A/N: ELLOOOOOOO Peepsickles!!!! Sorry it's been so long (again). My GCSEs
are now over and I'm on summer break! YAY! However, I've also been working
and on holiday (went to Wales, just thought you might like to know that,
and then to Paris, on tour, singing at Notre Dame), so I've been delayed
getting this chappy out. Sorry again!
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling's, not mine, blah blah blah.
Dedication: This chapter is in memory of Floppy, my great friend Rachy's bunny, who sadly passed away on 16 July 2002.
Dies Diem Docet
Chapter Thirteen: Yet Another Meeting.
Upon reaching the familiar stone gargoyle that was the entrance to Dumbledore's office, Harry felt another flash of pain in his scar. However, it was so brief that Harry was not bothered too much by it. Therefore, he gave the password to the gargoyle (Cadbury's), and stepped on the moving staircase that led up to Dumbledore's office. Upon reaching the door, he paused, wondering if he should have waited until a later time to see the Headmaster. Then, reminding himself that Dumbledore wanted to see him anyway, he knocked on the door of the office and entered.
Dumbledore was walking around the familiar room, supposedly thinking about something. Harry remained silent, knowing that the Headmaster would address him when he was ready.
"Ah! Mr. Potter! What brings you to my office before the end of the day's lessons? I hope you have not been sent out of Divination?"
Briefly wondering how Dumbledore knew that he had had Divination, then reminding himself that Dumbledore knew everything that went on in the school, Harry decided to reply.
"There are two reason Professor. The first is that you asked me to see you, and the second is that Professor Trelawny made a prediction just now in my Divination lesson."
"Ah! Sybil made another prediction! Harry, you must remind me to give her that pay rise I mentioned in your third year. What did she say?"
Harry thought hard to remember exactly what Trelawny had said. If he got one word wrong, it could mean that the prediction was interpreted incorrectly.
"The Lion shall destroy the Snake,
The Dog shall catch the Rat,
The Phoenix shall be reincarnated,
The Insect shall return."
Dumbledore listened to the prediction with his eyes closed, apparently taking it in word by word. When Harry had finished, he remained silent for a while. Harry felt nervous in the silence, and shifted nervously from foot to foot, while looking at the various past Head teachers of Hogwarts, all asleep in their portraits.
"Harry, I am not able to interpret all of the prediction," at this Harry's face fell, "however, I believe that I can tell you what some of it means. The Lion is the Heir of Gryffindor, that is, you Harry. The Snake therefore, is the Heir of Slytherin, Voldemort. I understand the Dog to be Sirius, and the Rat to be Pettigrew. The Phoenix has a double meaning. All Phoenixes are reincarnated when they burn, as you have witnessed with Fawkes, however, I believe the prediction also means the Order Of The Phoenix, which, as you know, has been reinstated. However, I do not understand the final line, about the insect returning." Harry was about to respond to this, having been shocked that Dumbledore was able to get so much from the words, when Dumbledore continued. "Mr. Potter, it was very stupid to drink that potion earlier. You should never, as I'm sure you know, drink a potion not knowing what it is. However, it was a very brave thing for you to do. Therefore, I am awarding Gryffindor House 5 points for your action."
Harry beamed. To be told you are brave by Albus Dumbledore was very high praise indeed. He muttered a 'thank you', before hearing a knock at the door. Dumbledore told the person outside to enter, and a rather nervous looking Draco Malfoy entered the room. Upon seeing Harry, he shot him a venomous glare, which Harry decided to ignore for once.
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy. How nice of you to join us. I only wish that it were on a happier note. I have had reports from some of the teachers that your behaviour so far this term has been far from satisfactory. Therefore, taking into account your actions this morning in your Potions lesson, I have no alternative but to remove your Prefects title, and to put you on a final warning. If any other incidences should occur, you will be expelled from this school."
Throughout this, Malfoy had stood silently, his face expressionless. When Dumbledore finished speaking, he said a quiet, "Yes Sir." However, what Dumbledore was to say next changed him completely.
"Mr. Malfoy, I have also owled a letter to your parents, informing them of this. You are also removed from the Slytherin Quidditch Team for this term only." Had Harry been in this situation, he would have been more upset about being removed from the Quidditch Team than having a letter sent to the Dursleys. This did not appear to be the case for Malfoy, who turned white as a sheet (yes folks, whiter than usual) when Dumbledore mentioned the letter sent to his father. "That is all Mr. Malfoy, you may leave now."
Harry watched Malfoy leave Dumbledore's office. For the first time, he actually felt rather sorry for Malfoy. He had seen first-hand how strict Lucius Malfoy was, and personally felt that he was a version of Vernon Dursley, only slightly different. This version was a lot thinner, and was armed with a wand.
"Mr. Potter, I believe there it something else you wish to ask me, am I correct?"
"Yes Professor Dumbledore. I noticed today that the classrooms appear to have been redecorated in some way, and I was merely wondering what this was and why."
Professor Dumbledore smiled, "I am so glad that you have noticed Harry! I was wondering how long it would be until somebody mentioned it to me. I in fact had a small wager with Professor McGonagall on how long it would be. It appears that I owe her a Butterbeer. The 'redecoration', as you put it Mr. Potter, is the result of numerous very strong protection charms that have been placed on the school over the summer holidays. I am sure Severus will love the new look it has given his Potions Dungeon. With that Mr. Potter, I bid you adieu, for I have many things to attend to. Not only that, but I believe that it is almost time for dinner."
Harry smiled, said goodbye to Professor Dumbledore, and left the office. He immediately headed towards the Gryffindor Common Room, knowing that Ron and Hermione would be waiting for him.
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling's, not mine, blah blah blah.
Dedication: This chapter is in memory of Floppy, my great friend Rachy's bunny, who sadly passed away on 16 July 2002.
Dies Diem Docet
Chapter Thirteen: Yet Another Meeting.
Upon reaching the familiar stone gargoyle that was the entrance to Dumbledore's office, Harry felt another flash of pain in his scar. However, it was so brief that Harry was not bothered too much by it. Therefore, he gave the password to the gargoyle (Cadbury's), and stepped on the moving staircase that led up to Dumbledore's office. Upon reaching the door, he paused, wondering if he should have waited until a later time to see the Headmaster. Then, reminding himself that Dumbledore wanted to see him anyway, he knocked on the door of the office and entered.
Dumbledore was walking around the familiar room, supposedly thinking about something. Harry remained silent, knowing that the Headmaster would address him when he was ready.
"Ah! Mr. Potter! What brings you to my office before the end of the day's lessons? I hope you have not been sent out of Divination?"
Briefly wondering how Dumbledore knew that he had had Divination, then reminding himself that Dumbledore knew everything that went on in the school, Harry decided to reply.
"There are two reason Professor. The first is that you asked me to see you, and the second is that Professor Trelawny made a prediction just now in my Divination lesson."
"Ah! Sybil made another prediction! Harry, you must remind me to give her that pay rise I mentioned in your third year. What did she say?"
Harry thought hard to remember exactly what Trelawny had said. If he got one word wrong, it could mean that the prediction was interpreted incorrectly.
"The Lion shall destroy the Snake,
The Dog shall catch the Rat,
The Phoenix shall be reincarnated,
The Insect shall return."
Dumbledore listened to the prediction with his eyes closed, apparently taking it in word by word. When Harry had finished, he remained silent for a while. Harry felt nervous in the silence, and shifted nervously from foot to foot, while looking at the various past Head teachers of Hogwarts, all asleep in their portraits.
"Harry, I am not able to interpret all of the prediction," at this Harry's face fell, "however, I believe that I can tell you what some of it means. The Lion is the Heir of Gryffindor, that is, you Harry. The Snake therefore, is the Heir of Slytherin, Voldemort. I understand the Dog to be Sirius, and the Rat to be Pettigrew. The Phoenix has a double meaning. All Phoenixes are reincarnated when they burn, as you have witnessed with Fawkes, however, I believe the prediction also means the Order Of The Phoenix, which, as you know, has been reinstated. However, I do not understand the final line, about the insect returning." Harry was about to respond to this, having been shocked that Dumbledore was able to get so much from the words, when Dumbledore continued. "Mr. Potter, it was very stupid to drink that potion earlier. You should never, as I'm sure you know, drink a potion not knowing what it is. However, it was a very brave thing for you to do. Therefore, I am awarding Gryffindor House 5 points for your action."
Harry beamed. To be told you are brave by Albus Dumbledore was very high praise indeed. He muttered a 'thank you', before hearing a knock at the door. Dumbledore told the person outside to enter, and a rather nervous looking Draco Malfoy entered the room. Upon seeing Harry, he shot him a venomous glare, which Harry decided to ignore for once.
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy. How nice of you to join us. I only wish that it were on a happier note. I have had reports from some of the teachers that your behaviour so far this term has been far from satisfactory. Therefore, taking into account your actions this morning in your Potions lesson, I have no alternative but to remove your Prefects title, and to put you on a final warning. If any other incidences should occur, you will be expelled from this school."
Throughout this, Malfoy had stood silently, his face expressionless. When Dumbledore finished speaking, he said a quiet, "Yes Sir." However, what Dumbledore was to say next changed him completely.
"Mr. Malfoy, I have also owled a letter to your parents, informing them of this. You are also removed from the Slytherin Quidditch Team for this term only." Had Harry been in this situation, he would have been more upset about being removed from the Quidditch Team than having a letter sent to the Dursleys. This did not appear to be the case for Malfoy, who turned white as a sheet (yes folks, whiter than usual) when Dumbledore mentioned the letter sent to his father. "That is all Mr. Malfoy, you may leave now."
Harry watched Malfoy leave Dumbledore's office. For the first time, he actually felt rather sorry for Malfoy. He had seen first-hand how strict Lucius Malfoy was, and personally felt that he was a version of Vernon Dursley, only slightly different. This version was a lot thinner, and was armed with a wand.
"Mr. Potter, I believe there it something else you wish to ask me, am I correct?"
"Yes Professor Dumbledore. I noticed today that the classrooms appear to have been redecorated in some way, and I was merely wondering what this was and why."
Professor Dumbledore smiled, "I am so glad that you have noticed Harry! I was wondering how long it would be until somebody mentioned it to me. I in fact had a small wager with Professor McGonagall on how long it would be. It appears that I owe her a Butterbeer. The 'redecoration', as you put it Mr. Potter, is the result of numerous very strong protection charms that have been placed on the school over the summer holidays. I am sure Severus will love the new look it has given his Potions Dungeon. With that Mr. Potter, I bid you adieu, for I have many things to attend to. Not only that, but I believe that it is almost time for dinner."
Harry smiled, said goodbye to Professor Dumbledore, and left the office. He immediately headed towards the Gryffindor Common Room, knowing that Ron and Hermione would be waiting for him.