By the time they had
reached the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley had given Harry the longest speech
about being aware of his surroundings he'd ever had. He closed his
eyes, letting his face sit against the cold window sill, his glasses
sliding crookedly at his temple, and thought long and hard about this
girl. If the last place she'd been seen was France, then how would
they get to find her now? A thought struck him as odd though, if she
were last seen in France, why would Diagon Alley need flyers warning
their wizarding community about her…unless, he thought happily, she
was on the move. Not only that thought occurred to him, but if she
were in fact moving from place to place to avoid the press, then she
had to know of him as well! He blinked staring out at the drab clouds
drifting over the patchy lawn set up for Quidditch below him. She
would most likely be keeping up with the papers, and in doing so,
would have seen the recent article about himself hidden in the back
pages of the Prophet. He wondered if he might have to drag Ginny with
him to look for her after all, because now he was quiet certain that
she would be coming to him. Since the recent trip, he'd been able
to half way convince Ron that it could be Sirius's real daughter,
but Hermione would not budge. In fact, she'd come to the same
conclusion that Ron had said in Madam Malkin's, which had required
him to avoid her company for a day or so. He watched Ron head outside
with his old broom, in a pair of brown shorts and an old shirt, and
Ginny followed. They were getting ready to practice a round, but
Harry wasn't in the mood for Quidditch. He was in the mood to sit
and brood, because no one believed him. Out of the corner of his eyes
he barely saw a large black owl, before it slammed into the kitchen
window and fell to the ground warily. He heard Hermione shriek
downstairs, Mrs. Weasley shush her and creak open the window. He got
up immediately, at the urgency the owl seemed to be in, and hurried
down the Burrow's steps lopping into the kitchen doorway. By the
time he'd reached the table, Mrs. Weasley was rushing about, the
letter tossed on the table.
"Dumbledore's coming….oh
my….this house…" she was swinging her wand this way and that,
dishes and pots picking themselves up and lining the walls in places
they should be setting. Hermione and Harry were forced to hunker
their heads into their shoulders for fear of being clobbered by one
of the instruments of doom. Harry reached for the letter hastily
before Hermione could. His eyes read through it twice before a third
time and confirmed that what he read was true…
Dear
Harry,
I am regretfully having to send you this message at such a
late hour, but due to the recent happenings I fell that it is under
my dispense to have a small word with you. I will arrive only minutes
after you have had the chance to read this, give my dearest apologies
to Molly, as I do not wish to intrude. Furthermore, one you have
finished reading this letter I would like to ask that you join me
outside as I will most likely be waiting on you presence to grace
me.
Yours Sincerely,
Dumbledore
Harry had no sooner
put the letter down, than he looked out the window and a tall bearded
man with half moon spectacles stood in the Burrow's front lawn. He
set the letter down, giving Hermione the chance to grab it and read
it.
Mrs. Weasley greeted Dumbledore warmly, with a smile and the
invitation to come inside, but he shook his head.
"Thank you
Molly, but I would like to take a walk with Harry, if you wouldn't
miss him a great deal for a few minutes?" he asked looking at her
over the top of his glasses. She shook her head and smiled warmly.
"No, no of coarse not sir. But take care it's almost dinner
if you'd like to stay?"
"Why thank Molly. I must take you
up on that kindest offer." He said and swooped his arm for Harry to
walk with him. "We will be but not a moment." He added as they
walked away and towards the footpath around the house. He took the
time to examine Dumbledore properly, he seemed tired and wary of
something Harry wasn't sure he wanted to know. As he was silent
until they reached the back of the house, he was definitely sure he
didn't want to know.
"Harry…" he started turning to face
him, "I'm sure you've read the Daily Prophet recently?" he
nodded to him.
"I have." He replied shortly.
"Then I'm
also sure that you are aware of Alina's appearances in France and
London?" he stared at him for a moment not comprehending what he
was asking. "Alina Black, Harry." He finished. Harry felt the
cold pit of his stomach tighten, was Dumbledore about to confirm his
questions?
"Yes, I have."
"Then, I have come to tell you
that the rumors are in fact true. Alina is without a doubt the
daughter of your Godfather, Sirius." He continued clearing his
throat to stop Harry from interrupting. "I have come to ask you as
well as Arthur and Molly for a very large favor to deal with Alina."
Harry swallowed hard, taking a small breath. "I have come to ask
that without hesitation Arthur and Molly might take her in, and you
might be gracious to console her Harry." His mouth was dry and he
couldn't think of a word to say. He couldn't help but feel the
air around him, as the sun was dimming over the mountains beyond his
view, grow colder with the stars appearing overhead. He wanted to
think for a moment, because very recently he had made the decision to
meet this Alina Black, but now, NOW that she was being shoved down
his throat all of a sudden. He found that there wasn't much in his
head to say other than a small…
"Uh…s-sure?" Dumbledore
nodded in approval.
"Very good then Harry. Now, let us not
dally much longer, or it is my fear we shall upset poor Molly." He
started back towards the house and Harry had to run a few steps to
catch up.
"When will she be coming…and why?" he asked
suddenly. Dumbledore stopped and stared down at him very
seriously.
"I am to have her sent here no later than the end of
next week, regards to Rufus's wishes…you see Harry, Bellatrix in
all her insanity, has taken it upon herself to track Alina down now,
and wishes most prevalently to murder her in the name of
Voldermort." He felt his stomach turn icy again,
churning over itself, he didn't like to think of Sirius's death,
in fact he strayed form it whenever he could find the chance.
"So
I would find it hard to place her under anyone else's care that I
were not completely convinced would care for her as anything less
than human. And I'm sure since you've seen the flyers around
Diagon Alley you must realize the reputation they have pinned upon
her." He nodded sickened.
"Therefore I am very thankful to
have your answer as yes, and I assure you that the Burrow here will
be given the utmost security against Death Eaters like Bellatrix
Lestrange. Now," he said pausing at the front door, Ron was staring
at them, and got hit in the head by a bluddger Ginny her batted his
way. She burst out laughing, and Harry felt his heart warm a bit.
"Let us come inside and smile and laugh to Molly's delightful
cooking." He said propping the door open, and Harry walked inside
silently.
