Chapter 2
Dumbledore looked exhausted, there was no other word for it, but seeing his office door swing open with an unlikely group entering woke him up, raising both his suspicions and curiosity.
Alastair moody was pulling Harry Potter into his office by the scruff of his neck, with Ginny Weasley and Severus following behind them. Once inside Dumbledore's office, Harry stopped struggling, he realised he'd lost this fight.
'Alastair, what has happened?' Dumbledore asked in surprise.
'Albus, I have just caught Potter trying to sneak out of the castle grounds' Alastair replied nudging Harry forward towards the desk. Harry stumbled slightly but quickly regained his balance and straightened himself out.
'Harry? Is this true?' Dumbledore asked, a note of disappointment lining his voice.
'Yes' Harry replied sheepishly, looking anywhere but at Dumbledore.
'Why would you be trying to leave the castle Harry? It's not safe out there, you know that' Dumbledore asked calmly.
Harry rolled his eyes then looked up to Dumbledore 'well I'm not much safer here am I' Harry challenged.
'Sorry Harry I don't understand you' Dumbledore replied. 'the castle is well protected; is there a particular reason you do not feel safe here?'
Harry didn't reply, but went back to studying the floor, unable to meet anyone's eyes.
The room remained in uncomfortable silence with everyone waiting to hear what Harry had to say.
Snape was starting to lose patience, so he broke the silence 'Oh potter, hurry up and speak will you, we are all so eager to learn why you were trying to leave the castle' sarcasm filled his voice but his words hit there mark.
Harry turned to Snape with malice in his eyes. 'wouldn't you like to know, death eater'.
The atmosphere in the room became sharp, everyone knew it was a bad idea to talk back to Snape.
A fire rose in Snape; the Potter brat had no right to disrespect him like that, he retorted; 'it's always about you isn't it Mr Potter? If you're not getting attention your just not satisfied. Just like your father'
'No, you don't Potter', Harry had made to jump at Snape, but Mad Eye had read his intentions and held him back by the back of his shirt.
'See, Just like your father' Sneered Snape.
'Shut up you hook nosed….' Harry started to retort before Dumbledore cut him off.
'I think that's quite enough' Dumbledore spoke with authority, looking meaningfully at each of them 'Severus, Miss Weasley, Alastair, maybe you could leave Harry and I to talk in private'
'but...' Started Ginny.
'Please Miss Weasley, I'm sure Harry can fill you in in the morning, it is getting rather late'
Ginny sighed then started to make her way towards the door, followed by a murderous looking Snape and Mad Eye who turned back at the door to speak to Dumbledore.
'I'll be outside Albus, to escort Potter back to his dormitory after your talk'
Dumbledore gave a slight nod in Moody's direction, then turned back to look at Harry as the door closed.
'Now Harry, I need you to tell me what all this is about?'
Harry gathered his courage and looked up to meet Dumbledores eyes, immediately regretting doing so, how is it that Dumbledores eyes could penetrate him like that, making him want to spill all his secrets. But he couldn't, he couldn't tell him the true reason for leaving, He couldn't let anyone know.
'Please Harry, I cannot help you if you will not speak with me. I understand you do not trust me after what happened last year, and I cannot force you to talk with me, however I cannot permit you to leave the grounds and I will have to increase security if I believe you are at risk of trying again' Dumbledore said when Harry remained silent, fixing him with a meaningful look.
Oh no Harry thought, he will have someone follow me won't he, then I'll never be able to get away.
Harry had no choice but to speak to him, give him a bit of what he wanted to hear.
'I've heard the prophecy professor' Harry started, 'I'm not stupid, I know you are keeping things from me, If I'm going to be the one pushed out as bait for Voldemort I think I deserve to know the full picture, remember last time you decided to keep things from me? How did that turn out professor?' he was of course referring to the previous year when Dumbledore's lack of communication had ultimately resulted in Sirius' death.
Harry paused momentarily looking straight into Dumbledore's eyes, daring him to deny Harry's accusations.
Dumbledore sighed, 'I will be honest with you Harry, there are some things in the past which I have kept from you, not because I wanted to mislead you or cause you pain, but because I simply thought you were not old enough to understand the true weight of what it all meant'.
He continued after a moment of thought, 'Last year, I was not there for you as I should have been, perhaps if I'd been more open with you, Sirius would still be here'
'I cannot change what has happened in the past Harry, but I promise you from now on there will be no more secrets. You are not alone in this Harry, not one person is expecting you to go out alone and defeat Voldemort'
At that moment the clock chimed 1 o clock in the morning.
'I believe it is now way past curfew and I think it would be a good idea to continue this discussion in the morning, if that is okay with you Harry?'
'Y.. Yes professor'
Harry was a little taken aback at Dumbledore's honesty, he didn't expect him to say things so plainly. He didn't really want to end the conversation there, but looking at Dumbledore he saw again the exhaustion that plagued his face when he had first arrived, besides, he was sure he could find a way out of the castle before morning, he was still in possession of the Marauders map after all.
'Alastair' Dumbledore called out, and a moment later, Mad Eye opened the door. 'Could you please escort Mr Potter to Gryffindor tower'.
'Of course, Headmaster' Mad Eye said.
'Come and see me in the morning Harry, you are excused from your classes' Dumbledore said, indicating for Harry to leave.
Without another word Harry turned to leave the headmasters office…
… but that's when the pain hit.