While Harry Potter was asleep, Albus pointed his wand at his forehead and drew a strand of silver thread from it.
"Shh." He raised a finger to Poppy Pomfrey.
"What you're doing isn't right," Poppy Pomfrey rebuked him in a lowered voice.
"Once Mr. Potter wakes up, I'll ask him some questions. There are certain details I believe would show up in his memories but be overlooked in his account." As he spoke, Albus placed the silver strand into a test tube. "Wouldn't you agree, Professor?"
"Mr. Potter's essay demonstrates his poor powers of expression," Snape said from the side, wearing the expression of someone who had just eaten a bogey-flavoured Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean.
"Just a small piece of memory, right?" Minerva asked from beside them. "Only the part in front of the mirror."
"What do you think?" Albus asked again.
"You get on with it," Pomona said to Poppy Pomfrey.
Poppy Pomfrey wanted to argue, but said nothing. Albus then led the way out of the Hospital Wing.
"Come with us," Albus suddenly said when they reached the door.
"Me?" Pomona asked in surprise. She had intended to stay in the Hospital Wing to help Poppy Pomfrey. Harry was not the only "patient" that night; Ron Weasley was also unconscious.
"I need your advice," Albus said.
"Go on," Poppy Pomfrey told Pomona.
So Pomona followed the other two Heads of House away.
Wizarding robes dragged across the castle floor with a rustling sound. Both Gryffindor and Slytherin were rather particular about their attire. Not to mention the ever-formal Minerva—even that Snivellus in the flowery shirt had changed.
She lowered her head and looked at her own filthy, mud-covered witch's robes, but did not feel ashamed. The four Houses represented the four great elements of wind, fire, water,