Location: Hogwarts Headmaster’s Office. Present: A. Dumbledore, S. Snape, phoenix (‘Fawkes’). Nighttime.
SNAPE: I stood by the door for nearly an hour. Potter took an interminably long time. I had to miss dinner.
DUMBLEDORE: You poor dear.
SNAPE: God knows how long Quirinus waited for me in the forest. I suspect he came early. The fool.
DUMBLEDORE: How did you convince him?
SNAPE: The usual.
DUMBLEDORE: No spellcraft, I hope?
SNAPE: He’s quite fascinated with me without any – enhancement.
DUMBLEDORE: I see. So you led Potter to the forest?
SNAPE: Yes, he thought he was rather subtle. As for myself, I made sure to be nothing of the sort. Loyalties, philosopher’s stones, so on – I made it quite clear for Potter. I don’t know what sort of dunce wouldn’t be able to follow.
DUMBLEDORE: Did you mention exams? The temporal component?
SNAPE: [Pause.] I did not. [Scratches nose.] I apologize.
DUMBLEDORE: All is forgiven. It can be amended. What does Quirrell think?
SNAPE: He thinks I am supporting him past the guards. I had to tell him the answer to my puzzle. I suspect he might be even stupider than the boy. I’ve had him working out the cerberus on his own. The proximity zone, the – what do you call it?
DUMBLEDORE: Ah, the zone of proximal development! I’m glad you are finally focusing on your pedagogy.
SNAPE: Yes. Well, Quirrell’s zone is all but microscopic. I think he’s gone to outrageous lengths to solve this little puzzle. Something involving the Hog’s Head and Hagrid. And, I believe – perhaps – a dragon egg.
DUMBLEDORE: It’s best you don’t know. Rest assured that as headmaster of a school I can deal with extraordinary levels of stupidity.
SNAPE: The amount of time the boy spends with that churl disturbs me. This plot is delicate enough without his blunderings. Do you not think that we ought to intervene?
DUMBLEDORE: Let us just be thankful that the boy trusts Hagrid so. If it weren’t for that then we’d have to have him trusting you.
SNAPE: Yes. God, I can’t imagine laying it on thicker, and yet the boy still seems to think that I’m the one trying to steal the damned Stone.
DUMBLEDORE: Aha! Yes. How amusing. You know, Severus, we ought to use this to our advantage. It might be easier in the end if he suspects you.
SNAPE: I don’t understand.
DUMBLEDORE: Well, we can only control our own actions, after all. Let him suspect you, if he must – and then, lead him to the conclusion of his suspicions.
SNAPE: I do not understand.
DUMBLEDORE: [affixing Snape with a piercing stare] Afraid to be the hated one, Severus? Hoping to be the hero?
SNAPE: I am not Ja-
DUMBLEDORE: No, no. Of course not. [He smiles to himself.] Well, continue what you are doing, at any rate. Potter appears to be moving along, thick though he may be. I will – tweak things a bit to ensure that he is ready on June the 4th. Be sure to do the same for Quirinus, yes?
SNAPE: I understand.
DUMBLEDORE: We must align the trajectories. We have several moving parts, as you may know. We must hold to the date.
SNAPE: If it comes to it I’ll tell him that the Dark Lord demands the Stone for – astrological purposes, or something.
DUMBLEDORE: If it comes to that, I’m sure you will perform marvellously.
THE PENSIEVE PAPERS 