Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

"Sorry… Professor Snape, I'm taking Filch back to his room."

Hagrid, seeing Snape standing in the corridor, quietly greeted him.

Snape didn't speak, but took a slight step back, making way for the massive Hagrid.

"Thank you."

Hagrid nodded, seemingly used to Snape's cold personality, thanked him, and then, hugging Filch, walked in the direction Snape had come from.

"… … … …"

Snape's gaze remained fixed on the wooden door that was still not closed, momentarily lost in thought.

Hearing that exceptionally familiar name after so many years, his previously gloomy expression finally showed a hint of emotion.

Almost involuntarily, Snape's feet moved again.

However, this time, he didn't continue forward along the path he'd been on, but without hesitation, slowly approached the huge gargoyle.

"Cockroach cluster…"

A slightly hoarse voice sounded, and the gargoyle gradually began to move, silently revealing the path to the Headmaster's office once more before Snape's eyes.

Inside the office, Dumbledore was as he always was, sitting in his seat, eyebrows lowered, sighing helplessly.

Then, immediately reaching down, he took two more candies from the drawer and popped them into his mouth.

As the candy entered his mouth, Dumbledore's mouth moved beneath his thick white beard.

And his previously lowered eyebrows also relaxed, regaining their usual radiance.

Suddenly, as if noticing something, Dumbledore paused his chewing.

He raised his head, his slightly narrowed eyes opening, and looked towards the entrance of the Headmaster's office.

"Severus?"

Dumbledore's tone was surprised, raising his eyebrows as he looked at Snape, who was standing at the door, having arrived unnoticed.

Snape's black robes weren't very conspicuous in the castle's already dim light, and most people would have difficulty noticing his presence without careful observation.

"Dumbledore…"

Snape didn't waste any words at the door.

He entered the Headmaster's office, and the wand that had appeared in his hand at some point was raised slightly, then waved.

Accompanied by another muffled "thump," the wooden door that had been open was now closed again, isolating the Headmaster's office from the outside world once more.

Snape quickly walked to Dumbledore's desk, stopped there, and came to a halt.

"Did you hear Filch's voice just now?"

Dumbledore smiled, and while speaking, he reached out and pinched his brow, trying to relieve the pain in his head caused by Filch's shouting.

"… … … … …"

Snape didn't answer him, his gaze fixed on Dumbledore's eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

Dumbledore was naturally accustomed to Snape's temperament.

He paused for a moment, and seeing that the other party had no intention of answering, he continued to speak on his own.

"It seems Filch has really put a lot of effort into this school, so much so that he's become a bit neurotic.

I was originally sleeping… working, and then I heard Filch banging and banging on the door."

As he spoke, Dumbledore shook his head.

"As you saw, he started shouting as soon as he got to the office… Fortunately, Hagrid followed close behind…"

"Charlie—"

Snape's eyes narrowed, staring straight at Dumbledore, and suddenly interrupted him, uttering a name in a deep voice.

"Charlie Black!"

Snape continued.

"I just heard Filch say that Charlie is returning to Hogwarts… Is it true?"

Dumbledore also raised his head, looking into Snape's eyes.

He keenly noticed that when Charlie's name was mentioned, a light that had never been seen before flashed in those eyes that were always gloomy, as if they could never see the light.

Although it was only a fleeting moment, it was still captured by Dumbledore.

Therefore, without concealing anything from the other party, Dumbledore nodded frankly and continued.

"Yes, I wrote him a letter not long ago… specially inviting him to attend this year's Hogwarts opening ceremony."

"Opening ceremony…"

Finally getting the answer he wanted, a hint of understanding appeared on Snape's face, repeating Dumbledore's words to himself, seemingly lost in thought.

But soon, he returned to his original state, and asked in a deep voice.

"Why would you want to invite him to attend the Hogwarts opening ceremony?"

Dumbledore lowered his eyelids and looked at the table, slowly saying.

"When Hagrid went to pick up Harry, he brought me back news… He said that before he arrived, Charlie had contacted Harry in advance, and used magic to teach that cousin who had been bullying Harry a lesson."

As he spoke, Dumbledore coughed twice, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed the candy in his mouth.

Then he continued.

"I thought, since he cares so much about that child, then inviting him to come and watch the child complete the Sorting Ceremony would also put his mind at ease."

"Cares about that child…?"

Listening to Dumbledore's words, a great mockery appeared on Snape's unchanging face.

The corners of his mouth turned up, revealing a stiff and sarcastic smile.

"Charlie's relationship with James and his gang wasn't good.

I think you know how many times he taught his foolish cousin a lesson—what makes you think he would care so much about that person's child?"

"But the fact is just that…" Dumbledore replied calmly, his attitude not changing in any way because of Snape's sarcasm.

"I can feel it… Perhaps he doesn't want to involve the grudges of the previous generation in Harry's life."

As Dumbledore spoke, he looked at Snape again, seemingly wanting to see the other party's reaction.

Snape's expression did change somewhat, but that was all.

Withdrawing his gaze, he then continued.

"Moreover… there are indeed some things that I need to meet him to talk about."

"What is it?" Snape asked.

However, this time, Dumbledore didn't answer him, but simply said.

"When the time comes, you will know."

Snape was silent, slowly nodded, said nothing more, turned around and left, heading towards the door.

"I thought you would be very happy… after all, he was once your best friend."

"Yes…"

Snape stopped, turned his head to look at Dumbledore, his eyes filled with complexity.

"Then, after I became a Death Eater, we never contacted each other again."