The spinning, soot-filled rush of the Floo Network ended abruptly, depositing Orion smoothly onto the familiar, cold stone floor of Professor Snape’s office.

Draco stumbled out of the green flames a second later, coughing slightly and dusting off his robes with frantic, anxious energy. Snape emerged last, stepping from the hearth with an imposing, unruffled grace.

"Mr. Malfoy," Snape addressed Draco immediately, his voice a sharp, commanding drawl that echoed in the dim, potion-fume-scented room. "Since today is Sunday, you are currently unburdened by scheduled lectures. I suggest you spend the remainder of the afternoon contacting your classmates. You will need to copy the notes and review the studies you missed during your impromptu absence."

Draco nodded quickly, clearly eager to escape the suffocating presence of his Head of House. "Yes, Professor. Right away."

"Orion. Stay," Snape commanded softly.

Draco cast a brief, confused glance at his brother before hurrying out the heavy oak door. The latch clicked shut, sealing the office.

Snape moved behind his desk, leaning heavily against the dark wood. He didn’t offer a seat. He looked at his godson, his black eyes intense and shadowed with exhaustion.

"Your aunt has not yet made an appearance at the Manor," Snape stated, getting straight to the heart of the matter. "Lucius told me that the wards have not been tripped. No suspicious owls. She is likely scouring the countryside, searching for him."

"For the Dark Lord," Orion inferred quietly.

"Indeed," Snape confirmed grimly. "She is a fanatic, but she is not a fool. She knows the Ministry is hunting her. She will prioritize locating her master before she attempts to reconnect with family, especially a family currently under intense Ministry scrutiny due to your recent... accolades."

Snape sighed, rubbing his temples.

"It is best to leave her to your parents for now. Lucius is well aware of the danger she poses. Focus on your studies, Orion. And do not go looking for her."

"I have no desire for a family reunion, Professor," Orion replied dryly.

"Good," Snape nodded. He straightened his posture, moving to another, slightly more positive development. "Furthermore, you will be pleased to know that the Dementors have been officially recalled from the Hogwarts perimeter."

Orion raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Recalled? I remember the short conversation back at the ministry, but I thought Fudge was insistent on maintaining a terrifying show of force."

"He was," Snape sneered, the distaste evident in his tone. "However, the mass breakout at Azkaban forced his hand. The creatures cannot be trusted. If the Dementors stationed at the prison can go berserk and facilitate an escape... what is to say the contingent stationed here wouldn’t do the same? Or worse, turn on the students?"

Snape shook his head. "Dumbledore used the incident to leverage their immediate removal. The castle is no longer surrounded by despair."

Orion frowned, crossing his arms. He stared at a pickled toad on a nearby shelf, his mind running the probabilities.

"I find it incredibly suspicious, Uncle Sev," Orion murmured thoughtfully. "Dementors going berserk without reason? They are creatures of hunger, yes, but they are generally obedient if fed. A mass panic event that specifically allows high-profile Death Eaters to escape... it feels orchestrated."

Snape’s eyes narrowed. "You suspect foul play."

"I suspect manipulation," Orion corrected. "Someone manipulated them. Someone who might gain something significant from that specific event. Perhaps it was a political rival of Fudge trying to embarrass him during my ceremony. Or..."

Orion’s blue eyes darkened.

"...perhaps it was something way more sinister."

Snape held his gaze for a long moment, acknowledging the terrifying validity of the theory.

"You do not need to fall into that particular rabbit hole, Orion," Snape advised, his voice surprisingly gentle. "The Dementors are gone. The castle is currently only hosting a small contingent of trainee Aurors for perimeter security."

Snape let out a derisive snort. "Fudge was only able to assign the trainees here because the actual, competent Auror force is stretched entirely too thin. They are gallivanting throughout the country looking for several highly dangerous fugitives and a rat. We are essentially being guarded by children in uniform."

Orion chuckled softly, the tension breaking. "It seems Tonks is back at Hogwarts, then. I shall have to see if she still trips over the suits of armor."

"Do not encourage her," Snape muttered darkly. "You are dismissed, Orion. The Headmaster will wish to meet with you at a later time regarding a few things. So stay available."

"I will, Professor. Good day."

Orion offered a polite bow and exited the office.

As he walked down the damp dungeon corridors toward the Slytherin common room, his mind was entirely focused. The Dementors were gone, which meant the primary environmental hazard of the year was removed. He had unrestricted access to the library, a portal to his home in his trunk, and a clone to double his efficiency.

The stage was set.

"So," Sparkle’s voice buzzed cheerfully in his ear. "The board is clear. No Dementors. No immediate threats. What’s the first move?"

"We have work to do, Sparkle," Orion murmured, a predatory, determined glint in his eye. "We have lots of planning to do."