Hall of Records

Prologue

An old man sat pensively at grand, claw-footed desk, staring over his steepled fingers into the pre-dawn sky through the room's solitary window. The first day of July began with a thin layer of low clouds which, when met with the rays of the waking sun, lit up a violent red.

As the sun rose higher into the sky, the ceiling thickened, piling upon itself and turning a suffocating gray. All the while, the old man continued to watch, sitting so still he could have been made of stone.

And despite his watchful gaze, a fierce wind began to blow, rattling against the windows. The sky was overtaken by furious, roiling, black clouds and rain began to splatter against the castle walls, but still the old man's gaze never faltered, unable to bring back the sun, but steadfast in his vigil.

When a knock came at the door some time later, the man did not immediately seem to notice. A few moments passed before, as if pulling himself out of a trance, he lowered his steepled fingers, and slowly got to his feet. The storm would continue on against his wishes, but he had no ability to clear the sky and there was work to be done.

"Enter" he said in a quiet but carrying voice. The door to his office opened in response and admitted a slightly hunched, hook-nosed man with long, oily black hair and a pale complexion.

"Ah, Severus," said the old man in greeting, "you have news for me, I trust?"

"Yes Headmaster, I do," said the Potions Master in a voice that never could completely rid itself of a comfortable sneer.

"Well then," smiled Professor Dumbledore, indicating one of the red-leather upholstered armchairs on the other side of his desk. "Please sit down. I am sure that it has been a trying night for you."

"I will stand," replied Severus Snape curtly, ignoring the chair Dumbledore had indicated. "The Dark Lord is most displeased."

"I would expect so," agreed Dumbledore. "I imagine he took the Death Eater's failure to abduct Harry at his aunt and uncle's home with intense dissatisfaction." Snape narrowed his eyes slightly at Dumbledore's casual tone, before Dumbledore continued with a more concerned air. "It pains me that I must continue to ask you to put yourself in such a dangerous position. Are you all right, Severus?"

"I am fine," said Severus quickly, shaking off Dumbledore's sympathy as if it had burned him, "and as I said before, I do have news for you."

Dumbledore sat back down into the chair behind his desk and inclined his head slightly to indicate that his Potions Master should continue.

"The Dark Lord is convinced that Harry Potter is his biggest threat and must be eliminated – even more so than you. He believes he must gain a foothold at Hogwarts to achieve this end and that there are several students who may be sympathetic to his cause. I am assuming that he wants to make these students his followers to keep tabs on both you and," his face scrunched in distaste, "Potter."

"Yes, Mr. Potter has become quite a thorn in his side" agreed Dumbledore with a hint of pride in his voice and either missing or choosing to ignore Snape's sour expression. "Do you have any idea which students Voldemort intends to recruit?" he added, shooting a piercing look at his Potions Master.

"I do not, Headmaster, though your guesses are likely similar to mine. The Dark Lord operates with the utmost secrecy. He seems to feel, as he believes I am a double agent working against you, that providing me with such information could undermine his cause. He believes that you would not tolerate any student or staff who takes the Dark Mark."

"He is quite right," nodded Dumbledore, his tone carrying an energy and intensity that belied his age. "I would, of course, immediately remove anyone I believe is a threat to my students. What interests me is his reasoning for telling you that such a plot existed at all. Why would he tell you that he plans to infiltrate Hogwarts with new followers if he did not wish for you to aid those followers?"

"I am unsure. Perhaps as a test of my loyalty? Perhaps he just wants to be certain that I do not get in the way if I do come across what his would-be followers are planning. It is no secret that many of those whom he would seek to recruit are members of my house."

"I agree," said Dumbledore, his lips thinning as he stared at Snape in concentration. "I need you to find out who these students are, Severus. We need to find out what Voldemort wants them to do. I cannot allow any harm to come to our students or staff."

"Yes, headmaster. I will do my best."

"Thank you, Severus," said Dumbledore, his lips twitching upwards in a slight smile. "Is there anything else to report?"

"No, Headmaster."

"Then get some rest, you look exhausted."

"Yes, Headmaster."

Severus left the room, his robes swishing behind him, as Albus Dumbledore steepled his fingers and stared out of the window once more. The storm outside had grown in intensity, and rain could be heard thundering on the castle walls as each gust of wind slammed into the gray stone.

Dumbledore sighed and nodded very slightly as if in agreement with some invisible speaker. "We knew this day would come, Fawkes," he said quietly to the great, red phoenix perched beside his desk.

Fawkes trilled comfortingly.

"I hope so, old friend. I hope so."