Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
Web of Lies.
They silently walked the short pathway to the headmaster's house, having barely closed the door behind them when Twinkle, the house-elf, ran to greet them, talking excitedly. "Master, Master! Professor Severus Snape, Professor Minerva McGonagall and Mr. Alastor Moody are waiting for you, Master. They want to talk to you."
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes. That was an unexpected announcement since he hadn't summoned any of the three. He felt Harry stiffen at his side and he tightened his grip on the small boy's waist, trying to comfort him. Looking back at the house-elf, he tried to speak as calmly as possible, so as to not let Harry know how worried he was at the situation. He would have wished to have some more time for the boy to get used to this new situation. "Are they in my office, Twinkle?"
The elf nodded vigorously. "Yes, Master."
"Have you told them about Harry?"
The elf looked somewhat offended. "No, Master, of course not. Twinkle told them only what Master ordered. That Master would be away for the morning."
Dumbledore nodded, visibly pleased. "Good, well done, Twinkle. Now, please put these things into the blue room." He handed the elf most of the bags he had just un-shrunk. "And put these bags into the small room next to my office."
The elf motioned to the bags and they disappeared with a small 'pop.' "Anything else, Master?"
"Yes, could you bring us some lunch? I'm sure the professors and Alastor have not eaten yet either. Also, please bring some soup." Before the elf had the chance to go, Dumbledore spoke again. "Oh, and Twinkle."
The elf turned around to watch him curiously. "Yes, Master?"
The Headmaster motioned towards the boy. "From now on, this is Master Alexander. If anyone asks, he arrived here a few days ago and is my grandson. You will treat him as such and forget anyone named Harry Potter was ever here. Understood?"
The elf's eyes shinned mischievously. "Yes, Master, Twinkle will do that."
Then, with a soft 'pop,' she disappeared leaving them alone.
Dumbledore quickly led Harry into a small sitting room and put the last bag he had been holding on the table. He rummaged through it for a moment and then turned towards the boy, who was now leaning against the wall, with some clothes in his hands. "Come on, Alec, we're going to change you into these clothes and then we'll see how well we've managed your disguise."
The old man helped the exhausted boy change his clothes. Harry was really starting to not feel well and wished he could just go and lay down in his new bed. He was not only feeling ill, but he was also very nervous; he knew he would have to face people he knew while under Dumbledore's care, but starting with Severus Snape and Alastor Moody was not a good thing. Those two were some of the most suspicious men to walk on Earth. Dumbledore had noticed how pale Harry had become and frowned, putting a hand on the boy's forehead. "It seems your fever is starting to get very high again, Alec, I'd better put you in bed quickly, you look like you're about to pass out."
Harry gave him a shaky smile but didn't say anything; instead, he allowed Dumbledore to push him into a chair and looked on in embarrassement as the old man bent to tie his sneakers. Once the Headmaster stood up, he looked over the boy carefully, everything seemed to be in place, but. Dumbledore narrowed his eyes. "I nearly forgot."
He pulled a small necklace from one of the many pockets of his robe and gave it to Harry. "This, Alec, is a protection charm. It's very common in wizarding families to have their children wear them. You may have noticed your friend Ron wearing one." Harry nodded, remembering the small lion Ron always wore around his neck. "This one is special, Alec. In between the protective charms, there are smaller ones that will help your disguise. The most important being the ones that will change your voice, so no one will recognize it, and the one that will protect you from magical objects, like Alastor's eye. Remember to keep it on you all the time."
Harry nodded in understanding and put the small phoenix necklace around his neck. "Thanks, Granddad."
Harry's eyes widened at the strange sound coming from his throat, which was definitely not his voice. It sounded. childish. higher than normally. It seemed Dumbledore was determined to make him look like a kid. The Headmaster smiled down at him. "Well, I think we're all set, except that you still have to decide on how to act. Severus and Minerva know you quite well."
Harry looked thoughtful. "I have to act differently than I usually do, right? Do things I usually wouldn't do."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "Yes, but it can't be forced. The whole purpose of the acting thing is that they won't start to think you are like your old self, this way they are not going to be watching you all the time. If your act was forced, it would give it all away even sooner."
Harry continued with this train of thought. "Then it would be good if they didn't ask me too many questions." He paused for a moment and then spoke again, "I could try to be rude so they would not approach me, but that wouldn't really work because you would be expected to do something about it and I can't be rude to you."
Dumbledore chuckled slightly. "No, that wouldn't really work."
Harry stayed silent for few more minutes, then he finally looked up at the man. "I'm supposed to be much younger, aren't I?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes."
Harry suddenly walked up to the headmaster and gripped his arm. Dumbledore looked down in confusion. "Alec?"
The boy smiled slightly and looked up at him. "I'll be very shy and distrustful from now on, Granddad. You'll have to protect me."
Dumbledore couldn't help but start laughing at Harry's 'innocent' face. "I guess that will work. At least it suits you much better then being rude." He paused for a moment, and looked fondly down at the boy. "So, we'll go along with the shy act. I'm sure that at least Severus will not notice anything." Harry chuckled lightly and leaned more against the man's arm. Dumbledore frowned slightly and once again put a hand on the boy's forehead, not liking the heat that emanated from him. "Come on, Alec, it's about time I put you to bed. Let's hope we haven't forgotten anything."
Harry nodded slightly, his eyes heavy with sleep, and with a great effort disentangled himself from the headmaster's arm. They walked in silence towards the man's office, each deep in thought. Dumbledore looked up when they neared the office and was not very surprised to hear shouts coming from inside. It was never a good idea to leave Severus and Alastor in the same room. He was grateful that Minerva was in there with them, else only Merlin knows what state he would have found both men in. He stopped in front of the closed door and once again looked down towards the sick child. "Ready?"
Harry looked up. His face was pale, but in his deep blue eyes shone determination. The boy nodded slightly and took the headmaster's hand in his smaller one. Dumbledore squeezed it gently and, taking a deep breath, opened the door.
As he had expected, both men were glaring at each other loudly, arguing about something he couldn't make out. Dumbledore rightly suspected that the only reason why they were still sitting in their chairs was because Minerva was leaning against his desk and pointing her wand at them.
None of the office's occupants noticed them. Dumbledore stayed still for a few moments, with Harry once again pressed against his side, leaning heavily against him with his eyes half closed and his cheeks flushed with fever. One look at the boy told Dumbledore that if he didn't get the boy in a bed soon, he would collapse. All this excitement was too much for a sick boy and all those shouts weren't really helping as he could feel Harry wince at the loud sounds. Dumbledore looked back up and scowled slightly, enough was enough.
When he spoke, his voice had acquired a cold edge that was rarely heard by the staff members of Hogwarts.
"Do you think I can cross my office without being cursed, gentlemen?"
The three adults jumped up startled and turned around to face him. They cringed a bit when they saw that his usually cheerful face was serious and his usually twinkling eyes were annoyed. Before any of them could answer, Dumbledore stepped inside, helping Harry to move with him. "Yes? Thank you." Without another word to the ashamed adults, he turned to the small boy and helped him walk towards the small room, ignoring the startled looks that they were receiving from the others.
The three adults stared as Dumbledore gently pushed the child through his office and towards a closed door. Opening said door, the old headmaster ushered the boy towards the dark room that lay behind it. Before the headmaster followed, he looked back at them and ignoring their questioning looks, he spoke.
"Twinkle is going to bring us lunch and a bit of soup for Alec. Please, Minerva, bring the soup inside when it's here. Severus, there's a sleeping potion on my table, put some of it in the soup before Minerva brings it in." Before closing the door after him he looked at them sternly. "And I don't want to hear anymore shouting or I will be forced to ask you to leave my house."
He closed the door firmly, leaving three gaping people behind.
To be continued.
A/N: Thanks for all reviews.
Web of Lies.
They silently walked the short pathway to the headmaster's house, having barely closed the door behind them when Twinkle, the house-elf, ran to greet them, talking excitedly. "Master, Master! Professor Severus Snape, Professor Minerva McGonagall and Mr. Alastor Moody are waiting for you, Master. They want to talk to you."
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes. That was an unexpected announcement since he hadn't summoned any of the three. He felt Harry stiffen at his side and he tightened his grip on the small boy's waist, trying to comfort him. Looking back at the house-elf, he tried to speak as calmly as possible, so as to not let Harry know how worried he was at the situation. He would have wished to have some more time for the boy to get used to this new situation. "Are they in my office, Twinkle?"
The elf nodded vigorously. "Yes, Master."
"Have you told them about Harry?"
The elf looked somewhat offended. "No, Master, of course not. Twinkle told them only what Master ordered. That Master would be away for the morning."
Dumbledore nodded, visibly pleased. "Good, well done, Twinkle. Now, please put these things into the blue room." He handed the elf most of the bags he had just un-shrunk. "And put these bags into the small room next to my office."
The elf motioned to the bags and they disappeared with a small 'pop.' "Anything else, Master?"
"Yes, could you bring us some lunch? I'm sure the professors and Alastor have not eaten yet either. Also, please bring some soup." Before the elf had the chance to go, Dumbledore spoke again. "Oh, and Twinkle."
The elf turned around to watch him curiously. "Yes, Master?"
The Headmaster motioned towards the boy. "From now on, this is Master Alexander. If anyone asks, he arrived here a few days ago and is my grandson. You will treat him as such and forget anyone named Harry Potter was ever here. Understood?"
The elf's eyes shinned mischievously. "Yes, Master, Twinkle will do that."
Then, with a soft 'pop,' she disappeared leaving them alone.
Dumbledore quickly led Harry into a small sitting room and put the last bag he had been holding on the table. He rummaged through it for a moment and then turned towards the boy, who was now leaning against the wall, with some clothes in his hands. "Come on, Alec, we're going to change you into these clothes and then we'll see how well we've managed your disguise."
The old man helped the exhausted boy change his clothes. Harry was really starting to not feel well and wished he could just go and lay down in his new bed. He was not only feeling ill, but he was also very nervous; he knew he would have to face people he knew while under Dumbledore's care, but starting with Severus Snape and Alastor Moody was not a good thing. Those two were some of the most suspicious men to walk on Earth. Dumbledore had noticed how pale Harry had become and frowned, putting a hand on the boy's forehead. "It seems your fever is starting to get very high again, Alec, I'd better put you in bed quickly, you look like you're about to pass out."
Harry gave him a shaky smile but didn't say anything; instead, he allowed Dumbledore to push him into a chair and looked on in embarrassement as the old man bent to tie his sneakers. Once the Headmaster stood up, he looked over the boy carefully, everything seemed to be in place, but. Dumbledore narrowed his eyes. "I nearly forgot."
He pulled a small necklace from one of the many pockets of his robe and gave it to Harry. "This, Alec, is a protection charm. It's very common in wizarding families to have their children wear them. You may have noticed your friend Ron wearing one." Harry nodded, remembering the small lion Ron always wore around his neck. "This one is special, Alec. In between the protective charms, there are smaller ones that will help your disguise. The most important being the ones that will change your voice, so no one will recognize it, and the one that will protect you from magical objects, like Alastor's eye. Remember to keep it on you all the time."
Harry nodded in understanding and put the small phoenix necklace around his neck. "Thanks, Granddad."
Harry's eyes widened at the strange sound coming from his throat, which was definitely not his voice. It sounded. childish. higher than normally. It seemed Dumbledore was determined to make him look like a kid. The Headmaster smiled down at him. "Well, I think we're all set, except that you still have to decide on how to act. Severus and Minerva know you quite well."
Harry looked thoughtful. "I have to act differently than I usually do, right? Do things I usually wouldn't do."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "Yes, but it can't be forced. The whole purpose of the acting thing is that they won't start to think you are like your old self, this way they are not going to be watching you all the time. If your act was forced, it would give it all away even sooner."
Harry continued with this train of thought. "Then it would be good if they didn't ask me too many questions." He paused for a moment and then spoke again, "I could try to be rude so they would not approach me, but that wouldn't really work because you would be expected to do something about it and I can't be rude to you."
Dumbledore chuckled slightly. "No, that wouldn't really work."
Harry stayed silent for few more minutes, then he finally looked up at the man. "I'm supposed to be much younger, aren't I?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes."
Harry suddenly walked up to the headmaster and gripped his arm. Dumbledore looked down in confusion. "Alec?"
The boy smiled slightly and looked up at him. "I'll be very shy and distrustful from now on, Granddad. You'll have to protect me."
Dumbledore couldn't help but start laughing at Harry's 'innocent' face. "I guess that will work. At least it suits you much better then being rude." He paused for a moment, and looked fondly down at the boy. "So, we'll go along with the shy act. I'm sure that at least Severus will not notice anything." Harry chuckled lightly and leaned more against the man's arm. Dumbledore frowned slightly and once again put a hand on the boy's forehead, not liking the heat that emanated from him. "Come on, Alec, it's about time I put you to bed. Let's hope we haven't forgotten anything."
Harry nodded slightly, his eyes heavy with sleep, and with a great effort disentangled himself from the headmaster's arm. They walked in silence towards the man's office, each deep in thought. Dumbledore looked up when they neared the office and was not very surprised to hear shouts coming from inside. It was never a good idea to leave Severus and Alastor in the same room. He was grateful that Minerva was in there with them, else only Merlin knows what state he would have found both men in. He stopped in front of the closed door and once again looked down towards the sick child. "Ready?"
Harry looked up. His face was pale, but in his deep blue eyes shone determination. The boy nodded slightly and took the headmaster's hand in his smaller one. Dumbledore squeezed it gently and, taking a deep breath, opened the door.
As he had expected, both men were glaring at each other loudly, arguing about something he couldn't make out. Dumbledore rightly suspected that the only reason why they were still sitting in their chairs was because Minerva was leaning against his desk and pointing her wand at them.
None of the office's occupants noticed them. Dumbledore stayed still for a few moments, with Harry once again pressed against his side, leaning heavily against him with his eyes half closed and his cheeks flushed with fever. One look at the boy told Dumbledore that if he didn't get the boy in a bed soon, he would collapse. All this excitement was too much for a sick boy and all those shouts weren't really helping as he could feel Harry wince at the loud sounds. Dumbledore looked back up and scowled slightly, enough was enough.
When he spoke, his voice had acquired a cold edge that was rarely heard by the staff members of Hogwarts.
"Do you think I can cross my office without being cursed, gentlemen?"
The three adults jumped up startled and turned around to face him. They cringed a bit when they saw that his usually cheerful face was serious and his usually twinkling eyes were annoyed. Before any of them could answer, Dumbledore stepped inside, helping Harry to move with him. "Yes? Thank you." Without another word to the ashamed adults, he turned to the small boy and helped him walk towards the small room, ignoring the startled looks that they were receiving from the others.
The three adults stared as Dumbledore gently pushed the child through his office and towards a closed door. Opening said door, the old headmaster ushered the boy towards the dark room that lay behind it. Before the headmaster followed, he looked back at them and ignoring their questioning looks, he spoke.
"Twinkle is going to bring us lunch and a bit of soup for Alec. Please, Minerva, bring the soup inside when it's here. Severus, there's a sleeping potion on my table, put some of it in the soup before Minerva brings it in." Before closing the door after him he looked at them sternly. "And I don't want to hear anymore shouting or I will be forced to ask you to leave my house."
He closed the door firmly, leaving three gaping people behind.
To be continued.
A/N: Thanks for all reviews.
