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Chapter 10- Control

After breakfast Albus and Harry clambered back into the living room, Minerva and Severus staying in the kitchen after multiple assurances that they wouldn't come in to find the room on fire. Albus settled into the armchair facing Harry who sat on the edge of the couch, looking as if he'd rather be anywhere else, except for maybe the Dursleys.

"It seems to me that you have a lot of power," Albus started to explain instantly, his stomach squirming as the boy refused to meet his eyes. Albus knew he had plenty of valid reasons to distrust him, but it didn't make it any easier. "Now with wizards who have great amounts of magic stored in them they often find it hard to hold in and control their magic. This is especially difficult when they are upset or angry."

"That's why what you just did to me and what happened with your relatives was not your fault. Remember that Harry, you can only be held accountable for things that you do on purpose, not bursts of accidental magic."

Harry eyes finally met Albus's, looking uncomfortable. "But sir, earlier this morning, I think… I think I wanted to hurt you."

Albus nodded, having suspected as much. "You were well within reason, my boy. I'm afraid that my past intentions have done more harm than good." Dumbledore sighed and then in a strict voice added, "But that is not to be repeated again. You must learn how to control your anger."

Harry nodded sheepishly. "But how, sir? I didn't even mean to hurt my Uncle, I was just so scared and I couldn't breathe and…" Harry shuddered, his mind in a very faraway place.

"We all know you didn't mean to, Harry," Dumbledore responded softly. "You were just protecting your own life; no one can fault you for that."

Harry nodded sharply, battling back tears, and then looked expectantly at Albus. "I'm ready to learn."

Albus looked into his eyes, seeming to gauge something, and then nodded. "Then we shall begin."

Albus stood unexpectedly and rummaged through the large pockets of his midnight blue robes. After a moment he found what he was looking for and pulled out a wand. He gave it to Harry who turned it over in his hand, studying it. It looked as if it had survived many battles, covered in scratches so deep that strands of silver hair poked out in spots.

"This is the old wand of a friend," Albus provided with the twinkle back in his eyes, "I keep it as a spare now. It's a little worn but I'm sure it will serve you fine."

"What do I do with it?" Harry asked, staring up at Dumbledore with eyes wide with excitement. He had seen Minerva cast a few spells, but hadn't asked how she had done them.

"Just give it a wave," Albus said encouragingly, demonstrating with his own wand by sending out a few ruby sparks.

Harry picked up his wand carefully, as if it was a delicate antique and then waved it like Albus had. Instantly a stream of red light shot out of the tip and hit the wall, exploding a small hole in it with a loud bang. Albus raised his eyebrow and quickly extinguished the small fire that had ignited from the blast.

"What is going on in there?" Severus bellowed from behind the door.

"Nothing," Albus and Harry shouted back simultaneously in the same guilty voices.

They heard Minerva chuckling and pulling Severus back to his seat telling him, "You're going to have a heart attack if you keep that up. Just relax; Albus knows what he's doing." Severus muttered something under his breath.

Dumbledore turned back to Harry who had put the wand down quickly on the couch and had his hands clasped together. "That was quite a display of magic, especially since you should be quite drained from this morning. What exactly did you do?"

Harry looked panicked, "I don't know, I just waved the wand like you told me to!"

"Hmmm," said Albus thoughtfully. "Maybe you'll be able to control it better when you have a spell to focus on. Pick your wand back up."

Harry did, staring at the wand like it was a loaded gun. "Don't worry," Albus told him, "I will be able to counter anything if the spell goes wrong. Now the spell I want you to perform is a lighting spell. All you have to do is say 'lumos' and focus your magic on the end of your wand."

Albus demonstrated and then told Harry to try it.

Harry took a deep breath, giving Albus a dubious look. "Lumos," he whispered and instantly his wand glowed brilliantly, filling the room with a blinding white light. Harry stared at his wand in surprise as Albus beamed. "Very good! Now cancel the spell by flicking your wand a little."

Harry did. Nothing happened.

Albus frowned, "That should have worked," he said more to himself. Then to Harry he said, "Focus on pulling your magic away, like absorbing it back into yourself."

Harry squinted his eyes in concentration, staring into the blinding light and willing his magic to return to him. He felt it slowly receding from his wand and the light started to dim until it finally went dark. The room seemed strangely empty without it.

Albus just studied Harry for a moment, lost in thought. Finally, pulling himself back to the present, he told Harry, "Keep practicing that. I need to speak with Severus." Minerva soon joined Harry, giving him tips as Albus and Severus talked in the kitchen behind a muffliato.

Albus sat across from Severus, refusing to start the conversation until he was sure they could not be overheard. He would fill in Minerva later, but Harry was much too young to be hearing this.

"What did you discover?" Severus asked him, his dark eyes baring into Albus's, demanding an answer.

"Have you noticed anything about Harry's magic?" Albus answered evasively.

Severus glowered at him, not missing that he'd answered a question with a question. "You're stalling," he accused.

Albus just looked at him patiently and Severus scowled, giving in. "I've noticed that he seems to have an extraordinary grasp on wandless magic, suggesting that once he learns to control his emotions he will be able to perform complex magic easily. He has more power than I have ever seen, even from you."

"Is that all?"

"No. But I'm assuming by that question that you've felt it too."

Albus nodded grimly, "Although perhaps not as much as you."

Severus slowly pulled back his left sleeve, studying the mark with a haunted look. "I can feel it more around the boy. It's as if part of the Dark Lord is contained in him. At least part of the Dark Lord's power."

Albus sighed, "It must have happened the night his parents died. When the spell rebounded the small amount of life that Voldemort had left must have attached to the only living thing in the room- Harry. I'm afraid that this magic will only grow as Voldemort's power grows. We can only hope that Voldemort never learns of this connection, if he doesn't already know."

The table fell silent, Severus staring at the Dark Mark which seemed to pulse ominously with its Master so close. Or at least part of its Master. Severus squeezed his eyes shut- what was he going to do? The boy would never win against the Dark Lord; it wouldn't be long before all traces of Harry disappeared.

Albus watched Severus carefully, noting every emotion that flashed through his heavy eyes. When he shut his eyes Albus spoke, "I think you need to remember, Severus, that power is neither good nor bad, what you do with the power is what matters."

Severus opened his eyes slowly, "He can feel the Dark Lord, they share more than power."

"You and the Dark Lord share a connection, yet you have turned your back on the Dark Arts," Albus reminded him.

"Potter is only a child," Severus snapped, "I don't think you realize what you're asking of him. If the most powerful adults can't withstand Voldemort what makes you think he will?"

Albus met Severus's blazing eyes, "He won't have to stand alone."

Severus instantly deflated, slumping in his chair. "I won't be able to help him."

"You already have," Albus said with twinkling eyes. He continued before Severus could argue, "But I think Harry's power is even above my abilities. I may be able to perform complex spells, but his power is very different from my own."

"Who else could teach him?"

"I have someone in mind," Albus said brightly and then stood and walked into the living room before Severus could ask who. Snape scrambled after him.

They walked in just in time to see Harry cast a lumos and turn it off a second after. "Well done, my boy, well done!" Albus exclaimed. "Now if everyone would grab onto my arm I think it's about time for a field trip."