Chapter 278: Conflict

London.

Fog, heavy fog, mist.

In front of an abandoned red telephone booth, two people, both tall and thin, stood opposite each other. The wind and snow naturally bypassed them, leaving only their long gaze at each other.

It is hard for anyone to imagine that this abandoned red telephone booth is the visitor entrance to the Ministry of Magic,

Similarly, it is hard for Muggles to imagine that the people standing here are two wizards.

Not far away, under a pavilion, the wizard with the long white beard blinked his eyes:

"Oh—of course, of course, such an interesting scene must be put into a Pensieve..."

His words quickly blurred in the wind and snow, and then the two people standing opposite each other spoke.

"Severus, I hope you are not talking nonsense."

Professor Marcus Marcus Maige's eyes flashed with stern and urgent light; she couldn't imagine what she had heard.

"Professor Marcus Marcus Maige, I said, I will... take responsibility."

Sineipu was expressionless, his voice hoarse and low. But inside, he was like magma deep underground, calm on the surface but boiling in the depths.

"Who else would love you? Severus?

You once begged bitterly outside the Gryffindor Tower; do you want to add a Ravenclaw Tower now?"

The words of that short knight crashed in Severus Sineipu's heart.

So he spoke slowly and firmly:

"I will... take responsibility."

Professor Marcus Marcus Maige had never thought she would hear this from Severus; she was shocked and couldn't help but be angry.

Of course, she knew that the little one had a pair of bright green eyes, but just because of this...

"Impulse won't lead to any good results; you should know this, Severus."

Professor Marcus Marcus Maige was originally angry, but looking at those deep eyes, she seemed to recall something, and her tone softened a little.

Dumbledore in the distance also slowly pressed his beard... of course, if there were no impulse... would there be another possibility appearing in Hogwarts Castle...

Dumbledore's deep gaze looked into the distance. Those who mock others' scars are even more contemptible than the darkness behind those scars.

"Of—course—"

Professor Sineipu's expression could not be seen.

"I cannot understand this 'of course,' Severus."

Professor Marcus Marcus Maige said with a cold face,

"Do you think—that child is a substitute for someone?!"

She had already suppressed the monstrous anger in her heart; the unique child in her eyes—tenacious, firm, talented, humble, and friendly—had actually become a substitute in someone's eyes—

"Forgive me for being blunt, Severus, you should think carefully about what you know—"

She glanced at Professor Sineipu one last time, and flames of anger erupted in her usually calm eyes.

She stepped into the telephone booth, not intending to say anything more.

This flame scorched not only herself but also left Professor Sineipu stunned on the spot.

But after only two seconds, he strode forward again.

"I certainly know—"

His mouth was still as cold as the dungeon—that dark, cramped cage that would always be. Here, only true hope would break through the door.

He thought he had seen the name that caused him unbearable pain...

But he didn't expect it was just reflecting himself. A new, firm, and dark-faded possibility that would never repeat the same mistakes.

In the dungeon, the short knight was always angry and frustrated. For more than ten centuries, he had witnessed too many tragedies, but not many were more heartbreaking than this.

"Of course, Severus, you stupid thing—you are a Death Eater, a reclusive freak, a pathetic wretch who wears his mother's smock as underwear... but how do you know that you aren't worthy of touching something beautiful?"

No matter how pitiful and despised you are, don't you understand... Severus, your love is not."

"I certainly—know—"

Severus Sineipu would not give an inch; he swore to Merlin that he would not tear his soul apart in guilt and regret.

"Severus..."

Minerva Marcus Marcus Maige was a bit stunned; the white snowflakes blurred her vision.

The red telephone booth was piled with snow, and even the top of the telephone booth's metal shell wore a white hat of snow.

Thus, for the first time, snow fell on Minerva Marcus Marcus Maige's head. She stared at him, her eyes also filled with suppressed turbulent waves.

Far from the telephone booth.

"Oh—oh—"

The old man with the long white beard took a sip of honey tea, which burned his hand for a moment; although he remained expressionless, his hand had already reached for some strange candies.

"Alright, I've had enough to drink. Time to start enjoying some candies.

Ah—Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. Reminds me of when I was young. I was so unlucky back then, accidentally eating a bean that tasted stinky. Since then, I haven't eaten beans for a long time—but I think choosing a toffee-flavored one this time is always foolproof."

He smiled and threw the golden-brown bean into his mouth. Then he choked and couldn't breathe, saying:

"Pah, unlucky again! It's earwax!"

……

Ministry of Magic.

Its main hall is located on the eighth floor, which is the lobby and reception area of the Ministry of Magic headquarters, used to welcome incoming Ministry of Magic visitors and employees.

After entering the elevator blocked by a refined golden fence door. Every time it reached a floor, a cold woman's voice in the elevator would announce the department on that floor.

The eighth floor arrived; this was a very long, magnificent hall, the dark wooden floor polished to a shine, and the peacock-blue ceiling was inlaid with sparkling golden symbols that constantly moved and changed, like a huge bulletin board hanging high in the sky.

On the walls on both sides of the main hall were many gilded fireplaces: the fireplaces on the left were used for arrivals, and the fireplaces on the right were used for departures.

At this time, the clerk responsible for Muggle problem regulation looked at the two again:

"Respected sir, madam, may I ask if you are... husband and wife?"

Professor Sineipu almost took out his wand, and Professor Marcus Marcus Maige answered seriously:

"This is not funny, Ellie."

"Professor, what I mean is, if you really want to achieve that goal—then, this is the simplest misreport; you know, the Ministry of Magic has a hundred messes every day, one more doesn't matter. This matter is too small and won't be reported again, and with me watching, no one else will ever know."

The clerk named Ellie Whiteman blinked; even though she had seen countless outrageous events, this one was still among the top.

"No need for that—"

Sineipu looked coldly at Ellie Whiteman, and his wide black robes headed straight for the center of the main hall.

What is the Ministry of Magic?

Just a makeshift operation.

He, Severus Sineipu, would not go so far as to follow the rules of those fools. ===== CHAPTER 279 =====