"Please, have a seat, Director Fudge."
Dumbledore spoke politely to the Ministry of Magic official who had come to investigate the incident.
"What a disaster tonight has been." Fudge said sympathetically. "How is the tortured child doing now?"
"I had him rest in the common room. He told us everything in detail." Dumbledore gestured for Fudge to look at Pomona and Snape standing to one side. The latter wore a grim expression, his arms folded across his chest.
"Yes, he should get a proper rest." Fudge gave the two of them a quick glance, then spoke to Dumbledore as though they were invisible. "Other than Professor Carter, was anyone else involved in this?"
"What do you mean?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
Fudge hesitated.
"Other than Professor Carter, everyone was in the castle tonight," Pomona said. "We only received the report after the children returned to the castle."
"Do you need proof?" Snape asked in a low voice.
"Don't worry, I didn't come to trouble you for the sake of investigating you." As Fudge spoke, he placed a letter on the desk.
"What is this?" Dumbledore stared at Fudge without touching the letter.
"A letter from the Minister for Magic, Headmaster," Fudge said.
"About what?" Dumbledore asked.
"I can't say," Fudge said.
Severus strode out, and Pomona followed him from the headmaster's office.
The cool summer night breeze blew over them, and Pomona relaxed slightly.
Although terraced houses were considered homes for the middle class or the newly wealthy, not every terrace was as bright and comfortable as those featured in magazines.
Their first defining trait was density. It was difficult for them even to have a lawned garden like a suburban villa. Though it was convenient to step outside directly onto the street, given the chance, people still went to the