HP's Lost and the Lighthouse

No one knew what protection Voldemort would have put in place where the Horcruxes were kept, but Dumbledore was well aware that it would not be something easy to pass.When destroying the last Horcrux—the ring, he had lost half his life for it, and if Snape hadn't arrived on time, he might have even lost his own life at that time.

When Dumbledore received the note from the owl, he realized that it was time.

The old man was not afraid of anything because of this. In his opinion, dying for this matter was far more valuable than dying of old age in a hospital bed.He tidied everything up almost graciously, and sent Harry the note as agreed.

Harry was not slow in coming.

When he arrived at the headmaster's office, Dumbledore was facing out the window, looking at Hogwarts bathed in the golden twilight with some nostalgia-if he didn't expect it, this might be the last time he looked at this place like this A beautiful campus.

Dumbledore could hear Harry's mood swings, but he didn't take them seriously - it was normal for boys to be excited by news of the Horcruxes.After all, there was a deep hatred between Voldemort and Harry, and what they were going to destroy now was a fraction of his enemy.

"Well," he didn't turn his head, just stared at the laughing students outside the window, "Harry, I promised you that you can come with me."

"Go with...you...?"

"Of course, if you like."

The principal watched the active figures of the boys.He could foresee that for a long time to come, such laughter and playfulness might become out of reach for his students.But that's okay... the darkness always passes, and he's doing his best to speed it up.

Harry, whose mind was completely occupied by the news he just heard, repeated blankly: "If I..."

He suddenly remembered the reason why he came to the principal's office in the first place: "Did you find one? Did you find a Horcrux?"

"I think so."

For a long time, the boy behind him didn't say a word.Dumbledore could hear some heavy breathing from the other party.

"It's natural to feel scared," he said understandingly.

"I'm not afraid!" Harry retorted quickly. "Which Horcrux? Where?"

"I'm not sure which one either - though I think the snake can be ruled out - but I believe it's hidden in a cave by the sea far away, a cave I've been trying to find for so long. Tom Riddle in Orphan Do you remember that cave where the two orphans were terrorized on their annual trip?"

"Remember," said Harry, "what defenses does it have?"

"I don't know, there are only some guesses, and they may be completely wrong." Dumbledore hesitated, "Harry, I promised you that you could go with me, and I keep that promise, but if I don't warn you in advance, this will be very dangerous. There is an extraordinary danger, and I should not have done it."

"I'll go." The boy said almost without hesitation.

This was not beyond Dumbledore's expectations, and even in his guess, Harry should have acted a little more excitedly, instead of being... a little too calm like now.

He looked away from the Hogwarts grounds and looked at the boy.

Something was wrong with Harry, Dumbledore realized.He frowned. In such a dangerous matter as destroying Horcruxes, any unusual emotions need to be discarded... That's why he had an accident last time.

"what happened to you?"

"It's nothing," said Harry, but the expression on his face was still that of anger.

Dumbledore didn't accept the answer.

"What makes you so unhappy?"

"I'm not unhappy." The boy said stubbornly.

Dumbledore could understand what he was thinking - he was worried that he would refuse to take him with him...but he had to know what was affecting the boy's mood: "Harry, your Occlumency has never been high -"

The youth's anger swelled visibly under the words: "Snape!" he cried.

Dumbledore thumped in his heart, this was arguably the last name he wanted to hear at this time.But Harry's words continued.

"So it was Snape! It was he who told Voldemort the prophecy, it was him, he eavesdropped outside the room, Trelawney told me!"

Dumbledore watched the boy's excited face.He knew what Snape had done to make up for that mistake, but Harry didn't know that, and he himself promised never to tell anyone about those things - Dumbledore also knew that he was not qualified to replace Harry. Leigh forgave Severus for what he had done.

"When did you know that?" he finally just asked.

"Just found out!" His emerald green eyes widened with intense emotion, and Dumbledore could see that he was trying to control himself, "You still let him teach here, he told Voldemort to go after me parents!"

"Harry, please listen to me," said Dumbledore. "Professor Snape has made a serious—"

"Don't tell me it was a mistake, sir, he was eavesdropping outside the room!" Harry interrupted violently.

"Please let me finish." He calmly waited for the boy to forcefully nod before continuing, "Professor Snape made a serious mistake. When he heard the first half of Professor Trelawney's prophecy , still in Voldemort's employment. As his master cared so much, naturally, he hastened to tell his master what he had heard. But he didn't know—and he couldn't have known— Which boy Voldemort would have hunted and killed since then, without knowing that the parents who were slaughtered would be people Professor Snape knew, namely your mother and father—"

This answer was obviously not acceptable to Harry.Dumbledore understood him.The young man at this time has not yet realized that many things in the world cannot be black and white... In his eyes, eavesdropping and reporting, and causing the death of other people is unacceptable—no matter what Was that person aware of the serious consequences at that time.

"He hated my dad as much as he hated Sirius! Didn't you notice, Professor, why does everyone that Snape hates end up dead?"

This accusation is a little too serious.Dumbledore felt a slight tingle in his heart when he thought of the young man in black who was stubbornly unwilling to tell others about his softness and kindness.

"Harry, you have no idea how much regret Professor Snape felt when he realized that Voldemort would have interpreted the prophecy that way. I believe it was the greatest regret of his life, and the reason he came back—"

"But he's a formidable Occlument, isn't he, sir?" the boy asked tremblingly. "Don't Voldemort quite believe that Snape is on his side, even now? Professor... how can you be sure?" Is Snape on our side?"

Dumbledore was silent for a moment.He will never forget that Harry's brain and Voldemort's are still connected... which means that everything he said at this moment may be seen by Voldemort, and it may even bring danger to Snape...but letting the man be killed Misunderstanding is not something he can do - even after killing himself, this misunderstanding will be inevitable.

"I'm sure. I trust Severus Snape completely," he finally said simply.