Pulling open the lion-headed door knocker, Jon stepped into the Headmaster's Office once more after several months away.
Inside, it was as lively as a marketplace.
Just as Jon had learned before, whenever Albus Dumbledore was absent from his office… the portraits lining the walls, released from all restraint, became as giddy as if it were a holiday.
Tonight was no exception.
With the Disillusionment Charm still active, when Fawkes carried Jon into the Headmaster's Office, the portraits noticed only the phoenix.
"Merlin's beard… why has this stupid bird come back?" Headmaster Phineas Black's sharp, piercing voice rang out at once. "Don't tell me Dumbledore's returning early?"
"Then I'd better hurry to the Ministry… Albus asked me to contact Dirk Cresswell, head of the Goblin Liaison Office, before he comes back…" an elderly witch said anxiously.
Then came the sound of bridge cards collapsing in a heap.
"I should make a trip to the International Confederation of Wizards as well…"
"I'm done playing—heading straight to the U.S. Congress of Wizards!"
The chatter continued without end…
...
So when Jon dispelled the Disillusionment Charm around himself, every pair of eyes on the walls turned toward him at once.
At the same time, the movements of all the former headmasters and headmistresses came to an abrupt halt.
"Hart? Why is it you?" Headmaster Phineas Black frowned. "Just a few days ago, Dumbledore said you were in Albania…"
"Yes, I was in Albania then, but I'm back now," Jon replied with a smile, nodding politely to the portraits one by one.
"Did Dumbledore bring you back? He should be arriving any moment now, shouldn't he?" a gaunt, elderly witch asked hurriedly.
"No." Jon shook his head. "I came back on my own. Professor Dumbledore isn't at the school, is he? Fawkes just told me—"
Before he could finish, the entire Headmaster's Office erupted into cheerful chaos.
"Go on, go on!" On the portrait to the left, several witches and wizards began gathering up the bridge cards that had scattered everywhere.
"I say we keep going—I was just about to win!"
"Everard, you idiot! That hand was already over. What are you even talking about?"
Aside from the bridge players, some of the other headmasters were fencing, while others sang at the top of their lungs… the whole office was in complete disorder.
"Everyone's been terribly busy lately," Headmistress Dilys Derwent explained with a smile when she saw Jon's baffled expression. "It's rare for Albus not to be here, so we finally had a chance to relax…"
"Because of the mysterious person?" Jon asked quietly.
"Yes… Riddle and his followers have been growing more active again recently…"
Dilys Derwent hadn't finished speaking when the office door slammed open with a loud bang.
The room, which had just been as noisy as a market, instantly fell silent.
Albus Dumbledore stood in the doorway. Behind his half-moon spectacles, his blue eyes swept across the office, then blinked gently.
The headmasters who had been playing bridge wriggled their hips, trying to block the card table… but being far too thin, their efforts were entirely pointless.
"Ahem… Jon." Dumbledore turned away, clearing his throat lightly, pretending he hadn't seen anything. "Fawkes told me you'd returned to Hogwarts, so I hurried back myself…"
...
Within just a few minutes, the "chaotic" portraits returned to normal at remarkable speed.
Whether they had been playing bridge, singing, or fencing, all of them put away their props and resumed their usual poses, eyes closed in quiet repose.
Hearing that Professor Dumbledore had rushed back specifically because of him, Jon felt a little overwhelmed.
"What have you been busy with lately, Professor?" he asked quickly. "Headmistress Derwent told me the Death Eaters' activities have become more frequent?"
"Yes." Dumbledore took his seat behind the desk and conjured a long, comfortable bench with a plush purple cushion, gesturing for Jon to sit. "Over the past month, there have been multiple attacks…"
"But I didn't see anything about it in the papers…" Jon frowned.
Even while he'd been on the Balkan Peninsula, he'd kept a close eye on news from Britain, collecting newspapers every few days and reading them carefully.
"Amelia—Amelia Bones—prevented the Daily Prophet from reporting on it. She consulted me about the decision as well," Dumbledore explained calmly. "Because this is exactly what Tom did decades ago: orchestrating a series of attacks to spread panic, throw us into chaos, and keep everyone on edge."
"Most of them were attacks on Muggles." After a pause, Dumbledore continued, shooting Jon a knowing glance at Jon. "There are reports that Eastleigh Road in Southampton was also targeted by Death Eaters, though there were no Muggle casualties that time…"
"Eastleigh Road?" Jon murmured, a chill running down his spine.
Fortunately, he'd had the foresight to move his parents to France. Otherwise… the consequences would have been unthinkable.
More importantly, why would the Death Eaters attack that place? Was it just a coincidence? Or, as Slughorn had suggested, had Voldemort and the Death Eaters truly set their sights on him?
Dumbledore didn't notice the change in Jon's expression and continued. "Besides the Muggles, one of our friends was also killed… Dedalus Diggory. He was attacked by three Death Eaters in the village of Budleigh-by-Burrow, and unfortunately lost his life."
"I'm very sorry," Jon said at once, seeing the heaviness on Dumbledore's face.
They fell silent for a moment.
After thinking it over, Jon spoke again in a low voice. "Oh, Professor… I received a letter today."
"A letter?" Dumbledore looked at him with some curiosity.
Jon briefly but clearly relayed everything Daphne had written to him.
"Horace… Horace had Miss Greengrass tell you that the Death Eaters already know Christopher Patrick is actually you?" Dumbledore's expression instantly turned grave.