The Headmaster's Office was warm late that night.
The fire in the fireplace burned steadily.
The sweet scent of cocoa mingled with the smell of old parchment.
Dumbledore sat behind his desk.
A cup sending up white wisps of steam stood beside his hand.
Douglas leaned beside the fireplace.
A stack of exam papers lay open on his knees.
A red quill turned gently between his fingers.
It was then that the door was flung open.
The wooden door slammed against the wall.
The portraits cried out in alarm.
Snape stood in the doorway.
The hem of his black robes still carried the night's dampness.
His disheveled hair clung to the sides of his face.
His face was ashen.
Dark shadows lay beneath his eyes.
Douglas glanced up.
Dumbledore set down his cup as well.
"Severus."
Dumbledore's voice was soft.
"To see you at this hour means something serious has happened."
Snape had not even had time to close the door.
He strode inside.
His black robes stirred a gust of air.
"Serious indeed."
Snape's voice was cold.
"Serious enough to bury a fool alive."
He stopped in front of Douglas.
Only half a step separated them.
"Tonight."
Snape stared at him.
"The Dark Lord mentioned that seaside cave."
The red quill in Douglas's hand paused.
"Oh."
He smiled with a trace of embarrassment.
"It seems his intelligence network hasn't completely fallen apart after all."
Snape's gaze grew colder.
"He doesn't just know the missing Death Eaters are being held there."
"He also knows they're writing papers in there."
"Papers, Holmes."
"He actually used that word."
Dumbledore's brow twitched slightly.
Douglas, however, looked as though he had heard a weather forecast.
He set the exam papers aside.
He reached out and poured Snape a cup of hot black tea.
The