A Conversation with Dumbledore

"Of course, I'd be happy to listen." Dumbledore looked toward Professor McGonagall at the door and had her go back to rest first.

Professor McGonagall did not pay much attention to it and turned to leave.

First Years often made astonishing discoveries they were overly proud of—perhaps moving suits of armor in the Castle, or Secret Passages behind paintings. Even if it truly was some great discovery, the headmaster would tell her. He would love nothing more than to dump all his work on her and retire early.

Dumbledore rummaged beneath the desk and found another box of sweets, though they were not Cockroach Clusters. The headmaster did not have much in reserve and still had to save some for himself.

Loren first described what he had seen during the Sorting Ceremony: the strange shadows that had appeared simultaneously on Harry's forehead scar and Professor Snape's arm, as well as Professor Quirrell's peculiar turban.

Loren had his own guesses. Professor Snape bore an indelible Dark Mark on his arm, while a fragment of Voldemort's soul lay within Harry's scar. But because of certain secrets he could not reveal, he could not say any of it aloud.

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

There was no need to say more about Snape's condition, but Harry's situation seemed even worse than he had imagined.

As for Professor Quirrell, ever since returning from Albania, the smell on him had grown more obvious by the day. That unnecessary turban was nothing more than a clumsy performance.

Based on this, he had devised an exquisite plan. He believed the fish would soon take the bait.

"Loren, you possess remarkable talent—not just in your eyes." Dumbledore looked seriously at Loren, who was stuffing a Lemon Drop into his mouth.

Loren froze with his mouth open, confused. Did he have some talent he had not noticed?

Dumbledore saw Loren's confusion. "Willingness to share a unique secret with someone you have only recently met may be because I am the headmaster... but being willing to place your trust in someone is an exceedingly rare quality."

The headmaster began talking about Loren's eyes again. "Magic Sense is an advanced skill. Some students may not master it even by graduation. You are already far ahead."

"What about you, Headmaster? Can you see those strange things too?" Loren asked.

The corners of Dumbledore's mouth curved upward. With feigned restraint, he said, "Perhaps not as clearly, but I can still see some things."

"What about Animagus transformations? And Apparition?" Loren was also curious about this useless Golden Finger of his.

"Hehe, classified." Dumbledore gave Loren a mysterious smile.

"Then did you notice that Ron Weasley's rat is strange too?" Though Loren was rather speechless before this old prankster, he still wanted to speed up the plot a little.

"Oh, the Weasley boy. I hadn't noticed that. In fact, I did not even know he had a pet rat. I know his parents better. Arthur and Molly..."

Dumbledore promptly cut himself off. "You know, when one gets old, one always likes to ramble about the past."

"Let us discuss this rat instead."

Loren swallowed his sweet. "The first time I saw that rat, I saw something similar to what I saw with the cat Professor McGonagall transformed into."

Dumbledore's expression sharpened, turning serious. "You mean that rat is also an Animagus?"

"I think so." Loren began adding what he knew. "That rat has been with Ron's family for more than ten years. It was once Percy's pet."

"A wizard hiding in someone else's home is hardly a friendly gesture." Dumbledore's tone unconsciously took on a hint of authority.

"Should we go catch him?"

"No. It would be best not to alert him for now."

Dumbledore voiced his thoughts. "An evil wizard has been hiding for more than ten years. We cannot be sure whether he has done anything to the Weasley family. If he causes irreversible harm to Ron or anyone else, that would be difficult for all of us to accept."

The magical world was wondrous. Strange curses and Dark Arts emerged one after another, and more than ten years was enough time to plant curses upon the entire Weasley family. Dumbledore's concern was justified.

"But..." Loren was anxious now. He knew the whole story, but he could not say it.

Dumbledore assumed Loren simply wanted to catch the bad man first. He already had a plan in mind. "Now, I have a task for you."

As he spoke, Dumbledore waved his wand, and a star flew in through the window and landed in his palm. A warm, faint yellow glow floated above the old man's hand.

Loren noticed that Dumbledore's hands were somewhat rough, yet not heavily wrinkled. They did not look especially aged. Instead, they were thick and powerful, like the hands of a vigorous man in his forties. Even Grandpa Bates could not compare.

He held out his hand to Loren, and Loren blankly offered his right hand.

The star fell into Loren's palm. Its light sank into the child's tender hand, like the moon falling into a tranquil lake. At last, a coin-sized Four-Pointed Star pattern appeared in Loren's palm.

"I need you to stick this star onto that rat without anyone noticing." Dumbledore winked at Loren.

In the end, Loren accepted the task in a daze. As for whatever other plans there were, Dumbledore did not say a word.

It was not until Loren had walked some distance away that he realized: Wasn't this just fooling a child? He hadn't said anything important at all.

"So many tricks." Loren muttered.

It was not too late yet, and the corridor was still lit by candlelight.

Filch and Mrs. Norris would not begin their patrol for a while yet. Filch was the Castle's caretaker, and Mrs. Norris was Filch's cat.

Today's Gryffindor password was "Pig Snout." In the common room, Ron sat in a chair before the fireplace, teaching Harry how to play Wizard's Chess. Hermione was reading nearby, while Gryffindor students from other years gathered in small groups to play, study, and chat.

When Loren entered the common room, Hermione looked up at him, then immediately turned away with a relieved sigh.

Although this person behaved terribly and she still did not want to forgive him, Hermione did not want Loren to actually be expelled either.

Harry called Loren over to play with them. Loren was quite interested in Wizard's Chess, but he had other things to do now.

"Ron, do you remember wanting to turn your rat yellow before? On the Train?" Loren already had a plan.

"Yes, but it failed. Why are you bringing that up?"

"I happened to ask Professor McGonagall about some Transfiguration questions. We can try it now. Can I borrow your rat?"

Ron hesitated a little. He liked his pet quite a lot. But after Loren took out a handful of Lemon Drops, Ron decided it was perfectly normal to lend his pet to a friend for a while.

Loren took the rat with a showy air.

Scabbers was sleeping soundly and showed no reaction. He looked like an ordinary rat, only a little bigger than Loren's palm.

Feeling the soft, warm flesh beneath the sparse short fur, Loren had the sense that if he squeezed hard enough, he could force the rat's bone fragments out through its flesh and blood.

An urge rose within him, tempting him to squeeze.

He let out a breath and shook off that inexplicable feeling. Putting on an act, Loren said, "Daisies, sweet cream, and sunshine, turn this Fat Rat yellow."

The rat showed no reaction at all and continued sleeping.

Loren handed the rat back. "Looks like it doesn't work."

"If you ask me, there's something wrong with that spell. Neither of us can use it."

Ron happily stuffed a Lemon Drop into his mouth and shared several with Harry. "Let's keep playing Wizard's Chess!"

"You two carry on. I'll watch for now." Loren sat down calmly.

When he raised his hand, the Four-Pointed Star in his palm had already vanished.