This was actually the first time Link had ever seen Snape's private quarters and his sleeping posture, and for a moment, he couldn't help but feel a little excited.
Silently, he cast a Muffliato spell on himself, then tiptoed over to the bedside. From his beaded extension pouch, he pulled out a small magical camera, planning to capture Snape's sleeping face.
Of course, Link wasn't like George and Fred, those eccentrics who thrived on chaos and considered pranks their sacred duty.
He was doing this purely to keep it as a memento, and maybe show Emily and Mrs. Flamel. He swore he wouldn't leak it anywhere else.
Click!
Under the Muffliato's effect, the shutter made a sound only Link could hear. Snape's sleeping face was successfully captured.
Link's lips curled up into an irrepressible smile.
But that smile barely lasted ten seconds.
Because Snape, who had been sound asleep just a moment ago, suddenly opened his eyes.
Expressionless, he locked his gaze on Link. Time itself seemed to freeze, and the air thickened with unbearable awkwardness.
Snape's pupils slowly contracted. He stretched out a hand coldly and said, "Give it to me."
The glare alone had sweat breaking out on Link's forehead. He immediately handed over the camera.
A crack rang out. The special magical camera, crafted by master alchemist Kamp, its main body forged entirely from fine gold, was blasted to smithereens by a single flick of Snape's wand.
But Snape still looked unsatisfied. He waved his wand several more times until even the fragments turned to sand. Only then did he nod.
Then he turned his head toward Link.
Without the slightest hesitation, Link bolted from Snape's quarters.
He didn't even need Legilimency to know, Snape was furious. If he stuck around, he'd be facing Snape's shame-fueled rage.
Sure enough, the instant Link stepped out of the room, a thunderous BOOM erupted behind him. The shockwave hurled him forward and slammed him into the wall.
"Hisss!"
Link sucked in a breath of pain, slowly pushing himself off the floor.
Luckily, he'd cast Protego just before impact, so the damage wasn't too bad. But pain was pain.
By all rights, Link should've kept running.
Yet at this moment, he did the opposite. Not only did he stay, he openly sat himself down at Snape's work desk.
He knew Snape too well.
To a research-obsessed man like him, his experiments mattered more than anything. And this office was filled with priceless tools and rare potions ingredients.
Snape wouldn't risk destroying his own work just to strike at Link.
Link's guess was spot-on. The explosion hadn't touched the lab, and Snape himself hadn't stormed out right away.
Relieved, Link began smearing dittany extract on his bruises.
A short while later, Snape finally emerged.
The Slytherin sleepwear was gone, replaced by his familiar sweeping black robes.
Expressionless, he strode up to Link, looming over him. After a long pause, he ground out each word, "You. What. Are. You. Doing. Here?"
Link drew a deep breath, about to speak, when Snape cut him off.
"I know you just earned yourself quite the spotlight in yesterday's Triwizard Tournament task. You must still be floating from the attention."
"But if you think barging in here to brag will make me praise you like the other professors, then you're dead wrong!"
"If you didn't come here for something truly important, I promise you'll regret today's actions for the entire week to come!"
"Mr. Flamel!"
That signature sneering name-drop.
It had been a while since Link last heard it, and he couldn't help but chuckle.
The sound only made Snape's expression grow darker.
Quickly stifling his smile, Link got to the real reason for his visit.
"Professor Snape, about Karkaroff, how's your progress?"
At once, Snape's face shifted from grim to a stormy mix of rage and frustration.
He suddenly leaned closer, shouting, "You have no right to interrogate me! This matter isn't yours to meddle in! Do as I've told you and stop dabbling in extremes, otherwise, the consequences won't be something a mere week of regret can cover!"
Link had to admit, Snape was cultured. Even at this level of fury, he didn't spit when he shouted.
Still, feeling grossed out, Link cleaned his face with a quick spell before pulling on his own poker face and replying,
"If I could, I'd stay out of it. Just live a quiet student life for these few years. But some things, you ignore them, and eventually they'll come knocking anyway."
Snape's cheek twitched, ready to snap again.
But Link spoke first, "Anyway, just look at this first. Then we'll talk."
He carefully pulled a massive stone basin from his pouch. Its center was a round depression, like a cave basin worn smooth by dripping water, or a washbasin. Inside pooled shimmering, starry liquid.
Runes were carved all along the outer surface.
"A Pensieve!?" Snape gasped.
No surprise there.
Pensieves were rare, difficult to make, and required incredibly precious materials.
Snape had only ever seen one in Dumbledore's possession.
This one looked different though, styled to resemble something natural.
Meanwhile, Link ignored Snape's shock. Pressing his wand to his temple, he drew out a strand of silvery-white memory.
"Take a look."
He dropped it into the basin. The water flared with dazzling light.
Snape still frowned at him.
A lifetime of double-agent work had trained him not to trust anyone. Even now, he instinctively resisted the idea of using a Pensieve.
After all, using it meant opening one's mind, and if Link harbored even a flicker of malice, Snape could end up dead or enslaved.
But staring into Link's clear eyes, he forced down his unease and finally dipped his head into the basin.
The light surged and funneled into his mind.
It wasn't a brutal process, but it left Snape trembling violently.
Only after a long time did he lift his head.
His face was dry, yet his expression was dazed, his body still shaking.
The Pensieve itself didn't cause that. It was what he'd seen inside.
Link wasn't surprised. The memory had been of him interrogating and using Legilimency on Barty Crouch Sr.
The revelations inside were explosive.
Auror Office compromised.
In Muggle terms, it was like a nation's entire military command being stolen.
For someone like Snape, living his whole life in the wizarding world, the shock was immense.
But for Link, it still wasn't enough.
He knew exactly what Snape cared about. So he decided to throw fuel on the fire.
"From my deductions, the faction controlling the Auror Office originated from Death Eaters. They've infiltrated this Triwizard Tournament too. Their goal? Likely to resurrect Voldemort."
At that, Snape finally snapped back to awareness.
He gave Link a strange look before saying quietly, "Don't call him by that name again. He can sense it."
He rolled up his sleeve.
The Dark Mark writhed on his forearm, pulsing as though something inside wanted to claw its way out.
Lowering his sleeve again, Snape said flatly, "And you're being too fanciful. True resurrection is beyond human reach. Even the Resurrection Stone can't…"
He stopped abruptly.
Because Link had placed Secrets of Advanced Dark Magic before him, opened to the page on Horcrux resurrection rituals.
"That man isn't simply dead," Link explained. "He's in a half-life. I've confirmed it through the past few incidents. So I strongly suspect he created Horcruxes. And if that's true, then this ritual could restore him fully."
He traced the text with his finger. "Look, the ingredients. Father's bone, enemy's blood, servant's flesh… Tell me, who's his most hated enemy?"
"You mean…" Snape's voice trembled. "He wants to use Harry Potter as the sacrifice for his return?"
Link shrugged. "Just a guess."
Snape nodded slowly, forcing Occlumency to steady himself. Then he said, "I understand. I'll handle Karkaroff."
Understand my ass! Link cursed inwardly.
Snape clearly meant "I'll go kill Karkaroff."
But that wasn't what Link wanted.
Sighing, he said, "Tell Dumbledore everything first."
"Why don't you tell him yourself?"
"I don't want to deal with that old fox. He makes me uncomfortable." Link's tone was dry.
Snape, surprisingly, nodded in agreement. He too disliked dealing with Dumbledore. The man seemed kindly, but his mind was anything but simple.
"I'll go now," Snape said, grabbing his wand. "Class time's already started anyway."
Link nodded, packed up, and left with him.
Together, they climbed out of the dungeons.
Just before reaching the Great Hall stairs, they were stopped by the thin figure of Barty Crouch Sr.
Clearly, he'd come for Link.
His wary, hesitant look had Link shaking his head. "It's fine. Professor Snape is one of us."
Crouch didn't argue. He just shot Snape a deep look before shoving an envelope into Link's hand.
"This is what you asked for."
"Well done."
Link brushed it with an aura-sensing charm, smiled in satisfaction, and tucked it away.
"What's inside?" Snape asked bluntly.
"Full dossiers on every Auror below Department Head level, their records and families." Link smirked.
"Looks like Crouch Sr. values our cooperation. Managed to get this overnight."
Crouch just snorted coldly.
To him, this wasn't cooperation at all, it was slavery and exploitation.
But since the Unbreakable Vow was in place, he had no choice.
"Then please carry out your next assignment as I instructed," Link said cheerfully. "Don't let me down, Mr. Crouch."
This time, Crouch didn't snort. He just left in silence.
"What exactly are you planning?" Snape demanded sharply.
Link gave him a helpless look.
"Explaining would take too long. Just report everything to Dumbledore. He'll understand what I'm aiming for."
With that, Link stepped into the Great Hall.
Snape started forward, but the crowds of students streaming in made him lower his hand at last.
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