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Chapter 1506: Only Death
🕑 Added 2025-06-28 16:11:53 +0000 UTCThey helped Dumbledore sit down on the giant boulder. It was almost impossible for the three of them to climb thousands of feet up and return to the top of Azkaban Tower in their current state. Not to mention the weakened Dumbledore, even Evan and Harry had no strength left!
Evan took out two bottles of recovery potion and handed them to Harry, and then found a few more for Dumbledore.
He couldn't really assess Dumbledore's current condition; he was not an expert in this field. The potions he had were mainly for restoring stamina and energy and healing wounds, so they might help a bit. But the most urgent and difficult problem was treating the damage left by the Twin Serpent Staff. ...
The damage caused by potions, curses, and magic items was Snape's area of expertise.
They had to get Dumbledore back to Hogwarts as soon as possible. But the moment Evan thought about Hogwarts tonight, he hesitated. If he brought the headmaster back now...
Dumbledore was clearly no longer in any condition to fight, and he seemed to have other plans as well.
What was more concerning was not him, but Severus Snape.
Seeing Dumbledore like this, what would Snape do?!
"Professor, how do you feel?" Harry asked.
“I’ve been better," said Dumbledore weakly, the corners of his mouth twitching, his face paler than ever, lifeless. "These potions don't work on me, Evan. The damage the Twin Serpent Staff has done to my body is too great. This isn’t an artifact to be used lightly. But don’t worry, don’t worry, Harry… I’ll recover soon enough..."
“We need to get you up to the school, sir. ... Madam Pomfrey ..."
"Yes, we need to return to the castle at once, but Madam Pomfrey won’t be able to help me. It is ... Professor Snape whom I need. ...." said Dumbledore. “I need Severus. ..."
"No, sir, the situation in Hogwarts tonight is not suitable for you," said Evan firmly. He had made up his mind not to take Dumbledore back to school just in case. "Let's find a safe place first. I’ll contact other members of the Order of the Phoenix in London."
"You don't understand, Evan, I must go back to school," said Dumbledore clearly. "I must see Severus, this is our chance!"
"What chance?!" Could it be another plan to use death to deceive Voldemort?!
If that was the so-called opportunity, then it was sheer foolishness!
They clearly already had the upper hand. Whether it was in destroying Horcruxes or anything else, Evan had done a lot. From his point of view, there was no longer any need for Dumbledore to sacrifice himself to trick Voldemort. All they needed to do now was proceed step by step to find the treasure keys left behind by the Four Founders, and get the secret treasure they had hidden.
“Listen to me, Evan,” said Dumbledore, fixing his gaze on him. His sapphire-blue eyes were still clear, but due to his extreme weakness, they no longer held that soul-piercing power. “I know what you’re worried about. But if what’s meant to happen tonight truly does happen, then it’s even more important that I see Severus. There are many things he must do — and only he can do them."
"Maybe we can do without Snape..." Evan knew that Dumbledore was referring to Snape's identity as a spy. It seemed he had already made up his mind to embrace death!
"No, you don't understand. Only he can do it!" said Dumbledore weakly, forcing a smile. "And I'm afraid I may not have much time left. I can feel that power calling me... You don't really think Herpo the Foul has been completely destroyed, do you?"
"What?"
“There’s still his soul,” said Dumbledore. “Salazar Slytherin once split that Dark wizard-turned-monster into four parts; his most powerful components: the eyes, the body, the brain, and the soul. We’ve destroyed the first three. Now, only the last one remains."
“Herpo the Foul’s soul… where is it?"
"In the place we must go, there is the soul of Herpo the Foul, the treasure key left by Salazar Slytherin and clues about the evil gods," said Dumbledore weakly. "I believe these clues will bring us one step closer to victory."
"I don't understand, Professor, where is that place you’re talking about?" Evan asked.
Dumbledore had just said something similar down below, but where exactly was that place?!
Though Dumbledore clearly wasn’t in a condition to speak much, the information was too crucial. And what did he mean just now by saying he didn’t have much time left?!
A growing unease churned in Evan’s heart. He had originally thought Dumbledore intended to use his own death to help Snape gain Voldemort’s trust. But now it seemed that the current situation and the headmaster's plan were far more complex than Evan had imagined.
“Do you remember the stone tablet you found?” Dumbledore asked. His voice was growing fainter. “That was a map to Herpo the Foul’s lair. We need to go there..."
"But ... that place doesn’t exist in the real world!"
Evan clearly remembered that they had discussed this topic before.
The evil gods were creatures that lived in the void. As long as they had enough energy support, they could cross between spaces. After Herpo the Foul became an evil god, he moved his lair into an alternate dimension. Unless they also crossed over ... by using the Twin Serpent Staff?!
Yes, of course — the Twin Serpent Staff!
This staff possessed the power to cross dimensions. Salazar Slytherin must have used it to cross space and enter Herpo’s lair. The ancient prophet Abraham had also used this magic staff to reach the realm of the evil gods.
“Use the Twin Serpent Staff. It will take us there," Dumbledore's voice was like a whisper. After a moment of silence, he added, "I feel the power calling me, and it is getting stronger and stronger."
What power?!
Evan's heart skipped a beat. Dumbledore had mentioned something like this earlier. It was not a good sign.
He forced himself to suppress the uneasiness in his heart and said, "Professor, let's leave here first!"
"No, Evan, let's finish talking here and then go back to Hogwarts," said Dumbledore firmly, as if he had snapped out of a deep reverie. “I don’t have much time left. I need to say everything here and now."
Evan and Harry exchanged a glance, and both could see the unease in each other's eyes.
“All right, Professor. Right now, we’ve secured the Twin Serpent Staff and the three plaques left behind by the evil god. We’re going to Herpo the Foul’s lair,” said Evan. Seeing Dumbledore nod, he continued, “So how do we use the Twin Serpent Staff to get to that place?"
“Do you remember what Herpo the Foul said to us earlier?” said Dumbledore slowly. “The only way to reach the world he created… is through death. …"
