Chapter 330: Path of Choice

"You look surprised?" Snape sat down and offered a cold smile.

"What are you planning?" Sirius warned. "What trick is Nagini?"

Snape tilted his head slightly, looking at Harry. "I thought you'd be smarter than your godfather, Potter."

"I assume you mean that if we can lure Nagini into our hands, the only Horcrux left with the Death Eaters will be the cup." Harry immediately thought of the Horcruxes. "Have you already located the cup?"

"Indeed, Bellatrix placed it somewhere utterly obvious—so obvious that no one would ever think to look." Snape chuckled bitterly. "In Gringotts. The Lestrange family vault."

"Ah! That's your plan!" Sirius slapped his hand. "While Nagini is with us, we strike Gringotts and seize the cup—then we can destroy all the Horcruxes."

"Brilliant, Harry. You've successfully fooled Sirius into a circle." Snape sneered. "Horcruxes. Hehehe."

"Yeah, yeah…" Sirius fell silent.

For some reason, Harry felt his godfather always grew agitated and lost his composure in front of Snape.

"Regardless, if we destroy all the Horcruxes, the Death Eaters will lose their greatest advantage." Harry spoke calmly. "We can have the Order launch a raid on Gringotts while we arrest every Death Eater at the election venue."

"So this is your choice?" Snape's tone carried a hint of disappointment. "Is this truly what you intend?"

Harry sensed there was more to Snape's words—he realized he'd oversimplified things. In truth, ever since Voldemort had fallen into stasis, the Death Eaters had already reached their end. The reason they'd been left alive until now was because Harry needed to prove Voldemort could return at any moment, to deter the Soviets.

At this critical juncture, even if not a single Auror was injured when capturing the Death Eaters, within days wizards from East Berlin would come to West Berlin to reclaim their lost magical creatures; and if the Order didn't immediately resurrect Dumbledore, within days they might even lose Diagon Alley.

"I think this matter isn't that simple," Harry scratched his head. "I need to think about it."

"No rush. You have time," Snape glanced sidelong at Sirius. "Worst case, the White House needs a year to build the Focusing Rainbow. Right now, we've already bought six months. All you need to decide is how to spend the next six."

"It needn't be so bleak," Sirius shifted in his seat. "Before we get the Focusing Rainbow schematics, we have other options."

"For instance, waiting until Harry grows as powerful as Dumbledore? Judging by his current state, I doubt that day will ever come." Snape's tone was dismissive.

"In fact, from the start we discussed the most optimistic scenario: we could control both the Order and the Death Eaters." Harry felt belittled, so he spoke more boldly. "We could use healthy competition to raise magical standards, and simultaneously supervise and assist the Ministry of Magic."

"Excellent. Go on." Snape's tone softened slightly.

"Now, the Order is on solid ground, and the Death Eaters…"

Harry suddenly realized "on solid ground" didn't mean a system had been established or a direction found—it meant a leader had emerged. And given Doge's age, he could retire at any moment.

Who would be the next leader? Would it be someone closer to Doge? Or—as Harry had always suspected—did the Order members actually hope Harry would lead them? Was Doge delaying retirement, waiting for Harry to grow?

"... he Death Eaters are nearly ready too." Harry exhaled.

Snape's maneuvering had indeed brought events closer to the ideal: he had facilitated the rise of the next Dark Lord.

If they continued operating through meetings, even with Hofer added, their influence would remain limited: Regulus couldn't command Bellatrix's Death Eaters. But if a Dark Lord were chosen, Lucius and Bellatrix would no longer be indispensable.

"We can't let Bellatrix or Lucius become the Dark Lord—but Professor or Godfather could." Harry said. "This is the best outcome."

"I don't think so," Snape said slowly. "Dumbledore once lost himself in power—and feared it. That very fear created his weaknesses."

"Sometimes, you must take that step… If you're willing, I believe four months is enough for you to master Occlumency."

"You want Harry to pose as Saruman and become the Dark Lord?" Sirius frowned. "First, I disagree. Second, even if you convinced me, how do you guarantee Nagini will choose him?"

"Harry has an unparalleled advantage," Snape said calmly. "He speaks Parseltongue."

"You planned this?" Harry's eyes widened—he'd never noticed this before.

"Yes, I gave it serious thought. What advantages do you have to become Dark Lord? The answer… is almost none." Snape spoke seriously. "If there's one chance, it must come through the snake."

"Have you planned this all along?" Harry's voice trembled. "Did you orchestrate the election of the Dark Lord?"

"Precisely speaking, I merely seized an opportunity, had a sudden insight," Snape's tone grew animated. "And I must thank the inspiration charm left by Ravenclaw."

"Don't get cocky!" Sirius protested. "We're talking about making Harry the Dark Lord? That's far too dangerous!"

"If he won't do it, I will," Snape snorted. "You have four months to decide."

"If we don't choose this Dark Lord," Sirius instinctively wanted to object, but the moment had passed—there was no turning back. "No—unless we stick to the original plan and capture every Death Eater at once."

"Only if you build the Focusing Rainbow in four months by working overtime—or resurrect Dumbledore immediately, if you can actually bring him back." Snape gave Harry a meaningful look.

"Why four months? Why can't we stretch the timeline?" Sirius grumbled. "I think you're pressuring Harry."

"Stretch it? Simple. Let Lucius win." Snape closed his eyes. "He has plenty of ways to delay—two or three years if he wants."

"No, Godfather, I think Professor Snape is right." Harry took a deep breath. "We have many ways to handle the Death Eaters, and several ways to maintain deterrence. But for me, this is a dangerous plan—and also an extraordinary opportunity."

"If I don't take this path, if I refuse to become that Dark Lord, I'll never develop true brilliance." Harry recalled Zhang Qiu's words. "I'll remain a mediocrity who only plays the cards in his hand. I have no confidence I can outmatch Yanayev, let alone Ge Xuan—because Britain's cards are simply worse than theirs. Unless I abandon this era's responsibility, ignore the future of my nation and people, and retreat into my own comfort."

"No one is born owing the state anything. Just live happily," Sirius shook his head. "No one will force you. I won't allow it."

"I've been the Chosen One for fifteen years—relying on my parents' sacrifice and a bit of luck." Harry took another deep breath. "I want to try bearing this responsibility properly—with my own strength."

"I never thought of those external enemies," Snape seemed moved. "But I truly see Dumbledore's shadow in you."

"The lie of the painting… I believe you've already demonstrated wisdom equal to Dumbledore's. All we need now is to wait for your magical growth." Snape declared. "But no one can become a Master of Magic without understanding Dark Magic—even Dumbledore mastered it; he simply chose not to use it."

"As you suspect, the position of Dark Lord is an opportunity—a chance for rapid growth. Not just in wisdom, but in magical power, and some…" Snape hesitated, as if reluctant to say it, "methods."

"I don't believe Harry needs to be placed on that throne to grow," Sirius countered. "He can still study and research on his own. And I repeat: Harry, we owe the British Empire nothing. We can live comfortably in the magical world—it's perfectly fine."

"The magical world isn't necessarily comfortable," Harry recalled what Barty had mentioned. "If we slip up even once—even if we maintain the lie forever—Yanayev keeps advancing. Until the day he believes he can defeat Voldemort, then it'll be too late for us to act."

"I want to be worthy of the role this era has given me," Harry said sincerely.

"It's unfair. Seriously, how old are you?" Sirius grumbled. "I still think it's inappropriate. Even if Nosey here became the Dark Lord would be better—you've always seemed so capable."

"I said Harry has four months to decide." Snape shook his head and rose to leave. "I believe Harry is the most likely to become the next Wizarding Leader. If you wish to persuade him to abandon this opportunity, you also have four months."