"It can't be Katie. During training, she wouldn't even harm a fly. She'd never knowingly give Aiden a Dark Magic artifact."
Harry seemed to be explaining to Professor McGonagall, but his eyes kept darting toward Aiden.
"Yes, she was under a curse," Professor McGonagall confirmed, nodding.
"It's Malfoy. I've seen him working on something recently," Harry said. Hermione and Ron looked at him, bewildered.
"That's a very serious accusation, Potter," Professor McGonagall said, her brow furrowing as she turned back to face him.
"Indeed. Where is your evidence?" Snape also turned around, his dark eyes fixed on Harry.
"I just know," Harry said, meeting his gaze steadily.
"You just know?" Snape's voice dripped with sarcasm. "How extraordinary. You possess gifts ordinary wizards can only dream of having. How grand it must be to be the Chosen One."
Snape narrowed his eyes. Professor McGonagall shot him a sharp, reproving look.
"Very well, you should return to your dormitory now," Professor McGonagall said, dismissing the trio with a wave of her hand.
"So what does our Ravenclaw prodigy think?" Snape asked. With one target dismissed, he immediately turned his attention to the next.
"Nothing much. Voldemort wants to kill me. That's all," Aiden said, examining his nails with studied indifference.
"What? Why?" Professor McGonagall asked, bewildered.
"You're rather good at playing innocent. You used to pinch my cheeks constantly sixty years ago."
Aiden teased Professor McGonagall with a playful tone.
"Because you can travel through time and space, and she fears you'll go back to the past and kill him?"
Professor McGonagall's brow furrowed deeply as she reached up to pinch Aiden's face.
Snape was stunned by this exchange. His single caustic remark had inadvertently drawn out such an explosive secret from his senior colleague.
Every Slytherin instinct screamed at him to leave immediately, but his curiosity demanded he stay and learn more.
After weighing the risks, he decided to remain.
"If only that were the case. Everyone could sign an agreement not to invade each other. Unfortunately, she wants to erase me because I can counter her on a psychic level. I'm her natural adversary."
Aiden tapped the table sharply, and the world shifted around them. The two professors found themselves drawn into the collective unconscious.
"Where is this?" Professor McGonagall asked, surveying the vast gray sea stretching before them. Above, their surroundings seemed reflected within an enormous glass sphere, as if the entire world were encapsulated.
"The collective unconscious, and my domain within it," Aiden explained.
"As you know, Dumbledore defeated Gellert Grindelwald sixty years ago. Now, Tom wants to follow in Grindelwald's footsteps. And I happen to have considerable experience dealing with such threats," Aiden said, making a subtle gesture with his fingers.
The tide surged suddenly, and reality crashed back around them. They stood once more in McGonagall's office.
"She fears you'll stop his plans again, but doesn't dare face you directly, so she resorts to these cowardly methods to eliminate you, but..."
Too immature, Snape thought.
He kept the rest to himself. The Unbreakable Vow bound his tongue, preventing him from revealing what he knew about Harry's accusations, even though he now understood they were true.
"Hmph." Professor Snape crossed his arms and turned to leave, frustration evident in every line of his posture.
"What's wrong with him?" McGonagall asked, watching him go.
"Perhaps he's displeased," Aiden replied with a slight shrug.
After bidding Professor McGonagall farewell, Aiden departed, the letter from Dumbledore still clutched in his hand.
"I have some news that should delight you. I'll be leaving the school for a while."
In Dumbledore's office, the Headmaster cheerfully made his announcement.
"Oh, wonderful. If you're so delighted, why didn't you use a Patronus to notify me? Why send Fawkes to grab me here?" Aiden complained.
"Ahem, it was faster this way. Now, while I'm gone, I need you to impersonate me."
Dumbledore produced a prepared vial of Polyjuice Potion, the Headmaster's own silver hair already added to the murky liquid.
"Wait, what about my classes?" Aiden froze.
"You can create duplicates," Dumbledore said, stroking his beard knowingly.
"I should never have demonstrated that ability in front of you. And where exactly are you going?" Aiden asked, rolling his eyes.
"I've received word from an old friend in Europe that Tom appears to be preparing something dangerous. I want to confront him again before he acts, to gauge how far he's recovered."
Dumbledore raised his hand, and a note materialized in Aiden's grasp.
"All important matters are recorded here. If you have questions, consult these instructions. Also, Harry has a private lesson next Monday. Please oversee it."
With that, Dumbledore entrusted his beloved school to Aiden and vanished in a brilliant flash of phoenix flame.
This man, Aiden thought with a sigh.
He separated a fragment of his consciousness, instilling a virtual personality into the construct. The duplicate Aiden was prepared.
After sending the newly created duplicate off to handle his classes, Aiden drank the Polyjuice Potion and felt his body shift and transform into Dumbledore's form.
He settled into the Headmaster's chair and began reviewing the mountain of school documents awaiting attention.
"Albus!"
The Headmaster's office door burst open. The Deputy Headmistress clearly had unrestricted access.
"Good evening, Minerva. What's the matter?" The figure at the desk idly manipulated several silver instruments.
"Albus, a Dark Magic artifact appeared on school grounds. Someone attempted to assassinate Mr. Prewett with it," Professor McGonagall reported, recounting the afternoon's events.
"It's quite all right, Minerva. First, arrange Miss Bell's transfer to St. Mungo's for treatment. As for the assassination attempt, I'm confident Mr. Prewett can manage."
Aiden-as-Dumbledore seemed distracted, his fingers continuing to toy with the instruments.
"What? You're using him as bait again? Last year it was Harry, this year it's Prewett!" Professor McGonagall rarely raised her voice like this.
"No, I mean, Minerva, was that Dark Magic artifact actually brought into the castle?"
Wisdom glinted behind the half-moon spectacles.
"No... wasn't it?" Professor McGonagall said uncertainly.
"Miss Bell encountered the Dark Magic artifact outside the school grounds. We should restrict student visits to Hogsmeade for the time being. Most shops have closed regardless," Aiden suggested, spreading his hands in characteristic Dumbledore fashion.
"That does sound prudent," Professor McGonagall agreed, nodding.
"Perhaps we might also increase their coursework somewhat. After all, students at this crucial stage mustn't fall behind in their studies," he continued.
"My goodness, Albus, you're remarkably pragmatic today. You've always advocated against excessive academic pressure before, haven't you?" Professor McGonagall looked surprised.
"Ahem, these are exceptional circumstances. One must adapt teaching methods to changing situations, wouldn't you agree?" Aiden said, offering her a knowing wink.
"You make a valid point. I'll give it proper consideration," Professor McGonagall said, nodding. She turned to depart.
"Oh, Minerva, please inform Mr. Potter that his private lesson proceeds as scheduled next Monday."
"As you wish," Professor McGonagall replied before leaving.
"Quite the performer, aren't you?" Phineas sneered from his portrait on the wall.
"Phineas, do be civil to the young man. He's managing school affairs and instruction admirably well," Headmistress Dilys Derwent interjected, defending Aiden.
"Indeed? A young man capable of throwing the entire wizarding world into chaos?" Phineas retorted.
At that, several former headmasters who'd grown tired of his commentary descended upon his portrait, engaging in what could only be described as animated portrait fisticuffs.