Side Story — Snape 8
"The Invisibility Cloak you bought…"
Dumbledore looked at him with an indescribable expression.
Snape opened his mouth.
He really hadn't expected the first thing that exposed Darren's identity to be related to him.
The revelation stunned Quirrell.
Even Voldemort showed his face because of it.
He laughed, looking extremely pleased.
Snape pursed his lips in annoyance.
He had known all along that the cub wouldn't have prepared an Invisibility Cloak himself.
"Why aren't you surprised that it's me?"
Because of Darren's calm reaction, Voldemort stopped laughing.
He began asking with interest.
Snape listened to Voldemort's question and then noticed that Darren really didn't seem surprised that Quirrell was here.
Could it be that Darren hadn't suspected him at all?
"No. I knew from the beginning that it wasn't Professor Snape. He's always been very good to me…"
Where was he good to him?
He hadn't even treated him any differently from the other students.
He had never given him any special treatment.
Why did this kid think he was good to him?
"The professor is so good, gentle, and kind. I can't imagine the professor doing anything bad!"
The cub was still gushing about him.
Snape rarely found himself blushing.
He was embarrassed to listen to the little cub's nonsense.
Voldemort laughed at the cub's foolish words.
After another pointless exchange, they finally angered Voldemort.
"Since both of you think that the Philosopher's Stone isn't mine, it seems I'll have to choose one of you to punish."
Voldemort laughed maniacally.
"Harry Potter. It will be you…"
He raised his wand and pointed it at Harry.
Snape looked at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore closed his eyes.
Apparently, he felt this was something the savior needed to endure.
But this was the Cruciatus Curse!
Snape subconsciously wanted to block it, but Dumbledore snatched his wand away.
He silently shook his head.
Snape looked on with trembling hands.
He thought Harry Potter would be the one lying there.
But it was Darren.
Darren Potter.
"Ha, Harry, you're quick… Fast dog…"
The little cub's face was deathly pale.
His voice was weak, and he screamed almost every second.
Eventually, he didn't even have the strength to scream.
He curled up on the ground, his entire body covered in cold sweat.
This was obviously real.
It wasn't like Betsy's earlier performance.
But Dumbledore…
The savior-training plan.
Why did an innocent child have to be tortured?
Would he die?
Could he end up like the Longbottoms, becoming a broken fool for the rest of his life?
You want to cultivate your savior, so why involve the cub?
Snape almost grabbed Dumbledore and demanded an explanation.
But Dumbledore looked at him seriously, telling him to calm down and not ruin everything.
Otherwise, Darren's suffering would have been for nothing.
Oh, yes.
He would have suffered for nothing!
Snape didn't know how many minutes passed.
He watched Darren close his eyes.
He didn't even know whether the child was still alive.
Then he watched Harry get struck through the chest by the black energy transformed from Voldemort's power.
Harry staggered in front of Darren and carefully poured the potion into him.
"Severus, this is necessary…"
Dumbledore walked toward Harry and Darren.
He wanted to check the condition of the two children, but Snape forced him back with a glare.
"Dumbledore, don't touch them!"
What kind of greatest Headmaster was he?
Just a coward who pushed responsibility onto children and made them bear it!
"I don't know how you defeated Grindelwald. Maybe it really was like the tabloids said—you just waved a handkerchief, ha!"
"Severus… I can't help it…"
Dumbledore's voice was weary.
"If I had even the slightest other solution, I wouldn't let my children do something like this…"
"You're Dumbledore…"
"Yes. I'm Dumbledore…"
Dumbledore looked at him.
"But I'm not omnipotent. Severus, you have to accept the fact that I'm old."
"But you can kill him!"
Snape's voice trembled.
"You can! Even though you're old, you can do it. You can kill him completely! Or… what do you want me to do? I can do anything…"
Snape begged, staring at the old man before him.
They were still children.
Looking at the two children lying there, not knowing whether they were alive or dead, Snape felt as though he had returned to that night.
It was obvious that Dumbledore could do something.
Why couldn't he be allowed to do it?
Why couldn't the children simply be allowed to have a normal school life?
"Yes, Severus. You're absolutely right. Tom can be killed."
Dumbledore's voice was quiet.
"Even though I'm old, I can kill him again."
"But after that?"
"After what?"
"Harry killed him once, but he came back to life."
Dumbledore looked at Snape.
"If I desperately kill him now, and then I die… what happens when he comes back again?"
Snape's lips trembled.
"But… they're still children…"
"Yes."
Dumbledore's voice became heavier.
"But the prophecy swept them into this. Darren is innocent, but he's Harry Potter's younger brother. No Death Eater would spare him simply because the Savior's brother is innocent."
"Do you understand?"
Dumbledore spoke solemnly.
But his voice was slightly choked.
It revealed the unbearable weight in the old man's heart.
Finally, he straightened and gently concluded,
"And the reason the prophecy spread—or rather, the reason they have ended up like this…"
Dumbledore looked at Snape.
"It's you, Severus."
"It's you."
"It's me…"
Snape sat dejectedly on the ground.
"I don't blame you. As long as the prophecy exists, there will never be a completely impenetrable secret."
Dumbledore's voice softened.
"I only want you to be kinder to Harry."
"I know you're angry. And I know you're especially worried about Darren."
"But look at the scar on Harry's forehead…"
"I hope you'll treat him a little better."
"He needs love. More love. The most beautiful love in the world."
"I hope you can…"
"I can't do it!"
Snape looked up at Dumbledore.
"I know what you mean, Dumbledore. You want me to feel guilty, so that I'll be kinder to Harry Potter."
"But look at his face!"
"James Potter."
"What kind of damage did he cause me? Did you ever care about that?"
"The first time I saw Harry Potter, I even wanted to kill him!"
Snape angrily pointed toward Harry.
He kept staring at Dumbledore until the old man finally looked away.
"So…"
Dumbledore's voice was filled with helplessness.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, Severus."
"For what happened before, and for what happened just now…"
"I'm sorry."