Chapter 49
"Are you still in your right mind?" The skin on both sides of Snape's face twitched. He looked both angry and somewhat speechless.
"I think it's 'your' mind that's not quite right. Yes, I'm a Slytherin student, but I'm also a professor to students of all four houses. No matter who wins, I'll be happy about it."
"On the other hand your face doesn't look very happy."
Snape muttered under his breath, deciding not to argue further with Lucian, and returned to his original purpose. "Lucian, are you aware that you owe me one?"
"…Since when do I owe you anything?" Lucian frowned and thought back carefully. He really couldn't recall owing Snape anything—in fact, if they were going to keep score, it was Snape who owed him a favor.
"The position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was supposed to be mine!" Snape's voice carried clear irritation when he said this. "Because of you, Dumbledore gave the position that should have been mine to you. You stole what was rightfully mine."
"…Snape, have you lost your mind?" Even Lucian was amused by him, was this some new kind of magical-world extortion? He had taken the job perfectly normally—how did it turn into "stealing" Snape's position in the other man's mouth?
"What? Are you not going to admit it?" Snape raised his brow.
"Do you take me for an idiot?" Lucian looked at Snape with obvious disdain. "Dumbledore would never have let you become the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Do you think I don't know that?"
Seeing that he hadn't managed to intimidate Lucian, Snape's expression immediately darkened. He had no idea what kind of agreement Dumbledore had reached with Lucian, and that lack of knowledge made him feel deeply uneasy.
"What exactly did you and Dumbledore talk about?"
"I'm afraid that's none of your business. Alright—if you have something you want me to do, just say it directly. For the sake of our old connection, I'll consider helping you. There's no need to beat around the bush like this."
Snape gave Lucian a surprised glance; since when had this guy become so easy to talk to? Has one conversation with Dumbledore changed his entire personality? Or had that cunning old man brainwashed him?
Snape's expression shifted several times before he temporarily set the matter aside.
"Very well." He suddenly became extremely serious—even taking a moment to straighten his robes.
Unfortunately, no matter how much he tidied himself, the moment he was paired with that greasy, almost-cook-with-it hair of his, the overall effect still looked somewhat slovenly "As I told you earlier—the students these days are getting worse and worse. They have no understanding of what true magic really is. After teaching this group of those young trolls for nearly three months, I'm sure you've come to feel the same way?"
"We should establish a club—a place that truly teaches the art of combat. You and I would instruct these fools in things of real value! Let them see what a true wizard's duel looks like."
"A dueling club, you mean." Lucian thought for a moment, then nodded. Under his original plan, he would never have wanted to create extra trouble.
But now that he had decided to devote all his energy to teaching life for the time being, Snape's proposal actually fit perfectly.
"Fine. I'll go talk to Professor McGonagall about it."
"You will?" Snape suddenly gave a short, mocking laugh.
Both because he had achieved his goal, and also because of Lucian's apparent concern about McGonagall— "Right now, Professor McGonagall would probably prefer to see me rather than you. I'll handle it. You just need to agree to the matter." With that, he flicked his robes lightly and strode away, his attitude noticeably better than last time.
"Rather see him than me? Didn't Dumbledore say he would explain everything clearly to her?" Lucian frowned slightly, then quickly realized something—
The headmaster had probably given very nice assurances in front of him, but when it came to Professor McGonagall, he must have used an entirely different story.
After all, he still planned to keep the basilisk as a trial for one particular student, and he still needed to locate the two victims… Lucian doubted very much that Dumbledore would dare tell McGonagall about any of that.
"Old Dumbee." Lucian couldn't help muttering under his breath.
At that moment, the house-elf Barton suddenly appeared beside him. The usually calm expression on his face now looked unusually grave "Master, something has happened that I must report to you."
"Barton? What's wrong?" Lucian sensed the magical fluctuations still lingering around him and guessed that Barton had likely been in a fight somewhere.
This was Hogwarts, and the basilisk had already been sealed away—who could he possibly have fought?
"It was Dobby." Barton's expression was rather complicated "He seems to believe we deceived him—because of the basilisk attacks. He says he will protect Harry Potter in his own way."
"Oh? And how exactly does he plan to protect him?" Lucian asked, with a curious glint.
"…During the Quidditch match earlier, he tried to use magic to control a Bludger to injure Potter. I stopped him. He looked very angry afterward and then disappeared. I don't know where he went."
"Injure Potter? Why?"
"…It seems he believes that if Potter is injured badly enough to be sent to the hospital wing, he will be safe from the basilisk's attacks."
Lucian immediately understood why Barton's expression was so subtle. Having a house-elf with such dangerous ideas running loose in the school was, in a way, quite troublesome. Moreover, Dobby's actions were actually a stark reminder to all wizards of just how dangerous house-elves could truly be.
Able to bypass the restrictions of Apparition, capable of wandless magic without a wand, small and inconspicuous—house-elves were practically born assassins.
In the Middle Ages, wizards had conquered this dangerous race through war and forced them into servitude. Ever since, house-elves had survived as the servants of wizards. Dobby was undoubtedly a dangerous exception—he knew how to partially circumvent the bonds of his contract.
If used for good, that might be a blessing. But if the idea of harming a student ever took root in his mind… he would become extremely dangerous.
"Master, I placed a small tracking mark on him. I can take you to him."
Lucian, however, shook his head. "I cannot Apparate inside the castle. Catching him would be harder than killing him."
"…Then what should I do, Master?" Barton's expression turned hesitant—he already considered Dobby's actions a violation of taboo.
House-elves were absolutely forbidden from raising a hand against a wizard. If Lucian ordered him to kill Dobby… he truly didn't want to kill this foolish young house-elf he had only just met.
"If he doesn't trust us, then so be it. Go and watch him. As long as he doesn't harm any student besides Potter, let him be."
"We don't need to protect Potter?"
"Don't worry. He cares about Potter far more than we do. His way of thinking is simply… twisted. Who knows—he might already be hovering around Potter right now. If he changes his mind later, you can still pull him back."
"Thank you for your mercy, Master." Barton bowed, the result of the conversation was quite to his liking.
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