[45] Letters from the Enemy

Snape arrived to find Hall punching Burstdle. Burstdle, on the ground, could only howl.

"Ouch! Weasley! Ouch!"

"Enough! Weasley, let go!" Snape grabbed Hall's shoulder. He couldn't pull him away on the first try.

Hall sensed Snape and stepped aside lazily. Burstdle lay there, face a mess of blood.

"Everyone back to your seats!" Snape dispersed the crowd. He turned to Hall. "Did a troll eat your brain, Weasley?"

"Professor, help me!"

Hall shrugged. "I didn't use force. He's just weak."

"Draco. Blaise. Take him to the infirmary."

They grimaced and dragged Burstdle out.

Common room empty. First time alone with Snape since the reveal. Hall had tried to find Snape in the dungeons. He was always told the Professor was out. Too many coincidences.

"Hall Weasley." Snape glanced, then looked away.

"Professor?"

"Gang fighting? Going too far."

"Millison Burstdle ruined my plans. We could have had free dragon materials."

Snape frowned. He'd seen the headlines. Hogwarts Illegally Raises Dragons — Dumbledore Disregards Student Safety.

"Is your brain filled with dung? Why didn't you come to me?"

"I wanted to. Couldn't find you."

Snape choked. He finally looked at Hall's face. His eyes hurt. He looked away. Took a breath. Looked back.

Even Snape couldn't immediately accept his student had a standard Gryffindor face. And the rumour he might be a Slytherin descendant.

So a centaur had fallen in love with a troll?

Hall rolled his eyes. "Do you have to be so dramatic?"

Snape laughed coldly. "Since clever Mr Weasley knows, why not spare his poor Professor's eyes and revert to your previous appearance?"

"This is who I am. Professor, I suggest you get used to it. You still have five years to watch me."

Snape changed the subject. "What are your plans now? For the dragon."

"It's handled. The Board reached an agreement with the Romanian Dragon Protection Society. They'll take the dragon. The Board sponsors them in exchange for a third of the materials."

Snape raised an eyebrow. Classic Hall. Not one to take a loss.

The Romanian Dragon Protection Society wasn't easy to sponsor. It involved rare dragon materials. But once you were in, future cooperation was easy.

"My brother Charlie has connections." Hall scratched his head. Charlie had been thrilled Hall had magic and was at Hogwarts. Two days of haggling with the leadership.

Lucius Malfoy approved immediately when he saw the deal.

Snape scoffed when he heard the name. "Millison Burstdle won't cause more trouble. There won't be a next time."

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Hall understood. Burstdle had been beaten once. Next time, the excuse wouldn't hold. Could lose the whole house.

Hall nodded.

Snape scoffed again. He didn't believe Hall. He left.

Hall frowned. Millison Burstdle. Always working against him. The type of person you only saw in bad television dramas.

Something was off.

Hall cast a Disillusionment Charm and entered Burstdle's dorm. "Alohomora."

The room was a disaster. Things everywhere. Blankets on the floor. The occupant had refused the house-elves' service. Not out of kindness. There was something to hide.

Hall looked down. A letter lay on the floor. Then another. He read them.

Strange.

Amid the chaos, a letter arrived bearing unfamiliar handwriting.

To my esteemed father,

The William family has betrayed their great master. They have sided with Dumbledore. He is disloyal and will betray us saints sooner or later.

I recommend the immediate execution of the William family.

Evidence enclosed.

All for the greater good.

Your faithful follower of the great Grindelwald,

Your son,

Millison Von

Hall stared.

Millison Von. A spy for Grindelwald's followers. Watching the William family — the alias Hall had used. Monitoring Hogwarts.

Voldemort isn't even dealt with, and now Grindelwald's people are here.

The letters hadn't been mailed yet. If they had, the William family would have died for something Hall had done.

He scanned the rest. Millison's father instructed him to watch "the evil Dumbledore," report movements, and keep an eye on the Williams. All for "the greater good." Some vague ideal.

Millison Von was pitiful. Forced by family to work abroad for his master. Manipulated. Unable to return home.

Tragic.

Hall collected every letter and left.

Helena guided him through the shortcuts. He no longer needed the Marauder's Map — not that Dumbledore had returned it.

"Sherbet Lemon."

The gargoyle stepped aside.

Dumbledore looked up from his grading. "Hall, my boy. What brings you here?"

"I found these." Hall set the letters on the desk. "I had a bad feeling. Came straight here."

Dumbledore glanced at them. His hand paused over one name. Then he set them aside.

"Perfect timing. I have something to ask you."

He handed Hall a newspaper. Sirius Black's acquittal.

Hall had sent an anonymous letter to Rita Skeeter. A story about a pitiful young wizard bullied by his Muggle relatives. Forced to sleep under the stairs. Rita's editing had done the rest. The next day, Sirius had delivered himself to Hogsmeade. Dumbledore's people caught him.

"Is there a problem?"

Dumbledore coughed. "Sirius wants Harry to spend the summer with him."

Guilt flickered across his face.

"But Tom's matter isn't resolved. The blood protection — Harry needs to stay with his aunt. At least until he's of age."

"What can I do?"

"Help me explain it to Harry." Dumbledore sighed. "I know he wants to be with Sirius. But his safety is more important."

He looked at Hall, seeking approval.

"You should tell Harry yourself, Professor."

Dumbledore smiled kindly. "Hall. Please talk to him. Harry listens to you."

He couldn't do it himself. Sirius had just returned. Harry had finally found family. Being the one to tear them apart was too cruel.

"Tch." Hall laughed coldly. So he was the bad guy.

Dumbledore slid a storage pouch across the desk. "For Harry's safety. His parents sacrificed everything for the wizarding world."

Hall accepted it. "I'll try. If it doesn't work, I'll return it."

It wasn't hard. Harry knew his limits. As long as Hall explained the blood protection needed his aunt's home, Harry would understand.

Dumbledore was testing him. Seeing if Hall knew about the protective magic.

Money offered. Hall took it.

Dumbledore wiped a tear. "I'm old. I reminisce."

He saw Hall to the door and stood at the top of the stairs. Hall had understood the test. If the boy had a better way, two birds with one stone.

"Albus. Will that boy listen?"

"Hall is a good boy. His best quality is that he takes money and gets things done. Beautifully."

Dumbledore sat back down. Picked up the letters. Touched a familiar name.

His fingers traced the white-framed picture on his desk.

"Time to visit an old friend."

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