There were no stars in the night sky over the Scottish Highlands tonight, only heavy clouds.
Suddenly, something tore through the clouds, and a phantom silently hovered above the spire of the tallest tower of Hogwarts Castle.
The cockpit canopy of La Voiture Noire opened, and Vincent leaped down, landing on the windowsill extending from the Headmaster's Office.
There were no wand movements or incantations. The tightly shut window opened on its own, as if welcoming his arrival.
The warmth and tranquility of the Headmaster's Office were abruptly shattered. The flames in the fireplace shrank sharply, and the portraits of past headmasters awoke from their naps or thoughts, staring in astonishment at this uninvited intruder.
Fawkes raised its little head from its perch. It glanced at Vincent, let out a lazy cry, then tucked its head back beneath its wing, seemingly long accustomed to this sort of entrance.
Dumbledore sat behind the round table, a thick book spread open before him and a steaming cup of honey tea at his side.
He set down his quill, raised his head, and looked calmly at Vincent.
"Good evening, Vincent." Dumbledore's voice remained gentle, as though he were facing a student who was always pulling pranks in the middle of the night rather than a wanted Dark Lord. "You are as... discreet as ever."
Without a word, Vincent walked straight to the round table and sat across from him.
Dumbledore sighed, removed his half-moon glasses, and wiped them with the sleeve of his nightclothes. "Go on. For you to fly that frightening thing straight down from the sky and crash into this place, something serious must have happened."
"Hermione came across something tonight." Vincent did not waste words. He recounted Hermione's discovery and deductions, focusing on how Malfoy father and son were being