We continue. Harry went to the Headmaster's office. The two gargoyles at the entrance didn't dare ask for the password; they just spun open.
Harry strode in, dragged a chair, and sat down like a lord. Before he could speak, Dumbledore said, "Please, Harry, what is it?"
Harry shouted, "Professor, you are mistaken. Elders first! Why don't you ask this one your question first?"
Dumbledore's brow relaxed. He's being agreeable. It seems I'm not the one in trouble.
"Harry, I called you here about the Sorting Hat."
It turned out the self-sorting had caused chaos.
Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were manageable. But Slytherin's intake had dropped by thirty percent compared to Gryffindor's.
"Harry, you must understand, the Hat has been used for a thousand years. Last year, it was just you. I could handle the governors' questions."
"But this year's chaos is a bit much." Dumbledore pointed to the window, where dozens of owls were crowding.
"Look, it's only been an hour, and the letters of complaint are already here. They are very annoying."
"I don't want this to happen again next year, Harry. So... I may need your help then."
Harry smiled. "This matter is easily settled, Professor. You need not worry. Just tell this one what you need."
Dumbledore relaxed. "Thank you, Harry."
"Now, what did you want to see me about?"
Harry's playful manner vanished. "Does the Professor know of a house-elf named Dobby?"
Harry recounted everything Dobby had said and done. Dumbledore pondered this for a long time.
"...I do not know whose house-elf is named Dobby. And inquiring after a slave's name might alert the master."
Harry frowned. "If that's the case, we just wait for the slaughter?"
"Oh, Harry, let's proceed as we did last year." Dumbledore twinkled. "We wait for the culprit to show his own tail. At least for now, I sense no dark presence in the school."
Harry sneered. "Hah! This one just hopes the Professor won't feed me the same evasive words as last year."
"I can promise you that, Harry."
Seeing his serious expression, Harry moved on. "Does the Professor know the Patronus Charm?"
"That is a high-level spell, mostly used against Dementors." Dumbledore was curious. "Why do you ask?"
Harry relayed what Lockhart had said in the bookstore. Dumbledore smiled.
"Lockhart is correct, but the Patronus cannot harm Voldemort's soul. It is used to repel dark creatures."
Harry said, "This one heard from Lockhart that the Patronus can take a physical form. Is this true?"
"Of course. Most are just mist. Only powerful wizards can summon a corporeal form."
His eyes twinkled. "Like your father. His Patronus was a Stag. And your mother's was a Doe. You see? They were a perfect match."
Harry thought: This Patronus Charm is truly formidable. Though it cannot kill that scoundrel, it can take physical form and travel great distances.
If I were in danger, I could send a spell to summon reinforcements! If I had learned this earlier, how could that scoundrel Dobby have cut off my communications?
He clasped his hands. "Which professor at this school knows this charm, so that I may learn from them?"
Dumbledore, knowing Harry was mature and determined, was willing to bend the rules again.
"Let me think... Ah. Why not have Professor Snape teach you? His Patronus is very powerful."
"I recall Professor Flitwick taught you on weekends last year? I wouldn't dare take up Snape's free time, so we shall set it for Tuesday evenings. How does that sound?"
Harry disliked the oily scoundrel, but hearing he was skilled, he nodded and left.
When he returned to the common room, Ron and Hermione were full of questions, and both were envious that he was learning high-level magic.
The next Tuesday evening, after dinner, Snape summoned Harry to the dungeon classroom.
Snape shut the door and sneered at Harry. "When Dumbledore told me of this, I was opposed."
"After all, a... wizard like you, whose head is full of muscle, will find it difficult to learn such an advanced spell."
He stared at Harry's green eyes for a moment. "But he insisted you were gifted. So... Mr. Potter. Do not disappoint me."
This oily scoundrel was just spitting venom. But Harry, needing to learn the spell, endured it, merely rubbing the hilt of his saber.
Snape, seeing him silent, smirked. "Very well. You should know, the core of the Patronus is happiness. It represents hope, freedom, life."
"So, you must think of a happy memory."
Harry closed his eyes. He thought of drinking at the Two Dragons Mountain, the night ride to Mount Liang, the campaign against Fang La.
These things were thrilling, but they were all tinged with regret.
He thought again: arriving in Yanggu county and eating bread with his older brother; practicing the saber in the snow with his second brother. As he thought of these, his mind cleared, and the usual killing-intent (煞气, shàqì) faded from his eyes.
He raised his wand. "Expecto Patronum!"
A thick, milky-white mist shot from his wand, coalesced, and then dissipated.
"Tsk, tsk. It seems you do not have the talent."
Harry, already angered by his insults, suppressed his rage. "If you are so skilled, and can make the Patronus take physical form, why don't you show me instead of playing mystery!"
Snape whipped his head around, his face impassive. He stared at Harry for a long moment. "Very well, Mr. Potter. Open your eyes and watch closely."
With that, he said, "Expecto Patronum." A silver-white mist shot from his wand and solidified into a Doe.
The Doe circled Harry, then vanished. Harry's eyes went wide.
He knew that a Stag (牡鹿, mǔlù) was male, and a Doe (牝鹿, pìnlù) was female. Snape, though not handsome, had an imposing aura.
Why would a man like that summon a Doe?
As the saying goes: Male and female pair; yin and yang match. Snape had that complex history with James and Lily. Now he summons a Doe... How does that not pair with James's Stag?
Harry was baffled. Damned hells! This oily scoundrel... Is it possible he was using my mum as a cover, but he was really after my dad?
Join my patreon For Early access to Chapter : patreon.com/TheWorldGod
Tiamat 200 Chapter (Final)
Honkai 580 Chapter
Lobotomy 110 Chapter
MushokuTensei 380 Chapter
'Pure Evil' Simulator Chapter Ending
Crossover Fic Blapterue-Eyes Chapter Ending
Harry want to be Hero 140 Chapter