Cornelius Fudge, the current Minister for Magic, was in a very complicated mood.
The criminal who had broken into Gringotts had been found. It should have been cause for celebration.
Yet the person who told him the criminal had been caught was Albus Dumbledore, the current headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Minister, we've arrived—" A shrill, little-girl-like voice reminded him.
"Dolores, how do I look?"
The short, plump woman dressed entirely in pink looked exceptionally serious. "Minister, you look wonderful!"
Fudge pulled himself together and looked at the other tall man beside him.
"Kingsley, restrain the criminal the moment we go in." "Yes, Minister." The tall, dark-skinned man spoke in a deep, slow voice.
The three of them climbed the last stretch of stairs and stopped before the gates of Hogwarts Castle.
McGonagall came to greet them at once. "Good evening, all three of you." The short, plump woman seemed somewhat displeased.
She looked back and forth across the Great Hall, seeing only a few professors repairing the damaged areas.
"Professor Dumbledore must have something very important to attend to, then?"
The shrill voice made McGonagall purse her lips on the spot. "He is comforting the children who helped stop Quirinus." "Even so, he shouldn't—" "Quite right." Fudge found it perfectly reasonable.
As a headmaster, he ought to devote all his attention to the students.
The short, plump woman wiped the faint displeasure off her face.
"This way, please." McGonagall led the three of them up the marble staircase.
It was past ten at night, and the entire castle was silent.
Harry and Ron, on the fourth floor, had long since been caught by Filch.
If Snape had not been in such a good mood, the two of them would probably still be cleaning some corridor.
As soon as they passed the