AN AMERICAN WIZARD IN HOGWARTS

Chapter 11: Secret Meeting with Dumbledore

To my relief, my dire prediction didn't come true. The following week was peaceful and we got a lot of training accomplished. My gun toters were as ready as I could make them and now carried their weapons at all times.

The following week were their finals, something they call OWLS. The kids were far too uptight for more lessons as they remained in their common rooms and the library trying to cram the last bit of information into their heads before the grueling tests, that ran two weeks, would begin.

Well that left me with nothing to do. Though Bob had done an admirable job collecting intel for me, I still felt I wasn't getting the whole picture.

"I think its time I pay Dumbledore a visit," I told my spirit companion.

"Are you sure you should risk giving your presence away this close to Voldemort making his move?" Bob asked in concern.

"No, but all the data you've given me leads me to believe Dumbledore may have figured out I'm here. So, I think I'd rather go see him than wait for him to come to me. I suspect he has a hidden agenda of his own that he wouldn't pass on to Harry and I'd hate to be blindsided by the Order of the Phoenix when Voldie makes his move. We could easily foul one another up allowing that creep to get the better of us."

"Of course! I should have thought of that myself but I've been too close to the events to see the whole picture," Bob sighed, chagrined.

"Well, so have I by being cooped in this room all the time that's why its important I find out ALL that's going on before I end up being caught in the middle with no escape," I said grimly. "Come on, let's go see Dumbledore."

Using the castle's help, Bob and I were able to remain invisible to all eyes as we slipped out of the room and, with Bob leading the way, head quickly to Dumbledore's office. It was a couple hours after the dinner hour and no one was about, not even the teachers, surprisingly.

We arrived at an alcove where an ugly gargoyle sat. I eyed it while wondering where the door was.

"The gargoyle guards a hidden staircase. You must speak the password. I believe it's JuJu Beans today?" Bob said helpfully.

I looked over at him incredulously.

Bob shrugged his ghostly shoulders, "Dumbledore has a thing for sweets."

I could only shake my head then turned back to the gargoyle and intoned 'JuJu Beans', feeling just little silly saying it.

Instantly the ugly statue leaped to one side and a staircase did indeed appear. "Nice security," I admitted grudgingly as I moved quickly up the stairs and knocked on a heavy wooden door at the top of the landing.

"Enter!" A voice from within called.

I opened the door and stepped through. Bob had decided at the last moment to go invisible and return to his skull I had in my duster pocket. I let him go.....I really didn't need him for this conversation anyway.

I closed the door tightly behind me and walked slowly through the huge office space. The room was filled with lots of books, teaching devices, many magical things, moving paintings on the wall (probably former headmasters) and sitting on a golden perch was a Phoenix. I'd read about them but had never seen one. The bird eyed me curiously but made no hostile move.

I approached him cautiously. His eyes studied me with obvious intelligence which made me feel a little nervous. Politeness never hurt and might be very useful right now so I bowed my head to it and said, "a pleasure to meet you."

It raised its head in surprise then gave a soft trill that I took to be pleasure and bowed its head to me in return. I sighed mentally with relief. Apparently, I'd done the right thing.

"Greetings Mr. Dresden. Fawkes approves of you which speaks well for you since Phoenix's are very particular of whom they will interact with," Dumbledore said, smiling in amusement.

"I'm pleased to make your acquaintance Fawkes. I've never met a Phoenix before and am glad I meet with your approval," I said politely to the bird before turning my attention back to Dumbledore. I had been right.....the old wizard had suspected I was here because he betrayed no surprise.

Dumbledore had gotten up from behind his desk and had moved to stand behind Fawkes. His long fingered and wrinkled hand reached out to caress the bird's beautiful crest.

Fawkes trilled again in pleasure as he enjoyed his familiar's attention, the sound easing some of my tension. Having the bird approve of me was a big deal. I knew they could be very dangerous and had magical powers of their own. You didn't want to be on their bad side.

"I wish to apologize for violating the rules of hospitality by entering your castle without your permission or knowledge.......," I began. I had done a no-no by entering Hogwarts without the permission of the headmaster so felt I should say I'm sorry before we discussed anything else. I needed him on my side.

"I'm assuming you would never have done such a thing, Mr. Dresden. You are too skilled a wizard to break such an important rule, so I suspect you did receive an invitation to enter Hogwarts," Dumbledore interrupted me calmly.

"You are correct, sir. Hogwarts invited me.....if you could call it that," I said, grimacing as I remembered exactly how I received the invite.

"Really? Please, have a seat, Mr. Dresden and tell me how this came about and why," the old wizard said moving back to his desk and sitting down.

I went to one of the two comfortable, overstuffed chairs he had before his desk, taking the one nearest the door, and sitting down.

"Would you like some tea or lemon sherbets?" Dumbledore asked proffering a tin of yellow candies toward me.

"No thank you."

He nodded and took a candy for himself and began to suck on it slowly, waiting for me to begin. Collecting my thoughts, I told him about the dreams, sending my spirit guide to investigate, then my own arrival and meeting with the castle spirit.

Dumbledore listened silently and when I had finished, his gaze went to the window next to him. He was silent for some time and I didn't disturb him. I had a suspicion he was communing with the castle spirit himself. This was confirmed when he returned his attention to me some fifteen minutes later.

"Excuse my inattention for so long, Mr. Dresden. I wanted to confirm your statements with the castle myself. It has indeed decided that we here needed more aid in our coming conflict and felt you would be able to provide it. I must admit, I would never have thought of it myself but now that it has been presented to me, I find the castle has made an excellent judgement call. We here are too close to the problem and most likely set in our ways as well, to find new ways to solve our problem."

I nodded my head. "I find that to be true way too often, sir. That is the only reason I was willing to stick my neck out and come here. I will warn you, I do not have the sanction of the White Council to be here at all and could face some really heavy punishment."

Dumbledore gave me an understanding look. "I had assumed that was the case. The White Council's relationship with the Ministry of Magic is a rocky one at best. I promise they will not hear of your transgression from me or my staff."

"Thank you, sir. Is my help still wanted?" I asked, wanting to be clear I wasn't stepping on any toes.

"Yes, indeed it is, Mr. Dresden. May I ask why you chose to reveal yourself to me now?"

I relaxed a little. It helped a lot that Dumbledore wasn't angry about my presence.....yet. I hope he doesn't blow a gasket when he finds out I taught some of his students to use and carry a gun.

"I realize, headmaster, that the Order of the Phoenix has information my contact here is not privy to. I don't like working in the dark and felt it important to find out what the other forces here were planning so that we wouldn't be working at cross purposes or, at worst, interfering with each others attempt to take down Voldemort that allows him to escape or, God forbid, even win."

"That was very wise of you, Mr. Dresden and you are right. There is much going on behind the scenes, as it were, that Harry does not know about. I think it's important that the order meet you and we collaborate our plans of attack."

I nodded, "good idea, sir. I feel strongly Voldemort is planning something......a trap of some kind and soon. I thought it would be this week but so far its been quiet but it won't last long I'm certain.

"You are correct! We've had some intelligence that leads us to believe he is indeed up to something. We suspect he's going to make a try for the prophecy that is being kept in the Department of Mysteries."

I eye him in confusion, "I know about the prophecy but you make it sound like its written on something....."

"Not written, Mr. Dresden. We are capable of removing certain memories and encapsulating them in memory balls. The Department of Mysteries is filled with memory balls, all holding important information."

"Sounds clumsy.....a room full of glass balls isn't very secure. Ours are kept under spells and underground too but they are written on paper....." I said dubious about this method of records keeping.

"I must agree that this method is not very secure now a days but it was the way things were done for centuries and its hard for our long lived race to change with the times," Dumbledore agreed, ruefully. "However, this is how its done and the prophecy is stored there."

"Why would Voldemort want the prophecy? Doesn't he already know it?"

"Actually, he only knows half of it which is why he needs it to find out what it said in its entirety."

"Ah, I see. So he's planning to get his hands on it out of a pretty secure area. So, does he have a lot of moles in the ministry?"

"Unfortunately, yes but even they would not dare to take the memory ball in question."

"So he might trick someone else into getting it.......I'm not liking what I'm thinking," I said sourly as I came up with the only one who'd have a vested interest in that ball.

"I'm afraid you have hit upon it exactly, Mr. Dresden. Somehow he is going to trick Harry into getting that ball for him. We just don't know how he's going to do it nor when," Dumbledore said gravely, confirming my fear.

"Hell's bells!" I growled angrily. "So, am I also correct in assuming you are all watching Harry like a hawk?"

Dumbledore merely nodded his head.

I rubbed my face and sighed. "Okay, since I'm close to him most of the time, I'll be the first to know what's going on. I can send a signal to you that the trap is sprung but what old Voldie won't know is Harry will be accompanied by me. Should give him a really rude surprise," I said, a bit gleefully.

The old wizard eyed me intently, his eyes holding a glimmer of amusement then he nodded. "I do believe he will be truly shocked and furious. The order will be there as soon as you notify us. Send word to Professor Snape before you all depart. I don't know how you'll get to the ministry but I suspect Harry will find a way, he always seems to accomplish the impossible........a trait his father possessed as well."

"Ah, so Snape is one of your spies, eh? I suspected as much. He makes a terrible teacher," I snorted in disgust.

Dumbledore smiled, "yes, well, he does get the job done even if he's a bit....abrasive at times."

"He's that alright. I'd have punched him in the nose by now for what he's done to Harry during that mental training crap."

"I'm sorry about that but it was very important that Harry learn to guard his mind. He's mentally connected to Voldemort making him vulnerable."

"I knew that which is why I taught him my way. Snape just bulldozed through the kid's head. That's not how to teach something so delicate and important. You might end up breaking the one you're trying to teach. At least it got the idiot to back off and teach the subject right though I'm sure he was confused as hell as to how Harry was able to keep him out in the first place," I said with satisfaction.

"He was rather upset, I must agree but I did appreciate the effort you made on Harry's behalf. His mind shield is very strong and he maintains it well so you both were successful in the end," Dumbledore admitted quietly.

"I tested him recently and agree. His shield is now automatic and in place without him taking much effort at it but it took a long while to get it that way."

"Yes, I'm sure it did.....adolescent hormones being difficult to work with I'm sure," the old wizard said mildly amused.

"You can say that again," I sighed in agreement. "Okay, then it looks like I'm going to a meeting with your order......when will that be?"

"As soon as I can arrange it. Since the children are very busy preparing for their OWLS, I will try to set up a meeting for tomorrow evening."

"Good, I'll be waiting. Suggest you send for me by way of the castle spirit and I'll come to your office for our departure."

"Excellent idea, Mr. Dresden. Only you and I are able to hear the castle so that will ensure no one learns of your presence until we desire it. I'm assuming it is how you managed to come to my office unnoticed?"

"Yeah. Its done a lot to keep me hidden. As a matter of fact how did you guess I was here?

"It was something Madame Umbridge said when she tried to break into the Room of Requirement. Dare I assume you somehow had her visit the Nevernever those few moments?"

I grinned evilly. "You'd be right! I wanted to teach that bitch a lesson. Were you aware she was using an illegal dark arts tool to punish the kids?"

Dumbledore blinked in shock then frowned, anger flickering in his eyes, "I was aware she was doing something illegal but I was unable to get close enough to find out what without making her look at Harry far too closely."

"I was right! You were trying to distance yourself from Harry. Unfortunately, it only made Harry angry and upset. Took me a while to get him to ignore that and to focus on what was really important......getting properly trained."

"I'm truly sorry for causing Harry pain. That was not my intention but I simply thought keeping my distance would keep his enemies from finding out what he was doing."

"I know and though you might have done it a little differently, I understand why you did it at all, however, Umbridge was actually harming students. Harry has a brand on the back of his hand from what she did. It says, 'I will not lie'. She made the kids write that over and over again while whatever dark arts tool she used engraved the words into the back of their hands," I said angrily.

Dumbledore looked furious. "I was not aware of this!"

"Well, there's something else you aren't aware of either. She's been using Veriteserum on the kids as well!" I told him then nearly leaped from my seat as I felt a sudden storm of magical energy fill the room before being quickly swallowed back.

Hells Bells! He's one powerful wizard and someone I definitely didn't want to get on the wrong side of. Umbridge didn't know what she was getting herself into and I hope I get to see her be punished before going home.

"Thank you for telling me this, Mr. Dresden. When this is over, I will make certain she is brought to trial for these transgressions. You may be certain of that!" Dumbledore said coldly.

"Good! That make me feel better. Well, time for me to disappear again. You have a good evening, sir," I said politely, getting up from my seat and making for the door.

"A good evening to you as well, Mr. Dresden," he said to my retreating back. I stepped through and hurried back to the Room of Requirement.

Bob popped out of his skull as soon as we were safe again.

"Well, that certainly was an eye opening meeting. You were right to go," he said.

"Yeah, now we know where the trap is just not when. So keep your eyes and ears open Bob."

"Believe me, Harry, I will."