Changing Sides
Disclaimer: This all belongs to J.K. Rowling, so lets give her a round of applause.
Chapter 3 : Dumbledore's Decision
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sat behind his desk in his office staring at the door as if expecting it to do a back flip or something of the sort. He was not at all surprised when a light knock came from the door.
"Come on," the Headmaster said.
A middle-aged witch opened the door and stepped in slowly and shut the door behind herself. It was none other than the Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall.
"Good evening Albus," she said.
"Ah, Minerva. Good news I hope?" Dumbledore asked. He gestured to the seat in front of his desk.
"I'm afraid not sir," McGonagall answered quietly sitting down.
"Any news at all, then?" Dumbledore asked.
"There is some. The aurors have confirmed that Potter is no where to be found. There is not a single trace of him anywhere," McGonagall replied.
There was another knock on the door.
"Come in," Dumbledore said.
It was a man. A wizard, more precisely with greasy black hair and all black robes. Severus Snape, the Potions Master at Hogwarts and a previous follower of Voldemort.
"You wished to see me, Headmaster?" Snape asked.
"Yes, Severus. I have some questions to ask you," Dumbledore replied. "Please take a seat." Dumbledore waved his hand and conjured another chair for Snape.
Snape sat down. "What is this about sir?" he asked.
"You know that I fully trust you, Severus, even with your history. Now, I must ask you, has your Mark burned lately?" Dumbledore asked pushing his half-moon spectacles back on his nose.
"Well, you must understand that I was summoned to Malfoy Manor only a short while ago by Lucius and he informed me of much, and to answer your question, yes," Snape answered.
"Yes?" McGonagall repeated. "Albus, then is it true?"
"Minerva, please. Would you care to elaborate Severus?" Dumbledore said.
"Would you prefer for me to tell you that Barty Crouch Jr. bewitched the Triwizard Cup, turned it into a portkey and portkeyed Potter to a graveyard where he was supposed to meet his demise and assist in the return of the Dark Lord?" Snape replied.
"That would be most satisfactory," Dumbledore remarked. "Please, do continue."
"Potter, however was not killed. According to Lucius, he displayed an incredible amount of power, and some wandless magic. Lucius said he took Potter under the Dark Lord's orders and brought him back to the Manor. He is living most hospitably, there, but most likely, unhappy," Snape explained.
"Are you saying that Voldemort took Harry with him?" Dumbledore asked.
"Precisely."
"I can only wonder why. He has always wanted Harry dead. Why didn't he just do it?"
"The Dark Lord has only trusted few with this information, I being one of them. He plans to use Potter for some job that he needs done and he needs to be at Hogwarts, but that was all. I could not think of anything the Dark Lord would have a teenage boy do."
"Yes, it is strange... and he is at Malfoy Manor?"
"Yes sir."
"And there he shall remain."
"Albus!" McGonagall cried. "You are not thinking of leaving Potter at the Malfoy's? That is surely suicide!"
"You heard Severus. If Voldemort wanted Harry dead, he would have already done it and he plans on having Harry returning to school in September. The school year ends in two days. We will see him on the Hogwarts Express."
"Albus, I implore you to at least send a team of Aurors over there, or send him!" McGonagall said pointing to Snape.
"If anyone tries to apparate into the Manor who does not have the Mark will... well, it is highly unadvised. Potter can not be apparated out. The Dark Lord has wished certain wards and charms be placed on the Manor, one of them being a charm on Potter that he cannot apparate out or be apparated out, he can only be apparated out by Malfoy blood since it is their Manor," Snape explained monotonously.
"This is preposterous! How are we supposed to get Harry out?" McGonagall asked.
"We're not," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "Harry is smart and he will survive and go back to school. I doubt that Voldemort will let him just go freely, he must have something else up his sleeve, do you know, Severus?"
"Apologies Headmaster. I do not," Snape replied. "But however, I do know...". Snape withdrew his wand from his robes and pointed it at the door which swung open and two students fell into the office. They were apparently eavesdropping.
Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley quickly got to their feet, quite embarrassed.
"It is impolite to eavesdrop," Snape said in an annoyed tone.
"I'm sorry Professors," Hermione said. "But, I was so worried about Harry. I just had to know what happened to him."
"As you probably heard," Dumbledore said smiling, "Harry has been taken to Malfoy Manor and he will remain there until the start of next year."
"Is there going to be a rescue attempt?" Ron asked.
"We have been informed that the wards at Malfoy Manor are quite strong and Harry can not be apparated out and he can not apparate quite yet himself," Dumbledore answered.
"So you're going to let him rot there all bloody summer?!" Ron practically shouted.
"Ron, not so loud," Hermione whispered touching his arm.
"No, I have a right to be loud. My best friend was kidnaped by You-Know-Who, who has indeed returned and you're just leaving him? He could die!" Ron was shouting now.
"Mr. Weasley, as I said before, if Voldemort wanted Harry dead, Harry would be dead and the whole wizarding world would know. We have received intelligence that he needs Harry to complete a certain task for him. I doubt Harry will comply willingly but in the end, I feel that Harry will end up performing the task," Dumbledore explained. "I'm sorry Mr. Weasley, but that is my decision for it really is the only choice."
"Well, thank you Professors. We're sorry for eavesdropping. We just wanted to make sure that Harry was alright, he is our friend after all," Hermione said calmly.
"A wise choice," Dumbledore remarked. "Oh and can I ask you two a favor?"
"Of course, sir," Hermione replied politely.
"I hate to ask this, but could you please take Harry's things from his room and take it to one of your homes for the summer?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, of course, sir," Hermione answered. She nodded to the professors in the room. "Good night Professors."
"Good night," Ron said before Hermione dragged him from the office.
As soon as Ron and Hermione were down the stairs and past the stone gargoyles Ron turned on Hermione.
"You aren't going to sit here and do nothing, are you?" Ron asked.
"Ronald, we have no choice, there is no way we could even get to Malfoy Manor, let alone get inside it undetected, get Harry and get out... alive!" Hermione replied. She was on the verge of tears.
"Who said we had to get inside? We could just be outside, just making sure that Harry is okay," Ron said.
"So, we're going to spy on him?" Hermione asked.
"In a way, we could use my omnioculars," Ron suggested.
"I guess, but we would need a way to get there, Ron and you know as well as I know that we can't apparate and we can't involve any of the adults because they will immediately say that it's not safe and all of that," Hermione said.
"True, and we can't use a portkey because the Ministry would have to authorize it," Ron said.
"So what do we do?" Hermione asked.
A triumphant smile spread across Ron's face. "We fly of course," he said.
I'm writing and updating pretty fast, I think.
Sorry that it has been like 36 whole hours since I updated, but I figured that I'd put up the chapter at night so you could all read it the next day.I really would like to know what you think so review. Please and Thank you! I really would like to know what you think so review. Please and Thank you!
—Elizabeth