"Severus, sorry for the trouble, but please prepare a bottle of Veritaserum, then go to the kitchens and bring the House-elf Winky here. Minerva, go and find Hagrid, and take the Black Dog in his backyard pumpkin patch to the Headmaster's Office."
Snape and Professor McGonagall might have felt puzzled by this sudden string of instructions, but neither showed it. They merely exchanged a quick glance before turning to leave.
Dumbledore walked slowly over to the trunk fitted with seven locks. His fingers lightly turned the first key before inserting it into the lock. With a faint click, the lid opened, revealing a pile of assorted books.
Without pausing, Dumbledore shut the lid and inserted the second key into the second lock. When he opened it again, the trunk contained broken Sneakoscopes scattered across the bottom, with parchment and quills strewn among them, along with an Invisibility Cloak.
At last, the seventh key turned slowly in the final lock. The lid rose to reveal a hidden room, and some three meters below lay an emaciated Moody.
Harry stared at the sleeping Moody at the bottom of the trunk, then turned to look at the equally unconscious "Moody" on the office floor, overwhelmed by disbelief and confusion.
"The Imperius Curse. Moody is very weak at the moment," Dumbledore said gravely. "His life is not in immediate danger, but we still need to get him to the Hospital Wing."
"Wait a moment, Harry," Dumbledore said, gesturing for him to be patient. "Without the effects of Polyjuice Potion, he will soon reveal his true appearance." He pulled over a chair beside the desk and slowly sat down, his gaze fixed on the unconscious figure on the floor. Harry watched just as intently.
Time slipped by in silence, every second seeming to stretch.
Gradually,