Chapter 9: Dumbledore's Quest for Answers
By:
Kelsey66
"Harry? You in here?" Snape called out after entering his office.
"Yes Uncle I am, you may want to light the lamp." Harry responded.
"Yes, Indeed," Snape lit the lamp and then took his seat at his desk. "So, we are here to discuss what just happened."
"Ah, ok Sev, so what about it?"
"Well Har, you pretty much had Dumbly peeved by the time you left. I've never seen him so upset and angry in my life,"
"Hmm, I wonder what he'll do when he realizes that the Dursley's were killed years ago." Harry pondered.
Snape laughed outright at this, "He'll go bloody ballistic he will. Now Har, I need you to be careful around the coot now that he knows one of your secrets, although the way you handled that was brilliant."
Harry smirked, "What can I say, I'm a prodigy of the great and honorable House of Slytherin,"
"That you are my boy that you are. So if Dumbledore asks you anything else that's not his business I want you to smart off to him because well it truly is none of his business. Also be sure to remember, I am your guardian, I know you like to 'deal' with problems yourself but here you got to let me do it. We can't let them find out about you just yet."
Harry nodded, "I know, by the way, how is father's resurrection coming along?"
"He's planning to try it on Christmas so you can spend Christmas with the family; however, he wants me to warn you that Grinwald is also going to attempt a resurrection as well on Halloween. Grinwald may attempt to capture you through one of his people who are working here."
"Valac?"
"No, not Valac. Valac is one of Voldemort's men who worked as an agent by posing as a light side Auror."
"Does he know who I really am?"
"No I'm sorry to tell you he has yet to know or he'd be very protective of you. He is you see, in love with Voldemort. If he learned you were Voldemort's son, he would treat you as if you were his son as well."
"Does father love him?"
"We suspect he does, yes."
"So if it isn't Valac, who is it?"
"We have reason to believe that he may be possessing one of the teachers, more specifically, Trelawney."
"Why her? I mean she is bloody nuts,"
"That she is, and that my boy, is why she is the one. No one would think it odd for her to act odd."
"Ok Uncle, so should I tell Valac?"
"It might make you safer but he will stop you on Halloween if you do, and you are currently the only one able to destroy Grinwald, that was what the prophecy said."
"How do you know it doesn't refer to father?"
"Honestly, we think it refers to both of them, we think you will be the only one to kill either of them."
Harry nodded, "Guess dad is going to have a long, long life ahead of him."
"Ok now my boy, run along, you need to rest,"
"Night Uncle Sev, I'll tell Valac after Halloween," Harry hugged Severus and then ran off to the Gryffindor tower for a good night rest.
A week past and as Harry was sitting in Charms humming away because he had finished the spell 15 minutes ago, in popped a house elf.
"Mr. Flitwick, Sir, Mr. Dumbledore requests Mr. Potters presence right now, can you spare him?"
"Of course," Flitwick responded although a bit worried after watching the original confrontation between the headmaster and the boy-who-lived-to-be-a-smartass. He then turned to Harry, "Ok Mr. Potter please head up to the office, I believe the Headmaster is still drooling over blood pops,"
Harry nodded and then headed on to the office.
After about five minutes Harry opened the door and headed inside the headmasters office, "Hello Mr. Potter,"
"Hello Headmaster,"
"Lemon drop?"
Harry could see the lemon drop laced with many potions that tried to get him to trust and be obedient to the headmaster, "Sorry but I'll pass,"
Albus scowled slightly then began his version of small talk, "So how are classes going?"
"Perfectly, headmaster, I am currently receiving private lessons during class although even those are easy. Flitwick says I should have mastered 4th year charms before Christmas, while Valac says I should be done with 6th year around the same time in DADA. Snape says I should be a potions master quite soon but that is no surprise at all."
"A potions master? At your age? How very funny Mr. Potter, playing a joke and all at a time like this."
"No sir, it is not a joke. I've been able to do all the potions we have learned here since I was 7, sir."
"What kind of lie is that lad? You'd be the youngest potion master ever, Snape was 18 when he became one and you, you are only 11."
"Obviously, sir, you forget that Snape has raised me since I was five and as such has trained me in the art of potion making to a T. I am more competent at making almost all potions then half the masters alive today and from what I understand, I have even improved several of the potions I will be required to make for my mastery." Harry sneered when he said sir and glared at the old man for being so naïve and yet so old.
"So, would you care to tell me about your life with Severus?"
"No, I wouldn't"
"Why not young man?"
"Because I have been brought up knowing that when a stranger whom you do not trust asks you a question and you feel threatened you should kick them in the balls and leave. Then again headmaster I have also been taught never to take laced candy from a stranger,"
"Are you accusing me of lacing the candy?"
"No I'm not accusing you of anything sir."
"Fanny!"
Pop
"Yes sir?" The house-elf who just popped in asked.
"Tell Snape I need his most prestigious and useful potion if you get what I mean, and then get some tea for us and pour the potion into the glass you are to give Mr. Potter. Do not tell Snape who the potion is to be used on at all costs." Dumbledore whispered in the elf's ear supposing Harry couldn't hear him, but Harry not only heard him but he knew he was referring to the Vetriserum.
"This will only take a minute or two my boy, she has just left to go get us some tea."
After five minutes the elf popped back in carrying tea however, Harry could tell there was no vetriserum in it and he could tell Dumbledore noticed it as well.
Dumbledore leaned down and whispered hastily to the elf this time Harry couldn't hear it and then the elf popped away.
"So my boy, do you not feel challenged enough?"
"Not at all headmaster, this school for all the prestige it carries is bullocks for anyone with half a brain which obviously is not anyone in the Wizarding community. I am starting to believe I would be better off at the school of Veneficus Ludus Infectus Artifex."
"You do realize that is a dark arts school right? It would be preposterous for you to go to such a school."
"Why?"
"Because you are the boy-who-lived,"
"Really and hear I thought I was a boy who died. Headmaster many boys are alive and thus living. Just because I survived a dark curse doesn't make me special. In fact it may mean I'd do very well with dark arts. Would you prefer the Academia Magister Intemptesta Nox?"
"Mr. Potter, I just want what is best for you, and that is Hogwarts,"
"Sir, you just want what is best for you and well I want what is best for me as does my Uncle."
The door opened and in walked Snape.
"Hello Snape, what is this I hear about you denying my request for vetriserum?"
"You know very well you cannot use such a thing on a student legally without their guardian's permission." Snape retorted.
"Then do I have your permission?"
"Hell no you don't"
"Why not Severus?"
"Because I said so, I am his guardian and as such whatever I choose is considered in his best interests. If I deny you, I must not explain such things to you simply because it is not your problem." Snape sneered at the old man.
"Severus I just want what is best for Harry and I can't do that if I do not know the full story."
"Good thing I know then, isn't it Albus?"
"If you know the full story then please tell me,"
"I would, but it's not your business,"
"The hell it isn't my business this boy is my business and only my business," Albus yelled.
"Headmaster, I do not appricate it that you are treating me as though I am your ward and as such I formally request that you stop or I shall have to have a long talk with the Board of Hogwarts. Such a talk could in fact ruin you. It especially could if I beseech them to allow me to show them these talks via a pensive." Harry said emotionlessly with a small smirk imprinted on his face.
"How dare you!"
"How dare I? I never did nor attempted anything illegal as such you are the one in a bad position Headmaster. I implore you to back off or we could have a great deal of issues you know." Harry responded with knowledge beyond his years, but what would you expect from the Heir and future Lord of Slytherin?
"I, I," the Headmaster attempted to muster a response but only appeared even more defeated.
"Good day headmaster." Harry got up and walked out with Snape in tow.
"Harry, you did wonderful back there, I wouldn't have thought of that."
"Severus, keep the headmaster in line somehow. I can't keep up weekly confrontations." Harry said with such a force that Snape could tell he had changed personas from his loving nephew to the next Lord of Slytherin.
"I shall try," Snape bowed for good measure knowing better then to mess with him when he was like that.
Student Updates
Written By:
Harry J.M.P Riddle
Wednesday, September 16th,
Student #1: Ronald Weasley
Talents: Chess; could be used for war tactics and such if changed to the dark side
Fears: Spiders and family death or disloyalty;
Weakness: The need to prove himself better then the family. This need could indeed drive him to join our ranks.
Progress: Seems in love with the IDEA of Harry Potter the boy-who-lived; if we can change this to the person itself in some way could be useful.
Student #2: Neville Longbottom
Talents: Good with plants; not really sure if useful unless we train as an earth mage
Fears: Being a squib; useful by making sure he's powerful enough not to have this questioned
Weakness: A need and drive for strength and power due to constantly being berated for his lack of magic. He could come to us with promises of power.
Progress: Found Harry Potter sticking up for him and since then has become a good, 'friend'
Student #3: George Weasley
Talents: Pranking; could be used to set up elaborate plans that take thinking very far ahead
Fears: His mother
Weakness: Family Loss or betrayal
Progress: Helped Harry Potter thus far and could become loyal.
Student #4: Fred Weasley
Talents: Pranking could be used to set up elaborate plans that take thinking very far ahead
Fears: His Mother
Weakness: Family Loss or betrayal
Progress: Helped Harry Potter thus far and could become loyal.
Student #5: Hermione Granger
Talents: Researching, very smart; could be used for inventing and finding spells
Fears: Not fitting in
Weakness: A need to learn everything she can; could be drawn in with the promise of rare or powerful maybe even illegal books at her disposal.
Progress: Seems a bit distant of Harry Potter due to relationship with Student #1.
Harry walked into the Great Hall Thursday morning happy to have written a second report the night before and hoping to improve with the three most distant students, #'s 3,4, & 5.
"Morning Hermione, how are yah?"
"Oh, um, I'm alright Harry and you?"
"Perfectly fine, you ready for Charms today? I heard it was going to be a pretty hard lesson you know, course we have it with the bloody Slytherins"
"Harry! How could you say that?"
"Sorry Hermione, wasn't thinking. Anyways he told us to be ready for a hard lesson, what do you suppose it will be on?"
"I have a suspicion it'll be on summoning large things like a desk for instance."
"Oh well that doesn't sound to hard yah know."
"Yes well from what I hear your mother was excellent at charms, not a surprise you would be too Harry,"
"Suppose your right Herm,"
"Did you just call me Herm?"
"Would you prefer Mione'?
"Hmm yes I'd say I like Mione' better then Herm. Herm makes me sound like a Hermit."
"Ah, sorry bout' that Mione'"
Student #5 smiled broadly, "No problem Harry," She was happy to have somewhere to belong.
"Well we better head off to Herbology,"
With that the two began the trek out to Herbology which promised to be rather mundane to anyone but Neville.
The rest of the day Harry spent talking to Hermione as he noticed his teachers eyeing him much closer then ever before and began to realize the Headmaster wasn't quick to give up a quest.
Harry was about to open the door to the Great Hall when Draco whispered, "My Lord?"
"Yes Malfoy?" Harry asked impatiently.
"May I speak to you in a more secure location, sir?"
"Yes of course, lead the way," Little did Harry know that Hermione was following him because she overheard Draco calling Harry his Lord. She secretly cast a notice me not charm and an invisibility charm although it was quite feeble, Harry was to tired to notice her as he made his way to an empty classroom.
"Now Malfoy what is it?"
"My Lord, we have found several people who are willing to follow your father's son anywhere. However they wish to know if you have the same ideals as him,"
"I may love my father Malfoy but in no way am I him,"
"So is that a no my Lord?"
"Malfoy, please sit and I shall explain," Harry conjured a normal chair for Malfoy and then a very beautiful one for himself to Hermione's huge surprise he did such wandlessly and wordlessly.
"Now, the thing is Malfoy that before I came here, I did in fact carry my father's ideals. I wanted to kill all mud-bloods and half-bloods and make them bow before me, kissing my robes." This almost made Hermione gasp with anger and betrayal but she held back because he said that was before she met him, "Now however, I find a muggleborn as strong as the top pureblood, besides myself of course, in our class. Now Malfoy, tell me, if these so called 'mud-bloods' were so weak, how could they beat a pureblood? Not just any pureblood but the son of a death eater!"
"I, I, I'm sorry my lord," Draco bowed his head and got on his knees expecting a curcio.
"You shall not be punished until you prove your worth and are marked. I have however changed my view and instead have found that the government is the flaw in the Wizarding World and not the muggleborns. If anything they are keeping Wizarding kind from becoming a bunch of inbreeds. Do you know the long term effects of continual imbreed meant on not only magical but mental stability?"
"No my lord, please explain."
"The same blood could not only turn most purebloods into squibs but it could make it so eventually 90 of all Wizards from pureblood family's would end up in a psyche ward before their 11th birthday. We need the muggle-borns, however we do not need the ministry."
"What shall you do when they call upon you to kill Lord Voldemort, my lord?"
"I would never do such a thing, he may be a bit twisted but he raised me and as such deserves the respect and love that I as his son give him."
"Now leave me and tell them that, also tell them that my father shall not be taking any Hogwarts graduates from now on, if they wish to join any lord it must be me for he doesn't want their inexperience."
"My lord may I have permission to quickly speak freely?"
"Yes, but only quickly,"
"Yes my lord, I must ask, does your father know your true motives?"
"As a matter of fact he does we have made a bet as a matter of fact."
"What bet my lord?"
"After he gets his body back he wishes to attempt to take over the Wizarding World and kill all whom I do not put protection of my mark over. Anyone with my mark shall be untouchable by my father and his death eaters as well as their families. Anyone else however, shall be fair game for him. However, after I graduate, he shall cease his bombardment and will be too old anyways. I shall reform the ministry either by becoming Minister or attacking and taking control of it. I may be dark Malfoy, but I shall not be evil"
Draco nodded and swiftly left with Hermione quietly leaving behind him.
It had been a long day for Harry Riddle, however he was glad Malfoy could only speak the words that he allowed him to and not the rest of it as well as only to those who plan to be loyal.
Read and Review please. By the way if you have any questions, comments or concerns I will not mind if you ask such in your review. Please take the time to review, it isn't very hard. Not as hard as it is to think up stuff out of no where at least.
Kelsey66