Charlie was about to gather himself together and leave, when he heard voices emanating from the corridor that led to the Headmasterś office.

He instantly recognized Snapeś unpleasant tones. "I´m telling you, he had a reaction like nothing I´ve ever seen before," he was saying. "It was most alarming."

Dumbledore spoke next. "But he came around? And was coherent?"

"Yes, he was quite coherent, and claimed he had only been dizzy, and had seen nothing. Perhaps he did see nothing."

"Perhaps. But this is Draco Malfoy we´re talking about. If he had seen something, he would be unlikely to announce it in front of the class."

Charlie took a step back into the shadows. Seven years of sneaking around the Hogwarts´ professorś offices instantly overcame five months of being a Hogwarts Professor. He froze where he was, and listened.

"I think I should call him into my office," Dumbledore said.

"He won´t like that."

"No. But the situation is worsening. The risk of betrayal — "

"We don´t know that that risk exists!"

"It does exist, Severus. You, of all people — "

"Perhaps you should call Potter into your office instead."

"We´ve gone over this." Dumbledore sounded tired. "If we tell him, we are risking an unprecedented tragedy, possibly needlessly, and I — "

Dumbledore broke off as he and Snape rounded the corner of the corridor, and stepped into full view. His eyes met Charlieś, and for a moment, there was almost a flash of concern in them. Then he smiled.

"Hallo, Charlie," he said.

"Oh. Hello, Weasley." Snape gave Charlie a very unpleasant look. Charlie had a feeling Snape knew he had been listening.

Dumbledore, however, only beamed at him. "Can I help you with something?"

Charlie looked down at the parchment in his hand: his proposal for the dragon class. It suddenly seemed very far away. He held the papers out towards the Headmaster, muttered something about "dragons", "permission", and "very unlikely to eat anybody," and left with his head still spinning.