HP: For a better world

"What was that just now... a prophecy?" Marchbanks asked in a low voice, somewhat excitedly, "It has been said that the descendants of Trelawney's generation have inherited the 'second sight', and I have always heard some people say that she is a liar. Now it seems that she is a real prophet!"

Dumbledore sighed helplessly.

In the prophecy just now, Dumbledore cast the Mute Charm as soon as he realized that it was a prophecy related to Voldemort. Most people only heard part of it, and only the professors standing closest to Winston heard the entire prophecy.

"I beg you not to spread it, Griselda. If someone asks you about this, just say you didn't hear it clearly... I'm worried that if you tell others that you heard the full prophecy, you will be targeted by some radical elements..." Dumbledore said seriously. "They will force you to tell them the full picture of Voldemort's prophecy and use it to find their master..."

"I have lived for so many years, Albus," Professor Marchbank smiled, "I no longer worry about death. What threat can the You-Know-Who pose to me? My husband has passed away long ago, and my children have all gone to different parts of the world to start their own families... Besides, prophecies do not always come true."

"I know, but it's not just a legend that Voldemort is still alive. I am still sure that he lives somewhere in the world, waiting for his minions to come... I can only hope that he will come back while I am still alive." He sighed and kissed the old lady's ring. "I ask you to keep secret what you heard today, Professor Marchbanks. No one can be more fair than you in wizard selection. Magical education still needs your help."

"Don't worry so much, Albus. I'm already an old lady with blurry eyes and hard of hearing." Professor Marchbank chuckled and said, "I don't know anything. Many people have no patience for old people with hard of hearing... You are also at this age. Learn to act stupid and let the young people exercise! Don't take all the responsibility on yourself."

She patted Dumbledore's wrinkled hand kindly, "If you have any difficulties, go find those old guys who have turned into monsters and force them to jump out of the cave. You are still a young man in my eyes, Albus. I still remember the phoenix you turned into for me. It was so vivid. I still remember the song it sang clearly. When I think of it, it seems as if power has surged into my old and frail body, making me feel that I can still work in this position for a few more years. Did I forget to ask - was it the song sung by the phoenix you raised?"

Dumbledore smiled quietly: "Yes, someone once wrote the song for me...Fawkes sometimes learns to sing it."

"When you are young, you can't help wanting to show off. I'm glad someone likes it." Dumbledore looked up at the sign hanging on the door of Hogward Village and said, "I'll take you here, Professor Marchbank." He said goodbye, "Goodbye."

The Thestral carriage they had come in was parked there, and the leading Thestral was kicking the dirt under his feet impatiently.

"Don't forget to deal with your backlog of papers! Don't put all the pressure on Little Mille! Goodbye! Albus!"

Professor Marchbank waved goodbye, got on the Thestrals, and took off with a string of wizards following behind on broomsticks.

*

Snape was confused and sat anxiously in the headmaster's office, waiting for Dumbledore's return. Even the slightest movement could cause him to look up anxiously.

Not even Fox could get his attention.

The door slid open quickly.

A series of footsteps were heard.

Snape immediately jumped up from his chair, his thin hands gripping the back of the chair so hard that they turned white.

As soon as the person appeared, he couldn't wait to shout:

"Dumbledore..."

Snape's eyes lit up as if he had seen the backbone, but the light in his eyes quickly dimmed, replaced by suspicion and distrust.

Snape took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "I think we should talk about... the prophecy."

Dumbledore walked in, directing the teapot to pour tea and snacks to fly out and land on the table, while motioning Snape to relax and sit down to talk.

"Is there something important you haven't told me? Why is there a second prophecy?" Snape sat down with impatience, took a sip of the tea given by Dumbledore perfunctorily, and asked.

"Crow, lion, snake, lightning...!"

He counted the images that appeared in the prophecy. A new prophecy... a new image, indicating that a new unlucky person had to participate in the prophecy. "Lightning..." He sneered, "Anyone can guess that the lightning refers to Scarhead! Harry Potter! Our great savior! - the Lightning Boy who survived the Dark Lord and was left with a scar."

He couldn't suppress his anger and sarcastically said, "I knew he was cut from the same cloth as his father, that bastard. Even the prophecy can't stop him from showing off his abilities!"

This doesn't make sense, but for Snape, one more prophecy means one more uncertainty for Harry's life.

"He did win himself a brief dawn," Snape said coldly, "I mean - a short life."

"Calm down, Severus, it may not be that bad. As long as you don't cater to it, it won't necessarily come true."

Dumbledore said calmly.

"--but it's involving more people!" Snape roared angrily, "Trelawney, Trelawney--I'd rather she was just a liar!"

Snape gnashed his teeth and said, "Do I have to be Potter's babysitter for the rest of my life? Protect him until he's 18, and then send myself back to work undercover under the Dark Lord, waiting to die after something happens - isn't that enough? What else do you want me to do!"

"Will the world not stop until I put my neck before the Dark Lord and beg him to grant me death?"

Snape gasped, clenched his hands and questioned, "So, why is there a second prophecy, and how do I know it won't become more?"

"Hmm..." Dumbledore clasped his hands and paused for a moment. "That's a good question. Severus, I'm afraid this prophecy is a supplement to the first one - we call it the 'Star of Savior' prophecy. This is not the first time."

"What do you mean?" Snape asked through gritted teeth.

Dumbledore folded his hands, as if he was embarrassed by the concealment of the news. "At the end of last semester, Harry told me that Professor Trelawney seemed to have made a new prophecy at that time."

"What prophecy?" asked Snape wearily.

"A... prophecy that one of Voldemort's servants will return to him and help him regain power."

Snape was stunned. He stood up, speechless. He was stunned and could not believe that Dumbledore had concealed such an important thing. "Then you also promised Fudge to send Peter Pettigrew to him for disposal???"

"If it were anyone else, I would have worried whether he was a spy sent by You-Know-Who." He said incredulously, "I thought this was what I was supposed to do to the Dark Lord while I was lurking!"

"Because the second prophecy does not seem to have come true at the moment." Dumbledore said helplessly, "As for Fudge... I have been following this matter, and the news from my informants also tells me that the retrial is progressing. They are hastily preparing various materials. Although the speed is slow, the real target has been closely watched. Except for Fudge's confidants, no one can get close to him - I can't figure out how he can run away."

"So you mean it's someone else." Snape pursed his lips.

Dumbledore nodded and told Snape that he currently suspected the wizard who released the Dark Mark at the World Cup. He had not yet caught any trace of him. He only knew that if there was a chance to retaliate against Harry Potter, this Death Eater would definitely not let it go. Moody came to Hogwarts to prevent this fanatic from attacking Harry Potter.

Snape pondered in silence, searching his memory for those fanatical Death Eaters who might have escaped, but forgive his poor memory, no matter how hard he tried to recall the Death Eaters who could be so crazy, except for core members like Bella, he had no impression of the others.

After a while, he said hoarsely: "I can't think of anyone else... Karkaroff? The new headmaster of Durmstrang, a sinister and cunning villain - but he is definitely not loyal to the Dark Lord. Bella, in Azkaban... Among the Death Eaters I know, there is no one more crazy and loyal than Bella... The rest of the people outside the prison are not quite the same. So much so that they are all alive and well now... If you have to confirm a person, I can't think of anyone else except Bella. If it were before, I would tell you Black's name. Their family has crazy blood flowing in their bodies since birth." He said with disgust.

"Well," Dumbledore stopped him, "I will find a few people who can keep it completely confidential to analyze the new prophecy together. I will inform you then, Severus."

"And Moody, he heard it, too," said Snape.

"In order to prevent the enemy from controlling him, he has extracted his memory and handed it to me." Dumbledore said with a headache.

"He said he would put the memory back when he needed it."

Snape raised his lips as if he wanted to mock something, but finally gave up and just curled his lips.

"I hope to receive notification as soon as possible, Dumbledore." Snape said, "I will not be able to rest easy if the prophecy is not confirmed as soon as possible... Today, everyone will suspect that White is also one of the prophecies, but he has nothing to do with the grievances of our generation. He is an orphan."

"Potter shouldn't have brought him into this."

"I will do it as soon as possible," Dumbledore soothed.

……