Dumbledore left the room and went through the dungeons up to his office.

It was a comfortable room in which he felt very comfortable. Usually, but today he wanted to spend as little time as possible here.

He quickly crossed the round room and took some green powder from a can standing on the mantelpiece.

He squatted in front of the fireplace, threw the powder into the flames and shouted:

"Cornelius Fudge, Ministry of Magic."

Shortly thereafter he saw the head of the Minister of Magic in the flames.

"Dumbledore, I'm glad to see you." His tone, however, sounded as if he meant the opposite.

"I am pleased to meet you, Cornelius," Dumbledore replied politely.

"Why did you want to speak to me, Albus? I am in a bit of a hurry, I still have to write some press releases and I also have to go to the Muggle Minister.

"I do not want to bother you for long, Cornelius, so I will get straight to the point. I have learned from reliable sources that you have released Lucius Malfoy from his prison sentence. Why?

"Well, Dumbledore, as you know, I'm not supposed to tell you. Just this much: Mr. Malfoy, has produced some convincing arguments that have convinced the court of his innocence."

"Do these arguments, as you put it, consist of the fact that he told you once again that Voldemort forced him to do so? That he had been cursed by Imperius and that a large sum of money had changed hands?"

"I have already told you more than I was actually allowed to. I ask you to excuse me now, as I have some important business to attend to as Minister of Magic. Have a nice evening, Dumbledore."

With these words he left the fireplace.

"That was to be expected, Albus."

After Cornelius Fudge had abruptly broken off the conversation with Dumbledore, the headmaster of the school had gone over the secret passageways to the dungeons and had described the behaviour of the Minister of Magic to his deputy.

"I had actually expected nothing less. Has anything changed in the meantime?

"No. Poppy was down here for a moment. She said his condition had worsened. Of course, I didn't tell her anything about the conversation. I think we both know that was too much. We shouldn't have let it get this far."

"I know, Minerva. But it was important to find out."

"What are you going to do now," asked Gryffindors.

"I'm not quite sure, but I think we should give the students a few days off. Then Severus' absence would not be noticeable, Poppy could take care of normal school life and your lessons would not be affected.

And we also have Halloween in a few days. Maybe a trip to Hogsmeade would also be appropriate.

And I would have to talk to Tom again. I have some questions and I don't want to be in Peter's and Lucius' skin."

"I see it the same way with the students. That will be the best thing for everyone. Tom will want to visit Severus. I mean, he has a right to, but isn't that a little too risky? With all the students?"

"You're absolutely right, Minerva," Dumbledore replied. "So, I'm going to put the visit on the Saturday before Halloween. They'll all be in Hogsmeade and won't run the risk of seeing Tom.

The Halloween festival would then also be able to take place."

"So, you want to go to Tom tomorrow? Are you serious about the festival the day after tomorrow? Do you really feel like celebrating?"

"No, not really. But if we cancelled it, the students would notice that something was wrong. We must talk about who will stay with Severus during that time anyway. Not too many people should know about it. We can always disappear for half an hour.

Poppy can stay away longer. She could take over about the first hour at the beginning and the hour before the end of the party. I just don't know who to include."

"I would suggest Hagrid. He is very trustworthy. But he has often said that he would not be suitable for caring for people," Minerva interjected.

"I think that we have to divide it between the three of us somehow. And we can do that. Maybe he'll be a little better by then."

In her voice light hope resonated. She wished it for herself and for Severus with all her heart.

"Let's wait and see tomorrow's conversation with Tom and then take a look," Dumbledore said with a glance at the clock. "The sun has already risen. You should tell your house and the other house teachers that they should all go to Hogsmeade today. It's like a house trip.

Professor Flitwick will represent you today."

Minerva smoothed her cape and made her way to the big hall, where the students and teachers already had their breakfast.