Q laughs. "Not even Hagrid could have controlled the dragon for very much longer, his Doctor Doolittle complex notwithstanding. And it was intended as a distraction. You would have had to subdue the beast, or hunt for it if it escaped, leaving him free to do whatever he wanted."
"All right," Q agrees. He doesn't want to get Severus' hopes up, so he won't say anything else right now.
"Who is Riddle?" Q asks curiously. "The name sounds familiar but I can't remember where I might have heard it. I seem to have the most trouble remembering names," he explains apologetically. "And I'm not?" he blurts out before he can stop himself. "Oh good. I mean, it's not good," he can't stop a tiny shudder. "But it's better than the alternative. Q hesitates, licking his lips. "Legilimancy, you mean?"