The departure of Amelia Bones seemed to act as a release valve for the remaining tension in the Headmaster's office. The stark reality of the political maneuvering faded, replaced by the immediate, practical necessities of the night.
Arthur and Molly Weasley, still looking profoundly shaken by the revelation that their family pet was a Death Eater, prepared to leave.
"Arthur, Molly," Dumbledore called softly as they approached the fireplace. "Please be prepared. Amelia will likely summon you for an official testimony tomorrow. Your perspective on Pettigrew's behavior over the last twelve years will be crucial in establishing his guilt and Sirius's innocence."
"We will be ready, Albus," Arthur nodded grimly, wrapping a protective arm around his wife. "To think... in our home. With our children."
Molly pulled Ron, Percy and then Harry as well into one last, fierce hug each before she and Arthur stepped into the green flames, vanishing back to the Burrow.
With the adults departing, the focus shifted to the extraction.
Dumbledore produced a clean piece of parchment and a quill, sliding them across his desk toward Harry. "Whenever you are ready, Harry."
Harry stepped up to the desk, his hands still trembling slightly. He looked at Lupin, his green eyes filled with a desperate, hopeful uncertainty. "What do I say, Professor? How do I make him believe it?"
Lupin moved to stand beside him, his expression softening. "Keep it brief, Harry. Don't mention Peter explicitly in the letter, just in case it is intercepted. Tell him you know the truth about the Secret Keeper. Tell him you want to hear the story of 'Padfoot and Prongs'."
Hermione leaned in close on Harry's other side. "And sign it yourself, Harry. Use a distinct flourish. He'll recognize your handwriting from the similarity to your father's, perhaps."
As the Gryffindors huddled over the parchment, formulating the lure, Professor Snape stepped back into the shadows, gripping Orion tightly by the upper arm and pulling him aside.
"What kind of trump card are you suggesting you possess, Orion?" Snape hissed, his voice a lethal, barely audible whisper. His black eyes were wide with suppressed panic and anger. "To convince Lucius to champion the freedom of a man he considers a blood-traitor and a disgrace to the Black family? You know exactly how difficult—how utterly impossible—that is going to be."
Snape leaned closer, smelling faintly of bitter herbs and tension. "If you march into a meeting with your father without absolute leverage, he will not only dismiss you, he will likely attempt to use this information to leverage Fudge against Dumbledore. You are playing with fire."
Orion didn't flinch. He met his godfather's terrified gaze with a serene, confident smile.
"Please, Uncle Sev," Orion murmured soothingly, gently removing Snape's hand from his arm. "You know me. I do not bluff when the stakes are this high."
He adjusted his cuffs, his posture relaxed.
"Just contact Father tomorrow morning," Orion instructed smoothly. "Get him to your office by 9:00 AM sharp. I will come down, and you can have a first-hand view of my plan in action."
Snape stared at him, searching the boy's face for any sign of hesitation or deceit. Finding only the cool, arrogant certainty of a strategist who held the winning hand, Snape let out a short, frustrated exhale.
"On your head be it, Orion," Snape muttered darkly.
They turned back to the desk just as Harry finished signing his name.
"It's done," Harry said, blowing lightly on the ink to dry it. He looked up at Dumbledore. "I can take this to Hedwig at the Owlery right now. She's fast. But... I don't know how long it will take her to find him."
"It should only take an hour or two," Lupin reasoned, picking up the parchment and folding it securely. "If Sirius has been searching the castle perimeter for Pettigrew, there is a very high probability he is hiding in the mountains nearby, or perhaps even closer, near the outskirts of Hogsmeade. Hedwig will not have far to fly."
Lupin turned to face the Headmaster.
"Albus, I will take Harry and Hagrid with me to Hogsmeade. Hagrid's presence will deter any Dementors lingering near the boundaries, and his sheer size is an excellent deterrent against... misunderstandings."
"A sound plan, Remus," Dumbledore agreed.
"I have instructed Sirius to come to the Shrieking Shack," Lupin continued. "We can meet him there safely. Perhaps, discuss on how to proceed from there onwards."
Snape, having heard enough of Gryffindor heroics for one evening, sneered openly.
"Then, Orion and I shall take our leave," Snape announced, his voice slicing through the collaborative atmosphere. "We have an incredibly important discussion to prepare for tomorrow morning, and I have absolutely no interest in coming face-to-face with Black tonight. The sheer volume of arrogance would likely suffocate me."
Dumbledore nodded, his eyes twinkling softly. "Rest well, Severus. Orion. And thank you again."
Orion offered a final, polite bow. He didn't look at Harry or Ron as he followed Snape out of the office and onto the spiral staircase.
The descent to the dungeons was swift and silent. Snape didn't speak again until they reached the blank stretch of stone wall concealing the Slytherin common room.
The Potions Master stopped, turning to face his godson one last time. The shadows of the corridor seemed to cling to him.
"Tomorrow," Snape said, his voice hard as iron. "At 9:00 sharp in my office. Do not be late, Orion. And do not disappoint me."
"I rarely do, Uncle Sev," Orion replied, a confident smirk touching his lips.
Snape turned and swept away down the corridor toward his own private quarters.
Orion murmured the password and the stone door ground open. He stepped into the dark, silent common room, his mind already racing ahead, organizing the arguments and the specific phrasing he would use to dismantle his father's political worldview in less than twelve hours. And maybe he should also have Dobby bring dinner, he was feeling hungry now.