.
He had originally wanted to say many more things to Dumbledore, but now he did not wish to say them.
Snape rose and walked to the door.
"Dumbledore, I hope you remember what you have said.
No matter what, Harry Potter will live to the end!"
"Of course.
I have never deceived you, Severus," Dumbledore replied softly.
When the room was quiet again, Dumbledore kept silent, looking ahead.
After a long while he sighed softly and murmured in a voice only he could hear, "Fate is truly a marvellous thing.
Like sand held in the hand — the more you try to grasp it, the more it slips from your fingers..."
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