Only after he heard the stone beast open and close again did Su Er raise his hand and tap the griffin door knocker.
Whatever the circumstances, he still had to observe the courtesy of knocking before entering.
"Come in." Dumbledore's gentle voice came from inside.
With the owner's permission, Su Er immediately stepped inside. He had not been here for some time, but the Headmaster's Office was just as spacious and bright as before.
The unidentified silver instruments on the desk were still spinning, wreathed in thin wisps of pearly-white mist.
The deceased headmasters crowded into their frames, chattering away. Their discussion did not stop even after Su Er entered.
Su Er could catch snippets-words such as "Dementors" and "outrageous."
Big Brother Fawkes was preening on his perch. Noticing Su Er's gaze, he looked up and met his eyes, then turned around to continue preening in another direction.
Su Er knew why. Hadn't he only wanted to pluck a few feathers? Did Fawkes have to remember it for so long?
"Su Er?" Dumbledore looked slightly surprised when he saw who had entered. "Were you looking for me?"
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore." Su Er bowed slightly. "I believe there are some matters I need your help with."
"Oh?" Dumbledore grew serious, interlacing his fingers on the desk.
"Well... it's like this, Professor..." Choosing his words carefully, Su Er took a roll of parchment from his shoulder bag. "I acquired something very interesting. It's called the Marauder's Map..."
"I've had it for some time now."
Su Er also took out the Remembrall he had prepared and placed it on Dumbledore's desk along with the parchment.
Dumbledore's bright blue eyes studied the parchment through his half-moon glasses.
"A very interesting piece of alchemy."
Then he pointed a finger, and without any other visible movement,