HP - Shadow Monarch! [BOOK 1]

Chapter 154 - Confrontation with the Headmaster 01.

[Chapter Size: 2000 Words.]

Third Person POV

England.

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"Then you were the owner of this shop, my boy..." Dumbledore spoke in a grandmotherly tone, looking around the shop. The house-elf approached cautiously, glancing between the headmaster and the master. Meanwhile, Igris remained hidden near the headmaster, unnoticed by him.

"It seems it wasn't hard to figure that out, Headmaster. After all, you came to my house some time ago, am I wrong?" Snape replied, his tone serious.

"I was worried about you," Dumbledore said softly, unfazed by Snape's words, but Snape shook his head, as if dismissing the sentiment.

"During the holidays? What would the headmaster of the school want with me during this time?" Snape asked while Dumbledore pressed his lips together, avoiding a direct response.

"I heard about what happened at the Ministry, that you gave an interview to the Minister of Magic, and it made the papers," Dumbledore commented.

"I don't believe it... I've never heard of a headmaster wanting to visit a student; this is suspicious," Snape said, his questions seemingly mirrored in the lone shadow nearby. Igris, hidden there, seemed ready to strike at the headmaster at any moment.

"I already said, I was worried about you, boy," Dumbledore murmured.

"Still, you come to my shop," Snape retorted.

"Well, you can imagine that, as headmaster, I need to know when a student simply doesn't show up for classes for more than two weeks after the start of the term," Dumbledore explained, and Snape had to admit he had a point.

"I needed to sort out the situation with my shop; that's why I haven't returned yet," Snape said calmly.

"May I know where you were? You weren't in England, were you?" Dumbledore asked.

"You could say that I wasn't. But don't worry about it—I was taking care of some things that needed to be done outside the country," Snape replied.

"And will you return to Hogwarts?" the headmaster asked again.

"Yes, I intend to. If I still have the rights I had last year," Snape replied calmly.

"That will be a bit difficult, as things are getting complicated," Dumbledore said, his tone apologetic.

"Well, as you can see, I have my own business here. I'll prioritize it. I no longer care about returning to Hogwarts," Snape countered, while Dumbledore once again pressed his lips together tightly. A restrained anger was visible in him, but he concealed it well through Occlumency.

"Well, perhaps I could reconsider that," Dumbledore said.

Snape looked at him for a moment and decided to end this charade once and for all.

"Yes, Headmaster, but I highly doubt it. After all, you already know that I'm the mysterious alchemist of England," Snape said calmly, as the atmosphere seemed to grow darker. His shadow, now beginning to manifest, was prepared to attack at any moment, though the headmaster's perception was not sharp enough to notice it yet. Meanwhile, Genini appeared worried, beginning to hide behind the counter.

Snape found himself at a dead end regarding his identity. There was no point in hiding it anymore.

"Yes, I know that very well," Dumbledore admitted sincerely.

"And what do you plan to do with that information?" Snape asked again, his voice laden with danger.

"I can't say I'm pleased to know you are this person. After all, you've committed some crimes—killing those people in the black market and fighting with that woman, destroying a significant portion of the area..." Dumbledore began to say but was interrupted.