"Not currently, just someone brought up this idea." Snape shook his head. "But even if there hasn't been a discovery, it can only be concealed for a short while. Although the methods you used are clever, suddenly opening a new shop in Hogsmeade will inevitably raise suspicion."
"Moreover, if you stop delivering the Polyjuice Potion yourself, perhaps he could stay hidden a bit longer."
Kael understood that Snape likely mistook the scent of Polyjuice Potion he just detected as meant for Sirius, but he didn't clarify — it was just as well.
"I'll keep that in mind," said Kael.
"It's best that you do."
After that, Snape said no more.
Yet he showed no intention of leaving, just stood there staring at him without blinking.
"Um... do you have anything else?" Kael asked.
"Are you playing dumb with me?" Snape frowned, his voice cold, "About the matter I mentioned to you earlier, we agreed two months ago that you'd give me an answer at the start of this school year, and now you're pretending you don't know?
"Need me to provide a bottle of Magic Potion to help you remember properly?"
With that, he pulled a red bottle from his robe pocket and tossed it onto the table.
The bottle spun on the tabletop, and Kael's heart skipped a beat.
Two months ago… it should have been when the school vacation started, but he's just a fake, not the real deal. Whatever they discussed, whatever Dumbledore agreed to at that time... He knows nothing at all!
What is Dumbledore thinking, not even mentioning it in the letter?
"Ah, Severus, you really should understand the poor memory of an old man," Kael said, but inside, he was panicking.
If it were another professor, Kael wouldn't be this nervous at all, but Snape was different.
Having spent years navigating around Voldemort, Snape's reflexes and judgment are too sharp. If he says something wrong, Snape might immediately detect that the Dumbledore in front of him is an imposter.
At this moment, Kael only hoped Professor McGonagall could come over and help him resolve this trouble. As long as he could think of a way to get him to leave, there would be no problem.
Except Kael forgot, it's class time now, and Snape's free from class doesn't mean Professor McGonagall is.
As time went by, Snape's gaze became more unfriendly, and the pressure around them grew heavier, yet Professor McGonagall showed no sign of coming.
"Severus..."
Having no choice, Kael said, bracing himself, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I still have the same answer as before."
"But you didn't give me an answer before." Snape squinted his eyes, "That's also why I came to find you today... I feel like you're acting odd today."
"Actually, I did say it that day," Kael deliberately ignored his last remark, rubbing his hand on the robe behind his back. "You just didn't notice."
For some reason, Snape was momentarily stunned, seemingly recalling something.
"Things are far from over... huh, so that was your answer?" Snape suddenly sneered. "I really didn't see your intention, so you decided back then and didn't tell me?"
Kael felt relieved. Though saying this was somewhat risky, fortunately, he had gambled correctly.
Dumbledore was always like this, often saying peculiar things, and if you brought an answer, it would likely align with something he could force-fit.
However, faced with Snape's questioning, Kael didn't respond because he truly didn't know what he should say.
Moreover, the more he said now, the more errors he might make. The best solution was to let Snape speculate on his own.
But his attitude undeniably made Snape even angrier.
"You're always like this, thinking everything is under control, yet unwilling to share your plans with someone." He nearly roared in anger.
"I'm very sorry, Severus."
"You don't need to apologize to me; nothing I do is for you." Snape didn't linger further, turned around, and left.
"I really shouldn't waste time looking for you."
The door slammed shut forcefully, nearly shaking Fawkes, who was sleeping on a nearby branch, awake. It flapped its wings, chirping incessantly in the direction Snape left.
"Don't get agitated, Fawkes." Kael soothed the Phoenix and sat down in the chair, letting out a long breath.