Chapter 51: Leaving with a Bang
The holidays had come and he was enjoying a very quiet, peaceful Christmas. He knew that he should enjoy it while he got the chance, for his work, both inside and out of Hogwarts, was starting to pile up.
He had Dilys keeping an eye on St. Mungo's to see how Arthur was fairing and to report anything she found suspicious. Just recently he heard that since the Healers were having such a hard time getting the wound to close, so Arthur decided to try out some Muggle remedies… in this case, stitches.
"Well that should keep him amused for awhile," he chuckled at Dilys.
"Why would you want to sew someone's skin?" Dilys asked with a shiver. "That's a bit barbaric isn't it?"
"Muggles had been using it for years," he told her with a slight laugh. "And I know that it is a very good method to use on non-magical wounds. Though I doubt Molly will be happy when she hears about it."
He laughed at the thought of the Weasley parents having a long talk about this later on; and then he asked, "And Harry?"
"He seems to be doing better," Dilys informed him. "At least he looked more cheerful than the last time I saw him. I think that spending some time out of the castle and away from Umbridge had done him a world of good."
Albus nodded, glad for that small bit of news. He folded his hands together and thought back to what he saw over Christmas… he couldn't have been sure—but for that brief moment, he could've sworn that he saw a shadow of Voldemort behind those emerald green eyes. Harry had no idea to what was happening to him… or at the very most, only a guess.
Albus had not enjoyed it in the least, distancing himself from Harry. He knew that there was a strong possibility that Harry would never trust him again, and that he may even come to hate him for this isolation. He didn't want Harry to think that he was distancing himself for his own benefit, when it was the opposite. He was doing this to protect him… he had suffered enough as it was.
He had long since suspected that Nagini's essence was divided - that it contained part of Voldemort's soul, and that was why it was so very adept at doing his bidding. This also explained why Harry could see so clearly through the snake's eyes, just as he could see through Voldemort's.
He forced those dark thoughts out of his mind as he heard a knock on the door. Surprised, he called, "Come in."
Severus strolled into the room and Albus noticed a particular piece of paper in the Potions Master's hands; he knew right away what this was about.
"You're back early, Severus," he commented causally, as if he had been expecting him—which in a way—he was.
"Just what is the meaning of this?" Severus said darkly, holding up the letter. "You cannot be serious about this. You want me to teach the boy Occlumency?"
"Severus," Albus said softly. "I know that he isn't your favorite student. But you know as well as I do that Voldemort is finally aware of the connection between the two of them. This connection between them is only going to grow stronger over time. And Voldemort is sure to use this against us. Harry must be taught how to close his mind and who better to teach him than you? And 'the boy' also has a name, Severus… one that his mother gave him. You can use it."
A moment's silence followed this but Albus could feel Severus' resistance.
"The boy," he said, sneering a bit as if he hadn't heard a word that he just said, "Must be taught Occlumency… but why by me?"
"Yes, Severus," Albus nodded, sighing. "Harry must learn to control himself and his mind. If he can learn how to shut his mind to Voldemort, he can protect himself." He looked at the potion's master meaningfully.
"I refuse," Severus said sharply. "I have to deal with that impudent boy enough as is in class. He's too much like his father… No, I will not spend more time with him. You may find him engaging, why don't you do it?"
Albus sighed, expecting this."Severus, I know too much. But, for the time being, just being near Harry will put him in danger…"
"I will not teach him," Severus said adamantly. Albus turned his attention to Fawkes, who chose at that moment to come flutter to his arm. As he stroked Fawkes slightly hot feathers he continued to observe Severus.
"Harry will not know how to control himself at first," he said softly. "But if I know him as well as I think I do, then he should be able to master this." He remembered how hard he had worked to learn the Patronus Charm. The biggest problem was that he knew that this form of magic was best used with people who were able to keep their emotions under control… and he knew that Harry had a hard enough time just keeping his temper under control.
Albus shook his head. "It will help Harry control his own mind and stop anything which Voldemort may try. With this kind of connection, then he could use it to plant false images into Harry's mind… maybe even try to possess him. This we can't allow… not while we can prevent from ever happening. If Harry learns Occlumency sufficiently then he will be able to protect himself."
Severus glared at him. "But why must I be the one to teach him?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"Who better?" Albus asked. But there was also another reason. He knew that Severus wouldn't change his mind about Harry. As far as he was concerned, the fact that Harry looks like James was enough to keep his grudge alive. But maybe if he could see more about Harry's past, see that he's not the kind of person that he's always painted him, then maybe Severus could finally leave the past behind.
"Please Severus," he said softly. "Aside from me, you are the only other person who can teach him. If it bothers you so much, you can tell Harry that he must refer to these lessons as remedial potions."
Severus smiled cruelly at that last thought, before he asked, "And nothing I say will get me out of this detestable task?"
Albus shook his head and he could've sworn that he saw a muscle going in Severus's forehead. "And before the holidays are over, I would appreciate if you deliver that letter to Sirius as well so that he and Harry can understand how important this is."
Severus glared at him darkly, and Albus knew that he was longing to throw out what he really thought of him. But he kept it in check and without another word. Severus turned with a sweep of his robes and slammed the door behind him a little harder than necessary.
"He won't thank you for this, Dumbledore," Everard called down to him. "You know that Potter doesn't like Snape anymore than Snape like him."
"There's nothing else for it," Albus said firmly. "Harry must be taught. And I think that it might be a good learning experience for both of them."
He shrugged. "It's your decision…"
Albus shook his head once again at those words as Fawkes let out a tiny chirp. "I know. And how I wish it wasn't…"
*Night before school restarts*
"They said that they rather have nightmares," Phineas said. "Once again, he proves my point. All students are ungrateful brats who think they know everything."
It was evening before the students were scheduled to come back to Hogwarts and Albus had Severus's word that he would try to teach Harry. Severus had just gone to Grimmauld Place and explained the whole thing to Sirius. Phineas, who had been keeping a close watch on Harry, had just come back from his last visit with a report.
Albus sighed before he said sternly, "I knew that he wasn't going to be any happier about this, but this is not up for debate."
"Finally, you seem to be putting your foot down," Phineas said approving. "This is a side of you that you should really let out more."
Albus gave him a sharp look. He wasn't enjoying this at all. With everything that was happening these days, he longed for simpler times. But he knew better than that. Phineas then went on to explain that 'lousy werewolf' and 'transforming freak of nature' would be the ones accompany them back to the castle with the Knight Bus.
"They have names, Phineas," he pointed out. Predictably, Phineas just snorted and settled back in his painting stubbornly. Why did it seem that the grown adults he was working with tend to be acting more like children than the students here?
*Couple Days later*
"He is an arrogant, show-off who has no idea how important…"
"Severus…"
"… going out of my way to try get something through that thick skull of his…"
"Severus… please…"
"…just as rotten as his father was and…"
"SEVERUS ENOUGH!" Albus finally had to yell to make himself heard. Severus paused, giving Albus a look that was both sulky and bitter.
Albus took a deep breath, leaned forward, and said, "I heard what you were saying, Severus. As I have heard you say countless times before. By now, I am quite aware of his many faults, as you pick out them."
It had only been the first lesson last night, and already Severus was complaining to him about Harry's performance. "However, I must confess that I am becoming very tired of hearing the same complaints over and over. I merely asked that you keep me informed on how Harry's Occlumency lessons were proceeding. Not an excuse for you to criticize him." He leaned back in his comfortable chair and regarded Snape.
Severus turned to face him, "He has a weak mind, Headmaster."
"Severus…" Albus said wearily. "It's only the first lesson…"
"He's not even trying!" Severus said. "I have explained to him how important these lessons are, but he shows little or no skill for the task. He's not interested, and he is not even trying to learn. I am wasting my time."
Albus sighed, and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "What do you suggest? Forget it? You know how vital it is for him to learn how to protect his mind."
Severus frowned. "I know that," he snapped. "But does the boy know that? The boy is too emotional. He is so much like his father."
"That's not helping, Severus…" Albus stated.
"But it is true!" Severus insisted, his face was flushed with anger. "I've been telling you that for years. He is his father all over again! He carries the worst traits of James Potter! Like father, like son…"
"Severus, that is enough!" Albus said loudly. Severus didn't back down, however he did stop talking. He folded his arms and glared at him, as if daring him to speak. Albus got up from his chair, feeling his old body ache, and continued in a calmer voice. "I have grown tired of hearing this, Severus. Has it occurred to you that your treatment of him might be the reason that he isn't performing as well as he should?"
"Maybe," said Severus unconcerned. "But please, by all means, find another instructor. I would be quite grateful if you did so."
Just those words had actually caused Albus to chuckle. "If memory serves me correctly, it took you some time to master Occlumency did it not? Harry only just started."
"Of course, Headmaster," Severus said. "But there is a difference. I wanted to learn this. It couldn't be any clearer to me that Potter couldn't care less about these lessons."
Albus gave him a grim look.
"There is one thing that you need to know, however," Severus suddenly stated. "Apparently, the boy has been dreaming about the door that leads to the Department of Mysteries. It seems he has been dreaming about it for months, but he now knows that something is in there."
Albus very slowly looked up at him. "What does he know?"
"Not much," Severus answered. "He doesn't realize what it means, but it seems that he had been seeing into the Dark Lord's mind for much longer than we knew. He doesn't know what lies beyond that door, but he knows that the Dark Lord wants what's behind it."
Albus shook his head. "I was afraid of this. Please help him to learn this as soon as possible, Severus. It is critical that he learns to close his mind before something terrible happens."
*The next morning*
But things only continued to worsen. For that next morning, when he shook out the paper, staring back at him from the front page were ten faces that he knew all too well. He didn't even have to read what was in the article to know what has just happened… though that didn't stop his eyes from wandering to see just what the damage that Fudge had caused.
MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN
MINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS 'RALLYING POINT' FOR OLD DEATH EATERS
He groaned at that. Fudge didn't honestly believe that people would believe that did he? Though, now that he thought of it, it seemed obvious that they would try to blame this on Sirius Black. Fudge didn't have too many other options.
"Albus?" gasped a familiar voice and he looked up to see Minerva was looking over his shoulder at the paper, looking terrified.
"I know," he said softly, "I was afraid of this. It was bad enough with dealing with Voldemort and only his minor Death Eaters, but with his worst supporters back at his side…?" he looked at the picture of Bellatrix Lestrange and shook his head. Alastor was not going to be pleased about this…
"But Albus, what are we going to do?" she demanded. "You would think that this would be enough to convince Fudge. But instead, he's still denying everything. Everything that you warned him about last year is coming true and instead he just keeps pretending that this isn't a national crisis! And now he's blaming it all on Sirius?"
"What other options does he have Minerva?" he asked as his eyes trailed over the paper. "After all, it's not like he can just tell the press that he had been wrong about Voldemort being back. He has spent the last half a year telling everyone that I am crazy and… oh, no…" he gasped when he saw the small article.
"What now?" she demanded. "What is it?"
Instead of answering, he showed her the small article.
TRAGIC DEMISE OF MINISTRY OF MAGIC WORKER
St. Mungo's Hospital promised a full inquiry last night after Ministry of Magic worker Broderick Bode, 49, was discovered dead in his bed, strangled by a potted-plant. Healers called to the scene were unable to revive Mr. Bode, who had been injured in a workplace accident some weeks prior to his death.
Healer Miriam Strout, who was in charge of Mr. Bodes ward at the time of the incident, has been suspended on full pay and was unavailable for comment yesterday, but a spokeswizard for the hospital said in a statement:
"St. Mungo's deeply regrets the death of Mr. Bode, whose health was improving steadily prior to this tragic accident.
"We have strict guidelines on the decorations permitted on our wards but it appears that Healer Strout, busy over the Christmas period, overlooked the dangers of the plant on Mr. Bode's bedside table. As his speech and mobility improved, Healer Strout encouraged Mr. Bode to look after the plant himself, unaware that it was not an innocent Flitterbloom, but a cutting of Devil's Snare which, then touched by the convalescent Mr. Bode, throttled him instantly.
"St. Mungo's is as yet unable to account for the presence of the plant on the ward and asks any witch or wizard with information to come forward."
"Sturgis is dead too?" she whispered, horror-struck. "But there is no way that it was an accident."
"I agree," Albus whispered. "It was a murder… and a clever one at that."
Lucius Malfoy must have got him. It all made sense now… Lucius must've caught him and cast the Imperius Curse on the off-chance there'd be a guard there. And then he tried to get into the Department to steal the weapon for Voldemort but he got caught. And then, just as he was improving…
He groaned, and ran his hand through his beard… why did any of this have to happen?
*Weeks later*
Albus didn't need to send his portraits to know what everyone was talking about over the following weeks. Now that there was no point in denying the fact that ten of Azkaban's worst criminals had escaped and were out in the open again, it had caused panic and confusion everywhere. The students were all coming up with one theory after another to what was happening to the wizarding world.
The one good thing that this did was that people were starting to pay more attention to the real story. That Voldemort was back after all…
No one was satisfied with the Ministry's explanation to how the Death Eaters escaped, and were now started to question everything. However, with Umbridge lurking, there wasn't much that could be said or done. As a matter of fact, not even his staff was able to talk about it. Most of his teachers were forced to talk about this in corridors or at the dinner table when they didn't think anyone else was watching.
It was only made even more obvious when Umbridge had this newest decree put into effect:
BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS
Teachers are hereby banned from giving students any information that is not strictly related to the subjects they are paid to teach.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-six.
Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor
"Does she realize how that could misinterpreted?" Minerva asked him when they first heard about it, "that would mean that she wouldn't be able to scold them in class for not paying attention."
"Yes," Albus nodded. "I don't think that she'll take kindly to that."
Ever since the breakout, Umbridge had been even more hostile than ever. And from what he heard, she was determined to fire one of his teachers to prove that she was in control… and she had two in mind. Professor Trelawney or Hagrid.
Albus already had Professor Grubbly-Plank on standby should something happen to Hagrid, but to have Sybill leave the grounds would, not only cause Umbridge to bring in another teacher of her own choosing, but it would also put Sybill in harm's way. He wasn't completely sure if Voldemort knew that it was her who made the prophecy all those years ago, but if he did, he knew that she would never survive the year.
From what he had been overhearing, the toad had been inspecting both Divination and Care of Magical Creatures all the time. She would lurk behind Sybill and asking ridiculous questions, and forcing her to demonstrate her abilities. From what he had seen of her recently, he strongly suspected that Sybill was starting to drink.
And as for Hagrid, he was also under a great deal of stress from Umbridge. He had been keeping a close watch on his classes as well, and though that he hadn't been teaching anything remotely dangerous, he seemed to be too nervous whenever she was around, marking down everything that he did.
And that was only the tip of the iceberg of problems happening inside the castle.
From what the portraits reported to him, as well as with Severus, Harry just didn't seem to be mastering Occlumency. If anything, his scar was hurting almost constantly. Albus knew that forcing someone's mind to open would only serve to make him all the more venerable, but it was necessary to do so for him to learn through this.
"He really doesn't look good," Dilys said after a couple weeks of Occlumency lessons. Dilys had watched Harry leave the dungeons lately, weak and often shaking.
"Stop babying him!" Phineas called annoyed. "I say that it's good for him to learn the hard way!"
"Enough both of you," Albus called. "It's bad enough that the whole wizarding world is going to hell in a teapot, but please don't make it worse by shouting at each other."
Things were turning from bad to worse… and he just couldn't see how things were going to get better.
At least until one day…
He had been taken a subscription to the Quibbler for several years now. He had always found Xenophilius's articles fascination as well as entertaining. And these days, they only helped to cheer him up if nothing else… But on this morning, he had to read the title of this particular article several times for him to comprehend what it was saying.
HARRY POTTER SPEAKS OUT AT LAST: THE TRUTH ABOUT HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED AND THE NIGHT I SAW HIM RETURN
He let his fork fall to the plate with a loud clatter as he stared at the words; before he then turned to the Gryffindor table just in time to see a flock of owls land right where Harry was sitting. He watched as he and his friends tore open the pile of letters they had delivered and talk excitedly among themselves. Albus quickly looked back at the article, completely lost in thought. When on earth did this happen? When and how did Harry give an interview?
He looked down at the writer, and he felt his jaw drop. Rita Skeeter? When did she start writing about the truth? And in the Quibbler for that matter? He glanced up at the Gryffindors again, as if he thought that they would be able to give him an answer. But at that moment, Umbridge started walking towards Harry with a disapproving look on her face. He quickly turned away as Flitwick started asking him what he was staring at. Rather than answer him, he held it out for them both to see and they read:
As soon as Cedric Diggory and I touched the Triwizard Cup during the Third Task, we were taken away, far away from Hogwarts. The cup had been a portkey… by the time that we finally landed on solid ground, we weren't anywhere near the school.
We had left Hogwarts grounds completely; we had obviously traveled miles - perhaps hundreds of miles - for even the mountains surrounding the castle were no longer there. Instead of the maze that we were in, we were standing in a dark and overgrown graveyard.
Waiting there for us… or rather for me… was Lord Voldemort.
Of course, Cedric and I had no idea who it was at first. All we could see was a hooded figure carrying a bundle of robes that at first, I thought was infant. Little did I know that it was just the beginning of the nightmare.
I couldn't make out the servant's face, but when he came nearer, my scar burned with pain. Ever since the night that Voldemort gave me this scar, for some reason—it hurts whenever he is near me. So I knew that it could only mean one thing… he was here.
I fell to my knees, trying hard to block out the pain… but I was able to hear the words in a cold, terrifying voice that I'd heard several times before call out the words, 'Kill the spare.'
I heard a wand move through the air, the spell that was screeched into the night by the servant, before I saw a blast of green light through my closed eyelids. When I heard the sound of something fall to the ground next to me—I opened my eyes… horrified of what I was about to see.
There… lying dead next to me… was Cedric Diggory.
I couldn't do anything but stare at his gray eyes that were open and glassy and that looked slightly surprised in death… I couldn't move, couldn't think—that was when the servant, Wormtail, or rather his real name Peter Pettigrew, pulled me to my feet. Peter Pettigrew was the real Death Eater who framed Sirius Black, an innocent man, for the crimes that he had actually committed before he faked his own death and went into hiding for all these years.
Wormtail had put down the bundle of robes and dragged me to a large marble headstone with the name, Tom Riddle—Voldemort's father—engraved upon it.
Wormtail had conjured up ropes and tied me to the grave that I couldn't move or run. He then gagged me and left for a short time. I was tied so tightly, that I could only look at what was in front of me. Cedric's body was lying just twenty feet away from me, as well as the Triwizard Cup and my wand—but also the bundle of robes was at my feet, and it seemed to be moving.
I can't explain how I knew, but I just somehow knew that I didn't want to see what was inside it. I just knew that whatever was in there, couldn't be a good thing. And a few minutes later, a large snake that could've easily swallowed me whole, slithering through the overgrown grass and circling the headstone where I was tied… almost like it was impatient.
I was so focused on the snake that I didn't see Wormtail until he came into my line of sight and was dragging a large stone cauldron, large for a full-grown man to sit in and it seemed to be full of water.
Whatever was inside the robes on the ground was stirring as though it was trying to free itself. Wormtail on the other hand was trying to light the cauldron as the snake slithered away out of my sight.
But the liquid in the cauldron began to bubble so I didn't pay too much attention to the snake. It water sent out sparks like whatever was in it was actually fire instead of a liquid. As steam began to billow out, the thing in the robes shouted at his servant to hurry.
Once the water began to glimmer, Wormtail had told his master that it was ready. I didn't understand what he meant until it was too late to try and stop it. He was talking about the ritual to restore Voldemort to his body.
Wormtail had bent down and picked up what was in the bundle, and I had seen what it was at last, though I wish that I never did. It was the most horrible creature that I had ever seen in my life. Imagine seeing the form of a human child that was revolting, slimy, and burnt - but worse, a hundred times worse. Many times, I had tried to forget it—but it haunts my dreams. A hairless and raw, reddish black creature that was so weak that it couldn't move on its own.
But it's face was what scared me the most. Flat and snakelike—with cold, red eyes that held no mercy or compassion.
Yes, this was what Voldemort was reduced to for all these years.
Even Wormtail was repulsed by what his master had become. I could see the revulsion in his pale rat-like face as he carried Voldemort to the cauldron.
Wormtail dropped Voldemort into the cauldron and he sank to the bottom. I silently begged that the creature would drown as Wormtail raised his wand and shouted out the words, 'Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son!'
That was when the ground at my feet had cracked and dust rose into the air before falling into the cauldron where Voldemort was waiting. The surface of the water hissed and it turned to a shade of the most poisonous-looking blue.
At this point, the whimpering Wormtail pulled out a dagger and sobbed out, 'Flesh - of the servant - w-willingly given - you will - revive - your master.'
He then held up his right hand, a hand with a missing finger and swung… knowing what he was about to do, and not being able to bear watching it, I just closed my eyes. But though I could shut my eyes, I couldn't block my ears when I heard Wormtail scream.
I heard him fall to the ground before there was a sickening splash and I knew that the hand that he chopped off was also dropped into the cauldron. That was when the potion had turned a blood red.
I could hear Wormtail crying in pain, but it wasn't until I felt his breath on my face did I know that he was right in front of me. He choked out the words, 'B-blood of the enemy… forcibly taken… you will… resurrect your foe.'
There wasn't anything that I could do to stop him. I was tied to the grave as he raised the dagger and pressed the point into my right arm. I could feel my blood seeping down as Wormtail pulled out a vial and caught a few drops of it.
Once he was done with me, he turned back to the cauldron, with my blood this time, and poured it in. The red potion had turned white and Wormtail fell to his knees and cried as he held the bleeding stump of an arm to him.
The potion in the meantime was simmering, sending its diamond sparks in all directions, so blindingly bright that it turned all else to velvety blackness. But still nothing happened…
I hoped again and again that everything had gone wrong, but knowing my luck, it just got worse.
Finally, white steam appeared and covered everything like a thick fog so that I couldn't see anything that wasn't within a foot of me.
And then I saw him.
Through the mist, I could see with waves of terror, the outline of a tall and skeletally thin man, rising up from the cauldron. He stepped out, and stared at me like a wolf stalking his wounded prey… while he examined his new body. I was forced to stare into the face that had haunted my nightmares ever since I first arrived at Hogwarts.
A face whiter than a skull, that had scarlet eyes with slits like a cat's, and a nose that was so flat that it resembled a snake…
Lord Voldemort had risen again.
Albus didn't get a chance to finish reading the entire thing, for Umbridge was now storming up to the Head table with a furious look on her face. Feeling a bit of vindictive pleasure, he merely tucked the article away and finished his breakfast without another word, thousands of thoughts racing around inside his head.
He didn't stay for much longer. As soon as he finished his eggs he quickly left the hall and up to his office where he could think in peace.
With the Quibbler's article in his hand, he stared out his office window and watched as the students headed down for Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures… but truthfully, he wasn't really seeing them. He had just reread the article about Harry's interview several time and even after all this, he was still having a difficult time admitting, even to himself, that everything he suspected about Voldemort was not only possible, but most likely certain.
He had long since suspected this of Tom… but now he finally had to face the facts. Tom Riddle had created Horcruxes, meaning more than one, and hid them all to keep himself from dying. What he heard from Harry when he explained the diary to him three years ago merely confirmed it for him. There was no possible way that a mere memory could've done all that. Possess and drain the life energy out of a young girl, open the Chamber of Secrets, call the Basilisk, and attack all those students as nothing more than a memory? No, he was willing to bet everything that the diary became Tom's very first Horcrux.
Tom created the diary when he was still 16, and from when he committed his very first murder of Myrtle. The diary belonged to Tom, and was proof that he was Slytherin's heir… so he considered it of great importance. That was why it was chosen to become the vessel of his own precious soul.
But if that was the case… then Tom didn't seem to be too concerned about where that piece of his soul went to. He knew that Tom never would've trusted anyone enough to tell them exactly what the diary was, but to carelessly hand the book to Lucius just like that? If he truly intended to have diary passed on, some future Hogwarts student, he was being remarkably indifferent about that fragment of his soul concealed within it.
Which could only mean that it was only his first Horcrux… it was intended to be used as a weapon as much as his protection. The careless way in which Voldemort regarded this Horcrux never seemed right to him. So either Tom was confident that no one would ever be able to destroy it… or he must have made more Horcruxes, so that the loss of his first would not bother him.
He didn't want to believe it, but nothing else make any sense; no matter how many times the considered other possibilities. It was then he remembered what Harry told him on the night that Voldemort returned to his body and gave his speech to the Death Eaters… 'I who have gone further than anybody along the path that leads to immortality.'
Yes, he knew that Tom was referring to his Horcruxes. He never thought that it would be possible for someone to split their soul more than once. But after everything that he had seen Tom capable of doing over the years… he seemed to grow less human until finally he had been reduced to nothing but this shadow of the Tom Riddle that he once taught himself.
Which left two very important questions… just how many Horcruxes are there? And where?
And then there was Harry. He felt as though some kind of battle was going on inside him as he stared down at the paper again. Harry seemed to be as frustrated with the rest of the world as he was, and finally decided to take a more drastic way to get the word out. Albus's thoughts also drifted back to all year… how he had refused to get help when he sat there for hours and hours as he was forced to cut his own hand open… how Severus had informed him of the dreams that have been happening for months…
He thought back to the same young child that used to feel comfortable enough around him to tell him all his worries and fears. Albus bowed his head. He knew that this was to happen. It was clear to him that Harry no longer trusted him…
He was aware that Harry resented him; maybe even hate him after all he had done. He was selfish enough that he didn't want Harry to think so little of him like this, even though he knew that it wasn't undeserved.
And while he was proud that Harry was taking a stand and becoming the leader that he always knew he was… why did it still feel like such a heavy blow to himself? He felt chest tightened, and he felt as if a heavy and terrible knot had formed inside his stomach. Albus wanted to explain everything to Harry, tell him everything… as expected from someone who was as selfish as he was, he wanted to explain the reasons for all his actions.
"Dumbledore!" screamed out a livid voice from behind him, which brought him back out of his thoughts. Umbridge's voice was coming from behind his door and she seemed to be close to breaking it down. "Let me in! I demand to talk to you!"
Unconcerned, he merely strolled over to his desk, and placed the article in one of the drawers as he called, "The door is open, Dolores."
She almost kicked the door open in her rage and went marching up to his desk, a copy of the Quibbler clutched tightly in her hands. Albus raised his eyebrows and gave her a kind smile as he watched her towering temper. "Is there a problem?" he asked pleasantly, enjoying how angry she looked.
"Dumbledore," she hissed as she threw the editorial down onto his desk for him to see. "Have you seen this?"
"I might've heard about it, yes," he said politely. "But, really, Dolores, what is the problem? You look upset." He had to almost bite down on his tongue to keep a laugh from bursting out at that last part.
"How could you let that—that—brat do this?" she demanded furiously.
Albus looked as her, feigning polite puzzlement. "By whatever do you mean?"
"That boy," she hissed, looking more like an angry toad every moment with all the air that she was sucking in. "How could you let him spread these—these vicious lies all over the place?! I have tried again and again to teach him that, but he won't listen to me!"
"And why are you complaining about this to me, Dolores?" he asked smiling, as her faced turned even redder in her rage. "As I'm sure you must already be aware of, I believe Harry. Why would I care if he decides to do what the Ministry should have been doing all this time?"
She glared at him and he went on, "Also, if a reporter as for an interview, it's up to them to decide to do so or not. Harry doesn't need my permission for everything now does he?"
"You had this planned," she whispered, pointing an excusing finger at him. "You had him agree to this interview in the first place. Well, I'll have you know that I already am punishing Potter for this. He has just lost fifty points from Gryffindor, has another week's worth of detentions, and is now banned from any future Hogsmeade visits!" she called out those punishments as if they were life-long goals that she had been able to accomplish, and was now grinning evilly at the idea of them.
Albus didn't let any emotion cross his face, but hearing about the detentions made his blood boil furiously. He didn't rise though, he knew that's what she wanted. Instead, he took a deep, calming breath and said softly, "Though Cornelius may deny it, it is the truth. The truth belongs to everyone. No one has the right to try and keep it from the rest of the world."
She stopped smiling, and he could see that her own rage was quickly risking again. But she then forced out one of her annoying, girlish giggles and asked, "Now, Dumbledore. Why would you believe a little boy who is obviously telling lies? You truly believe that a dead man has come back? Why go around telling all these stories and cause unnecessary panic?"
"Better that then not knowing the truth at all," he said firmly. "For denying the truth won't make the problems go away. If we can accept the truth without fear, then we can end up stopping unnecessary suffering."
"That is an idealistic argument," she said, close to shouting.
"I wonder about that," he said calmly. "Isn't the idea of it being impossible simply suited to your purpose? Won't the truth be the bigger threat to the Ministry? Believing or not believing won't change anything. You may be too scared to except the truth, but it is what's happening. I would've thought the fact that ten Death Eaters having just escaped Azkaban be enough proof too you. But I can see that you're all too blind, and too fixed in your happy illusion that the world is perfect. I'm sorry, but that's not how life works."
For a long time, they just stood there and looked at each other. Though she didn't say anything, he could see that Dolores's hand was clenched tightly into a fist; longing to curse him. He just sat there, waiting for her to say something.
Finally, she seemed to be able to get control of herself and stood up straight, patting her hair as if a strong wind had come and messed it up. "I can see that there was no point in coming to tell you about this," she said, her face still red with anger, but her voice back to the same girlish tone that she always used. "I can see that I am merely going to have to work harder to get things on the proper path."
"In other words," Albus said slowly, "You will continue to try and force Hogwarts to bow to you. I'm sorry but that will never happen. No matter who's head of Hogwarts or the wizarding world, Hogwarts will never surrender."
She glared at him furiously. "I can see that you did a good job on Potter too," she finally snarled. "He even sounds just like you!"
Albus blinked in surprise before he chuckled and said, "I am flattered that you compare me to him, Dolores. However, Harry is his own person. Personally, I don't see it."
She straightened her pink cardigan just as she stomped out of the room, and slamming the door loudly behind her.
*That afternoon*
It was almost funny how Umbridge thought to that this would work.
BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS
Any student found in possession of the magazine The Quibbler will be expelled.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-seven.
Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor
Albus fought a smile when he read that. She has guaranteed that everyone will have read it by lunchtime. After all the best way to get people to do something is to ban it.
And, of course, by the end of the day, the whole place seemed to be quoting the interview to each other. This was excellent… the students were being told the truth, and seemed to be waking up from the dream that their parents and the Ministry was trying to feed them.
For the rest of the day, Umbridge was stalking the school like a great toad looking for flies. Whenever she saw someone that looked even a little bit suspicious, she would demand that they turned out their pockets and their belongings.
However, he had heard that the students had been finding interesting ways to stay ahead of her. It's amazing how the students suddenly become geniuses in Charms when they have to break rules. The teachers were of course forbidden from mentioning the interview, but he could tell that each one of them silently supported in the rebellion against Umbridge.
Just that evening at dinner, he had actually seen Sybill and Minerva talking to each other as if they were old friends—obviously about the article, and next to him Filius was humming loudly—occasionally looking over at Umbridge with a satisfied smirk on his face. Hagrid seemed to have been enjoying himself tonight more than he had all year…
There was one good thing about Dolores Umbridge. She could make even enemies come together as friends and celebrate.
*Weeks later*
"Are you certain of this?" Albus asked one early afternoon. He had just returned from another conference from the Ministry when his portraits were all ready to report what had been happening in the last few hours.
"I overheard it with my own ears," Armando wheezed. "There's no doubt about it! She's planning on getting rid of Trelawney tonight. She's going to make sure to do it when she's sure to have an audience."
"A display of power," Albus answered, his eyes narrowed in dislike. He knew that he had to do something. Otherwise, not only could they have another person like Umbridge here, but Sybill would be in terrible danger. But where was he to find another Divinization teacher before tonight? He racked his brains—the only people he could think of who knew this subject were…
His eyes snapped open as he came up with a solution. "I think I have an idea… the problem is whether or not any of them will agree to them."
"What do you…?" several portraits called out, but he didn't have time to stay and explain. He just pulled on his cloak for some warmth as he turned and headed straight down to the Hogwarts grounds.
He was already coming up with any back-up plans should this one fail, but each one seemed as unlikely as the next. No, this was the only chance he had…
"Professor Dumbledore, sir!" called a cheerful voice. Albus stopped in mid-stride to see Hagrid coming out of his house, Fang at his heels.
"Good afternoon, Hagrid," he said pleasantly as Fang bounded towards him, "I'm sorry, but I don't have time to stop in for tea at the moment. There is some urgent business that I must attend to. But while I'm here, could you tell me how the centaurs are fairing these days?"
Hagrid looked surprised at the question, at least that's what Albus thought it looked like; it was hard to tell with his blackened eyes.
"They aren' very happy these days, sir," he explained simply. "Mostl' roamin' the forest in a righ' state. If the Ministry restricts their territory any more we'll be havin' a revolt on our hands. That's if you ask me…"
Albus wasn't surprised to hear that as Fang whimpered at his feet, wanting someone to pet him. He moved his hand over the boarhound's head absentmindedly as he said, "I can't say that's news to me. The Ministry seems to be making things harder on everyone these days. But tell me, you are still on good terms with them, correct? Do you think that any of them will be up for a quick meeting with me on something?"
"Well, yeah," Hagrid said puzzled. "But wha' about, sir?"
Albus quickly explained that Umbridge was planning on sacking Sybill this evening and he looked furious.
"Now, she's never been my favorite teacher here," he said angrily, "But ter do that in fron' of the whole school?"
"That's the point, Hagrid," Albus said. "We must work fast if we want to help Sybill. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do to save her job. But we can ensure that she will still be able to live at Hogwarts and stop the Ministry interfering anymore than they already have. But to do that, I need to see the centaurs."
"You wan' ter ask one of 'em ter teach?" he asked startled. "But won't they…?"
"I know that most of them won't take kindly to the offer," Albus said. "But that is all it will be. An offer… not a demand. I simply wish to talk and ask them… if none of them want to accept, then we have a problem here."
He stopped for a moment, glancing up at the sun crossing the sky. "I have one particular centaur in mind… I can only hope that he will take the offer."
He nodded to Hagrid and strolled passed him into the forest, having some ideas to where he could find him. He had been looking for several hours, and had run into a few unicorns, Bowtruckles, and even Fluffy, who was napping in a dark part of the forest.
But soon, he came across the herd of centaurs and the very one whom he wished to speak with.
"Firenze," he said with a respectful nod of his head when he spotted him. Firenze bowed his head back just as politely—and did not look surprised to see him there.
"If I could have a quick word with you?" he asked. "I assure you that it is a matter of great importance. I merely wish for you to hear me out?"
Firenze didn't respond at first, as if he was wondering what he should do. But finally, he nodded and walked with him a distance away from the rest of the centaurs, who were looking at the pair of them with a mixture of frustration and annoyance.
This was one of the reasons he had come to admire about Firenze.
Firenze was a courageous centaur who was not as traditional or proud as most of his kind. Whereas most centaurs believed it was shameful to work alongside humans. He was the only person he could feel that he could ask about this.
Once they were a safe enough distance away so that the rest of the colony couldn't hear them, Firenze stopped and asked, "What is it that you want from me?"
"Firenze," Albus said, "First, I want to thank you for agreeing to speak with me."
Firenze nodded as he turned his gaze directly skyward, though he knew that the stars weren't out yet. "The world is changing," he said in his melancholy voice, "And not for the better."
"I couldn't agree more," Albus sighed. "I have been doing my best to prevent it from getting worse, unfortunately, there are those who are too stubborn to believe what is real."
"It is those with power who are afraid of change the most after all," Firenze sighed as he looked down at him. "But come… what is it that you want from me?"
Albus gave him a serious look. "I know that it is a lot to ask of you. But I have an offer that I would like to give you… an offer that you are free to accept or to decline. I will not be offended should you think that it is not worth it."
"What kind of offer?" Firenze inquired, his hooves pawing at the ground.
"Tonight, a ministry official will force one of my staff to leave their job tonight," he explained. "And I know that there is no one who knows how to read the stars and the planets better than the centaurs."
Firenze raised his eyebrows and looked at him with a very strange look in his eyes. "You are asking me to teach at your school?"
"A request that you could please consider grant the students of Hogwarts a chance to learn more about centaurs," Albus clarified. "I will of course understand if you don't wish to take the post."
Firenze flicked his long tail, his brow was furrowed, as he thought about what he was saying.
"I know that the others would never approve of this," he spoke at long last. "There are some who would even be furious at such the idea."
"I am aware of that fact," Albus nodded. "And like I said, this is merely a request. But I know that with the way the world is progressing now, the times ahead of us will become darker. But like I said before my friend," Albus finished as he looked directly at Firenze. "The choice is yours."
*That evening*
"Oh, really, Professor McGonagall?" called a deadly-sounding voice from beyond the front doors. "And your authority for that statement is…?"
"That would be mine," Albus called out and barged into the hall. This was his school and he was going to show her that he was the one in charge here. The students were all staring at him and quickly moved back as he strolled up the hall towards them. Sybill was sitting on one of two trunks, shaking and sobbing into a handkerchief as Minerva sat there with her, whispering comforting words to her.
"Yours, Professor Dumbledore?" Umbridge demanded, showing her pointed teeth as she gave a unpleasant laugh. "I'm afraid you do not understand the position. I have here -" she pulled a parchment scroll from within her robes "-an Order of Dismissal signed by myself and the Minister for Magic. Under the terms of Educational Decree Number Twenty-three, the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts has the power to inspect, place upon probation and sack any teacher she - that is to say, I - feel is not performing to the standards required by the Ministry of Magic. I have decided that Professor Trelawney is not up to scratch. I have dismissed her."
Albus forced a smile, knowing that he still had one up on Umbrigde. He turned to Sybill, who was still sobbing. Though he was facing her, he was addressing Umbrigde, "You are quite right, of course, Professor Umbridge. As High Inquisitor you have every right to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to send them away from the castle. I am afraid," he went on, with a mock bow to her, "that the power to do that still resides with the Headmaster, and it is my wish that Professor Trelawney continue to live at Hogwarts."
At this, Sybill gave a wild little laugh in which a hiccough was barely hidden and told him that she would leave.
"No," he said sharply. "It is my wish that you remain, Sibyll." He then turned to Minerva and asked if she would take Sibyll back upstairs to her room, which she did so without a second thought.
Pomona came hurrying forwards out of the crowd and helped to support her up the stairs while Filius came right up behind them with her trunks. Albus turned a rather triumphant smile to Umbridge who was looking shell-shocked.
"And what," she said, in a whisper that carried all around Hall, "are you going to do with her once I appoint a new Divination teacher who needs her lodgings?"
"Oh, that won't be a problem," he answered pleasantly, though he knew that the castle was big enough to support them all. "You see, I have already found us a new Divination teacher, and he will prefer lodgings on the ground floor."
"You've found -?" said Umbridge shrilly, swelling back up like a toad. "You've found? Might I remind you, Dumbledore, that under Educational Decree Number Twenty-two -"
But he interrupted her by reminding her that decree was only in effect if he had been unable to find another. "And I am happy to say that on this occasion I have succeeded. May I introduce you?"
Firenze trotted into the Great Hall to stand right beside him, alarming several students standing near the open doors. His tail flicked nervously as he looked around at all the students.
"This is Firenze," he said happily to a thunderstruck Umbridge. "I think you'll find him suitable."
*That night*
"Really, Dumbledore?" said Severus. After all the excitement was over, and Albus had charmed one of the rooms on the first floor for Firenze's liking, he had returned to his office. He hadn't at all been surprised to see Severus there waiting for him.
"What is the problem, Severus?" Albus asked calmly. "I was aware that Umbridge was going to get rid of Sybill tonight, and we needed a new Divination teacher."
"What you did just now…" Severus informed him softly, leaning against a wall and watched him with his arms crossed. "She won't like it. We now have another half-human teaching. It I didn't know better, I would swear that you did this on purpose."
"How spiteful of you, Severus," he answered with a nod of the head, "I was just searching someone with an… inner eye. And who better than a centaur?"
But it was then that he noticed that Severus was looking slightly paler than usual and knew that there was something wrong. Frowning slightly, he asked, "Is there something troubling you?"
"Yes," Severus said, pushing himself off the wall and walking towards him. "There is something that I think you need to know. Just before the show earlier, I saw something in Potter's mind. Something that I find disturbing."
"What is it?" Albus asked, dreading the answer. "He's still seeing into Voldemort's mind isn't he?"
Severus gave a curt nod of the head. "Do you remember when I told you about Rookwood and how the Dark Lord punished Avery?"
"Yes," he said frowning.
"It seems that Potter dreamt of that event," he said darkly. "He's dangerously treading too far into the Dark Lord's mind. It seems that the more the Dark Lord's emotions increase, the easier it is for him to see. Of course the boy doesn't know what it means."
Albus sighed and sat down, a hand coming up to rub his exhausted eyes. "I was afraid of this. How is Harry coming along in Occlumency?"
"They are not going well at all. I've told you before he refuses to do what I tell him," Severus said silkily. "He just doesn't take it seriously. I told you he doesn't have the right temperament nor the skill to master such a complicated branch of magic. I am wasting my time."
"Severus," Albus said wearily, "I don't know how many times we must discuss this, but our opinions couldn't be more different."
"Why not tell the boy that he could end up being possessed by the Dark Lord?" Severus asked with a rather evil smirk. "I'm sure that would get him to listen."
"Patience, Severus," Albus reminded him. "I believe that Harry can learn how to close his mind. He has no idea what is going on and we can't divulge any information that could put him in harm's way."
Severus continued to look sour and then asked, "I know that I'm wasting my breath, but why can't you teach Potter, Headmaster? I know he would much rather you do it."
"You know very well why I can't," he said firmly.
"But what if the Dark Lord is seeing into Potter's mind and sees that I'm teaching him Occlumency?" Severus shot back. "What do you think would happen? He will ask me why am I helping you protect him?"
"Certainly a clever man such as yourself can think of multiple excuses to that," Albus said calmly. "You can just tell him that you are only teaching Harry the basics. Or, as you believe, tell him that Harry just doesn't have the talent for it."
Severus was now looking like a child who had been told that he had to go to bed early. "I just can't stand this," he hissed. "Occlumency isn't helping. If anything, I think it's just getting worse. Before he only dreamed of the door to the Department of Mysteries, but now he's getting flashes of the Hall of Prophecy. I don't have the patience to baby him."
Albus sighed once again, wishing that he could come up with an answer that could satisfy them all. But nothing came… he simply told him that he would just have to bear with it as best he could.
*Weeks Later*
Things had quieted down, and Firenze was making himself right at him. He had heard that the rest of the herd had reacted badly when they found out about Firenze taking the job, and felt terrible that he had even asked.
But Firenze didn't seem to mind—and he was truly grateful for Hagrid stepping in when he did. A couple weeks had already passed since then, and he was enjoying a quiet evening in his room when he received news about an unwanted guest just arriving.
"How many have come with him?" he asked bitterly.
"Including the idiot?" Dexter asked bored. "Three. Of course he would feel self-important enough for him to have body guards. Dawlish and that Kingsley bloke are with him. Along with one of the Weasleys boys…"
"Percy," Albus nodded. "Well, nothing can be done to avoid it. Let's get it over with."
Cornelius Fudge had come for a surprise inspection of the castle—as if he thought that all of Hogwarts belonged to him. When Minerva knocked and led them into the room, Albus was polite as always, though he felt as if he was chewing broken glass just looking at him.
"What brings you all the way here to our happy circus?" he asked them coolly. "After all, that is all Hogwarts is now after Umbridge has walked in our lives."
Fudge ignored him as he walked through the room, his eyes flying everywhere as if he thought that there was someone ready to jump out and curse him.
"Now, Dumbledore," he said pompously. "We, the Ministry, feel that you are losing your touch, and we have decided to take action. After all, the future of the wizarding world is here to learn. We must step in when we feel that things aren't going as smoothly as they should."
Albus could tell that Lucius still had Fudge in his pocket… he was now starting to sound just like him.
"And furthermore," Fudge finished, "I want to see with my own eyes just what is happening here."
"You mean Professor Umbridge hasn't been keeping you informed of everything that is happening here?" he asked, faking surprise and feeling the need to wash his mouth out from calling Umbridge a professor.
"What she's been telling us isn't good," he said briskly. "I hear that you and your staff are making things difficult for her?"
"I don't know what you mean," he answered, fighting a smile. He leaned back calmly in his seat as he felt Minerva walking over to stand beside him—she was very tense—as if she was expecting a fight. Kingsley and Dawlish, were positioned on either side of the door like guards, while Percy Weasley hovered excitedly beside the wall, a quill and a heavy scroll of parchment in his hands, apparently poised to take notes.
As for Fudge, he was rocking backwards and forwards on his toes beside the fire, looking very smug about something.
"You seem to be in an unusually good mood tonight, Cornelius," he commented uneasily.
"Ah," he said smiling, "Dolores contacted me just an hour ago, and when I heard, I knew I had to come here in person. Apparently there are a handful of students who don't appreciate the Ministry approved way of teaching. So I feel that I must make a more… ah… personal hand in this."
Albus's eyes narrowed. At that precise moment, the office door banged open and Umbridge strode straight inside, holding tightly to Harry. Making sure not to look at the boy, he glanced up at the portraits instead, who weren't even bothering to fake sleeping this time.
He watched as they all watched what was happening with great interest—and when Harry was dragged inside, they were all taking sudden new interest as they all began to whisper excitedly to each other.
"Well," he heard Fudge say, with the air of a child who was promised a rare treat. "Well, well, well…"
He didn't hear Harry say something, but he didn't need to for Umbridge started to speak, and very eagerly she did as well. "He was heading back to Gryffindor Tower. The Malfoy boy cornered him."
"Did he, did he?" said Fudge enthusiastically. "I must remember to tell Lucius. Well, Potter… I expect you know why you are here?"
But Albus had already guessed what this was about. Someone must have tipped Umbridge off about their Defense meetings and had informed the toad about it. And if something wasn't done, he was going to expel Harry right here and now. He knew that Harry had to lie no matter what. He turned and stared determinedly at a point just over Harry's right shoulder, but he knew that he would catch his attention. When he did, he shook his head a fraction of an inch to each side, knowing that no one else would notice.
"Ye—no," Harry said.
Silence entered the room.
"I beg your pardon?" said Fudge jerkily, as if he had a large headache. Apparently, he had expected Harry to just confess.
"No," Harry repeated firmly.
"You don't know why you are here?" Fudge demanded, and he could hear the anger slowly coming through.
"No, I don't," said Harry at once.
Fudge looked incredulously from Harry to Umbridge and back again. Albus kept his gaze to the floor, but he could feel that Harry was looking at him, he gave the carpet the tiniest of nods and the shadow of a wink.
"So you have no idea," said Fudge full of sarcasm, "why Professor Umbridge has brought you to this office? You are not aware that you have broken any school rules?"
"School rules?" said Harry at once, "No."
"Or Ministry Decrees?" amended Fudge angrily.
"Not that I'm aware of," said Harry blandly.
"So, it's news to you, is it," said Fudge and Albus could see that the Minister was now shaking with anger. He had to admit that it was funny to see someone like Fudge, who believed himself to be so great, angered so easily by a teenage boy, "that an illegal student organization has been discovered within this school?"
"Yes, it is," said Harry simply.
"I think, Minister," said Umbridge silkily from beside him, "We might make better progress if I fetch our informant."
"Yes, yes, do," said Fudge, nodding, and he glanced maliciously at Albus as Umbridge left the room. "There's nothing like a good witness, is there, Dumbledore?"
"Nothing at all, Cornelius," he said gravely, inclining his head. They all waited where they stood for a few minutes; he was sure that each of them were wondering who Umbridge was bringing.
Finally, she came back, gripping by the shoulder Marietta Edgecombe of Ravenclaw, who was hiding her face in her hands.
"Don't be scared, dear, don't be frightened," said Umbridge softly, patting her on the back, "it's quite all right, now. You have done the right thing. The Minister is very pleased with you. He'll be telling your mother what a good girl you've been."
Albus's felt anger in the pit of his stomach again. She was talking to the girl as if she were a pet…
"Marietta's mother, Minister," she added, looking up at Fudge, "is Madam Edgecombe from the Department of Magical Transportation, Floo Network office - she's been helping us police the Hogwarts fires, you know."
"Jolly good, jolly good!" said Fudge heartily. "Like mother, like daughter, eh? Well, come on, now, dear, look up, don't be shy, let's hear what you've got to - galloping gargoyles!"
As Marietta raised her head, Fudge leapt backwards in shock, nearly landing himself in the fire. Albus couldn't blame him… for before Marietta let out a cry and hid her face again, everyone in the room could see the series of close-set purple pustules that had spread across her nose and cheeks to form one word… SNEAK.
"Never mind the spots now, dear," said Umbridge impatiently, "just take your robes away from your mouth and tell the Minister -"
But Marietta gave another muffled wail and shook her head frantically, refusing to speak another word.
"Oh, very well, you silly girl, I'll tell him," she snapped and turned back to Fudge, obviously not caring about the girl at all. "Well, Minister, Miss Edgecombe here came to my office shortly after dinner this evening and told me she had something she wanted to tell me. She said that if I proceeded to a secret room on the seventh floor, sometimes known as the Room of Requirement, I would find out something to my advantage. I questioned her a little further and she admitted that there was to be some kind of meeting there. Unfortunately, at that point this hex," she waved impatiently at Marietta's concealed face, "came into operation and upon catching sight of her face in my mirror the girl became too distressed to tell me anymore."
"Well, now," said Fudge, having recovered from the shock and was now looking at her with new interest. "It is very brave of you, my dear, coming to tell Professor Umbridge. You did exactly the right thing. Now, will you tell me what happened at this meeting? What was its purpose? Who was there?"
But Marietta would not speak; she merely shook her head again, her eyes wide and fearful.
"Haven't we got a counter-jinx for this?" Fudge asked Umbridge impatiently, gesturing at Marietta's face. "So she can speak freely?"
"I have not yet managed to find one," Umbridge admitted grudgingly. "But it doesn't matter if she won't speak, I can take up the story from here."
"You will remember, Minister, that I sent you a report back in October that Potter had met a number of fellow students in the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade -"
"And what is your evidence for that?" cut in Minerva at once. It had been the first time she spoke since entering the room, and he looked over to see the righteous fury starting to build up in her red cheeks.
"I have testimony from Willy Widdershins, Minerva, who happened to be in the bar at the time. He was heavily bandaged, it is true, but his hearing was quite unimpaired," said Umbridge smugly. "He heard every word Potter said and hastened straight to the school to report to me -"
"Oh, so that's why he wasn't prosecuted for setting up all those regurgitating toilets!" said Minerva, raising her eyebrows. "What an interesting insight into our justice system!"
"Blatant corruption!" Dexter chose that moment to call out, "The Ministry did not cut deals with petty criminals in my day, no sir, they did not!"
"Thank you, Fortescue, that will do," said Albus softly.
"The purpose of Potter's meeting with these students," continued Umbridge arrogantly, "was to persuade them to join an illegal society, whose aim was to learn spells and curses the Ministry has decided are inappropriate for school-age -"
"I think you'll find you're wrong there, Dolores," Albus interrupted quietly and they all turned to look at him.
"Oho!" said Fudge, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet again. "Yes, do let's hear the latest cock-and-bull story designed to pull Potter out of trouble! Go on, then, Dumbledore, go on - Willy Widdershins was lying, was he? Or was it Potters identical twin in the Hog's Head that day? Or is there the usual simple explanation involving a reversal of time, a dead man coming back to life and a couple of invisible Dementors?"
Percy Weasley let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, very good, Minister, very good!"
But Albus merely smiled and pointed out the honest truth—that the group wasn't illegal. The Ministry Decree banned student societies two days later so they weren't breaking any rules. It was almost worth having all these problems here just to see the stunned looks on everyone's faces at as they realized he was right.
"That's all very fine, Headmaster," Umbridge said, recovering from shock and smiling sweetly, "but we are now nearly six months on from the introduction of Educational Decree Number Twenty-four. If the first meeting was not illegal, all those that have happened since most certainly are."
"Well," he said, surveying her with polite interest over the top of his interlocked fingers, "they certainly would be, if they had continued after the Decree came into effect. Do you have any evidence that any such meetings continued?"
As he spoke, his eyes looked over to Kingsley as he silently tried to tell him what he wanted him to do. Thankfully, he watched as Kingsley blinked in understanding and the tip of his wand poked out of his pocket. With everyone's attention focused on himself, they didn't notice Kingsley cast his spell or when Miss Edgecombe's eyes became dreamy and blank.
"Evidence?" repeated Umbridge, hardly able to keep herself calm from glee. "Have you not been listening, Dumbledore? Why do you think Miss Edgecombe is here?"
"Oh, can she tell us about six months' worth of meetings?" he asked them all, raising his eyebrows. "I was under the impression that she was merely reporting a meeting tonight."
"Miss Edgecombe," said Umbridge at once, "tell us how long these meetings have been going on, dear. You can simply nod or shake your head, I'm sure that won't make the spots worse. Have they been happening regularly over the last six months? Just nod or shake your head, dear, come on, now, that won't re-activate the jinx."
As he had predicted, Marietta shook her head at the question. Umbridge looked quickly at Fudge, then back at Marietta, startled.
"I don't think you understood the question, did you, dear?" she asked, her eyes now starting to grow angry, "I'm asking whether you've been going to these meetings for the past six months? You have, haven't you?"
Again, Marietta shook her head.
"What do you mean by shaking your head, dear?" said Umbridge in an impatient voice.
"I would have thought her meaning was quite clear," said Minerva harshly, coming to Marietta's defense. "There have been no secret meetings for the past six months. Is that correct, Miss Edgecombe?"
Marietta nodded atonce.
"But there was a meeting tonight!" said Umbridge furiously. "There was a meeting, Miss Edgecombe, you told me about it, in the Room of Requirement! And Potter was the leader, was he not, Potter organized it, Potter - why are you shaking your head, girl?" she yelled at those last few words.
"Well, usually when a person shakes their head," Minerva said coldly, "they mean 'no'. So unless Miss Edgecombe is using a form of sign-language as yet unknown to humans -"
Umbridge seized Marietta, pulled her round to face her and began shaking her very hard. For a brief second, a flashback from his past came back and Albus could see his little sister's face flash before his eyes. Fury rose up inside him and he was on his feet in a heartbeat; his wand raised and having cast a Stinging Jinx until Umbridge released her.
He was a very patient man. But one thing that he could not allow was to see any of his students harm like that. "I cannot allow you to manhandle my students, Dolores," he said, his voice was softly but his anger was threatening to overpower him again.
"You want to calm yourself, Madam Umbridge," said Kingsley in his calming voice, as Umbridge backed away from Marietta in fear. "You don't want to get yourself into trouble, now."
"No," said Umbridge breathlessly, glancing up at Kingsley, and remembering her place. "I mean, yes - you're right, Shacklebolt - I - I forgot myself."
Albus felt a great deal of sympathy for Kingsley. It must've been so hard for him having to pretend he was on their side.
"Dolores," said Fudge, "the meeting tonight - the one we know definitely happened -"
"Yes," said Umbridge, pulling herself together, "yes… well, Miss Edgecombe tipped me off and I proceeded at once to the seventh floor, accompanied by certain trustworthy students, so as to catch those in the meeting red-handed. It appears that they were forewarned of my arrival, however, because when we reached the seventh floor they were running in every direction. It does not matter, however. I have all their names here, Miss Parkinson ran into the Room of Requirement for me to see if they had left anything behind. We needed evidence and the room provided."
She then pulled out a long roll of parchment. "The moment I saw Potter's name on the list, I knew what we were dealing with," she said softly.
"Excellent," said Fudge, a smile spreading across his face as he looked over it himself, "excellent, Dolores. And… by thunder…"
He stared at the parchment in stunned amazement before he looked up at him. He then whispered quietly, "See what they've named themselves? Dumbledore's Army."
Startled, Albus reached out and took the paper from him. There it was, clear as day… a list of all the students who had signed up to take a stand against the Ministry… and had taken up a name that they knew would frighten them the most. For a moment, he didn't know what to say… but he knew what he had to do. He looked up, smiling around at them all as if he had planned this all along.
"Well, the game is up," he said simply. "Would you like a written confession from me, Cornelius - or will a statement before these witnesses suffice?"
Minerva and Kingsley look at each other fearfully, having caught on what he was saying. But there wasn't anything that could be done about it. He knew that if Umbridge and Fudge had their way, then every person on this list would be expelled tonight. He had to put a stop to it and there was only one way. His first priority was to protect the students.
"Statement?" said Fudge slowly, not understanding what he was saying. "What - I don't -?"
"Dumbledore's Army, Cornelius," he said, still smiling as he waved the list of names before Fudge's face. "Not Potter's Army. Dumbledore's Army."
"But - but -" Fudge stammered out like an old car that was having trouble starting. Only a second later did he grasp what he was trying to say and horrified step backwards, yelped, and jumped out of the fire again.
"You?" he whispered, stamping again on his smouldering cloak.
"That's right," he said pleasantly.
"You organized this?"
"I did," he said happily.
"You recruited these students for - for your army?"
"Tonight was supposed to be the first meeting," he said, nodding. It was really too easy to lie here. Fudge had been laboring under this exact delusion for months after all, so it wasn't hard to play along. "Merely to see whether they would be interested in joining me. I see now that it was a mistake to invite Miss Edgecombe, of course."
It was clear that Marietta didn't understand what was happening here, but it was a good thing that she chose that moment to nod. Fudge looked from her to back to him, his chest swelling.
"Then you have been plotting against me!" he yelled triumphantly, pointing a finger at him dramatically.
"That's right," he said, quite cheerfully, now enjoying this.
"NO!"
He looked over and saw that Harry had stepped forward. Kingsley flashed a look of warning at him just as Minerva widened her eyes threateningly at him, but he ignored them both as he gasped out, "No — Professor Dumbledore -!"
Albus felt a stab of pity. He knew Harry would be blaming himself for this. But it wasn't his fault in the slightest. No, he was still quite proud of him for taking a stand and teaching others to do the same. It was just that sometimes you have to allow other people to make a sacrifice. If the Ministry hadn't been so blind, none of this ever would've happened in the first place.
"Be quiet, Harry, or I am afraid you will have to leave my office," he said calmly.
"Yes, shut up, Potter!" barked Fudge, and he couldn't ever remember seeing the man look as happy as he did now. "Well, well, well - I came here tonight expecting to expel Potter and instead -"
"Instead you get to arrest me," he answered, still smiling. "It's like losing a Knut and finding a Galleon, isn't it?"
"Weasley!" cried Fudge, now positively quivering with delight, "Weasley, have you written it all down, everything he's said, his confession, have you got it?"
"Yes, sir, I think so, sir!" said Percy eagerly, whose nose was splattered with ink from the speed of his note-taking.
"The bit about how he's been trying to build up an army against the Ministry, how he's been working to destabilize me?"
Technically, he never admitted to that, merely that he was working against the ministry and recruiting students for a defense group. Though, given what the Ministry is doing, he supposed that would be the least of their concerns.
"Yes, sir, I've got it, yes!" said Percy, scanning his notes joyfully.
"Very well, then," said Fudge, now radiant with glee, "duplicate your notes, Weasley, and send a copy to the Daily Prophet at once. If we send a fast owl we should make the morning edition!"
As Percy dashed from the room, Albus couldn't help but hope that the young man would, one day, reunite with his family. He knew from personal experience that choosing a career over your family will always make you regret later on.
Fudge then turned back to him and started to tell him how he would be escorted to Azkaban and to await trial and… so on and so forth…
He had a feeling that this was how this meeting was going to end and he told them so.
"Snag?" said Fudge, now positively out of his mind in joy. "I see no snag, Dumbledore!"
If he honestly thought that he was just going to quietly go to Azkaban, then he had a few more screws loose than he first thought. "Well," he said apologetically to him, "I'm afraid I do."
"Oh, really?" he demanded, though the smile was slowly starting to fade from his face.
"Well - it's just that you seem to be laboring under the delusion that I am going to - what is the phrase?" he stepped into the center of the room, "Come quietly? I am afraid I am not going to come quietly at all, Cornelius. I have absolutely no intention of being sent to Azkaban. I could break out, of course - but what a waste of time, and frankly, I can think of a whole host of things I would rather be doing."
He looked around them all in amusement; for each one had a different expression on their faces. He then noticed that Dawlish was starting to go for his wand and addressed him directly, "Don't be silly, Dawlish. I'm sure you are an excellent Auror - I seem to remember that you achieved 'Outstanding' in all your NEWT s — but if you attempt to — er — bring me in by force, I will have to hurt you."
"So," sneered Fudge at him. "You intend to take on Dawlish, Shacklebolt, Dolores and myself single-handed, do you, Dumbledore?"
"Merlin's beard, no," he chuckled, though he couldn't deny that a part of him was hoping that they would try something as foolish as attacking him. For that same part of him had wanted to curse Fudge for a long time now. "Not unless you are foolish enough to force me to."
"He will not be single-handed!" said Minerva loudly, plunging her hand inside her robes for her wand.
"Oh yes he will, Minerva!" he said to her sharply. It was the school and the students who needed her, and he wasn't going to take her down with him if he could help it. "Hogwarts needs you!"
"Enough of this rubbish!" said Fudge, pulling out his own wand. "Dawlish! Shacklebolt! Take him!"
They would regret that. He drew his own wand faster than any of them and caused a powerful streak of silver to echo around the room. The loud bang alone had been enough to make the room tremble and there were miniature explosions as his instruments were destroyed and the windows broke.
He heard several of the portraits yell as Fawkes screeched and rose into the air. There was dust so thick that he couldn't see anything at first; only able to hear the screams and the loud 'thuds' of bodies hitting the floor.
Silence fell almost at once. Albus turned around at once and sighed in relief to see Minerva had forced Harry and Marietta out of harm's way. For a moment, he was afraid he might've hit them too.
"Are you all right?" he asked, coming towards them.
"Yes!" Minerva gasped, getting up and dragging Harry and Marietta with her, both of them coughing up the dust as well. Speaking of which, the room was clearing and he was able to see the wreckage of the office. He hardly noticed the damage that he had done to his own office as Fawkes soared in wide circles above them, singing softly.
"Unfortunately, I had to hex Kingsley too, or it would have looked very suspicious," he explained to Minerva. "He was remarkably quick on the uptake, modifying Miss Edgecombe's memory like that while everyone was looking the other way - thank him, for me, won't you, Minerva?"
She nodded, but when she opened her mouth to ask him something, he already guess what she was about to say, "Now, they will all awake very soon and it will be best if they do not know that we had time to communicate - you must act as though no time has passed, as though they were merely knocked to the ground, they will not remember -"
"Where will you go, Dumbledore?" she whispered urgently. "Grimmauld Place?"
"Oh no," he answered with a grim smile, "I am not leaving to go into hiding. Fudge will soon wish he'd never dislodged me from Hogwarts, I promise you."
It had been the only way out of this mess. He had been able to take the trouble off Harry and his friends as well as using this chance to work for the Order fulltime. He could also focus all his resources and time on trying to stay ahead of Tom instead of having to file mostly useless paperwork. Every situation can be turned to an advantage if you think it through…
"Professor Dumbledore…" Harry began and Albus looked at him. He could still see the guilt written all over Harry's face. But he knew that he made the right choice. It was far more important that Harry is at Hogwarts than himself. He also happened to remember what Severus had said before, and used this chance to make him understand how important it was for him to learn how to close his mind.
"Listen to me, Harry," he said urgently. "You must study Occlumency as hard as you can, do you understand me? Do everything Professor Snape tells you and practice it particularly every night before sleeping so that you can close your mind to bad dreams - you will understand why soon enough, but you must promise me -"
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dawlish was stirring. He had to leave now, he seized Harry's wrist—desperate for him to fully appreciate how serious this was.
"Remember - close your mind -"
But even as he touched his wrist and looked directly at him, he saw that Harry's green eyes shifted once again. For a brief second, he was looking at Tom's eyes…
He had to get out now…
"- you will understand," was all he could say and then let go as Fawkes flew over to him. He raised his hand and grasped the tail… leaving his office, and Hogwarts behind.
Now that was what he called leaving with a bang.
(Hope you liked this chapter. But I'm having some trouble thinking of what scenes to tod next. Any ideas to what would you like to see next? And as for putting Fluffy in there? It said on Harry Potter Wiki, that Fluffy had been set lose in the forest… so why not?)
