[HP] Can you be gentle with me

Tahlia fell silent.

She really hesitated.

She could ignore them at all, just shake her head and leave, but these Aurors obeyed orders, and if she killed her and didn't leave with them, they obviously planned to entangle them to the end.

Finally, she reluctantly agreed.

Surrounded by a few people, it's almost like when I was in school, surrounded by a lot of Slytherins, except now these Aurors seem to be very nervous, as if they are guarding whether they will run away-

So they really regarded themselves as prisoners?

It wasn't until the Ministry of Magic that the Aurors seemed relieved, and then came to a door.

The temperature seemed to suddenly become very low, Tahlia couldn't help shivering, it was not easy, after all, she didn't even have such a reaction when she was in front of Voldemort, the feeling now is really... very uncomfortable──

The door opened, and the person who walked out surprised her.

It's Snape.

He didn't look very well, but he gave off a feeling of relief.

Seeing Tahlia standing outside, Snape didn't say anything, just gave her a sneer, and walked away without looking back once.

This made Tahlia's heart colder, and the already uncomfortable feeling became more serious. Who will tell her what is going on with this sudden coldness?

"Please go in, Miss Watson." The leader Auror spoke, but he himself had no intention of moving forward.

Feeling vaguely weird, Tahlia stepped through the door anyway.

And she immediately regretted it, regretted that she had agreed to come to the Ministry with them.

The atmosphere inside, a large group of people sitting around on a high platform, staring directly at him with both eyes down, and floating not far in front... Dementors──

How can this be gentle to explain yourself?

It was clearly an interrogation... At least now she knew where the cold feeling just now came from.

"Tahlia Watson." The person in the top center said coldly. "Is that your name?"

Tahlia nodded slowly, but she didn't move forward. She knew exactly what it would be like to be close to a dementor, and she didn't want to experience it for herself. "What is this for?" She asked, although her voice was not loud, it was exceptionally clear in this silent hall.

The man ignored her question and continued on his own. "You have been accused of murdering 18 people, led by Kevin Anderson, in an evil organization that none of us can name, and, from all evidence, we have reason to believe that you planned several attacks on the Muggle community And even those actions were carried out, what do you have to say about the allegations?"

"No." Tahlia said coldly. "I haven't done any of the things you just listed, Mr. Crouch, and you can ask your son, and he may be proud to show you how he did certain things—"

Crouch's face became extremely ugly, and he could almost feel the disdain cast by the others on him.

Suppressing the anger in his heart, he continued with a flat tone. "However, we have solid evidence here that you were involved in those things—" he said. "Mr. Snape gave strong evidence just now. He said that he saw you cast Cruciatus on William Cooper."

And seeing the woman whose expression finally changed for a moment, Crouch knew that he had won. The woman underneath was a real Death Eater. He didn't know why this person disappeared when those Death Eaters fought back fiercely. But it doesn't matter, even though she escaped the initial siege, now he still has the testimony in their favor.

Crucial testimony enough to convict her.

The only loophole was Snape's identity, he was also accused of being a member of the Death Eaters, but that fellow Dumbledore vouched for him, at this time, he didn't mind admitting the reliability of the guarantee, as long as he could Tahlia Watson was convicted.

"How could he have seen me perform Cruciatus?" Tahlia asked softly. "I remember the Death Eaters always wore masks when they acted."

Crouch spoke triumphantly. "According to him, you took off the mask yourself in front of him."

"Really?" Tahlia narrowed her eyes. "You just believe his one-sided words, maybe he is framing me..." Sneered. "We didn't get along very well at school, Mr. Crouch."

"Mr. Snape was acting as a spy sent by Dumbledore, and I don't think he has reason to lie, Watson," Crouch said coldly.But I couldn't suppress the excitement in my heart, feeling that they were not far from successfully sending Watson into Azkaban...

"Albus said that?" Tahlia's face darkened. "He told you that Severus was his spy?" Well, now he'd have to ask Dumbledore well - about Snape being a spy.

"It's not your turn to question what Dumbledore said, young man. Let's focus on more important topics..." Crouch said. "So, do you admit to killing Kevin Anderson?"

"Do not."

"Casting the Unforgivable Curse on Cooper and stealing classified Ministry of Magic documents?"

"not me."

Crouch scowled. "It seems that you don't intend to admit it...then──"

The door behind her suddenly opened again, and Tahlia knew who that person would be without turning her head. Only that person possesses the charm that can give people peace of mind without saying a word—

Dumbledore.

"Wait, Barty," Dumbledore said behind Tahlia. "You can't expect her to confess a single crime to you—"

"Meet you again, Dumbledore." Crouch said flatly. "What are you here for? Is this person another excellent spy of yours?" This sentence was tinged with a joke, after all, this woman could not be a spy at all, and she was simply the notorious subordinate of the mysterious man.

"That's exactly what I wanted to say."

Crouch's eyes widened. "Do you know what you're talking about, Dumbledore? The woman! She's definitely a Death Eater! Are you shielding her?"

"Tahlia was indeed a spy I sent to Voldemort's side, and it's been since my school days, Barty." Dumbledore said slowly. "Even earlier than Severus." He hadn't expected that kid Severus to tell about Tahlia, and thought they had absolutely no proof. "And I didn't tell him—about the fact that Tahlia is actually doing things for me, the less you know, the safer you are, should you understand?"

Crouch opened his mouth wide and was speechless for an unusually long time - he felt furious looking at the people who were nodding in approval because they admired Dumbledore.

Tahlia Watosn must be in Azkaban.

He'd heard this Tahlia's name before, before - from that ungrateful brat who had entered Slytherin, so this woman was definitely a Death Eater!

Why on earth did Dumbledore shield such a wicked woman?

"You were blinded by him, Dumbledore," he said flatly. "you're old."

"It's true that I'm not young anymore, but not so easily fooled, Barty." Dumbledore was not angry, but said gently. "You can ask the others for their opinion, maybe they think differently. The fact is, Tahlia is not loyal to Voldemort."

Barty's face was terribly gloomy. "But she was accused of—"

"Similarly, she was also ordered by me to be appreciated by Voldemort. Because of this, we were able to win many battles because of the information we obtained in advance. If you are determined to hold her responsible for those things, then I should be The ones responsible for those things," said Dumbledore, interrupting Crouch with a raised hand. "If you don't plan to pursue me, then I think you shouldn't condemn her either."

Tahlia didn't turn her head, just stood there, listening to Dumbledore and Crouch argue—

She never thought that Dumbledore would say these words and take all her previous actions on him. Even though he knew that she didn't have to do that in many things, he still chose to defend himself and shoulder the responsibility. The sin that should have fallen on her shoulders.

And in the end, she walked out of the Ministry of Magic freely, and followed Dumbledore, and it was clear that Crouch's opinion alone could not compare with the forgiveness of many jurors.

"Why do you say that?" Tahlia asked. "You know I'm not—"

Dumbledore interrupted her. "That's all in the past, you didn't really do anything wrong, kid."

Tahlia lowered her head and said nothing.

Whether it's Dumbledore's sincere words or the scene's comforting words, it has worked for her, and the guilt in her heart has really disappeared. The old man always has such power, and the conversation with him will always occupy a lot in her heart. important place.

"But if you still feel guilty about me, I think you can do me a favor," Dumbledore said again suddenly.

"what?"

Dumbledore blinked mischievously. "The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at the school suddenly fell seriously ill, and I was worried that I couldn't find someone to replace him. Maybe you would be willing...how should I put it, to teach at the school?"

Tahlia stopped in her tracks. "Are you joking?"

Dumbledore, let yourself be a professor in the school?

"I don't think I fit in with those little kids, Albus," she said.

Dumbledore smiled instead. "Don't say that, you're not a few years older than the seniors, I'm sure you can do it—not to mention," he said with a smile. "Severus has been the Potions Master at the school since September."

"Why are you bringing this up?" Tahlia said flatly. "He's not going to be happy with me being a professor, trust me."

"Voldemort is gone, Tahlia."

"But he'll be back." Tahlia glanced at Dumbledore. "You clearly know."

Dumbledore smiled. "So, it's all the more you should confess to him, shouldn't you?" he said. "Otherwise you will regret it, kid—don't let him hate you for the rest of your life, and don't let yourself get hurt for the rest of your life."

Tahlia fell silent.

Emotionally, every cell in her was screaming for her to agree to Dumbledore's proposal, but her mind wouldn't let her do so.

"You'd better find someone else." After a while, she said. "I'm sure there will be others for that position—"

"Tahlia—"

"Thank you, Albus." Tahlia smiled. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you." There was a pause. "I have to go back, Harry is about to wake up... I'll see you when I have a chance, Headmaster." After speaking, he got ahead of Dumbledore and walked out of the Ministry of Magic quickly. The next second, Apparation.

But Dumbledore clearly wasn't about to give up.

Once back at school, he called Snape.

So that's why the two of them were sitting across the table facing each other at the moment, and Snape was scowling, glaring at Dumbledore.

"You want me to... find that woman to come to school?" Snape could barely contain his emotions. "Do you know who she is?"

"Of course I do," Dumbledore said calmly. "But I trust her."

Snape snorted disdainfully. "I never knew your trust was so cheap." He didn't know what method Tahlia used to deceive even Dumbledore and withdraw the accusation he made himself. "There is only one place she should go, Azkaban."

Dumbledore sighed. "Speaking of this, I didn't expect you to accuse her..."

"I just did what I had to do," Snape said stiffly.

Based on what she had done before, it was rare for him not to kill her directly with his wand, but she refused to save Lily, and even, he had good reasons to suspect that she even encouraged that person to kill Lily... …

She should be in Azkaban.

"She just did what she had to do." Dumbledore shook his head. "You should have a good talk with her, Severus──don't rush to contradict me yet." Seeing that Snape opened his mouth to say something, he raised his hand to stop him. "At least, talk to her...you'll find that she's never what you imagined..."

Seeing that Snape still didn't agree, Dumbledore made a decision. After all, strictly speaking, Tahlia never forbade herself from speaking out, did she?

"Severus, listen to me." He stared straight at Snape, then spoke slowly. "Tahlia was sent to Voldemort's place by me—to put it simply," he paused, satisfied to see Snape's froze momentarily.

"She's a spy."