Snape's words were like the strongest dose of stimulant, injected into Lucius' veins, causing a sickly flush to surge across his pale face, with his eyes bursting with excitement.
"I... tell me what to do!"
He said with a trembling voice, "I will spare no effort to dispel all doubt!"
Snape nodded slightly, seemingly unaffected by Lucius' emotions, yet there was a hint of doubt about his stance.
The Professor of Potions ended the topic with his characteristic cold tone: "Stay vigilant and await instructions. When the Dark Lord needs you to contribute your strength, you will naturally know."
"I understand... thank you, Severus. I know, not everyone is willing to maneuver for someone else if the tables were turned."
Lucius took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions, stood up, tidied his robe, and prepared to leave.
His gaze once again swept over the corner of the wall where two human-shaped figures were, his steps halted, and he turned to ask in a low voice: "These two fellows... how do you plan to deal with them?"
Snape's gaze did not even follow, as if they were something detestable, and a sarcastic smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Them?" He said, "I will package them up and send them to Dumbledore. Let him see... how much trouble his arrangements have caused me!"
Lucius nodded knowingly, understanding that Snape also wanted to use this opportunity to show Dumbledore his value, gaining more trust to better execute his undercover work at Hogwarts.
Lucius' eyes flickered with calculation, he tentatively asked, "I remember, these two thieves... were targeting Vid Gray?"
"Indeed." Snape said somewhat impatiently, "Since that kid became famous, I don't know how many of these kinds of sneak attacks I've intercepted for him. Dumbledore doesn't let me openly discuss his arrangements, afraid of scaring his Alchemy genius..."
The malice and sarcasm in his tone almost turned into substance.
Lucius: "..."
He used to think Dumbledore was a self-restrictive pedantic old gentleman, and Lucius Malfoy, who could sway the Ministry of Magic and the Hogwarts Board of Governors, had many ways to give him trouble.
But recently... this impression had already collapsed.
He hesitated for a moment, and said: "If... I mean if... we utilize these fools' plan, is there a possibility... to take advantage and present that boy as a gift to the Dark Lord? It's undoubtedly a generous offering, and I recall Vid Gray respects you highly..."
"No orders, don't presume to make decisions for the Dark Lord, Malfoy!"
Snape said in a harsh tone, "Do you know the consequences of disrupting the Dark Lord's plan? If you want to die, don't drag me into it!"
"I am at Hogwarts, monitoring Albus Dumbledore's every move for the Dark Lord, which is the reason I can still sit here talking to you—we both serve the Dark Lord, but we must each perform our duties!"
"If your impulsive plan disrupts the trust I've accumulated over years of covert work, causing the Dark Lord to lose a pair of eyes watching Dumbledore, do you know the seriousness of that consequence?"
"Moreover..."
Snape's voice hissed as he stepped forward, his gaunt figure casting an overwhelming shadow:
"If the plan fails, you may face punishment, but I would have to confront the Dark Lord's wrath for violating orders; if it truly succeeded..."
His dark eyes fixated on Malfoy as Snape said with profound meaning:
"A person the Dark Lord spent a whole year arranging for and personally failed to capture, yet you succeeded. Isn't that suggesting... you are more capable than the Dark Lord?"
His tone was fierce, and the undisguised threat was like a bucket of ice water poured over the head, instantly extinguishing the fire that had just ignited in Lucius' eyes, causing him to break out in a cold sweat and involuntarily step back.
"Sorry, I was being presumptuous." Lucius said somewhat flustered, and asked anxiously: "That letter..."
"Don't worry, I will still deliver it to the Dark Lord for you." Snape said in a cold tone, "Only he has the right to dispose of you, I will not make decisions for him without authorization."
Sneaky as Lucius is, at this moment he couldn't help but feel his heart warm slightly.
In Lucius' view, although Snape, like himself, chose to clear his name and stay in the Bright World when Voldemort first vanished, his loyalty was far purer and firmer than his own.
Lucius couldn't help but think, if the person he met in the forest was not the resentful Barty Crouch Jr., but the truly loyal Snape...
Then Snape certainly wouldn't have cast such a vicious curse on him, but would have brought him before the Dark Lord at that time, or given him a hint, letting him know what he should do.
Then he might have become a contributor in helping the Dark Lord's resurrection, rather than like now... forced to tread on the edge of a dangerous cliff, in a predicament where any choice seems like it could lead to death, struggling desperately in an ugly state.
Lucius, moved at heart, couldn't help but turn back and whisper as he was about to step out:
"A word of advice for you, Severus—Albus Dumbledore is not necessarily as upright and tolerant as people see him. He is a master of disguise and a frightening person, be careful at Hogwarts..."
Snape said calmly, "I certainly understand the danger of hiding at Hogwarts."
"That's good... take care, Severus."
Lucius nodded, said no more, turned around, and quickly walked towards the door with Snape following as he saw him off.
Outside the dilapidated brick house, a Peregrine Falcon stood silently under the shadow of the eaves, absorbing every word of their conversation.
"Creak—"
The wooden door opened, Lucius left quickly, and Snape silently watched his back, wondering what he was contemplating.
Suddenly, he turned his head without warning, and his sharp gaze instantly looked towards where the Peregrine Falcon was.
However, Vid had not only transformed but also cast the Disillusionment Charm on himself, with the two spells layered, making him disappear not only from sight but even his heartbeat and breathing barely detectable.
At this moment, he certainly wouldn't foolishly jump down and say to the Professor of Potions—"Surprised? Unexpected? I know all your secrets!"
Being a double agent is a job of constantly walking a tightrope, and the fewer people know the secrets, the better, which is a protection for both sides.
So even if Snape knew at this moment that Lucius was also working for Dumbledore, they would never be frank with each other, still testing each other and engaging in verbal battles, as if everyone was loyally devoted to the Dark Lord.
Likewise, it would be difficult for him to accept a student being fully aware of his secrets, which would add unnecessary burden and pressure to him.
After a brief, suffocating silence, there was a heavy muffled sound of a door closing from below.
Only then did Vid slowly let out a sigh of relief, squatting under the eaves like a real bird, and after waiting for a while longer, he silently flapped his wings and left.