A/N: This is the longest chapter yet, but don't expect them all to be this way, in fact, this is the longest one in the story. But I couldn't find an appropriate place to break it up. Hope you enjoy.
CHAPTER 21 - DINNER WITH THE PROFESSORS, 6/25/96, Part B
The first person they saw on their return to Paradise was Hermione. She had apparently just come out of the trunk library to begin getting ready for the dinner party that night.
"Hello Dobby, Winky, what are you two doing here?"
"Wes is working for Harry Potter's school now."
"Oh?"
"Yes, I hope no one will mind, but I knew Aeronna and Azamus wouldn't want to leave the island for so long so I offered them both jobs working for the school. They will have similar duties to those they had at Hogwarts, just on a much smaller scale. They have agreed to wear uniforms and…"
"Would yous be liking to see our uniforms?" asked an excited Dobby. Apparently his enthusiasm for socks carried over to uniforms too.
"Of course, Dobby, what did you and Winky pick out?" Dobby and Winky snapped their fingers and they were outfitted in uniforms very similar to what the kids had worn at Hogwarts. They had chosen Gryffindor colors, although Harry was sure they could change those at will. Harry and Hermione were both happy with the choices the elves had made.
"And to finish what I was saying, they are being paid," Winky huffed, "Well, at least Dobby is being paid and they will have regular days off too," another huff from Winky. Harry looked at Hermione and winked, letting her now he would discuss this topic further with her later, out of earshot of the elves.
"Aeronna!"
"Master Harry calls?"
"Yes, Aeronna. I would like you to meet two more of my friends. This is Dobby and this is Winky. They will be working for the school. Do you think you could show them around here and spend the evening with them while we are at the dinner party, they will be traveling with us this summer as well."
"Of course, Master Harry. I would be delighted to show them around."
"Thank you Aeronna. If you will excuse me then, I need to get ready to go, I have to transport the trunk to the Longbottom estate and get things arranged there before Griphook arrives to fix the door for Dumbledore to see." Harry and Hermione left the two elves in Aeronna's care and ascend the stairs to get ready for the party.
When Harry got to his room he immediately called Azamus to him. "Azamus, have you met Dobby and Winky yet?"
"Yes, Master Harry I have."
"Good. I was wondering if you could do me a favor. I have hired them to work for the school, but Winky refuses to be paid. She said she is a good house elf and therefore shouldn't be paid. She is a free house elf, although I think she may have bonded herself to me this afternoon. Anyway, I was wondering if you could figure out a way to talk to her and help her understand that getting paid is not the mark of a bad house elf. I have no intention of doing away with her services either way, but I would like her to get paid for them. I just don't seem to be able to make her understand. I don't want to offend her and I don't want to make her feel bad and like she is not wanted. Do you think you can do that somehow?"
"Yes, Master Harry, I will find a way."
"Thank you. I knew you would be able to figure something out."
By 5:45 everyone was ready to go. Harry had made arrangements with Neville to come back to Paradise to get them since he had the only portkey that went directly to and from Longbottom Manor. He was right on time and they all gathered round and put a finger on the key and were instantly and gently transported back to England once again. After looking around the manor everyone agreed that a small nondescript broom closet on the first floor would be the best place to set up. It was near the main staircase so opening the door and finding another staircase would not seem so out of place. Harry set the trunk down and resized it. Griphook arrived precisely at 6:00. He agreed with the placing and it took him less than five minutes to have the trunk set up so that all Harry had to do was open the closet door and they could ascend the steps to the owl room. Once everything was in place he went upstairs to talk to his parents and let them know that everything was ready now. They were still chatting about the agenda for the evening when Remus came up and said that Professors McGonagall and Flitwick had arrived.
They decided to try out the surprise tactic on them, so Remus went back and escorted them up to the room where Harry was waiting for them. After the initial shock of seeing Lily, James, and Sirius supposedly alive McGonagall and Flitwick thought it would be an excellent prank to play on Dumbledore, and they agreed not to mention it during the meal and not to tell him they were from a portrait. After being told about the new Potter-Black Institute of Higher Learning they also agreed not to mention that this evening either. They spent the next half hour having a nice friendly chat, mostly about Harry and his first five years at Hogwarts. While Prof. McGonagall was aware of most of the events Prof. Flitwick was not, and he was not any happier about the situation than Prof. McGonagall was when he had been filled in on all the details. They were anxious to see how Dumbledore would respond to the questions put to him by James and Lily. After all, he couldn't possible tell them they were too young yet to know the whole truth.
Harry and party had come down the stairs just as Dumbledore knocked on the door of the Manor. It was answered by Mizu, the Longbottoms' house elf. Within minutes dinner was announced and everyone went into the formal dining room. Dumbledore decided that he was going to get the ball rolling in his direction, he hoped, so he started off right away.
"Well, Harry my boy," with the customary twinkle in his eye. Harry wondered, not for the first time how he did that, and determined to learn to do it himself. "Have you taken care of all your business you had to attend to and are now ready to go to the Burrow for the rest of the summer?" Had he bothered to be looking around the table he would have seen the many looks of irritation from all the other guests.
"Professor as I have told you before, I am not going to the Burrow this summer. I have a place to stay that is perfectly safe and I intend to continue on there as long as I want or am welcome. I still have quite a few things left to accomplish this summer that would preclude me from staying at the Burrow."
Totally ignoring what Harry just said, "Harry, Harry, Harry. I don't know how I can make it any clearer to you. But you must go back to your aunt's house for at least two weeks and then someplace safe, someplace that I have made sure the wards are strong enough to protect you."
"Dumbledore, Dumbledore, Dumbledore. I don't know how I can make it any clearer to you. I have no intention of EVER going back to my aunt's house, or going anywhere else except where I want to go this summer. I am perfectly safe where I am at and will remain so. The wards are stronger there than any you could put up."
"Harry, that is just not so." Then Dumbledore decided to try a different tack. He turned to Professor McGonagall. "Minerva see if you can talk some sense into Harry. Try to make him understand that he needs to do this for his and others safety."
"Albus, I would, if I understood it myself. But I cannot make myself try to talk someone into something that I myself do not understand or believe in. Harry may have been protected from death eaters at his aunt's house, but that also meant he was hidden from those who would otherwise have protected him. But the wards did not do anything to protect him from the ones on the inside. At least against death eaters he had a chance of protecting himself, something he did not have the opportunity to do from his so-called family. So, no Albus, I will not talk to Harry. As far as I am concerned he is already acting in good sense." Dumbledore looked around at the others at the table and realized that he wasn't going to get any help from any of them. So for once, he decided to let the subject drop, for now anyway. Harry saw the dawning of understanding in his eyes,
"Thank you Professor."
"For what Harry?"
"For letting this drop."
After this the meal was a very pleasant experience. No heavy subjects were discussed, just meaningless everyday topics. Harry debated with himself whether to bring up the fact that he and those with him would not be returning to Hogwarts in September, but then decided to wait until after the discussion with his parents. He didn't want Dumbledore going into that meeting already in a snit or they wouldn't be able to get any information out of him at all. Once dessert was served Harry decided it was time for Dumbledore's surprise.
As the party made its way towards the lounge, "Professor Dumbledore, there are some people here who would like to talk to you." Dumbledore looked around at the group, trying to figure out what they could possible want to talk to him about that they couldn't have talked about at dinner. But instead of going into the lounge Harry began to lead him up the stairs. When they reached the first floor Harry opened the door onto another, smaller staircase and stepped back allowing the rest of the party to pass them and go up the stairs first. Then he led Dumbledore up the stairs to the owl room. Lily, James, and Sirius were all sitting on the couch with their backs to the door. Everyone else had arranged themselves around the edge of the wall so they could see Dumbledore's face when he came around the couch. When Dumbledore rounded the couch it took him a couple of seconds to register who he was looking at. And several more before he was able to mumble. The twinkle in his eye died and he was rendered totally speechless. Then,
"How…how…what…how…" Nothing coherent, just words. After a bit everyone started laughing. It's not often that anyone has managed to prank Dumbledore, but at the moment no one present was going to tell him it was a prank. After the initial shock Dumbledore backed into a chair, never taking his eyes off the three sitting on the couch. Everyone else quietly sat in the chairs that had appeared around the wall of the room. Everyone, except Harry, Remus, and the other teenagers that is. Remus sat in the other chair already in the room. Harry exited through to the control room, he wanted to be able to hear what was being said, and the other three teens left through the door they had entered, no one noticing that Hermione had pressed the wolf as they exited. By the time they had gone down the stairs and into the library Harry had already set the controls so they could hear what was being said in the owl room. When the door was closed the questioning soon began.
"Albus, I know you are wondering why we wanted to see you."
"Well, actually James I am more wondering how as to why at the moment."
"How is not important right now, but why is. So if you don't mind we will skip the how for the time being and get on with the whys. We have a few questions for you and expect to get truthful answers, believe me we will know if you are not being truthful with us. First off, why was Harry sent to live with Petunia and Vernon? You know good and well that was totally against what we wanted!" James waited a space to give Albus time to answer, if he was going to without being prompted again.
"I thought it would be best for him. He would be raised away from the fame and danger being in the wizarding world would present to him. It was for the greater good."
"Enough of for the greater good. If I hear that phrase one more time I am going to hex you."
"Remus, surely you don't think I…"
"Albus, I don't know what to think right now. I only know that you have done some things that need answering for." No answering comment seemed to be forthcoming from Dumbledore this time.
"Good. Now back to James' original question. Why Petunia and Vernon? We specifically said Harry was not to go to them. We knew Harry would not have a happy life with them; my sister has always hated magic and anything to do with it and us. We never expected they would treat Harry the way they did, but we knew it would not be a happy life for him. How can you possible think that sending him there would be beneficial to him, and then to continue sending him back year after year even though you knew what was happening to him."
"Now wait, Lily, I didn't know what was happening to him. He told me he wasn't happy there, but that was as far as it went. No child is ever completely happy with their home life, so I just put it down to typical childhood resentment to one's guardians."
"Sorry Dumbles that doesn't wash! I know for a fact that you were told how he was being treated, but you chose to ignore all the facts that were staring you in the face. The least you should have done was check out his story. But for the first 10 years he lived there you never once checked up on him."
"Sirius, I had Mrs. Figg watching out for him."
"A fat lot of good that was! With the wards you had placed on the property she could have walked up and looked in the windows, provided she could even see the house and she wouldn't have been able to tell anything was wrong. The only times she knew what was going on was when Harry would come stay with her and she would report to you, but you never bothered to check yourself. What did you do obliviate her so she wouldn't remember what she had seen and told you?"
"I resent that remark!"
"More like, you resemble that remark!"
"Gentleman, this is getting us nowhere. Dumbledore we are still waiting for a truthful answer. Why did you go against our wishes and place Harry with my sister?"
"Lily, I honestly believed he would have a better life. You were a wonderful mother and I just couldn't believe that your sister would be any less so. If I had had any idea that they were going to be like they were I would never had put Harry there."
"So you admit you knew what they were like. And how they were treating Harry?"
"That doesn't explain why you did it. You broke the law, both wizard and muggle. We left a Will that specifically stated what was to be done with him and what was NOT to be done with him, but you just totally reversed everything we had in there. And you did know what kind of people they were. Professor McGonagall told you before you left him, so with that and what our Will said should have told you the truth. You should never have left him there, you should have given him to Sirius to raise."
"If you had thought it was so important that he be raised away from the wizarding world all you had to do was tell me and I would have been more than happy to take him away and raise him outside the limelight. But you never gave me that opportunity. You decided that you knew better than his parents what needed to be done with him and then went on your merry way just assuming that everyone would bow to your wishes, which they did. But no more! We are not bowing anymore. I made sure that Harry would not have to live the rest of his life bowing to anyone, even the great Dumbledore."
"Obviously, you are never going to give us a straight answer on this issue, so we will move on, but hold the right to return here at a later time. Next question, why did you allow Sirius to be sent to Azkaban without a trial? Isn't that part of your duties as head of the Wizengamot, to see that everyone gets a fair trial?"
"Well, yes, but with Sirius saying it was all his fault, and then all those eye witnesses to the confrontation and all, it looked like an open and shut case."
"That's no excuse. Open and shut cases have been reopened on many occasions, especially when someone actually knew the truth. You knew Sirius was not our secret keeper. You knew it was Peter, you cast the charm yourself!"
"What! I didn't know that. All those years you let me think my one remaining friend was a traitor. All those years you kept me away from Sirius and Harry. WHY, OLD MAN WHY?" Remus had jumped to his feet and had his wand pointing at Dumbledore before anyone had the chance to stop him. Sirius and James both jumped up and grabbed Remus before he could hex the headmaster, who at least had the grace to look afraid.
"I…I…I just didn't want to jeopardize the plan."
"The plan? Now we are getting somewhere. What plan?"
"The plan to rid the world of Voldemort."
"So all along, the whole reason was your plan? So fill us in on this plan. Don't try to say we are too young to know the whole plan. We are not 11 years old or even 12 or 13. We are adults and have the right to know why you have treated our son like you have for the past 15 years."
"Okay, I will tell you what I can."
"NO! You will tell us everything."
Dumbledore sighs, he realizes that he has definitely met his match when it comes to Lily and James at the moment. "It all started with the prophecy."
"Wait, before you go any further, let us discuss this prophecy. We want to know why if it is such a big secret everyone seems to know what it says?"
"No one even knows there is a prophecy. No one knows what it says, except the two of you, Harry, and myself."
"Then why does everyone think that only Harry can defeat Voldemort? If it is such a secret like you say? Why is no one else trying to take out the great bully? Why do they all expect a child to do it for them? It just doesn't make any sense. If no one knows the prophecy even exists or what it says why would they all be expecting Harry to get rid of Voldemort again? If everyone thinks he is already dead why would they expect him to do it again? Obviously, the prophecy isn't such a big secret."
"I really can't answer that James."
"Yes you can. All these years YOU must have been feeding the hype. Someone had to be and since you are the only one who supposedly knew about the prophecy and what it said it had to be you. No one else could have been doing it. You are the one who has to have been keeping the rumors alive. But why? What would it profit you to keep it going like this?"
"Wait a minute. James, do you suppose… Surely not though..."
"What Lily, what have you figured out?"
"I think I realize now why he has been doing all this. It has nothing to do with the greater good, except the greater good of Albus Dumbledore! You have been keeping Harry weak and small and dependent on you. Then when it comes time for him to defeat Voldemort you will somehow be able to take the credit for it. How are you planning to do that? You are planning to allow Voldemort to kill Harry! Then you would be able to finish him off and retain your title of the greatest wizard alive. Right!"
"No, of course not. Why would I do that?"
"Because you are an egotistical megalomaniac, just like Voldemort."
"That's it, Prongs, there is no other rationale that fits all the scenarios, Harry with the Dursleys, me in Azcaban, Mooney kept away from us both, the Weasleys always being in the right place at the right time. You have been playing us all, you have been playing all of us for the last 15 years. Tell me, was it really Peter's idea to go to Voldemort, or did you suggest that too? We all know you told Snivalus to go to Voldemort with the first part of the prophesy so it's no real stretch to think you maneuvered Peter to go to his master too."
"I'll admit I sent Severus to Voldemort, but I did not have anything to do with Peter's betrayal."
"Perhaps not, but you still knew it was Peter and not me. Yet you did nothing to help me, even when I tried to contact you about it, you just ignored me. Not exactly the actions of an innocent man."
"Yes, I ignored you. I knew what you wanted. But it was necessary for you to be where you were so that you couldn't interfere with Harry's life."
"No, it was necessary for me to be where I was so I wouldn't interfere with your plan."
"Yes, well, that is your opinion…"
"Actually, that is all of our opinions. And that is why we are not going to let you continue. From this time on we will be raising Harry in the way we see fit, and we will be preparing him for his life. We will not depend on you anymore to do what is right, nor will we allow you to have any say in the way our child is raised. As of now you are no longer Harry's guardian, magical or otherwise. That has been delegated to the Grangers and Remus. If you have any problems with this I would speak now and then forever hold your peace. Once you leave here, which make no mistake you will be doing very shortly, you will never see Harry again unless Harry desires it. You will not be able to find him, so don't even try. All the trackers that you have put on him over the years have already been removed."
"And speaking of trackers!"
"Yes, Remus, what about them?"
"Have you noticed the last one you put on Harry is still showing him being in London. Or should I say, ME still being in London. Actually, the shoes you hexed are sitting in the garbage receptacle at Harrod's Department Store. We discovered the tracker before we even left Diagon Alley. Harry came up with the plan to leave the shoes, so if I were you old man I wouldn't bother to try it again. We will always manage to be one step ahead of you from now on."
"Remus, I don't know what you are talking about. I have not put a tracker on Harry since he left school last term."
"Of course, you didn't, I didn't say you did, I said the tracker you put on ME."
"Oh…."
"Now, back to your plan. Please explain what you had in mind. How you had PLANNED on Harry being prepared to fight Voldemort when you have made sure he was down trodden and weak for 15 years? How was he supposed to fight a wizard who is fully trained, by you, no less? Were you really just planning to let Harry walk in there and die and then finish him off yourself?"
"Personally I don't see that happening! Harry has already vanquished Voldemort, that is all he had to do. The rest is up to you and the rest of the wizarding world. My son has done his job. All you have to do is read the prophecy to know that Harry did his part. Why have you been keeping him like this. Why have you been telling him that he is the only one who can kill Voldemort? The prophecy says the one to vanquish is coming, Harry did that. He vanquished him 15 years ago, the fact that he is back is not Harry's doing nor is it his place to have to do away with him again. That is something that the rest of you can deal with on your own this time."
"Even if I agree with you there is nothing I can do about it. The ministry is still trying to keep it quiet that he is back, they will not admit it. Therefore no one is willing to do anything to protect themselves or to fight back."
"That sounds like a personal problem to me. The fact that everyone wants to stick their heads in the sand is not Harry's problem. It should not be up to him to fight your battles for you. He is only a child. You are expecting him to behave like an adult while you are determined to keep him a child. You are not giving him the training that he will need in order to survive. So what are we to think? The fact is you are supposed to be the only ones who knows there is a prophecy, and the only one who knows the whole prophecy, yet everyone expects Harry to do the job again, although everyone thinks Voldemort is dead, so why should the job need doing again? And here we are back to where we started aren't we? So I guess that goes to show that this whole mess hinges on one event and has totally spiraled out of control from there. As the 'leader of the light' it is up to you to make sure the truth gets out there. And it is up to you to make sure everyone is prepared, not just you and your few associates, and your own personal sacrificial lamb."
"It is up to you to make sure they all know the truth. Fudge saw what happened at the ministry, he saw Voldemort there. Surely there is a way you can make him admit what he saw. A lot of other people saw him too. Surely not everyone has been obliviated. Or have they? Did you do the little voodoo you do so often?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Feel free to beg, but the fact is we all know you obliviate people whenever and wherever you feel the need. So don't think we would put it past you to have obliviated everyone who was in the ministry that night if it interfered with your plan or the greater good."
"Dumbledore, is what they are saying true? Have you been obliviating people? Have you ever obliviated us?"
"Minerva, I am surprised at you. That you would think such things of me after all these years."
"It is after all these years that I am beginning to wonder about it. I have heard so many disturbing things this evening that I am beginning to question my life for the past 50 years, my undying devotion to you and your plans. Have I been wrong? Have I been kidding myself that you were all seeing and knew so much better than everyone else? I have wondered about Harry all his growing up years, I remember taking him to his relatives, and I never thought it unusual that I could not remember where they lived, I just assumed it was the Fidelius charm you put on their residence. Now I am wondering if that is the only thing keeping me from remembering where Harry was."
"Of course it was Minerva, don't you start questioning me too."
"I'm sorry, headmaster, but that is exactly what I am doing, and what I intend to continue doing. I am going to start using my place as deputy headmistress to do my duty. To care for the children that are placed in my care, to make sure no others are suffering the way Harry has suffered. And to make sure that no others are placed in a position so abominable that they decide leaving is better than staying. I don't blame Harry and his family at all for the decisions they have made and I wholly support them. And I want them to know if there is ever anything I can do to help them that I am there for them. And don't even think about obliviating me of this memory. Lily, James, Sirius, Remus. I am sorry for my part in all this. I can only say that I was following a crazed man. I ask you forgiveness and offer you my services. I am asking you to act as witnesses for me so that if I ever forget what has happened here tonight that you will help me remember using whatever means is necessary."
"I too offer my services and ask for the same witness as Minerva."
"Thank you professors, we will make sure Harry gets those messages."
"Are you telling me that Harry is not in here somewhere or at least listening in on this conversation?"
"I am not saying anything except that I will make sure Harry gets the messages."
"Have it your way."
"We intend to. Back to the question and answer period."
"Personally, James, I don't think we are going to get any more answers from him tonight."
"You are probably right Sirius, but I can't help but want to try. There are still so many things that we need to know."
"Not now, Lils. I think we have all the information we need to make our plans."
"We need to know more about HIS plan. It seems to be the central crux of the whole matter."
"Okay, we will get what we can about his plan and then it is time to eject this old man from our presence."
"James, Lily, I don't know what you are talking about. I told you, the plan is to rid the world of Voldemort"
"Sorry, but I don't buy that. You need to tell us more about this plan. Give us some details if you want us to believe that that is your main goal."
"Okay, I will tell you my plan, up to this point. Yes, like I told you I was trying to keep Harry out of the limelight, I thought if he grew up in a humbling atmosphere he would be more malleable for me, more trainable as it were. Unfortunately, that part of the plan seems to have backfired. But he is trainable. And will be the perfect weapon to use against Voldemort. Voldemort will not be expecting someone who is trained to come after him, he will be expecting a weakling, a boy, someone who could not possible get the best of him."
"And how, pray tell, did you expect that to happen, when the only part of your plan that has actually happened is to keep Harry a weakling? You haven't been training him in any skills that will help him. You haven't allowed anyone else to train him in any other skills either."
"Oh, but I have been training him. Tell me, how much as Harry told you about his first five years of school?"
"He has told us everything, we know about the troll in the bathroom, we know about the philosopher's stone, we know everything right up to the Department of Mysteries."
"Good, that will save us some time, me not having to go into detail."
"They may know, but we aren't fully aware of the details. So, I think you will need to go into the details as you know them."
"Yes, thank you Minerva, that is a very good idea, then we can judge if your story jives with Harry's version. And make no mistake, we believe Harry and his version, so any deviation on your part will obviouisly be the lies you are using to protect yourself and your plan. Which, for your information, just in case you haven't realized it yet, is bupkis, it is no longer in action, no longer a viable working plan. So don't try to stray from the facts, just tell it like it is, or was."
"Okay, I will start in the first year. You know about the troll. I had absolutely nothing to do with that. Quirrell was totally responsible for letting him into the castle. Once inside even Quirrell had no control. The idea was to cause mayhem and confusion so that he, Quirrell, could try to get to the philosopher's stone. It nearly worked too, if Severus hadn't been suspicious of him and followed him. I knew once Harry had sussed out about the stone he would try to protect it. I had no idea he would take the other students with him. In fact, I know he tried to not take them, but they insisted on following him. I was away from the school that night, so didn't realize what was happening until I returned. I got to Harry before anything major happened to him."
"EXCUSE ME! If you don't consider what happened to him major, what would have it taken for you to consider it major, his DEATH?"
"Now, Lils, stay calm."
"How can I stay calm when the one person who should have had my son's best welfare as his main concern is saying that him facing Voldemort again by himself and barely surviving to tell the tale is not a major thing."
"Lily, I know how you feel. But that does bring up another question. If you are so all seeing and all knowing how is it you didn't know that Quirrell had Voldemort riding around on the back of his head?"
"Yeah, right, and how would that be, how can you possible know how I feel? And you still haven't explained how it is that the protections that were supposed to keep the stone safe were so easily breached by a few first years."
"Yes, Dumbledore, that is something I have wondered about all these years. Why were the protections we put on the stone so flimsy that a group of first years were able to breach them. If you had been willing to tell us what we were protecting we could have put stronger protections."
"I know, that is why I didn't tell you what it was or what I suspected was going to happen to it. I needed the protections to be just enough that Harry would be able to breach them with a little bit of work. I had no idea that Voldemort was riding along with Quirrell. And I had no idea Harry would take his friends with him. I thought for sure his noble streak would force him to leave them behind and just the knowledge he had acquired from them to help him."
"That makes no sense at all. How could you have been sure that he would garner the proper information from his friends to allow him to get by all the protections?"
"To be quite honest with you I had thought at the time that Harry would come and ask for
my help, then I would go with him and help him get through them all."
"There again, making you the hero."
"Yes, well…"
"Yes, well, is that all you can say? He did try to come to you, you were nowhere to be found. Knowing what you did you should have refused to leave the castle. You should have insisted that Fudge come to you. Then at least you would have known it was not even a real message. And since you had told us nothing about it when they came to me I dismissed them. I just figured it was children trying to weasel information out of me about a rumor, something they knew nothing about. Little did I know I was being played for a fool…"
"So the fact is, my son was set up by you. Luckily enough he managed to survive and keep your reputation intact. So, now I think we are up to twice that he has vanquished Voldemort. So why keep up the charade of the prophecy?"
"Because I believed and still do believe that he is the only one that can fulfill the prophecy. I do not believe that his vanquishing Voldemort is enough, he has to kill him. I am not at liberty to discuss this in open forum."
"We are not a forum, and for your information everyone here has seen and heard the entire prophecy."
"What!"
"I thought you understood for Harry's safety no one should know that."
"Perhaps in your mind, but in our opinion everyone here is trustworthy and more. They all deserved to know why things were being handled as they were. And besides, it was Harry's decision, he decided that he needed advice from more than one person and that he would only get the proper advice if everyone was properly informed. So he decided to tell everyone, and we agreed it was a good idea."
"I see. Well, then surely you can all understand why it must be kept so secret."
"Yes, but apparently it hasn't, has it? Otherwise like Lily said why would everyone be expecting Harry to be the one who has to kill him again? Especially when everyone believed that he was dead to begin with."
"Minerva, let me finish my explanation, then I believe you will understand where I am coming from."
"In his second year was the Chamber of Secrets fiasco. How can you explain that?"
"I didn't know at the time."
"Not good enough. How could a bloody 60 foot snake wander around the castle halls and no one report to you? I know the portraits report everything to you and there is no way a snake would know to only stray into the hallways where there weren't living portraits,"
"No, you are right Remus. The snake was reported to me. Or at least something was reported to me, although none of the portraits ever actually said it was a snake or a basilisk, or that it was so huge."
"So you just decided to have a wait and see attitude. What were you waiting to see, if it killed another student? And then to let them take Hagrid to Azkaban when you knew it was a snake and not his spider? Dumbledore, you have done some cold things in your life, but that is twice now that you have let an innocent person go to Azkaban when you had the means all along to stop it."
"I know, I know. But I needed Harry to face the snake,..."
"Wait a minute, you just said you didn't know it was a snake, now you admit you did?"
As if he was not interrupted,"…I needed him to realize he was strong enough to do it on his own. I needed him to start believing in his abilities. I had no idea he would drag Mr. Weasley and Prof. Lockhart with him. Again, I thought his nobility streak would prevent anyone else being put in danger. And I wanted him to start connecting with Miss Weasley." This last was said very quietly, almost under his breath.
"What was that? What are you talking about connecting with Miss Weasely?" He completely forgot about Remus' extraordinary hearing.
"Remus, surely you must see that the pure bloods are losing out in the wizarding world right now. They need fresh blood pumped back into them, I thought if I could encourage Harry and Miss Weasley and Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger to get together then we could bolster up a dying society."
"The only thing I see the "pure bloods" losing out on is good sense and fairness. They have lost nothing other than their status when another pure blood takes a dislike to them. Pure bloods still hold all the cards, they rule the government, they control the money, and they influence public opinion. Half-bloods, muggle-borns, and all non-human magical creatures are seen as dross to them. They don't care whom they hurt or defame as long as none of it touches them. Present company excluded."
"That's alright Remus, we here all agree with you."
"Thank you Madam Longbottom."
"And just how were you planning to 'encourage' Harry and Miss Weasley and Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger to get together? Marriage contracts, love potions, what?"
"Lily, please, do you really think I would resort to such things?"
"If it suited your purposes yes."
"But that still doesn't explain why you felt Harry needed to face that snake and why you couldn't help him. Even if you had told him ahead of time what it was, maybe he would have gone in a little better prepared. As it was you just let him go merrily along with everyone calling him Slytherin's heir and having to put up with the backlash from that, when all along you could have told the truth and let everyone know that it wasn't Harry petrifying people. But again you didn't, you just let everyone go blindly along blaming Harry and then expecting Harry to solve your little problem for you."
"Tell me, old man, is there ever going to be a problem in your life that you solve yourself or are you always going to let your students do that for you?"
"Okay, so at the end of his second year you have proven that Harry is not Slytherin's heir, but rather Gryffindor's. Does that make you feel better about his abilities?"
"Yes and no. I didn't know about his connection to Gryffindor until he pulled the sword from the sorting hat. That summer I did a little research and found out his connection to Gryffindor through the Potter line, which only further proved my suspicions, he is the only person who can defeat Voldemort. Only a Gryffindor is going to be able to defeat the heir of Slytherin. Yes, I did some research on Voldemort as well and he IS the heir of Slytherin."
"Yes, but he is not the only heir, is he? Or did you not do the full research, just enough to satisfy your story line?"
"What are you talking about James?"
"Well, I did some research too, it was necessary for Lily and I to be married, you know. And not only is Harry heir to Godric Gryffindor, he is also an heir to Salazar Slytherin. A minor one, but an heir nonetheless. He is a double heir, so it may not be possible for him to fulfill your prophecy. You may have to be satisfied with him vanquishing Voldemort, what 3 times are we up to now. Someone else will have to do the killing, and therefore Harry's participation in your plan is unnecessary now."
"No, I am sorry James, but the prophecy makes it very clear that Harry must do the deed himself."
"Sorry, Dumbledore, but I don't read it that way. The prophecy states that Harry will vanquish the dark lord, it doesn't say anything about having to kill him."
"What about the part about one can't live while the other survives?"
"Well, since they are both alive now at the same time it would appear that that part of the prophecy is bogus, or the whole thing is bogus, and you have just manipulated things to make them seem to fit the prophecy so you could continue to hide behind Harry and what you have done to him and all the others over the past decade."
"But that doesn't negate the prophecy."
"Oh, yes it does!"
"Okay, I think we have gotten all the information we are going to get out of him for tonight. It's time we eject him from our presence and get on with our own plans."
"As you wish, James. But I do so wish you would let me use a little alternate persuasion, I think we could learn a little more."
"Most likely, but not necessary. We will save some of our secrets for the next time we need more information."
"Speaking of the next time we meet. I am going to need Harry's help later on this summer, so I would appreciate it if you would tell me where I can get in touch when him when I am ready."
"And for what would that be?"
"That is something that I can definitely not talk about at this time."
"Then, I can tell you, that is definitely not something Harry will be helping you with this summer."
"Lily, if there was any other way, don't you think I would be using it?"
"No!"
"I assure you had I any other way to accomplish my goal I would do so."
"Okay, so what is your goal this time? What is it that is so important that only Harry can help you with?"
"As I said, it is not something I am willing to discuss at this point in time, but rest assured, only Harry can help with this."
"Well, rest assured, Harry will not be helping you with this. You will have to find some other way to achieve your goal. Now, if you are willing to tell us what that is, maybe we can help you come up with an alternate plan."
"There is no alternate plan. This has to do with how Voldemort was able to come back to life after that night. It has to do with why no one but Harry will be able to kill him."
"And that would be?"
"Something I cannot and will not discuss at this point with you or anyone else."
"Then, our discussion is truly over. Harry will not be around this summer to help you. You will not be able to contact him in any way shape or form, so don't even try."
"Well, goodnight then. I assume I can go now? Harry, I will see you the first of September, as usual."
REMUS: "Oh, speaking of September 1, actually you will not be seeing Harry then."
AUGUSTA: "Nor Neville."
DAN: "Nor Hermione."
XENO LOVEGOOD: "Or Luna."
"I see. Well, we will see about all of this. While I can't do anything about Neville and Luna other than reporting them for not being in school at the appointed time, I can do something about Hermione and Harry. As their magical guardian I can have them forcefully returned to Hogwarts. Please don't make me do that. Don't make me pull strings that I would rather not pull at the moment."
"You didn't listen did you. We told you earlier that Remus was now Harry's legal guardian."
"And he is also Hermione's."
"Not that Harry needs a legal guardian anymore. Remember the little detail of emancipating him. His muggle guardians signed the papers without any problem, the little item of not having to ever see him again was the deal topper. They signed so fast the pens were almost smoking."
DAN: "Feel free to report Hermione for not being in school on September 1. Not only will you look stupid but you will make yourself look a real fool. We have legally had Hermione's legal guardian changed, a right we did not know we had when you first approached us five years ago. We have also found out that Hogwarts is not the only school in Brittan or the rest of the world for that matter. Hermione will have her choice of where she continues her education, but she has told us that she is not interested in returning to Hogwarts in September. We will spend the summer exploring her other options and allowing her to decide where she wishes to go."
"Of course. You have every right to decide where Hermione would be happiest. But I must emphasize that her magical education will not be any better anywhere else. Hogwarts is the number one magical school."
DAN: "According to you. But we have found that other schools offer courses that make for a more rounded education and will fit her out better for life in the world, whether she chooses to stay totally in the wizarding world or in the muggle world, or split her time between the two. That is what we want for our little girl, the best of both worlds so that she can make her own choices when the time comes. We want her to be fit for whatever she decides to try, something we have to come realize over the years will not happen at Hogwarts. The curriculum hasn't changed at Hogwarts in how many years now? Well, it doesn't matter. The fact is, it hasn't changed and Hermione has noticed and decided that is not the education she wants. And as her parents we see no reason that we should continue to pay you for a substandard education. Please feel free to quote me when you report Hermione or any of the other young people who have made this decision."
REMUS: "Headmaster Dumbledore, just so you know, as their magical guardian I totally agree with the plan the kids have of investigating other schools this summer. In fact, I plan to go with them and help them in any way I can in making their final decision, whether that be in a school in Britain, some other country, or via private tutors. There are always tutors and/or professors in all the standard courses you offer at Hogwarts as well as any other courses that students decide they want to learn available for the right price. The two of them will not be attending Hogwarts next term, and there is nothing you can do about it, even if you were inclined to try and stop it. So may I suggest that you just go back to your school and handle the details that you can do something about."
JAMES: "We second that Dumbledore. There is nothing more you can do here and nothing more you can do to influence Harry or the others here. So it would be best that you go back to your own school. If we have any other questions for you we will get in touch with you."
SIRIUS: "In other words, don't call us, we'll call you."
With that Remus ushered everyone out of the room and back down the stairs to the lounge. In a couple of minutes Harry joined them and they all said their good nights to the three Hogwarts professors who were ushered out the door and to the edge of the apparition border.
Once Prof. Dumbledore had apparated away Prof. McGonagall turned to Harry, "Could I speak with you for a minute?"
"Of course Professor."
"Could we return to the house, this might take a few minutes. Filius, you might want to come too." Everyone turned and retraced their steps into the lounge. Once everyone was seated, "Harry I was wondering, could you use a few more professors in your new school?"
"Well, first off, I think you would need to talk to Headmaster Lupin about that. But, one thing I would like to say first. Although we would love to have you at the school, I fear it would be a bad move. The way I see it right now you are the only buffer between the students and Prof. Dumbledore. With Neville and myself both being gone he has lost his first and backup weapon against Voldemort. So that means once he has accepted this he is going to have to revamp his plans and recruit someone else to fill the role of weapon or whatever else he had planned for me. Since you are the only one of two at the school who is aware of what he is up to it is going to fall to you to protect the other students."
REMUS: "To be quite honest with you Professor, I would suggest that you never allow yourself to be alone with the man and if you can prevent it any of the students either. You could have each head of house have a private meeting with their students and tell them that if he ever requests a meeting with them that they bring their head of house with them."
"That is definitely a good idea. And I see your point Mr. Potter."
"But, Professor, if you would like to go with us this summer that would be wonderful. You could join us in our travels and see a bit of the world before you have to go back."
"Could I really? I don't have to be back until the 15th of August, so that gives me almost two months."
"Mr. Potter, would I be able to join you as well? I don't have to be back until the 30th of August?"
"That would be fine with me Professor Flitwick. Anyone have any objections to this?" No one objected so it was decided that Professors McGongall and Flitwick would join the little party on their travels. "Well, everybody you know what that means for tomorrow don't you?" At the quizzical looks from everybody Harry shouted, "SHOPPING TRIP!" He then turned to the two professors and said, "Since we don't know what the dress code will be for the places we are traveling to we are all outfitted with standard muggle clothing, so tomorrow morning we will need to meet with you guys and get you kitted out. What say we meet at the Leaky Cauldron at 9:00, then we can go to Harrod's from there?"
"Minerva, what about Pamona? I don't think we should leave her alone at the school with Dumbledore."
"You're right, but what can we do?"
"She is welcome to travel with us."
"She could help me out in the greenhouse to make sure I have everything I will need, and we would be able to continue the work we started last term on the plants and the other projects we had going."
"Okay, I will speak with her as soon as we return to the school."
"Good, bring her with you tomorrow morning if she agrees to accompany us. And don't forget to freeze any portraits in the room where you talk to her and check for listening devices."
"What about Poppy?"
"She is already gone for the summer. She and her father have gone to France to visit her sister who just had a new grandchild for them to spoil." Once all was decided Lupin escorted the two professors to the apparition point at the edge of the property.
Once they were gone, "Harry, have you thought about the rooming situation? When you add Griphook to our party we only have one available room left."
"Oh, yeah, I hadn't thought about that." Lupin came back in just then.
"Hadn't thought about what Harry?"
"The rooming situation."
"Oh yeah. What if we had Dobby take that end play room and set it up as 2 suites like all the others? Then Professors McGonagall and Sprout could share a suite, and Professor Flitwick and Griphook could share a suite."
"That works for me. As soon as we get back to Paradise we'll speak with Dobby about the renovations."
By the time they left to meet the professors at 9:00 the next morning the elves were already hard at work on the renovations and assured them that all would be ready when they returned that evening. They even promised to outfit one of the suites in size appropriate furnishings for Prof. Flitwick and Griphook.