The thoughts in everyone's minds were suddenly replaced by memories of the professor teaching them in class. Perhaps something had come back to him, because Theodore Nott, who had just spoken, abruptly stood up.
"Bullshit!"
His roar rang out especially clearly in the heavy silence of the Great Hall, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
"Uh..."
Being stared at like this made him, usually so detached by nature, extremely uncomfortable.
But when he thought of the powerful magical concepts Professor Fawley had taught them, things that could not even be found in the library, he had no choice but to brace himself and keep going.
"I mean, although my father is also a Death Eater, the truth is that many wizards who once did terrible things have realized that Voldemort's way is wrong."
"Professor Fawley once said that mocking other people's mistakes is easy, but admitting that someone else is right is hard, and admitting your own mistakes is even harder."
"But," he said firmly, meeting Draco's astonished gaze, "if it's for Professor Fawley, then no matter how hard it is, I'm willing to do it."
Even more unexpectedly, many of the Slytherin students present immediately shouted their agreement without a second thought.
This might have been only the second time in all Dumbledore's years at Hogwarts that he had seen the Slytherin students so united.
The first time had been when they excitedly spread Voldemort's ideas.
If Tver had been here, even he would probably have been startled by what the Slytherin students were thinking.
In reality, even though he had emphasized it many times and deliberately ignored his identity as the heir of a pure-blood family, the Slytherin students, and even most pure-blood families, regarded him as the last glory of the pure-blood families.
Or rather, their last hope.
The fact that Voldemort was not a pure-blood had already become common knowledge in the wizarding world ever since Tver "let it slip."
Because of that, even the pure-blood families most eager to pursue pure-blood supremacy had realized that Voldemort's so-called ideals were nothing more than a way to use pure-bloods and their enormous influence in the wizarding world.
As for how much benefit these pure-bloods, who had changed sides again and again, would gain after being used up, the answer was obvious.
But Tver was different. Before he had even succeeded, he had already given the Death Eaters willing to follow him a business, and a major one at that, one that was clearly becoming more and more profitable.
Compared side by side, any pure-blood family that was not blind and had not intended to get involved naturally knew which side was more worth protecting.
Because of the deeply rooted ideas of pure-blood families, they wanted to see Voldemort's pure-blood supremacy spread unchecked. But because of very real interests, they were also happy to see Tver's influence grow larger and larger.
It was this conflicted mindset that explained why, despite Voldemort having returned for nearly two years and Tver repeatedly expressing pro-muggle opinions, the pure-blood families of the wizarding world had not stepped forward to oppose him.
As Slytherin students, they had naturally been deeply influenced by this thinking, and on top of that, they had received Tver's "diligent" instruction over the years.
That was why Slytherin House had actually been keeping a low profile these past two years.
But now, the news of Tver's disappearance had shattered that unspoken agreement.
The pure-blood families' way forward had been cut off.
So it was only natural for these students to be angry.
Looking at the students now surging with emotion, with no trace of their earlier dejection, Dumbledore could not help showing a relieved smile.
"Well said!"
Beside him, George suddenly let out a roar, startling him.
"Any student willing to fight for Hogwarts. And of course, adults are welcome too."
He glanced at his parents and family beside him, then gave Fred a look.
Fred understood immediately. He reached out and grabbed two wallets that had clearly been prepared in advance.
Then, as he poured things out onto the long table, he shouted loudly.
"Everyone who joins the battle will receive combat gear specially prepared for this occasion by Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, including anti-curse robes, Shield Hats..."
George, perfectly in sync, raised a lightweight vest that looked like a bulletproof vest and loudly introduced the functions of each product to the curious students.
"To ensure full protection, both pieces of anti-curse gear must be worn at the same time... What? No, no, Dennis, you're too young. Only fifth years and above are allowed to join the battle!"
More than half the students immediately let out dissatisfied sighs, but for the professors to send them onto the battlefield would be no different from sending them to their deaths.
Unlike the lively scene around the Weasley twins as they began handing out equipment, Harry left the professors' layers of protection and calmly walked over to Ron and Hermione.
After battle after battle, his robes were badly torn, and several bloody scratches marked his cheeks. If Hermione had not rescued him in time, he might not even have had the chance to face Voldemort.
"Dumbledore called you over. Was it something urgent?" Ron asked curiously.
Hermione, however, seemed to sense something, and worry immediately clouded her eyes.
Harry glanced at her and gently shook his head.
"Nothing much. Mainly about Snape."
"Snape?" Ron froze. "What could there be about him that took all night to discuss?"
Harry took a deep breath. He did not dare meet their searching gazes, afraid they would see the redness around his eyes.
"Snape... has actually been protecting me all along. Protecting us," he said in a low voice.
"Back then, he accidentally revealed the prophecy to Voldemort, but he never expected it would cause my parents' deaths."
"My mother used to be very close to him... as a friend. Because of that, and because of his overwhelming regret, he decided to risk his life to pass information about Voldemort to Dumbledore."
It sounded so wrong, so completely at odds with everything he knew, that Ron's face twisted strangely, full of disbelief.
"That doesn't make sense. Snape is always taking points from us, giving us detention, and sneering at us. That's what regret looks like?"
Harry thought about the memories Dumbledore had shown him, then remembered all the years he had hated Snape, and his throat tightened.
Seeing this, Hermione quickly patted Harry's arm to comfort him.
"Ever since we entered Hogwarts, Snape really has been protecting us, hasn't he?"
Ron pressed his lips together.
Just as Hermione had said, Professor Fawley had long ago told them not to judge a person too easily.
Looking at Snape's actions over the years, compared with the real enemies outside, Snape was, at most, a professor who liked targeting them.
And Harry had no reason to lie to him like this.
"So Snape went to Voldemort first thing this morning to gather information?" he asked suddenly, remembering the source of their earlier anger toward Slytherin.
"More... more or less," Harry said vaguely.
"No. You said Snape has been protecting you all along."
That strange reaction could not fool Hermione. She quickly straightened Harry and looked him directly in the eyes.
"Then did he go to weaken Voldemort so you can face Voldemort more easily?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Faced with her tear-filled eyes, Harry did not answer. He pressed his lips together and turned his head away.
"I don't agree!"
Now even Ron realized what was going on. He gripped Harry's arm tightly, determination written all over his ash-streaked face.
But even that did not change Harry's decision.
"This isn't something your agreement can change, Ron. This is my mission."
Now that the moment had truly come, Harry found that his heart had instead grown calmer.