He stormed through the silent halls, a murderous glint in his eyes. His pace quickened as he kept the
disturbing image in his mind. Anger was nothing new for him, that was for sure, but this
time...things had gone too far.
Finally arriving at his destination, a giant stone gargoyle, he muttered some password and the
gargoyle opened to a spiral staircase. He was unaware of a pair of stunning green eyes staring
at him through the darkness, which disappeared as he ascended.
"Dumbledore!", the man bellowed as he entered the fancy, oval room. Dumbledore, who was
sitting comfortably in his chair, swivelled around rather quickly, either out of nervousness or
surprise or both.
"Yes, Severus, what is troubling you?", he said calmly.
"Headmaster, my dungeon has been broken into! My own private sanctuary, violated! All of
my personal potions and antidotes, spilled all over the floor. Some are missing. And worst of
all, my....my...". He just couldn't finish. His knees gave and he sank to the floor.
The older man had gotten up by now, and had moved toward the dark figure now on the floor.
"Your diary", he finished for him.
"Yes", was the pained answer.
Dumbledore's look of wonder was now a look of worry as he pondered his friend. He had never
seen Severus so stressed, except when the Dark Mark on his arm burned, signaling him to his
"Master".
"Was there anything of great importance in this diary of yours? Anything too...revealing, I
should say?" He waited patiently for the others' answer.
"Oh, no, nothing much. Just every damn thing I've ever thought of and done in my life!" There
was a long pause.
"And other things, I suppose." Severus nodded grimly.
Dumbledore paced from one end of the room to the other, hands behind his back, which
indicated that he was thinking. This went on for a while, which made Severus squirm.
"Well", the older man said finally. "I wouldn't be too worried Severus." He heard the other
gasp in shock and rage. Choosing to ignore this, he went on.
"I am sure that whoever took your diary will not be using it to harm you in any way."
The younger man was completely taken aback. How could the old wizard be so calm and
reassuring? Surely, he could see the seriousness of the situation? Perhaps he could be
persuaded otherwise. But before he could retaliate, a sudden whoosh came from the window
and a giant bird of scarlet and gold plumage entered the room. Fawkes the Phoenix flew over
and landed on his favorite perch, Dumbledore's shoulders, and dropped a letter into his hand.
"I am afraid that I have some business to attend to, Severus. We will finish our discussion at
some other time. I will see you at breakfast, I presume?" . He truly looked sorry.
The younger man took this as his dismissal and said "Of course, Headmaster, of course."
Looking disheveled, he backed out of the room, defeated.
***
disturbing image in his mind. Anger was nothing new for him, that was for sure, but this
time...things had gone too far.
Finally arriving at his destination, a giant stone gargoyle, he muttered some password and the
gargoyle opened to a spiral staircase. He was unaware of a pair of stunning green eyes staring
at him through the darkness, which disappeared as he ascended.
"Dumbledore!", the man bellowed as he entered the fancy, oval room. Dumbledore, who was
sitting comfortably in his chair, swivelled around rather quickly, either out of nervousness or
surprise or both.
"Yes, Severus, what is troubling you?", he said calmly.
"Headmaster, my dungeon has been broken into! My own private sanctuary, violated! All of
my personal potions and antidotes, spilled all over the floor. Some are missing. And worst of
all, my....my...". He just couldn't finish. His knees gave and he sank to the floor.
The older man had gotten up by now, and had moved toward the dark figure now on the floor.
"Your diary", he finished for him.
"Yes", was the pained answer.
Dumbledore's look of wonder was now a look of worry as he pondered his friend. He had never
seen Severus so stressed, except when the Dark Mark on his arm burned, signaling him to his
"Master".
"Was there anything of great importance in this diary of yours? Anything too...revealing, I
should say?" He waited patiently for the others' answer.
"Oh, no, nothing much. Just every damn thing I've ever thought of and done in my life!" There
was a long pause.
"And other things, I suppose." Severus nodded grimly.
Dumbledore paced from one end of the room to the other, hands behind his back, which
indicated that he was thinking. This went on for a while, which made Severus squirm.
"Well", the older man said finally. "I wouldn't be too worried Severus." He heard the other
gasp in shock and rage. Choosing to ignore this, he went on.
"I am sure that whoever took your diary will not be using it to harm you in any way."
The younger man was completely taken aback. How could the old wizard be so calm and
reassuring? Surely, he could see the seriousness of the situation? Perhaps he could be
persuaded otherwise. But before he could retaliate, a sudden whoosh came from the window
and a giant bird of scarlet and gold plumage entered the room. Fawkes the Phoenix flew over
and landed on his favorite perch, Dumbledore's shoulders, and dropped a letter into his hand.
"I am afraid that I have some business to attend to, Severus. We will finish our discussion at
some other time. I will see you at breakfast, I presume?" . He truly looked sorry.
The younger man took this as his dismissal and said "Of course, Headmaster, of course."
Looking disheveled, he backed out of the room, defeated.
***