Chapter 164 - Happenstance (2/2)

”Thank you, Professor,” Sanderson said. ”But my cousin has not gone missing, he's very much dead.”

”Oh?” Dumbledore blinked as his gaze turned a bit piercing. ”And why do you say that, Sanderson?”

”My academic cousin would never have left his precious books behind, Professor. No, he'd rather have seen them burnt in the fireplace as kindle then have them taken away,” Sanderson said as he made circles with his finger on the cover of his book. ”No, I'm rather certain that he is very much dead. Why I do not know, but I am certain of that much.”

”That brings us to the second matter,” Dumbledore said as he withdrew a crumpled-up letter from his inner robes. ”This was found among his belongings. I have not shared it with any of the other professors, but I must ask. What exactly where you and your cousin searching for at Hogwarts?”

Sanderson carefully took the held-out letter and reread it again. Sanderson is silent for a moment wondering how much he can say, before finally saying, ”I was given a prophecy of sort. I was asked to follow the snakes to find that which I sought. And my cousin was aiding me in finding out who or what that was. He must have found something as he went missing and is surely very much dead.”

”And what is that you seek, Sanderson?” Dumbledore asked as he leaned forward.

”An unknown enemy,” Sanderson said with some satisfaction at seeing Dumbledore visibly startle at the response.

”Truly? Then why the urgency, why not go to the Auror's?” Dumbledore said with a bit of a frown.

Sanderson throws his head back and laughs for a good time. Gasping, he wipes the tears from his eyes and says, ”Oh, Professor, that was a good one. I haven't laughed like that for some time.”

Dumbledore clearly did not look amused as Sanderson more solemnly continued, ”Those of us that live on the fringes keep to our own, Professor. Besides I'd no more trust an Auror to find my lost boot than for a thief to mend his ways.” Sanderson's eyes lingered on Mundungus's figure at his last words.

”But in all honesty, Professor something is coming,” Sanderson said as his wolfish eyes flickered back onto Dumbledore. ”You can feel it too, Professor, or else you wouldn't be here.”

Sanderson pauses to fiddle with his drink. ”And though I rule in the darkness, I am a fair man in my own way. That which is coming is something, murderous that has no qualms about killing the innocent. I can tell it's a monster unlike any other I've ever seen nor felt.”

Dumbledore nods and says, ”Perhaps.”

Rising to his feet, Dumbledore nods his head and says, ”Thank you for speaking with me, Sanderson.”

”Always a pleasure, Professor,” Sanderson said as he watched the two men leave the pub, but most especially the relived Mundungus that flew out as though his arse was on fire.

”What do you make of that, Bertram?” Sanderson asked out loud.

The lean wizened bartender says, ”The Professor seemed honest enough. I do believe that he suspects that there is something more than what he was told, but nonetheless, he is willing to let things lie and remain as they are.”

”I found that to be true as well,” Sanderson admitted. ”But that did not stop him from trying to glimpse into my mind.”

”Oh, so the rumors are true?” Bertram visibly startled.

”It would seem so,” Sanderson mused as he took a sip of his ale.

”And did he get anything?” Bertram asked.

”Nothing beyond confirmation of my words,” Sanderson dismissively said.

”And your Aunt?”

”Utterly distraught over my cousin's disappearance,” Sanderson said with a growl as his wolfish eyes seemed to glow in the pub's dim lighting. ”He will be avenged.”

”Of course,” Bertram declared matter-of-factly. ”What will you have me do, sir?”

”We are getting close to seeing the snake's tail,” Sanderson hissed. ”Set out the bait.”

”It might take some time, sir,” Bertram replied as he began to polish the bar mugs again.

”I've waited long enough,” Sanderson said as he opened his novella again. ”But I can afford to wait a bit more.” Bertram nods in silent agreement as he returns to toiling away as before. The cogs were beginning to move and soon they would start to churn.