Hogwarts.
"So I have to accompany you to the school to persuade Dumbledore?" Tver sighed helplessly as he watched the gates slowly open.
Marvolio had ultimately accepted the task of convincing Dumbledore, dragging him back to Hogwarts first thing in the morning.
Marvolio swept a hand out grandly. "Look at this beautiful campus. Can't you feel even a little longing for something this beautiful?"
The problem is that in a few years you'll bring an entire army here and tear the place apart…
Tver silently grumbled.
But Marvolio wasn't wrong. Without noisy students, the castle truly felt quieter and more serene. Bathed in sunlight, Hogwarts seemed particularly bright and inviting. No wonder some professors chose to stay over the summer—free room and board in a place like this really was more pleasant.
They both slowed their pace to take in the scenery.
"Why would you take on such a thankless task? Even if Dumbledore agrees, he'll still be displeased with you."
"It's still better than running around outside! If you'd let me catch Black, would I be acting so out of place?!" Marvolio complained, his lips twisting in annoyance. "Besides, you're here. With you around, how could we possibly fail to persuade Dumbledore?"
He clapped a heavy hand on Tver's shoulder as if Tver were there solely for him to order around.
"If I didn't have something to discuss with Dumbledore, I wouldn't be here with you at all."
Tver slapped away his hand and noticed someone coming down the staircase.
"Professor Fawley? What brings you back to the school?" Hagrid asked, holding a book and looking delighted.
"I need to talk to Dumbledore," Tver said, gesturing at the book in his hands. "And you? The last time I saw you this happy was when you came back from Azkaban."
Hagrid grinned broadly, scratching his head while proudly showing off the book.
The Monster Book of Monsters—that unruly thing lay perfectly tame in his hands.
"Professor Kettleburn's retiring, and Dumbledore's decided I'll be taking over Care of Magical Creatures."
"This is the textbook I'll be using for my lessons! I just went to ask Dumbledore about preparing the coursework!"
His face was flushed with excitement, the smile stubbornly pushing its way out from behind his beard.
"And what did Dumbledore say?" Marvolio asked.
"Er… he said it was an interesting idea."
Hagrid frowned, only just noticing Marvolio's presence.
"An Auror? What are you doing at the school?" he demanded sharply.
Hagrid's memories of Aurors and Azkaban ran deep, and he recognized Dawlish instantly.
"Don't be rash, Hagrid!" Tver said quickly. She couldn't deal with either of them getting hurt. "Dawlish is here for the same reason I am—to discuss something with Dumbledore."
Only then did Hagrid manage to push down the surge of anger. With Professor Fawley present, Dawlish couldn't possibly cause trouble. And surely Fawley wouldn't harbor any harmful intentions toward Dumbledore.
"All right. Dumbledore's in his office. The password is 'Fizzing Whizbees.'"
"Thank you. And here's some advice—spend more time on lesson prep, especially considering the danger posed by the Magical Creatures that might appear in your class."
"If students get hurt, it'll reflect badly on your future teaching."
Tver offered the reminder sincerely. He doubted Hagrid would take the advice easily, but it didn't hurt to try.
After bidding Hagrid goodbye, he pulled the still-grumbling Marvolio toward the Headmaster's office.
"Fizzing Whizbees."
"Tsk. Dumbledore's tastes are always so strange," Marvolio muttered resentfully.
But he knew he was here to ask for something, so once he stepped into the office he quickly switched to a more agreeable expression.
"Dawlish. I thought you were here to take away another professor."
As if he'd heard Marvolio's earlier jab, Dumbledore said it the moment he saw him.
Even Marvolio didn't know how to respond. He couldn't very well admit that the Ministry wanted to station Dementors at Hogwarts, could he?
"Don't worry. This time they want to bring Dementors to the school."
Marvolio: ᓫ(°⌑°)ǃ
Tver sat down in front of Dumbledore with the ease of someone who seemed to visit this office all the time.
Which wasn't wrong—he had been here many times, probably more than anyone who wasn't a headmaster.
But Dumbledore's expression darkened instantly.
"I've already discussed this with Fudge. Hogwarts does not welcome Dementors. Those things belong in Azkaban, and only in Azkaban!"
Angry, Dumbledore resembled a lion. His age didn't lessen his presence at all; if anything, it added the weight of time to it.
Tver calmly poured himself a cup of tea. For some reason, tea was the only drink available.
"Exactly what I said. But they insist that wherever Black is, that place might as well be Azkaban, and the Dementors have to follow him."
"Capturing Black is the responsibility of the Ministry. It has nothing to do with Hogwarts."
Dumbledore casually took out a hidden pitcher of pumpkin juice, poured himself a glass, then tucked it away again.
"The house-elves are on holiday too, so my supply of pumpkin juice is running low."
Seeing Tver's stunned expression, he gave a brief explanation before taking a sip.
With how possessive he looked, Tver nearly wondered if this Dumbledore was someone in disguise using Polyjuice Potion.
"But Black is connected to Hogwarts students. That gives the Ministry the authority to act."
Marvolio finally snapped out of his shock and stepped slightly behind Tver's shoulder, staring firmly at Dumbledore.
If he hadn't used Tver as a human shield, his stance might have looked more commanding…
Unable to bear Tver's resentful stare any longer, Dumbledore personally poured him a cup of pumpkin juice.
"You two know each other well?" he asked casually.
"We're… friends. Dawlish is the Ministry's rising star now. You could at least hear him out."
Tver lifted his cup, taking small, satisfied sips.
Dumbledore looked toward Marvolio.
"Of course I'm aware of Dawlish's recent progress. To be honest, it's beyond what I expected. Your academic achievements were the best of your year, but you always made mistakes when it came to actual combat."
"I never imagined you would change this much."
"But now the Ministry seems to have changed as well. Are they just waiting foolishly for Black to show up?"
A faint, cold smile tugged at Dumbledore's lips as he leaned back in his chair, lifting his chin slightly—displaying, for the first time in front of them, the quiet arrogance of the greatest wizard.
Tver didn't mind at all; he even stepped aside deliberately so Dumbledore's focus would fall more directly on Marvolio.
Marvolio shot Tver a resentful glare—it was his fault he hadn't been allowed to go after Black.
"Black is cunning. We can't track him down. The only place we can be certain he'll appear is Hogwarts."
"Even you wouldn't want Harry Potter to get hurt, would you?"
"And the Dementors will only stay outside the school walls. Their sole target is Black. They won't harm students by accident."
Tver desperately wanted to stop Marvolio from setting up such a dangerous flag, but he spoke too fast—too late…
Dumbledore was visibly moved by the assurance. He also didn't want to put the Ministry in an awkward position, nor did he want rumors spreading that "Dumbledore refuses to be governed by the Ministry."
"Very well. I agree to let the Dementors guard the perimeter of Hogwarts—but only the perimeter."