Silence fell over the High Tower. Snape and Dumbledore were both weighing Will's plan.
After a moment, Dumbledore spoke first. "Will, tell us what you're really thinking."
Will smiled. "I really can't hide anything from you, Professor Dumbledore."
Dumbledore sipped his Pumpkin Juice. "The only benefit of faking Severus's death is preserving Tom's trust in you.
"But once news of my death gets out, the entire Wizarding World will fall into panic. Even Scrimgeour won't be able to turn things around.
"I don't believe you'd propose a plan with so little to gain. You must have another motive, don't you?"
Will nodded. Of course he had another motive, but there were things even Dumbledore and Snape could not know.
Will took a sip of Grape Juice and paused. "This is the final plan. Its goal, naturally, is to surround him and kill him.
"The groundwork is what you're doing now: finding and destroying the Horcruxes.
"Once you've dealt with them, I think we can put the plan into motion immediately.
"Have Professor Snape 'murder' you, then have Harry 'kill' Professor Snape.
"We should spread the news far and wide, so the entire Wizarding World hears about it.
"Then he'll come for Harry. You, Professor Grindelwald, and Minister Scrimgeour can strike together and finish Voldemort for good."
Will's voice was flat, barely rising or falling. He spoke of killing Voldemort as though he were discussing how to cook a steak for dinner.
Snape and Dumbledore exchanged a glance. Will's ploy to lure Voldemort in was rather good.
Dumbledore nodded, already considering it, but said thoughtfully, "The problem is... we haven't dealt with the Horcruxes yet. We don't even know how many Tom made. We haven't the slightest lead on that."
"We're not entirely without leads." Will set down his glass. "I