Snape looked utterly perplexed。 Dumbledore smiled。
〃I refer to the plan Lord Voldemort is revolving around me。 His plan to have the poor Malfoy boy murder me。〃
Snape sat down in the chair Harry had so often occupied； across the desk from Dumbledore。 Harry could tell that he wanted to say more on the subject of Dumbledore's cursed hand； but the other held it up in polite refusal to discuss the matter further。 Scowling； Snape said； 〃The Dark Lord does not expect Draco to succeed。 This is merely
punishment for Lucius's recent failures。 Slow torture for Draco's parents； while they watch him fail and pay the price。〃
〃In short； the boy has had a death sentence pronounced upon him as surely as I have；〃 said Dumbledore。 〃Now； I should have thought the natural successor to the job； once Draco fails； is yourself？〃
There was a short pause。
〃That； I think； is the Dark Lord's plan。〃
〃Lord Voldemort foresees a moment in the near future when he will not need a spy at Hogwarts？〃
〃He believes the school will soon be in his grasp； yes。〃
〃And if it does fall into his grasp；〃 said Dumbledore； almost； it seemed； as an aside； 〃I have your word that you will do all in your power to protect the students at Hogwarts？〃
Snape gave a stiff nod。
〃Good。 Now then。 Your first priority will be to discover what Draco is up to。 A frightened teenage boy is a danger to others as well as to himself。 Offer him help and guidance； he ought to accept； he likes you … 〃
〃 … much less since his father has lost favor。 Draco blames me； he thinks I have usurped Lucius's position。〃
〃All the same； try。 I am concerned less for myself than for accidental victims of whatever schemes might occur to the boy。 Ultimately； of course； there is only one thing to be done if we are to save him from Lord Voldemort's wrath。〃
Snape raised his eyebrows and his tone was sardonic as he asked； 〃Are you intending to let him kill you？〃
〃Certainly not。 iYoui must kill me。〃
There was a long silence； broken only by an odd clicking noise。 Fawkes the phoenix was gnawing a bit of cuttlebone。
〃Would you like me to do it now？〃 asked Snape； his voice heavy with irony。 〃Or would you like a few moments to pose an epitaph？〃
〃Oh； not quite yet；〃 said Dumbledore； smiling。 〃I daresay the moment will present itself in due course。 Given what has happened tonight；〃 he indicated his withered hand； 〃we can be sure that it will happen within a year。〃
〃If you don't mind dying；〃 said Snape roughly； 〃why not let Draco do it？〃
〃That boy's soul is not yet so damaged；〃 said Dumbledore。 〃I would not have it ripped apart on my account。〃
〃And my soul； Dumbledore？ Mine？〃
〃You alone know whether it will harm your soul to help an old man avoid pain and humiliation；〃 said Dumbledore。 〃I ask this one great favor of you； Severus； because death is ing for me as surely as the Chudley Cannons will finish bottom of this year's league。 I confess I should prefer a quick； painless exit to the protracted and messy affair it will be if； for instance； Greyback is involved … I hear Voldemort has recruited him？ Or dear Bellatrix； who likes to play with her food before she eats it。〃
His tone was light； but his blue eyes pierced Snape as they had frequently pierced Harry； as though the soul they discussed was visible to him。 At last Snape gave another curt nod。
Dumbledore seemed satisfied。
〃Thank you； Severusa133〃
The office disappeared； and now Snape and Dumbledore were strolling together in the deserted castle grounds by twilight。
〃What are you doing with Potter； all these evenings you are closeted together？〃 Snape asked abruptly。
Dumbledore looked weary。
〃Why？ You aren't trying to give him imorei detentions； Severus？ The boy will soon have spent more time in detention than out。〃
〃He is his father over again … 〃
〃In looks； perhaps； but his deepest nature is much more like his mother's。 I spend time with Harry because I have things to discuss with him； information I must give him before it is too late。〃
〃Information；〃 repeated Snape。 〃You trust hima133you do not trust me。〃
〃It is not a question of trust。 I have； as we both know； limited time。 It is essential that I give the boy enough information for him to do what he needs to do。〃
〃And why may I not have the same information？〃
〃I prefer not to put all of my secrets in one basket； particularly not a basket that spends so much time dangling on the arm of Lord Voldemort。〃
〃Which I do on your orders！〃
〃And you do it extremely well。 Do not think that I underestimate the constant danger in which you place yourself； Severus。 To give Voldemort what appears to be valuable information while withholding the essentials is a job I would entrust to nobody but you。〃
〃Yet you confide much more in a boy who is incapable of Occlumency； whose magic is mediocre； and who has a direct connection into the Dark Lord's mind！〃
〃Voldemort fears that connection；〃 said Dumbledore。 〃Not so long ago he had one small taste of what truly sharing Harry's mind means to him。 It was pain such as he has never experienced。 He will not try to possess Harry again； I am sure of it。 Not in that way。〃
〃I don't understand。〃
〃Lord Voldemort's soul； maimed as it is； cannot bear close contact with a soul like Harry's。 Like a tongue on frozen steel； like flesh in flame … 〃
〃Souls？ We were talking of minds！〃
〃In the case of Harry and Lord Voldemort； to speak of one is to speak of the other。〃
Dumbledore glanced around to make sure that they were alone。 They were close by the Forbidden Forest now； but there was no sign of anyone near them。
〃After you have killed me； Severus … 〃
〃You refuse to tell me everything； yet you expect that small service of me！〃 snarled Snape； and real anger flared in the thin face now。 〃You take a great deal for granted； Dumbledore！ Perhaps I have changed my mind！〃
〃You gave me your word； Severus。 And while we are talking about services you owe me； I thought you agreed to keep a close eye on our young Slytherin friend？〃
Snape looked angry； mutinous。 Dumbledore sighed。
〃e to my office tonight； Severus； at eleven； and you shall not plain that I have no confidence in youa133〃
They were back in Dumbledore's office； the windows dark； and Fawkes sat silent as Snape sat quite still； as Dumbledore walked around him； talking。
〃Harry must not know； not until the last moment； not until it is necessary； otherwise how could he have the strength to do what must be done？〃
〃But what must he do？〃
〃That is between Harry and me。 Now listen closely； Severus。 There will e a time … after my death … do not argue； do not interrupt！ There will e a time when Lord Voldemort will seem to fear for the life of his snake。〃
〃For Nagini？〃 Snape looked astonished。
〃Precisely。 If there es a time when Lord Voldemort stops sending that snake forth to do his bidding； but keeps it safe beside him under magical protection； then； I think； it will be safe to tell Harry。〃
〃Tell him what？〃
Dumbledore took a deep breath and closed his eyes。
〃Tell him that on the night Lord Voldemort tried to kill him； when Lily cast her own life between them as a shield； the Killing Curse rebounded upon Lord Voldemort； and a fragment of Voldemort's soul was blasted apart from the whole； and latched itself onto the only