Mischievous Glint | George Weasley

Chapter 45

At the Gargoyle Corridor

Hermione and Ron and I walked up behind Harry.

"Harry, It's time." Hermione caught his attention as he nodded.

Later day at the courtyard, Harry, Hermione and Ron and I walked.

"Is the Room of Requirement unplottable?" Harry asked.

"If one wants it to be. Why?" I replied.

"It would explain why I thought Malfoy was leaving the castle when he disappeared off the Map. He was going to the Room of Requirement."

Hermione looked at me as I pursed my lips.

"Of course, and that explains the Vanishing Cabinet as well!" She realized.

"No. I got an owl from Dad this morning. The one at Borgin & Burke's? It's still there." Ron added.

"But I'm telling you. I saw it." Harry stared somewhere, a thought forming in his head. "What if there are two? Vanishing cabinets."

"What if there are?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know." Harry kept his gaze around a corner.

"Good luck, mate." Ron wished and Harry turned back to Ron and Hermione and neither able to fully conceal heir concern. He smiled reassuringly and I gave him a half smile.

"I don't need luck. I'll be with Dumbledore." He assured.

                                      ♠️

After Harry was back, I trotted up the spiraling exterior stairs, I heard footsteps coming from the topmost level and I peered up through the grid-like floor above and saw Harry.

"Oh, Y/N, you're here. Just in time." Harry tuned to see me.

We dashed to the stairwell door and glanced back and saw Dumbledore muttering wearily as he gesticulates with his blackened hand.

"Sir, are you... praying?" I asked.

"No, Y/N. I do not pray. I was merely closing a window the one that had allowed us to Apparate." Dumbledore smiled as I nodded and began to open the door when footsteps  sounded. Dumbledore cocked his head listening. He winced and straightened up as if to mask his infirmity.

"Hide yourselves below. And do not speak or show yourselves without my permission. No matter what." We looked down through the latticework at his feet to the tier below. The footsteps grew closer. "Now, you both speak to no one else... I... I shall wait here..."

Harry didn't move.

"Do as I say, you both." Harry hesitated as I grabbed his hand as Dumbledore's eyes blazed.

"All right." Harry nodded.

"Okay." Harry and I gently disengaged from Dumbledore and left him leaning against the ramparts.

Harry picked his wand and slipped down the stairs. As we reached the level below the door above flew open. We peered up through the grid and watched Malfoy come into view.

"Good evening, Draco. What brings you out on such a fine Spring evening? Or is it Summer?" Dumbledore said with his usual calm voice.

Draco stood poised wand in hand, eyes darting around.

"Who else is here? I heard you talking." Draco spoke.

"I often talk aloud to myself. I find it extraordinarily useful. That which sounds sane at a whisper can seem utterly mad when said for all the world to hear. Haven't been whispering to yourself, have you, Draco?" Draco eyed Dumbledore with unease. "You are not an assassin, Draco."