The Light in the Darkness | Sirius Black Tangled AU

three | the wolves at the door

       It was summer in Scotland, and the Great Hall was buzzing. Nearly all exams had concluded, and with just a couple more days before the students would board the Hogwarts Express and say goodbye to the castle for a few months, everyone was in a state of childlike happiness. With such a sunny, beautiful morning, many were scarfing down their breakfast so they could go explore the grounds and soak up the day - plates left unfinished, papers left unread. Among the students, at least.

       It was a different climate entirely at the staff table. With solemn expressions, the professors talked quickly in hushed whispers, a Daily Prophet in front of each of them, sometimes shared between two or three, all of them open to the same section: the International News.

       Only one was not immersed in the tragic drama of the day, though even so, the headmaster looked more troubled than many - students or staff - had ever seen him. With a small crack hidden amongst the chatter of the Great Hall, a House Elf appeared beside the old wizard, handed him a folded slip of paper, then Disapparated once more. With hardly a glance over it, Albus Dumbledore stood and glided out of the room. No one took notice.

       Though not fully the master of it yet, Dumbledore hid his stoic expression behind a pleasant, dazed smile, and the students he passed in the hall were none the wiser. He walked with his hands lightly clasped behind his back, no hurry in his step. He was the still, calm waters that would drown you.

       When he entered the headmaster's office, the room looked as it always had, and it seemed as though he were alone in the large, circular room. In fact, the only thing amiss was how quiet the portraits of former headmasters, often a chit-chatty group, were as he entered.

       "Headmaster Dumbledore," came a deep, commanding, thickly-accented voice from a dark corner behind his desk. Though he would give no other indication of it, the hairs on the back of Dumbledore's neck stood on end. From the shadows emerged a large, bearded man, dressed regally in dark blue robes, a heavy golden livery collar complete with a large sun-shaped emblem around his neck. It was one of the rare times that the great Albus Dumbledore was shadowed by another. "Do you know who I am?"

       Adjusting his hands behind his back, Dumbledore straightened his posture and walked further into the room, reclaiming it as his own. "Of course, Your Majesty," he spoke calmly, drifting closer to his desk. He stopped suddenly, meeting his guest's gaze with a bit of a twinkle in his blue eyes. "My apologies, King Frederic, should I have bowed to greet you?"

        "That will not be necessary," said the king, unsmiling. "Do you know why I am here?"

       "Of course." Dumbledore was by the window now, gazing out of it as he spoke instead of looking at the sovereign of the largest magical kingdom still in existence. It was a sign of disrespect that would have led to punishment in the kingdom of Corona, and while the king's eyes narrowed, he said nothing of it. "And I sympathize greatly, but as I have told your scouts, the curing of Blood Curses is not something within my skill set."

       "No, your skill set is quite different when it comes to that subject."

       The sense of ease drained from the headmaster's face.

       "But that is not why I'm here," the king continued, and finally the headmaster turned to give him his full attention. "My people are getting closer to finding the miracle to cure my family as we speak. I have no doubt that they will succeed and that my line will continue quite happily. No, what I am here for is for what will come after."

       Dumbledore leaned against the window, his brows creased and his lips parting, but before he could speak, the king, perusing the trinkets set out on the headmaster's desk, continued.