“So, little one…
it was you who attacked me with magic, wasn’t it?” Snape slowly crouched down.
His expression remained completely blank as he looked at Charlie.
“Hehe.” Charlie put on the most harmless expression he could manage.
His chubby little cheeks quivered slightly, looking like a baby who understood absolutely nothing.
Play dumb first.
The more you do, the more mistakes you make.
If Snape suddenly lost control again…
And ended up smashing the two brothers to death…
Things would really get out of hand.
Snape stared at Charlie intently.
Something still didn’t feel right.
Had this child attacked him purely on instinct?
Simply because he had lost control and tried to hurt Harry?
Maybe…
Snape tried convincing himself.
Yet he still couldn’t calm down.
He had just…
Been hit by a baby.
Using Lily’s wand.
How could an infant possibly cast magic?
Could Voldemort have possessed him?
No…
That didn’t make sense.
If Voldemort had possessed the child, there would have been no reason to attack him and expose himself.
The most likely explanation was still…
That this child could genuinely use magic.
What the hell…
How could a baby possess such powerful magical strength?
At that moment, Snape carefully sensed the magical fluctuations emanating from Charlie.
His suspicions were finally confirmed.
Everything that had happened…
Had truly been this child’s doing.
This child was a magical genius.
No…
He should be called a wizard born with innate magical talent.
Such cases only existed in ancient records.
Not even Hogwarts Headmaster Dumbledore had displayed such abilities as a child.
“Yes…” “Yes…” “This is far too important.” “I need to think…” Snape muttered to himself.
His emotions were in complete turmoil.
Lily’s death had dealt him an enormous blow.
And now…
He was left alone facing the two children she had with James.
The feeling was indescribably uncomfortable.
Especially considering…
He had nearly lost control just moments ago.
Even stranger…
The other child had casually blasted him backward with magic.
It was beyond belief.
Just then…
Hurried footsteps echoed from the staircase.
A moment later, someone sighed.
Dumbledore had arrived.
He slowly surveyed the room.
His eyes dimmed slightly.
His gaze met Snape’s.
Snape’s expression was filled with conflicting emotions.
Coldness.
Resentment.
Grief.
“My condolences.” Dumbledore sighed softly.
Another figure followed closely behind him.
Another Hogwarts professor.
Minerva McGonagall.
Looking around at the devastation…
Sorrow filled McGonagall’s face.
She covered her mouth with both hands, unable to accept what she was seeing.
“No…” “It can’t have ended like this…” She quietly sobbed.
Snape merely snorted.
Then he walked past Dumbledore and McGonagall.
Without looking back even once.
“Snape.” “What about Lily’s two children?” “Don’t you have anything to say?” Dumbledore suddenly called out.
Snape’s footsteps paused briefly.
Only for a few seconds.
Then he continued walking away.
The room fell silent once more.
Leaving behind only Dumbledore’s quiet sigh…
And McGonagall’s muffled sobs.
“Professor McGonagall…” “What’s done is done.” “Our priority now is these two children.” “The children…” “That’s right.” “There are still the children.” “We should take them back to Hogwarts first…” “And then make arrangements for them.” Hearing those words, McGonagall gradually regained her composure.
They were all that remained of James and Lily.
“Oh, Albus.” “This child has a wound on his forehead.” McGonagall said as she picked up Harry.
Dumbledore walked over and gently touched Harry’s forehead.
Upon the lightning-shaped scar…
A mysterious magical aura flowed faintly.
It seemed Dumbledore already understood where the scar had come from.
He sighed quietly.
Then turned and walked toward Charlie.
“Albus…” “I’ve been wondering…” “Why did these two children survive?” “And where is Voldemort?” “There are only the bodies of the Death Eaters here.” “Why isn’t Voldemort’s body anywhere to be found?” McGonagall asked softly.
Her mind was filled with endless questions.
Charlie kept his eyes closed.
Internally, he couldn’t help complaining.
A body…?
Voldemort got blasted into ashes.
“I believe a fierce battle must have taken place here.” “We should reflect on our own failure.” Dumbledore spoke as he walked over.
Then gently picked Charlie up.
Sadness lingered on his face.
The deaths of James and Lily had struck him deeply as well.
“I’m sorry, little one.” “But I need to know what happened here.” Dumbledore appeared to make a difficult decision.
He slowly drew out his wand.
Then carefully moved it toward Charlie’s temple.
Charlie’s eyes snapped open.
The moment he saw what Dumbledore was doing…
He panicked.
You’ve got to be kidding.
Of course he knew what Dumbledore intended.
Legilimency.
Dumbledore clearly wanted to obtain clues from the only two survivors.
The moment Charlie realized that…
He instinctively resisted.
He had far too many secrets now.
If Dumbledore discovered he’d attacked the Death Eaters and Voldemort…
That would be one thing.
But everything else…
Absolutely not.
Forget it.
Looks like I’ll have to play dirty.
With that thought…
Charlie immediately burst into loud sobs.
Ever since he was born, he had hardly cried at all.
Today…
To protect his secrets…
He had no choice.
“Waaah!
Waaaah!” “Oh!” “Little one…” “I’m sorry.” “I’m sorry.” “I shouldn’t have done that.” Charlie’s sudden crying startled Dumbledore.
He immediately withdrew his wand and apologized.
Professor McGonagall also understood what Dumbledore had intended.
“Albus…” “You wanted to find out what happened here?” “Who held Voldemort back?” “And where Voldemort disappeared to?” “Yes.” “Though I admit…” “My method was rather inappropriate.” McGonagall fell silent.
She wanted to know the truth as well.
“Could it be…” “A powerful wizard came to their aid?” McGonagall suddenly suggested.
“That is the only reasonable explanation.” Dumbledore nodded in agreement.
Otherwise…
Why were there so many Death Eater corpses?
And why hadn’t Voldemort succeeded?
After all…
Lily was already dead.
Voldemort’s objective had always been Lily’s children.
He had come to eliminate the possible child foretold in the prophecy.
“But this little one clearly refuses.” Dumbledore shrugged.
Charlie obviously didn’t want him probing his memories.
“Perhaps I could use my Time-Turner to see what happened.” “Unfortunately…” “I didn’t bring it with me today.” McGonagall thought of her magical artifact.
“There’s no need for that for now.” “My spell doesn’t actually harm the body.” Dumbledore shook his head.
Then…
Both he and McGonagall seemed to realize something at exactly the same time.
Their eyes turned toward Harry.
Charlie finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Little brother…
In the end…
You were the one who had to shoulder everything.