Dumbledore couldn't help but feel slightly smug as he welcomed Bernard Nott into his office to discuss the crisis regarding Umbridge. After Bernard had been appointed Minister for Magic, and they'd had their initial meeting to discuss the school's future, he'd been extremely critical of Dumbledore and how he was running things. Now the shoe was on the other foot, and the problems at Hogwarts were a result of the Ministry interfering. Of course it hadn't been Bernard himself who'd appointed Umbridge, but he hadn't objected to her presence, in fact he'd seemed rather pleased to have her at the school when they'd previously spoken.
"I hope things are going well at the Ministry," Dumbledore said with a small smirk as the younger wizard settled himself down in front of his large oak desk.
"They're getting there," Bernard replied. "Unfortunately I've had to spend my weekend dealing with the Umbridge situation, rather than being able to focus on the new laws I'm hoping to pass."
"Ah yes, I heard about some of those laws," Dumbledore said, disapproval dripping from his voice. "They're rather fanciful, don't you think, Bernard?"
"No," Bernard replied stiffly. "I think they're long overdue."
"Discriminating against muggleborns isn't the way to go about things," Dumbledore insisted. "It's just taking the wizarding world back to the dark ages. We have to move with the times. We need to fight this oppression."
"No-one is discriminating against muggleborns," Bernard argued. "We are just trying to re-establish the secrecy surrounding out world. At this moment in time, we're vulnerable. Too many muggles know about us."
"And you plan to stop that by limiting contact between the two worlds?" Dumbledore queried.
"I do," Bernard confirmed with a nod. "It's time to crack down on the muggles who know our secrets. I know it will take a few years to implement all my changes, but in a few years you'll see how well my plans have worked. In five years we won't be worried about muggles knowing about magic."
"In five years muggleborns won't want to be part of our world," Dumbledore retorted. "They won't want to leave their families just to practice magic."
"They won't have to leave their families," Bernard protested. "Their families will just have their knowledge of the wizarding world removed when their child finishes school. From then on the muggleborn can still visit their families, they just can't let them find out about the wizarding world."
"It'll never work," Dumbledore muttered.
"Luckily, I don't need your approval for my laws," Bernard snapped. "We're here to discuss the latest crisis here at Hogwarts."
"A crisis not of my making," Dumbledore pointed out smugly. "The Ministry appointed Dolores, not me."
"I'm well aware who appointed Dolores," Bernard grumbled, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. While he couldn't personally be held responsible for the appointment, he'd let it stand when he'd taken over as Minister.
"So, am I to take it the Ministry will be providing a new Professor?" Dumbledore asked.
"I was hoping you would have some ideas on that front," Bernard said sheepishly.
"I thought you didn't trust my judgement?" Dumbledore questioned with a smirk.
Bernard had the grace to blush slightly as he shifted in his seat. "I'm willing to give you another chance, Albus."
"And what about my future?" Dumbledore asked, deciding to push his advantage. "You know I don't want to retire. If I help you out, how about reconsidering my future at the end of the year?"
"I think we can do that," Bernard replied through clenched teeth. He knew The Dark Lord wanted Dumbledore gone, and he knew he would have to deliver, but for now it seemed easier to give Dumbledore false hope and get him to help them out of the mess Umbridge had left them in.
"In that case, I'm happy to help," Dumbledore said with a smile. He knew his future at Hogwarts still wasn't secure, but he at least had leverage to use now.
"Do you have someone in mind to take the job?" Bernard asked.
"I'm really not sure how easy it will be to fill the Defence position from outside of the school," Dumbledore said. "But I do know a Professor already in school who would love the chance to teach Defence."
"Who?"
"Severus Snape."
"But Severus is the Potions Professor," Bernard said with a frown. "And a good one at that. If we moved him, we would have to find a new Potions Professor."
"And that's where I can help," Dumbledore said with a smug smile. "I happen to be friendly with a former Potions Professor. I'm sure I can convince him to take over for the rest of the term. He might even take the job long term, but only if I remain as Headmaster."
"We can think about that at the end of the year," Bernard said. "Who is this Professor you have in mind to teach Potions?"
"Horace Slughorn," Dumbledore answered. "I believe he taught you, Bernard."
"He did," Bernard confirmed with a nod. "If you can get him to join the staff, let me know. I'm happy for him to teach Potions and for Severus to switch to Defence. I'll leave it all in your hands, Albus. Just let me know what's happening."
"I will," Dumbledore said as Bernard got to his feet.
As the Minister left, Dumbledore allowed himself a moment of smugness before he set about contacting Horace Slughorn. The meeting with Bernard had gone better than he thought, and he now had real hope that this wouldn't be his last year at Hogwarts. He knew Bernard was in Voldemort's pocket, but unless the dark wizard was going to get violent, he wouldn't find it as easy to push him out now. He was going to stand firm at the end of the year, he wasn't ready to retire yet and he was determined not to let it be forced on him.
C.O.T.D.
During lunch on Monday, Harry was dismayed to get a note from Dumbledore arranging for them to have their first private lesson after dinner that evening. Since Ron still wasn't speaking to Hermione, it meant he wasn't sitting with them when Harry got the note, but that didn't stop him from watching the pair, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Honestly, he's so nosey," Hermione grumbled to Harry as her nephew slid the note into his pocket with a sigh.
"Dumbledore?" Harry frowned.
"No, Ron," Hermione hissed, looking over at the redhead, who immediately turned away at the sight of her. "He's practically breaking his neck to try and see what you're up to."
"Well, I doubt he's going to find out," Harry said with a shrug. "If he can't be polite to you, I don't want to know him."
"I'm sure he'll try and catch you on your own," Hermione remarked.
"He already has," Harry replied with an unimpressed snort. "Every night in the dorms he tries to get us to side with him, but we're all holding strong. We won't abandon you, Hermione."
"Thank you, Harry." Hermione gave Harry a big smile, and when she knew Ron had turned back to watch them she leant over and planted a big kiss on her nephew's cheek. "You really are a great friend."
Harry chuckled slightly at his aunt's display, and playing along he slung his arm over her shoulders and gave her a hug. Out the corner of the eye he spotted Ron getting to his feet and stalking out of the Great Hall. Turning to Hermione, the pair shared a wicked smirk before finishing off their lunch and heading off for afternoon lessons.
Since Hermione stuck with Harry in all the afternoon lessons, Ron didn't have the chance to approach him and find out what was going on with the note from Dumbledore. Even after lessons, Hermione stayed with Harry and the pair went for a walk around the grounds before dinner so they could chat in peace.
"When do you think the vanishing cabinet will be ready?" Harry asked.
As she promised, Hermione had taken Severus to see the cabinet. Severus had checked it over and told Hermione it just needed a few minor repairs. He'd promised her that he would sort out the stuff she needed so that she could repair the cabinet in her spare time. Severus was thinking it would take two or three weekends to get the cabinet up to scratch so it could be used.
"And then once it's fixed, we just need to try it out," Hermione said, telling Harry everything her brother had told her. "As long as it works, we're just waiting for Father's big moment."
"Maybe we should bring it forward," Harry suggested. "At this rate we could be ready to go before Easter."
"And then we'd miss our exams," Hermione argued. "No, unless Father is desperate to act, we wait until the last few weeks of term. Besides, these lessons with Dumbledore might still be going on. We need to know everything he knows, and who he's told it to, before we get rid of him."
"I guess so," Harry admitted with a reluctant sigh. "I'm just eager to drop this bloody act."
"Join the club," Hermione said with a sigh. "I can't wait to be myself. Next year is going to be so great."
"Yeah, I wonder if I'll make quidditch captain," Harry mused.
Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry, not at all surprised he'd brought the topic round to quidditch. "Boys and their quidditch."
"Quidditch is important," Harry said firmly. "Speaking of which, we've got a few practices this week so Ron might try and persuade us to turn against you again."
"Let him try, I don't care," Hermione said with a shrug as the pair stopped on the banks of the Black Lake. "Besides, when the truth comes out, people are going to wish they'd sided with Ron in the first place. I hate to say this Harry, but once Severus and I have left, he's going to be unbearable."
"I'm sure I can cope for a few days," Harry replied with a chuckle. "And then after that, I don't think he'll want to know me anymore."
"No, I don't suppose he will," Hermione agreed. "But that is something to be grateful for."
Harry nodded his agreement as the pair turned back and slowly began to head up to the castle. "So what are you going to do after dinner, more homework?"
"I think so," Hermione answered with a nod. "Either that, or I'll sneak off for a few hours with my boyfriend."
"Do I want to know what sort of room you got when you tried using the requirement room over the weekend?" Harry asked.
"Probably not," Hermione replied with a small laugh as she remembered the sexy boudoir the room had conjured for her and Draco on their first attempt at using it. Although neither of them had been really comfortable with the room so they'd tried again until they'd gotten a room with a roaring fire and large sofa for them to curl up on. Maybe in the future they would try the sexy bedroom again, but they weren't ready for that stage of their relationship yet.
Harry grimaced slightly at the possibilities that entered his mind, but shaking them off he led the way into the Great Hall. Back around other people the pair settled back into their normal routine of chatting about school and such as they sat down next to Neville, ready to have a meal alongside their fellow Gryffindors.
After dinner, Harry walked Hermione back up to Gryffindor Tower so she could pick up her book bag. He then walked her back down to the library, before saying his goodbyes and heading off to see Dumbledore. Dumbledore's note had given him the password to the gargoyle that guarded the stairs that led to his office, so Harry made it to the door of Dumbledore's office without incident.
"Come in," Dumbledore's voice called when Harry knocked on the door.
When Harry entered the office, he found Dumbledore sitting behind his desk. The second he spotted Harry, his face lit up in a large smile and he jumped to his feet, offering the teenager a cup of tea.
"Thank you," Harry said, accepting the cup Dumbledore offered him.
"Now, we've got a lot to get through," Dumbledore said as he perched himself in the chair next to Harry, rather than return to behind his desk. "Although, I am hoping we can continue these lessons next year."
"But I thought you were retiring at the end of the year?" Harry asked with a frown.
"Just between you and me, that might not be happening," Dumbledore whispered with a happy twinkle in his eyes. "All this fuss with Professor Umbridge has given me back some leverage with the Ministry. Between her actions and the fact I was able to solve our staffing crisis, I think there's a good chance I'll be able to save my job."
"Great," Harry said, flashing Dumbledore a fake smile.
"It is, but we're not here to dwell on my future, we're here to discuss Voldemort's past," Dumbledore announced. "I think before I tell you some of the things I know about Voldemort, we need to go back to the beginning. You need to know all about him, and what sort of person you're going to be up against. Let's start with his parents. You might be surprised to hear Voldemort is a half blood. His mother was a witch, a descendant of Salazar Slytherin to be precise, but his father was a muggle."
Harry feigned interest as Dumbledore told him the story of his grandfather, and his heritage. Of course Harry knew the story, but he was rather surprised by how much Dumbledore knew. The headmaster seemed to know all the small details about his grandfather's early life, and that surprised Harry. It also worried him as he wondered if Dumbledore knew enough to know about Beth. As it turned out, Harry didn't need to be worried as it became clear that Dumbledore's vast knowledge of Voldemort faltered around the time his grandfather had left Hogwarts. Up until that point, Dumbledore knew all sorts, but after Voldemort left Hogwarts his information became much sketchier.
"I just wish I could tell you more about the man Voldemort is these days," Dumbledore admitted with a sigh as he paused in his story. "But as you can tell, since he left school his life is shrouded in mystery. However, we know enough to know he's truly an evil man."
"Yes, he is," Harry agreed with a nod. "But how is his life story going to help me face him?"
"This is just some background information," Dumbledore said with a small smile. "The real help will come in our later lessons, when we dive into the dark magic he uses to keep himself alive. Trust me Harry, by the time we've had a few lessons we'll have the upper hand on Voldemort. Together we can work out how to defeat him once and for all."
Harry nodded as he wondered just how much Dumbledore knew about his grandfather and his Horcruxes. It definitely sounded as though Dumbledore knew about them, but it was clear they weren't going to get to anything like that today. More than likely he'd have to endure several lessons with the headmaster before they got to the juicy stuff. But Harry could cope, especially as he was making notes so he could tell his grandfather just what Dumbledore knew about him.