Chapter 25
When Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room with the runespoor the room was packed. Several first years screamed as Giza hissed at the crowd. A path opened for Harry as he tiredly carried the serpent up the spiral staircase.
"You opened it!!! Why didn't you wake me?" Ron stopped short at the three hissing heads. "Blimey Harry. What are you going to do with it?"
"McGonagall said I could keep her here. She can be in the common room as long as nobody is bothered by her." Harry listened to the hissing then spoke back. "Where would I get some rats? She's hungry." He paused to listen to more hissing. "Excuse me she's very hungry."
"Rats?" Ron shrugged thinking then his face brightened. "How about Hagrid? He seems to have a supply of food for just about anything."
"Great idea, Ron." Harry put the runespoor on his bed. "You stay here okay? I'll be back with some food for you. Remember your promise no biting."
"Harry that's freaky to listen to, parseltongue." Ron gulped. "Cool, but freaky. Come on I'll help you bring something back for it. What else was in the chest?"
"I'll tell you when we're alone okay?" Harry whispered as they passed some people in the corridors. "Better that I show you than tell you any way." Harry yawned but kept moving. By the time he and Ron had returned to Gryffindor tower with a bag of rats Hagrid had given him, Harry didn't know if he could climb back down all those stairs again. He was very tempted to change into animagus form and fly to Herbology but he was so tired Harry wasn't sure of his strength to maintain his phoenix. Dragging Harry endured his two morning classes in a haze.
At morning break he filled in Hermione and Ron about the things in the trunk as they stood in the cold windy courtyard. Both stood with their mouth open as he described the books and shield.
"Where on earth would your mother get such books? Let alone the shield." Hermione asked.
"I don't know. And how she managed to do it without my Dad knowing, pretty strange." Harry replied.
"Not so strange. All she'd have to do is wait for the full moon." Ron said turning his back to the wind.
"But she didn't know she was going into hiding, at least I don't think they time to make a lot of plans." Harry shook his head. "I'd say she had one or two months at the most to plan this trunk. And to find and buy what she put in it."
"Where did she get the money? If Salazar Slytherin really did write that old book, it would be absolutely priceless. It should be in the Hogwarts Archives." Hermione hands twitched like she wanted to get her hands on the book.
"I'll let you slog through it Hermione. It's not light reading by any means." Harry yawned loudly. "I'm sorry I've got to get some sleep. Wake me for dinner? And I still have occlumency with Snape this evening." Harry trudge back up to Gryffindor tower like his legs were made of lead. Trying to convince the runespoor to give him room to get into bed was another trial.
"This isn't your bed. It's my bed. I just put you to keep you out of the way." Harry tugged at the covers and managed to pull them down far enough to slip between them. "You can sleep at the foot as long as you keep quiet."
"Sleep at thy foot?" Giza hissed angrily "We are not thy lap dog to sit at thy feet."
"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that." Harry assured her yawning. "I'll find you something to sleep on this weekend. But right now I just have to get some sleep. So be quiet." He heard some unintelligible hissing but then silence filled the room. Harry sighed and his eyes closed on their own accord. Strange dreams filled his head as Harry slept the afternoon away. Many filled with snakes and dark magical books that spoke to him in a language he didn't understand. Voldemort had been oddly silent and only a vague tinges of feelings seeped through to Harry.
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For once Harry was actually looking forward to occlumency as he paused outside of Snape's office door. He knocked then entered. A cold gaze from Snape greeted him from behind the desk and Harry stared back benignly. The scowl on Snape's face deepened.
"Okay Potter, let's get this over with." Snape said in what he obviously thought was a civil voice. "What do you want for the runespoor's eggs?"
"I haven't really thought about it, Professor. I only just got the runespoor." Harry continued to keep any smirk or contempt out of his face.
"Oh, come Potter. You must have some idea of what you want. Name it or we'll forget the whole thing." Snape countered.
"Okay, let's just forget it, Professor." Harry shrugged. "I'm sure Mundungus Fletcher can find a use for them. Or Fred and George Weasley maybe could use them in one of their products."
"You wouldn't?" Snape lost all control and bolted to his feet. If Harry had been younger he would have felt threaten but it took all he had not to laugh in Snape's face at his feeble attempt of intimidation. Evidently Snape saw his ploy hadn't worked and sat back down. "You would wouldn't you?"
"In a heart beat Professor." Harry nodded still without contempt. "I can let you know by next week what an egg is worth to me."
"An egg?" Snape grimaced as he realized the price wouldn't be for all the eggs the runespoor produced. Taking a deep breath the potion master spat. "Fine. Let me know. Now we have occlumency. Get ready."
There had been a fleeting moment when Harry thought the professor would go easier on him to get the coveted eggs but he should have known better. Harry quickly pulled his wand out and braced himself. Snape's attack on his mind was relentless. Mind battered Harry finally left the office an hour later. Quickly changing into his phoenix form to fly the staircases instead of climb them.
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Later that evening Harry introduced the runespoor to Hermione and Ginny. Then Harry showed them the all the things in the trunk while the other dorm occupants were in the common room studying.
"What's this?" Ginny asked, picking up videotape. "It looks like a book but I can't open it."
"I'm hoping I can show you in Grimmauld Place. It's a recording. I'm assuming of my parents." Harry said eagerly.
"I don't know what that means but I hope it works too." Ginny gave him a confused grin.
Hermione was reverently looking over the books. "You're right Harry. I can't understand half of what is written in Slytherin's book." She shook her head. "I don't know how you'll be able to translate it. Which brings up the question; why did your mom include this book when it's so hard to read."
"Maybe she meant for Harry to get help from someone who could read it." Ginny suggested looking up from the photo album.
"But who?" Hermione and Harry said together. They laughed and all them shrugged.
Reluctantly Ron had picked up the Spells to Darkness by Albert Weasley book. "I wonder if this guy is related to us?" He said to Ginny and opened the book and browsed through it. "I sure hope if he is, he's a very distant relation." Ron said softly, giving a slight shudder.
"There's little doubt the book by that Black is related to Sirius and the two authored by Snape. We all know what side he started on." Harry glanced through The Darkness Within by Reginald Black and rubbed his forehead then ran his hand through his hair. "I'm sort of torn. I want to read them but I feel weird, almost tainted just touching these books."
"I hear you mate." Ron nodded. "It's not like just breaking some school rule. It's so much beyond that line."
"What did Harry's mom want him to learn from these books? That's the big question." Hermione considered. "She never really said she expected you to use the dark arts. Just that you need the knowledge of dark magic."
"What's the difference?" Ron's brow wrinkled.
"The difference could be slight or incalculable." Hermione said almost to herself then seeing the confused looks of the others she elaborated. "It could be as simple as knowing counter curses to the spells in these books. Or it could be having enough knowledge of the magic involved to be able to change the spells to work for you but not as dark magic. To put your own power into the spells."
Once again Hermione's explanation seemed to make things more complicated rather than clarify them. Harry thought as he put the items back in his school trunk. Hermione had taken Slytherin's book to study after she had put a charm on it to preserve its crumbling pages.
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Over the weekend Harry made a place for the runespoor to sleep, replacing the nightstand on the left side of his four-poster bed. The runespoor ate a lot more than Harry thought a snake would eat but then Hagrid reminded him the serpent had been in hibernation for over sixteen years and eventually her appetite would level off.
"She's beautiful." Hagrid marveled on Sunday when Harry and Ron had brought the runespoor to see him at his request. Which had been tricky because they had to continually cast a warming spell around them and the serpent to carrying her across the snowy school grounds to his warm cabin. "Do you think she'd mind if I patted her?"
"I'll ask." Harry stepped on Ron's foot to keep him from laughing too much and relayed the question.
"Hapa and Kesho don't mind." Harry pointed to them in turn. "But Giza says to keep thy giant hands to thy self." Hagrid put out a massive hand and stroked the two heads with reverence.
"Does it understand us when we speak Harry?" Ron asked.
"Do you?" Harry hadn't thought of this. "Do you understand what they are saying?"
The runespoor's three heads hissed almost snorting. "I have heard countless years of tongues and I know many languages though I cannot speak them." Hapa said.
"I'll take that as a yes." Harry felt a little irritated about not knowing. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Thou speaks our speech. No other words art needed for the master of the shield." Hapa nodded to him.
"Right." Harry watched as Giza changed her mind and wanted stroked by Hagrid too and started nudging his hand to get her share. Hagrid felt properly honored by the invitation. "Hagrid how much are runespoor eggs worth?"
"Ah, lots. Not many on the black market. Devil hard to come by. Professor Snape's been having me look…" Hagrid suddenly realized the why of Harry's interest. "Ah, he's wanting her eggs already eh?"
"I said I'd tell him how much I needed for an egg. But I don't know how much they're worth." Harry nodded. "I need to know how far I can expect to barter."
"You need to know so you know how far you can push him." Hagrid corrected looking at Harry keenly. "You be careful with Professor Snape, Harry. It's not good to poke a sleeping dragon in the eye."
"I'm not going to ask for any more than what he can afford." Harry assured him with a sly smile.
"Right." Hagrid snorted causing Giza to hiss at him. "Sorry love," He crooned to her. "Such a sweetie ya are."
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Halfway through his animagus training on Tuesday, Professor McGonagall stopped him. "Where is your mind Potter? You seem miles away."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I've had a lot on my mind lately." Harry blushed because of the real problem on his mind.
"Out with it, Potter. You're no good if you can't concentrate on your form." McGonagall looked at him sternly over her glasses.
Harry slumped back against a desk in the front row. "Right. It's the dance next month."
"What about it?" McGonagall asked.
"I don't really know how to…dance that is." Harry blurted out and flushed again.
McGonagall continued to stare at him then closed her eyes for a moment. "I know I'm going to regret this." She sighed and opened her eyes. "Do you want me to teach you how to dance?"
"Just the basics, if it wouldn't be too much trouble?" Harry grinned hopefully.
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"Why is Professor McGonagall limping?" Hermione asked as she watched the transfiguration teach hobble up to the staff table in the great hall at dinner that evening. "She wasn't limping this morning." Harry didn't say anything but kept eating with out looking up at the teachers.
"I don't know. She's old isn't she?" Ron shrugged.
"I've got occlumency. See you later." Harry drank down the last bit of pumpkin juice. He tried not to run out of the hall but walked very fast. He knew he was early for Snape but Harry didn't know if he could keep a straight face in front of Hermione much longer. The last thing he wanted going around the school is him having dancing lessons with McGonagall.
"Well, Potter?" Snape had his arms folded across his chest and leaned back in his chair as Harry stood across from him. "What is a runespoor egg going to cost me?"
"I've thought about his a lot, Professor. All I want from you is one day." Harry paused to savor the surprise in the sallow face. "For twenty-four hours no unfair treatment of Gryffindors. No points taken and no nasty remarks." As Harry spoke Snape's eyes blazed with anger.
"Is that all Potter?" Snape sneered.
"No, the day I want is the day of the dance, Professor." Harry replied. Snape stared at him for a long time without speaking.
"Two runespoor eggs for that Potter." Snape finally countered. "I do have my reputation to uphold."
"Professor, for two runespoor eggs you have to dance one dance with every female teacher attending the dance as well." Harry didn't know how he managed to keep a straight face. The appalled look on Snape's face was priceless. The internal struggle in Snape was obvious. He wanted the eggs so badly but what Harry was asking was so against his nature.
"Fine Potter. It's a deal." Snape finally snapped. "If by some chance she produces an egg before the dance in December. But a serpent that has hibernated for so long probably won't produce anything so I really don't have to worry about it."
"Well, Professor, if she produces an egg afterwards and you haven't honor the agreement then the deal is completely off. No eggs period." Harry refused to back down from the fury in those black eyes.
There was a strangled growling noise from Snape's throat. "Fine. I'll do it." He snarled. "But if she never produces an egg I'll have a deal for you, Potter."
"Uh, right. It's a deal then." Harry flinch at the images of what Snape would make him do if the runespoor didn't produce any eggs.
"Shall we get on with occlumency then Potter? You've wasted enough of my time." Snape stood up withdrawing his wand. Harry quickly followed his lead and stood ready.
Snape showed no mercy. Relentlessly he launched an attack on Harry's mind. Harry held off the assault to enter his thoughts for a long time but the pain was excruciating. Ultimately Harry ended up on the floor gasping in pain once again.
"It isn't working" Harry moaned holding his head. "He doesn't enter my mind from the same direction."
"Explain Potter." Snape said sat in his desk chair frowning down at the teen on the floor.
"You're at me from the outside. He's already inside." Harry hadn't meant to say it that way but he knew it was true.
"What do you mean?" Snape leaned forward.
"I don't know. It's just different. Like he's already has a way in, his own private entrance." Harry managed to open his eyes and look up at Snape's startled face.
The potion master recovered his emotionless face. "It makes no difference Potter. You would just use the same power to deflected him back from whichever direction he enters." Snape seemed pleased with his answer to Harry's struggle.
"You don't know." Harry met the man's eyes. "You're just guessing."
"Well it is the best guess we have Potter." Snape drawled.
"By we, I assume you mean Dumbledore and yourself." Harry flared. "So he didn't know if this would work either?"
"Occlumency is the only thing open to you to discipline what little mind you have Potter." Snape sneered.
"But you once said the usual rules don't seem to apply to me. So you really don't know if it's helping or making the contact stronger." Harry eyes blazed, daring him to lie.
"No, Potter but it is the most logical way to go." Snape admitted.
I'm getting bloody tired of being a guinea pig for you and the headmaster." Harry began to rage. "You don't know how this feels and you don't care."
"Potter this isn't the day we have agreed upon and I have no qualms about taking points from you and putting you in detention, today." Snape growled back.
"Do what you want." Harry snarled back. "I'm through with this rubbish." He grabbed his school bag and stormed from the room. He heard Snape yell at him to come back but he had already transformed into a phoenix. With a burst a flame Harry found himself once again gliding over the castle. In the snowy gray night, he winged his way to the astronomy tower and landed on the wall.
More than ever Harry wanted to fly far away from this place. Far away from Dumbledore and
Snape, unbidden the name Voldemort came to his mind. Could he fly away from Voldemort? Harry doubted it. Still he had that desperate feeling of not wanting to be Harry Potter any more. Not wanting the pain both mental and physical or responsibility that went with being him. He lifted his wings to fly off far from this place, from himself. But the image of Ron, Ginny and Hermione flashed into his mind followed closely by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Remus. How could he leave people who really care about him? How can he leave them to fight Voldemort without him?
Dropping his wings Harry changed back into in his human form. He found it hard to be angry as a phoenix and he wanted to be angry. The wind and cold was biting and he was soon shivering but Harry didn't care. He was so tired of being deceived. He was tired of the pain and even though the pain in his scar had left, the memory lingered. As he trembled leaning against the wall of the tower Harry saw a flash of light high in the sky over the lake, then another flash nearly in the same spot.
Not wanting to freeze to death on the astronomy tower, Harry transformed back into the phoenix He roosted on the wall watching the peaceful snow covered grounds and not feeling the cold as a bird. A burst of flame erupted above him. Harry watched as Fawkes lowered Dumbledore beside him.
"Please Harry don't go." Dumbledore said quickly. Harry transformed back into himself.
"I wasn't going to." Harry shivered. "I was cold and my phoenix self doesn't seem to notice it."
With a wave of his wand Dumbledore created a blazing fireplace a hearthrug and two chintz armchairs. "Please sit down Harry we need to talk about what happened."
"How can I believe what you say anymore?" Harry stood stubbornly outside of the fire's warmth. "Why didn't you tell me occlumency might not work?"
"I believed it would. I had no reason not to until now, with your description of Voldemort's means of entering your mind to Professor Snape." Dumbledore insisted as he sat down near the fire and warmed his hands.
"Then how come Snape seemed to know there was a slim chance that occlumency wouldn't work?" Harry stepped closer, snow swirling around his ankles. "If he knew you knew. But you didn't see fit to tell me about any doubts you had."
"Occlumency works for most mind intrusions. I saw some progress from you so I had no reason to believe it wasn't working."
"The pain I kept having might have been a clue. I kept working hard, trying to put up with the pain but you never once said it might not work. Or are you going to tell me everybody that does occlumency goes through that." Harry was now shaking with anger rather than cold. "Do you get some perverse pleasure out of seeing me in pain all the time? I know Snape seems to like it." He turned away from the headmaster and strode toward the opposite wall. Dumbledore lifted his wand and Harry was gently deposited into the empty chair beside the fire.
"No Harry I don't like seeing you in pain. I am highly insulted you would say such a thing." Dumbledore said irritated. Then the old wizard sighed tiredly. "Harry everything I do lately seems to drive you away from me. We have to be on the same side to win against Voldemort. Don't you see that?"
Harry felt his chest tightened, he took deep breaths and swallowed trying to keep the knot out of his throat. "Right." Harry whispered leaning closer to the fire and put his face in his hands. Tears came to his eyes. That's all Dumbledore cared about when it came down to it, Harry surviving to defeat Voldemort. Harry was tired of living for a future that may or may not come. Didn't Dumbledore understand? A person needed to live more for today than for tomorrow?
"Harry?" Dumbledore's voice was puzzled. "Now what have I said?"
"Nothing. You didn't say anything that you haven't told me before, headmaster." Harry said hoarsely and rubbed his eyes. "I keep forgetting why I'm so important to you. Thanks again for reminding me." He swallowed hard trying to keep the tears back. "Can I go now?" Harry stood up wanting desperately to leave.
"No, Harry we need to talk this out. It has gone way too far as it is." Dumbledore objected taking hold of Harry's arm and forcing him back into the chair. "I do care about how you feel, Harry. More than you'll ever know. It hurts me to see us at odds like this and I know it hurts you." The old wizard didn't let go of Harry's arm and gave it a squeeze.
Harry stared at Dumbledore's hand on his arm. There was so much he wanted to say to Dumbledore but Harry didn't know how to put it into words. The overwhelming pressure he felt since learning about the prophecy, the confusion in his mind from just being a teenager and the things he needed to hear from the old man sitting next to him, yet the only thing he seemed able to articulate was his anger. "You have a strange way of showing you care." Harry finally said jerking his arm from Dumbledore's hand, his voice full of rage. "Leaving me with people that showed me nothing but hatred."
"That again." Dumbledore sighed.
"Oh I'm sorry my childhood is so unimportant. But let's face it. It makes me who I am doesn't it?" Harry rose from the chair again. "I don't want to be like the Dursleys but I'm not sure I want to be like you any more either." Harry paced to the edge of the fire's warmth and stared out into the night. "I really did want to fly away from Hogwarts, from you and everything that was me. But I couldn't leave the people who really care about me Ron, Hermione and Ginny, the Weasleys. Hogwarts used to feel like a home to me but right now I hate it here. I feel trapped." His words kept rushing out. "I used to feel safe here." He turned to glance at Dumbledore. "I used to feel safe with you but not anymore."
Dumbledore sat blinking hard, face filled with grief. "I'm sorry Harry. I never meant for this to happen. For you to feel trapped so much you want to run." The old wizard looked tired and confused. "I truly am at a lost of what to do, Harry. Whatever I say seems to anger you so perhaps I fear to say the things I should."
Harry was only half listening. Something Kesho had said came to his mind. "Anger is the egg of fear." He said softly.
"Pardon?" Dumbledore said.
"Something Kesho said but I'm sure I've heard it somewhere before. Anger is the egg of fear. I've been so angry with you. Do I fear you?" Harry asked himself.
"I hope not." Dumbledore frowned. "You have no reason to fear me."
"Fear comes from within, not from without." Again Harry spoke to himself. "Same way Voldemort turns up in my mind. Interesting thought isn't it?" Harry finally looked over to Dumbledore again. "There are similarities, although I'm sure where his mind lies. So perhaps I do fear you because you can hurt me the most."
"I would never hurt you Harry." Dumbledore insisted.
Harry snorted. "You already have. So why should I believe you won't again?"
"I don't know what you want from me Harry. I can not change the past." Dumbledore kept his voice calm. "And I still believe at that time, and I had very little time to decide, your aunt and uncle were the safest place for you." The anger flared in Harry's eyes. "And for the rest of the world, yes, that too. What can I do to put these past events behind us?" Dumbledore asked.
After a long silence Harry answered slowly, his eyes meeting the headmaster's. "Three days."
"I beg your pardon?" Dumbledore asked confused.
"I want you to spend three days with me as a child with the Dursleys, before I came to Hogwarts." Harry gaze bore into Dumbledore's eyes. "I'll even let you pick which memories you visit." The old wizard looked stunned. "If, after seeing what I went through for just three random days, you still think that was the best place for me," Harry sighed. "I'll agree to disagree about this and make peace with you."
"Let me see if I understand you correctly. You want me to take three random days from your memories and spend the time watching you with the Dursleys?" Dumbledore repeated almost as if confused. "I assume you want me to put the thoughts in the pensive then enter into them." He received a nod from Harry. "Any three days?"
"Any." Harry nodded. "I know you are a busy man, Headmaster. So if you can't do all three at one time I understand but you have to do all three."
"I see. Interesting idea." Dumbledore nodded, putting his fingers together and tapping them. "And what does it mean, you'll make peace with me Harry?" he asked thoughtfully.
"It means I will never bring the subject up again. And between us it never happened." Harry said in a stone cold voice.
"You would be able to turn off your anger so easily?" Dumbledore questioned. "It has been difficult for you."
"If after you see my life with the Dursleys and you still think that was the right place, then the way I see it, I must be making too big of deal over it." Harry shrugged.
"You seem fairly confident I'll agree with you." Dumbledore noted. "You realize that days do not fall all in one memory? The mind sorts them as it sees fit not by the way of a calendar." Harry nodded. "Very well, Harry. I accept your offer." He paused thinking. "I think I'll be able to do the first Thursday. Instead of occlumency, I'll extract a memory from you and spend a day with you as a child."
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"I'm sorry Professor. Are you alright?" Harry looked guilty as McGonagall rubbed her foot. It was Thursday and instead of his afternoon animagus training Professor McGonagall was giving Harry another dance lesson.
"I'm fine Potter." Then she frowned at him. "As graceful as you are on a broom I thought this would be easy for you. But I suppose you aren't using your feet then are you?"
"Not really." Harry still felt bad. "If you don't want to continue I understand."
"Heavens no Potter. You are now a challenge. Although I do think I'll bring up at the next staff meeting the need to teach first years to dance." McGonagall snorted. "They are much smaller and it probably would be much less painful. Shall we try again? And listen to the music Potter."
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Having a memory taken from your mind was a strange sensation Harry observed. It didn't hurt at all but when the silvery strand had broken contact with his temple he felt a definite snap in his mind, like the click of a latch. The headmaster had deposited the memory into the pensive looking quite optimistic about his choice. Harry had felt him search for a 'happy' feelings and it had taken Dumbledore sometime to choose.
"Did you wish to join me?" Dumbledore asked as he prodded the silvery substance in the pensive.
"No!" Harry snorted. "I lived it once and that's enough. I have homework anyway. Well I hope you enjoy my childhood as much as I did." He gave the headmaster a wave and left his office.
Dumbledore plunged into the pensive. After tumbling for a moment Dumbledore found he was in a crowded department store. He looked around for Harry reminding himself to look for a little boy. There on the clerk's counter sat a black haired boy about three smiling and contentedly sucking on a lollipop while the clerk fussed over him.
"What's your name dear?" The woman asked. Harry just smiled and shrugged. "Oh dear. Millicent? Could you get the manager? We have little lost boy here. Such pretty green eyes."
Dumbledore smiled. Harry looked happy enough. He watched as the manager came and an announcement was made over the loud speaker about a little lost boy.
"Harry?" Aunt Petunia's shrill voice made the smile vanish from little Harry. The little boy cringed as she fixed a false smile on her face and patted his head in front of the store personnel. She clamped her claw like hand on his wrist and practically dragged him out of the store. Dumbledore followed them to an awaiting car. "How many times have I told you to stay with us?" Petunia shouted as soon as the doors were shut and they were out of earshot of anybody. Dumbledore sat between little Harry and the big blonde boy he knew to be Dudley.
"You better watch yourself boy." Uncle Vernon roared. "We should have just left you for the police to cart off. Then we would have been done with you." Harry looked petrified but said nothing. Dudley grabbed the sucker and pinched Harry hard leaving a red mark. Little Harry started crying. "Be quite boy!" Uncle Vernon bellow. Aunt Petunia turned around in the front seat of the car and grabbed little Harry's arm and shook it.
"Hush, any little boy who get lost doesn't deserve a lollipop." She smiled indulgently at Dudley who had Harry's candy in his mouth. "Little boys who stay with their mothers deserve a treat."
The car pulled into number four Privet Drive. Vernon Dursley hoisted Dudley from the car and carried him into the house. Aunt Petunia set Harry roughly on the ground and he followed her inside. Dumbledore trailed after them.
At dinner Dudley sat on a booster seat and little Harry's nose barely reached the table as he sat on a regular chair. While Aunt Petunia made sure her son's meat and vegetables were cut up in small easy to chew bits, Harry had to struggle biting off pieces of what ever he could reach on his plate. When pudding was served Dudley put up such a fuss he was given Harry's share.
When bedtime came Harry was dumped unceremoniously on to the bed in the cupboard under the stairs. Dumbledore could hear Vernon Dursley reading a story to his son. Then he saw little Harry creep out of the cupboard under the stairs and silently climb the stairs. Harry crawled and laid his little dark tousled head on the floor at the door of the bedroom, listening to the fairy-tale. The second the tale ended Harry ran back down the hall and plopped on his bottom to go quickly down the stairs.
The scene in front of him dissolved. Dumbledore now looked at a terrified little boy. A storm crackled the night and the boy huddled in his thin blanket, jumping with each flash of lightening and crash of thunder. Upstairs Dudley screamed for his mother and Aunt Petunia was soon carrying Dudley off to sleep in their bed. Little Harry once again crept out of his cupboard and crawled up the stairs shivering with the sounds of the storm.
Timidly he tapped on Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's bedroom door. The door swung open and Uncle Vernon looked down on the small boy. "What are you doing out of bed?"
Trembling Harry squeaked. "Scared." And held out his arms to be picked up. Dumbledore was relieved when the big man lifted the boy but the relief was short lived. Uncle Vernon didn't take him into their warm comforting bed but back down to the cupboard under the stairs.
"Boys who don't have parents need to learn to buck up. Nothing to be scared about just a storm." Uncle Vernon dropped little Harry back in his bed and shut the cupboard door. "You stay there. You here me boy?"
The place changed, a morning sun shone brightly through the front door window. Dumbledore followed the three-year-old Harry into the kitchen. Aunt Petunia was breakfast feeding to Dudley in his booster seat. Harry hung on to a chair waiting until she was finished. She cleaned Dudley up and set him down on the floor.
Dudley tottered over to Harry and pushed him down. Little Harry scrambled away from the bigger boy's kicks squealing with fright. "Duddykins be careful you might slip." Aunt Petunia turned her back on the two boys and little Harry quickly crawled under the table and ran to hide behind her legs.
"Go boy, I've got things to do." She glared down at him and sighed. Aunt Petunia grabbed a piece of bread and buttered it hastily then handed it to Harry. "There, now don't get it all over everything." She frowned at him. Dumbledore felt a knot form in his stomach as he watched little Harry gobble down the piece of bread not dropping a crumb.
The rest of the morning Dumbledore followed the three-year-old around. Little Harry could have been invisible for all the attention he received from the family. Only if he made noise, cried or did something 'wrong' did the Dursleys even speak to him. And then it was in the form of a harsh order or reprimand.
Dumbledore returned to his office after his day with little Harry was over. He sat for a long time gazing at the pensive. Then he picked the stone basin up and stored it in his cupboard. The old wizard went to the window and looked out over the snow-covered grounds deep in thought.
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Author's notes: Thanks for the reviews!!
Things are really getting sticky. This chapter took forever. The pensive thing wasn't supposed to start happening until after Christmas but when I tried to write the tower scene without it there wasn't an ending to go to, if that makes any sense. I hope I don't mess up the timing of things later in the story. Oh well, I'll adapt. I was going to put the pensive scene in italics but I think it would be too hard to read, so I didn't.
Oh yeah. Almost forgot.
Anger is the egg of fear - Jungle Books- Rudyard Kipling. Also a big help with snake talk.