Chapter Four: Reflections of a Headmaster:

Albus Dumbledore did not think himself a good man, he had done things he was not proud of, which was why, now he worked so hard to right all his wrongs. Still he was but one man and the strain on him was sometimes more than he felt he could bare. If he was not bonded to Hogwarts as headmaster he would have died long ago. It was not being a Supreme Mugwump of the ICW that got to him or the fact he was the chief warlock of the Wizengamot that helped him stay alive after all. In fact the work he had to do behind the scenes as chief warlock sapped so much strength. Few knew what he did to keep people who wanted to take over the magical world from doing so, wither that was pureblood or muggleborn (the muggleborn sadly could be as radical as the pureblood, some had wanted to create a communist society and make everything equal, others to over throw good traditions simply because they did not understand).

He was a busy man, and he liked things that way, he was very powerful and though very old he still had much to do as he was so powerful. If left to just think and be happily retired, well he feared the world would be standing. He had many regrets, his youthful indiscretions, his being charmed by Grindelwald, he had punished the man for his evils (which coincided with the muggles WWII) by locking him in his own prison for the rest of his life, to be forgotten and powerless. He had defeated the man but could not kill him, though he had sadly killed, and he hated himself for that. He worked so hard to be good now and it was hard, and he saw hope in this group of students.

Ron Weasley had come from a large family, the youngest son of six he had proven himself this year. Dumbledore saw himself in the lad, Ron was powerful, so much so and if he would get his own wand he could show the world how powerful. He was a good friend to Harry and that pleased Dumbledore, he was concerned that Harry did not have a good home life and he was going to look into the matter, well Molly Weasley would not let him rest if he did not. In another time and place he would have this or that to do and would not visit Harry's family after his first year. This time he would, and if they were found to have harmed the boy, well he would make sure the muggle authorities knew and that would be his brand of justice.

"What are you thinking of headmaster?" Severus asked.

"Such a promising batch of students, how is Mr. Zabini settling in?" Dumbledore asked, he heard rumors that the Malfoy heir had tried something on the lad, "he is settling in?"

"Oh yes, very much so, and much like his mother, though not the murderous ways, yet, Draco has to learn not to cross him. You are wanting to know how I feel about the Potter brat."

"Yes, how do you feel about Mr. Potter?"

"Aside from him looking like his blasted father, happily he is nothing like him. He is quiet, studies hard though he will never match his mother in potions. He did almost insult Draco on the train, but Ron Weasley stopped that, and helped him." Severus said, "seems Potter had no clue about this world, just like any muggleborn, I wonder why that is?"

"He grew up with his aunt and uncle…"

"Oh that was a really brilliant idea headmaster." Snape said softly, "leave a baby with Petunia, I bet she bowed and scrapped to his every whim and made his life as perfect and lovely as anything, complete with fairies and unicorns dancing on rainbows!"

"Oh dear, the protections, Lily stated that Harry would be safe there."

"Did you check on the brat?" Severus asked.

"Well I did have Arabella…"

"She is a squib and has her own work." Severus countered.

"She said he was not always happy but he never complained."

"Abused children hardly do."

"Oh dear, I have failed him." Dumbledore said tears sliding down his face, "oh that poor boy."

"Let me talk to Petunia, I will get the truth from her."

"No."

"No?"

"No neither you or I will speak to her, but I will send around Kingsley, he can blend in and get answers, you know what you will do, and I do not need to commit murder."

"I regret what I did, and I doubt my soul can be saved." Severus said, "I was a fool and evil, and am still not a good man."

Dumbledore felt badly, this young man had suffered and how had he not seen it? The lad did not complain, he never did, not even in school. If he had would things have been different? He was not sure, not at all but he would do all he could to help and save Severus now. The students complained at how unfair he was, but really, when one could blow up a classroom by mixing the wrong ingredients together, well Severus had to be tough. Dumbledore was great at many branches of magic but potions was not, had never been one of those strengths. Most people could hope to scrape together a NEWT, but beyond that, well it took someone who had a talent, an instinct to become a potions master.

"I'm giving up my seat on the ICW." Dumbledore said.

"Why sir?" Severus asked shocked, "you do good there."

"I have too much on my plate my dear boy, I want, I want to live here, be with the students, I never cared for politics and still do not. With Charlie as head of house Black he will do good, I know this. A good lad and good head of house Black to bring that house back to the nobility it once was."

"And a good thing too." Phineas Black said from his portrait, "in my day we caned the students who dared use the dark arts, the books were there for them to learn to fight them, not become them."

"Yes, but Charlie is very strong, I hear he wrestled a dragon." Severus said, "oh he was a right one in school, defended a few of my snakes from those who attacked them for no reason. He will do good, but a Gryffindor head of house Black, oh I wish you were alive so I could taunt you proper."

"Boy you are stepping on thin ice there, why I would cane you!"

"You would have to out duel me and we both know that you could not do that!" Severus said.

"Severus enough." Dumbledore said sternly trying not to look amused, "you are being childish."

"To you anyone under eighty is childish." Severus retorted getting a very pointed look, "you said yourself you are older than old."

"I am a transfiguration master."

"You don't use transfiguration for punishment."

"I will tell Tabby and she will sort you out."

"Then I am sorry."

"Lemon drop?"

"You know I hate those things."

With that Severus got up and left the room in a billow of black robes. He was a drama king (not queen), he knew it, but would hex anyone who said it to his face. He loved to glide through the school scaring the students half out of their wits. He loved to take points and put all (yes even his snakes though he always took less from them and always in private) the little terrors in their place. He saw Fred and George who on seeing him had very innocent looks on their faces. He gave them detention as he knew they had done something and they just nodded and took it. They had to or "mummy dearest" was getting a letter and howlers in stereo were no fun.

A week later Dumbledore was sad, and upset with himself, why had he not checked up on Harry? He could have, should have why did he let things get in the way? If he had maybe the Dursleys would have treated him better, a cupboard under the stairs (even if he had put himself there he should not have stayed there), hand-me-down clothing that had not been altered to his size, his aunt was in a sewing circle so there was no excuse. He had chores but his cousin was spoiled so badly that Kingsley was not sure he could turn out decent.

Kingsley had a long talk with the family, if they had beat or starved the boy he would have them brought up on charges, as it was he outlined what they would do, and as incentive for good behavior he stated he would buy all of Harrys clothing and whatever else he needed. Interestingly Vernon had no problem with Kingsley, in fact after Kingsley had talked, Vernon had and Kingsley listened, and understood some of his fears and the like. Still he had made the man understand what he had done was wrong and he better fix it. Petunia had not been happy, but she had not abused the boy, lied about him yes but she was to tell the truth now, how he his parents were not drunks and did not die in a car crash, how she had lied because she was angry. She was to do this publicly and state Harry was at his parents old school and he was part of the peerage, a fact she had just learned.

"So the uncle is one I can reason with, a bit racist, but not to blacks." Kingsley said sipping his tea, "then again his boss is black."

"Mr. Grunning is black, but has much the same world views as Dursley, they are both Tories."

"Is that like our conservatives?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, just as bad if not worse." Kingsley said, "he asked me what I did, I told him I was a detective in the magical world, which is what I do, most Aurors do in fact. He likes that I work, thought we all lived on the dole, I told him that was not the case with most of use, we have to work. All but the really rich who like to rule everyone from behind the scenes. Oh he had words for that, does not mind the honest rich that work you see, but lazy heirs, well he does not like that and then he realized what he was doing with his son you see, I doubt his son is going to like the changes in his life to come."

"They will be for the better, you did not use magic?"

"No, that is wrong, I hate wiping peoples memories too, if we are just that much more careful, than that sort of thing is not needed."

"With much power comes much responsibility" Dumbledore said.

"Spider man comics." Kingsley said "though it quotes the bible 'where much is given much is required', I am Christian you know."

"Never did understand how magicals can be, after all did not the Christians persecute our kind?"

"Not real Christians, we have a power, a good one given by God, for us to use for the benefit of our fellow man."

"Or by the Goddess." Dumbledore replied.

It may seem a surprise that religion was something found in the magical world, that magical would shun such things. Yet this was not the case, there was religion of all kinds, it was considered a crime of the highest order to place oneself as a god in the world of muggles, it was an instant death sentence and what the seven death veils spread around the world were for originally. That and trying to force one to one's faith by trickery was also banned, this was so that people could chose freely what to worship or not. Many magical were Christian, with pagans, Jews and others mixed in. Dumbledore was a white druid, and followed the ancient rights while Kingsley celebrated mass, the saviors birth and death and resurrection. They were both good people who wanted to stay on the side of light and not give into the darkness that lead to endless suffering.

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So a bit of Dumbledore, he is neutral in the family matters of his students, all but Harry as he is his magical guardian. He is not evil and the way I portrayed the Dursleys is how they treated Harry in canon. Harry was not beat (threatened with it which is why he got bad grades) or starved. Just down trodden and made to know he was not wanted, which is really as bad as anything else.

I don't see Severus as evil, flawed? Well, yes, but all people are flawed, and he has atoned for what he did many, many times. He is sarcastic, has a dark humor and loves to scare the students and mess with them out of class with his theatrics. The whole billowing robes effect (which Rickman got down perfectly), gliding through the school, all designed to keep children up to no good on their toes.

As for Kingsley being Christian, it is clear in the books that Christianity is big in the magical world. They celebrate Christmas and Easter break, the wealthy would have put a stop to that long ago if this were not the case. However, as a true mostly Christian society, other religions would flourish alongside. Which is how Dumbledore can be a druid and no one bats and eye at that at all as I don't see him as Christian. He reminds me of a old white Druid in fact.

Anyway, please review!

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Omake:

Ron was not happy, the reason was who was standing in the kitchen of number four Privet drive. Why was Snape here? Sure his presence tormented Petunia to no end but he annoyed Ron too. Harry was relaxing, he was not cooking today, no that was the dear professor. Ron was never going to see Snape in the same light again, fitted dark denim jeans tucked into heavy black buckled dragonskin boots, a green thermal shirt under a Beatles tee shirt. His hair was even tied back and if his eyes were not playing tricks on him far less greasy than in school.

"Lovely day." Harry said, "auntie is having fits."

"Can't see why, the professor here is so kind to come and make our summer perfect." Ron said sarcastically, "the only thing better would me Malfoy here."

"I could have him come and serve, he has been, trying of late." Snape said, "blame the writer, she wanted me here to torment, we have an agreement, I can't hurt anyone here, but I can annoy people."

"Can't my aunt hear you?" Harry asked.

"No, silencing charms." Snape said.

"You still are my least favorite teacher, you take ten points for breathing, or fifty for walking down the hall to loudly or too fast…."

"You were shouting, it was one point, you put an amplification charm on your boots and you were running not walking, and it was two points for each of those for a grand total of lets see six in the last two months." Snape said, "you hardly earn the right to have points taken, you normally make up those your brothers loose."

"Still don't like you."

"How did your mum like the bowling ball?" Snape asked.

"She loves it, says it doesn't swear at her anymore and is a very good bowling ball too." Ron said.

Snape nodded and motioned the boys to help him take the food to the dining table. There was a roast pork with roasted potatoes, onions and fresh bread with milk, juice or tea. The family was called in and Vernon sighed, he deserved this after all. He really should have been nicer to the boy and maybe, just maybe magical folk would not come and rub in that they could be not only normal but far nicer than he ever had been.