Chapter 150: Do Not Disturb the Sleeping Dragon
Everything before his eyes began to slowly darken... The image of Durmstrang’s underwater castle grew increasingly blurred.
Yet Albus Dumbledore’s face remained clear.
“The prophecy!” he remarked lightly. “Gellert’s most prized gift... though the future he sees may not always be entirely true.”
Jon felt as though Dumbledore wanted to tell him something, but he seemed to hold himself back.
“Come on, let’s go back,” Dumbledore suggested.
Jon nodded.
...
In Dumbledore’s office, an unusually heated argument seemed to be taking place.
“Albus should tell the boy everything!” Headmistress Dilys Derwent shouted.
“That is Dumbledore’s prerogative!” Headmaster Phineas Black countered sharply. “You have no right to interfere...”
“As the person involved, he shouldn’t be kept in the dark!” Dilys Derwent argued. “He has every reason to know these things!”
“You wouldn’t actually consider telling him secretly...” Phineas Black’s jaw dropped.
“I...” Dilys Derwent faltered.
“You cannot do this, Dilys.” A commanding voice echoed from the topmost frame on the wall.
“Oliver... you also think Albus...” Dilys began, but she was interrupted.
Headmaster Oliver Cromwell spoke with unusual gravity. “You know our duty, Dilys...”
“As portraits, it is our duty to serve whichever Headmaster leads Hogwarts!” Dilys Derwent nodded.
“Regardless of who he is, or what he has done—or is about to do!” Headmaster Everard added. “No questions asked, no refusal... because Hogwarts never errs, and the Headmaster never errs. Therefore, Dilys, you cannot disobey Albus’s orders.”
“Yes, I understand.” Dilys Derwent nodded solemnly, clasping her hands at her chest as she whispered with reverence:
“Never tickle a sleeping dragon—Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus”
Her voice was filled with devotion and respect.
...
Jon felt himself slowly tumbling before he returned from the Pensieve to Dumbledore’s office.
Dumbledore picked up the small crystal vial once more, carefully restoring the memory from the Pensieve.
“May I return now, Professor?” Jon asked softly.
“Of course... though I doubt my office has room for you to spend the night!” Dumbledore smiled. “Take care on your way back.”
He winked as he spoke.
Jon bowed deeply to the Headmaster before exiting the office.
A loud cry rang out as the great crimson bird flew across the room.
Phoenix Fawkes landed beside Jon, gently tapping his shoulder with its sharp beak.
Jon felt the fabric of his robe singe, leaving a small hole in the shoulder.
“Farewell, Fawkes!” he called after the Phoenix before stepping out of the office.
...
Alone, Jon made his way from the eighth-floor entrance of Dumbledore’s office toward the Hufflepuff common room in the basement.
It was now 10:30 PM, a time when no students could be found in the corridors of Hogwarts—though perhaps one or two Gryffindors might be lurking in some corner.
As Jon mulled over Grindelwald’s speech and Dumbledore’s intent, he suddenly heard a series of clacking footsteps echoing from a nearby corridor as he passed the third floor.
Jon frowned... Was it Filch?
If it was, it wouldn’t matter much—he had a legitimate reason to be wandering. But if it was someone else...
“Who’s there?” a watchful voice called from the far end of the corridor.
“Lumos Maximum!” Jon raised his wand and whispered.
Brilliant light burst from the tip of his wand, illuminating the passage ahead.
A familiar face appeared... a twisted, scarred visage, more frightening still in the dark. Those dreadful, wide white eyes spun restlessly in every direction.
Alastor Moody stood before him.
“Hart!” he croaked softly.
“Good evening, Professor Moody!” Jon greeted calmly. “I just came from Professor Dumbledore’s office. Every Sunday night I serve detention there... you know how it is!”
Jon deliberately emphasized the words “Professor Dumbledore.”
“Oh, Dumbledore...” Alastor Moody frowned, his expression flickering with unease. “You’d best hurry back to your dormitory... The school may not be safe tonight. Dark wizards could infiltrate. Ever since that problem with the Goblet of Fire...”
“Alright.” Jon nodded. “I’ll return immediately.”
“I must continue patrolling the corridors!” Moody hobbled off, his voice fading into the distance.
Jon pursed his lips slightly, then continued down the stairs.
At the washroom where the basement met the first floor of the castle, Jon came upon another familiar, greasy face.
Severus Snape stood there.
“You?” Professor Snape said coldly.
“Good evening, Professor Snape!” Jon explained evenly. “I just came from detention with Professor Dumbledore!”
Normally, Snape would have sneered or mocked him. But this time—
“Someone has stolen powdered Bicorn horn and Boomslang skin from my office,” Snape said grimly. “Someone is brewing Polyjuice Potion. Best avoid wandering the castle at night. It isn’t safe lately...”
“Is that so?” Jon feigned surprise. “Perhaps you could ask Professor Moody... I just saw him in the third-floor corridor. He said he’s been patrolling the grounds recently.”
“Professor Moody might have some clues,” Jon added.
“Moody...” Snape muttered, frowning.
“I’ll return to the Hufflepuff common room now, Professor Snape!” Jon bowed slightly before continuing on his way.
A few minutes later, he climbed through the barrels and re-entered the Hufflepuff common room.
Only a handful of students remained inside. Jon greeted them one by one before returning to his dormitory.
“What a productive night,” he murmured to himself.
Then he lay down on his bed and soon drifted into sleep.
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