"Then he would have found another reason," his master interrupted. "Fate always gets its way. We are freeing us from Dumbledores manipulations. Don't let him win by believing that you are good for nothing but spying or errands. You are brilliant, Severus. You have a sharp mind. You are strong and skilled. We can't change the past, but we can work for a better future. For now, we are playing his game. But Tom and I are working on upending his board. I need you for that."