When Dumbledore finished speaking, Snape narrowed his eyes as well.
But where Dumbledore's gaze was that of a wily old fox, Snape's was pure serpent—coiled, silent, and ready to strike.
Dumbledore stroked his long silver beard, a look of quiet amusement on his face. "Minerva and Filius were there too…"
"Oh, and they're planning to co-author a paper for Transfiguration Today. That hasn't happened in ages."
Snape arched an eyebrow. "They were there as well?"
Dumbledore nodded lightly. "Yes, and their enthusiasm was positively infectious!"
Snape's face twisted as if he'd spotted a cockroach in his cauldron. "Oh, their enthusiasm was infectious, was it?"
"There's always some wind at their backs, pushing them along. They think it makes them run faster, so they rather enjoy it. How… interesting…" He drew out the last word with a nasal sneer.
Had Harry or Ron been present to hear that tone, their hair would have stood on end, bracing for a round of point deductions.
"Severus, choice matters more than ability," Dumbledore said, still smiling serenely. "They're each walking a path they've chosen for themselves. That wind is just a little extra—hardly even icing on the cake. With or without it, they'd reach their goal all the same. That's who they are. And Severus… aren't you the same?"
Snape offered no reply, not even a word of protest.
He swept his robes around him and glided from the office like a black mamba in flight.
Dumbledore watched him vanish, shaking his head slightly, the smile never leaving his lips.
"Much livelier than before… and he seems to visit me far more often these days."
Fawkes the phoenix let out a melodious trill, as if echoing Dumbledore's thoughts.
They'd been using the Hidden Corridor as a secret base for some time now.
In fact, before the Weasley twins ever discovered it, Wyzett had already brought Luna here.
The twins had immediately taken a liking to the old barrels. Whenever they were working on experiments, they'd lock themselves inside, making a ruckus that sounded suspiciously like bird calls. When they finally emerged, they'd always be carrying a small bag of feathers.
Luna, meanwhile, was enchanted by the corridor itself. She dreamed of turning it into something even better—a true secret base, brimming with magic and mystery.
The corridor was spacious, and transforming it would take time and effort. Wyzett was more than happy to help. The two of them relished every visit, adding new touches, rearranging old treasures, and gradually making the place their own.
Wyzett gathered the suits of armor into one area, turning it into a display for relics and curiosities. He moved the bookshelves stacked with blank tomes to another corner, designating that space as a study.
Once that was done, he visited the gamekeeper's hut to borrow a pile of wooden boards from Hagrid. With a flick of his wand, he joined the boards together by magic, creating partitions to divide the space.
These boards weren't just for walls—they could be assembled into furniture, or serve as sturdy stands for cauldrons. Their uses were endless.
Of course, hauling planks around the castle was bound to attract attention, so such work was best done after hours.
If Filch happened to be patrolling near the main entrance, he'd roll up his sleeves and grab a few boards himself, declaring with great ceremony that he was "sharing the workload."
The Weasley twins, witnessing this, rubbed their eyes in disbelief until they were red.
"Filch helping students out after hours? Why am I having such a bizarre dream?" Fred muttered.
George crossed his arms, pulling a face of mock terror. "Horrifying! When will this nightmare end?"
Filch shot them a venomous glare, then muttered sheepishly, "Wyzett… d'you think you could put a Levitation Charm on my wand? Just so I could, you know, carry a few planks along… I know the spell, really, let me show you! Wingard… Dimlevi… O… sa!"
He stood in front of the mahogany cabinet, brandishing his fake wand with a textbook-perfect swish and flick.
When he finished, his voice trembled as he asked, like a student seeking a teacher's approval, "How was that? Did I get it right?"
That yearning for magical power was something Wyzett understood all too well.
Magical item creation had always been a dream scribbled in his notebook.
So he didn't refuse Filch, but explained he'd need more time—it wasn't something he could whip up overnight.
"Now I can cast cleaning charms around the castle, and that already… already feels like a dream come true!" Filch nodded fervently. "Of course I understand! I'm not in any hurry!"
While Wyzett was dividing up the space, Luna was busy bringing in new treasures.
"This one, I found with Hannah!" Luna announced proudly, pointing to a constellation tapestry on the wall.
"I used Mundus Totalus to clean off all the dirt, and I never imagined it would turn out so beautiful!"
It was a deep blue-violet tapestry, edged with copper thread, and the constellations embroidered on it shimmered and moved, dazzling in the candlelight.
Lately, Luna had been obsessed with Astronomy. Besides the tapestry, she'd also found an astrolabe—both perfect for stargazing and study.
After befriending the house-elves, the enthusiastic little creatures had pitched in too, bringing cushions and chairs to help decorate the corridor.
With the spaces divided, a large central area now served as their living room.
The corridor was brimming with life and warmth now—not just a secret base, but half a home.
After admiring their handiwork, the two of them sat down at the table in the "living room," setting out a proper tea service as if they'd truly come home.
They brewed herbal flower tea and nibbled on dainty biscuits, cakes, and candied fruit.
"These are made from Dirigible Plums, then soaked in honey. Try one?" Luna offered, plucking a piece of candied fruit from a glass jar. It was shaped like a reddish-brown ingot, gleaming in her slender, pale fingers.
It was Professor Sprout's secret recipe—using honey instead of syrup made the fruit more tender, and preserved the honey's unique fragrance.
Wyzett picked up a piece, his fingers brushing against Luna's. The fruit was small, so their fingertips inevitably touched.
"How is it?" Luna's smile was even sweeter than the honeyed fruit.
"Not too sweet—the flavor's just right," Wyzett replied, smiling back. "Especially with tea…"
He poured Luna a cup and offered her another piece. "You should have some too. This jar's just been opened, hasn't it?"
"Mm, perfect timing!" Luna nodded, accepting the treat.
In the midst of their busy studies, it was moments like these—sipping tea, sharing sweets, and simply being together—that made everything worthwhile.
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