Shawn's resolve left a bitter taste in Dumbledore's mouth, and he took out another handful of milk toffees and popped them into his mouth.
Harry tucked the blanket around Sirius, then stood up, looking conflicted.
"Headmaster, you can't blame the Chief for this. It really was... it was Sirius who... sigh... I'll try to plead with the Chief more in the future."
Dumbledore waved a hand.
"I know. I know everything. All right, take Sirius to the Hospital Wing to recover.
"And don't leave the school grounds lightly from now on."
Only now did Harry have the presence of mind to think about what had prompted the attack.
"Headmaster, why did those people want to capture me?"
A flicker of hesitation crossed Dumbledore's eyes. In the end, he pressed all the toffees in his hand into Harry's.
"Well... I'll tell you when the right opportunity comes.
"Moody, go with Harry and take Sirius to the Hospital Wing. Sirius is no longer fit to instruct the champions, so take that on as well, and teach Harry while you're at it."
Anger flashed in Harry's eyes. He hated people who spoke in riddles most of all. He was the one involved, yet he knew nothing.
Shawn slowly emerged from the spiral staircase behind the gargoyle.
His calm expression immediately grew more complicated, but he did not regret the decision he had just made.
If he were an ordinary person facing such an outrageous relative, he could simply cut ties for good.
But as a leader, being either too coldhearted or too sentimental had serious drawbacks.
If he were too coldhearted and ruthlessly finished Sirius off, for instance-quite apart from the fact that he truly could not bring himself to do it-
It would clash completely with his benevolent image and frighten