(Snape's POV)
The second task of the Triwizard Tournament had concluded. Students were gradually making their way back to the castle in scattered groups.
Snape walked expressionlessly behind several Slytherins toward the dungeons, only to encounter Dumbledore waiting for him halfway there.
"Care for a chat, Severus?" Dumbledore peered at him through his half-moon spectacles, his gaze seemingly inviting discussion, though his tone brooked no refusal.
"As you wish," Snape replied coolly.
They walked together toward the headmaster's office. As they climbed higher through the castle, the corridors grew steadily brighter, and a wave of unease rose in Snape's chest.
Finally, they passed the stone gargoyle and entered Dumbledore's circular office.
"Honey tea? Lemon tea?" Dumbledore inquired, lifting a pewter teapot.
"I'm not one of your students," Snape said flatly, settling into a chair and folding his arms across his chest.
"Quite right, quite right." Dumbledore poured himself a cup before taking the seat opposite. He regarded Snape with that gentle smile and those piercing blue eyes—the very expression Snape despised most. It always made him feel as though Dumbledore could see straight through him, as if none of his secrets were safe. Yet the old wizard maintained that kindly, grandfatherly demeanor, as if this were merely a friendly chat—leaving Snape with nowhere to direct his frustration.
"Severus, you seem rather different lately," Dumbledore began. "You were particularly concerned about Orli today, weren't you?"
"Is there something wrong with that?" Snape spoke deliberately, knowing his behavior at the lakeside had been far too obvious. He had no choice but to acknowledge it.
"She's my student. Naturally, I'm concerned about her welfare."
"Just a student?" Dumbledore's gaze was sharp as a blade.
"Just a student," Snape replied, his tone flat. Even so, he instinctively began employing Occlumency.
"If she's merely your student—" Dumbledore steepled his fingers, "—would you have been equally frantic if it had been Harry or Draco who failed to surface today?"
Snape knew the truth. He wouldn't have been. But he refused to concede even a fraction of that to Dumbledore.
"If Potter hadn't emerged from that lake, you'd have dove in to fish him out yourself before I could even move," he said, a mocking smile playing at his lips to mask his genuine thoughts.
Dumbledore fell silent for a long moment before continuing.
"Life is remarkably brief, Severus. We're given precious few opportunities to choose. Sometimes we can deceive ourselves temporarily, but ultimately we're left with nothing but lifelong regret."
Snape instinctively wanted to lash out, but something in Dumbledore's expression made him hold his tongue.
After a lengthy pause, he finally heard his own cold, clipped voice:
"She is my student. I would never engage in any improper or dishonorable relationship with her."
He couldn't even tell whether he was defending himself to Dumbledore or warning himself.
Fortunately, Dumbledore shifted the conversation.
"Regardless, even if she is merely your student—there's something you should know. The merpeople informed me today that Orli employed an extremely powerful piece of Dark Magic in the Black Lake. She essentially conducted a one-sided massacre of the Grindylow colony. Do you recall that blood spreading across the water's surface?"
Worry flickered in his ancient eyes.
"If those Grindylows attempted to drown her, what gives you the right to deny her the chance to fight back?" Snape immediately countered.
"Don't tell me your magnificent compassion now extends to lake monsters as well."
"I simply hope she'll always remain on our side," Dumbledore said quietly.
"She's consistently stood by Potter's side, yet Potter and that Weasley boy spend every day doing nothing but suspecting her!"
Fury surged through Snape's chest. Due to their obvious recent behavioral changes, he'd resorted to using Legilimency on both Potter and Weasley.
What more did Orli Waters have to do for them? For Potter's sake, she'd even signed some sort of life-and-death contract with a house-elf! Not to mention she'd helped him unlock the Chamber of Secrets, capture his enemy, rescue his godfather, and just days ago had provided him with Gillyweed... Yet now they were beginning to distance themselves from her, simply because she'd grown too close to him...
Potter. Always another Potter!
What exactly did they want from her? Did they intend to force Waters to break with him as well before they'd be satisfied?!
She was the only fragment of light he had left...
"Rather than sitting here questioning Waters, you'd do better to focus on capturing Avery. I have classes to teach. I won't detain you further."
Snape rose abruptly and swept from the office. He didn't dare remain any longer—otherwise, he feared he might lose what little composure he had left entirely.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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