The school was eerily quiet in the early hours of the morning. Even Dumbledore seemed surprised by the two late-night visitors standing before him.
Dressed in peculiar pajamas, a tall nightcap perched on his head, and thick woolen socks on his feet, he looked every bit the eccentric headmaster. Yet, at this moment, he sat behind his desk with an unprecedentedly grave expression.
# Dumbledore: "I understand everything you've told me."
He glanced at Snape, then at Orli.
# Dumbledore: "But after the Goblet of Fire was placed in the Entrance Hall, Alastor and I set up protective spells together. We worked through the night and then went straight back to my office for a drink. We stayed there until morning. By then, the Goblet was already surrounded by students. There's no way Alastor could have slipped in any paper."
# Dumbledore: "As for others, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime stayed on their ship and carriage, respectively, the entire night. Many students can vouch for that. As for Bagman and Crouch, they left the school after the welcoming feast and didn't return until just before the champions were announced."
Dumbledore rested his chin on his hands, deep in thought.
## Orli: "Could it be someone else? There are quite a few people in the school who could pull this off, aren't there?"
Orli pressed on.
# Dumbledore: "Oh, Orli, it seems you have very little faith in the age line I set up."
Dumbledore chuckled lightly.
# Dumbledore: "In fact, I don't think any student could have done it. Even among the professors, there aren't many who could achieve this…"
His gaze lingered, almost deliberately, in Snape's direction.
## Orli: "It doesn't have to be one of our professors. Maybe someone influenced the Goblet beforehand using other methods?"
Orli quickly added.
# Dumbledore: "Of course, of course. Orli, I'm not suspecting Severus."
Dumbledore blinked with a touch of humor.
# Dumbledore: "But your concern is valid. Alastor did mention before that someone might be trying to use the tournament to harm Harry."
# Snape: "Making a fourth-year student participate in such a competition."
Snape let out a cold snort:
# Snape: "Even if no one does anything, Potter could very well get himself killed."
# Dumbledore: "That's why I think it might be necessary to provide Harry with some additional training, especially during his free time…"
Dumbledore mused thoughtfully.
# Snape: "I'm very busy!"
Snape immediately protested.
# Dumbledore: "Oh, actually, I think Alastor would be perfect for the job. He's always been good at teaching people how to fight."
Dumbledore decided firmly.
# Dumbledore: "I'll also keep an eye out to see who might have tampered with the Goblet of Fire."
# Snape: "That would be ideal."
Snape said curtly:
# Snape: "Additionally, we should personally inspect all items to be used in the tournament to prevent any 'foreign objects' from being mixed in."
# Dumbledore: "Indeed."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement.
# Dumbledore: "It's getting late, Severus. Escort Orli back to her dormitory. Otherwise, if she runs into Filch, it might cause some trouble."
Orli looked at Dumbledore, hesitating. The safety of Harry and Voldemort's 'resurgence' were pressing concerns, but there was another matter of even greater importance. She desperately wanted to ask Dumbledore about the progress on the Horcruxes, but remembering Snape's earlier warning, she couldn't find the courage to speak.
On the way back to the Gryffindor Tower, her eyes lingered on the tapestry in the eighth-floor corridor, depicting the troll clubbing the foolish Barnabas. She thought of the only Horcrux she might have access to besides Harry—Ravenclaw's Diadem, hidden in the Room of Requirement. Perhaps she could start with it.
Snape's pace was brisk as always. Before long, they stopped in front of the Fat Lady's portrait.
# Snape: "We've arrived."
His voice was devoid of any emotion.
## Orli: "Then, Professor… Good night?"
Orli ventured cautiously.
# Snape: "…Hmm."
Snape made a low sound before turning and disappearing into the shadows of the staircase.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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