The figure stepped out of the alley as if he had been there all along.
Albus Dumbledore looked exactly as Amber expected and not at all how she imagined at the same time. Tall, calm, dressed in deep-coloured robes that caught the last light of evening, he carried himself with the ease of someone who did not hurry because the world would wait. Beside him stood a much shorter man, broad-shouldered, stiff in posture, his expression serious to the point of discomfort.
Wayne sighed softly. "You took your time."
Dumbledore smiled, fingers resting lightly on the head of his wand. "I find that timing improves when one allows the moment to settle," he said. "Good evening, Wayne."
Amber looked between them, then took a small step back, letting the space belong to them without being told.
"Good evening, Headmaster," Wayne replied. "Or should I say former Headmaster. Or current. I lose track."
Dumbledore's smile widened. "Still direct," he said. "I had hoped age might soften that. Seems I was wrong"
Wayne laughed. "You rehearsed that."
The shorter man beside Dumbledore shifted slightly.
Dumbledore blinked. "I beg your pardon."
"You did," Wayne said easily. "The pause, the tone, the way you stepped into the light. You practiced."
There was a brief silence.
Then Dumbledore chuckled, low and genuine. "I may have," he admitted. "Some conversations deserve preparation."
Wayne glanced at the man beside him, then back at Dumbledore. "You even brought him."
The shorter man stiffened further.
"Ah," Dumbledore said. "Yes. Allow me to introduce—"
Wayne waved a hand. "I know who he is."
The man frowned. "You do."
"Yes," Wayne said. "He was my instructor."
The dwarf stared at him. "I was not."
Wayne grinned. "You were. Two weeks. Defense theory. You yelled a lot."
"I lectured, lecture Very well" the man snapped.
"Very loudly," Wayne said.
Amber covered her mouth, hiding a smile.
Dumbledore raised a hand gently. "Wayne—"
Wayne held up both palms. "All right. That was unfair." He turned to the dwarf. "I apologize. Truly. You were thorough."
The man looked startled. Then suspicious. "Accepted," he muttered.
Dumbledore cleared his throat, clearly relieved. "Perhaps," he said, "we might walk."
They moved together toward the edge of the village, the castle rising behind them. The sounds of Hogsmeade faded slightly, replaced by the soft evening wind.
"I wondered if you would come," Dumbledore said after a moment.
"You invited me," Wayne replied. "Indirectly. Very you."
Dumbledore smiled again. "You always did read between lines."
"You always hid them," Wayne said.
Amber glanced at Wayne. "You went here," she said quietly.
"For a short time," he replied. "Two years."
"Enough to leave an impression," Dumbledore added. "You were… unusual."
Wayne laughed. "That's one word for it."
"You learned quickly," Dumbledore continued. "Too quickly. You asked questions most students did not know how to form."
"And you avoided answering them," Wayne said.
"Carefully," Dumbledore agreed.
They walked in comfortable silence for a few steps.
"I assume," Wayne said, "this isn't a social call."
"No," Dumbledore said simply. "It is not."
Wayne nodded. "Good. I don't like pretending."
Dumbledore stopped walking and turned to face him. "I would like you to return to Hogwarts," he said.
Amber looked at Wayne sharply.
Wayne raised an eyebrow. "As what."
Dumbledore hesitated, just slightly. "As a guest. An observer. Perhaps, in time, something more."
Wayne studied him. "You're still rehearsing."
Dumbledore smiled, unoffended. "Old habits."
Wayne exhaled, then laughed again, softer this time. "You always did ask the long way."
"And you always answered too quickly," Dumbledore said.
They stood there, the castle watching, the evening deepening around them.
"We'll talk," Wayne said at last. "Not tonight. But we'll talk."
Dumbledore inclined his head. "That is all I hoped for."
Amber stepped forward. "I'm Amber," she said, calm and polite.
Dumbledore turned to her, eyes kind. "A pleasure," he said. "You are most welcome here."
She nodded. "Thank you."
The dwarf cleared his throat. "I will… wait," he said stiffly, already stepping back.
As they parted, Dumbledore paused once more. "It is good to see you again, Wayne."
Wayne smiled. "It really is."
And for the first time that evening, Hogwarts felt closer than it had before.