Ian originally thought he'd have to wait in the Headmaster's Office, maybe swap some tips with Phoenix Fox about raising young phoenixes, and only after a long wait would the old headmaster show up to wrap things up.
But he absolutely didn't expect this.
Even though he'd used Black Phoenix for Apparition, Albus Dumbledore still got here before him—or maybe the Headmaster had already been waiting here quite a while?
Ian noticed Albus Dumbledore's outfit. It was still the same standard purple robe, but this time, Dumbledore had a deep red scarf wrapped around his neck.
Besides that, his grooming was different too. The Dumbledore in the underground room looked kind of messy, while this Dumbledore in front of him was neat and tidy.
No way he could run faster than a little wizard and still have time to spruce himself up, right? Feeling a bit unsettled, Ian turned things over in his mind and tentatively asked a question.
"Abeforth?"
He figured that was maybe the best explanation.
"Unless my information is wrong, at this very moment, Abeforth is probably closing up his shop because of some misconduct of mine, and is back home at Ariana's grave recounting my sins," Albus Dumbledore gently shook his head, making a gesture for Ian to have a seat.
"Uh, but I could've sworn you just told me earlier that you were going with Professor Nicolas Flamel to deal with Voldemort's aftermath, and that I'd have to wait a bit to see you…"
It was like something suddenly clicked for Ian. He fumbled out his Living Map, but saw only one Albus Dumbledore icon on it.
That icon was currently still busy dealing with a bunch of Ministry of Magic folks, and even a few other Heads of House had gathered in Snape's office, investigating Quirrell's cause of death together.
"Very sharp of you. I suppose the Sorting Hat wasn't lying, you really do have several qualities the Founders valued. The way you handled Voldemort shows a talent—beyond your years—and… cunning," Dumbledore smiled, glancing at the map in Ian's hand, "But in the Wizarding World, sometimes you can't trust even your own eyes. So don't put too much faith in your map."
His words made Ian's expression shift several times in a row.
"Bloody hell…"
Ian stared at the empty Headmaster's Office on the map, his face a bit squeezed-up. "You did something to my map—no, I should say you did something to Hogwarts itself, didn't you?"
He was frankly at a loss for words.
After all, hardly anyone in the whole Wizarding World could pull that off, and yet he'd managed to bump into a whole collection of those few people.
Talk about luck, huh?
"Yes, I played a little trick." Albus Dumbledore didn't deny it. He nodded and said it outright, smiling.
"After all, you've already sold a lot of those maps to your fellow little wizards, and we can't be sure whether Quirrell might've got his hands on one, to track my movements or the other professors'."
A perfectly reasonable explanation.
Which left Ian zero room to argue.
The maps he was selling were already contraband. He was lucky not to be held accountable—how could he even think about complaining Dumbledore had tricked his map?
"I just really wanted to help those poor lost souls—you know, the students who can never find their way around. In this huge, cold castle, they're the ones who need help most." Ian's argument for himself wasn't quiet at all, but no matter how you heard it, it sounded a little too desperate to be convincing.
And sure enough.
Albus Dumbledore saw right through him: "Selling a map for over ten Galleons each—somehow I doubt members of the real 'disadvantaged group' can afford it." The old headmaster's voice was still gentle, but Ian's awkward expression was getting impossible to hide.
"They'll figure it out. Somehow. They'll find a way to use it."
The little wizard rubbed his nose, trying to hide his guilt.
In fact, after the market got saturated, he'd launched the "Ian Loan" service for less well-off students.
No funny business like nine-for-thirteen, no exorbitant annual rate, just a small 5% service charge. Hardly the behavior of an evil capitalist.
He was way more generous than Muggle banks!
"Your business at school isn't a real issue, as long as you're not trying to get your hands on Nicolas's illegal machine." Albus Dumbledore didn't press the matter—after all, the little wizard hadn't forced anyone to buy anything. What worried him now was Ian's enthusiasm for the printing press.
"Understood, Professor."
Ian promised immediately.
"Trying to learn how to build one yourself isn't acceptable either." Albus Dumbledore acted like he could see straight into the little wizard's mind, his tone full of mistrust and warning.
"..."
Ian's expression froze instantly.
Clearly.
This old fox Dumbledore really was sharp—he'd anticipated Ian's plan to beat around the bush, leaving him at a complete loss for a response.
"Looks like I guessed right." Albus Dumbledore gave a wry smile, then let out a heavy sigh. "The agreement we wizards signed with the goblins cannot be broken, or there'll be chaos. Nicolas nearly destroyed the hard-won peace we have now, just because he acted impulsively."