Draco's sudden words caught Dumbledore slightly off guard. His gaze lingered on Draco's face.
"It has something to do with Professor Breen, doesn't it?"
Draco nodded.
"It was during my second year too. I think it was Professor Breen's first day back at Hogwarts."
Professor Breen's first day at Hogwarts?
Harry and the other two exchanged looks. They, too, recalled a few things.
"I was writing a letter to my father at the time."
At the mention of his father, Draco's nostrils flared, and his voice grew somewhat hoarse.
"He walked into the Common Room and told me why he had come to Hogwarts. Then he said he suddenly remembered that he had left something behind in his dormitory when he was a student, and he wanted to retrieve it."
"Suddenly remembered?"
Dumbledore immediately furrowed his brows and looked to Malfoy for confirmation.
"Yes, that's what he said at the time."
After thinking back carefully, Draco nodded.
"If I remember correctly—"
A thoughtful expression appeared on Dumbledore's face as his gaze swept over Harry and the others.
"Amosta arrived at Hogwarts the night before. Severus, you brought him into the school. After catching up with me, you took him to the Hospital Wing to visit the petrified young wizards?"
Severus nodded.
"That was where Amosta met you for the first time, wasn't it, Hermione?"
Dumbledore turned to Hermione, whose expression became awkward as she nodded.
She had been eavesdropping on Professor Breen and Professor Snape's conversation and had been caught red-handed. Professor Breen had even called her "cat-eared girl"!
"After that—"
Dumbledore pondered.
"Amosta slept in your office, Severus. The next day, if I remember correctly, Amosta first went to Hogsmeade and ordered some Panoramic Telescopes. Then the person he met was you, Minerva—"
"I don't know if that was