Snape fought back the urge to deduct points, as if trying to talk himself down. "Just for today," he muttered.
Back in his office, he found Dumbledore already waiting, pacing leisurely across the room.
In the headmaster's hand were several Butterfly Cream Flies—candies shaped uncannily like real flies, their colors disturbingly lifelike.
"I thought I'd have to wait a bit longer to see you. You haven't had dinner yet, have you? Care for a couple?" Dumbledore offered, as one of the sweets fluttered its wings, almost eager to fly right into Snape's mouth.
"No, thank you." Snape sat down, fingers laced, eyeing Dumbledore with open distaste. "What do you want?"
"What a shame. The creamy filling is especially rich. I really do recommend them," Dumbledore said with a touch of regret, settling into the chair across from him.
Snape's face remained stony. "You also recommended Cockroach Clusters once, swore the peanut flavor was exquisite."
"I told no lies. You ought to try one," Dumbledore replied, studying Snape with curiosity. "But this is rare! The first time you've ever discussed sweets with me."
Snape curled his lip and said nothing.
"Let's talk about that Patronus Charm," Dumbledore said, shaking his head with a smile. "I suppose it has something to do with you and Wyzett—after all, today was your private lesson."
Snape rolled up his sleeve, exposing his left forearm. "During the lesson, my arm suddenly started burning. I wasn't sure what was happening, so I didn't check it then."
"The Dark Mark?" Dumbledore's voice grew serious, his smile fading. "Did you feel anything else?"
Snape replied, "The Occlumency I keep in place at all times kicked in at that moment."
"I didn't react immediately… but judging by Wyzett's expression, he must have picked up on something."
Dumbledore leaned forward. "Picked up on something? Something you left for Voldemort?"
Snape shrugged, indifferent. "The Dark Lord… he's fond of flattery from his Death Eaters—genuine, heartfelt adulation."
"So I wove some of that into my Occlumency barriers. That way, I don't have to say something idiotic out loud every day."
Dumbledore knew Voldemort better than anyone, so when it came to the Dark Lord, Snape always shared every detail, helping the headmaster judge the situation.
"What happened after?" Dumbledore pressed. "Did the sensations vanish?"
Snape nodded. "Yes. It felt… almost instinctive."
"How odd…" Dumbledore stroked his beard. "And what did you do next?"
"His Obscurus is different now!" Snape answered. "I can't sense that chaos and destruction anymore."
"If not for the outward similarity, I wouldn't even think it was an Obscurus at all."
"He went through something unusual in Sweden," Dumbledore commented, glancing toward the shrouded corner of the room. "Not letting them out for a bit of air?"
"No need," Snape said coldly. "The Obscurus is only one layer of protection. That's why, on a whim, I had him cast the Patronus Charm."
"A sound approach," Dumbledore murmured. "To cast such a powerful Patronus Charm, at least, proves one thing… he's not been corrupted."
Snape frowned. "Shouldn't we take some precautions?"
"No need," Dumbledore replied, shaking his head. "A Patronus that covers the entire castle says plenty."
Snape fixed him with a steady gaze. "That trip to Sweden… it wasn't as simple as it seemed, was it?"
Dumbledore blinked, a mysterious smile flickering at his lips, as if to say, "You're too clever for your own good, so I won't tell you."
Under Snape's stare, he simply changed the subject. "By the way, what about the Patronus's form? With Wyzett's talent, he should be able to summon a corporeal Patronus on the first try."
The soul labyrinth built last year had provided the best possible training for the Patronus Charm. And Dumbledore knew that, when it came to Patronuses, Snape's mastery was second to none.
With both factors combined, it made sense that Wyzett could produce a corporeal Patronus on his first attempt.
"Couldn't make out the shape," Snape replied, shaking his head. "It didn't fully form… maybe he needs more time."
"But the power was undeniable. I've told him, whenever he comes to see me alone, he must cast the Patronus Charm first."
"That's quite a surprise," Dumbledore nodded, glancing at Snape's left arm. "Let's move on… your Dark Mark."
Snape raised his arm. "I can't summon it at will—I can only use Occlumency to shield myself from it."
Dumbledore drew his wand and pressed the tip to Snape's forearm.
"Not long ago, the Dark Mark burned you. There may still be magical traces—I'll try to sense them."
He rotated his wand gently. A strange, black light slowly unfurled, wrapping around Snape's arm.
Like a doctor with a stethoscope, Dumbledore closed his eyes, feeling for magical traces through the wand.
The skin on Snape's arm twisted—a menacing skull emerged, jaw gaping as a serpent slithered forth.
As the Dark Mark appeared, Snape's brow tightened and his arm trembled.
Noticing this, Dumbledore shifted the black light at his wand's tip to a soothing white. When the white glow appeared, the Dark Mark slowly faded.
Snape pressed, "Can you tell anything?"
"A few new things," Dumbledore said, withdrawing his wand. "Now I understand why Voldemort can always pinpoint your locations through the Mark."
"The Dark Mark is like a keyhole. Voldemort himself is the lock. When a Death Eater presses the Mark, it's as if the key turns in the lock…"
He mimed turning a key between his fingers. "Once a Death Eater does that, Voldemort—the lock—immediately senses it."
The two men fell silent for a long moment before Snape finally spoke. "That's it?"
"That's all." Dumbledore stood. "Wyzett is fine, so you can stop worrying."
Snape crossed his arms, correcting him, "I'm only concerned for my own safety."
"Of course! You're safe. Very safe," Dumbledore replied smoothly. "I'll be off, then."
After leaving Snape's office, Dumbledore returned to his own, sitting for a while and spinning his wand between his fingers, lost in thought.
"To be preserved this way… and still able to function… could it be…?"
"If so, that would explain a great deal… No wonder Voldemort grew so powerful, so quickly."
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