Snape gazed impassively at Dumbledore's face.
From time to time, a wisp of breeze slipped through the cracks of the window, gently rustling the pages spread out on the desk.
Dumbledore soon sat back down in his chair.
Under the flickering, dim light of the office lamps, he looked somewhat older and more weary.
"Do you know what that name signifies?" Dumbledore was the first to break the silence.
"That is precisely what I wanted to ask you," Snape replied. He had already turned this question over and over in his mind.
"It seems I can find his traces everywhere at Hogwarts."
He began to count them off on his fingers.
"Winner of the 'Special Award for Services to the School,' Prefect, Head Boy, Professor Slughorn's favorite pupil, the sworn enemy of the gamekeeper,perhaps even the creator of the ghost in the bathroom?"
He paused for a few seconds, then went on:
"Such an outstanding person, leaving Hogwarts with so many dazzling honors, only to choose Borgin and Burkes,and afterwards, to vanish without a trace."
"What exactly have you learned from the Death Eaters, Severus?" Dumbledore asked.
Perhaps it was an illusion, but Snape thought he caught a chill in Dumbledore's eyes.
"Professor," Snape worked to keep his voice steady, "after that night on the Knight Bus, one day I suddenly remembered something Mulciber once boasted to me.
"He proudly said that since his school days, his father had been the Dark Lord's most loyal servant, and that he himself was destined for great things."
Dumbledore remained silent, his gaze pressing down with wordless weight, forcing Snape to continue.
"That gave me an idea. After term began, I started searching to find out who had been old Mulciber's most brilliant classmate.
"Among all the candidates, Riddle's aura outshone every other.
"And by coincidence, it seemed Riddle had no future, while Voldemort had no past."
"So, Professor, may I ask you one question?"
Snape spoke slowly.
"Is Tom Riddle Voldemort?"
Dumbledore sat upright, fingertips pressed together in his habitual pose.
"Remarkable," he said softly, a trace of helplessness in his tone. "Severus, since you have traced things this far, even if I were to deny it, you would not believe me, would you?
"Tom was perhaps the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen. Over thirty years ago, I taught him here myself."
Dumbledore sank into memory, his gaze turning hazy, as if transported back to that distant time.
"Later, when he left the school, he disappeared,wandered the world, his footprints spanning the ends of the earth. He sank ever deeper into the mire of Dark Magic, consorting with the most evil figures in the wizarding world.
"After many dangerous magical transformations, he finally reemerged under the name Voldemort. By then, it was nearly impossible to recognize him.
"Almost no one would connect the Dark Lord with the clever, handsome Head Boy who once studied here."
"So it truly was him," Snape murmured. "Out of so many paths, he chose the worst one."
He looked at Dumbledore, only to find the Headmaster wearing a faint smile.
"I am glad you chose a different path," Dumbledore said. "But I hope you will not pursue this matter further.
"You are still a student, and not yet of age. Learning, knowledge, and protecting yourself are your present duties.
"And also,please do not speak of this to anyone else. It could put them in danger."
"Yes, Professor, I will not. Thank you very much for your trust," Snape said, though his expression was rather like that of a cow who had just listened to a piece of music.
Snape could not help letting out a yawn.
"It's late, Professor. Shall we stop here for tonight?"
Dumbledore inclined his head slightly. "Good night."
Leaving the Headmaster's office, Snape descended slowly along the spiral staircase.
When he reached the statue, the beast once again leapt aside, revealing the gap that led back into the corridor.
Moonlight streamed through the tall windows of the corridor, casting a silver ribbon across the floor.
Snape had already set foot on the stairs leading toward the dungeons, when suddenly he recalled the destruction he and James had caused earlier in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. At this moment, it was still in complete disorder.
"Ah, that was my doing too. I had better go there."
He checked the Marauder's Map again to make sure nothing unusual was happening.
After confirming it was safe, Snape turned back upstairs, came to the door of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and pushed open the wooden door.
The sobbing inside stopped at once.
"Severus!"
Myrtle shot toward the doorway in a rush, calling out with exaggerated emotion.
"You came back to see me so soon!"
"What?!"
Snape was so startled he nearly drew his wand on the spot.
"Uh,yes, I'm here again. Myrtle, it hasn't been long, how are you?"
"Wonderful," Myrtle's face suddenly lit up, "I was just wondering if you were fooling me again."
"Oh, I'm truly sorry for making such a mess of your bathroom tonight."
"It's all right," Myrtle said gently. "If it's you, I don't mind."
"Ah?"
Snape immediately had a bad feeling, wishing nothing more than to escape this place.
He certainly had no desire to become another Ning Caichen.
If there was some secret deep inside him that he did not wish others to know,it was that he rather hoped to go to the forests of Albania, to see if there was still time to do something for Nagini.
"Wait, don't say anything."
Snape quickly waved his wand, moving around the bathroom.
With a series of flashes of light, the shards of broken glass from his earlier battle with James reassembled into a whole mirror and returned to their place above the stone basin.
The twisted candelabra holders restored themselves in midair, leaping back to their original positions. The candle stubs flew back onto them, burning once more with dim yellow light.
A heap of shattered porcelain fragments knitted back into a functional toilet.
Every broken, torn, and splintered spot in the room was repaired, while stains on the floor and walls scrubbed themselves clean.
"You are so thoughtful," Myrtle sniffled, looking as though she might burst into tears. "I don't know how to thank you."
"No need," Snape said hurriedly. "I must go. Goodbye."
"Could you stay here?" Myrtle asked wistfully. "I can give you all these stalls to use."
"That won't be necessary!" Snape bolted for the door. "No need to see me off!"
He yanked the wooden door shut behind him, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
"What on earth was that-absolutely terrifying..."