Ravenclaw's Blue Gem

After tonight, the world will continue to operate as before, but some people and some things will have to change after all.

"Goodbye." Walking to the door, Zoe felt empty. She looked back at the sleeping girl for the last time and unscrewed the doorknob.

********

"You are late." Snape was like a dark and silent shadow. If he didn't speak, you might even think that it was just a lifelike statue.His face was more rigid and serious than ever before, and he even looked a little bit like Professor McGonagall, but even Professor McGonagall couldn't put on that stinking face.

"Sorry, Professor Snape. It takes a little more time on personal matters than imagined."

"...Forget it, it doesn't make sense to say these things now." Snape looked at her, "Do you really want to do this? Even if I know, even if Dumbledore knows, you will become in the eyes of others What image, I don’t think I need to say more. Even your friends, until everything is over, they can’t even find a legitimate reason to believe in you. People’s hearts are very fragile, and as long as they are contaminated with a trace of doubt, they will be quickly Pollution, and the cost of retrieving it is much more expensive than losing it. Not only do you have to fight the enemy, the people you want to protect will also raise their wands at you, even more fierce than the Death Eaters ."

"You are right, Professor, I am really afraid of facing this scene..." Snape was a little dazed, he didn't expect Zoe to admit it so easily.

"Then it should be replaced—"

"That won't work. Only I can do this now. We have confirmed this. It is not a child's play, so it can only be done." Zoe rolled up her sleeves, revealing the print of her arm that had spread to her entire arm. , The root of the imprint is extending towards the chest-to be precise, the heart -.The potion that she wiped to hide when she was with Hermione had no effect."Even for this, I must do it myself."

Snape pressed his lips tightly. When Voldemort cast the spell, he was pointing his wand at Zoe along with the other Death Eaters present.Either die or surrender, Voldemort never gives others too many choices.

"Just thinking about that kind of picture is enough to suffocate people, isn't it?" Zoe said, "but I only need to think about the years or even more than ten years before me, but some people have always taken the initiative to bear such pain and misunderstanding. , Fighting to protect others, and this person is my most respected mentor, how could I say discouraged words."

She interrupted Snape's answer first: "You must say,'You don't know me at all,' or'I have a reason for doing this', but this cannot change the most basic fact. ——You are indeed fighting for others, and you are indeed bearing the misunderstandings of others, which could have been avoided, especially Harry—"

Snape sullenly yelled, "Shut up, Siegel!" The muscles of his face quivered slightly with excitement. "I hope your spell will be as powerful as your mouth. Just say something. It will make people angry, don't you still learn how to talk to people after living in this world for so many years?"

"I've known since I was a child that I have to distinguish between people, Professor." Zoe said triumphantly. "And I can speak much more than you." After she said this, she turned her head immediately, not looking at Snape and was surprised. An angry face.

"Hey, how long will you two stand here arguing?" The gargoyle at the entrance of the principal's office muttered helplessly. It had been snoring with its eyes closed before, and it couldn't stand it anymore. "It's midnight, or give it to me." Password, or go to another place to fight."

Snape glared at the gargoyle fiercely, and said coldly with a sullen face. The gargoyle yawned and jumped aside, revealing the doorway behind.

"Are you here?" Dumbledore was wearing his purple nightgown, and the brim of his nightcap was hanging down softly. He looked good, and he stood up with a smile to welcome the two guests, as if they were here to be together. Drinking tea and chatting instead of coming to take his life.

Zoe noticed that Fox was not here, and the perch was empty.The portraits of the principal were clamoring, and when they saw Zoe and Snape, they wanted to say hello. Snape waved his wand and they became no different from ordinary portraits.

Zoe carefully observed this office, she wanted to carve the familiar pictures in her memory deeply.She also spent a lot of time in this office. She likes the quietness and comfort here. It is very special for her.

"This is really a novel experience." Dumbledore said lightly. He tidied up his nightgown as if it were actually a gown for banquets. "I was sitting here just now thinking about dying. I want to eat Hogwarts fruit syrup pie again. According to the taste of my school days, I like the syrup to taste a bit stronger. This idea cannot be suppressed anymore, and it must be eaten now, late One minute and one second won’t work." He pointed to the empty plate on the small table and smiled contentedly, "I have no regrets."

"But we still take this matter seriously." He said mildly, "Although it is too late to write a suicide note, this place is not terrible enough as a place of execution. But as a dying person, I am always qualified to say a few last words. "

"Severus, the children will be handed over to you. My friend, it is a pleasure to work with you these years." Snape twitched.

"Zoe, you have chosen a hard road, but also a great road. Go down according to your own heart. There is no doubt that what you did is right." He was silent for a while, "Since that After the incident, I never tried to be forgiven, but you did it for me." He closed his eyes, and a tear slid down the bridge of his nose and disappeared silently into the pile of silvery white. Shiri, "This is the ending I never thought of. Thank you."

Zoe took out his wand and pointed it at the old man in front of him.The banner that she has been relying on since she was a child and has been erected in her heart forever has fallen, but she is still there, she is no longer just a weak and helpless child.

In a slow and calm voice, she uttered a sentence representing death.

"Avada Kedavra."

Chapter 74 The Death of Dumbledore (Part 1)

Dumbledore is dead.

This shocking news swept through Hogwarts like a storm the next morning.The person who found the body was Professor McGonagall, and according to what she said, Dumbledore asked her to meet him at that time.But when she arrived at Dumbledore's office on time the next day, she found that the door was hidden and she knocked on the door without responding.

Knowing that Dumbledore was not a person who would break his promise, she hurriedly pushed the door in, thinking Dumbledore needed help.She was one of the insiders who knew about Dumbledore's physical condition, although she did not know the specific details from Dumbledore, and did not know what caused such a serious injury.She didn't ask either. Since Dumbledore didn't explain, he had his own reason.

As soon as she entered the office, she was attracted by the quarrel of portraits almost shouting.Although these principals who are not in close relationships but can respect each other, they completely abandoned their demeanor at this time. Even the best tempered ones cannot continue to remain calm.The quarrel of the portraits became a ball, but they couldn't hear a word.Just a few vaguely heard words, there is no way for McGonagall to construct the correct state of affairs.

She looked around the office, and as long as she could find Dumbledore, everything was resolved.It was easy, because the familiar figure was leaning on the soft bench behind his desk, and Dumbledore hung his head like a nap, and crossed his hands on his legs.

In such a noisy environment, let alone sleep, you can't even relax.Feeling strange, McGonagall walked quickly to Dumbledore, trying to wake him.But as soon as she put her hand on Dumbledore's shoulder and pushed, she noticed something strange.She immediately endured the fear in her heart and held up Dumbledore's chin. Looking at the stiff face that had lost all its blood, she slowly stretched out her hand.

Soon, all the professors except Snape rushed to the principal's office under an emergency call.Later, the news of Dumbledore's death leaked out of the wind (although it was impossible to hide it) and reached the ears of every student in the castle, causing widespread panic.For most students who regard school as the safest haven, there is nothing more disturbing than the death of the principal of this school on campus.

Before it was too late to investigate, the professors had to divide into several groups first and ran around in order to maintain the turbulent order of Hogwarts, to appease the restless students, and even many parents who were equally nervous.On the first day after the news was leaked, countless owls took the news out of the castle, and another day later, the entire wizarding world was in an uproar.

"Minerva, you called us here. Is there anything else to convey?" Flitwick wiped the sweat from her head. During this time, all the professors were busy dealing with many things, some of them had to To reassure students and parents, some have to exchange information with the Ministry of Magic, and some finally have the energy to investigate Dumbledore's death mystery.

McGonagall is responsible for investigating Dumbledore’s death, not only because she was the one who found the body, but also because she almost won the approval of all teachers and students. She was the vice-principal, and she acted impartially and objectively, and she was investigating the matter. , And most able to get the recognition of others.

"Oh, what is this, oh!" Slughorn slumped on the office sofa in frustration. There were more beads of sweat on his forehead than Flitwick, but not all because of busyness, more It was based on nervousness, "Albus Dumbledore is dead and all in a mess. At this time Severus still doesn't know where he went..."

McGonagall raised his eyebrows when he heard the name."No need to go to Sev... No need to go to Snape, I probably know where he went." She looked at Slughorn, her voice was extremely cold, but the emotion was not aimed at Slug. Horn.

The professors were all surprised. Since the day Dumbledore died, Snape had never been seen in the entire castle.There are more than one or two people who combine the relationship between these two things. In the eyes of many people, this former Death Eater (more people believe that he has returned to the camp of the old master) is inherently untrustworthy, even these years The professors who work with him can hardly say that he likes or appreciates this man.They would naturally recognize Snape's teaching level and his own strength, but it was difficult for them to have a good impression of this gloomy, indifferent and selfish man.

Everyone present noticed Magna’s blunt name change. She always called Snape directly. No matter how big the difference between the two in teaching policies and student attitudes, McGonagall would not be because of this. Reasons to attack and suppress Snape.But it is precisely because she is such a serious and strict person that it is easier to interpret emotions.

"Wait a minute, Minerva." Sprout asked incredulously. "Could it be... you mean... Severus..."

McGonagall frowned and looked a little fragile. He could see that the news that was about to be spoken was also tormenting her heart."I don't know, Pomona. In fact, judging from all the clues found so far, there is still a possible suspect."

"Another one?" Sinistera asked in surprise. Before she could remember, a weak voice interrupted her and immediately offered another message in McGonagall's words."So Severus is indeed suspicious." Barbara leaned against the wall, as if she would fall to the ground at any time, her weakness was obvious.

"...Yes." McGonagall bit his lip. "I asked about the gargoyle at the door of the principal's office, and the portraits of the principal in the office. They all said they had seen Sis on the night Albus died. Nep-Snape and his companions entered the principal's room together. The gargoyle even told me that they had quarreled about certain things. After that, I was the only person who entered the principal's room."

"But Albus believes him!" Flitwick shouted, "He saved him from Azkaban's prison, gave him a clean and decent new identity, and even gave him the opportunity to stay in Huo. Gewarts teaches! He helped Severus so much, how and how..." This kind little wizard slapped his head in annoyance, as if it was his own mistake that caused Deng. Blido's death.

"Snape?! That filthy, scumbag!" Hagrid's roar was so clear that the students on the other side of the lawn could also hear him, and he wringed the handkerchief he was holding desperately, as if now In his hands was Snape himself.The redness and swelling of his eye circles hasn't gone away yet, it's better to say that it is getting bigger and bigger.These days, as long as he thinks of Dumbledore’s death, he has to cry, "I suspected that the insidious old bat had no good intentions years ago! Many people think so! Just because Dumbledore believed him, so We are only (when mentioning Dumbledore, he couldn't help but bury his face in the crumpled handkerchief again)...When I find him, he should know what he is about to lose!

"Calm down, Hagrid." Barbara's nonchalant tone was like a pot of cold water. "Didn't Minerva just say it? There is a second suspect. The conviction now begins. Isn't it a bit early?"

Hagrid glared at her angrily: "The facts are already in front of you, do you want to excuse Snape?"

"I hope I'm talking to a wizard who can be rational, not a fool with muscles in his head." Barbara pointed to herself, "No matter what you say, at least I understand who these years are. I have been trying my best to boil medicine for me, repeatedly revising and refining the prescription in order to reduce my illness."

"I owe Professor Dumbledore an adult request. If Severus is indeed the murderer, I am not going to shield him."

"Don't you shield him because you were all Slytherin students before? It's like smelling the same smell--" Hagrid's anger was obviously out of control, and the offended Barbara's eyes became cold, and she pulled out The wand in the arms.

"Stop it all!" McGonagall interrupted them both severely, "Barbara, put away the wand! Are you going to attack your companion?" She looked at Hagrid again, "Hagrid, to Barbara Pull an apology! Immediately!" Others also hurried forward to discourage.

After picking up the sanity, the confusion quickly subsided."Minerva, Barbara, she was right. The prisoner might not be Severus. You said just now that the gargoyle heard him quarrel with someone, maybe Severus was just being coerced into doing it. What, we have to figure out who the murderer was." Sprout had just finished saying this, but he noticed that McGonagall's face had become more ugly.

"To be honest, when I know the other person's true identity, I would rather be Snape's hand." McGonagall's tone was very stiff, "Because if it weren't like this, I really wouldn't be able to accept it."

"Do we know that person too?" Flitwick asked, "or is it an acquaintance?"

"Yes, it's a person we all like. You are more familiar with this person than I am, Filius." McGonagall closed his eyes and said difficultly, "but it's just that we have misunderstood the person. We are all I was deceived. Even Albus Dumbledore couldn't resist the betrayal blade stabbed from behind the defenseless."

Barbara's attitude became serious."Minerva, come on, who is that person?" She seemed to have noticed, and asked softly.

"It's Zoe Siegel." McGonagall ignored the uproar in the office. "Yes, that's the kid Albus cares about the most. She was with Snape that night, and the two went to Albus. Office."

Chapter 75 The Death of Dumbledore (Part 2)