A Taste of Magic

Chapter 91: 91st Course - Illuminating

"I'm beginning to think that Madam Pomfrey was right," Remus said with a small smile.

"About what?" Dumbledore asked.

"That you like to look out your window pensively to appear mysterious."

Dumbledore chuckled and turned from the window. "Sometimes I do. Other times I find myself woolgathering." He sighed at Remus' confusion. "Daydreaming."

"What a quaint phrase," Remus said.

"A very old one," Dumbledore said as he sat. "Meaning yes, I am old for using old turns of phrase."

"I didn't say anything," Remus protested as he sat too.

"Not out loud you mean," Dumbledore snorted.

Remus resisted the urge to clear his throat, seeing a packet of lozenges on Dumbledore's desk. "Gathering any specific wool in particular?"

"The same problem I have been wrestling with lately," Dumbledore said, "only this time, without any hesitation or reluctance."

"That's good," Remus said. "I confess, I'm still a little unsure how to progress as well."

"Indeed, it is very tricky," Dumbledore mused. "In the past, I had Severus to help and glean some forms of motives or movements, but that avenue is unavailable now unfortunately. We know that Tom and Quirinus are after the horcruxes, but we do not know exactly how many there are, or are left. I thought we might have had a lead after going through memories but when Alastor went to the old shack, the place had been ransacked and demolished. Recently too. If one was there, it is there no longer."

"Information leaving Sanguis is sparse," Remus said. "The families of the students there are not very forthcoming. Not to mention the students themselves are rather tight lipped from what I have heard."

"Hmm, it seems Tom has learned some things since the last war." Dumbledore sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I truly hope it does not come to another one."

"Partially why we are doing this, right? To prevent one?"

"Indeed," Dumbledore said, nodding.

"Sirius was telling me the other day that things may not be so sanguine at Sanguis actually."

Dumbledore laughed. "How long have you been waiting to make that joke? Or did he actually say that?"

"I mentioned it after I thought of it and he was disgusted he didn't think of it," Remus smiled. "But he mentioned it to me the other day. Ted noticed that Lucius was looking a lot less polished at the Governor meetings these days. The two boards meet often to discuss things with the Department of Education."

"Lucius always did care most for his physical appearance," Dumbledore said, intrigued. "And by less polished…"

"Ted said Lucius looks rather haggard, and has let slip an unflattering comment or two about his boss," Remus said. "When Ted did a bit of surreptitious asking, Lucius wasn't like this before, even when we think he was introducing those rules and changes to things to make things easier for Sanguis."

"If Lucius is willing to, accidentally, make comments about Quirinus or Tom in public, then things must be getting difficult," Dumbledore said. "Interesting. Which would support Drake's theory. I was thinking about last year and as the year progressed, Quirinus did seem to lose a bit more control as the year went on. He was calm and collected during the choosing of the champions, rather bullheaded and rude before the dueling event, and a bit unhinged during the Third Task."