Perhaps his return had intimidated those young wizards who loved sneaking about at night.
After seeing Lucius Malfoy off, Amosta encountered not a single young wizard roaming the castle in the dead of night on his way to Dumbledore's office. Only Peeves's rampant laughter and Filch's furious shouts drifted through the empty castle.
When he entered the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore was sitting in his chair, staring blankly at the round dome overhead. The Hogwarts Pensieve on his desk was radiating a galaxy-like glow.
As he passed the brazier where Fawkes perched, Amosta paused to look at him for a few moments.
Fawkes, who had been reborn in New York, had not yet fully recovered, but a few brilliantly colored feathers had already begun to grow across the tiny body curled up on the warm ashes.
"Is there any chance, Headmaster Dumbledore—"
Amosta reached out and rubbed the soft down atop Fawkes's head with one finger, smiling.
"Suppose—just suppose that one day—"
"That isn't for me to decide, Amosta."
Dumbledore smiled calmly.
"You will have to ask Fawkes what he thinks."
Amosta shrugged, left the brazier, and walked over to the desk with its slender legs. His gaze fell upon the Pensieve. Before he could ask, Dumbledore explained of his own accord,
"I was revisiting some memories—memories of the trials Tom's Death Eaters underwent after he lost his powers last time."
Amosta gave a slight nod. He knew why Dumbledore was revisiting those memories.
"I spoke with Lucius Malfoy. From what he told me, our previous suspicion may well be correct."
"Other than Horcruxes, what else could make the present Tom nervous? He is no longer the little boy from the orphanage. Wealth is no longer his goal. All he seeks is eternal life."
"I asked Lucius for his opinion on