"I heard Professor Sinistra went to Australia." After setting down a white queen, Albus Dumbledore spoke.
Pomona had been studying the chessboard intently, and his sudden question caught her off guard.
"How do you plan to spend your summer holiday?" Dumbledore asked, looking at the board.
Pomona had wanted to say, "Letting my brain go blank," but she did not think Dumbledore would be satisfied with that answer.
"Are you planning to go to London too?" Dumbledore continued.
"No... I want some peace and quiet at school. There was too much going on last term." As she spoke, Pomona moved her black rook to one side, directly opposite the white queen.
"Filius certainly has his hands full. There are quite a few places in the castle and its defensive magic that need repairing," Dumbledore said.
"That's perfect. I can help," Pomona said at once.
"Aren't you concerned about the Hubble Telescope launch schedule?" Dumbledore asked.
"Sorry, what did you say?" Pomona asked in confusion.
"I heard you and Sinistra wrote a letter asking the European Space Agency about its launch plans," Dumbledore said.
"Oh, that." Pomona breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't know what the Muggles have planned, but I don't think they'll really postpone it indefinitely."
"Why do you think that?" Dumbledore asked.
"Once they find the true cause of the accident, space missions will continue. Curiosity is what drives human progress." Pomona gave a false smile and placed the black rook opposite the white queen.
If the queen captured the rook now, Pomona's bishop would capture her.
Professor Ruse had said that the Inuit made wolf traps. They dug a hole in the ice fields, placed the handle of a sharp knife inside, sprinkled a little snow over the blade, then buried it beneath ice and snow.