Chapter 38: Professor McGonagall’s Shock

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Professor McGonagall’s Shock

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Professor McGonagall’s Shock

Professor McGonagall’s expression changed drastically when she saw this.

The diary said that she had seen off Headmaster Dumbledore.

What had happened?

Dumbledore was dead?

But Dumbledore was in such good health that he should have been able to live for several more decades. How could he have died?

Or...

Professor McGonagall thought of Voldemort.

Did something happen during the battle with Voldemort?

Forgive Professor McGonagall, but the only explanation she could think of was that Dumbledore had died in the war against Voldemort.

After all, who could have imagined that Dumbledore would actually die at Snape’s hands?

She didn’t know the truth now and could only speculate based on what the diary revealed.

She continued reading.

"I was a little curious about what kind of person Dumbledore was. I’d heard so many people mention this headmaster."

"So one day, when Vesey was in a good mood, I asked her about him."

"Vesey said that Headmaster Dumbledore was a very good person, but also somewhat suspicious. She smiled and told me that because she had appeared so suddenly, Headmaster Dumbledore had always been wary of her, so he used Veritaserum and Legilimency on her."

"I didn’t really understand what those two things were. Vesey told me they were things that could make people tell the truth. At the time, she didn’t understand anything either, so she didn’t realize that Dumbledore had used them on her. Later, she found out that Dumbledore hadn’t meant any harm. He was just worried about her."

"I felt sorry for her. She’s such a good person. How could she possibly be a bad person? And yet that Dumbledore treated her like this!"

Headmaster’s Office

Dumbledore touched his nose, a rare look of embarrassment appearing on his face.

The diary had described him like this, which made him feel rather awkward.

As for its statement that he had used Veritaserum and Legilimency on Vesey, he had no intention of denying it.

After all, that was exactly the kind of person he was.

He had wanted to have a proper conversation with Vesey recently, but he simply hadn’t found the opportunity.

"I hope Severus doesn’t come over and make a scene."

He shook his head helplessly.

Then he continued reading.

"Vesey told me that she didn’t hate Dumbledore. She always felt that Dumbledore was the greatest white wizard in the world. He had such a broad mind."

"I didn’t believe it, but Vesey said firmly: Dumbledore is truly great. His greatness lies in the fact that, even though he clearly suspected that there was something wrong with her, he still didn’t kill her."

"When faced with an unknown existence—or even someone they believe could threaten the entire magical world—countless respected wizards would be unable to resist the urge to eliminate that person. They would rather kill the wrong person than allow a possible threat to remain."

"But Dumbledore was willing to endure other people’s confusion and complaints time and time again. He used Veritaserum and Legilimency on her, guided her as she grew, and tried to understand her instead of simply ending everything."

"Such a wizard is truly great and worthy of admiration."

"When Vesey told me this, her eyes were filled with admiration."

"I’ve rarely seen her admire anyone so much. Even when it comes to her brother, she only looks at him with affection. But when she talks about Dumbledore, there is genuine respect in her eyes."

Dumbledore’s throat tightened.

After all these years, he had actually been admired like this by a girl across time and space.

She even understood everything he had done.

For the first time, he looked directly at the girl named Vesey described in the diary and felt genuine admiration for her.

No one could admire someone without resentment after being treated like that.

Dumbledore had long known that many people might hate him after his death.

But now, he suddenly felt that everything he had done was worth it.

He removed his glasses and wiped his wise blue eyes before continuing to read.

"I didn’t ask about the circumstances of Dumbledore’s death. No matter how much Vesey defended him at the time, I still didn’t think Dumbledore was a good person. All I knew was that Dumbledore was buried at Hogwarts."

"He was the first headmaster to be buried at Hogwarts. So after Vesey died, they also wanted Vesey to be buried at Hogwarts, but Vesey firmly refused while she was still alive."

"Vesey said that she wasn’t the headmaster, so it would be strange for her to be buried at Hogwarts. She also wanted to remain in Godric’s Hollow."

"The scenery there is beautiful. When I passed through the area, I saw the tombstone of a professor."

"It was Professor Severus Snape. He was buried beside the Potter family, very close to them. Hermione told me that Professor Snape had also died in the final battle."

"I know about the final battle. They said that many, many wizards died. And now there was Vesey too."

"It’s much easier to write about these things. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older. I always find myself thinking about Vesey whenever something happens."

"But that’s normal. After all, who could blame me for remembering the best girl I met that summer?"

Hermione sobbed.

As she stared at the diary, she seemed to see the figures of those people falling one after another before her eyes.

Compared with the distant names she had read before, Hermione was now at Hogwarts herself. She had met many of these people.

Seeing those familiar names die one after another in the diary made her heart ache.

And Vesey...

Why did the Vesey described in the diary affect her so deeply?

This was clearly only an outsider’s account of Vesey, yet it still made Hermione cry.

At the same time, in the Great Hall, Snape’s eyes held a trace of satisfaction.

He had been wondering whether the person writing the diary might have died.

After all, Vesey’s condition was so serious. If he had still been alive, there was no way he wouldn’t have been by Vesey’s side.

Now it seemed that he had died early in that war, which was why he couldn’t accompany Vesey or save her.

Vesey had been left to bear the pain of his death alone.

Thinking about dying and being buried in Godric’s Hollow, Snape knew that this must have been what he wanted.

He had always wanted to be with Lily.

Even after death, he had only wanted to remain by Lily’s side.

If not for James Potter, he would have truly wanted to be buried with Lily.

But he certainly hadn’t expected Vesey to be buried there as well, ten years after his death.

If he had known, he would have endured for a few more years—at least until the end of the war—to see Vesey safe and sound before he died.

But now, with the diary’s warning, he had to find a way to survive until the end.

And before he died, he had to save Vesey.