Chapter 32: Stealing Dumbledore's Candy
After watching Snape leave, Dumbledore continued, "You should know why I kept you here, right?"
"I know, Professor McGonagall told me." Ethan was excited. Was the mystery finally about to be solved?
"I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
Ethan's heart sank. "The bad news first."
Dumbledore ignored the question entirely. "Oh, the good news first. Nicolas wrote back saying he does indeed possess an alchemical artifact capable of detecting a wizard's bloodline."
Ethan looked at him resentfully. "Headmaster, can I hear the bad news now?"
"Cough, cough." The white-bearded wizard feigned a cough, looking slightly embarrassed. "Oh dear, I'm getting old, and my hearing isn't what it used to be. Now for the bad news: the alchemical artifact Nicolas crafted has been loaned out and won't be returned anytime soon. It likely won't arrive at Hogwarts until after Christmas."
"That's under ideal circumstances. If we can't get it back soon, it might be delayed even further." The old man looked helpless.
Ethan was disappointed as well. He'd thought he would have the results soon, but it turned out to be at least three or four months away.
"However, I have already written to the fellow who borrowed the Bloodline Tablet, urging him to return it as soon as possible."
"Thank you, Headmaster!" Despite the disappointment, Ethan felt slightly better.
"That's all. Would you like some candy? It just arrived from Honeydukes today." A plate of candy magically appeared on the coffee table.
"Don't mind if I do." Wanting to get back at Dumbledore for enjoying his embarrassment earlier, Ethan grabbed handfuls of candy and stuffed them into his robe pockets.
Seeing Dumbledore's displeased expression, Ethan pushed his luck. "I have roommates and other friends. You don't mind if I take extra, do you, Headmaster?"
"No, I'm very happy that you care about your friends." Dumbledore gritted his teeth.
"Could you give me some more? I still have room in my pocket." Ethan gestured toward one of his pockets, which was only half full.
Dumbledore ignored him. "Oh dear, I'm getting old, and these days I get sleepy early. Jones, you should head back now. I should get some sleep, too."
The old man stood up, even making a show of rubbing his lower back.
"Tch." Ethan knew he was faking, but he didn't dare push his luck, so he stood up too. "Goodbye, Headmaster."
When he reached the door, he extended his hand to Fawkes again.
The phoenix nuzzled its head against his hand, and Ethan left with a smile.
After he left, Dumbledore laughed and muttered, "You little brat."
With a bag and a half of candy in his pocket, Ethan took the rotating staircase again.
It was past lunchtime, and he figured Hermione must have gone to the library, so he grabbed his bulging bag of candy and headed there to share his joy with her.
When he arrived at the library on the fifth floor, he looked around for Hermione.
"Huh? Hermione's not here today? That doesn't make sense." He was puzzled not to see the familiar figure, but since he hadn't brought anything except his wand, he decided to leave.
As he walked toward the stairs, he ran into Hermione hurrying toward the library.
"Hermione, over here," Ethan called out to the girl as she ran with her head down.
"You finally showed up. I just went to Snape's office door in the dungeons and saw him come back. I hid off to the side and almost got caught."
"I can't get into your Slytherin common room either, and I thought you'd probably come to the library, so I came to check." Hermione's face was a complex mix of worry and joy.
"It's nothing serious. It's just that the magic I cast last night drew a complaint from the Black Lake merpeople, and Dumbledore wanted to talk to me."
Hermione frowned. "Complaint? What punishment did the Headmaster give you?"
Ethan patted his pocket, catching Hermione's attention. "Don't worry, there's no punishment. I even got a lot of candy from him, delivered by a famous candy store off-campus. Want to try some?"
"Well, okay." Hermione, who'd been taught from a young age not to eat too much sugar, hesitated a moment before nodding.
Ethan suggested, "Let's go to the library and eat them in secret. Mrs. Pince shouldn't find out."
Hermione immediately stopped him. "No, you'll get kicked out of the library for eating! Ethan, you can't do that! It's against the rules!"
Ethan had been determined to fool Mrs. Pince, but he ultimately failed under Hermione's watchful eye.
After the library closed at eight, Ethan still regretted that he hadn't gotten any candy earlier. "How boring, Hermione," he muttered. "You can't be bound by rules forever. You have to learn to break them."
Hermione glared at him, snatched a handful of candy from his pocket, and ran off.
Watching Hermione run off into the distance, Ethan shook his head, casually pulled a piece of candy from his pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth. "Really, she doesn't understand my good intentions at all."
He looked at the candy wrapper in his hand. "Honey Toffee," it read. He nodded in satisfaction. "It tastes really good. Dumbledore certainly has excellent taste. Next time I get the chance to visit his office, I'll bring my bag and take back a whole bag of them."
The next day was Saturday, and they were finally going to rest.
When Ethan returned to his dorm that night, he kept three of each type of candy for himself and gave the rest to Draco and the other two.
Goyle and Crabbe were especially happy, and the two of them scrambled to stuff the candies into their mouths.
"You're so nice, Ethan!" Goyle's mouth was full of candy, and he was still unwrapping another piece.
"I'm glad you like it." Ethan found it amusing; it was truly rare to see two people as gluttonous as them.
Draco was a little annoyed. With his back to Ethan, he glared at his two useless henchmen.
But when food was involved, they completely ignored him, pretending not to see him at all, as they continued snatching candy from each other.
Draco, unwilling to watch them embarrass themselves, asked Ethan, who was sitting nearby with a Peppermint Toad in his mouth, "What do Head of House Snape and Headmaster Dumbledore want from you this time?"
"It's nothing serious. It's about that bloodline issue I asked for your help with before. Headmaster Dumbledore is helping with it too. That's what we're going to discuss." He didn't want to tell this cunning boy everything.
"Any news from your side, Draco?"
Malfoy blushed slightly. "Well, not yet, but I've already written home. I'm sure my father will have a solution."
"Really? That's good." Ethan suspected Draco might be lying, but he didn't call him on it.
//=================//