Hogwarts: Chill, I'm Not That Riddle-Chapter 519: Snape’s Inevitable Letdown

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Grindelwald studied the man standing before him, head bowed, silent as a shadow.

He had spent a fair amount of time at Hogwarts last year, yet he and Snape had never exchanged a single word. Still, the Potions professor was hardly a stranger to him.

Looking at Snape now, tense and restrained, Grindelwald felt an unexpected flicker of sympathy.

After all, Snape had been the first professor to be defeated by Tom.

Grindelwald and Andros had at least lasted two more years before suffering the same fate.

What a rookie.

Snape, head lowered, felt something was off. Wizards were sensitive to eyes on them, to shifts in emotion. He and Grindelwald had never met before. Why, then, did the Dark Lord’s gaze carry such complicated feelings?

"Sneaking over in the middle of the night to find me," Grindelwald said at last, settling onto a stone bench. His voice, faintly hoarse, cut through the still air with a trace of impatience. "I assume you didn’t come just to stand there and stare, Mr. Snape?"

"Mr. Grindelwald," Snape finally raised his head. "I have a few questions I’d like to ask."

His tone was subdued, nothing like the sharp authority he wielded in front of students. It was the voice of a subordinate reporting to his superior.

Having once served another Dark Lord, Snape understood better than anyone that caution was never excessive when facing someone of this caliber.

And tonight, he was asking for something.

That meant lowering himself as far as necessary.

"Oh?" Grindelwald arched a brow. He had already guessed Snape’s purpose, but he played along. "Instead of going to the man who trusts you implicitly, you come to me. A Dark Lord. Fine. I’ll give the Potions Master some face. Ask."

"You’re right. Dumbledore does trust me."

Snape maintained his respectful posture, but his voice grew heavier. "He’s shared many of his secrets with me. Not just intelligence about Voldemort... even his own past."

His facial muscles trembled. He spoke each word carefully, deliberately.

"Miss Ariana Dumbledore... did not sleep peacefully for a century, as you claim."

"She came back to life. Dragged back from death itself. A true resurrection."

His words fell away. The courtyard sank into a deathly silence, broken only by the whisper of wind through the sycamore leaves.

Snape stared straight into Grindelwald’s eyes, pupils tightening, searching for the slightest shift in expression.

He found nothing.

Grindelwald sat there calmly, face unreadable from beginning to end.

Just as the last threads of hope inside Snape were about to snap, Grindelwald finally spoke.

"The more you know, the faster you die. I assume you understand that."

"Snape, I truly don’t know what gives you the confidence to confront me alone."

"No, this isn’t a confrontation. It’s a request."

Snape bowed his head sharply. His shoulders trembled faintly. There was even a hint of pleading in his voice. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Mr. Grindelwald, I only want one answer. One method. If you tell me... I will do anything for you."

Dumbledore had made a mistake in the end.

He had drowned in the overwhelming joy of Ariana’s return and completely overlooked one man who still lived in endless pain after losing the love of his life. A man who understood his methods and his secrets better than most.

At first, Snape had planned to confront Dumbledore directly and demand the resurrection spell. But after a day of thought, he realized the heart of the matter wasn’t Dumbledore.

It was Grindelwald.

This morning’s explanation had clearly been the result of an agreement between the two of them. Going to Dumbledore would get him nowhere.

So he had come here instead.

It wasn’t rational.

But when it came to Lily Evans, Snape was as reckless as a Gryffindor.

"Interesting." Grindelwald’s lips curved in faint amusement. "You used to be a Death Eater. Now you work for Dumbledore. And you’re thinking of switching sides again."

Snape’s expression didn’t change. His voice simply dropped lower. "Mr. Grindelwald, you have your grand ambitions. A small man like me has his own pursuit. I only want to correct the mistakes I made. Give me a chance."

"Anything?" Grindelwald lifted a brow.

"Yes." Snape’s answer was immediate, absolute.

"Fine. Go kill Dumbledore."

Grindelwald’s tone was calm, almost casual. "Succeed, and I’ll tell you everything I can. I’ll even make you second-in-command of the Acolytes."

Me?

Kill Dumbledore?

Snape’s eyes flew wide open.

Have you actually listened to yourself?

If I were capable of that, I’d have smashed Voldemort to pieces ages ago. Why would I still be stuck at Hogwarts, clinging to Dumbledore’s protection?

And who are you trying to fool? Other people might not know about your... complicated history with Dumbledore, but I do.

You talk a good game now. If I really made a move against Albus Dumbledore, I’d probably be the one getting hit with a Killing Curse from you the next second.

"Troubled?" Grindelwald watched Snape’s rapidly shifting expression and thoughtfully offered an alternative. "Then go kill Tom Riddle instead. He’s just a student. That should be manageable."

"I think killing Dumbledore sounds more realistic," Snape replied flatly.

"Mr. Grindelwald, you and Riddle are partners of sorts. That boy is insidious, cunning, shameless. He has no bottom line. Worst of all, he’s petty. He doesn’t understand the first thing about courtesy. The moment he’s stronger than you, he’ll start rubbing it in your face and won’t give you a shred of respect..."

Snape went on and on, every word sharp with personal grievance.

Grindelwald was stunned at first. Then, before he could stop himself, he nodded.

He really was Tom’s Head of House. The assessment was painfully accurate.

Then something seemed to click.

Grindelwald’s head froze mid-motion, as if he’d been hit with a Body-Bind Curse.

Snape finally ran out of breath. His chest rose and fell as he steadied himself before continuing, "Mr. Grindelwald, I’m willing to do anything within my ability. But those two conditions... they’re impossible."

"I see." Grindelwald waved him off distractedly, his mind already elsewhere. "Go back for now. I’ll think it over and send word."

Snape bowed slightly, then slipped out of the garden like a ghost, silent along the stone path back toward the castle.

Only after he was gone did Grindelwald stiffly lift his head and glance toward the Astronomy Tower. His lips twitched as he muttered under his breath.

"If I said I wasn’t agreeing with him just now, but praying for Snape instead... would you believe me?"

...

On the Astronomy Tower, Tom was staying with Penelope

"You’ve got a better head for business than Cassandra," he murmured soothingly. "And because you understand the Muggle world, you see angles she doesn’t. When you graduate next year, I’ll hand the Elaina Workshop over to you."

For reasons Tom couldn’t quite pinpoint, Penelope and Cassandra had started competing with each other. So he had carved out time from his already packed schedule to do a bit of emotional damage control.

Tom was multitasking as usual. While comforting Penelope, he was also watching the show.

From here, he could see toward the Forbidden Forest. On a wide clearing near its edge, tiny dark figures from Uagadou were still awake, busily constructing their temporary settlement.

And when Snape went to find Grindelwald, Tom had watched the entire exchange.

His dear Head of House.

What a glowing review he’d given him.

And Grindelwald, the old fox, had actually nodded along.

Fine. He would help Andros beat someone badly soon.

As for Snape’s request, Tom could only say sorry, but no.

Resurrect Lily Evans?

Not happening.

At best, Lily had been a standout of her generation. Tom no longer even bothered summoning figures at that level. They had no real value. The future Study Space would only produce stronger and stronger individuals. Lily’s soul simply didn’t qualify.

He wasn’t about to waste precious achievement points combing through countless historical talents just to indulge Snape’s obsession.

This was destined to be a one-sided wish.

"Tom... I’m cold."

Penelope shifted in his arms, her warm breath brushing against his neck and dragging his wandering thoughts back.

"Then let’s stop watching. Come on. We’ll head back."

---

Meanwhile, at Hogsmeade, two Dumbledores were arguing.

Albus Dumbledore had told Aberforth about the conversation that afternoon. But after listening, Aberforth looked unimpressed. If anything, he supported Ariana’s idea.

"What’s wrong with that?" Aberforth shot his brother a look of disdain. "She’s finally back, and you still expect her to live with her head down? Then what was the point of bringing her back at all?"

"I can’t stand Grindelwald, but he’s right about this. Some people are pathetic. If you treat them gently, they don’t feel grateful. They just think you’re weak."

"Take Cornelius Fudge. What did coddling him get you? He’s still suspicious of you at every turn."

"Tom slapped him once, and now look at him. Obedient as a lapdog. Compared to that, you’re useless."

"I’m with Ariana. As her brother, you should support her dreams unconditionally. If you can’t do that, then don’t call yourself a Dumbledore."

Aberforth finished his tirade, downed the rest of his tequila in one gulp, and stormed out of the room in a fury.

Dumbledore could only sigh.

Why was every member of his family so unreasonable?

What on earth had happened to this world?

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