"Why are you here this time?"
"Potter," Snape said. "I must remind you, it's best to keep an eye on him. The Death Eaters have been planning to lure him out of the school recently."
"Harry isn't the impulsive type. He knows where it's safest."
"Are you sure?" Snape smiled, though it wasn't a pleasant one.
"I've told you many times before, haven't I? He's just like his father: bad-tempered, foolish, and most importantly... arrogant."
Snape listed Harry's flaws one by one as if counting treasures. "Do you think he'll obediently listen to you and stay at school? I dare to say others just need to use a little trick to make him run out of the school himself."
"Remember that Crystal Ball in the Department of Mysteries? When Potter left the school to play hero at the Ministry of Magic, he probably didn't consult with you at all."
"But we all found out later, didn't we?"
"Yeah, because he naively thought riding a Thestral could keep it a secret from everyone, yet he forgot, not everyone is unable to see Thestrals. He was lucky to save his own life," Snape said. "But this precisely shows his stupidity."
"Severus, maybe we should pay more attention to his virtues."
"So you're going to tell me that same theory again, are you? About him being kind-hearted?"
Snape looked somewhat impatient. "But being kind-hearted won't help him resist the Killing Curse. If it weren't for Kael also happening to be there, he might not have lasted until you arrived."
"Honestly, I really can't understand where he gets all these... bizarre ideas. Just from seeing some trivial fragments in the Dark Lord's memory, he foolishly thinks he can solve all problems on his own.
"In this regard, he's even inferior to Kael. At least Kael knows to use Fantastic Beasts to deal with the Death Eaters instead of foolishly going with his wand."
"Hmm... Severus." Kael couldn't help but make some noise, interrupting Snape, who was going on endlessly.
What does he mean by even inferior to Kael? That phrase sounded too awkward. Is that how he usually talks about me with Dumbledore?
"What do you want to say?" Snape glanced at him. "Don't tell me your theories again. I have my own judgment."
"No, you misunderstand. I actually wanted to say, don't you think your prejudice against Kael is a bit excessive? As far as I know, other professors think he's quite good, even Minerva thinks he has the potential to become the next headmaster."
Snape didn't speak, just looked at him with a peculiar gaze. "I don't deny that, but so what?"
"I mean... you could try to accept him. At least, personally, I think among his peers, there aren't many... uh, young wizards better than him."
Though using Dumbledore's appearance, this self-praise made Kael a bit embarrassed. To ease the atmosphere, he could only pick up the cup on the table, pretending to drink tea.
"Excellent?" Snape raised an eyebrow. "Are you referring to him deceiving an eleven-year-old little witch before Sorting, telling her that sorting requires facing the Killing Curse, as excellent behavior?"
Kael's hand holding the cup trembled, almost spraying the tea he just drank into his mouth.
He never expected that incident from seven years ago to still be remembered by Snape, not only remembered but also brought up.
"Of course not, but Severus, I think... Kael's intentions weren't actually bad." He explained guiltily, "We all know, scaring new students with Sorting is a small tradition of British wizards, something anyone from a wizard family would have experienced, right?"
"Sorry, I didn't." Snape said flatly.
"What a pity."
"Pity for what?"
"You missed an interesting memory."
"I don't think so." Snape shook his head.
Kael wanted to say something more.
He suddenly realized this was a good opportunity, using Dumbledore's identity to persuade Snape from another angle to let go of his prejudice against himself.
But it seemed Snape wasn't inclined to listen.
"Alright, I didn't come here to chat with you about Kael today. We were talking about Potter," he continued. "The Dark Lord has never given up on killing him."
"As long as he's at school, he's safe. Tom wouldn't dare declare war on Hogwarts at this time."
"You can't always watch him," Snape said.
"But he has no reason to leave the school."
"What if it's about Black? Are you still that sure?" Snape said.
Kael paused, "What do you mean?"
"Can't you figure it out?" Snape's tone was disdainful. "If there's anyone who can make Potter recklessly escape school, who else but that filthy big dog?"
"Tom wants to use Sirius?"
"Stop pretending, you must know, or you wouldn't let him come to Hogsmeade," Snape said. "Also, it's the closest place to Hogwarts, even if Potter runs there, he won't be out of sight.
"But I must remind you, even if it's nearby, it still doesn't belong within the school's bounds. Keep an eye on Potter, don't let the nickname 'Star of Salvation' get to his head, he can't kill the Dark Lord.
"He doesn't even need the Dark Lord, Barty Crouch Jr., Antonin, or Oren, Potter can't handle any of them."
"They already know Sirius is in Hogsmeade?"