"Dumbledore?"
After receiving no response for some time, Snape cast a suspicious glance at the Headmaster and asked quietly.
"Oh, Severus, it's nothing…"
Dumbledore replied quickly, nodding.
"I only mean that this is indeed rather suspicious… Dolores Umbridge—why would she have been on Privet Drive?"
Professor Snape began pacing the Headmaster's Office, his brows drawn tight.
"Yes," he muttered to himself. "Why would she do that? And how did she know…?"
"Severus, I wonder…" Dumbledore chose his words carefully. "Could it possibly have been nothing more than a coincidence? After all, as far as I can tell, Dolores couldn't possibly know your secret."
"There isn't another wizard within dozens of miles of Privet Drive," Snape said grimly, shaking his head, his tone edged with sarcasm. "She's a Senior Undersecretary at the Ministry of Magic. Why would she just happen to appear in a place like that?"
Seeing how resolute Snape was, Dumbledore could only nod. "Very well, Severus… I think you're right."
"I will get to the bottom of this," Snape said firmly.
Severus Snape did not remain long in the Headmaster's Office. Without needing to be dismissed, he turned and left on his own.
Albus Dumbledore let out a long breath and leaned back onto the Headmaster's bench.
"If I remember correctly…" Phineas Black's oddly unsettling voice drifted from the portrait wall. "A year and a half ago, we all heard about this matter. At the time, Dumbledore even considered telling Snape exactly what had happened—but after some thought, he decided against it…"
"Phineas, don't speak…" Albus Dumbledore growled, his features slightly twisted as he remained mid-transformation.
"And how do you plan to wrap this up?" Headmistress Dilys Derwent asked with evident concern.
"How should I know?" Jon Hart, now fully transformed, sighed softly. "We'll just have to take it one step at a time."
"Oh, and there's one more thing…" Dilys Derwent continued.
"What is it, Dilys?" Jon looked up.
"Madam Pomfrey from the Hospital Wing asked me to pass along a message," Dilys said with a smile. "The girl you arranged to be admitted has almost completely recovered."
"Oh!" Jon sprang to his feet in delighted surprise. "That means—"
"Yes. Madam Pomfrey says she only needs a little more observation, and then she can be discharged."
"That's wonderful… I'm heading to the Hospital Wing right now!" Jon exclaimed.
...
"Astoria, did you hear what Madam Pomfrey said? You'll be discharged very soon…" At that moment, outside Astoria Greengrass's hospital room, Daphne spoke with undisguised happiness.
"I heard, sister," Astoria replied, a faint smile appearing on her face. "Thank you for taking care of me every day during this time…"
"We're sisters—there's no need to thank me," Daphne said with a laugh, gently rubbing her sister's cheek. "Once you're discharged, it'll be just in time for the Christmas holidays… We'll go home together then…"
Mid-sentence, the smile on Daphne's face froze.
She lowered her head, her expression fell into silence.
Astoria lay quietly in her bed, her face clouded, saying nothing.
Both sisters knew exactly what the other was thinking.
Their mother was gone.
The two house-elves were gone.
Emily was dead, and Hod had become unstable…
Home was no longer the home it used to be.
Daphne forced a smile and changed the subject. "By the way, Astoria… have you heard from him?"
"Him?" Astoria echoed softly.
"Jon," Daphne said casually. "Wasn't he the one who saved you? He must have contacted you afterward, right?"
"No…" After a brief hesitation, Astoria shook her head.
"I see…" Daphne looked a little deflated.
Just then, a gentle knock sounded on the door of the hospital room.
"Who is it?" Daphne muttered as she walked toward the door.
"Good morning, Miss Greengrass," came a warm, kindly voice from outside.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Daphne cried out, immediately bowing to the Headmaster.
"Good morning, Headmaster," Astoria's voice followed from behind her.
Daphne noticed her sister's tone sounded slightly odd, but she didn't dwell on it.
"What brings you here, Headmaster?" Daphne asked nervously. She quickly opened the door, ushered him inside, and pulled up a chair for him.
"Poppy told me that Miss Greengrass is close to a full recovery," Albus Dumbledore said with a gentle smile to Daphne Greengrass. "So I came to see her myself. A friend asked me to keep an eye on her while she's at school."
"That's very kind of you," Daphne replied politely, only then realizing that "Poppy" referred to Madam Pomfrey.
Dumbledore turned toward Astoria. "And how are you feeling now, Miss Greengrass?"
With her sister present, Astoria didn't dare reveal her true feelings. She nodded respectfully. "I'm feeling much better, Professor Dumbledore."
"There's one more matter," Dumbledore continued. "I've received news from Azkaban… Diana has heard that you've recovered and wishes to see you. She asked me—"
"Mother?" Daphne gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
"Yes," Dumbledore said calmly. "I contacted a few friends at the Ministry and obtained permission. You should know, gaining access to the cells at Azkaban is no easy thing. The visit has been arranged for the first day of the Christmas holidays… By then, you should be free to leave the Hospital Wing."
"Professor Dumbledore… I… may I see Mother as well?" Daphne asked in a low voice.
"I can't promise anything," Dumbledore replied, nodding at her. "Azkaban's visitation rules are extremely strict. But I'll submit a request for you, Miss Greengrass."
"Thank you so much," Daphne said at once.
Beside her, Astoria curled her lip ever so slightly, though she said nothing at all.