Chapter 238

Chapter 238

Suer emerged from the tunnel with a spring in his step. Using the same trick as before, he immobilised the Whomping Willow and strolled back to the castle.

Fortunately, the whole affair had not taken long, though he was rather hungry.

Beating someone was hard physical work. There was still some time before dinner, so he would find a snack in the dormitory first.

As Suer climbed through the barrel entrance, a young Hufflepuff witch happened to be coming out and found herself face to face with him.

Her smile froze. It slowly vanished, and her face turned white.

Her mouth opened slightly. Then a scream loud enough to pierce the thick walls burst from her.

“Aaaaah!”

A crowd came rushing over. Several were still carrying food. Good heavens, was the celebration not over yet?

“Who are you?” Cedric pushed through the crowd and confronted him, his voice tense.

The vigilance on Cedric’s face suddenly reminded Suer what he had forgotten.

He had not removed his disguise.

Under the hostile stares of the assembled Hufflepuffs, Suer drew his wand and cast Finite Incantatem on his face and throat.

The cold sensation across his features and the blockage in his throat disappeared at once.

“Suer?” Cedric asked uncertainly.

“Yes, yes, it’s me.” Suer coughed lightly several times. After having his throat obstructed for so long, the sudden freedom felt marvellous.

“I’m sorry. I found a couple of amusing charms and tried them out, then forgot to cancel them.” Suer apologised to the badly frightened witch.

“It’s all right.” She released a long breath and pressed one hand to her chest. The sight had nearly scarred her for life.

Anyone who raised their head and found a faceless creature before them would feel half their soul leave their body.

She had no desire to experience that moment of heart-stopping terror a second time.

“You frightened me to death.”

“I’m sorry. Truly…”

Suer apologised repeatedly. Fortunately, Hufflepuffs were generally friendly. Once everyone realised there was no danger, the crowd dispersed and returned to the feast.

It was only a small incident. Since the common room contained an endless supply of food far more varied than that in the Great Hall, Suer stayed and ate his fill.

There was no need to visit the Great Hall for dinner.

Once his hunger was dealt with, it was time for serious business. Suer intended to seek Headmaster Dumbledore’s protection that very night.

First, however, he needed to prepare.

He would bring the Cockroach Clusters and Jelly Slugs from Honeydukes, along with his most important evidence: the Marauder’s Map.

He also needed the recording orb that had captured Black emerging from the Room of Requirement.

As for Legilimency, after all Professor Snape’s training, Suer could not claim to withstand an attack from a truly exceptional wizard. But if anyone tried to inspect his memories, he would certainly notice.

That was the worst possible outcome in any case.

He trusted Dumbledore to have limits.

Everything was ready. Suer had checked in advance, and Dumbledore was in his office. The Headmaster was not alone, however.

Cornelius Fudge was there, along with someone named Dawlish.

The map truly was remarkable. Beneath its ink, neither living person nor ghost could escape detection. Suer wondered how Black, Harry’s father and their friends had ever managed to create it.
“Password,” the stone gargoyle said in a muffled voice. Light flickered in its carved eyes as it blocked Suer’s path.

“I’m here to see Headmaster Dumbledore. Would you notify him, Mr Stone?”

“Password,” the gargoyle repeated without emotion.

This was Suer’s first visit alone. On previous occasions, someone had always accompanied him, and he had entered the Headmaster’s office without difficulty.

“Sherbet Lemon?” Suer ventured.

Given Dumbledore’s devotion to sweets, the password was probably the name of a confection. The gargoyle’s complete lack of response made it clear that Sherbet Lemon was not the current choice.

“Coconut Ice?”

“Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans?”

“Butter Almond Toffee?”

“Drooble’s Best Blowing Gum?”

Suer took a Honeydukes order form from his pocket. It listed a long succession of sweets, and he read through every one.

The gargoyle could not even be bothered to tell him that the passwords were wrong.

Ah, there were a few that were not on the order form.

“Cockroach Clusters?”

Wrong.

“Jelly Slugs?”

Wrong again.

“Peppermint Toad Ice Cream?”

Correct.

Without warning, the stone gargoyle came to life and rotated aside. The wall behind it split apart to reveal a spiral staircase.

Dumbledore’s tastes truly were… unusual.

Peppermint Toad Ice Cream. What normal person would eat such a thing?

It was a toad-shaped peppermint sweet with ice cream inside. Its strange appearance was not the real problem. After someone swallowed it, the thing genuinely hopped about in their stomach.

Justin had bought some once. Suer had tried one and never wanted another.

The Quibbler’s claim that Dumbledore single-handedly kept an entire production line in business might not be false after all.

Merlin supposedly adored stockings of every description. Perhaps powerful people always possessed peculiar tastes.

Suer’s mouth twitched. He politely thanked the gargoyle.

To his astonishment, it replied in the same muffled voice.

“You’re welcome.”

Suer gave it a startled look. So the thing truly was alive.

He rode the staircase upwards and approached the fine oak door. Just as he raised a hand to knock with the griffin-shaped door knocker, the door opened from within.

A short, portly man in a bowler hat and suit emerged, followed by a powerfully built middle-aged wizard with stiff grey hair and a hard expression.

The man in front could only be Cornelius Fudge, the present Minister for Magic.

Fudge looked deeply displeased as he left the office, as though his conversation with Dumbledore had gone badly. When he encountered Suer at the door, Suer obediently lowered his head and stepped aside.

The portly Minister paused at the sight of a pupil. His expression changed at once, becoming kindly and approachable.

“Hello. Are you here to see your Headmaster?” His voice was as warm as a spring breeze.

“Yes, sir,” Suer replied with his head lowered.

“Dumbledore is inside,” Fudge said softly, with none of the resentment he had displayed upon leaving.

“Thank you, sir,” Suer answered politely.

Fudge chuckled, nodded benevolently and strode away with his subordinate.