HP - Shadow Monarch! [BOOK 1]

Chapter 155 - Confrontation with the Headmaster 02.

[Chapter Size: 1900 Words.]

Third Person POV

England.

...

...

The headmaster had fallen onto the streets of Diagon Alley, feeling his body crash against the hard ground. For a moment, he almost believed he'd been struck by a spell his shield couldn't withstand.

Cough.
Cough.
Cough.

He coughed a little as he recovered. A few people in the distance noticed something was amiss and began approaching. It was nighttime, and Diagon Alley was much quieter than usual. Some shops were still open, and there was some movement in the area.

The space in front of Dumbledore distorted as he tried to recover and stand. His body felt somewhat paralyzed from the lightning spell, surprised by this type of magic. His gaze fell forward, where Snape appeared right before him.

"I don't think you can stop me..." Snape commented calmly.

"..." Dumbledore didn't respond, staring at him for a moment, preparing to fight.

Snape glanced away from Dumbledore and looked toward the streets, noticing people approaching. "You don't want to draw attention, do you, Dumbledore?" he said. With a flick of his wand, a cloak covered him, transforming him into the figure known as the Hogsmeade assassin.

"There's no need for us to act this way, Snape..." Dumbledore said, reassessing the man before him. Snape was far more powerful than he had imagined, and engaging in a fight could be exceedingly dangerous.

"You attacked me right after your little speech about taking me to the Ministry? Are you sure you're thinking straight?" Snape raised an eyebrow at the old man.

"I do not wish for our conflict to affect others, Mr. Snape..." Dumbledore said, still preparing for battle.

"Then let's leave the streets. After all, we can't let others get caught up in our fight, can we?" Snape said from beneath his hood, his voice now distorted.

Dumbledore also noticed the crowd drawing too close. Snape was the first to disappear, moving to the rooftops, and Dumbledore followed suit.

The people in the street were surprised to see the silhouettes of the two figures vanish.

"Hey, who were they? Were they fighting? Should we call the Aurors?" one of them asked.

"That silhouette... it looked like the headmaster of Hogwarts! Albus Dumbledore!" another murmured.

Snape watched Dumbledore reappear before him, the two locking eyes. It was around 8 p.m., but the moon shone brightly in the sky as London glimmered in all directions beyond Diagon Alley.

"You know, I always knew I'd fight you someday. I just didn't think it would be here... You were so eager to capture me that you came after me during the holidays and even now, without bothering to set a proper trap?" Snape asked calmly, the night breeze stirring his dark cloak.

"I wasn't certain about many things. You even managed to deceive the people I placed near you..." Dumbledore said.

Snape's eyes widened at those words. Could Dumbledore have done such a thing?

"You... Lily, of course," he murmured softly, beginning to piece things together. Lily had always stayed close to him, no matter how poorly he treated her. She always seemed to want to be near him—a behavior that now seemed strange, almost as if...