A Legend played on, little by little. In the dream, Dumbledore went through Sorting, enrolled, met professors, and greedily worked his way through the Hogwarts Library, learning step by step.
Outside the dream, Headmaster Black came and went, reporting Dumbledore's orderly experimental steps and what he planned to do next. Everything was as calm as if it had all been arranged in advance.
As the experiment continued, Andrew had lunch with the headmasters, then resumed playing A Legend.
"Albus says it's beautiful out there, as though there's a halo around this lovely planet. Most of it is covered in water, and it looks so immense that he can't even imagine casting magic on it..."
Headmaster Black returned with another reluctant report. Andrew, who had long since gotten over his embarrassment, noticed something was wrong.
"Casting magic?"
He fixed his gaze on Headmaster Black's portrait.
"Is something bothering you, Taylor?"
Phineas turned to look at Andrew, puzzled.
"Very much so, Mr. Black." Andrew sighed. "Where is the headmaster right now?"
"On the Spacecraft, operating the equipment to carry out the experiments we planned."
"Please tell the professor," Andrew said, shaking his head, "that although we've allowed plenty of time, if he keeps this up, I'm afraid I'll have to make him stay behind on the next trip to the moon."
"Stay behind?"
"A headmaster ought to look after his school. That's only proper. Leaving exploration and discovery to the Ministry of Magic and the professors is only proper too. What's strange about that?"
Andrew spread his hands. He knew it: headmasters always sided with headmasters, and Dumbledore had never looked like the obedient sort.
It worked remarkably well. Less than fifteen minutes later, Andrew received word that Dumbledore had decided to follow the original plan and would return that evening.
"Do