radicalducati Chapter 72 I really don't know the answer to this question. Do you, Dumbledore?
Chapter 72 I really don't know the answer to this question. Do you, Dumbledore?
Chapter 72 I really don't know the answer to this question, do you, Dumbledore? (First update of 10,000 words per day)
Professor Quirrell ————
No, the professor impersonating Quirrell revealed an extremely subtle expression on his face at that moment.
To put it another way, the expression on his face, in the eyes of the young wizard from a Muggle family, was practically on par with an Oscar-winning actor.
Because it's rare for someone to be able to simultaneously display a mixture of confusion, distress, relief, and a hint of pleasure on their face.
His expression was complex, as if he were under a curse.
However, this professor who was impersonating Quirrell completely gave up resisting after hearing Orochimaru's question and slowly turned his back.
Although he had just told the students how to break the disguise, he really didn't expect that someone would use it on him so quickly.
He expected that this could be kept secret for at least half a semester.
Who knows————
"How did you come up with this question, Mr. Slack Anguis?"
As the question slowly drifted over, Professor Quirrell finally reverted to his true self.
The purple scarf that had been wrapped around his head suddenly slipped off, and his thin shoulders gradually bulged, eventually becoming broad and heavy.
What's most distinctive is the back of his head.
That place, which should have been barren, is now covered with greasy, long hair, intertwined like a devil's web.
Ron Weasley looked like he'd seen a ghost, his mouth so big it could fit his own fist.
Hermione Granger was so excited that her face turned red.
She considered many possibilities last night.
There were instances where Professor Quirrell appeared and evaded the questions, while at other times he simply and decisively denied that such a thing had ever happened.
Whether it's a magical world or not, if a group of people are determined to lie, it's very difficult to expose them.
But now—
Things are different now, everything is different!
Professor Snape personally impersonated Professor Quirrell to teach for him, and even took over Professor Binns's History of Magic class so as not to affect his own teaching progress.
Now, who would believe that Professor Quirrell didn't encounter Slack Anguilloch, or that he didn't suffer any mishaps?
Hufflepuff —
No, even Hufflepuff could figure out the oddity of it.
So the Gryffindors, like wilted eggplants, all lowered their heads.
Even though they were just first-year students, they knew that a bet was a bet.
Gryffindor can lose to Slytherin, but they must never be afraid to admit defeat; that is the most cowardly thing to do.
But----
"Harry—why did you lie to us—"
Ron Weasley spoke the minds of everyone, words that barely lingered in his head.
He wasn't trying to criticize Harry, but he was criticizing Harry nonetheless.
This is also Gryffindor.
Harry opened his mouth, but didn't say a word of explanation.
But he didn't, Orochimaru did.
"I need an explanation, Professor."
Orochimaru spoke calmly, picking up the water jug containing Polyjuice Potion from the podium and fiddling with it. "Why did you force Harry to lie?"
The first-year wizards at Hogwarts were truly amazed today.
Whether they were born into a pure-blood family or a Muggle family, they never imagined that one day they would see a student questioning a professor and demanding an explanation.
"Answer me, Professor."
Orochimaru pressed on relentlessly, refusing to yield an inch.
As soon as he spoke, the Slytherins' expressions became conflicted.
They couldn't stand a Slytherin speaking up for Gryffindor, especially since the person interrogating them was their Head of House, Professor Snape.
But they also felt that—
Extraordinary joy!
The fact that the professors are so secretive can only mean one thing—
"Professors! Are you trying to hide the truth about Slack Anguilloch defeating Professor Quirrell?!"
Malfoy leaped out, mimicking Ron Weasley's earlier action, and waved his arms at the students behind him.
"You owe us all an explanation! Are you trying to sabotage Slack Anguilar?!"
Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?
The Ravenclaws instinctively rejected this somewhat absurd idea, but their gazes couldn't help but fall on Slyke Anguill.
A wise academy always finds precedents in the past.
Like a diamond that has stood out, any attempt to bury its brilliance with dust will only result in a futile end.
And Slack Anguiz is that diamond!
Not only them, but the Hufflepuffs also finally figured out what had happened after some whispering among themselves.
Harry was very likely an eyewitness that night; he witnessed Slack Anguilloch defeating Quirrell, which is why the professors forced him to lie.
Otherwise, how can it be explained?
Professor Snape offered no explanation; he simply swept his gaze slowly across the students, his face, almost frosty, causing them all to lower their heads, no longer daring to meet his eyes.
"You can study on your own for the next hour; I have other things to do."
Without offering a single explanation, Professor Snape abruptly raised his wizarding robes, which resembled a dark cloud, and fled the history of magic classroom.
Honestly —
Snape, walking down the corridor, was also a little confused about his own feelings.
He had botched the task Dumbledore had given him, yet he felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
However, compared to the joy in his heart, he still had a more difficult hurdle to overcome.
Professor Snape, standing at the door of the Headmaster's office, took a deep breath and recited the password: "Mead!"
The stone beasts silently parted to make way for the staircase leading to the office.
Snape climbed the steps, his mind filled with thoughts of how to deal with Dumbledore. But when he stood before Dumbledore, looking at the headmaster holding mead with a puzzled expression, he realized how reckless he had been.
"Did you do this on purpose, Severus?" Dumbledore asked kindly, but his pale blue eyes held a burning rage.
Yes, no.
Snape thought to himself, a hint of helplessness appearing on his face.
"The young wizards are much smarter than we expected."
Snape used the same line he had prepared beforehand.
Dumbledore pondered for a moment, then winked at Snape.
"But they do need some hints, don't they? Why can't you just play Professor Quirrell for a while? We agreed on that."
The gentler Dumbledore's tone, the clearer the anger hidden behind his words.
Snape has seen it all before.
He had once skillfully navigated between the Dark Lord and the White Lord, acting as a double agent, and therefore knew these two most powerful wizards of the time better than anyone else.
Therefore, he even felt that he could handle it.
"Professor Quirrell will eventually show his true colors," Snape said, trying to make his words sound fair. "And I want to stay at Hogwarts, so I can't make myself seem like I'm doing this entirely for his sake."
But you are a Death Eater, aren't you?
Dumbledore wanted to ask that question, but ultimately didn't. He simply glanced coldly at Snape's left forearm, which bore the Dark Mark.
But that's enough, that's enough.
Snape fully understood Dumbledore's meaning.
He also wanted to defend himself, as if that was his true intention.
"But isn't the key to my identity precisely that I can gain the trust of both sides simultaneously? What if I can still be of use to them one day?"
"I think I'm about to deliver the final blow and convince Dumbledore," Snape said in a deep voice.
However, even such a great wizard still needs a sophisticated incantation.
Just then, the stone beast, which had been closed, opened again.
Professor McGonagall hurried over and saw Dumbledore standing in the Headmaster's office, and Snape with a troubled expression.
"I need an explanation too, Albus." Professor McGonagall was somewhat angry, her tone unusually stern when speaking to Dumbledore. "We've already gone too far enough; why did we have to send a professor from the university to impersonate Quirrell?"
As she spoke, she looked at Snape, at her former companion who had betrayed the Death Eaters.
There wasn't much interrogation, just a hint of curiosity.
"And Severus, since you were determined to impersonate Quirrell, why were you exposed in the very first class, and in front of Harry and Slack no less?"
Professor McGonagall crossed her arms and gave Dumbledore and Snape a stern look, as if she were looking at students who hadn't handed in their homework but had lied to her.
"You both owe me an explanation, especially you, Albus."
Well, that's definitely typical of Gryffindor.
Dumbledore was not surprised by this; he knew better than anyone the courage hidden in Professor McGonagall's female body.
He spread his hands, apologetic on his face.
"We just wanted to end this farce as soon as possible, but it backfired."
As Dumbledore spoke, he noticed that Professor McGonagall's face showed no intention of letting him off the hook.
So the greatest white wizard sincerely apologized to Professor McGonagall.
"It was my fault this time, Minerva, please forgive me."
This is the difference between Dumbledore and the Dark Lord.
Snape watched all this with a cold eye, and as Professor McGonagall accepted Dumbledore's apology, he could only sneer inwardly.
Dumbledore is more powerful and more hypocritical than the Dark Lord.
At least that's how he sees it.
As Snape was thinking this, he looked up and saw that Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore were both looking at him.
The two Gryffindors have just reached an agreement, wanting Snape to give them an explanation, a proof that is as simple as it gets.
"Are you assisting Mr. Slack Anguilloché in further enhancing his reputation at Hogwarts?"
Dumbledore asked curiously, as if he were just asking.
But Snape knew that this was the most fatal problem of the day.
Fortunately, he had already thought of the answer.
"Because he asked a question that only Professor Quirrell could answer, and I really don't know the answer."
"Severus, is it a problem with dark magic that's holding you back, or is it a problem with potions?"
Dumbledore asked incredulously, "You can't possibly tell me that Mr. Slack Anguilloch and Quirrell actually knew each other a long time ago and that Mr. Anguilloch knew many of Quirrell's little-known secrets, can you?"
No----
The questions he asked were much more difficult than these.
A surge of vengeful pleasure flashed through Snape's mind. Meeting Dumbledore's interrogative gaze, he uttered the question that had nearly tormented him to death.
"Which of the five great nations does Hogwarts belong to?"
Before Dumbledore could react, he repeated Orochimaru's next sentence.
"Oh, that's not the question Slack asked. He changed it. He asked, 'Then who are the remaining four great powers?'"
"I really don't know the answer to this question. Do you know it, Professor?"
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