Perdurabo explains that when the entrance to the chamber was finally found and breached, Escellion was long-dead, but the Master Stone and the Stone of Amon Sûl were hidden safely in her bones. "So much time had passed," he says, "and the stones had been a part of her for so long, that they had absorbed some--well, a great deal, actually--of her magic and added it to their own. But what was truly astounding was that they upheld her vow." The Elder wizard tells them that a great altar was made in the very center of the chamber, and upon it was placed the Master Stone. At that time it became part of the defense of Perethil, and it has been there ever since. "It is stronger now than I believe it has ever been in its existence." Refreshments are brought out, and after some conversation Bea tells them that the Stone of Amon Sûl had been in Glorian's care until some time after the Silhouettes had arrived. "Once we had proven ourselves an asset, we were entrusted with it."

Perdurabo tells them that the three working stones are united in the defense of the city. "If we could only recover the Stone of Annúminas, and it still worked..."

There is more tea, more speculation and conversation, a light snack, then a long silence. Snape is deep in thought; he doesn't seem to have moved since pulling the empty sandwich plate to him. Malfoy looks at him with concern and touches his arm gently as though his lover were asleep. "Severus?" Snape's only response is a narrowing of his eyes. After sighing deeply, he rubs the edge of the plate. He mumbles something so softly that no one can understand what he says. Elsbet leans closer to him and touches him as well, and after a second or two, he repeats what he'd said. "I know where the Stone of Annúminas is." Snape taps the plate on the spot where the Dragon's tail meets its snout.

"Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus," he says simply.

Remus sits up slowly, as do Malfoy and Tonks, then it dawns on everyone and almost in unison they react. "Hogwarts!?" Snape nods and Therion asks him how he knows. "Because there is a very large Dragon asleep in a chamber deep beneath the castle," he tells him, then explains that Peeves actually brought it to his attention while Hogwarts and Hogsmeade were under lockdown. He tells them that the chamber is only partly under the castle itself; the remainder of it is under the Black Lake. Elsbet, who had been gazing at the plate, shakes her head just slightly. "Not Hogwarts," she says softly, absently, "Isengrim." Bea straightens and Perdurabo chuckles. "I can almost guarantee that's a name that has not been heard here in at least nine hundred years."

With all eyes upon her Elsbet blushes and fidgets self-consciously. "Ellie," Bea whispers, "you remember?" The Elf maiden shrugs. "I know there was another castle there once, and I know it means something to me, but I don't know why." Remus glances at Snape and Malfoy, then says, "after so much time spent under such a powerful charm, such memories are unlikely to be recalled easily." He's right, of course, but she's not exactly ready to do any deep digging at the moment. "I know," she says softly, looking away from them, then Perdurabo suggests they see the chamber, the bones and the stone. "It's quite an experience."