Night, in the Headmaster's Office.
Will leafed through rolls of old parchment, his eyes shining—this was the reward Dumbledore had promised him: notes from Dumbledore's own studies in Transfiguration, along with some unpublished papers.
Looking at the timeworn parchment, Will felt as though he were gazing at a great heap of treasure.
"I can see you're pleased." The Sorting Hat came over to strike up a conversation. It looked a little different today—it was clean. Although Snape had wrapped it in waterproof cloth when he took it out to locate Harry, the Sorting Hat had still vehemently demanded "a bath." This time, Dumbledore had finally agreed and washed it thoroughly.
"Of course, you ratty old hat." Will stuffed the papers into the Book Trunk he hadn't used in ages—this was a wealth of experience in Transfiguration.
"Where's Dumbledore, anyway?"
When he arrived, neither Dumbledore nor Fawkes had been in the office. The Sorting Hat had told him which parchments to take, claiming Dumbledore had arranged it all.
"Oh, he went to the Ministry of Magic. Probably to discuss the Dementor problem with Fudge," the Sorting Hat said casually. "And don't call me a ratty old hat. I'm the greatest hat in Hogwarts. Besides, I wasn't wrong, was I? You're a born Slytherin."
Will offered no comment. He picked up the Book Trunk and walked out of the Headmaster's Office, the Sorting Hat's shouts following him.
"Hey, you rude boy! A hat of my advanced age is talking to you!"
Harry seemed perfectly well when he was brought back, with no serious injuries. His account to everyone was that, thanks to the Levitation Charm, he had woken up hanging in a tree, unharmed. Afterward, he had lit a fire in a cave. That evening, George and Fred had happened to