"Gavin, I—"
"Professor, please call me Mr. Gu." Gavin cut Dumbledore off coldly.
On either side of the corridor, several prisoners who had been peering out quietly ducked back behind their bars. The New Dementor Chief lowered its body and drifted a little farther away, pretending not to hear.
The Dementors had recently learned to read the room by sensing emotions.
Working under an unpredictable boss had forced them to improve.
Gavin took a charred Silver Amulet from his robes and tossed it to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore raised a hand and caught it.
All that remained of the Silver Amulet was a thin base. Its edges had melted in the heat, and a sunken dent marked its center.
"Take a look at the trouble you caused when you were young!"
Dumbledore lowered his head and studied it for a moment, surprise crossing his face.
"Is this—the Amulet I gave you? What happened to it?"
"Good. So you do remember."
Gavin picked up the Dragon Hide Bag by his feet. He frowned at the locked cell door and was about to take out his wand when the Dementor Leader flew over eagerly.
At the sight of the Dementor, Dumbledore immediately grew wary. But it did not so much as glance at him. Under his watchful gaze, it opened Gavin's cell door and bowed to invite him inside.
Gavin seemed used to this. He nodded, went in, and sat down beside his bed.
The Dementor Leader immediately drifted aside and stood straight, dutifully keeping watch outside.
Countless questions rose in Dumbledore's mind as he watched. After a moment's thought, though, he followed Gavin in.
The cell had a desk, a chair, and a bed. It looked like a bare-bones hotel room.
Dumbledore nodded. "You seem to be doing all right. That puts my