Snape's fingers pinched the edges of the two-way mirror until they turned pale, the potion fumes inside the Headmaster's office congealing into distorted human shapes. As ripples of silver-blue spread across the mirror's surface, he caught the scent of burning deadwood.
"I thought you would use the Patronus Charm first." In the mist drifting from the mirror, a woman was playing with a crystal pendant, blood-like patterns slithering between her fingers. "Has Hogwarts' fireplace been blocked lately? Though this way I don't specifically have to travel through those poorly built passages, which always make me sick."
The tip of Snape's wand carved sparks into the oak tabletop. "My apologies, it seems nothing here is worthy of you." Staring at the crimson churning inside the pendant, he recalled an alchemy shop that had vanished in Knockturn Alley three days ago. "Or perhaps you take more pleasure in unleashing sins upon the mortal world."
Chapter 255