On an afternoon before Easter, the Little wizards left their classrooms after lessons and headed outside the Castle to get some fresh air.
Especially near the Quidditch Pitch; watching others fly clumsily was a way to relax.
This was a rare moment of leisure lately, after all, once they returned to the common room in the evening, they would have to start on their homework.
The Professors were worried that the students wouldn't be able to adapt to the heavy holiday homework, so they thoughtfully made them get used to it now.
Sigh... because they couldn't swear, the Little wizards had nothing to say.
Karl, Sharpe, and Stebbins were also near the Quidditch Pitch, huddled together playing poker, specifically "Fight the Landlord."
Of course, since they were in the Wizarding world, Karl had renamed it "Fight the Dark Wizard."
They hadn't played many rounds before he saw Headmaster Dumbledore walk out of the Castle, accompanied by Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape.
They were talking as they walked into the Forbidden Forest, heading in the direction of Hagrid's hut.
Soon, Headmaster Dumbledore took to the sky, as if riding something as he left Hogwarts.
After a while, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape returned to the Castle.
Stebbins scratched his head. "Are there flying broomsticks in the Forbidden Forest too? Why did the Headmaster go there?"
As the young heir of a magical creature shop, Sharpe cleared up his confusion, "It should be a type of winged horse called a Thestral."
"Huh? Why didn't I see it?"
"This magical creature is invisible; it is said that only those who have witnessed death can see them."
"Ugh... that's a bit scary. I hope I never see them."
While the two were talking, Karl had already played all the cards in his hand.
"Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Slytherin straight pairs, can't beat that, right? Three Dumbledores with two Snapes! Four Professor McGonagall bombs! A pair of Merlins, King Bomb! Everyone kneel before me!"
Sharpe, Stebbins:...
Garbage game! It's not fun at all!
By dinner time, the news of Headmaster Dumbledore leaving Hogwarts had already spread.
Especially the fact that he was riding a mysterious invisible winged horse, which aroused the intense curiosity of the Little wizards.
Older students claimed they had ridden in carriages pulled by Thestrals, making the first-year students, who had to trek on foot, envious.
In the Great Hall, Nina took out a hand-drawn picture of a Thestral to show Karl.
To be fair, this thing didn't look good at all; one could even say it was a bit ugly.
It clearly had a dragon's head, a horse's body, and a pair of huge bat wings.
Yet it was skin and bones, looking not at all handsome or majestic, just like it was malnourished.
"Where did this come from?"
"I drew it."
Karl raised an eyebrow, "Then you..."
"Death is a very common thing."
Nina's tone was very calm, but a flash of sadness crossed her eyes.
Karl patted her shoulder without saying any words of comfort; after all, he wasn't good at that, and Cedric had already experienced it.
"It's drawn really well. If I'd known, I would have asked you to help design the new school uniforms. Audrey's level isn't even as good as mine."
Thinking of Karl's design sketches, Nina couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips.
"Then remember to ask me next time."
"How many school uniform styles can there be?"
"Skirts work too."
Meeting Nina's teasing gaze, Karl immediately let out an honest, simple laugh: "Hahahaha! That's a must!"
Just then, the surroundings suddenly went quiet, as if a homeroom teacher had appeared at the back door of the classroom.
The two looked around and discovered that Professor Snape had appeared at the entrance of the Great Hall at some point.
No wonder everyone was as quiet as a quail; in some ways, this was even scarier than seeing a ghost.
After seeing that Karl and Nina had noticed him, Professor Snape walked straight toward them.
"Mr. Orolin, Miss Goldstein, what is making you laugh so happily?"
"Professor, we..."
"Forget it, I actually don't care about that," Snape interrupted Nina expressionlessly. "Mr. Orolin, why are you sitting at the Ravenclaw table to eat?"
"Sorry Professor, I didn't know I couldn't do that, it won't happen again."
Facing Karl's admission of fault, Snape sneered coldly, "Of course you can do that. I don't mind if you need others to help you while you eat, but it's best not to rely on others when brewing Potions."
Karl: (▔, ▔)
Good grief, are you here to pick a fight?
And your mouth is truly poisonous! Compared to you, the Basilisk is just a minor Wizard, right?
Next time we destroy a Horcrux, I must let you take a bite first to try it out.
Maybe the effect will be outstanding; Lord Voldemort will just snap and die, and the other Horcruxes will be finished off together.
Besides, you uncultured person don't understand what "a feast for the eyes" means, I won't hold that against you.
But brewing Potions is always in pairs; I'm not exactly coasting to victory the whole time.
I've done plenty of grunt work, and I've been providing intense emotional support on the side—my contribution is maxed out, okay?
"Professor..."
"Come with me to my office. From today on, as long as your performance in class doesn't satisfy me, you will have detention every night."
Karl put on an embarrassed expression, "But I still have to go to Professor McGonagall's for detention."
Snape was choked by these words, "Heh, full of previous records. I will communicate this with Professor McGonagall."
After saying that, he looked at Nina, "Miss Goldstein, you come too, because I don't want to waste time and words on Mr. Orolin."
"Let's go!"
Karl and Nina exchanged a speechless look, hurriedly stood up to follow, and left the Great Hall under the sympathetic gazes of the Little wizards.
They arrived all the way to the Slytherin Dean's office. After closing the door, Snape suddenly turned around and winked mischievously at the two.
"How was it? My portrayal of Severus had no flaws, right? Was it just like the real thing?"
Karl, Nina: (⊙﹏⊙)
"Headmaster?!"
"That's right, it's me."
Looking at the vivid expression on Snape's face, Karl couldn't quite accept it; this was just too strange.
Although he had guessed that Dumbledore would ask Snape to help brew the Polyjuice Potion to create the illusion of him leaving Hogwarts.
But Karl really hadn't expected that Dumbledore would swap identities with Snape.
"It's more than just no flaws! You are practically more Snape than Professor Snape!"
Seeing Karl's gritted teeth, Dumbledore spread his hands, "The words just now weren't made up by me; they were all things Severus asked me to convey."
In one sentence: every debt has a debtor, you should take this up with Snape, it has nothing to do with me.
Nina, who was already stunned on the side, subconsciously reached out and tugged at Karl's sleeve, "Headmaster, what is this..."
Dumbledore smiled gently at her, "Nina, Hogwarts needs your help."
"Help?"
"That's right, it's like this..."