After entering Professor Breen's office, the door clicked shut behind him. Draco was surprised that Professor Breen had not come in himself, but when he caught sight of his father's grim expression, his heart tightened. He understood that his father probably did not want Professor Breen present to overhear a conversation between father and son.
The fireplace in the office was unlit, while a plain branched candlestick on Professor Breen's desk cast a bright glow.
Before greeting his father, Draco glanced around Professor Breen's office, which he had not visited in some time. The room remained as simple and elegant as ever, except for an old freestanding cabinet that had appeared beside the sofa.
Draco had heard of that cabinet.
Ever since Hermione Granger had been attacked by a curse, the school had begun routinely screening all mail entering and leaving Hogwarts. Whether it belonged to students or staff, any contraband connected to Dark Magic that might injure students was confiscated.
Professor Breen was responsible for safeguarding the confiscated items, and Draco himself had several things in that cabinet.
"Father—"
The idea of getting confiscated contraband back from Professor Breen was laughable. Draco composed himself and walked toward his father and Professor Snape, who were standing before the cabinet examining something.
"Why did you suddenly come to Hogw— Oh, this is!"
Draco hurried over, about to ask why his father had arrived at the school without a sound. Then his gaze swept over the display space at the top of the cabinet. His pale gray pupils contracted sharply. He forgot his question, unable to tear his eyes away from an object behind the glass as he murmured in shock, "This is... that Dark Witch's... But wasn't this thing in the Ministry of Magic's hands?"
"Vitia Creona's wand. The one in