"Take it easy, Severus. Have some water first."
Once the two of them sat down at the desk, Dumbledore waved his hand, and a large pitcher of bubbling lemon water appeared on the table.
He poured Snape a full glass and slid it across, his tone carrying a note of apology.
"Sorry. I just got back myself, so I didn't have any hot tea ready."
Snape glanced at the lemon water. Normally he avoided Dumbledore's overly sweet drinks—he'd stick to tea at most. But right now he didn't care. He picked up the glass and drained it in one long gulp.
The cool liquid soothed his parched lips and throat, easing the thirst from his frantic run up from the dungeons.
Dumbledore stayed quiet, simply watching from across the desk. His blue eyes behind the half-moon spectacles studied Snape carefully.
He noticed something off—the corners of the man's eyes looked faintly red.
After finishing the water, Snape set the glass down and spoke.
"I was in my office in the dungeons when…"
He gave a brief account of what happened, then added firmly, "It was the Patronus Charm. I'd never mistake it."
Dumbledore had no doubts about Snape's assessment. Snape's mastery of the Patronus Charm was excellent.
Still…
The mist had reached Snape all the way down in the dungeons, and Dumbledore himself had just seen a wisp of it drifting past his tower office window.
The range was enormous. Had it covered the entire castle?
Snape caught his breath and continued. "The Patronus Charm channels the caster's happiest emotions and memories. It's normal for the mist—or a formed Patronus—to bring warmth and positive energy to anyone who touches it, but…"
His voice dropped. "But when that mist touched me… I saw…"
His words grew even quieter, nearly a murmur.
Dumbledore didn't interrupt. He simply waited.
Snape couldn't stop the image from resurfacing: a soft grassy field under warm sunlight. A girl sat beside him, her vivid red hair stirring gently in the breeze. She turned and smiled at him—those eyes the brightest green.
His first meeting with Lily Evans.
His happiest memory.
"That Patronus Charm," Snape said, head lowered, forcing the words out, "actually stirred my memories… my emotions. It felt like it touched my soul."
Dumbledore's eyes flickered.
Touched the soul?
This was something special.
"We should find the student who was practicing it," Snape said.
Instead of answering immediately, Dumbledore lifted his own glass of lemon water, took a slow sip, and asked calmly, "A Patronus Charm with such an absurdly large range—practically covering the entire castle. Something this ridiculous…"
"Who do you think this 'practicing' little wizard could possibly be?"
Snape fell silent. The stirred emotions had settled, and the physical exhaustion had eased. With Dumbledore's question, the answer hit him at once.
Who else could it be?
That exceptionally gifted Ravenclaw—the one who, unfortunately, hadn't ended up in Slytherin.
Snape leaned back in his chair. His voice returned to its usual cold tone, though it carried a complex undertone. "A wizard who can cast the Patronus Charm should put your mind at ease."
"No matter how talented he is or how obsessed he is with magic and knowledge, he won't go down the wrong path, will he?"
The implication was clear.
Dumbledore looked at him and nodded solemnly. "Of course."
The Patronus Charm could only be cast by those with light in their hearts. A dark wizard attempting it wouldn't summon a guardian—the spell would backfire, causing their wand to produce worms that devoured them.
This was common knowledge in the wizarding world.
But this particular casting had shown an even deeper quality, one that touched the soul.
Further study could lead straight into true soul magic.
It would be best if someone kept an eye on his progress.
Dumbledore suddenly smiled at Snape.
"Severus, regarding the Patronus Charm…"