Easter was a time for exchanging gifts, and around Sean, the young wizards bustled back and forth, handing out colorful eggs.
The owls were no different.
They flapped their wings, letters clutched in their beaks and fancy gift boxes gripped in their talons.
Sean tucked his presents into the Book of Wizards, glancing subconsciously at the Daily Prophet that Bai Yi had sent.
Among the various moving magical photos, one name caught his full attention.
[Former Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Bob Ogden, Passes Away...]
Bob Ogden.
The name struck Sean as familiar. He whispered a few words to Bai Yi, and when the silver-white owl reappeared, it carried a Pensieve in its claws.
Sean tapped it with his wand, and silvery memory strands floated out.
But before he could figure out who Bob Ogden really was, Justin interrupted his thoughts.
"Sean, I keep getting the feeling that Headmaster Dumbledore is watching you."
Justin said in a low voice.
At that, Sean looked up. Headmaster Dumbledore was winking at him.
Then, the old wizard with the long, white beard opened a neatly wrapped Easter egg, revealing a pair of wool socks and a set of two-way mirrors inside.
They didn't look like anything from a workshop—the backs of the mirrors featured ornate phoenix carvings and the initials S.G.
Dumbledore's beard twitched as he winked at Sean again and left the Great Hall.
Sean thoughtfully pulled out the least fancy-looking package from his pile of gifts.
"It's rare for a wizard to exchange gifts with Headmaster Dumbledore... You know, even though he enjoys receiving them, he doesn't often give any in return. And those wizards never really expect him to..."
Hermione popped her head up from somewhere, speaking earnestly.
Sean turned his head, and Hermione quickly averted her curious gaze.
While Hermione fought the urge to pry into her friend's privacy, Sean had already left the Great Hall.
Headmaster Dumbledore's Easter egg contained only a note:
[Come to the Headmaster's office, child. It seems we need to continue those bold speculations.]
Bold speculations...
Pondering the riddle, Sean knocked on the door to the Headmaster's office.
"Come in."
It was Dumbledore's voice.
"Good evening, Headmaster Dumbledore."
Sean stepped into the office.
"Ah, good evening, Sean. Have a seat,"
Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Before your pleasant Easter holiday begins, I'd like to share something with you—a gift, of sorts."
"Bob Ogden."
Sean said instinctively.
"You've heard? It seems we're neck and neck in investigating Tom Riddle...
But can you tell me, how do stars speak?"
Dumbledore interlaced his ten fingers, his eyes narrowing.
"That's a fairy tale, Headmaster. I think even in the wizarding world, stars don't actually talk."
Sean replied.
"Who knows?"
Dumbledore teased kindly.
The circular Headmaster's office looked just as it always did:
Delicate silver instruments whirred and puffed small clouds of smoke on spindly-legged tables.
Portraits of former headmasters and headmistresses dozed in their frames. Dumbledore's magnificent phoenix, Fawkes, perched on its stand behind the door, watching Sean with keen interest.
It was hard to believe that even though Sean had been sneaking in to interact with Fawkes almost weekly, the phoenix's affinity level remained stuck at [Apprentice].
Perhaps, as Headmaster Dumbledore had said, phoenixes were incredibly loyal magical creatures.
"Come, child. I should share what I know with you. Of course, I remind you—my ears are eager for some wild ideas too.
They're a bit old, but still sharp...
Though we've been doing this all along, I must repeat it once more.
From here on, we're leaving solid facts behind and venturing together through murky, hazy memories into a tangled web of bold guesses.
On this point, Sean, I might make a tragic mistake like Humphrey Belcher, who believed cauldrons could be made from cheese."
Dumbledore said slowly.
"Guesses don't mean they're wrong. We'll find the right path."
Sean replied.
"I think so too, but as I've shown you, we can err just like ordinary people.
In fact, since we—forgive me—since I'm cleverer than most, my mistakes tend to be correspondingly bigger."
Dumbledore finished and pulled out a crystal vial.
Sean knew this was Bob Ogden's memory.
At the same time, the world seemed to go silent. Sean couldn't help glancing at Dumbledore's left hand, relieved to see it wasn't the withered black he imagined.
Bob Ogden, a wizard who worked in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry.
His memory played a crucial role in Voldemort's background, especially his mother's family—the Gaunts' fall into depravity and violence—and the early history of one of the Horcruxes, Marvolo Gaunt's ring.
Sean didn't know when Ogden had passed away or when Dumbledore had obtained his memory.
But he was certain that in the original timeline, Dumbledore had only acquired the Gaunt ring between fourth and fifth year.
Now, whether it was the Chamber diary, Ravenclaw's diadem, or Slytherin's locket that had led Dumbledore to uncover more Horcrux traces, the Headmaster had turned his attention to Bob Ogden's memory ahead of schedule.
That meant Sean had to adapt to the changes and kick his plans into gear early.
"Let's take a stroll down Bob Ogden's memory lane. Today, we have a date with Bob Ogden."
Dumbledore uncorked the crystal vial and poured the silvery substance into the Pensieve, where it swirled slowly, glowing faintly—neither liquid nor gas.
They exchanged a glance, and Dumbledore's deep eyes picked up on something different.
He smiled, then watched as Sean plunged headfirst into the silvery mass.
Sean's feet seemed to leave the ground, falling through swirling darkness, down and down.
Suddenly, bright sunlight stung his eyes, making him squint.
Before his eyes could adjust, Dumbledore landed beside him.
They stood on a country lane, flanked by tall, tangled hedgerows, under a summer sky as clear and blue as forget-me-nots.
About ten feet ahead stood a short, plump man.
He wore glasses with extraordinarily thick lenses that reduced his eyes to mole-like specks.