When they reached the large gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office, Snape cleared his throat, and said, "Drooble's Best Blowing Gum," somewhat irritably. Eddie would have certainly found this amusing had he not been absorbed in thoughts of his own.

Not saying another word, they stepped onto the staircase, and it began ascending on its own accord. It rose higher and higher until Eddie saw the gleaming oak door ahead. They stepped off the stone staircase, and Snape rapped on the door.

"Enter," they heard. Snape pushed the door open.

Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, evidently reading a letter, when the pair walked in.

"Headmaster," Snape addressed him. Dumbledore looked up.

"Yes, Severus?"

"I have a - concern - for the Pattinson boy."

"And that would be?" The aged wizard stared between them.

"Mr. Pattinson has been so kind as to inform me that he has experienced some kind of a nightmare - or hallucination."

"And what would this - nightmare - be about?" Dumbledore fixed his blue eyes on Eddie, which gave him the feeling of being X-rayed. He thought it was more amusing to read about than to experience, and he began to stutter while speaking.

"Er - firstly, I was in a cold room, like a prison cell, and I heard Voldemort - I'm positive it was him. He was angry that whoever he was questioning wasn't telling him how - to do something. I'm not sure what it was, but it sounds dangerous…" He stopped, not wanting to disclose the details of the second part of the dream, which was quite - personal. He wished with all his might that Snape would not mention it, and bit his lip.

To his relief, and surprise, Snape remained silent. Eddie risked half a glance at Snape, and saw that his face was as impassive as ever. He felt a rush of gratitude for him, and almost smiled.

Dumbledore merely continued looking at him for a while, then slowly nodded his head, linking his long fingertips.

"Most troubling indeed… is that all, Mr. Pattinson?"

Eddie nodded.

Dumbledore dismissed them. "I shall dwell on what you have told me today, Mr. Pattinson… and remember, when one door closes, another shall always open."

Eddie didn't know what that meant, but he could have sworn that he saw the old headmaster wink at him. Slightly taken aback, he walked off with Snape.

A few days later, Eddie was walking in the corridor following his lesson on Cheering Charms when he saw Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and, most interestingly, Sean, huddled together, discussing something intently.

Confused as to why Malfoy was now accepting of Sean, or at least, well enough to engage in polite conversation with him, Eddie walked over, intrigued. Immediately, the four of them stopped talking when he drew near, Sean's expression shifting ever so slightly from one of interest to one of mild annoyance.

"What is it, Pattinson?" Malfoy drawled.

"Oh, nothing, just wanted to say hi to Sean. I'll leave you guys alone-"

But seeing Sean reminded him of something. He had to see Dumbledore.

Knocking once more at the gargoyle entrance after giving the password (still Drooble's) he entered tepidly, this time taking in all the unusual contraptions Dumbledore kept in his study.

All was quiet, other than the whirring from the machines.

"Er - Professor?" Eddie spoke uncertainly. "Are you there?"

Then he heard a voice from behind him. "Yes?"

Eddie turned to face Dumbledore, who was striding into the room.

"Oh - hello, Professor." When he didn't say anything for a few moments following this, Dumbledore chuckled.

"Ah, my boy, surely you did not come here merely to wish me welcome?"

"No… I had a question that, really, only you could answer."

"And that question would be?" The professor asked inquisitively.

"Oh - I was just wondering if I should be concerned about the Horcruxes…"

"Horcruxes?" Dumbledore inquired, perplexed for a second. Then his face cleared, and he said, "Ah, yes I remember now… there are six, are there not?"

"Actually, there's sev - wait - no, you're right," Eddie corrected himself, remembering that Harry was not alive, much less a Horcrux in this universe. "Five, now that the diary is gone. But I was concerned about whether we should be hunting the other five…"

"And why is that?"

"Well, we want to stop Voldemort from returning, don't we?"

"That is the intention… but it is inevitable that he will."

"What do you mean, sir?" Eddie asked.

"What I mean is that it is unwise to begin a quest so early. Lord Voldemort will be after you and anyone close to you as soon as he gets wind of such a journey. That is not a burden you want to impose on your friends, is it?"

"N-no sir," Eddie answered timidly.

Speaking more kindly, Dumbledore rested his hands on Eddie's shoulders. "When the time comes, Mr. Pattinson, you will know. Trust in your knowledge, and trust in your friends."