Chapter 34 — The Cause Behind the Duel
Twenty minutes earlier, in the Headmaster's office on the eighth floor of the main tower.
"Severus, are you suspecting that Professor Dracula instructed Quirrell to steal the Philosopher's Stone?" Dumbledore asked with interest, chewing a soft Honeydukes sweet.
"That's correct. Among all the professors at Hogwarts, only Dracula is new. Even Quirrell has taught Muggle Studies here for a considerable time, so we know almost nothing about him," Snape said seriously. "Moreover, before the start of term, I had a brief mental confrontation with Dracula at the entrance of the Great Hall. I could sense his immense strength. So I am certain he has the ability to steal the Philosopher's Stone!"
"You have a keen eye, Severus," Dumbledore said with a smile, handing Snape a candy in passing.
"No, you keep it for yourself," Snape said coldly.
Dumbledore paid no mind, popping the candy into his own mouth and speaking muffled through it:
"Severus, regarding Professor Dracula, I can tell you one thing—he has no motive to steal the Stone. He is someone we can trust completely. You have nothing to worry about."
"But I personally saw Quirrell enter the restricted fourth-floor corridor!" Snape said, unwilling to relent. "If it wasn't under Dracula's direction, could it be that Quirrell—the timid fool who can barely speak—decided to steal the Philosopher's Stone under the watch of the most powerful wizard himself?"
Dumbledore stood and walked around his desk to Snape's side.
"Sometimes we cannot judge things solely by appearances, Severus," he said. "What if Quirrell came to Hogwarts with the sole purpose of obtaining the Philosopher's Stone? He could easily act the part of a coward the entire time, lulling everyone into complacency."
Snape furrowed his brows tightly and glanced at Dumbledore.
"So you're certain Quirrell is the one coveting the Stone? If that's the case, why not expel him from the school immediately?"
Dumbledore shook his head, sighing deeply.
"One cannot anticipate every trick of a thief. The best way is not to expel Quirrell, but to remove the threat entirely."
"Severus, you know I've told you—Voldemort will return. When he does, Harry Potter will face terrible danger."
Listening to Dumbledore, Snape's pupils widened, his face paling.
"You mean…" he began.
"Yes. Quirrell has already been controlled by Voldemort. He came to Hogwarts to steal the Stone for his master."
Dumbledore's eyes were sharp, fixed intently on Snape.
"Then shouldn't we expel Quirrell from the school? Voldemort will bring danger here!" Snape questioned, then widened his eyes. "You intend to use the Stone as bait to lure Voldemort? That's why the protections were so simple—to ensure someone could intervene? Potter, isn't it?!"
Snape stepped forward, staring daggers at the sharp eyes behind Dumbledore's glasses.
"Are you worried about the boy?" Dumbledore asked.
"I am not!" Snape roared. "He is as mediocre and arrogant as his father—always breaking rules, seeking attention, shameless and insolent! How could I possibly worry about such a vile little brat?"
"You only see what you expect to see, Severus," Dumbledore said with a light laugh. "And you've already done quite well, haven't you? Reciting counter-curses during the Quidditch match."
Snape's face showed a flicker of embarrassment, then returned to its usual impassive expression.
"Tell me, what should I do?"
"Duel Professor Dracula. Use your suspicion as an excuse," Dumbledore said quietly.
"Dracula has already made a powerful enemy of Voldemort. The worse your relationship with him, the easier it will be to gain Voldemort's trust when you return undercover in his ranks…"
…
Snape walked toward the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, recalling his time in the Headmaster's office.
The door creaked open before he could reach it.
A tall, elderly witch appeared in the doorway, followed by a large group of professors from various subjects.
"Well, this is wonderful! I truly did not expect two professors to be dueling in our classroom?!" Professor McGonagall pressed her lips tightly, her chest rising and falling rapidly, clearly furious. "Do you realize that the entire castle heard you fighting? What kind of example are you setting for the students? Encouraging them to duel privately?!"
She waved her wand forcefully, as if venting her anger, lighting the oil lamps and candles in the classroom. Instantly, the room was bright.
In the next moment, McGonagall saw the desks and chairs smashed into splinters. She grew even angrier, nearly losing her composure.
"You two will be placed on probation!" she yelled at Dracula and Snape, clenching her fists. "If you do not show exemplary conduct within a year, I will expel you—no exceptions, even for Heads of House!"
Snape shrugged casually, seemingly unconcerned about the probation.
He glanced from the corner of his eye at Quirrell, who was shrinking in the professor crowd. Seeing him looking in their direction, Snape deliberately cast Dracula a resentful glare, acting as if they were mortal enemies.
Dracula, sensing the full malice in Snape's eyes, was slightly puzzled but refused to be outdone, returning the glare just as fiercely.
Observing the two professors' mutual glares, Quirrell secretly took out a blank notebook and, with a quill, wrote a line:
"Professors Dracula and Snape have a very bad relationship!"
After finishing the glare at Snape, Dracula calmly said to McGonagall:
"Apologies, Professor McGonagall. I object to the probation and would like to appeal to the Headmaster."
McGonagall accompanied Dracula to the Headmaster's office.
Dumbledore was leafing through a copy of Transfiguration Today, listening without looking up as McGonagall recounted Dracula's "offense."
"Well… Minerva, given that this is Professor Dracula's first mistake, perhaps we should forgo punishment for now?" Dumbledore said, looking slightly helpless as he mentioned Dracula's name.
It wasn't that he disregarded McGonagall's opinion—simply that Dracula still held the deed to Hogwarts in his hands!