Chapter 11
Professor Dumbledore
After a dinner of pork chops and corn on the cob the day at Hogwarts was over. Alana was going up to the prefect room, and the rest of the Slytherins were going to play exploding snaps. But the day was not over for Shayna, she trudged up the stairs and into the library, plopping down in one of the front tables.
She nodded to the librarian and looked around. A little Gryffindor girl sat a few tables away with a box and some silver badges spread out in front of her.
"Miss Riddle?" a voice asked from behind her Shayna turned and saw an old man smiling at her from behind a pair of half moon glasses. Her jaw opened involuntarily. "Professor Dumbledore?!" "Yes" he smiled sitting down "At least the last time I checked, though it may have changed."
"So ... you're teaching me magical theory?" she stumbled "Yes, well I can not be here all the time sadly. But I will be over seeing your studies. Magical theory has always been an interest of mine. And I do miss teaching. But must say I was quite surprised to find a student was interested in taking it again. May I ask why you wish to study this?"
"I think it's important not only to be able to use magic, but to know how it works, and why." she said it was the response she had rehearsed, but she felt silly saying it now.
Dumbledore nodded "Well then, did you have a topic in mind for the first paper you'll write me?" "Talents, why magic favors certain people for certain things. Like Quiddtich players, potions masters ..."
"Interesting we shall see how that progresses." There was a short silence, and then "Are you certain there is no other reasons you wished to take this class." "no, why do you ask?"
"Well, your father was in magical theory just a few years before it canceled." The Headmaster said in a low voice
"My father was a muggle."
"My child I know who your father is. I am one of the that recognized the dark lord as our own Hogwarts head boy from 49 years ago." Shayna's face quickly flushed with panic. "Do not worry, Severus and I are the only one's who know. And I assure you your secret is safe with me. I was simply wondering if the Lord Voldemort's interest in this subject had anything to do with yours."
Shayna's lips thinned. There would have been some choice words had this man not been the Headmaster. "Professor, the last time I saw my father I ran. I ran from Africa to London, and I have not stopped running from him and everything he stands for. If you believe that Magical Theory is in any way connected to my father's actions, or the dark arts in general do tell me. And I will drop this class before you can say Every Flavored Beans."
To her great surprise Dumbeldore smiled at her, his blue eyes twinkling. "I in no way think you seek to follow in your father's foot-steps, forgive me if I sounded as though I did. Truth be told you remind me of my self as a fifth year student."
Shayna raised her right eye brow "You're father went on mass killing sprees?" Dumbledore smiled, perhaps at the thought of his father. "No" he said at last "You stand tall against the dark arts. And you are not afraid to say so, although other's may not expect that of you. You will do great things my dear, I am sure of it."
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"Wow Dumbledore?"
"Really?"
Shayna had returned to the common room and told Jes Josh and Amber all about her magical theory lesson. They all seemed as astonished as she had been. But they didn't warm up to the idea as she had. Josh and Amber weren't big fans of the Headmaster.
"So anyways." Josh changed the subject "there's a Hogsmead trip this weekend. We are going I assume."
"What else would we do, stay here?"
A small cough could be heard at the other end of the otherwise empty dungeon. Little Michelle was sitting on the stone step, waiting for Shayna she assumed for once they all turned around she waved for her to come closer. "I'll be right back guys."
"Hi Shayna" she said quietly, closing what must have been her diary "Hi Michelle, feeling better?"
The littler girl nodded and as she did so her blonde curls bounced. She looked down right cheerful, a big change for the tear streaked blue eyes she'd had last night. "I'm having a great time. I hade potions already and I seem to be really good at it. And I think the teacher there likes me. He seemed nice. And then in transfiguration we started changing matches into needles, mine didn't work, but it did get all pointy. And I have a friend now, her name is Nickie. And guess what. Her mom and dad went to Hogwarts!"
"Didn't yours?" Shayna interrupted looking closer at her She didn't look like a mudblood "I don't know" she said shortly "They're dead."
"Oh" Shayna said awkwardly "sorry, well you call me if you need anything. Good night Michelle."
Professor Dumbledore
After a dinner of pork chops and corn on the cob the day at Hogwarts was over. Alana was going up to the prefect room, and the rest of the Slytherins were going to play exploding snaps. But the day was not over for Shayna, she trudged up the stairs and into the library, plopping down in one of the front tables.
She nodded to the librarian and looked around. A little Gryffindor girl sat a few tables away with a box and some silver badges spread out in front of her.
"Miss Riddle?" a voice asked from behind her Shayna turned and saw an old man smiling at her from behind a pair of half moon glasses. Her jaw opened involuntarily. "Professor Dumbledore?!" "Yes" he smiled sitting down "At least the last time I checked, though it may have changed."
"So ... you're teaching me magical theory?" she stumbled "Yes, well I can not be here all the time sadly. But I will be over seeing your studies. Magical theory has always been an interest of mine. And I do miss teaching. But must say I was quite surprised to find a student was interested in taking it again. May I ask why you wish to study this?"
"I think it's important not only to be able to use magic, but to know how it works, and why." she said it was the response she had rehearsed, but she felt silly saying it now.
Dumbledore nodded "Well then, did you have a topic in mind for the first paper you'll write me?" "Talents, why magic favors certain people for certain things. Like Quiddtich players, potions masters ..."
"Interesting we shall see how that progresses." There was a short silence, and then "Are you certain there is no other reasons you wished to take this class." "no, why do you ask?"
"Well, your father was in magical theory just a few years before it canceled." The Headmaster said in a low voice
"My father was a muggle."
"My child I know who your father is. I am one of the that recognized the dark lord as our own Hogwarts head boy from 49 years ago." Shayna's face quickly flushed with panic. "Do not worry, Severus and I are the only one's who know. And I assure you your secret is safe with me. I was simply wondering if the Lord Voldemort's interest in this subject had anything to do with yours."
Shayna's lips thinned. There would have been some choice words had this man not been the Headmaster. "Professor, the last time I saw my father I ran. I ran from Africa to London, and I have not stopped running from him and everything he stands for. If you believe that Magical Theory is in any way connected to my father's actions, or the dark arts in general do tell me. And I will drop this class before you can say Every Flavored Beans."
To her great surprise Dumbeldore smiled at her, his blue eyes twinkling. "I in no way think you seek to follow in your father's foot-steps, forgive me if I sounded as though I did. Truth be told you remind me of my self as a fifth year student."
Shayna raised her right eye brow "You're father went on mass killing sprees?" Dumbledore smiled, perhaps at the thought of his father. "No" he said at last "You stand tall against the dark arts. And you are not afraid to say so, although other's may not expect that of you. You will do great things my dear, I am sure of it."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Wow Dumbledore?"
"Really?"
Shayna had returned to the common room and told Jes Josh and Amber all about her magical theory lesson. They all seemed as astonished as she had been. But they didn't warm up to the idea as she had. Josh and Amber weren't big fans of the Headmaster.
"So anyways." Josh changed the subject "there's a Hogsmead trip this weekend. We are going I assume."
"What else would we do, stay here?"
A small cough could be heard at the other end of the otherwise empty dungeon. Little Michelle was sitting on the stone step, waiting for Shayna she assumed for once they all turned around she waved for her to come closer. "I'll be right back guys."
"Hi Shayna" she said quietly, closing what must have been her diary "Hi Michelle, feeling better?"
The littler girl nodded and as she did so her blonde curls bounced. She looked down right cheerful, a big change for the tear streaked blue eyes she'd had last night. "I'm having a great time. I hade potions already and I seem to be really good at it. And I think the teacher there likes me. He seemed nice. And then in transfiguration we started changing matches into needles, mine didn't work, but it did get all pointy. And I have a friend now, her name is Nickie. And guess what. Her mom and dad went to Hogwarts!"
"Didn't yours?" Shayna interrupted looking closer at her She didn't look like a mudblood "I don't know" she said shortly "They're dead."
"Oh" Shayna said awkwardly "sorry, well you call me if you need anything. Good night Michelle."
