//------------------------------//
// Chapter 30 
// Story: The Wizard and the Lonely Princess 
// by Harry Leferts 
//------------------------------//

Disclaimer: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro and Harry Potter is the property of JK Rowling.

"Hello"-Normal Speaking
"Interesting..."- Nightmare Moon speaking.
'Huh'- Normal Thoughts.
'All mine...' Nightmare Moon's thoughts
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Nightmare sat on one of the few clean spots in the owlery and stared at the letter and box that sat between her hooves. A sound almost like a sigh escaped her after a moment. 'What has happened to you, Nightmare Moon? Once you were a being feared by all of Equestria... And now look at you, at what you are giving up...' Having heard a hoot, she looked up to see Hedwig as the owl gave her a curious look. "What?"

The Snowy Owl landed next to her and then bumped the box with her beak, which caused Nim to shake her head. "So then, you want to know what you are transporting, hm?" At the bob of the owl's head, Nightmare undid the twine around the box. She then pulled off the top to reveal a reddish crystal inside. "Well, there is it... the Philosopher's Stone. An item that can grant one lifetime eternal and riches unending." The plush then scowled. "The first one being something that I want for my Harry and the second being a fringe benefit..." A plastic clad hoof then slammed into the stone floor as the owner scrunched her eyes close. "And yet... here I am. About to give it to you in order for it to be returned to it's rightful owners with a letter of apology..."

With the best expression of confusion that only an owl could give, Hedwig cocked her head to the side and let loose a series of whistles, clicks, and barks. As she rolled her eyes in exaspiration, Nim threw her forelegs out wide. "Of course I don't want to give it back! I'd be a foal without compare for wanting to!" The Alicorn doll then closed her eyes as if in pain. "The absolutely last thing that I want is for Harry to grow old and die. But..." She suddenly seemed to deflate. "You didn't see him after he realized what had happened to Quirrel. He... he was just so broken. And... and if I was to keep the Stone and later give it to him? With the knowledge that it lead to the deaths of two others? I don't want to even think about how it would affect him... or how he would think of me. It's simply too painful."

Nim ignored the saddened look that Hedwig gave her as well as the nuzzle, so lost was she in her thoughts. She shook it off soon enough and turned to Hedwig. "Anyways, enough of that. Give me a moment to tie this this and..." It took a few seconds with her magic, but she retied the box and then secured both it and the letter to the Snowy's leg. After she cast another spell on her, Nim waved her on. "Now go on and make sure that the Flamels get that stone, the spell should make you unnoticable for the next few hours. Go on then before I change my mind."

For a moment, Hedwig watched her before she hopped over and gave Nightmare's ear a friendly nip. And then she took to the air and flew out of the owlery. As Nim watched Hedwig disappear into the sky, she was about to sigh only to stiffen as she heard footsteps at the other end of the room. Slowly, she turned and felt as if her non-existent stomach turned to lead as she caught sight of an uncomfortable Harry. "Well..."

While she would not know it, the sight of Nightmare fearfully looking at Harry was painful to him. Nightmare seemed to wilt before she looked away. "You heard everything... didn't you?"

At first, Harry considered lying, but brushed off the thought. "Pretty much everything from when you started talking with Hedwig." To Nightmare's surprise, Harry walked forward before he scooped her into a hug. "I'm proud of you, Nim."

And while she would never tell him how much that meant to her and would also later deny how a sniffle escaped her, she softly smiled as she felt her worries leave her. "Aren't you angry with me, though?"

Harry thought over his answer for a bit before he shook his head. "I'm a bit disappointed, I suppose, that you stole the Stone and hid it from me. But like I said, I'm proud that you did the right thing and returned it."

He could pratically feel the tension drain out of her as she relaxed fully and burrowed her head into his chest. "I just don't want to lose you to old age and death or to anything else after what happened..."

It was then that with a sudden, mental clarity that Harry realized that he had not been the only one affected by what had happened. He glanced around to where Luna was standing by the door before he opened one arm. A moment later he found that Luna had joined in the impromptu group hug. "I'm sorry you two, I should have realized..."

Luna just shook her head. "Don't, just... don't. You have no reason to be, Harry. It's just...

After she trailed off, Nightmare took over. "We nearly lost you... again." She gave a glance toward Luna. "Losing you is a fact that neither of us want to come to pass, whether that is through old age or something else."

As he nuzzled the top of her head, Harry let out a sigh. "You shouldn't worry so much about that, Nim. We have decades yet before that becomes a pressing issue. Hay, with how long some wizards and witches have lived for, we probably got a century and a half at least to figure something out about me aging. And with the two most brilliant Ponies I know of working on it, I'm sure that you can figure something out."

The two Alicorns gave a small, weak smile at his attempt at lightening the mood. "We're the only Ponies that you know, Harry..."

While he gave a shrug at Nim's response, Harry slowly started walking. "Doesn't make it any less true, you two..." He ignored the snorts as, for the first time in days (though it felt more like months), Harry could feel a weight lifting off his shoulders.
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At the flare in the fireplace, Dumbledore set down his quill and folded his hands as a red haired young man stepped out of the suddenly green flames. "Ah, William, thank you for coming. I do hope that it wasn't too much an imposition to ask for you to come."

Bill Weasley just shook hos head. "No, it wasn't one at all, Headmaster. I don't have much to do anyways until my brothers come home in a few days."

Giving him a look over his glasses, the Headmaster couldn't help but be amused. 'And no doubt avoiding your mother who most likely does not approve of your appearence...' He soon shook it off and gestured at the seat in front of him. "Please, have a seat." Once he had done so, Dumbledore held out a bowl of candy. "Lemon drop?" At the usual denial, Albus sighed before he unwrapped one and placed it in his mouth. "And how is your sister, Ginevra?"

The young curse breaker smiled at the thought of sister and gave a chuckle. "She's excited about coming to Hogwarts next year... Especially as she wants to meet Harry Potter in person."

A chuckle escaped Dumbledore as he shook his head. "Ah, to be young again and excited about such things..." He sighed though as he leaned back into his chair. "Speaking of Mister Potter, that brings us to why I asked for you to come today." Having caught the interest in the younger man's expression, the Headmaster continued as he reached for a locked drawer. "After an unfortunate incident in which Mister Potter was attacked by a assailent, we found a most curious item on Mister Potter's person. An item which I had been hoping that you might able to shed some light upon due to your experience..."

Now extremely interested, Bill leaned forward as Dumbledore lifted a heavy metal box from the drawer. Part of the curse breaker's mind noted that it was a heavy deposit box, and one that was heavily enchanted. "I don't know how much that I can possibly help you, Headmaster. I'm just a curse breaker after all, I have no doubt that you would have a better idea then I would."

As he shook his head, Dumbledore waved his wand over the box in a complicated pattern. "Do not sell yourself short, William. In this, I believe that you likely have far more knowledge then I, being as it has to do with Egypt."

That, if anything, only caused Bill's curiousity to skyrocket. "Egypt, Headmaster?"

Having finally opened the deposit box, the Headmaster turned it around so that Bill could look into it as Albus closed his eyes in thought. "Indeed, it is obviously an ancient Egyptian dagger of some sort and is enchanted with unknown magic." He opened his eyes and was about to continue when he noticed that Bill looked faint. In fact, his freckles which were usually hidden by his normally tan skin, stood out against his suddenly pale complexion. "William?"

The hand on his shoulder shook the curse breaker out of his shock. A moment later, he swallowed as he kept one eye on the dagger as he looked at Dumbledore. "You said that Potter had it?" At his nod, Bill shivered a bit. "How long?"

Now slightly worried, Albus turned to the tea set and poured a cup. After some thought though, he brought out a bottle of brandy and added it to the tea before he passed it to Bill "Here." He watched as some of the calming concotion sloshed out due to the shaking hands that grasped the cup. Once Bill had finished the tea, he took the cup and saucer then placed them beside him on the desk. "As to your question, I can only say almost a year at least since Hagrid had seen it on him when he took him to Diagon." Much to the Headmaster's surprise, the much younger man relaxed a bit at those words. "Is Mister Potter in any danger, William?"

Taking another cup of tea and brandy as it was passed to him, Bill took a sip before he rubbed his face. "No, no. If anything, Potter would be the safest with it. Especially if he has had it at least that long."

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed as he sat back on his desk. "You're making it sound like we're the ones in danger from the dagger, William."

The curse breaker looked up and gave him a completely serious look. "That's because we are." With a slightly shaking finger, he pointed at the dagger. "That, right there, is a Dagger of Anubis, Headmaster."

Frowing in thought, Albus hummed to himself as he went through the knowledge that he had accumulated over the years. "Anubis? As in the ancient Egyptian god of death and mummification?"

Still keeping an eye on the dagger as if it was about to rise up and bite him, Bill nodded. "The one and the same, Headmaster." He took a slow breath to calm himself before he continued. "They're relatively rare items to find in tombs being that they were only used by two groups, the High Priesthood of Anubis and a group known as 'Guards of Anubis' whose jobs were hunting down the undead and those who attempted to cheat death."

Now that last bit caught Dumbledore's attention as he thought back to Harry's words as to what happened. 'Hmm... perhaps there is more at play here then I had thought. Still, this can only help Harry in the long run with what he may yet have to face.' He then turned toward Bill and raised an eyebrow as he noted that the younger wizard was now on his third cup of tea and brandy. "And you are certain that no harm will befall Mister Potter from this?"

While he gave the dagger another sidelong glance, Bill shook his head. "No, Headmaster. Like I said, in order for him to have had it at least as long as you think, and for nothing to have happened to him... He must have been given it." The wizard then ran his hand through his hair, the alcohol in his system helping to calm him down. "One can't buy, take, or, Merlin forbid that someone is stupid enough, steal, a Dagger of Anubis. It has to be given by the former owner of their own free will. Anyone who is not given one, however, winds up dead a few days to weeks later with the dagger gone."

With a frown as he felt a slight shiver run down his spine, Dumbledore leaned forward in interest. "Dead? How?"

Bill shook his head. "They were pretty much different ways. Some were found having been somehow mummified alive, others torn apart as if by wild animals that could enter and leave a secured room without anyone seeing them. The more normal ones are killed either by some kind of bladed weapon or beaten by one with great strength."

As he stroked his beard in thought, Dumbledore nodded. "I see..." He gave a glance at the dagger as he continued to think. 'I shall have to see what I can give Harry to prevent its theft when he does not have it on him, if only to prevent unwarranted deaths.'

It was only a short time later after Bill had left that Dumbledore's flared green, much to his surprise. Surprise that only increased as he heard the voice drift through. "Albus?"

Now utterly surprised, the Headmaster looked into the flames and smiled at the middle aged man that he saw there. "Nicholas! My old friend, it is good to see you."

A smile crossed the ancient alchemist's face for a moment. He soon became serious though as he looked around. "Albus, may I come over? I have a matter of grave importance to discuss with you..." After being granted permission, Flamel stepped out of the floo and dusted himself off as he looked around. "Thank you for seeing me, old friend."

With a twinkle in his eye, Dumbledore watched as Nicholas walked over to his sweet bowl and took a lemon drop. "No need to thank me, though I am surprised to see you as I thought that you and Pernell would have been crafting your new Stone as everyone believes that the old one is now lost... That, or starting your new lives."

Rolling the sour sweet around in his mouth, Nicholas nodded before he answered. "That had indeed been the original plan..." For a moment, he paused to gather his thoughts. "But then a most curious event occurred which caught Pernelle and myself by surprise." Having seen the curiousity in Albus' eyes, Nicholas reached into his pocket and pulled something out that he tossed to the Headmaster. "That."

As he turned the object over in his hands, Dumbledore felt his lips as they turned downward into a frown. "A Philosopher's Stone... But from what you had told me, it would take time to create another..." Suddenly, the old wizard's eyes widened as he pieced it all together. "Unless this was the Stone that we thought lost when the Mirror of Erised had cracked during the fight..." He continued to turn it over in his hands, no longer examining it so closely. "But then... who...?"

While he stared at a portriat, Flamel made a thoughtful sound. "I had actually been hoping that perhaps you could tell me." Once again, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter which he handed to Albus. "I can tell you that it was delivered into our possession by a most beautiful snowy owl." A chuckle then escaped his lips. "Pernelle was so excited... Well, I believe that the poor thing might have had issues flying with how much bacon my lovely wife had fed it."

Reading over the letter handed to him, Dumbledore nodded at the familarity of the style. "I believe that this had been written by a... most interesting character which we have here in Hogwarts who goes by the name of Nightmare Moon."

At the name, Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "Nightmare Moon? Now that is a rather intreguing name. One that is as interesting said person's character, I am assuming?"

A chuckle escaped Albus as he leaned back and shook his head. "You have no idea, my old friend." He then lapsed into silence as his thoughts ran deep. Across from him in his own chair, Flamel did not say a word as he knew that whatever it was, it was highly important. Finally, the Headmaster sighed. "Would you mind if I ran an idea past you, Nicholas...?" Several minutes and cups of tea later after Albus explained his thoughts, he sat back down in his chair. "Am I wrong, Nicholas?"

In the chair that he had sat in, Nicholas tapped his chin in thought. "There is much about the ancient magic that young mister Potter's mother used which is yet still unknown. Add in the possibility that he may contain one of those foul things that you suspect that Tom might have used to assure his survival..." A few seconds passed as he switched to stroking his beard. "If I am understanding you correctly, Albus, you suspect that this 'Nightmare Moon' is more than she appears? Indeed, that she might well be a piece of mister Potter's own darkside given life of it's own?"

The Headmaster slowly nodded. "Yes." Reaching out, he snagged a lemon drop and unwrapped it. "In all my research to as to how to remove a Horcrux from a living being, I have never come across a case where a Human was made into one. Possessed by one, yes. But not made into one, even accidentally." He then grimaced. "And a possession is far easier to remove without harming the host then having been made into one, unfortunitely." However, soon the wizard shook off his old malencholy and then steepled his hands in front of his face in thought. "However, one thing that I have come across is that prolonged contact with a Horcrux has the effect of boosting one's dark side, often causing the person to become more and easier to anger for example."

As he thought it over, the ancient alchemist nodded. "And then you have his mother's protection, which should have the exact opposite effect. Since it was made of love and, from what you have described happened to Quirrel, it should boost mister Potter's more positive emotions as a side effect." A frown then crossed his face. "Both together would cause a person to swing from one emotional extreme to another very easily. They would feel happiness far more strongly, but the same would go for such emotions as anger and grief. Which in turns affects one's magic..." Flamel then looked up with a spark of wonderment. "Truly, her protection may well be one of the most impressive examples of magic that I have seen... and you believe that it left an impression of herself behind?"

Dumbledore slowly nodded. "This impression has taken the form of an invisible... spirit, I suppose is the only way to describe it. It's something far less then a ghost, but those sensitive to such things and the ghosts here in Hogwarts can sense it. Indeed, I have seen mister Potter interact with it many times over the past year and from it I can sense great amounts of affection, love, caring... and protectiveness. A large amount of protectiveness." He then stood up and walked to a nearby instrument and examined it. "All emotions that a mother would feel for their child. The fact that only mister Potter and miss Nightmare can see and hear the spirit only solidifies the possibility that Lily left something... more... behind to protect mister Potter then just her love."

While his eyes shifted from side to side and thoughts ran through his head as he considered this, Nicholas frowned. "And miss Nightmare being able to see and hear this spirit also plays into the idea that she is part of mister Potter... as does the fact that she cares for the well-being of him alongside the connection you sensed." He hummed a bit. "Do you have an idea as to how such a thing could have happened?"

After a moment, Dumbledore nodded. "I do." He then sighed and closed his eyes. "It also ties into another fact. Now then, part of this relies on the fact that the protection and the theoretical Horcrux interacting with each other would make a child, who would have issues with swings of emotions under normal circumstances, emotionally unstable. A fact that... to my shame was not helped by placing him in his relatives' home for protection." Nicholas nodded as the memories of how the man before him had gone to both him and his wife asking for assurance that he had done the correct thing after explaining what had happened. "As such, accidental magic would come far more easier to said child, in this case mister Potter." He then glanced at another instrument. "I had kept track of these outbursts just in case so that he would not harm either himself or others. Then, when he was six, they suddenly evened out." Having seen his friend sit up in interest, he continued. "I don't mean that they disappeared as they happened with some frequency, but rather they became much more low key."

As he rubbed his chin in thought, Flamel nodded. "And you suspect that Nightmare Moon was 'born' around then, for lack of better words." A glint entered his eye as his mind behind it worked furiously. "Yes, I can see it now. While he did not realize that his outbursts due to some of the more negative emotions could be dangerous, subconsciously he did. And being as he could not expel the true source, he could shunt them somewhere else. There's also the fact that I believe he was a lonely boy? No one really close to him."

With a grimace and a tone of self-recrimination, Dumbledore nodded as Nicholas looked at him. "Yes, according to all reports I recieved, it seemed that his family went out of it's way to isolate him entirely from others."

The alchemist nodded. "So, not only did he subconciously realize that he needed to expel his negative emotions before they became a true danger to himself and others, he consciously wanted companionship, a true friend who would be loyal unto death itself and would never abandon or betray him as others might have to his view..." He ignored Dumbledore's flinch. "Most children wanting a companion would create an imaginary friend, but mister Potter wanted more. And so, in a fit of accidental magic, Nightmare Moon was created to serve that purpose. By being part of mister Potter, though neither may realize that fact, she can never harm or betray him. In fact, she would be pushed to protecting him when possible. And through that connection, he subconsciously shunts the... let's call it the overflow of mostly negative emotions." Flamel then smiled in thought. "While not the same, I have heard of something quite similar..."

That caused Dumbledore to sit up a bit straighter as he raised an eyebrow. "Oh? May I ask what it was?"

Nicholas nodded for a moment. "This was back during the 1600s where a witch developed what I believe the muggles call 'Multiple Personality Disorder' seeing as she had more then one personality. Of course, this caused issues until she created a series of constructs and poured her other personalities into them. Each one was it's own separate 'Person', but when she died, they did too, so they were nothing like a Horcrux."

Slowly, Albus nodded as he thought it over. "And if something has been shown to be capable of being done by organized magic, then it is well in the realm of possibility that, though possibly highly rare, it can be done through accidental magic..."

After about a minute, the old alchemist got up and walked toward a window and looked out onto the grounds. Part of his mind noted that strangely a herd of Unicorns had left the Forbidden Forest and had begun grazing near the Black Lake. "If I could, I would like to meet both mister Potter and Miss Moon in person..."
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Having used a directional spell, the two walked along the grounds toward where they knew that Harry was. Once they spotted Harry's friends', Dumbledore smiled. "Ah, mister Potter must be around here somewhere." He glanced with a slightly raised eyebrow at the herd of Unicorns that had gathered around one of the trees that grew along the shore of the Black Lake. 'Odd... normally they don't come out this far...'

It was then that Hermione looked up at him in surprise. "Headmaster!"

A chuckle escaped the old wizard as he nodded. "And good day to you too, miss Granger. I trust that you are enjoying the weather?" The young witch flushed some and replied after which, Albus looked around with a thoughtful expression. "Have you see mister Potter and miss Moon around? My friend here would like to meet them..."

The three friends looked toward Nicholas and suddenly Tonks' eyes widened some and she nearly dropped the bucket of ice and bottles she held. "You... you're Nicholas Flamel!"

Nicholas just smiled at the flustered Metamorph as her hair cycled through a array of colors. "I am, though I would prefer if you would keep my presence rather low key?" At her nod, he chuckled. "Excellent." The elderly alchemist frowned a bit as he noted that a rather large number of students had begun to make their way over to where they could better watch the herd. "Now then... I wish to talk with your friends, and in fact give them some thanks for a rather pleasant surprise that they gave my wife and myself..."

As he took the cue from how both Tonks and Hermione were still speechless, Neville spoke up. "Er... actually, we're looking for them ourselves..." At the surprised looks, he pointed toward the tree. "Harry was napping with Nightmare under that tree when we left to get some drinks, but when we came back, those Unicorns were there and... well..."

A thoughtful sound escaped Dumbledore as he stroked his beard in thought. "Hmm... Yes, it is rather doubtful that mister Potter is near the tree. After all, adult Unicorns do not tolerate men at all, even young boys and will chase them away..." He then narrowed his eyes. "Still, rather odd behavior..."

It was then that a familiar sound spoke up. "Nah, ain' tha' odd, Professor." The group turned to see Hagrid walk up with a joy-filled expression on his face, McGonagall and Flitwick following him. "See how the' Unicorns are gathered? They're sunning themselves, though usually yeh only see them do so this far out from the forest during the Hols whens everyone has gone home." The friendly gigantic man then frowned some as he observed them. "Though..."

Flitwick looked up at him. "Yes, Hagrid?"

Still frowning, Hagrid pointed out toward the herd. "See tha'? I've only seen Unicorns act like tha' when a member of their herd is all distressed... Them comin' out wit' tha' is odd." It was then that Hagrid noticed that Harry wasn't with them and asked why. Once he was told, he chuckled and shook his head. "Don' yeh worry abou' tha'. Let me handle this..." Hagird then cupped his massive hands around his mouth. "'ARRY! WHERE ARE YEH?! 'ARRY?!"

While he winced, Dumbledore was about to say something when he heard an answering shout. "What the bloody hay is it, Hagrid?" Everything when silent as they all saw Harry sit up... right in the middle of the herd. Seeing the Unicorns as some grazed and others lounged around him, Harry frowned. "What the..."

Her eyes wide, Hermione began to hyperventilate as images of her friend being gored or stomped to death by angry Unicorns flashed through her mind. "Oh no... oh no... oh no, oh no..."

With his own face paled, Hagrid took a few steps forward as a good chunk of Hogwarts held their breath. "'Arry... stay still and calm..." He had to stop though as some of the Unicorns stood up and got into a defensive position. "Wha' th'...?"

It was then that the real shocking thing happened as one of the mares that laid next to Harry nuzzled him before it began to attempt to groom his hair. "Hey!" Having felt some movement, he glanced down to see a young Unicorn foal laying against him as it suckled it's mother. Then Harry noticed a slight scar on the Unicorn mare's side and his eyes widened. "Wait... you're..." The mare stopped it's attempts to groom him, leaving a good portion of his hair slimy, and looked him in the eye. Slowly, despite the shouts to stop, Harry reached out and placed his hand on the mare's snout and softly stroked it. A smile bloomed on his face as the mare leaned into his touch. "Glad to see that you're alright."

In his lap, Nightmare looked around in some interest. "Well now, this was rather unexpected." She was nearly knocked off Harry's lap as a curious foal came up and bumped her with his snout. "Oy! Watch it!"

Luna just giggled as she held her hoof against her mouth. "Seems that you have some real fans, Harry."

Said wizard just rolled his eyes as the mare he had rescued so many weeks ago resumed trying to tame his hair with her tongue and lips. "Gee, thanks." He blinked as another Unicorn dropped a branch into his lap, which he recognized as having gooseberries on it after which he pointed at himself. "For me?"

When it threw back it's head and neighed, Nim smiled. "I do believe that is exactly what it is saying, Harry." As he picked a berry off the branch, she climbed more up his chest before she got comfortable and looked at the foal to which she gestured. "Also, look at that."

with a puzzled look on his face, Harry looked as well. "Um... what am I missing? It's a foal."

A slight laugh escaped Luna as she floated down and laid on Harry's opposite side, not getting much more then a glance from the adult Unicorns. "Harry... that foal and it's mother were saved. By you."

Finally, Harry realized what the two meant as his eyes widened and he shook some. 'I... saved them...' He looked at the young foal and slowly extended a shaking hand to it before he stroked it's still growing mane. "I saved you... I saved you both..."

While she smiled, Luna could see small tears gather in the corners of Harry's eyes, similar ones in her own as she saw that a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He may have killed, but he did so to defend not just himself, but innocent lives caught up in it. "You're not a murderer, Harry... you're a defender for those unable to do so themselves, like this foal. It now can live a life that it would not have thanks to you saving her..."

The foal disengaged from where she was feeding and looked back at the wizard who was stroking her, For a moment, Harry froze as he looked into the young Unicorn's large eyes before he felt some peace come over him and a smile bloomed on his face. "Hey there, Little One..."

Up on the hillside, everyone watched in shock and awe at the sight before them. After he blinked and rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was seeing correctly, Hagrid shook his head. "Blimey... They're actin' as if he was part of their herd... As if he was a Unicorn and not a Human..."

As he looked out over the groups of students whispering toward one another, Flamel felt a smile tug at his lips as he looked at his friend who looked completely thrown. 'I do believe that you have realized that there are still things in this wonderful world of ours that can surprise even you, Albus...' He then cleared his throat to get the Headmaster's attention. "Truly, you were understating things when you said that they were rather interesting..."