The door closed behind Wade, sealing off the room's light from the damp corridor outside.
When he turned around, Wade asked as calmly as ever, "Professor, I thought you wouldn't be leaving Britain anytime soon."
"I heard our friend Tom has come up with an excellent plan to break someone out of prison, but he is probably still waiting for the right moment."
Dumbledore draped his cloak over the coat rack, walked to the old armchair furnished by the hotel, and sat down before saying:
"So I was able to spare some time for a little trip as well... How are you finding the life of ordinary people in the United States? Oh!"
He rose in surprise, then reached beneath the coat beside him and pulled out a big-eyed snail.
"My apologies, Wade... I had no idea you kept pets in your clothes."
Wade's shoulders slumped helplessly. He walked over and took the snail from him. "Don't joke around, Professor. I don't believe you can't tell it's just a Golem."
The snail trembled in Wade's arms as though it had been badly frightened, its two eyes curving into wavy lines.
Dumbledore leaned over with great interest, inclining slightly toward the amber-colored snail as he said earnestly:
"Please forgive my offense, little one. I didn't mean to sit on you."
The Snail Automaton cautiously poked its head out of Wade's palm. Its two feelers swayed, somehow making everyone understand what it meant—"It's all right."
"Thank you for your generosity," Dumbledore said with a genial smile. He then straightened up, shifting his gaze from the snail to Wade's face. "Can this adorable little fellow not speak?"
"It can," Wade said. "But not every Golem is talkative. It just happens to be the shy and quiet sort."
He held out his hand, and