"I understand his capabilities and what kind of person he is better than anyone else."
"The Dark Mark is branded on me. That means no matter where I flee, I can never truly escape his control. So, I must stay!"
Lucius's hands were clenched tightly into fists.
Dumbledore watched him quietly, observing Lucius as if examining this arrogant, opportunistic, short-sighted pure-blood wizard from a completely new perspective.
"Since you know you cannot escape, you must also understand what kind of fate awaits you if your role as a spy is discovered, correct?"
It was a long moment before Dumbledore spoke again.
Lucius took a deep breath.
"I understand, and I am prepared!"
"If you have truly prepared yourself mentally for this, then I am relieved, Lucius." Dumbledore tapped his fingertips on the desk. "So now? What tangible benefit does your coming here bring me?"
Lucius clearly understood what Dumbledore was asking for.
"I don't know if your informant has reported this, but recently they have been planning to break into Azkaban. No, not just planning… they have already begun taking action for the breakout plan!"
"According to the information I received, someone within the Ministry has agreed to collaborate with them from the inside, to help them reach Azkaban and escape the island with those imprisoned there!"
Dumbledore listened attentively to Lucius's account and simultaneously asked,
"Do you know the specific time they have settled on for the breakout?"
"The day the Dark Lord set as my final deadline to obtain fresh unicorn blood! They will definitely act on that day!"
"That is very valuable information, Lucius." Dumbledore said gravely. "With the information you've provided, I will handle this matter."
But after he said this, Lucius became visibly anxious. He urgently reminded him,
"Even if you plan to take action, you cannot be too obvious about it! If their breakout plan fails, the Dark Lord will surely suspect a leak from within! He can see through anything! And I am not proficient in Occlumency!"
Dumbledore simply reassured him softly, "Rest assured, we will consider your safety."
"How do you plan to arrange for my wife and son?" Lucius continued, still uneasy.
Although Dumbledore had treated him with seriousness and gravity from the start, Lucius couldn't shake a strange feeling that something was off.
If he had to pinpoint what felt wrong, it was that even though the popular opinion in the Wizarding World often painted Dumbledore as eccentric and unpredictable, and even though Lucius himself had helped spread some of those rumors, he never truly believed Dumbledore was the type of madman who simply let things happen without any preparation.
After hearing his question, Dumbledore seemed to ponder for a long while before speaking.
"I will have people make preparations for them. Since you have chosen to come to me, grant me some trust, Lucius. I promise I will take responsibility for the safety of your wife and son."
These words slightly reassured Lucius. He finally said,
"What do I need to prepare? How much should they take with them?"
"At this moment, you need prepare nothing." Dumbledore said calmly, "If you truly wish to help, then stay at home these next few days. Do nothing, and receive no one. Just wait for my message."
"But there's one more thing I must remind you. The Dark Lord ordered me to obtain fresh unicorn blood. If I fail in this task, I will certainly never be among his core followers again..."
Dumbledore looked at him.
"You need not worry about that matter either. Remember what I said. The only thing you must do now is wait at home for my message."
"You only need to wait for me to contact you. That is sufficient."
In the end, Lucius, who had arrived at Hogwarts with resolve, left filled with anxiety and unease.
After he was gone, Severus emerged from the deep shadows in the Headmaster's office, watching his retreating back.
"He's backed into a corner and has to choose a side to stand on."
Severus sat in the chair Lucius had just occupied.
"However, his decision ultimately saves himself. The reckoning he faces afterward should be much lighter because of it."
Dumbledore shook his head.
"You still don't fully understand how the Wizengamot operates. The words Lucius just came here and spoke are already enough for those judges to overlook his past misdeeds. They will not hold him accountable for any crimes after this."
"Complete legal rationality is unattainable in the Wizarding World, especially with a judge voting system. A person who often does bad deeds suddenly does one good thing, and many will focus on his change, praising him effusively. Whereas a person who consistently does good deeds..."
"The reversal of your own reputation in the Wizarding World also leveraged this same irrationality."
Severus, of course, didn't dispute this.
"It's a flaw in society."
"Have you already spoken to Kingsley about Azkaban?"
"Kingsley Shacklebolt is the only competent one among the Aurors these days." Speaking of this, Severus's expression turned serious. "I asked him to select Aurors he finds both reliable and competent. But that alone isn't enough. After the lesson at the Crouch's house, I've learned that for matters this important, we cannot place our complete trust in the Ministry."
Dumbledore steepled his fingers.
"What do you intend to do?"
"Aside from the people Kingsley selects, myself and Remus will also go. Then, if you agree, I suggest giving Hogwarts' students a day off on that day, and having all four current Heads of House, yourself, and some of the old guard from the former Order of the Phoenix all participate."
This proposal made Dumbledore raise his eyebrows.
"That is quite a grand scene... Minerva and the others should have no problem. Alastor is retired, but I believe I can still persuade him if I swallow my pride. But your Head of House, Horace... he likely won't agree to participate. You know him."
"I know him, of course." Severus said softly. "So I will go to him directly about this matter."
"We must resolve all unstable factors at Azkaban. Permanently!"