Trust and Suspicion

Late at night, a blizzard raged outside, yet the windows of the Headmaster's Office were still lit. Dumbledore, dressed in snow-white pajamas beneath a purple robe trimmed with gold, sat in the high-backed chair behind his desk, reading the latest issue of Defence Guide by candlelight.

"Quite surprising. I never expected my good-for-nothing great-grandson to start a magazine, and it seems to have quite a good reputation too," Phineas's lazy voice drifted from a portrait.

"Sirius has become much more mature than before, and he understands better how to look after his friends," Dumbledore said gently.

"It's not that I look down on him, but with that fellow's personality, he couldn't have managed this on his own. Someone must be helping him." Phineas narrowed his eyes at Dumbledore. "What do you think Anderson wants?"

"I don't know."

Dumbledore's gaze lingered for a long time on the page that mentioned Karkaroff being a Death Eater. No one knew what he was thinking.

"You seem to trust him." Without waiting for Dumbledore to answer, Phineas continued, "Honestly, I've always thought someone with his personality belonged in Slytherin. He isn't as simple as you think. I always feel that Anderson is plotting something."

"I've never underestimated him."

Dumbledore continued leafing through the magazine in his hands, chatting idly with Phineas. "It's far too rash to judge someone by their House. People are always complicated. Everyone has their own thoughts."

"You're sowing discord, Phineas. You're just still bitter about those Galleons you paid last time. Don't forget, he saved your great-grandson." A red-nosed fat wizard roared loudly.

"I'm stating the facts. That fellow is greedy, obsessed with money, and insidious. My poor great-grandson is merely a tool he can use, yet he hasn't realized it at all." Phineas wanted to find out exactly what