Chapter 21

A Surprise Visit

Harry Potter hiked up the familiar secret passage way leading from an old trap door in the basement of the old sweet shop, Honeydukes in Hogsmeade, all the way up to Hogwarts castle.

He would make a pretty dramatic entrance if some one saw him suddenly jump out the hump of a statue of an old witch.

Harry had been pretty surprised to hear that the tunnel had been re-opened. Something to do with the worker of the foo network wanting quick unhindered access to Hogwarts by foot without being in the way, or so he had read. It had sounded a bit weird to Harry, but then things in the wizarding world weren't governed by normality.

"Come on," he murmured at the slight red headed woman closely following behind him. "Hurry up."

"You don't wear long skirts you...you stupid...person," answered a perturbed Virginia Weasley. She barely restrained herself from using course expletives. "Couldn't we just walk there the normal way?" And she nearly lost her footing and tumbled on an old root. "Like everybody else," she spat.

"Lumos," she yelled waving her wand furiously in front of her. A slight light glinted in the darkness, not much to go on, but better than braking your leg when you trip up on something."

Her foot collided with something small, fat and hairy with a slimy tail. It was like a slug with fur. "Ugh," she exclaimed in horrified disgusted.

Together they quickly came to the top of the tunnel. The hump slid back. A vibrant warm light filtered into the chamber long enough for the two to get their bearings and climb out.

"Nox," Harry whispered and their own feeble beam of greyish light went out. Jinny looked back the way they had just come and shivered.

"Never again," she thought aloud. She was to cultured to go climbing through dirty dank hidden passage ways again. In her youth it was different. Children do disgusting things, she thought. Unfortunately for Harry Potter he hadn't seemed to have grown out of it.

Luckily no one saw them when they emerged from the old lady. It was bright. Harry Potter shielded his eyes with his hand, shutting out the glare of interior candles and sunlight glaring into the place.

They were on the third floor.

"Can you remember where Dumbledore's office actually is?" Jinny questioned.

"'Course I do. Unless he moved residents or swapped with Snape. Can't see Dumbledore living in a dungeon. Can you? And Snape, well to push him out of those dark damp prison cells, some one would have to shove a poker up his arse."

"That's horrible, Harry," but Jinny laughed anyway.

"Maybe he will spontaneously combust."

"Snape's not a vampire."

"Act's like one. Wonder if he's still the same?"

"What do you mean? He dresses in sunshine yellow, had his hair cut and dresses it flowers, or nice different?"

"Neither probably. Come on. We need to get to Dumbledore's tower."

"Even if we do Harry, you don't have the password to go trooping up there. Have you actually considered that Professor Dumbledore might not be at Hogwarts at this moment?"

"Shut up Jinny," Harry grumbled. "We'll get in even if we have to wait. They will recognise us immediately."

"They might call the authorities and we'll get arrested for breaking andentering."
"We didn't break anything Jinn."

"Well, we are intruding. You could have at least sent an owl."

"God, you are sounding like Hermione. And besides it would take to long if Dumbledore isn't there for a few days."

"You are such an eager beaver, Harry. What if he's not?"

"Then I'm sure they will put us up until he gets back."

"You are a raving loony bin. You know that?" Said Jinny disdainfully haking her crimson head.

"And you're boring. Come on."

"Hello Harry," said a small unexpected voice behind them. Both turned and regarded the tall noble figure clad in dark shimmering blue and silver robes. Harry recognised the man the minute he set eyes on him. "And Jinny, how you've changed." He smiled and offered his hand to both of them.

Albus Dumbledore had a mysterious penitent for appearing out of apparent nowhere.

He doesn't looks any different at all, thought Harry as a wide grin spread across his face.

"Well, I must say that was an impressive entrance." Albus Dumbledore passed the tea cups and the chocolate muffins. Harry began to dig into his cake the very second he saw it.

"Glad you like the muffins. Double chocolate with dinglop berries. Quite delicious."

"I agree." Harry looked up at his former headmaster and grinned.

"So what has brought you to Hogwarts?"

"We have some news," chimed in Jinny."

"Oh? Is it that important that the two of you had to sneak into the school through the secret passage." The headmaster rested his tea cup on his desk and studied the two with enquiring eyes.

"It's not a secret any more sir," said Harry. It was in the Daily Profit. I see you have been having a bit of trouble with your fire places?"

"Indeed. But to go back to our original subject. You could have owled me a letter."

"Sorry," Harry looked guilty. He turned to look at Jinny and noticed a snide pompous expression on her face.

"He couldn't wait," she said out loud and was met with the embarrassed gaze of a slightly blushing Harry Potter.

"Wait for what?" The other man pressed.

"Jinny and I are getting married. "

"That's wonderful," exclaimed the headmaster who clasped his hands together in delight. "Wonderful."

After tea the elderly man smiled. "It's wonderful to have you with us again. Two years is a long time away from home. The wars were particularly bloody and intense. But you are a remarkable Aura. Equally, a remarkable young man." Harry blushed. "Good job they've settled things out, now.'

"How long have you two been back?"

"Two weeks," Jinny replied.

"Yea. Now I'm recovered."

"Looking out for new adventures, Harry?" Asked the headmaster quietly.

"Not really," he commented. "Rather have my feet firmly on the ground." He smiled. "Or at least on a broomstick. It'll be great to play Quidditch again."

"We had a great holiday too," Jinny said.

"Visited the Weasleys, Ron and Hermione. Did you know that they are expecting their first baby?"

"I did not," chimed Dumbledore merrily. "How delightful. I am sure Mr Weasley is over the moon."

"Now with all the celebrations over I need to find a job," said Harry. "I'm going to try with Daverner's Muggle Trinkets, until the Ministry can sort me out with a good job."

"Ah." Dumbledore cast the boy who lived, now the man who helped save the world a second time, a strange glance.