In the vast whiteness of the Borderlands, a pitch-black animal flashed by like a fuzzy ball.
While Sean's soul ran in the world beyond the veil, his body remained peacefully asleep.
Dumbledore leaned against the doorway, the tips of his beard twitching slightly.
"Yes, dreams are magical things that can reach any realm. Except, perhaps, the dreams of another wizard."
Holding a warm, magical lantern, Dumbledore checked on the students one last time. Finding everything in order, he carried the lantern into the corridor where the night breeze blew.
"But unexpected things always happen... Looks like I'll have a sweet dream tonight?"
In the distance, Dumbledore's tall figure cast a blurry shadow on the wall, which was then eclipsed by another shadow.
"Dumbledore?"
Snape, patrolling the castle at night, scrutinized Dumbledore with a cold face. For the first time, the old wizard looked slightly unnatural.
"Ah, Severus. Good evening."
Dumbledore put on his customary smile.
Snape scoffed, offered no reply, and turned to walk straight toward the hospital wing.
Aside from the hospital wing, where else on the second floor would attract Dumbledore?
Probably their "Savior Potter" had broken his leg again?
Hmph...
Snape's robes billowed, the black fabric rippling like ocean waves in the moonlight.
Dumbledore stood still, glancing at the portrait of a knight on the wall, then at the bright moon outside the window. He said nothing more, the wrinkles on his face relaxing slowly and naturally.
Tens of seconds passed, or perhaps minutes.
Dumbledore kept his fingers interlaced, as if waiting for something. Sure enough, a moment later, a suppressed roar rang out:
"Dumbledore!"
It was Snape. He strode toward Dumbledore, his expression visibly enraged.
"What did you do?!"
"Ah, Severus, calm down," Dumbledore said softly.
"He should be in detention in the dungeons... not following you, and not in the hospital wing..."
Snape leaned in close, his voice cold and seemingly squeezed from his throat.
"Severus, it was just an accident," Dumbledore explained.
"An accident? Hah... An accident that always happens?
The greatest white wizard of the century, since when did you start using even a fool?"
Snape stared fixedly at Dumbledore.
"You need not think of me that way, Severus. You know I am unworthy of such titles," Dumbledore said slowly.
"Leave him out of it..."
After a long silence, Snape finally spat out a few words.
"Severus."
For the first time, Dumbledore's expression looked pained.
"I thought you would understand."
The corridor at night was silent; their conversation didn't even disturb the owl perched by the stained-glass window.
"He is foolish enough, but I am not.
You think everything is justified, Dumbledore. And coincidentally, the most foolish part is that someone thinks just like you."
Snape looked coldly at Dumbledore, recalling the cursed arm on the hospital bed. He knew who it came from.
He felt an unprecedented panic. A voice whispered in his ear—if that person were like a knight, he would surely say:
"Ah, Severus, how can I make you understand?
This is what must be faced, inevitably faced...
Because loving someone, yes, is like creating a faith, serving a god who could fall at any moment..."
Both fell silent until Dumbledore shook his head.
"Over the years, how many men and women have we seen die?
Hogwarts has been lucky enough, but things don't always go smoothly."
Dumbledore seemed to recall something, his gaze growing deep.
"It's not his turn!"
Snape was extraordinarily angry.
"An interesting topic, Severus. When the snowy mountain collapses, it doesn't matter if you are a rabbit or a snow fox."
Dumbledore tapped his forearm with his finger.
Another long silence.
Dumbledore gazed at Snape and finally sighed.
"I think our goals align on one point, Severus.
We must always leave some hope for the future... I hope once again that you understand. There is no other way in this world to make the person in danger him instead of me.
I am not the greatest wizard of this century. If I could, I would gladly share that title with those wizards who are so eager for it.
But Severus, you know who I most want to see inherit it.
If you think this conversation has given you what you wanted, then let us part here... I should rest. The elderly always cherish sweet dreams a little extra."
Snape stood in the shadows of the corridor. He understood much from Dumbledore's hints, both subtle and overt, but he couldn't help but ask reproachfully:
"If that's the case, why did you let him go with you?"
"Mm..."
Dumbledore's face looked a bit unnatural.
"I was forced to, Severus."
"You mean, he demanded to go with you, to face our difficult struggles, and put himself in the most dangerous situation..."
Snape said with a sneer, but as he spoke, his voice grew lower and lower until he realized he seemed to have hit upon the truth.
"That is correct, Severus," Dumbledore added, seeing Snape's unnatural expression.
"Sean Green..."
The name sounded as if it were ground out between Snape's teeth.
Dumbledore happily popped a sherbet lemon into his mouth and watched Snape head toward the hospital wing.
Facing Severus, he was always willing to say a little more.
Severus Snape—this name had fought alongside Albus Dumbledore for many years. In places Snape didn't realize, his heart had long been swayed, moving steadfastly in the direction Dumbledore most wanted to see.
They had become people of the same kind.
When exactly this change occurred, perhaps even they couldn't explain.
But Dumbledore always believed that when the world changed enough to need them, Severus Snape would become the last young wizard in whom he placed great hope.
"I trust Severus."
For a long time to come, this would serve as testimony to Dumbledore's unwavering will.
The night was so clear, especially with a little more anticipation.
Dumbledore walked happily toward the Headmaster's office, but suddenly looked unnatural upon seeing a face that had unknowingly returned from the hospital wing.
"Minerva, ah, you haven't rested yet?"
Dumbledore lowered the sherbet lemon in his hand.
"A Ravenclaw student didn't return to his dormitory tonight, and soon that name appeared on the leave list. I hope you're not going to tell me this is your doing, Headmaster Dumbledore."
Her voice sounded dangerous.
It was hard for Dumbledore to be happy anymore.