The stone gargoyle rotated slowly, then stepped aside with a reluctant grind.
"Sherbet Lemon," Dumbledore said, almost casually.
The wall behind the statue opened, revealing the narrow spiral staircase beyond. Sunlight filtered down from above, catching on the moving steps as they shifted gently, making room as if the castle itself were deciding the order of ascent.
Amber glanced upward. "It's… moving again."
"The stairs enjoy being involved," Wayne said. "Ignore them and they behave better."
Dumbledore smiled at that but said nothing, already beginning the climb.
The office revealed itself gradually, warmth first, then colour. Silver instruments whirred softly on spindly tables. Shelves crowded with books leaned at odd angles, some clearly not interested in being organised. Portraits lined the walls, many of them awake.
Armando Dippet nodded from his frame, watching Wayne with open interest. Dilys Derwent paused mid-conversation with another portrait and leaned forward.
"Well now," she said. "That's a face I didn't expect to see again."
"Good morning," Wayne replied politely.
Dumbledore took his seat behind the desk, folding his hands. "Please," he said. "Sit. Both of you."
Amber chose a chair near Wayne, careful but composed.
Before anyone spoke, a sharp clearing of a throat came from one of the portraits.
Phineas Nigellus Black looked unimpressed. "If this is nostalgia," he said, "I suggest brevity."
Dumbledore glanced at him. "Noted."
He turned back to Wayne. "You were here two years," he said calmly. "Enough time to be noticed. Enough time to cause concern."
Wayne nodded. "I remember."
"You were placed in Ravenclaw," Dumbledore continued. "Though you argued the Sorting Hat for nearly four minutes."
"It was wrong," Wayne said simply.
A few portraits murmured at that.
"You excelled in subjects most students struggle to approach," Dumbledore said. "Alchemy, theory, applied transfiguration. You were… inconveniently capable."
Amber raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like praise."
"It is," Dumbledore said. "And it is also a problem."
Wayne leaned back slightly. "You're building up to something."
"Yes," Dumbledore admitted. "I always do."
He waved a hand, and a small tray appeared between them, cups filling themselves with tea.
"At breakfast this morning," Dumbledore went on, "you may have noticed certain faces."
Amber nodded. "Professor McGonagall."
Wayne smiled faintly. "She never forgets."
"She is not the only one," Dumbledore said. "Professor Flitwick was present. Professor Sprout. Professor Snape arrived late, as usual, but noticed you nonetheless."
"Of course he did," Wayne said.
Dumbledore studied him. "They remember you as a student who left before the castle finished forming an opinion."
"And now," Wayne said, "you'd like to know whether it should."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Direct as ever."
One of the instruments on the desk clicked softly, spinning once before settling.
"There are things," Dumbledore said carefully, "that Hogwarts records. And things it chooses not to."
Wayne met his gaze evenly. "You never expelled me."
"No," Dumbledore said. "You left."
"And you let me," Wayne replied.
"Yes."
Silence settled briefly, not uncomfortable, but deliberate.
Amber shifted slightly. "You said this wasn't a formal meeting," she said. "But it feels important."
"It is," Dumbledore agreed. "Just not urgent."
He leaned back in his chair. "Hogwarts will continue as it always has. Students will attend classes. Professors will teach. The castle will pretend it does not notice anomalies."
"And me," Wayne said.
"And you," Dumbledore replied.
Wayne exhaled softly. "You want me close, but not involved."
"For now," Dumbledore said. "I would like you to observe. To remember. And perhaps," he added lightly, "to decide."
"Decide what."
"Whether Hogwarts still feels like a place you might belong," Dumbledore said.
Wayne did not answer immediately.
The portraits watched in silence.
Finally, Wayne smiled. "You always did ask questions that sound optional."
"And you always answered them eventually," Dumbledore said.
He stood, signalling the end of the meeting. "For today, that is all. You have rooms, freedom of the grounds, and no obligations."
Amber let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding.
Dumbledore inclined his head to her. "I hope Hogwarts treats you kindly."
She smiled back. "So far, it has."
As they turned to leave, Wayne paused at the doorway.
"You rehearsed this," he said again, lightly.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Only the opening."
Wayne nodded once. "Figures."
They stepped back into the spiral staircase, the door closing softly behind them.
Below, the castle continued its day uninterrupted.
Above, unanswered questions waited patiently.