"Do you know what happened at Gringotts, Severus?" Lucius asked, his voice low, almost a desperate plea.
"How would I possibly know, Lucius?" Snape replied, his voice flat, devoid of emotion. His black eyes remained fixed on some distant point in the corridor.
"Someone said… he has returned." A hint of raw panic flickered in Lucius's eyes.
Snape was silent for a moment, his jaw tight. "I don't know what you're talking about," he finally said, his voice a cold dismissal. With that, Snape turned abruptly and swept away, his black cloak billowing behind him like a storm cloud.
"Severus!" Lucius called out, a desperate urgency in his voice. "If he really has returned, then we…" He continued to whisper, his face grim, but Snape ignored him, disappearing around a corner.
"Damn it," Lucius cursed under his breath, his fist clenching around the head of his cane.
"Father," Malfoy said, finally approaching.
"We're leaving," Lucius snapped, not wanting to discuss anything further. He strode towards the main entrance of the castle.
"But Dudley…" Malfoy began, still fixated on the insult.
"Don't mention that boy to me again!" Lucius snarled, stopping dead and turning on his son. His pale face was contorted with fury. "And were you possessed today, Draco? You told that boy whatever he asked? You spoke without thinking! Do you have any idea how much trouble that caused me?"
Malfoy's face went white. "I… I don't know either," he stammered, his eyes wide with genuine confusion. He honestly didn't. Looking back, it truly felt as though some powerful magic had compelled him to answer, stripping away his will.
Lucius suddenly paused, a dawning suspicion in his cold eyes. "Magic?" He pulled his wand from his cane, a flicker of fear in his gaze. He muttered a quick incantation, running diagnostic spells over himself and his son. "No trace of magic," he murmured, disappointed but also relieved. "Perhaps it was the lighting. Dumbledore's office was too dim, it made me… irritable." He dismissed the unsettling thought. A mere child, a Muggle-born, could not possibly wield such subtle, compelling magic. And Dumbledore would never leave such obvious evidence.
"That Dudley is despicable!" Malfoy spat, his rage returning. "I won't let him get away with this!"
"It's good to have ambition, Draco, but you need patience, understand?" Lucius said, regaining his composure. "Now, let's go. We won't let this matter rest." Once the current commotion died down, he would have ample means to deal with the Dursley boy. His only true unease was the robed wizard at Gringotts. If that person truly was the Dark Lord… Lucius shivered.
In Dumbledore's office, the Headmaster leaned back in his chair, softly speaking a name that seemed to hang in the air like a whispered secret. "Dudley Dursley." He toyed with his wand, his eyes twinkling.
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, you seem particularly fond of this student," the Sorting Hat piped up from its perch on a nearby shelf.
"You heard Professor McGonagall's praise. He was able to successfully cast a Transfiguration Charm in his very first class, something not easily done by an ordinary young wizard," Dumbledore replied, almost to himself. "And the talent he displayed earlier… his control over language, his logical thinking, his composure under pressure… none of these seem like the actions of an eleven-year-old child."
"Similar," Dumbledore murmured, his gaze distant, "Too similar."
"Similar to what, Albus?" the Sorting Hat asked, its voice laced with confusion.
"Nothing," Dumbledore replied, shaking his head. He rose and walked to the winding staircase that led to his private chambers.
The incident was, for now, concluded. Dudley, Harry, and Ron had received no official punishment, a fact that brought a collective sigh of relief.
Friday morning dawned, bright and clear. Dudley, Harry, and Ron were seated at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, enjoying breakfast.
"What classes do we have today?" Harry asked Dudley, stirring sugar into his cereal.
Dudley grimaced. "I'm sorry to tell you, Harry, but we have two Potions classes today. And they're with the Slytherins." He took a bite of his pumpkin pasty, watching Ron's face.
"Oh, no!" Ron wailed, dropping his fork. The idea of facing Snape, the Dean of Slytherin, who had clearly sided with Malfoy and radiated utter contempt for Harry, filled him with dread.
"I heard from my brothers that Professor Snape particularly favors Slytherin students," Ron continued, his voice melancholic. "And after yesterday, I feel like we're going to have a very tough time."
"Not necessarily," Hermione's voice chirped from beside Ron, startling him. "Professor Snape is said to favor good students. If we perform well, I believe he won't be prejudiced against us." She spoke with an earnestness that bordered on fierce. "To perform well enough in his class, I've already memorized most of the Potions textbook. I'm going to earn Gryffindor extra points!"
Ron rolled his eyes. "You could memorize the whole book, and it wouldn't matter with Snape."
Hermione glared at him, then huffed and walked away.
"Is she mad?" Ron muttered to Harry. Harry just shrugged helplessly, then looked at Dudley. Dudley, however, pretended to be engrossed in his breakfast, too "tired" to get involved in the petty squabbles of children.
Just then, the morning mail arrived. Hundreds of owls swept into the Great Hall, circling above the dining tables before descending to deliver letters and packages. Dudley had received a few letters from his parents already, but they still struggled with the concept of owl post; one letter had arrived literally torn in half. He had borrowed Hedwig to send a reply, reassuring them.
"Wow!" Harry exclaimed as Hedwig gracefully landed in front of him, dropping a letter. After patiently begging for a piece of toast, the snowy owl flew off.
"It's from Hagrid," Harry said, opening the letter. "He wants us to visit his hut for tea this afternoon."
"Provided we survive Professor Snape's Potions class," Ron groaned. Harry's cheerful smile instantly vanished. After finishing their meal, the three boys reluctantly walked toward the Potions classroom, the weight of the coming double period heavy on their minds.
(End of Chapter)
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