An ancient silver pocket watch lay quietly on the mahogany desk, its gilded hands gliding unhurriedly across the dial with a faint yet distinct tick-tock.
The hour hand had slowly passed the Roman numeral "1."
At this hour, let alone breakfast, many people had already finished lunch.
Egbert Fontana sat behind the desk, his gaze fixed on that small piece of moving metal for a long time.
Outside the window, the afternoon sun was blazing, filling the room with brilliant light.
Salina Goderick asked softly, "Headmaster, it's already past one. You haven't even had breakfast... are we still going to keep waiting?"
Fontana fell silent for several seconds before finally closing his eyes slowly. "No need to wait."
Salina Goderick looked at his exhausted expression, nodded gently, and turned to leave.
Fontana rose to his feet. Instead of looking at the pocket watch again, he turned his gaze toward a photo by the desk.
In the photo, the young Stern stood with several classmates, a rare smile on his face.
Fontana even remembered that it had been the students' last Quidditch match before graduation. There had been no winners or losers in the end, only the laughter of children playing to their hearts' content.
A moment later, Salina came back in from outside.
She said considerately, "Headmaster, we're ready to depart... If you don't wish to attend, we completely understand."
"No... I'll go with you."
Fontana put away the pocket watch and stood up.
"My student... has gone down the wrong path. How could I not face it?"
Boom!!!
A deep, violent explosion seemed to come from underground, shaking the entire base as dust sifted down from the walls.
The Sneakoscopes installed throughout the passageways were triggered, letting out shrill, piercing wails that relentlessly assaulted everyone's eardrums. Red lights