Chapter 12 Interview With a Teacher

Albus Dumbledore lived quietly these days. He taught a few advanced courses and otherwise kept to himself. At his age, that was not too much of a problem. It was all done with, now, for good or for ill. Voldemort was gone, and the Restoration had brought accountability where there had been none. A perfect world it was not, but the Realm lay at peace and an old man could live out his days in that peace. He was content with that.

Having finished the modifications to his lesson plan, he decided that a cup of tea would not come amiss, and perhaps a bit of sweet to go with it. He headed downstairs from his small apartment to the Teachers Common Room, and checked the slot with his name on it for any mail that might have come his way. Often enough, there was not, and what there was consisted of personal correspondence with those old friends and associates who were still alive.

There was only one envelope today, and it was not ordinary or personal. It was blank when he picked it up, and only at his touch did the address become visible. Across the top in bold letters was "On Her Majesty's Service." It was addressed "Professor Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts Castle", without a return address. When he turned it over, he saw a crest on the flap. Under the crown that topped it was MK-1 in a roundel, which opened as he watched to reveal an eye, then closed again.

A flicker of apprehension was followed by the knowledge that it was most unlikely that any sort of dangerous magic could get into Hogwarts or function if it did. The new Headmaster was far stricter about that, and the threat was less these days.

He took his seat, poured himself some tea after the tea service appeared on the table, and decided that he might as well investigate this mystery.

The letter opened to a tap of his wand, to reveal a single seat of parchment with the same logo at the top.

Professor Dumbledore

It has come to our attention that you may possess information pertinent to an investigation concerning a threat to the Realm.

Your presence is requested for an interview with respect to these matters at one o'clock on the 17th instant. This interview may take some considerable time, so it would be advisable to arrange your schedule accordingly.

Method of travel shall be by Floo. The Floo code "Knight Defender" will be valid for you personally, unaccompanied by any other person or entity, for a period of one hour prior to the time of your interview. You will be met upon arrival. You may bring your wand if you wish, but you will be required to surrender it to safekeeping for the time of your interview.

You are strictly charged, upon your duty to Her Majesty as Her subject, to divulge nothing of this matter to any other person whatever without authority.

E. McKendrick, CGC

For the Chief, MK-1

Under the signature was a small rune, and beneath that was, "Tap this rune with your wand to signify that you have read, understood, and will comply with these instructions."

Albus read the letter twice through, taking particular note of the Floo code, then tapped the rune with the Elder Wand, at which the letter and the envelope crumbled into dust and vanished.

Well, I am summoned, and peremptorily. Whoever this unnamed Chief of this mysterious organization might be, he did not brook delay. Nor, he suspected, disobedience. He was quite sure that the use of the word requested was a very small courtesy.

Albus glanced at the calendar, then sent a Patronus to the Headmaster to inform him that he had to go up to London tomorrow to take care of some personal business, and would therefore be unavailable to teach his classes.

At one minute past twelve, having fortified himself with a good lunch against whatever might await him, Albus was in the Hogwarts Floo Station. He took a handful of powder and spoke the Floo code loudly and firmly. The emerald flames licked up around him and he was elsewhere.

When he emerged from the Floo fireplace, his first impression was a shock of recognition. 12 Grimmauld Place.

The house had evidently been pressed into service as a Headquarters, as it had been in the days of the Order of the Phoenix. His immediate impression was that it was even busier than it had been in those days. He was met by a middle-aged woman who had the look of an Auror, and evidently expected him.

"Professor Dumbledore, please place your wand in this container." She indicated a stand of small lockers on the side table. He placed his wand in one of the lockers, and it was sealed with a tap of her wand.

She then cast several spells on him, some of which he recognized and one that he did not, to establish that he was indeed Professor Albus Dumbledore, not a Polyjuice impostor and not under Imperious or other mental control.

He was escorted down the hall to what had been a small spare bedroom, but was now fitted up with chairs and a table, on which there was a Dicta-Quill set up and ready for use.

He took a seat and glanced at the clock on the wall, positioned behind him so that he had to turn around to see it. He had twenty minutes until this interview was scheduled to start. If he had learned nothing else in his long years, it was patience. He waited in silence for whoever had summoned him.

At the stroke of one o'clock, the door opened and two men entered. One was clearly military, his erect bearing and decisive manner advertising that as surely as if he wore a uniform. Albus did not recognize him, but the man with him was as familiar as the one he saw in the mirror of a morning.

"Harry." Albus said, rather uncertainly. Harry Potter ... Sir Harry Potter's manner did not encourage the idea that he had set up this meeting to catch up on old times with his former teacher.

Harry and the man with him took seats across the table from Albus, and at a tap of the military man's wand the Dicta-Quill sprang up, ready to write.

"One o'clock, 17 August 2001. Interview with Professor Albus Dumbledore, Case File Resurrection. Present, Evan McKendrick, Deputy Chief, MK-1, Sir Harry Potter, Chief, MK-1." He said.

Harry looked across the table at Albus, his expression sombre and determined. "Professor, I would like your word that you will answer the questions you are to be asked truthfully and completely. I would prefer not to compel the truth from you, but I will do so if I must."

Albus sat silent for a few moments, trying to catch up to all the things he had had no idea of, beginning with the existence of this MK-1. Unlike his own self-appointed and personal effort, it was clearly under the authority of the Crown, and as clearly far better organized. The man who led it, well, that was a lesser surprise.

The ability to compel truth was the stuff of legend, deeply entwined with the roots of the Magic of the Realm itself. Albus realized that there were old and powerful magicks of which even he did not know.

"You have my word. I will tell the truth as I know it, and I will hold back nothing." Albus replied.

Harry looked across the table at him. "The purpose of this investigation is to determine how Voldemort returned from the dead after ... after Godric's Hollow, and whether he could have used such a means to return again after he was killed at the takedown of the Death Eaters."

"First, then, what happened at Godric's Hollow?" Harry said.

Albus took a deep breath. "Much of what happened there is a twice-told tale, known to you above all. When I arrived at the house after the attack, my immediate concern was to find and rescue any survivors. You were, as is well known, the only survivor. In searching the wreckage, I found the bodies of your parents. What I did not find was the body of Voldemort. There was ample evidence that he had been caught in the backlash of his own Killing Curse. That was why I feared his return when all others rejoiced. I set out on a search to find what had become of him."

"With what results?" Harry said.

"I ruled out a number of possibilities. For some time I suspected that he had used a dark magic called a Horcrux, which stores a sundered piece of soul in a physical object. He had certainly attempted to use it, and committed multiple grisly murders in the process, but without success."

"How did you know that?" Harry asked, coolly.

"Had he succeeded, as I eventually found out when I obtained a copy, he would have killed himself. That spell is fatally flawed." Albus said.

"What of the Philosopher's Stone? You would have known about that from your friend and colleague, Nicholas Flamel." McKendrick said.

"I consulted with Nicholas, yes. I had no reason to doubt and every reason to believe that the Elixir could not restore the dead. Many attempts had been made over the years to do just that." Albus replied.

"Why did he not share the Elixir with you? You were friends, after all." Harry asked.

"He did, for a time. That is why I am still healthy and vigorous at my advanced age. The Elixir is very powerful magic, and if it is to work the user is denied the use of magic. Nicholas is an alchemist, so that was acceptable to him. In the end I had to choose between life and power, and I chose power." Albus stopped himself from going on about his motives in that choice. Self-serving excuses would not fly here.

"Was the Stone destroyed after I fought Voldemort?" Harry asked.

"Yes, it was. I made sure that it was done, and known to be so, in an attempt to divert Voldemort away from attempting to steal it. Belatedly, I realized it was not safe at Hogwarts, or anywhere. I should not have brought it into the school at all." Albus replied.

Harry's silent stare across the table gave agreement to that. After a long pause, he asked the next question.

"Did Nicholas Flamel die, or did he make another Stone, or Stones to keep himself alive?"

"Nicholas lived, as far as I know. He went underground after the destruction of the Stone. Centuries of experience had taught him how to do that very skillfully, and he always had a large stock of Elixir on hand. Where he is now, or whether he has or made another Stone, I do not know. I would not even begin to know where to find him. While he agreed to the destruction of the Stone, he did not consider that I had acted well and we ... did not part on good terms. I have had no contact with him since."

Albus bit down on another excuse, and moved on. "Finally, I began investigating the legend of the Deathly Hallows, when I realized belatedly that I had possessed a clue to their existence all along." Albus continued.

"The Deathly Hallows?" McKendrick said.

"The legend itself is in the Tales of Beedle the Bard. It tells the story of three brothers who tricked Death out of three powerful artifacts. The Elder Wand is the most powerful wand ever made, the invisibility cloak is the most effective ever created, and the last of the three, the Resurrection Stone, can bring the dead back to life." Albus said.

"Legends and fairy tales. What led you to believe that there was truth in them?" Harry asked.

"Research led me to more contemporary accounts, dating to the 13th century, of the three Peverell brothers, Antioch, Cadmus and Ignotus, who had created the three Hallows. Antioch created the Elder Wand, Cadmus the Resurrection Stone, and Ignotus the invisibility cloak, which legend said was so effective that even Death could not find him." Albus said.

He bit his lip, then continued, "I then realized that I had possessed one of them all along. The Elder Wand is locked up in the anteroom of this building. I took it from the hand of Grindelwald when I defeated him. The Elder Wand has a long and violent history. Its creator was murdered for it, and it passed from hand to hand mostly by theft and murder. Uniquely, it was created only to be a powerful weapon of magic. It had none of the safeguards that all wand makers now embody in their wands."

"What had you planned to do with it?" Harry said. Albus tried reading the expression of his old pupil, but failed except to see a determination that he well knew was a central part of his character.

"Take it with me to the grave. I considered destroying it, but my researches uncovered the fact that there had been at least three attempts to do so. They had all failed, and those who made the attempts had died. Antioch was of no mind to have a weapon that could be broken or destroyed." Albus said.

"As to the invisibility cloak, Harry, it is in your possession. It was passed down through the Peverell family to the Potters, eventually to your father and so to you as his heir after his death." Albus said, keeping his tone as even as he could.

"I see." Was all the reply that Harry gave.

"The Resurrection Stone, there my knowledge is the least complete and conclusive, but I shall withhold nothing from you. I believe that it descended from the Peverells to the Gaunt family. It was set into a ring, which became an heirloom of the Gaunt family and was retained by them even after the family descended into abject poverty. I suspect that Tom Riddle stole it from Morfin Gaunt. He certainly wore it openly at Hogwarts. I was only able to identify it after the fact, using Pensieve memories." Albus said.

He took a deep breath. "I believe that Tom Riddle was wearing the ring with the Resurrection Stone in it the night he ... murdered your parents. The Killing Curse did kill him, but the Resurrection Stone would then have brought him back to life."

"Voldemort was hardly more than a ghost at that point. How would that have been?" Harry asked.

"The little I know about the Resurrection Stone suggests that it can resurrect someone, but it cannot heal them. The legend of the Stone suggests that. Cadmus is said to have used the Stone to bring a loved one back to life, but had little satisfaction of it. If she was alive but suffered from chronic pain and debilitation from lingering injuries, that would account for it." Albus said.

"Voldemort would have used other magic to keep himself alive after that, is what you are saying." Harry said. His tone remained even, judicious.

"Yes. There are spells and rituals, very dark ones, that he could have used to prolong his life at the expense of others, and in his quest for immortality he would certainly have had the opportunity to find and master them." Albus said.

"Why was he particularly interested in the Philosopher's Stone?" Harry asked.

"The Elixir of Life is poorly named. It is actually a particularly powerful and effective healing potion, that heals all wounds or injuries to the body, including those inflicted by old age. The injuries of aging are chronic, so the Elixir must be taken at ever more frequent intervals to keep the ravages of age at bay." Albus replied.

"Where is the Resurrection Stone now?" Harry said.

Albus grimaced, as he made himself confess to yet another failure. "I have no idea. I know he had it at Godric's Hollow, but after that I had only suspicions."

"Severus Snape was in frequent contact with Voldemort for years on end. Did you not have him report on this matter, tell him of the importance of this artifact?" McKendrick said.

"No. That was a judgement that I made. Severus might at any time be tortured to death by Voldemort and I had to assume that in such a case he would tell all that he knew. Having him report on it would be to let him know of its importance. " Albus said.

McKendrick's hard cold expression spoke volumes about his opinion of that decision, but he said nothing.

There was a tap on the door, and a note flew in, landed on the table in front of Harry, and unfolded itself. He read it, nodded, and got up. "Evan, something has come up and I'll leave you to finish up here."

"Good day, Professor." Harry said, and left.

McKendrick said, "Just to sum up, Professor Dumbledore, you knew of the Resurrection Stone but did not task anyone to track its whereabouts, you lost contact with Nicholas Flamel after the destruction of the Philosopher's Stone, so you have no idea where he is or if he has made another, you have no idea whether Voldemort survived the takedown of the Death Eaters."

"Yes, that's correct." Albus said, again biting his lip against excuses.

"If there is anything I can do to help ..." Albus added.

The look he got in return was as cold as an Arctic night. "You were relieved of your position for cause by Her Majesty, Professor. Your help in this or any other matter is neither required nor desired. If you have kept any records of your activities you are required to turn them over to us without delay. Good day. You will be shown out."

McKendrick got up, gathered up the parchments from the Dicta-Quill, and left. The same middle-aged Auror escorted him back out to the Floo. Her manner was not quite that of one escorting a prisoner, but there was not much difference there.

"May I have my wand back?" Albus asked, careful to be politely undemanding.

"Have a seat, Professor. You'll 'ave to wait out on the decision for that." She said, seating herself at a desk.

Albus was quite sure that he retained a good deal of her attention along with whatever she was doing at her desk.

The wait gave Albus time to think, and to begin to process the ordeal he had just been through, as polite and understated as it had been. The memory of being called on the carpet by the Queen would be painful as long as he lived, as it had been entirely justified. Harry had not been the only one his errors had harmed in those dark years. He had taken on too much and done poor justice to those many responsibilities. This had been no less of a reminder of that.

It was about fifteen minutes or so later when Mckendrick came back. He nodded to the Auror, and she got up and unlocked the cubby hole containing the Elder Wand, handing it to McKendrick.

"Professor Dumbledore, the Chief has ruled that you may retain custody of this wand, subject to the conditions that you safeguard it so that it does not pose any threat to the Realm, and inform us immediately through the Headmaster of Hogwarts if there is any attempt against it."

He handed Albus the Elder Wand. He took it and sheathed it. "Thank you."

"Do not thank me, Professor Dumbledore. I think that the Chief is being lenient to his old Professor for old times sake."

Mckendrick's voice went low, and as deadly as a basilisk's stare. "Do not give him any cause to regret that leniency, Professor Dumbledore."