PART THREE: MYSTERIOUS DEPARTURE
His best friend was on his mind the day that his whole world
turned upside down. Only hours before he was so close to doing
something that he has been meaning to do since the summer before
fifth year. So close was he to giving his Mione, his best friend
since first year, his one and only Hermione his heart. That, and
a kiss.
If he had known that he would have begun crushing over Cho Chang
to heavy in deep like with his best friend, Harry would have
laughed at himself like a fool. At first, he was a bit worried
that his other best friend, Ron Weasley, would also have feelings
for their Hermione. His fears were eased however at the
accidentally sight of Ron and a certain other Gryffindor fifth
year making out. In fact, he would have let Hermione into his
little discovery, but Malfoy had ruined that.
Life for Harry James Potter had been so sweet hours ago
until he received the news that he would be leaving Hogwarts and
those that mattered most to him.
The dreadful news was delivered in disguise as a blessing. He was
suffering through another class with Snape picking on him, though
two of the good things about the class were sitting on either
side of him, Ron to his right and Hermione to his left. Suddenly,
much to the surprise of everyone including Harry, Dumbledore
entered Snape's classroom.
Dumbledore indicated that he wished to privately speak to Snape,
to which he complied. Much of the students strained to hear the
conversation, only to be disappointed upon the quick return of
the two wizards.
"Potter!" Snape suddenly snarled, causing everyone to
jump. Harry was the most startled.
As if the class could not become more surprised, Snape managed to
stun everyone as his voice somewhat softened. "You are
excused from class, Mr. Potter. Dumbledore wishes to see you
now."
All eyes were on Harry as he just stared back and forth between
Snape and a silhouette of Dumbledore patiently waiting for him
outside.
"Harry?" He heard Hermione softly call his name,
concern evident in her sweet voice. He glanced at her and noticed
the quiet fear in her brown eyes. She was always so protective
and worried of him. Has been concerned about him ever since they
first met. That was one of the things that he loved so much about
Hermione, her kind heart.
"Potter!" Snape snapped again, this time causing a
somewhat relief all around, for what scared his students more was
a "gentle soft spoken" Snape than the harsh cold
professor they all love to hate. "Don't keep the
Headmaster waiting." He sneered.
Harry jumped up and quickly gathered his things into his bag. He
felt a kind hand on his shoulder and glanced to his right to met
eyes with his other best friend, Ron.
"You're innocent til proven guilty, Harry.
Remember that, okay?"
"Ron!" Hermione hissed and rolled her eyes at her fiery
red hair friend.
Harry nodded meekly at his friend before standing up to leave. He
turned and was prepared to leave when he felt a soft hand clasp
into his. A bit startled, Harry glance and once again found
himself drowning into her eyes.
"We'll be waiting for you in the common room,
Harry." She softly whispered before releasing her grasp.
A smile appeared on his face. Knowing that his best friend, Ron,
and the woman who had his heart, Hermione, will be there for him
in the end gave Harry such strength and courage to face whatever
was waiting for him in Dumbledore's office.
Unfortunately
"Harry I do realize that this news is not to your
liking, but"
"Don't say it. Please don't say that this is all
for the best" He met eyes with the man who held such
wisdom in his eyes. "I don't think I can stand to hear
it because you know that it's not true."
"My boy," Dumbledore placed a gentle hand on Harry's
shoulder. He had accompanied Harry back to his room while he
began to prepare for his departure. Dumbledore had just informed
Harry that he was to leave Hogwarts immediately. That he must
leave with a woman named Alecentra who was to help with his
wizardry training elsewhere. That it was very important that he
go with this woman at once. And that no one must know otherwise
except for the fact that the famous Harry Potter has left
Hogwarts and will not return. Not even for graduation.
"My boy, I do not like this as much as you do but you
must understand something"
"Please Professor, don't." Harry stubbornly
replied. As he finished the rest of his packing, he stopped for a
split second to reconsider. Why was he even agreeing to this? To
something that so far did not seem as life threatening or life
altering as it sound. All Dumbledore had told him was that he had
to leave with this Alecentra woman, learn magic under her
guidance, and that he cannot return to Hogwarts to even finish
out the rest of his schooling. Why was he even leaving when he
saw no threat if he were to stay?
"Because Harry," Dumbledore answered, as if reading
young Potter's mind. "Inside you feel its importance.
You know that you must leave because you can feel it inside of
you. That no matter how much we all want you to stay, including
yourself, that you must go."
Harry sighed and closed his eyes. Unfortunately, every word that
Dumbledore spoke of was true. That as vague as he was about him
having to leave Hogwarts, inside Harry knew that he had to go.
"You must hurry, Harry. Remember, no one can know of your
departure. Except that you have left and you will not return
until years have passed."
Harry turned to Dumbledore, pain in his eyes. "What about
Hermione and Ron? I can't even tell them good-bye?"
He watched the kindly old wizard bow his head, gesturing the
answer that Harry dreaded. "I am sorry, Harry. They must not
know either."
"They're going to hate me!" Harry exclaimed.
"I'm not going to hurt the two most important people in
the world to me! I need to at least say good-bye! Please,
Professor. Please."
"Harry you mustn't. You can't. And, as
painful as this will sound, you know that given the chance, you
won't."
He narrowed his eyes, staring hard at his elder. "What do
you mean by that? If I were given the chance, I would!"
"Not even knowing that saying good-bye to them will put them
in danger?" Dumbledore asked mysteriously, causing a
definite chill to fly through Harry's body.
"What?" He breathed, startled by Dumbledore's
insinuation.
"What people don't know, Harry, can't hurt
them." He replied, then paused before adding. "I shall
await for you outside the door. Time is of the essence."
With that, Dumbledore disappeared behind the wooden door. Leaving
Harry to ponder his words.
As Harry finished his packing, Dumbledore's words echoed
deeply in his soul. *"What people don't know, Harry,
can't hurt them."* What did he mean by that?
"Harry? Are you ready?"
A numbness spread through the young man as he took in what could
be the last time he would ever see this room. He glanced over at
Ron's bed pensively. "Bye, Ron." He whispered,
"Take care of Hermione for me while I'm gone."
Harry grabbed his backpack, leaving the rest of his belongings
for the school's house-elves to tend for as Dumbledore
instructed.
Dumbledore ushered Harry out, placing a fatherly hand on the
small of his back. Taking one last regard, Harry bit his lip and
exited the room.
~~~~**~~~~
"Hello, Harry."
He looked up at the woman named Alecentra and immediately both
hated and respected her at the same time.
Her eyes, which were an unusual pair of blue and silver, gazed
straight into his eyes, as if attempting to stare into his soul.
Her raven hair, long and straight, seemed to glimmer by sunlight.
She was of great beauty, which sent a chill through Harry, for
image wise she defined perfection.
"Alecentra, right?" He challenged her eyes by trying to
stare her down.
"Yes, that is my name. And you are Harold James
Potter?" As if reading his mind, Alecentra returned the
stare, hard and fierce. Only she added in a hint of amusement in
her bluish-silver eyes.
"It's Harry. Not Harold." He fought back and
stared harder as if whomever won this staring contest would win
the other's utter respect. Harry would have had a complete
lack of respect
If Alecentra had not lightened the mood and winked at him with
laughing eyes.
"I'm not the wicked witch you may think me to be,
Harry. You can trust me." She smiled warmly a him.
Though she had the apparent physicality and vitality of youth,
her eyes revealed much more age and wisdom similar to match
Professor Dumbledore.
"That's what worries me." He mumbled, scratching
the back of his head as he somewhat softened up on her.
Alecentra glanced up at Dumbledore, "Albus," She
acknowledged him with a comforting smile.
"Alecentra" He nodded. Glancing at Harry, then
returned his gaze back Alecentra. "I trust that he is in
good hands." He spoke, stating it more than questioning.
"Absolutely," She answered back, giving Harry a small
smile. "Well, we must get going, Harry. You have much to
learn with unfortunately little time to learn it."
"And much of those lessons, I'm guessing, can't be
taught here at Hogwarts, huh?" He raised an eyebrow, yet
learning another hint as to why he must mysteriously leave his
home.
The twinkle in Alecentra's eyes seemed to have answered his
question, for she just merely met his gaze and held it steady
before breaking it to say farewell to Dumbledore.
"We shall see you again, Albus." She reached out and
shook hands with Dumbledore.
"Yes I shall." He replied.
Alecentra glanced at Harry, winked, then with a flourish of her
hand she magically apparated a muggle machine that Harry
recognized as a car.
Inside the car, Harry noticed, were all his belongings nicely
placed in the back.
It was an average car, yet there seemed to be a hint of magic
sparkling around the four door blue vehicle.
"Harry, we must be leaving quickly." Alecentra smiled,
hopping into the driver's side. "Come now you get
shotgun, obviously." She laughed.
"Shotgun?" Dumbledore inquired, glancing at Harry.
"She means front seat next to the driver's side,
Professor." Harry smiled.
"Ah yes" Dumbledore smiled down at his young
student. Smiling a fatherly grin at him. "Harry it has
been quite an honor to have had you attend Hogwarts. Though I do
not truly want you to leave, I must say that I trust Alecentra
will do a fine job helping you on that road to bigger and better
things. I will miss you, dear boy. We all will."
"Professor I will see you again, won't I? It is
possible for me to at least *visit* Hogwarts a few months from
now, right?"
"That is not up to me to decide, Harry. But I will say that
seeing you again would be quite a delight."
Harry went to Dumbledore, giving him a hug. "Thank you so
much, Professor." Was all he could say, for fear that if he
were to say more, he would lose his composure to leave.
Dumbledore returned the hug, then pulled away from the young
wizard in training. "This is not good-bye, Harry. It is
merely a see you later."
Nodding, "See you later, Professor Dumbledore." With
that, Harry quickly jumped in next to Alecentra.
"You ready, Harry?" Alecentra started the car,
surprisingly the engine did not start as noisily as a regular
muggle vehicle would.
Harry turned around, taking one last view of the magical castle
that was Hogwarts School. For a mere moment, he could have sworn
that he saw his Hermione meeting eyes with him from one of the
great windows, but only thought of it as him starting to miss her
terribly. With a lump in his throat, and a stubbornness not to
cry, he just faced forward and replied, "I'm
ready."
Dumbledore watched as the vehicle start to race towards the trees
of the Forbidden Forest. One whom had not known that the car was
magically would have feared the machine to crash into the trees.
And one whom had not known of the car's magic would have
fainted in surprise as the car apparated and disappear quickly as
it had appeared.
Albus Dumbledore just stared for a moment at the place where
Alecentra and Harry disappeared. Then turned around and returned
back to Hogwarts, preparing himself for a barrage of questions he
knew that he was to face.
