This was a reasonable assumption. In the past, Voldemort had been far too arrogant; he hadn't necessarily put much deep thought into where he hid those Horcruxes.
Voldemort had never imagined he would actually be 'killed.' To him, those Horcruxes were simply tools to prolong his life, not a backup plan for resurrection.
"Actually, it doesn't have to be that much trouble." Victor Wick waved his hand and said with a smile, "Don't forget, I still have an ace up my sleeve."
Dumbledore immediately remembered the fake Philosopher's Stone.
Right, Victor Wick's plans were always comprehensive. He was never the type to patiently conduct a slow investigation...
"Fair point." Dumbledore and Victor Wick shared a knowing smile.
Watching these two scheming old foxes laughing and talking, Snape felt their smiles were quite sinister...
Compared to these two, he felt like an innocent little lamb.
There was a saying that held true: 'If you don't fit into a circle, don't try to force your way in.'
Consequently, Snape decisively stood up and turned to leave...
There was nothing left for him to do here anyway. He might as well go back and continue researching potion formulas.
"Severus, please wait!" Victor Wick, however, called out to him.
"What else do you want me to do?" Snape asked, looking like he had accepted his fate.
Since resistance was futile, he might as well do whatever they asked...
"It's not that I have another task for you... It's just that since you fought the Dark Lord today, it counts as a direct break from them. What do you plan to do from now on?" Victor asked.
Snape's lip twitched. 'What plans could I have? I've already become a traitor! Can I really just run back and be a Death Eater again?'
Still, betraying him to his face today was a good thing. At least he wouldn't have to worry about Victor tricking him into going back undercover and working like a dog for the Dark Lord while swallowing his pride!
"I will continue being a professor and doing what I must." Snape looked at Victor meaningfully.
With Dumbledore present, he didn't mention Lily, but his meaning was clear. From now on, resurrecting Lily and protecting her child would be his daily life.
Finally, he sincerely hoped the ritual to resurrect James would fail, sending that arrogant bastard straight back to hell along with the Dark Lord!
"You were 'stabbed' by Victor today. So, to keep Victor's cover... you'll have to nurse your 'wound' for a while," Dumbledore said apologetically.
"Of course," Snape replied indifferently.
Not having to go to class was perfect; he would have even more time to perfect his formulas!
"I believe after today, the misunderstanding between Harry and you will be cleared up. That's a very good thing," Victor said, his words also carrying a deeper meaning.
Snape curled his lip. 'Clear up a misunderstanding with Potter? Who cares!'
But... this bastard Victor was clearly using Harry to hint at Lily...
Wait! If Lily finds out I really risked my life to save Potter and nearly died...
Snape's expression suddenly shifted.
"Actually... why don't you give me a real stab!"
"Ah?"
"Huh?"
Both Victor and Dumbledore were stunned.
"Why on earth would you want that?" Dumbledore asked in surprise.
"Just give me a real one! A fake is a fake after all! Only by making it real can the act be truly convincing!" Snape said firmly.
"This... that's not necessary, it's really not necessary..." Dumbledore was baffled. They had already fooled Voldemort; why did he want to actually get stabbed now?
Snape raised a finger and pointed to his chest. "If the blade passes through this spot, it can avoid vital organs. It won't kill me instantly. As long as I don't die on the spot, my potions can save my life."
"This..." Seeing that Snape didn't seem to be joking, Dumbledore's eyes welled with tears of emotion.
Severus was so righteous! So loyal! For the sake of the big picture, to make the act more convincing, and to better protect Victor, he was actually willing to take a real knife!
Honestly, he... I'm so moved, I could cry...
Unlike the sentimental Dumbledore, Victor knew the truth. Seeing the glimmer in the man's eyes, how could he not know what he was plotting?
This old bat had finally seen the light! He actually knew how to use the self-injury ruse!
If Lily knows Snape was almost stabbed to death to protect Harry...
Given Lily's character, and assuming James could be resurrected, would the grudges of the past even matter anymore?
"Severus..." Victor gave him a thumbs up. "You really are a ruthless one..."
"Come on, stop dawdling!" Snape turned his back. "Victor, get your knife. Don't forget, that last one 'stabbed in from the back'."
Meanwhile, Snape pulled out a bottle of potion, ready to drink it to stay alive immediately after being hit.
"This... this won't do... You don't have to do this. This is far too extreme!" An anxious Dumbledore was still trying to persuade him.
"Say no more, just do it!"
Snape thought of the look in Lily's eyes and felt a warmth in his heart. What was a little stabbing? It was worth it!
"Oh dear, this is just not right... What if something goes wrong and I miss the mark..." Victor looked troubled.
Snape frowned, saying impatiently, "I told you—"
Puchi!
Before he could finish, a familiar sharp tip pierced through his chest...
Snape turned his head with difficulty, just in time to see Victor very efficiently giving him a real stab...
This bastard! Wasn't he just hesitating and trying to talk me out of it? Why was that strike so fast? He didn't even try to act, did he?
And...
"You... you missed the spot..." Before Snape could finish, his vision went black and he fainted, having no time to drink the potion in his hand.
Victor rushed over with agility, took the potion from Snape's hand, and poured it directly down his throat.
Dumbledore was frantic and ran over as well. Only after discovering that Snape's bleeding had stopped and his breathing had gradually steadied did he heave a massive sigh of relief.
"You, you... why were you so impulsive! What if you really killed him!"
"Sigh, since Severus made up his mind, I couldn't let him down... Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
"But you seemed to miss the mark just now..."
"Well... is he dead or not?"
Snape was admitted to the hospital wing once again...
Harry had already heard Dumbledore's explanation of the situation, and that Snape had been seriously injured.
He just didn't understand why it took so long for Snape to be sent to the hospital wing...
However, in his simple-mindedness, he didn't think much of it. After all, Snape had indeed stood in front of him, faced Voldemort, and saved his life.
Harry sat up on his bed and saw a pale, unconscious Snape being carried into the ward.
His heart couldn't help but throb...
Professor Snape was the professor he used to hate the most, but now, he sincerely hoped the man would live.
His past self had truly misunderstood this professor! He was the bravest professor he had ever seen, besides Professor Wick!
Harry wasn't really injured and was only in the hospital wing for observation, so he nimbly hopped off his bed, wanting to get a closer look.
Madam Pomfrey was leading a group of people around Snape, performing emergency measures.
"Why was he brought in so late? A little later and we wouldn't have been able to save his life!" Madam Pomfrey said displeasedly.
"Er... he said his own potions could handle it and refused to come... then... as you can see, he couldn't handle it," Victor said somewhat awkwardly.
Madam Pomfrey frowned. "Sigh... Severus is just too proud. Even if his potions are effective, he should still come to the hospital wing for healing spells! Alright, everyone out, don't crowd around him."
Dumbledore gave Victor a sharp look. 'This is what you meant by knowing what you're doing?'
Victor didn't dare make a sound and simply followed the other professors out of the hospital wing.
"I really didn't expect something like this to happen," Professor Flitwick said in a high-pitched voice.
In the middle of the night, the professors had been asleep when they suddenly heard such earth-shattering news.
The Philosopher's Stone stolen, and a professor nearly killed.
This was all... a bit too intense!
"Severus will be fine," Professor McGonagall said, pursing her lips. Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly spotted Harry.
Noticing McGonagall's gaze, Harry shivered, sensing imminent trouble.
I should have known better than to come over and watch!
"Mr. Potter! I believe you owe me an explanation as to why you are here in the hospital wing instead of sleeping in your dormitory so late at night—and why you were in the forbidden corridor on the fourth floor?"
Harry lowered his head, not daring to speak. Although he had heard Dumbledore's explanation, his story was full of holes. Dumbledore hadn't called him out on the spot, but Professor McGonagall wouldn't necessarily be so lenient...
"Minerva, Mr. Potter has already explained things to me. For now, let him rest; he's truly exhausted tonight..." Dumbledore stopped McGonagall's questioning.
"But..."
"I still have to clean up the mess, and this matter needs to be reported to the Ministry of Magic. If you have any more questions, you can ask Victor; I've already told him everything." Dumbledore winked at Victor.
Seeing the sharp look Professor McGonagall shot his way, Victor immediately understood.
Dumbledore was definitely getting his revenge!
Who said Dumbledore was a righteous old man?
Like I'd believe you! This old codger is plain wicked!