[HP: I became Snape]-Chapter 184: Portkey and Felix Felicis

Dumbledore took the cracked ring and examined it closely in his palm.

His gaze lingered for a moment on the empty setting and the destructive mark etched into it, his fingers gently brushing over the rough golden surface.

Suddenly, as if struck by something utterly absurd yet amusing, he let out a chuckle, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"Well, well..." Dumbledore shook his head, his laughter tinged with relief and a touch of self-mockery. "So it was you... And here I was, thinking I'd misjudged Tom all along, worrying for ages, racking my brain over what detail I’d missed..." He raised his eyes, his bright blue gaze meeting Snape’s. "You, my boy... you always manage to surprise me."

"Rest assured, Severus," he paused, his voice softening, "I’ve already 'died' once, so to speak. It’s not exactly a pleasant experience."

As he spoke, Dumbledore’s expression suddenly sharpened. He realized abruptly that if the ring was in Snape’s possession, and the Elder Wand and Invisibility Cloak were also in his hands—

"You..." he blurted out, but immediately caught himself, clamping his mouth shut and swallowing the rest of his words.

At that moment, Grindelwald, who had been silently observing from the sidelines, leaned lazily against the armrest of the sofa and finished Dumbledore’s unspoken thought.

"Severus," he said, his gray eyes sweeping over Snape with a hint of amusement, "doesn’t this mean you’ve now collected all three Deathly Hallows?"

"Indeed," Snape replied with a casual shrug. "I’ve completed what two old men couldn’t."

He reached into the inner pocket of his robes and pulled out a cold, black gemstone, followed by the Elder Wand and the Invisibility Cloak with its dark, hollow center. He dumped them all onto the table, along with a small parchment-wrapped package.

"Take a look," he said flatly. "The Elder Wand, the Invisibility Cloak, the Resurrection Stone—all here. I’ve tested them. There’s no special power to conquer death when they’re combined. No Death coming to claim its master, no invincible strength. It seems a fairy tale meant for children has fooled countless grown wizards. People always believe what they want to believe."

Grindelwald gave Snape a long, penetrating look before picking up the Hallows.

He walked to the long table in the center of the room and laid them out side by side on its polished surface. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall couldn’t help but stand and join him, gathering around the table.

Grindelwald’s fingers traced over each Hallow with care, occasionally tapping the Elder Wand lightly while muttering a few obscure syllables, as if trying to awaken or sense something.

His brows furrowed slightly, his expression one of intense focus.

But after a short while, his movements stilled. The inquisitive look on his face faded, replaced by a detached understanding.

Without comment, he gathered the Hallows, walked back to Snape—who was still seated on the sofa—and handed them back.

Dumbledore watched as Snape took the Hallows and stuffed them carelessly back into his robe’s pocket. A glimmer flickered in his blue eyes, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only sighed softly and followed Grindelwald back to the sofa.

The room fell into a brief silence.

Snape’s gaze shifted to Professor McGonagall, clearly not forgetting their earlier discussion.

Under his scrutiny, McGonagall took a deep breath and spoke up. "Elphinstone Elcott. I met him many years ago when I worked at the Ministry. He was my superior."

"He’s a senior official in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, upright and fiercely opposed to Dark Magic..." She hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly, her voice softening as she added, "He’s also... a very good friend I’ve known for a long time. I swear on my honor, he’s absolutely trustworthy. The information comes from a reliable source."

Seeing McGonagall’s rare display of embarrassment and unease, coupled with her staunch defense of Elcott, Snape quickly deduced that their relationship was far more than just "old friends" or "former colleagues."

He made a swift judgment: the source was likely reliable. With a nod, he turned to Dumbledore.

"Professor, if the information is trustworthy, we can’t ignore the anomalies in the Department of Mysteries. I believe we should start planning an operation to infiltrate the Ministry."

Dumbledore clasped his hands, deep in thought. After a moment, he said, "Very well. This is critical. I’ll go to the Ministry myself to investigate..."

"You can’t go in person," Snape interrupted sharply.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, looking at him.

"Professor, Tom knows your magical signature and style too well," Snape continued. "If you leave even the slightest trace at the Ministry, he’ll likely realize it’s you immediately. Our ultimate goal isn’t just to find and destroy the final Horcrux. We need to create an opportunity to lure Voldemort and his key Death Eaters out and eliminate them once and for all. If you go yourself, given Tom’s nature, he’ll never confront you head-on. Even if you succeed in retrieving the Horcrux, it’ll only alert him. He’ll realize his Horcruxes are no longer secret, check his other hiding places, and possibly do something even more extreme and unpredictable."

Snape’s voice grew grave. "In my view, a powerful Dark Lord who realizes his hope of immortality is shattered, with nothing left to lose and descending into complete madness, is the most terrifying and unpredictable disaster. We must avoid that. This operation needs to be meticulously planned to succeed in one fell swoop."

"What’s your plan?" Dumbledore asked, his tone now serious.

"I’ll go," Snape said, picking up the small parchment package from the table. He unwrapped it to reveal a First-Class Order of Merlin medal. "With this." He held it up. "The illegal Portkey you made for me, set to take me to the Hogwarts Headmaster’s office."

Dumbledore blinked, then smiled, recalling the little gadget he’d crafted to help Snape infiltrate Malfoy Manor.

"I can make a couple more for you, with different triggers and destinations," Dumbledore offered.

"No need. This one will do," Snape said, shaking his head. "My goal is Hogwarts, and this is perfect." He outlined his plan in detail. "I’ll infiltrate the Department of Mysteries to find the Horcrux. If I succeed, or if I encounter insurmountable danger, I’ll activate the Portkey and return to Hogwarts. If I secure the Horcrux, I’ll find a way to let Tom know my destination is Hogwarts. Meanwhile, you—" he looked at Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Grindelwald—"will lead everyone back to Hogwarts Castle in secret to set up an ambush. With the castle’s anti-Apparition wards, we might have a chance to trap Tom and his core Death Eaters when they pursue me. Even if I don’t find the Horcrux, we’ve been on the run long enough. It’s time to go home."

Before Dumbledore could comment on this bold and risky plan, Grindelwald spoke up, his tone laced with approval.

"Brilliant. Not bad for my star pupil! I’ve been saying it—why are we the ones hiding like rats? Clear thinking, bold but meticulous. Go for it!"

Dumbledore shot Grindelwald a reproachful look, as if he thought him too flippant.

Grindelwald met Dumbledore’s gaze with a defiant smirk. "What’s that look, old man? Severus can fly without a broom now. With the Elder Wand in hand, do you really think his combat skills are far behind yours back in the day? Besides, this is about infiltration and retreat, not a full-on duel."

"Alright, alright," Snape interjected, smoothing things over. "I’ll prepare thoroughly. I’m not reckless with my life. Of course, if you have any unique spells or protective charms to spare, I won’t say no..."

Seeing Dumbledore and McGonagall still weighing the plan’s risks, their faces hesitant, Snape didn’t press further. Instead, he reached out and shook the silver bell on the nearby tea table.

A clear, tinkling sound echoed through the cabin.

The three others looked puzzled, unsure why he was summoning a house-elf at such a moment. Snape offered no explanation, waiting calmly.

After about half a minute, a soft knock came at the door.

With permission, a wrinkled house-elf dressed in a neat tea towel entered, bowing deeply to the group.

"Good evening, Kreacher," Snape said. "Find Crouch and Abbott. Have them gather all the sixth- and seventh-year students on the ship immediately. Also, notify Moody, Fenwick, Vance, the Longbottoms, the Prewett brothers... all the core Order members. Bring them here. There are a lot of people, so get a few other elves to help you. Be quick."

Kreacher’s large eyes blinked, and he replied in his bullfrog-like voice, "Yes, Mr. Snape. Kreacher will do it at once!"

He bowed again, turned swiftly, and left the captain’s cabin, closing the door gently behind him.

Snape turned to Dumbledore and McGonagall, who looked confused.

"Professors, we’re taking action. Even if you hadn’t woken up, Professor Dumbledore, we were already planning to move. Hogwarts belongs to you, to us—but ultimately, it’s ours, the younger generation’s. We can’t hide on this ship forever."

Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged a glance, their expressions complex. They sensed the resolve and strength in Snape’s words, his readiness to take responsibility.

They looked at him, no longer objecting, and gave a small nod, silently approving his plan.

Soon, the sound of footsteps and voices filled the air outside.

The summoned students and Order members began arriving, familiar faces crowding the captain’s cabin.

With so many people, the small room couldn’t accommodate everyone seated. Snape, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Grindelwald stood as well.

Snape waved his wand, using a spell he’d learned from Dumbledore to vanish the sofa, tea table, and armchairs, clearing a large space.

Once the crowd had mostly gathered, Snape stepped forward, took a deep breath, and raised his voice.

"We’re preparing to fight Voldemort! We’re going home—to Hogwarts!"

A second of silence followed.

Then—"Yes!" "Take down those Death Eaters!"

The crowd erupted in brief cheers and shouts, quickly settling as all eyes turned eagerly to Snape, Dumbledore, and the others, awaiting further instructions.

"Professor Dumbledore has only recently woken and may not be fully aware of some of the new strengths we’ve developed," Snape said with a hint of teasing. "Tomorrow, we’ll head to the artillery range in Wales for our usual Muggle weapons training. Professor Dumbledore will join us, and I’d like you all—colleagues and students—to show him what we’ve learned about combining magic and physical force."

The crowd chuckled knowingly at the thought of showing the esteemed Headmaster the power of rocket launchers, heavy machine guns, and mortars, lightening the mood.

"Tomorrow," Snape continued, outlining the plan, "I’ll personally request permission from the Muggle Prime Minister and his Cabinet Secretary to take a batch of firearms, light artillery, and ammunition from the range. With the Duplication Charm, we’ll have enough to sustain our fight."

"The operation begins the day after tomorrow," he said, turning to Moody. "Mr. Moody, you’ll oversee coordination. First and Fourth Squads, secure the Forbidden Forest to prevent enemies from escaping through the woods. Fifth Squad, fortify the Black Lake to cut off their water escape route. Third Squad, seize the Astronomy Tower immediately to set up a fire position. Second Squad, seal the main school entrance to block their primary retreat."

"Understood, Severus," Moody said gravely, tapping his staff.

"As for Professor Dumbledore and Mr. Grindelwald," Snape added, slowing his tone, "they’ll serve as the general reserve, ready to support any front." He raised his voice again. "If possible, avoid head and torso shots... Everyone, we’re going home!"

"YES!" The crowd roared, morale soaring.

The squads began murmuring among themselves, confirming task details.

After Snape instructed everyone to rest for tomorrow’s training and the upcoming mission, the crowd began to disperse orderly.

As they left, Pandora and Lily glanced at Snape with concern, opening their mouths but hesitating in the crowded setting. They followed the others out.

"Pandora, Lily, wait," Snape called suddenly.

They stopped and hurried back to him.

"Severus, you—"

Before they could finish, Snape opened his palm, revealing a small vial of golden liquid, and lowered his voice. "Take this. Felix Felicis. Before the battle, take a sip and share some with Abbott and Crouch. There’ll be enough left—distribute it to the others as you see fit."

Pandora and Lily looked at the precious potion but shook their heads, neither reaching for it.

"You take it," Lily said firmly. "You need it."

"If Mr. Moody’s handling battlefield coordination," Pandora added, her eyes worried, "what about you? Don’t think we don’t know... We’ll be careful."

Snape met their resolute, caring gazes and fell silent for a moment before shaking his head.

"I don’t need it," he said, gently shaking the vial, the golden liquid shimmering within. "True luck comes from meticulous planning, and I’m prepared enough."

"Take it," he insisted, pressing the vial into Pandora’s hand. "That’s an order. Don’t make me worry..."