"You did well." Cloak informed Ness the moment he stepped out of Professor—sorry, Headmaster Mackerson's office.

"Really? Since I feel like I said to much." Ness replied, releasing the sigh he was holding as he adjusted his cap and walked up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower.

Everyone who had their interview/statement taken were supposed to go back to their house tower and wait for further instructions given to them by their Prefects-who had given their statements first to try and keep some order within their respected house while the teachers oversaw the reporters and students being interviewed.

"Oh, you definitely did." Sweepy said, giving an annoyed huff as Sawdust hooted, "Ginny says, you did well despite hating Dumbledore's guts."

"Well…that's good, I guess. Hopefully what I said won't come back to bite me."

"Selvis says it will, it always does." Defe replied, prompting a small smile to form as Ness stepped into the common room and headed to his bed. Ignoring the quiet whispers as people wondered how they did and if their statement would end up in the news. He almost made it to the top of the stairs when he heard someone-Hermione- cough pointedly behind him.

"What?" he questioned, a bit too tired and mentally stressed from recalling everything Dumbledore had done or allowed to happen to him and his friends to play nice.

"How did it go?" Hermione asked, her tone implying she was asking how much of his well-earned hatred for Dumbledore had spilled over in his interview instead of how he personally thought his interview went.

"Fairly well, I guess." Ness replied, shrugging his shoulders and glancing down at her just in time to spot a few students looking at them with bated breath. "I answered her questions and kept it simple."

"About the DA? Or Dumbledore?"

"Both, I guess."

"Earthbound."

Ness sighed and turned to properly face her, knowing Hermione wasn't going to back off without a definitive answer. "Fine, come up. We have people listening."

The culprits flushed with embarrassment and quickly walked away before Hermione could give them a murderous glare. But they both knew it wouldn't deter them for long.

"So?" Hermione pressed, now sitting on his neighbor's bed as Ness tapped Cloak, "I may have admitted things you and Potter aren't going to like but, it came with the question they asked."

"What did you say?" Hermione asked her voice boarding on panic as she tittered, "Ness, this is serious! We can't be spreading false information about Dumbledore!"

"Even though he's brought everything onto himself?" Ness sharply questioned, his headache slowly returning with a vengeance as he started to sense magic. Something that hadn't happened since the start of Christmas Break. Perhaps he had been settling in with the forced calm the school board appointed teachers had brought, since now he greatly felt like yelling. Thankfully, Cloak simply increased the pressure on his arms and Nagini started hissing comforting words, sensing his distress.

"Alright, fine. I told them the truth of what I knew." Ness said, focusing on breathing as he watched Hermione's face. Refusing to feel guilty about throwing a few bits of what he knew about Dumbledore at the ravenous press.

"I told them that Potter sounded like he didn't have a good home life and felt that Hogwarts was home away from home and that he probably looked up to Dumbledore as a mentor or a father figure. I told them that I didn't trust Dumbledore as far as I could throw him, I told them that Snape was teaching us Occlumency and that Professor Kale was moral support, I told them that I believed Dumbledore was preparing us for something and that I had personal reasons to dislike him."

Ness paused taking a deep breath before he quickly finished with, "But I asked them to keep the part about Potter's possible home life out of the papers when they asked me to elaborate on what I meant. I phrased it to sound like something much worse."

"…That's it?" Hermione questioned.

"Yup. So, don't worry, your precious Headmaster isn't guilty. For now."

Hermione cringed, knowing that the deck was stacked high against Dumbledore. It had been a week since he had fled from Hogwarts and the media and Ministry had gone crazy. Tossing out theories, searching older cases and events Dumbledore had been involved in, doing thorough sweeps of their staff to ensure that they didn't have any moles working with Dumbledore—it had been pure chaos.

And despite Headmaster Mackerson's best efforts, the chaos had trickled down into the school as they were announced to have days off from classes to be interviewed and have their statements taken to possibly confirm Dumbledore's plans. The teachers had been interviewed on Thursday, and now it was time for the students. Everyone was on edge, unable to look at him or Potter without giving them pitying looks or hurriedly glancing away.

"Right, sorry for bothering you." Hermione said, hurrying back downstairs to tend to the anxious crowd.

Once again, the school had been split up in terms of beliefs. The Gryffindors fully believed that Dumbledore wasn't doing anything malicious to him or Harry while the Ravenclaws and Slytherins fully believed otherwise. Poor Hufflepuff was just trying to wait for the official verdict before they picked up their torches and pitchforks, tired of being yanked around by the latest event in Potter's drama filled life.

Thankfully, with all of the scheduling and lack of classes the other houses hadn't gotten a chance to properly argue about why they should trust Dumbledore or why they shouldn't. Something Ness knew the Slytherins were going to do if only to rub the salt in the wound about their glorious Headmaster.

"I don't even know how people could come up with the argument that insist that without Dumbledore, we would have been in more danger." Ness thought, glancing at the empty stairwell before he pulled out a book, pen—because quills were the absolutely worse to write with—and some scrap paper before telling Nagini that the coast was clear.

"Finally, I thought I would never essscape those dussst bunniessss." Nagini hissed, landing on the bed with a canvas bag bursting at the seams.

"Your mother sayssss hello, and King wissshessss for you to sssssop ssssending me over." Nagini relayed, cackling when Ness shot her an exasperated look and Cloak snapped, "Stop scaring the dog!"

"But it'ssss ssso much fun! He almossst got the courage to bite me!"

"That isn't a good thing!"

"It issss when he'sss hiding behind a couch while ssssnaping at the air."

"And they're off." Ness thought, rolling his eyes and unpacking the bag. A small smile appearing when he noticed that Tracey had sent him a few baseball cards to try and annoy Selvis who couldn't understand how the cards were laminated and some Nancy Drew books for Ginny and Luna.

Ever since Ness had made the mistake of telling Tracey about how wizards didn't grow up with books wizards deemed beneath them—I.E any book written by a Muggle unless it was for a cultural assignment or to make fun of them. She had made it a personal mission to introduce them to her favorite book series and hopefully start a book club since Ness could care less about the girl who kept forgetting to refuel her car.

His mom had sent him some chocolate chip cookies and a few frantic letters asking for an explanation behind some of the theories the Mystic Informer were writing about concerning Dumbledore, before telling him to be safe since they didn't know how many wizards were under the elderly wizard's thumb.

Paula had also sent some cookies as well as a few stay safe cards from the kids who attended her parents' preschool, who thought that his wizard adventures were the best and a demand to smack Dumbledore with a frying pan the next time he saw him. If it wasn't for the fact that the House Elves would fight him tooth and nail for taking the frying pan—and not because he was planning to commit assault and battery but because he might be trying to clean or repair it—he would have already stolen it and hidden it under his bed for Dumbledore's return.

She also sent a few letters, but they mostly focused on fretting over him or asking for date locations for this summer. Jeff was…very through in his letters. Greatly explaining his confusion behind Dumbledore fleeing Hogwarts and then accidentally writing a thesis behind why Dumbledore might have fled that was five pages long, and then writing another letter asking for more information behind what happened and asking if Poo had heard about this.

"I have no idea." Ness wrote, pausing as he tried to remember the last time he had heard from Poo. He knew he had lost touch since he had been focusing on the people closest to him and who wouldn't outright attack Nagini—okay not attack but kill since Poo was a skilled martial artist and a prince so even if he didn't kill Nagini on sight his guards might. Plus, he didn't want to interrupt Poo from any important prince work since they last time they spoke he had been outraged on Ness's behalf and sounded like he was ready to come down and personally challenge Fudge and Dumbledore to a duel.

"I'll write to him this summer. He might have noticed something we haven't." Ness thought, finishing the letter to Jeff with a long-winded list of everything Dumbledore had done and some theories behind why he might have fled.

Although, they were pretty weak since he had no clue why Dumbledore would flee other than keeping the fact that Ness was a PSI user, someone outlawed in the Wizarding community a secret. What else was Dumbledore trying to hide? Of course, right after he sent it Jeff immediately replied asking if they had searched Dumbledore's office.

"No one can enter Dumbledore's office, Jeff. He locked it off so not even Professor McGonagall can enter." Ness replied, frowning as he asked why they should search Dumbledore's office before sending it back and working on his explanation letter for mom.

To ease the chaos Pro—Headmaster Mackerson had put a small news ban with the explanation that until they had a clear understanding of what happened and once the interview/statements had been taken they would allow their news to resume.

Stating that he didn't wish for the students to start forming opinions and starting a civil war before they could gather all of the facts.

It was a lame excuse, but everyone had begrudgingly accepted it as Mackerson's way of keeping the peace for as long as he feasibly could and also letting the students form their own opinions on what happened.

After all, no one knew what had happened, not even the people who were there. And with everything happening so close to May—the start of exam season it was no wonder that he wanted everyone to personally work it out of their systems before trying to encourage studying and allowing them to read the news.

"Ignorance is bliss." Ness recalled, frowning at some of the theories his mother had written about and feeling sick as he read over the short news clipping that had been packed inside the letter.

"Has Dumbledore been grooming others long before Potter and Earthbound?"

"Remus Lupin—Former Hogwarts Student and Defense Against the Dark Arts, Sirius Black a once wanted man for a frame job and guardian of Harry Potter. Are both pawns who haven't turned to the Dark Side?"

"Dumbledore, secretly seeking to overthrow the Ministry— and possibly the world?"

"Dumbledore subconsciously teaching our children to be soldiers?"

"Dumbledore on the run and out for blood."

"Is Dumbledore already running the Ministry from the shadows?"

"Harry is NOT going to like this." Ness thought, his stomach dropping as he caught a glimpse of a headlines stating that the Ministry was preparing to barter with someone for something.

Probably Black given how he was still seen as a criminal by some and by most an innocent man painted in the wrong light. If Black seriously wanted to resume a life of normality, he would need the Ministry to announce that they were wrong and publicly clear his record of his accused crimes. But if they did that then that would be admitting that they were wrong about Peter Petigrew and the death of thirteen muggles, the one thing that many were unsure about despite their aggravation for how many things the Ministry had managed to screw up.

"No, but there's a lot of things he's not going to like." Sweepy remarked, "He may hate it. But he'll have to concede that there isn't a lot of good will people can glean from Dumbledore's vague decisions."

"Dumbledore has always hidden his hand." Cashino solemnly noted, "Even now, when he has to show his hand, he's hidden it."

"He does seem to have a lot of secrets…" Bearable murmured, "I mean, everyone does but…"

"No one wants to believe in a man who wears a mask!" Twisted Painting cackled, startling Cloak out of his grumbling as Ness tried to mentally lean away from the painting's rambling. "A mask worn to protect others is a mask worn to betray others. The Wingless Puppet Master has put his trust in a few to little and soon his guidance shall be shattered!"

"You think even Potter will be disillusioned by him?" Cloak cautiously questioned, shivering as Twisted Painting's laughter subsided. "Of course, the Wingless Puppet Master who thinks he can see and save all is soon breaking the camel's back. After all, he's losing the Black Guardian's trust."

"Black…guardian?" Sawdust echoed.

"I…think he's talking about Potter's godfather." Ness offered, "He was a black dog and he did try to guard Potter."

"Wait, if he doesn't trust Dumbledore then…do you think he'll say something about Ness?" Sister Mary asked, "Those who see the bronze in their golden savior will often lash out without thought."

Ness swallowed and looked at the curtain, "I…hope not. But…he might. He might still be protecting Potter, so obviously I'm something that's threatening Potter's life. Even if I don't mean to be."

"Plus, the Ministry might be encouraging him to come forward so they can arrange for a questioning." Sweepy reminded them, "If they ask about Ness's potential as a wizard he would be forced to answer honestly."

"Jeff really wants you to break into Dumbledore's office." Nagini reported, her tongue flicking in a confused pattern as she studied Ness and Cloak. "Did I miss something?"

"Not much Nagini." Ness replied, taking Jeff's letter from her and reading it as Cashino tried to explain what they were talking about.

"Think about it. No one is in Dumbledore's office save for a few safeguards and maybe some 'magic' to protect his most valuable things, all of the teachers believe that the prefects are ensuring that everyone stays in place while they corral students and oversee the questioning.

All you would have to do is wait for nightfall, sneak in with your wizard friends and find some clues Dumbledore might have left behind in his haste to flee. You might ACTUALLY get an answer behind why you're at Hogwarts with no one the wiser until Dumbledore gets back! And who knows when that is.

-Jeff, who would very much like to have some conclusive news."

Jeff…had a good point. What better way to get into the head of their enemy than breaking into his office and studying it? Plus, he had been in the Headmaster's office before, so he could easily teleport in and out with Selvis and Luna without having a serious time limit on their heads.

The only problem came from informing them of their plans. He could easily contact Ginny and Selvis thanks to Defe and Sawdust, but Luna didn't have any means of communication besides Selvis's magic rocks.

Plus, he would only be able to get Selvis and Luna before the teachers and interviews conceded for the night and let everyone come down for dinner and then bed before repeating the whole thing in the morning.

Ginny and her brothers would be stuck waiting in the Great Hall until the questioning was over. Although, that might not be a bad thing since she and Sawdust could get information from older students about things Dumbledore might have hidden from them.

Selvis and Luna would have an easier time at making sense of whatever they found since he doubted Dumbledore wouldn't leave the evidence unhexed or safe guarded in some way.

"But how can I inform Luna?" Ness thought, tapping his book as Nagini had an argument with the Twisted Painting. Probably over nothing since they weren't making any sense.

"Well…Maybe I could fall in her bag and tell her?" Sister Mary offered, "I'm in the Great Hall at the moment, although getting around is quiet…impossible."

"With everyone sitting down it's so hard to leave!" Sweepy complained as Ness nodded to Sister Mary's idea, "That can work. But be careful, with everyone stuck in one place they're going to take any distraction to try and entertain themselves."

"They already have. Ginny is trying to calm Potter down." Sister Mary reported, "Malfoy is egging him on, and the teachers are failing at keeping order."

"They…are?" Ness asked, cringing as the doll dully stated, "Oh, the Ravenclaws have joined the argument and—ah yes. Spells are flying. Good news though, I've made it to Luna, and she is very confused to see me."

"Stay safe," Cloak instructed, huffing when Nagini hissed, "Ssshe issssn't a child."

"She's a comrade who is in a very dangerous situation you scaled brute!"

"Sssssay the mothball covered robe."

"Oh you-!"

Ness rolled his eyes again and started to eat some cookies, wanting to just go to bed instead of joining everyone in the Grand Hall.

If fights were starting with a bunch of teachers waiting nearby to try and dampen the ticking time bombs known as teenagers, then who knows what happen once they could freely walk back to their respective dormitories?

Of course, nothing could be that simple since an hour later he found himself being shaken awake by one of his roommates. "Come on, everyone's supposed to report to dinner." The tired teen said, the lights still off despite it being nightfall as Ness rubbed his eyes and looked at him in disbelief.

"What? Are they afraid that we'll mail letters to our parents about this?" Ness asked, begrudgingly getting out of bed and fighting the urge to scowl as the boy merely shrugged, "Who knows? I just know that Weasley told me to get anyone in my year up if they were asleep."

"Alright…"

The walk to the Great Hall was long and aggravating as everyone mingled with those who had their interviews taken and those who hadn't.

Their chatter nervous but excited as they spoke and walked down the stairs in a sea of black and red. Ness did his best to block it out but every now and then someone would poke him and ask how he did or what he said only to be met with an irritated glare. It wasn't until they got to the enterance of the Great Hall alongside the Ravenclaws that his house mates figured out that he didn't want to be bothered. And even then, he was briefly poked and prodded by some Ravenclaws who wanted to hear his thoughts about Dumbledore.

"So, how was your day?" Ginny asked, looking completely drained as she pushed her mashed potatoes around. Apparently, she had completely given up on pretending to obey her mother's rules since she had pointedly taken a seat next to him and was using him as an arm rest.

"Well, besides being used as a newspaper for everyone back home and getting a headache from not wanting to say what I wanted to say, pretty okay." Ness replied, shoving some stewed beef into his mouth as he glanced at Hermione, Potter and Weasley.

They were talking to one another in hushed whispers. But it was clear by how Potter's shoulders eased that they were talking about his statement.

Weasley seemed relieved to but…he also seemed nervous? Unsure of himself? He wasn't sure why though. After all he and Potter had made up. Right?

"How about you? It seems like you've had an eventful afternoon." Ness noted, smiling a little when Ginny leaned even harder against him and groaned, "Making sure that Potter doesn't clock Malfoy in the face is not my idea of an eventful afternoon."

"Fred and George didn't help?"

"They were sitting with Lee Jordon, mostly talking and goofing off with one another. So, they didn't hear Malfoy and some of the other Slytherins loud whispering."

"Ouch."

"It's for the best. Even though they're busy trying to get their prank store off the ground they won't hesitate to join in a fight."

Ness nodded and glanced at Malfoy who was sitting with his usual cronies and oddly Selvis, who was torn between looking thrilled or annoyed as Malfoy's girlfriend needled at him. Trying to get some information out of him.

"Oh yea, Selvis is currently the popular kid in the Slytherin branch." Ginny noted, following his gaze before looking at Luna who looked extremely uncomfortable with how many Ravenclaws were paying attention to her and listening as she rambled on, "Same with Luna."

"Is it because you were in the Deterrence Aegis or…?" Ness questioned, noticing how some Hufflepuff were glaring at the other house tables.

"I think it's mostly because we're friends with you and everyone remembered the huge argument you and Potter had at the start of the year." Ginny speculated, "Some tried to question me, but they stopped when they overheard Malfoy trying to goad Potter into revealing something about Dumbledore."

"What was he saying?" Ness asked shoving a piece of beef into his mouth and glancing around for anyone listening. Okay, scratch that. Searching for anyone who wasn't listening.

"Just tossing out some very incriminating theories out about Dumbledore. Like how he was probably blackmailing Professor Snape into working with Potter despite being completely against him and suggesting that Snape was trying to protect him from Dumbledore." Ginny explained, "Or Malfoy's favorite, Potter is Dumbledore's favorite since he's so gullible and easy to send on a wild goose chase."

"Not pulling any punches. Although, the Snape theory is new."

"Well, it makes some sense since everyone in Slytherin knows how much Snape hates Potter and if he had it his way Potter would have been expelled in his second year."

"Why?"

"He and Ron missed the train so…they took Dad's flying car to Hogwarts, crashed it in the woods and arrived at dinner completely late."

"…Why?"

"Dunno, I never asked. I just figured it was a magical adventure Potter and Ron had to do." Ginny answered, flushing a little with embarrassment as Ness gave her a baffled look, "I was eleven, alright?! I had a very small crush on him at the time and it was my first year!"

Ness held his hands up in surrender and changed the topic, "How long do you think this will go on for? I mean, Hogwarts must have thousands of students."

"Not sure, I overheard one of the teachers considering asking Profe- Headmaster Mackerson for more reporters so they can get back on track for exams and the fifth-year career interviews." Ginny frowned and tapped her bag where Sawdust happily hooted, "Ginny asks, why do you ask?"

"Jeff says we should break into Dumbledore's office. But since you're going to be questioned last, I was going to try and take Selvis and Luna." Ness thought before saying aloud, "Just curious since we're supposed to have an upcoming Quidditch game or something. Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor…?"

Ginny's eyes widened but she disguised it as surprise as she blurted out, "You're actually looking forward to a Quidditch match?"

Ness shrugged and said, "Better than this train wreck." As Sawdust hooted, "Ginny says that Selvis would be your best bet. He knows how to deal with unwanted attention while Luna doesn't."

"I never did understand why everyone in school wanted to be popular." Ness grimly thought before they ended their conversation. Listening to the buzz and chatter of students relaying how their interviews went or noting how tired the teachers looked.

Professor McGonagall looked very tired and aggravated, but it was probably because Headmaster Mackerson was giving her the side eye while Professor Snape seemed…worried? About what? Was he worried for Dumbledore? Or for himself? Ness…wasn't sure what to think of Professor Snape, sure he didn't outright hate Ness like he did with Potter, but he wasn't exactly innocent in this entire mess.

He had helped Professor McGonagall kidnap Paula and he seemed to be Dumbledore's second right hand man…right? He didn't seem thrilled to be teaching them about Occlumency, but he couldn't tell since Potter was there kicking up a fuss and blindly throwing himself into danger.

"Plus…according to Selvis, Professor Snape favors his own students over everyone else. And despite being petty at times he isn't a blind follower to Dumbledore. If he was he wouldn't have ratted Lupin's secret out." Ness thought, "He would have kept his mouth shut since Dumbledore called him in with a purpose…right?"

He glanced down at Cloak who could only shrug and say, "We may never understand where Professor Snape stands. After all, wasn't he a servant of Voldemort at one point?"

"I'm…not sure. But if he was then he's doing a pretty good job at keeping his nose out of everyone's business."

"Probably the man's only positive trait." Sweepy huffed.

"Hey! Professor Snape is an amazing potions teacher!" Potio argued.

"Yea, to Slytherins." Herbo grumbled prompting an argument between the enchanted books before Defe hissed, "Quiet! Herbo, Granger is speaking!"

"Hm? Oh, she's telling Potter to relax. Getting angry will just prove his point." Herbo replied with a small yawn, "Thank goodness for all this chaos. She would have returned me ages ago if she wasn't sidetracked by this mess."

"Why is Potter looking at Ness?" Sweepy asked, "What's she saying Herbo?"

"Uh…Well, Potter isn't a hundred percent sure that Ness won't reveal his true feelings about Dumbledore because none of his friends have been interviewed and uh, Ron is making it worse."

"How so?" Defe asked, rustling with panic as Selvis stiffened, no doubt sensing the book moving in his book bag.

"Well uh…He's currently saying that even if Ginny and Luna don't say much about their true feelings there's still Selvis and his Slytherin friends." Herbo explained, "None of them really like Dumbledore, Selvis more so than others since he pushes Ness around with no explanation so…if creating a power struggle in Hogwarts is the price to get Dumbledore out of power then so be it."

Ness cringed as he heard Potter's strangled, "What?!" before Hermione and Weasley abruptly shushed him and glanced at the Slytherin and Ravenclaw tables.

"Oh uh, Ron also explained that despite seeming all nerdy and creative Ravenclaw actually strive for greatness and a chance to be in history books so they would most definitely spill everything they know about Dumbledore, especially Cho Chang."

"That's…Cedric's girlfriend, right?" Ness recalled.

"That's her. She expressed to Edgecombe after the final event that she's glad that you saved Cedric and the others from the maze but felt horrible in being relieved that you faced certain death instead of her boyfriend."

He fought the urge to glance back at Chang as Ginny grimaced and nudged his leg, trying to reassure him that he didn't need to comfort the girl over something that happened a year ago.

"Of course, since Umbridge blackmailed her best friend she feels vindicated in getting justice for her since it was only until Umbridge screwed up that Dumbledore retaliated. By fleeing." Herbo explained, "Edgecombe was very fond of speaking about Cho after they er, had their falling out."

"Not to mention that the Ravenclaws are angry at the Gryffindors for dragging her into their mess." Defe murmured, "I mean, it's a bit unfair to blame Gryffindor for her poisoning and kicking Umbridge into a hornet's nest. But um…It wouldn't be the first time Gryffindor has created drama over nothing."

"It…hasn't?" Ness questioned looking at Ginny who could only shrug, "Ginny says, I'm not sure where that one came from. But since Potter's a Gryffindor who gets into trouble it's very easy to label him as the self-proclaimed leader. Plus, they still might be annoyed at Hermione trying to push S.P.E.W on them."

"…What."

"Ginny remarks. Oh, you forgot about that. Lucky you."

Ness blinked but decided not to press the matter until after everyone was done gawking at him. Instead focusing on asking Defe to get Selvis ready for sneaking into Dumbledore's office tomorrow after his interview was done.

"And now to wait." Ness thought as dinner ended with little fanfare and everyone returned to their dorms, not eager to spend another day cooped up in a room with nothing to do but study and chat amongst themselves.

Sure, those who had already completed their interviews had access to chess and some other wizard games but even those got dull when you had to share with other antsy and bored wizards.

He found himself spending his time sitting on the stairs, listening to gossip while studying Transfiguration until Defe hissed, "Selvis has completed his interview, he's hiding in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom."

"…Who?"

"Second floor girls' bathroom."

"No, seriously. Who is Moaning Myrtle-,"

"We don't have much time!" Defe snapped.

"Fine, fine. Cloak?"

"I can take you to the boy's second floor bathroom, but not the girls. You've never entered it before. Remember?" Cloak reminded him as Ness stood up and walked into the fourth-year dormitory. Placing his Transfiguration book on the bed before Cloak teleported him into an empty stall.

"Geez…this is more intense than breaking into Mad Eyed Moody's office." Ness noted, cautiously pushing the door open and peering around before hurrying into the girl's bathroom.

"Probably because this isn't Moody, this is a headmaster who has loyal followers waiting in the wings." Sweepy huffed.

"You ready?" Ness asked, keeping his voice a whisper as Selvis glared at the very last stall before eagerly nodding and accepting Ness's outstretched hand.

The bathroom blurring around them as the dull walls and cracked sinks were replaced with towering bookcases and a small observatory platform behind a polished desk. He had only been in here once, but now that he wasn't angry and trying to leave Hogwarts, he could see just how posh Dumbledore had decorated his private space.

"Whoa…" Selvis breathed, spinning around in a slow circle before spotting a row of slumbering paintings on the wall behind them.

"Looks like we'll have to be quiet…" Ness murmured, glancing at Selvis who nodded and adjusted his bookbag.

"Fine by me," the Slytherin replied carefully moving forward and gesturing to the right wall of books while he took the left.

"What secrets are you hiding Dumbledore?" Ness wondered, surprised to see metal railings on the wooden stairs before he carefully turned and faced the tightly packed bookshelf. "I guess even wizards have to admit that living in the stone age is rough…"

With a small sigh Ness started to read the names of the books. Frowning at just how many advance and utterly insane sounding names some of the books had, like really who needs a book on developing the inner eye or how to practice dark magic?

"Ness," Selvis hissed, "Check the higher shelves."

"Right," he climbed a few more steps and stood on his tippy toes. Frowning at how similar the fourth shelf was to the first two. "Selvis, I don't think he's hiding anything book wise-," he started when he spotted a book labelled The Mystery of America and picked it up.

"He must be." Selvis retorted as Ness opened the book and studied the author's note. "Books are another gateway into a person's head. Your favorite genre can say a lot about you."

"Uh-huh." Ness replied, "Hey, listen to this-Our world has a ton of magical secrets and mysteries, some that many know and some that few don't even realize exist.

"However, during my brief trip to America I discovered a shocking mystery. The disappearance of the American Wizards and the inhuman number of squibs I have discovered. Although I know my findings will be silenced by the Ministry, I can only try my best to get others to notice this strange anomaly."

"Inhuman number of squibs?" Selvis repeated, now looking at Ness with disbelief, "Does it really say that?"

"Yea…does that mean squibs aren't common here?"

"They are but they're few in number." Selvis explained, "It's almost rare to meet a squib since they live like muggles and go unnoticed."

"So…how do you figure out who's a squib?"

"Magic tests and just asking. But again, they're so hard to find once they leave the wizarding world that no one bothers."

Ness murmured a soft, "Huh," and kept reading as Selvis moved onto Dumbledore's desk.

"My journey of discovering the disapperance of American magic started when I went to visit my muggle sister—I'm a muggle born and quiet proud of it.—since the hate crimes against Muggleborns were ramping up in violence. I decided to play it safe and go the muggle route of traveling. It was very long and tedious experience learning what to do and what not to do without resorting to magic to clean up my many mistakes. My sister had a good laugh watching me mutter curses at the moving luggage rack not powered by magic and the inhuman number of stores inside the airport.

"When I first arrived in America, nothing was amiss. Wizards don't bother muggles and muggles don't bother wizards. So, I blissfully spent my vacation learning the way Americans muggles worked and practicing my English while my sister's husband laughed whenever he heard me try to pronounce trash cans only to call them trash bins.

"However, that changed when my sister asked if I knew any magic schools for American wizards. "I'm merely worried Luis. If our child turns out to be a you-know-what I'd rather send him somewhere close to home instead of Beauxbatons." My dear little sister explained, her voice pinched with worry and her hands wringing themselves raw.

"So, like every good big brother I promised to find her some wizards and put her in contact. And that is when I made the horrifying discovery about America.

"Despite being a wizarding government that had battled the alien loving muggles and tried to break into safe guarded areas belonging to muggles to destroy magical evidence it had magically disappeared. The American school of magic-Ilvermorny was a ghost of what it once was. Only a handful of students attended, and the school was woefully understaffed.

"I asked what happened and the current Headmaster—Ivy Tailor could only say that somehow wizards were losing their magic and pureblooded couples were giving birth to squibs instead of wizards.

"It was horrifying, and I aimed to prove the widowed woman wrong by going to the capital of magic, New York. Which was already in ruins by the time I arrived. The Magical Congress was a mere skeleton of its beauty and no one knew why, the only ones who did were the Unspeakables and even with desperate needling they only shook their heads and signed 'We have angered a God beyond our time.' Before scuttling back into the shadows."

"We have angered a God beyond our time?" Ness murmured, flipping through a few more pages for more information on this 'God'. But he only found a more detailed explanation of the author's journey and his plan to warn the Ministry about his findings before was forced flee to his sister's house after someone tried to take his memories an and later, his life.

The story ending in how he and his newly wed wife, Ivy Tailor. Tried their best to research what had happened and how before ending the book with an ominous 'Our new God sleeps in the stars and holds knowledge man may never receive.' And a promise to try and publish more stories about their discoveries before they were silenced.

"What are you mumbling about?" Selvis asked, carefully picking through Dumbledore's things as Ness closed the book and debated on taking it with him to thoroughly read it later.

"Someone knew about the disappearance of American wizards and wrote about it. They tried to warn the Ministry, but the Ministry tried to silence them." Ness explained, "The author talks about this god the Unspeakables in America believed they have angered and taken their magic away."

"A god?" Selvis repeated glancing up from his work as Ness joined him, "Yea, the book ends with this weird note, talking about how the God they angered sleeps in the stars and is smarter than man."

"That is…weird. Americans don't worship celestial beings. Do they?" Selvis asked, carefully pulling a large scroll free from a drawer's false bottom.

"Nope, we only worship one God and it never mentions anything about him being from space." Ness replied before asking, "What have you found?"

"Weird notes and a very disturbing lack of files." Selvis answered, studying the scroll and murmuring an intrigued, "Hello…"

"What?"

"Apparently, Dumbledore is preparing for something. It's vague since this is a to-do list Dumbledore never got a chance to burn before he fled but…"

"But?" Ness pressed.

Selvis hesitated before he read aloud, "Ensure that Victoria is keeping the Unspeakables away from Harry and Ness, Re-inform Severus why it is vital that Harry and Ness know how to close their minds to outside forces, get Ness to start looking into the Nova Enigma and inform Remus about his plan to lead the Mystic Informer away from Ness."

"Nova Enigma…? I have never heard anything about that." Ness exclaimed before frowning, "Hold on, lead the Mystic Informer away from me? And why are the Unspeakables looking into Potter and I?"

"I have no idea. The only reason for the Unspeakables would be looking for you in the first place is because they think you two know something that you shouldn't." Selvis replied, "But…how would they know that?"

"Maybe they've been watching us?" Ness offered but he knew that he would have sensed the Unspeakables if they had been watching him. They were wizards and therefore an enemy simply lurking around him.

"How? Potter's been in school this entire year. And I doubt they've asked Umbridge to help." Selvis scoffed, "No, I think they want to observe you two but can't since Dumbledore is getting in the way."

"If that's the case then…why flee? Why leave us unguarded?"

"…Don't know. Why the hell does he want you to be able to close your mind?"

"I'm not sure. Potter I can understand but…I never told him or Professor McGonagall about my nightmares." Ness scratched his head and glanced around, making sure that the paintings were still asleep before sighing, "Let's keep looking. We're almost out of time."

"Right," Selvis hastily copied the contents of the scroll and the author's name into his own scroll before he resumed examining Dumbledore's desk. Ness took his search to the observatory which was pretty barebones compared to the expansive library and ornaments on the main floor.

"All the better to hide secrets." Ness thought carefully feeling the walls for a panel out of place or a hollow opening. Of course, just because he had seen a few movies didn't mean that Dumbledore had since the walls were just that. Walls.

"Okay fine, prove me wrong." Ness grumpily thought, heading back downstairs as Selvis now examined the bookcase with a frustrated scowl on his face.

"No luck?" Ness asked, already knowing the answer when Selvis's eyes darkened, "No, the git knows how to hide his tracks." Selvis grumbled, "I wouldn't be surprised if he had a way to detect people coming to his office before they actually knocked at his door."

"So, other than the to-do list and the book. We have nothing." Ness concluded, feeling frustrated as Selvis huffed in agreement and then paused, "Wait, I did find this weird book hidden in his bookcase."

"What's it about?"

"It's a handwritten, heavily charmed notebook about something called 'Horcruxes'. I didn't really read it but…I've never seen or heard of a book talking about these 'Horcruxes' in the school library let alone bookstores."

Ness blinked in confusion, since how on earth did Dumbledore have a notebook concerning a subject that Selvis had never heard of. before something clicked in his mind. "Dumbledore's probably copying and hoarding all of the forbidden books."

"That…is a possibility." Selvis slowly admitted as Ness hurried over to the left bookcase, searching for any topics he had never found during his trips to the school library.

"Look! A book about the birth of the Magical Congress! And another one about the founding of the American school of magic!" Ness exclaimed, flinching when Selvis sharply mimed a shushing gesture and pointed to the slumbering paintings.

"Okay, so Dumbledore's hoarding books and possibly destroying the originals. But why? I thought the Ministry was hoarding them." Selvis whispered, joining Ness as he too spotted more titles that didn't belong in a school library.

"To ensure that he's the only one who knows about it?" Ness offered, looking at a notebook called Prophecies and you and another one titled Outer Space.

"Wait…I think this one is a muggle book." Ness murmured, opening Outer Space and flipping through it.

"What? You're joking." Selvis peered over his shoulder and then gasped, "It is a muggle book! From America!"

"Why would Dumbledore want an American book about outer space?" Ness mused, "Wait…you don't think this Nova is a space creature…Do you?"

"…Wizards don't believe in aliens." Selvis answered but now he seemed unsure of himself, "I mean, we study the stars, but we only use the magical properties not the mumbo jumbo muggles take from it."

"Yea but…Dumbledore knows I'm a PSI user and Giygas's influence created a bunch of PSI wielding objects and people." Ness reminded him, "Giygas was from Outer Space. So…maybe he believes that this Nova fellow is a follower of Giygas or something."

"Does…Giygas even have followers—human followers?"

"He had Porky, a childhood neighbor before he vanished." Ness explained feeling sick as he studied the bookcase with much more scrutiny than before.

Selvis sharply inhaled and breathed, "Bloody hell…" before asking, "But, how would he even know to look to outer space?"

"Maybe he got a message? One telling him to get ready for something. But if that's the case then why spend so much time keeping me out of the loop…?"

"I dunno… Then again, nothing makes sense." Selvis admitted, "Why hide you and Potter from the Unspeakables? Why look to American research for Outer Space? Why dig so deeply into their history?"

"Lost. History." Ness realized, feeling sick as he looked at Selvis, "Selvis, if they used magic to store important documents then that means they lost a ton of it when everyone was losing their magic."

"…So, Dumbledore believes they know something about Nova and starts to research it only to discover you." Selvis concluded, "But…if that's the case then why horcruxes?"

"I don't know. Did you see what the book said?"

Selvis shuddered and rubbed his arms, "It said that horcruxes are a dark form of magic which require a horrible act or something, it was pretty vague."

"Horrible act? Like…murder?" Ness questioned, his voice sounding suddenly way to loud as Selvis mutely nodded. Was Dumbledore protecting the secret behind horcruxes? Or…was he planning on making some himself to extend his life and see his mission come to an end?

"You…you don't think Dumbledore…?" Ness whispered.

"I…We don't know anything about him. He…he never really talks about himself." Selvis reminded him, "He could have kept it for a last resort, maybe even a backup plan if something went astray and he needed more time or…or…I dunno."

A hush fell over them as they looked at the book in question, feeling sick at the power it held and wondering what to do with this knowledge.

"We…we should keep it. Just until Dumbledore comes back so we can turn the tables on him." Selvis finally said, looking sick as he numbly placed the notebook in his bag.

"Yea," Ness heard himself saying, "Yea, we should. We should um…also look for more books about America or something."

"Right." The silence returned with a vengeance as they quietly studied books before putting them back on the shelves. Everything feeling much too loud as the fireplace crackled in the background and—wait. Had the fireplace been lit before?

"Selvis…was the fireplace lit when we walked in?" Ness asked, halfway up the second flight of stairs on the left while Selvis searched the right.

"…No, it wasn't." Selvis answered his eyes widening as he shoved the book he was studying back into the bookcase and pointing up to the third landing where the giant arches were as the fire turned a luminous green.

"Right, wizards use fire to travel!" Ness recalled his stomach dropping as he and Selvis scrambled up the stairs and pressed themselves to the back of the arches, their bags held tightly to their chests as there was a loud whoosh and then the sound of someone landing heavily on the floor.

They exchanged looks, praying to their respective Gods that it wasn't Dumbledore when there was a second whoosh and a shrill, "We've got you now Dumble—Oh. OH!"

"Excuse you," a tired but snarky voice retorted, "I like to think that I'm much more handsome than that old coot."

There was a third whoosh and a yell of a spell before the second person yelped, "Stop! Stop! It's Sirius Black! In er…Dumbledore's office for some reason!"

"I figured it was the fastest and frankly, best place to talk." Black answered.

"Talk? What is he talking about? And why is he actively seeking the Ministry?!" Ness wondered looking at Selvis who could only shrug his shoulders and tilt his head to listen to the conversation.

"Talk…? You mean…You're prepared to answer our questions in hopes of capturing Dumbledore?" the third person asked, their voice heavily laced with suspicion.

"If this makes me a free man. Then yes. I'll talk." Black replied his tone firm as the two wizards thought about this. "I'll go get the Minister, he personally wishes to be there for your interview." The second person stated, disappearing with a whoosh.

"If this makes me a free man? Did…did Black get a deal from the Ministry? How?! And why?! Isn't he pro Dumbledore?!" Ness again looked at Selvis who could only shrug his shoulder again and slowly move for Defe, as if to ask the book to record what was said to show the girls.

There were two loud whooshes before there was a long pause and a quiet, "Merlin's beard…you're truly prepared to sell Dumbledore out Black."

"Let's just say that you're not the only one in the dark." Black stated, a few thuds of something landing on the floor as the second wizard tittered about and rustled some paper.

"So, I see." Fudge replied as it finally dawned on Ness that Black was no longer on Dumbledore's side and was currently doing what he believed was best for Potter. And what was best for him was to get a Godfather who wouldn't be thrown in jail for false charges the second he let his guard down.


8 Out of 12!

You know, I never realized it until I read a few fanfics, but Dumbledore NEVER tried to help Sirius, the man who was Harry's Godfather and an honest member of the Order clear his name even though he bent over backwards for Snape who was a double agent for both side and had been caught in the act pressumably with hard found evidence against him.

Cannon Dumbledore had better be glad that Cannon Sirius was content to being a loyal sheep and fighting for the 'greater good' despite being overall crummy to Harry past book 4 and leaving him in the dark for the plot of Book 5.