Second Destiny
CHAPTER TWENTY
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE RESIGNS FROM HOGWARTS!
Venerated Headmaster Admits Potter Improprieties
by Rita Skeeter
In a stunning announcement in front of the full student body and staff last night, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore has announced that he has submitted his resignation as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which will become effective at noon today.
Prior to the sudden and shocking announcement, Dumbledore admitted his complicity in a plot to steal the estate and fortune of Lord Harold Potter in concert with former House Weasley matriarch Molly Prewitt.
As part of this plot, Dumbledore admitted, he violated the wishes of Lord Potter's parents in their will following their deaths at the hands of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named on 31 October 1981 and placed the infant Potter heir with his muggle relatives Vernon and Petunia Dursley and their son, Dudley.
According to Dumbledore's admission, the Dursley family—who are avowed magic-haters—proceeded to visit every conceivable form of torture upon Harry until he began his education at Hogwarts earlier this year. All three members of the Dursley family are currently in the custody of the Muggle justice system.
Dumbledore went on to explain the plot to steal Lord Potter's fortune. According to pensieve memories anonymously sent to the Prophet by a Slytherin student at Hogwarts School, Dumbledore and Prewitt intended to force Lord Potter into a marriage with the youngest child of the Weasley family, 10-year-old Ginevra. Then, Lord Potter would be left unaware of important matters regarding He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named—who had, apparently, survived the events of All Hallows' Eve 1981, culminating in Lord Potter's death at You-Know-Who's hands.
According to the plan, Ginevra (who would have gotten pregnant with Lord Potter's child by that time), and by extension Prewitt, would gain control of the Potter fortune.
Those plans were, of course, torn apart by the events of 31 October this year—which, as you may know, included the soul-binding of Lord Potter and his wife, Hermione.
After publicly apologizing to Lord Potter, Dumbledore then stated that upon the effective time of his resignation, he will turn himself in to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
Additionally, Professor Dumbledore also announced that in his meeting yesterday afternoon with Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge and members of the Hogwarts School Board of Governors, he also submitted his resignations as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards. The latter two resignations have already become effective.
Minerva McGonagall was then named Acting Headmistress of Hogwarts School for the remainder of this school year, as an initial D.M.L.E. investigation determined that McGonagall had no part in the plans Dumbledore and Prewitt had concocted. McGonagall is already one of the leading candidates for the permanent Headmaster position come the next school year.
That same initial investigation also uncovered no hint of involvement by any member of House Weasley (save Molly Prewitt) in the plan, so Ronald, George, Frederick and Percival Weasley will all be allowed to continue their Hogwarts educations without further incident; while Ginevra Weasley will be allowed to start attending Hogwarts this coming Autumn.
In their quarters, Harry and Hermione had just finished reading the Daily Prophet and donning their robes for the day when Baron appeared before them. "My Lord and Lady, the soon-to-be-former-Headmaster wishes to see you two before he departs the castle for the last time," Baron said. "He also requests that you bring the Gaunt family signet."
"We understand, Baron. We shall be along presently," Harry said. "Dismissed."
Baron nodded, then popped away.
Harry and Hermione walked into the Headmaster's office to find Dumbledore putting the last pieces of his personal property into a box, which a Hogwarts house elf made disappear to the Dumbledore vault at Gringotts.
"Baron said you wanted to see us, sir?" Harry said.
"Yes, of course, Harry," Dumbledore said. "Before we begin, did you bring the Gaunt signet ring?"
Harry nodded, then pulled the ring out of a pocket of his robes. Dumbledore smiled a sad smile then told Harry to put the ring on the desk.
Harry did so, followed by Dumbledore pulling a wand from his sleeve and pointing it at the ring. A jet of red energy enveloped the ring, which caused a black cloud of smoke to appear then quickly dissipate.
The red energy faded to reveal that the Gaunt signet ring—like the family it once represented—was no more. Instead, in its place sat a small black stone. "Harry, how familiar are you with the Tale of the Three Brothers?" Dumbledore asked.
"Hermione told me about it. Each of the three Peverell brothers had an object—known collectively as the 'Deathly Hallows'—that when combined with the others would allow the wielder to become the master of Death," Harry said—not disclosing how he really knew the story from his last run.
Dumbledore nodded. "You already possess one of the Hallows: the Invisiblity Cloak that I made sure you received over Yule break," he said. "That stone is another." Dumbledore pointed to the stone. "It is known as the Resurrection Stone, which is said to—albeit temporarily—return the spirits of the dead to this physical plane."
As Harry put the Resurrection Stone in the pocket of his robes, Dumbledore then held the wand he used to destroy the Gaunt ring in his hand. "This is the final Hallow—the Elder Wand," Dumbledore said. "The most powerful wand ever constructed."
"The Wand will only work to its true potential in the hand of its master," Dumbledore continued. "Most assume that the only way to gain the Elder Wand's loyalty is to kill the current owner, but this is not so. All one needs to do is remove the Wand from the current owner's possession. Actions as simple as using a Disarming Charm or merely taking the Wand out of the owner's hand will work."
Harry then realized what Dumbledore was wanting him to do. "I understand, Professor," Harry said before reaching for the wand in his own wrist holster. "Expelliarmus!" Harry said, pointing his wand towards the Elder Wand.
A red stream of light flashed towards the Elder Wand, which sent it flying into Harry's hand. "As the last descendant of the Peverell family, these artifacts are yours by right of blood descent, and now by actual, physical possession," Dumbledore said.
In Harry's mind, he heard the voice of Death/Colton. "You have succeeded in reuniting the treasures I gave to your Peverell ancestors," Death's voice said. "I grant you permission to inform Professor Dumbledore about the memories of your last run."
As soon as Death's voice faded from Harry's mind, Harry looked at Hermione. "I heard, Harry," Hermione said. Then, casting a Tempus, Hermione said, "You have one hour before Professor Dumbledore's resignation is official."
Harry nodded. "Thank you, Hermione," Harry said.
Harry then launched into a detailed explanation of what had happened in his previous run, as well as what Joanna had told him of runs before that one.
"Lord Death, who you knew as Professor Edwin Colton, granted me permission to explain everything I have just described," Harry said.
"Harry my boy, now more than ever, I know I made the right decision in resigning from the Headmaster position," Dumbledore said. "Now, I ask you for one last favor in return."
"I understand, Professor," Harry said. "Hermione and I will recover the Stone. And now that all of the Horcruxes save Professor Quirrell no longer exist, if we defeat Quirrell, we destroy Voldemort once and for all."
"That may be so, but now that the Horcruxes are destroyed, Voldemort is cornered. And as you most likely know, Lord Potter: a cornered animal is a ferocious animal," Dumbledore said. "Now, I need you to ask Minerva to come here so we can go over a few things before I officially turn the wards over to her."
"Of course, Professor," Harry said. Harry and Hermione stood up and nodded at Dumbledore before leaving the office.
As Harry and Hermione made their way down down to the Great Hall for lunch, Harry shook his head. "I'm sure, Hermione, that Death had his reasons for allowing me to say what I said back there," he began, gesturing back towards the Headmaster's office. "But I am worried that something bad may happen because of the decision."
"Harry, whatever happens, we'll face it together, as it always shall be," Hermione said before she kissed him.
Down in the Great Hall, Draco walked up to Hermione. "My Lady, I have a confession to make," Draco said before casting a Muffilato spell. "I was the Slytherin student who sent the Daily Prophet the pensieve memories that they used to write the article about Headmaster Dumbledore's resignation that was in the paper this morning."
"But why?" Harry said.
"While I may not like you, Potter, I am bound by family magic to respect and obey the head of my family, even a mud...mundane-born...like your wife," Draco said. "When I heard what the Headmaster said at dinner last night about your treatment at the hands of your mundane relatives, my loyalty to Lady Hermione drove me to do this, although I made the Prophet swear to not reveal my identity without my or My Lady's consent."
"I commend you for your action, Draco, and swear to abide by your wishes in this matter," Hermione said.
Draco bowed to Hermione with respect then removed the Muffilato. "Oi, Malfoy! Why were you bowing to that Mudblood whore?!" Crabbe said.
Draco lunged towards Crabbe and pointed the tip of his wand right at Crabbe's throat. "That 'Mudblood whore,' as you put it, is the rightful head of a member family of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, and deserves your respect!" Draco said. "She is, to be specific, the head of my family, and I swore to defend her against both foe...and friend."
"What is going on here? a voice said.
Harry, Hermione, Draco and Crabbe turned to see Snape. "Professor Snape, sir, this is a family matter," Draco said. "Mr. Crabbe here made a rude comment towards Lady Malfoy, and I was defending her honour."
Snape turned to Crabbe. "What did you say about Lady Malfoy, Mr. Crabbe?" Snape said.
"Nothing," Crabbe said, defiantly.
"Oh, really?" Hermione said before pointing her wand at Crabbe and said, "Prior vobire!"
Crabbe instantly heard himself repeat "Oi, Malfoy! Why were you bowing to that Mudblood whore?!"
Hermione holstered her wand as Snape turned to face her. "Lady Malfoy, as the family you lead was wronged by Mr. Crabbe's comment, the choice of punishment is yours," Snape said.
Hermione looked at Harry, then at Draco, then at Crabbe, before turning to Snape. "Please inform..."
Hermione cast a Tempus charm, which projected a bright-red 1210 from the tip of her wand. "...Acting Headmistress McGonagall that Vincent Crabbe has been found to have violated the terms of the academic probation placed upon him by former Headmaster Albus Dumbledore on 1 November 1991 by besmirching the honour of the head of a Sacred Twenty-Eight family," Hermione continued.
"It is therefore the recommendation of Lady Hermione Malfoy that Vincent Crabbe be expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with his wand snapped, his magical core bound and his memories of magic erased," Hermione finished. "You called me that disgraceful word for non-magicals. Now you will live amongst them."
"I shall inform the Acting Headmistress of your decision and will inform you of hers." Snape said. "Mr. Malfoy, you shall receive no demerits for your defence of the head of your family. Mr. Crabbe, you shall follow me to the Acting Headmistress' office in order to hear her verdict in person."
Snape then picked Crabbe up from the bench by the sleeve of his robes and herded him out of the Great Hall.
:TBC:
Author's Note: While, perhaps, spelled differently than in other depictions I have read in other stories on this site, the "Prior vobire" spell was the only spell I could think of to make Crabbe repeat his derogatory comment about Hermione.
I humbly thank whomever created the concept of Prior vobire for the idea.
