... Are condemned to relive it

Harry was in front of the Gargoyle, his eyes fixated on its cold face, completely motionless in the dark corridor on a Sunday night. He had received a short message indicating him he was expected in the Headmaster office. At first, he had felt relief and joy fill him. But then, the idea of being face to face with Dumbledore, after that had happened since July, had made him slightly nervous. And now that he was facing the entrance to the office, probably had for a few minutes now, he was truly anxious.

What would they talk about?

Cedric? Voldemort? The Dementor's attack? Umbridge's countless detentions? He instinctively pulled his sleeve above his scared hand. Despite his best behaviour, he still had received additional punishment. At this point he feared it would stay here forever.

"I must not tell lies."

A wave of anger replaced his anxious feeling. Yes, maybe they could talk about this. Why has Dumbledore let such an evil creature within the school walls?! Why had Dumbledore let helplessly his Home being torn apart?

Harry took a few breaths to repress the rage that was slowly building, remembering Salazar's advice. However, this anger was his anger. Not Voldemort's one… right?

He sighed and told the password to the Gargoyle. Maybe it would be a good thing for him to sit down someday and think about all this.

He closed the door behind him and as he was reaching the directorial desk, he thought first that the office was empty. He let his gaze float on the room walls. Many portraits were asleep, others had glanced curiously at him first but now were minding their own business. Harry would have given a lot for his classmates to behave the same.

Anger rose again and he shook his head a bit. This were just portraits! He really needed to work on his temper.

As he had decided to get his attention on the silver objects lying behind their glasses on well arranged cupboards, he heard a voice rise on his left that almost made him jump out of surprise.

'Good evening, Harry,' said the Headmaster in his usual peaceful voice. 'I trust you had no issues finding your way to my office.'

'It sure has been a long time Sir,' replied Harry almost immediately. The word has escaped his mouth before he could retain them, and it startled him. What the Hell?! This isn't what he wanted to say! Such insolence was normally reserved for the Dursleys, Malfoy or Snape.

'I'm sorry,' he added immediately. 'I… no I had no issues coming here tonight.'

He turned toward Dumbledore and noticed he had his back facing a window. With the lightning in the room, he was half hidden in the shadow. Harry could only guess his face without distinguishing his eyes or his features.

'What can I do for you, Professor?' Asked Harry as politely as possible.

Dumbledore was very interested by Harry's outburst. When he had seen the young boy enter his office, he had hoped that he was wrong. Maybe the connection wasn't as bad as he thought. But hearing Harry's answer confirmed his suspicions. Harry had multiple reason to be nervous this year. He was one of those reasons. But this lingering wrath wasn't Harry's. He could still send the boy back in his dorm after a small chit-chat that would hopefully ease Harry a bit. Or he could follow Minerva's advice. It was time to poke the boy.

'How has been school so far?' He asked on a pleasant tone like they were about to have a nice conversation around tea and biscuits.

'Huh… Not so bad, I guess,' answered Harry a bit lost. The Headmaster hadn't made him come here tonight to ask him about his lessons, had he?

'I heard you have improved a lot in several classes,' continued Dumbledore oblivious to Harry's growing discomfort. 'Professor Snape almost complimented you in my presence last week.'

'Did he?' Automatically replied Harry.

Details, details, details. Little things that would normally have gone unnoticed but that were now glaring. The Headmaster had waited for him to relax a bit before addressing him. He had wanted to surprise him. He hadn't offered any seats, letting him stand in the light while he was concealed in the shadows, forbidding Harry to see his reactions. Forbidding Harry to guess any of his intentions.

'Excuse me, Sir,' he said in a voice he tried to steady. 'But am I really here to talk about my grades and classes?'

'Why are there any other matters you would like to talk about?'

'Well, huh…' And there he was tuterring again. 'I don't know Sir. Perhaps we could discuss why I had to wait until early December to see you at last!'

The Headmaster stood quiet and Harry was starting to find it really annoying to not being able to see his face.

'I reckon I could have organized our encounter a bit earlier,' said Dumbledore like he was granting Harry a fair point. 'Now please tell me, my boy, what are the reasons that led you to accept my invitation tonight?'

'I wanted to see you,' thought Harry. But this time he didn't allow the words to be voiced out loud.

'What is being done to stop Voldemort?' He asked impatiently. 'Why nobody tells me what's happening? Will there be a war?'

He was spitting questions after questions, closing his fists without realising it. When he was done, there was one he had avoided to ask: why did you abandon me? Voicing everything left him out of breath. He then realised another detail. Him being thrown into the light while the Headmaster was in the shadow made him vulnerable. He was a prey again. Dumbledore's prey.

'And you!?' He hissed forgetting basic politeness. 'Why have you asked me to come tonight?'

'I wanted to see you,' answered Dumbledore simply. 'I know how tough it must be for you out there.'

'No you don't!'

'I beg your pardon?' Replied Dumbledore calmly. Harry could guess the smile the old wizard had on his face. It threw him on the edge.

'You have no idea how life has been for me since July,' said Harry clenching his fists.

'What's on you hand?' Said suddenly Dumbledore cutting him off.

'Nothing,' replied Harry hastily.

But before he had the time to pull his sleeve on his hand again, Dumbledore had closed the distant between them with a speed that surprised Harry. At the sight of the scar, Dumbledore had completely forgotten about his plan. In a second, he had taken the boy's hand into his and, with a concerning look, read the red words carved on Harry's flesh.

'Harry, I…' he muttered absently.

He raised his eyes on the boy's face. He didn't care about what he would trigger. The situation had escaped him the worse manner possible. Harry was looking away, trying to pull his hand back. But Dumbledore was holding it too firmly for him.

'What is this, Harry?' Asked Dumbledore in a strangled voice already knowing the answer.

'Like if you cared,' spat the boy turning his gaze toward Dumbledore's face. For the first time since July, he met the sapphire gaze of his Headmaster.

They were so close, he could distinguish all the features that had been hidden in the dark a few seconds ago. They were so close, he just had to move his head forward a few inches and he would be within range. Something rose in the depth of him. Like a snake rearing up to attack. Dumbledore released Harry's hand and walked towards his desk. As quickly as the sensation had seized Harry, it faded away.

'Believe me when I say I do,' whispered the old wizard as he was heading to his chair. He didn't sit but put his hands on his desk, his eyes fixated on a point that seemed to be located just behind Harry. Still shocked about the urge he had felt seconds ago, the boy felt calmer. This didn't last.

Hem hem!' He heard behind him. He thought about jumping through the window for a minute.

Dumbledore straightened up. He had wondered how long he could keep her in the dark about the meeting he just had with Harry and realised that it hadn't been long enough. He would need to take more precautions next time.

'I didn't know simple students could require a one-on-one with the Headmaster,' said Umbridge with a silky voice. 'Would you care to enlighten me about the purpose of this meeting?' Her smile grew bigger.

'I wanted the Headmaster to help me get me back on the Quidditch team,' intervened Harry before Dumbledore could answer the question.

'Is that so?' Replied Umbridge with gloating pleasure. 'But surely you understand the reason you were expelled from your Seeker position? Bad children deserved to be punished. Don't you agree with me Mr. Potter?'

Dumbledore watched Harry nod toward Umbridge and felt his heart clench. This humiliation was outraging. But there was nothing he could do. Any faux-pas would get him to be expelled from his Headmaster position and he couldn't afford to leave Harry alone.

While Umbridge was staying to have a word with the Headmaster, Harry left the office and headed immediately to the Chamber. A million thoughts were racing each other in his head. Was Umbridge the reason why Dumbledore wouldn't see him? Was the Ministry thinking they were plotting as the Prophet was suggesting it? He cursed himself. He should have thought about this! Dumbledore wasn't ignoring him for the sake of it.

He watched the Chamber open and sighed. At least there was one thing he had guessed right: he really was on his own.