Hogwarts Emerald

In the Headmaster's office, silver instruments emitted wisps of smoke, obscuring Dumbledore's expression. He sat in the chair behind his desk, his long fingers sifting through a pile of candies, yet he chose none.

The precise time of the attack was still undetermined by Dumbledore. Despite being the headmaster of this magical school, holding many privileges within the campus, he couldn't know the whereabouts of everyone within its walls.

Even the four founders who created the school might not have achieved such oversight.

Professor Sprout had just left the office after informing Dumbledore about what she knew regarding Daniel. After leaving the underground classroom, Dumbledore had immediately gone to inquire with the ghosts roaming the school.

The Hufflepuff ghost, the Fat Friar, told Dumbledore that he had seen Daniel after lunch. Daniel, looking confused, had returned to the common room, but the Fat Friar hadn't noticed when Daniel left again. After that, none of the ghosts had seen him.

Corroborating the students' and ghosts' accounts, it was confirmed that Daniel Bell had gone missing in the afternoon.

From the moment he "disappeared" to the time he was discovered by Filch, any point during that period could have been the time of the attack.

In that secluded underground classroom, seldom frequented, Daniel might have been lying there from the moment he went missing.

If not for Filch's accidental discovery, he might have remained there for some time.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A knock sounded at the door.

It opened, and Snape walked in.

"How did it go, Severus?" Dumbledore asked.

Snape shook his head and said, "Fawley looks normal. All of Fawley's behaviors are consistent with his identity as a professor."

"If anything were immediately obvious, it would only show that Fawley is far less clever than he appears," Dumbledore remarked. "What did he say?"

"He naturally denied everything. Who would admit to such a thing?" Snape replied. "Fawley claimed he had no reason to do something like this. He said he was just looking for something."

"I've been watching him closely since I learned about this incident," Snape continued. Reflecting on the situation, he added, "His behavior was so normal that it seemed abnormal."

"It seems that our Professor Fawley has a strong talent for acting, and his desire to perform is also very strong."

"Indeed, his performance is like an alchemical product set up in advance, as if everything is within his expectations, which makes people more suspicious of him," Snape said.

"If we weren't already watching him closely, his actions might seem flawless and beyond reproach," Dumbledore analyzed. "But given that we've been observing him for some time, his behavior now appears somewhat contrived."

Snape agreed with this assessment.

When you pay special attention to someone, everything they do can take on new meanings. He continued, "After leaving the underground classroom, he went straight back to his office and hasn't left since."

"The school has been attacked. I will definitely pay more attention to the situation in the school. The professors will also increase patrols. He won't get any good opportunities at this time. He needs to wait for a better time."

"Maybe he is trying to fish in troubled waters. He first muddies the water and diverts your attention. In this way, it may be easier for him to do things." Snape expressed his opinion.

"What you say makes sense," Dumbledore agreed, continuing, "That way, he can join the professors in their patrols and search the castle openly. However, this would also lower his efficiency."

"Indeed," Snape mused. "He would be assigned a specific area to patrol and wouldn't have the freedom to move about as he pleases."

"Yet, all of this is merely our speculation," Dumbledore concluded, finally choosing a candy. "We lack any concrete evidence linking Benedict Fawley to this incident. We can't send him to Azkaban based on suspicion alone."

"If he's indeed trying to create confusion, then he's succeeded," Snape admitted. "We can't do much about him at the moment."

Rushing up to Benedict Fawley and hitting him with an "Avada Kedavra" might be satisfying, but Dumbledore's principles wouldn't allow such an action.

The two fell silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.

"Oh, by the way, have you found out what exactly he's looking for?" Dumbledore asked.

"Not yet," Snape replied. "Although he sought my help, he hasn't been fully honest with me. He's hiding many things."

"He's unable to trust you?" Dumbledore asked, clearly puzzled, knowing Snape's capabilities well.

Snape glanced at Dumbledore, a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes. "It's not about trust or distrust. I feel he's afraid I might seize this item. On one hand, he wants my help, but on the other, he's wary of me."

"A contradictory person," Dumbledore sighed softly.

"I think there's something wrong with his head," Snape said.

"Oh?" Dumbledore inquired, curious about Snape's reasoning. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not saying he's literally mentally ill, but his obsession with finding this item seems abnormal."

Snape paused to consider his words carefully before continuing, aiming to be as objective as possible. "In his mind, this item is supposed to have the power to change the world. However, he himself isn't even sure what it is exactly. He's just convinced that it must be hidden somewhere in Hogwarts."

Over the past few days, Dumbledore had already begun to suspect what this "item" might be. Given this, he couldn't let someone with pure-blood origins like Fawley find it.

"No object can change the world; it's always people who do," Dumbledore remarked thoughtfully.

"*Snort* No one can change the world," Snape said. "Oh, except for people like you, who selfishly try to change the world according to your own ideas."

Snape's eyes turned vacant, as if recalling memories he preferred to forget.

"A 'thing' that can make a competent wizard so obsessed—I would genuinely like to see it," Dumbledore continued, ignoring Snape's remark.

"Fawley himself seems like a headless fly, just aimlessly bumping around. Your wish to see something spectacular might be in vain."

"Severus, people need to hold onto some hope and vision in life," Dumbledore said earnestly.

"Those are just foolish words spouted by clever tricksters when manipulating idiots," Snape retorted with disdain, his gaze sharp as it fixed on Dumbledore.

"Hope is one of the greatest gifts in this world. Even in the darkest times, it lights up our path and fills us with a longing for the light," Dumbledore said with a smile. "It is through love and hope that humanity continues to move forward. Isn't that right, Severus?"

Snape turned his head away disdainfully, tired of Dumbledore's grand speeches about love and hope.

"Have you found the child who overheard your conversation that day?" Seeing that Snape didn't want to continue the current topic, Dumbledore decided to change the subject.

"A first-year brat, an annoying, self-righteous little brat," Snape's expression soured, but he answered Dumbledore's question.

"Ah, let me guess, this 'self-righteous' and 'annoying' brat wouldn't happen to be Miss Esmeralda Twist, would she?" Dumbledore asked with a smile, easily imagining Snape's expression when dealing with Eda.

Since the start of the school year, Dumbledore had been keeping an eye on Eda. Aside from some "exquisite mischief," he was quite pleased with her and was even considering incorporating her into his plans.

Snape didn't seem particularly surprised to hear Eda's name; he would have been more surprised if Dumbledore didn't know.

When facing Dumbledore, many people had the illusion that they understood him well enough. However, what they saw was often just the tip of the iceberg; you only ever saw what Dumbledore wanted you to see.

No one in this world could fully comprehend Dumbledore's thoughts. Perhaps such a person once existed—

"Do me a favor, Severus, and look after that child for me."

"She's in Gryffindor," Snape began but was quickly interrupted.

"I have also asked Professor McGonagall," Dumbledore continued.

Snape looked at Dumbledore blankly, and Dumbledore knew what he meant: You have already found Professor McGonagall for this task, so why are you looking for me? What's more, it's a little Gryffindor who is extremely annoying.

"It's not the same thing. If Miss Twist accidentally gets involved in Benedict Fawley's affairs, she will be left to you." Dumbledore explained.

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