Dumbledore looked at the absurdly young professor.
Then he recalled Snape's pale, ashen face just now.
"Sometimes."
He spoke slowly.
"I really wish you could be a little gentler in how you do things."
Douglas lowered his head and crossed out another entire line of nonsense on the exam paper.
"I've already been very gentle."
"At least I left them a chance to change careers."
Dumbledore gazed at him.
"You mean from prisoners to assembly-line workers?"
"Career transitions are an important skill in modern society."
Douglas looked perfectly serious.
This time, Dumbledore actually laughed.
He shook his head, smiling.
"No wonder Severus wanted to throw his tea in your face."
Douglas smiled too.
"He hasn't been getting enough sleep lately."
"Once Umbridge leaves."
"His temper should improve a little."
Dumbledore took a sip of his cocoa, which had already gone somewhat cold.
"Let us hope so."
Douglas said nothing more.
He lowered his head again.
His red pen scratched across the parchment.
Once the Easter holidays were over, the whole atmosphere at Hogwarts changed.
Before, however cold the corridors were, at least they still felt like part of a school.
Now it was different. It was far too quiet, and even the suits of armor standing there seemed to be watching people.
New notices covered the walls, layer upon layer, pink and white and yellow, as though the Ministry of Magic had taken the entire Castle and papered it with announcements.
Harry walked briskly up from the Entrance Hall.
Ron followed beside him, still clutching an assessment sheet he had just torn down, its corners crumpled in his grip.
Hermione walked on his other side, her face very pale but her eyes frighteningly bright, as though she had just forced an entire jumble of things into a coherent whole.
"There's