Hermione was right. By the time she and Ron reached the Hospital Wing, it was packed with students who had come to see Harry. His friends, members of the Quidditch team, and those simply curious were all crowded around. And, of course, there were a few who came to gloat, such as a certain first-year Slytherin who would rather remain unnamed.
Everyone had some excuse for Madam Pomfrey to let them in.
"Please, Madam Pomfrey, just let me in... The Quidditch match is tomorrow, and I really need to see Harry. It's important," Oliver Wood pleaded from the front of the line.
If anyone was desperate to see Harry, it was Oliver. Gryffindor was more than 500 points behind Hufflepuff, but until the last match, there was still a sliver of hope. Miracles did happen, after all... But without Harry, their key Seeker, they had no chance. They might even end up in last place, setting a record for Gryffindor's lowest score in a decade. The thought alone made Wood shiver. If they lost, Professor McGonagall would probably have him hanging from the Astronomy Tower.
So, despite Madam Pomfrey's refusals, Wood clung to his request, refusing to budge.
Nearby, Dumbledore, who had just exited the Hospital Wing, watched the scene with a faint smile. "It seems that Harry is quite popular, with so many people concerned about him."
Standing beside him was another figure—Snape. Surprisingly, he refrained from his usual snide remarks, instead gazing at Dumbledore with a troubled look.
"Is this your plan?" he muttered. "Letting Potter face the Dark Lord alone? He could die..."
"Trust me, Severus..." Dumbledore replied gravely, "Harry will have to face Voldemort one day. It is unavoidable. He must learn to overcome his fear."
"Ha, making a child the savior..." Snape scoffed, though it was unclear if he meant Harry or Dumbledore himself. "He's just as mediocre as his father—arrogant, rule-breaking, showing off at every chance, drawing attention to himself... Honestly, I see no chance of him defeating the Dark Lord."
"You see what you want to see, Severus."
Without looking back, Dumbledore turned and began walking toward the castle. "Other professors find him humble, friendly, and not without talent. Personally, I find him quite likeable."
"Not without talent?" Snape's expression turned incredulous, as though he'd just heard the Ministry of Magic was giving away Felix Felicis for free. If Dumbledore had made that remark about Kyle, Snape wouldn't have reacted so strongly. Although he disliked Kyle, Snape couldn't deny that the boy was rather clever. After all, even Snape himself hadn't been able to brew the perfect Draught of Living Death in his second year.
But Harry Potter? The boy could barely manage the simplest of potions without mistakes, and this was supposed to be talent?
As Snape thought of Kyle, he suddenly asked, almost to himself, "So, you really don't know what happened in the underground classroom that night?"
"Of course, Severus. I have no reason to lie to you," Dumbledore replied, shaking his head. "Hogwarts is vast, and not even I can see everything."
"What about the mirror...?"
"He has never looked into The Mirror of Erised—not even once." Dumbledore's eyes grew distant. "In this, he is more clear-sighted than any of us."
Snape was silent for a long moment before he spoke again. "And you weren't worried that Quirrell might get his hands on the Philosopher's Stone? I assumed you would be watching him closely."
"Since the day I brought the Stone here, I have been concerned," Dumbledore admitted, looking up. "But even so, Severus, there are always exceptions."
As he spoke, the two of them reached the restricted area. Fluffy had already been removed, leaving the entrance room empty and quiet. They passed through the trapdoor and descended to the room below.
Neither Dumbledore nor Snape needed broomsticks; the descent was as effortless for them as walking down a flight of stairs.
After landing, Snape's expression shifted, and he bent down to pick up a leaf from the floor.
"Chomping Cabbage... If I remember correctly, Pomona placed Devil's Snare here."
"Perhaps someone thought Devil's Snare was too easy and decided to add a bit of a challenge," Dumbledore chuckled.
"I don't think it was Quirrell," Snape muttered, thoughtfully rubbing the leaf between his fingers. "Casually cultivating dangerous plants and leaving them around the school... If Quirrell hadn't arrived early, Potter and his friends wouldn't have needed the Hospital Wing at all. Such reckless disregard for safety... Aren't you concerned he might become the next Dark Lord?"
Snape didn't specify who "he" was, but Dumbledore understood.
"You're mistaken," Dumbledore replied, shaking his head. "Harry and the others came down on their broomsticks. Even without Quirrell's early arrival, they would have been unharmed. And as for Kyle, he cannot, and will not, become the next Dark Lord. He has a warm family and close friends to confide in. He's passionate about learning magic, but he's not driven by a need for power. And yes, he even has a career he genuinely enjoys, which makes him fundamentally different from Voldemort."
"Career? You can't possibly mean those useless amulets and shoddy maps..." Snape suddenly grimaced, feeling an oncoming headache. If that was Kyle's idea of a career, then Slytherins had certainly been his main customers.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "But the students seem to like them, don't they?"
"Fine," Snape grumbled. "Even if you're right, what about Occlumency? If there's no ulterior motive, why would he need to master Occlumency in his second year?"
"You know as well as I, Severus, that we cannot use Legilimency on students." Dumbledore's tone grew firm.
"It was merely a test," Snape scoffed. "One he performed so boldly, without a hint of subtlety."
"But you must understand, Severus, having secrets is not unforgivable. Your prejudice against Kyle, however, might be."
Snape's frown deepened, but he held his silence.
"Ah, yes," Dumbledore added with a sigh as if remembering something. "Due to the Fiendfyre incident, I couldn't keep what happened in the dungeon from the families of Kyle and Harry. They should be arriving soon."
"Do you recall, Diana visited the school once last year because of Oren. Despite all these years, she's still... as spirited as ever."
Snape's face darkened visibly. "When?"
"She should arrive shortly," Dumbledore mused. "Though it may be Chris who comes instead."
"Very well," Snape said, turning sharply and heading out of the room without another word.
"Are you going to greet her?"
"No... What do I care if she arrives or not?" Snape replied, not bothering to look back. "I just suddenly remembered I forgot to pick up a batch of potion ingredients I ordered in Hogsmeade."