"Mm." Dumbledore nodded. "Draco, go back and get some rest. I need to speak with Will."
Draco did not linger. He knew better than to listen to things he should not hear or ask questions he should not ask.
It was enough to be on the side of justice.
Draco shut the Office door behind him. Will looked at Dumbledore, wondering what the old man intended to do.
Dumbledore wore none of his usual smile. Instead, he looked unusually grave. "I may be away from Hogwarts for a long time.
"Whatever Tom's plan is, he's clearly pinning his hopes on this one year. I have no choice but to meet his challenge.
"Will, as for Severus, help Draco openly. I'll arrange for Severus to handle what comes afterward."
"And if I need to contact Professor Grindelwald?"
"You may write to him directly, but meeting him..." Dumbledore hesitated for a few seconds. "Wait until I return to Hogwarts."
Will nodded. Dumbledore had already given him a great deal of freedom.
Resolve flashed through Dumbledore's bright blue eyes. "If Tom wants to settle everything within a year, then we should delay no longer either."
"Now, get some rest, Will. It's late." Dumbledore glanced at Fawkes. "Old friend, stop pestering Will."
Fawkes looked reluctant, but he did not defy his master. He returned to his usual perch.
Will left the Headmaster's Office, his expression unchanged, though thought flickered in his silver-gray eyes...
There was not much time left...
Because of the butterfly effect he had caused, things had strayed far from the course of the original timeline.
Dumbledore's side was now more than strong enough to crush Voldemort. The problem was that Voldemort's Horcruxes were better hidden this time.
Only the Diary and the Locket had been destroyed.
Ravenclaw's Diadem was still buried