Hi there! I wanted to mention here that I'm unwell; I'm dealing with an illness that's chronic and not exactly on a timetable, so I don't know how long these next chapters will take. Getting my brain to cooperate during these times is like trying to slog through Fred and George's Portable Swamp, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I don't own Harry Potter, and I'll keep attempting to do as much writing as I can.
"Please, children, take a seat and we shall discuss what needs to be done," Professor Swott's portrait said. They each found a leather desk chair and brought them over to the desk.
"What are you allowed to tell us about Dumbledore?" Hermione asked.
"He has not forbid me to speak in other portraits, like some previous headmasters. I believe he does not know I have other portraits still," Professor Swott replied. "I can tell you only as much as I know, or as much as my portrait remembers, that is."
"I see," Harry said. "Could you tell us what he knows about me?"
"Certainly," replied Professor Swott, "but I don't think you will like it much. As I said before, he's in quite a state over you going missing. The interesting part is that he also speaks about you to the greasy Professor Snape quite a bit."
"I didn't know Snape would want to discuss me, unless it's to complain about me," Harry responded darkly.
"No, these aren't complaints. Well, not exactly, for you see, Dumbledore gives reports on you to Snape, for some reason. They talk mostly about what you will be 'forced to do,' in Dumbledore's words. I get the feeling that he means you will have to fight Voldemort again."
"Harry, maybe we should get Sirius and Remus. This is good information," Hermione said, clearly looking like she was itching to write.
"Oh my, more visitors! Please do bring them in. I'm sure I could use more conversation. It does get a bit dusty and lonely in an old abandoned house," the portrait boomed. He had quite the personality for someone made only of oil paint and varnish, Harry thought. Hermione vanished out the door, returning a few minutes later.
"May I introduce you marauders to Professor Amrose Swott, a previous Hogwarts Headmaster who has unrestricted access to tell us what we need to know — but also is protected by the Fidelius Charm? Professor Swott, this is Remus Lupin and Sirius Black," Harry finished.
"This house just gets better," mumbled Sirius as Remus donned a look of surprise and said nothing.
"Well, well, gents, hurry up. Haven't got all day, you know. No, that's not true, I do, but I want to get on with the story!" Remus pulled out his wand, duplicated the chairs, and they all formed a half circle around the large framed painting.
"Now, as I was saying to the children, Dumbledore has been telling this Professor Snape about the things he suspects Harry will do, and the things he thinks Harry should do — things that I assume to mean fighting Voldemort. Snape, in turn, seems to tell Dumbledore little tidbits about Voldemort's cronies that he's supposedly heard somewhere."
"Yes, we know Snape was a Death Eater," Harry replied.
"Is a Death Eater, my dear boy. You see, Dumbledore is using him to gain knowledge of Voldemort, and Voldemort likely believes he's doing the reverse, knowledge on Dumbledore. I haven't the slightest notion of who is playing whom, but this first thing is for certain: Dumbledore most assuredly did know that Voldemort had a home, shall we say, inside your Professor."
"Why would Dumbledore want to…" Hermione's words trailed off as she seemed to get an idea; she looked up and instead, replied, "He did it to set Harry up. To test the theory of Harry's mother's protection. He took a risk because he wanted to know if he'd been right about the protection and—", she gasped, tears streaming down her face as she turned toward Harry, "—if Harry even stood a chance fighting against Voldemort, or—or not," she said, her voice becoming a high pitched sob.
"He used me as a pawn?" Harry exclaimed, as Sirius jumped up yelling incomprehensibly. Remus hushed all of them.
The portrait lazily continued, "Yes, yes, Dumbledore needed to know his guesses were accurate. Of course, there's no doubt that Voldemort would have come after you anyway —"
Harry held up a hand. "Thank you, Professor Swott, but I know what comes next. Dumbledore monitors me so closely because he thinks I need him to finish off Voldemort, and it's all for the greater good, as if he's using me as some kind of bait. If he thought I couldn't fight Voldemort at all, I have no doubt I'd be locked up somewhere. Why isn't he doing a better job of training me? Throwing me into needless battles isn't good enough," Harry grumbled.
"If I had all the answers, I'd be a much brighter portrait," Professor Swott joked as he winked. "Get it, brighter? Oh, I have been waiting quite a time for an audience," he wheezed as his laugher caught up with him, his painted eyes glistening with tiny teardrops. Hermione rolled her eyes; Harry looked at Sirius and didn't need to ask, to know what he was thinking about Dumbledore; his face said it all.
After a few minutes of dusty-sounding coughing, Professor Swott spoke again. "I'm afraid I need to return to the Headmaster's office. You may ask more questions later, and you have my vow of secrecy," he said in all seriousness. With that, he promptly walked out of his frame, adjusting his robes.
Hermione's eyes were now dry, but still red as she spoke. "If Dumbledore keeps up with this game, you're going to be killed, Harry. I don't understand why you can't get training."
Sirius and Remus looked at one another. "Maybe we can think of another way," Remus said carefully. "I have some owls to send. I'll see you all at dinner. In the meantime, Hermione and Harry, I hate to assign you some reading, but you would do well to look through the library and find as many books on defense as you can."
"I'll ask some elves to search at — at the other place — for some defense books," Sirius said, shaking his head. "I don't want to make it too obvious, though."
Everyone went about their tasks, all wonder who exactly Dumbledore was.