"May I start by saying how happy I am to see you all here together",
Dumbledore began, extending a broad smile which softened his lined face.
"You represent many good wizarding families and promising new hope for the
future of our kind."
"Children and parents alike, you are looking forward to starting what for some of you would be your final year or years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Perhaps some with more reluctance than others, but I feel sure you would have muddled through it all the same. The path to adulthood is prone to stumbles and upsets after all."
"However, today I am asking you to step off that path for a time and take another fork in the road. You have been selected as potential warriors for the cause. Notice I say selected"- this last was said over some mumblings of alarm from the adults present- "and not conscripted or even coerced."
Then his tone became more sombre and the lines more pronounced. A shadow seemed to move across his face as he began once more.
"I am asking those who have the courage and heart to lend themselves to our continuing fight to step forward now. This is not a thing which I ask of children, but of individuals who are willing to make a difference to our world. It is no secret that certain Dark forces continue to advance into our realm, bringing with them confusion, despair and, in some cases bereavement."
At this Harry bowed his head, remembering those who were already lost. Yet at the same time he asked himself what help he could possibly be. Or indeed any of them against the evil he had been witness to. Just two years ago he had stood at the mercy of the Not-Yet-Resident-Evil and watched its stunted body drink his own blood for regeneration. Since then, every year less children seemed to come back to Hogwarts, their families seemingly vanished, or in some cases (he suspected) turned to the other side. His private fear since walking into the room was than they were the only ones left. The only pocket of clean magic users in increasingly tainted stock.
After a moment's silence Dumbledore was beckoning another to join him. The white haired witch that Harry had previously spotted with a tray of tea and cakes made her way slowly to his side. She smoothed her pristine bun and faced them all with a face which was serene and somehow very beautiful, despite her old age. She had a kind of radiance which captured the attention of all present.
"My colleague Arabella will speak to you presently of the course of action we are suggesting", said Dumbledore. "For now, I will ask all who do not feel they can give more than they already have to leave. Parents who have not yet done so should also make their goodbyes. And remember, we will not force any of you to make this commitment."
"Now hold hard, Dumbledore!", came a voice from the edge of the crowd. Harry craned his neck to see the speaker- a round faced red cheeked man with his arm protectively around a slight boy next to him. Harry recognised Ernie Beeswax, the Hufflepuff seeker, just fourteen and a little embarrassed-looking at his father's outburst. "My boy is too young to fight in any army of yours. You should be ashamed of yourselves suggesting that children be fodder for one of your crackpot schemes."
There were, indeed, many angry looks on the faces of the assembled adults. Harry signed, remembering the war of words against Dumbledore in the magical press recently. He had been accused of scaremongering and jumping at shadows, inventing problems where none existed.
"Errol, please do not be alarmed. I am not trying to kidnap your son. I am simply offering these young adults a chance to be all they can be. To make a difference, however small, at a time when the scales are finely balanced."
Dumbledore spread his hands, opening them in a sign of honesty and entreaty. Harry did not think he had ever seen the old man seem so earnest and sincere, not holding back behind wit and bluster. At that moment he knew he could trust his mentor to do what was right. He was prepared to step forward when the time came. A glance at Ron and his brothers told him that he would not be alone.
Ernie, apparently felt the same way. He pushed away from his father and then through the crowd, coming to a stop at the foot of the dais.
"I will fight. If it will help, you have my loyalty to the end." A hushed silence greeted the words. Harry was impressed- it was a big speech for Ernie, whom he remembered stuttering asking for his autograph in the first year. Perhaps I will look up to him a little now, thought Harry to himself, recognising how hard it must have been to disagree with his father in public like that. Indeed, Errol Beeswax had gone a little purple with rage and his mouth was popping open like a goldfish.
"Thank you for your words young man", said Dumbledore gently. "However, I cannot take you without your father's consent as you are not yet sixteen. Perhaps we will meet again under other circumstances."
"For now perhaps we should draw a line under these proceedings. I ask all those who can stand with us now to step forward and those who feel unable to take their leave." He made a complex sign with his fingers and a blue line appeared on the floor, bisecting the room. "At the end of a five minute period I would like all students who are interested in taking this further to be on this side of the line. All others, and all adults should take their leave. I am sorry for the short notice but unfortunately time grows short and these premises may not remain secure."
At this the small platform shrank back into the ground and Dumbledore stepped forward. Harry saw him shake Ernie's hand as around them pandemonium broke lose. Mrs Wesley was like a dervish, running between her children and hugging them as they pulled their possessions over the line in an immediate show of support. Hermione was in tears, trying to explain to her parents that they should not worry and that she was going to be absolutely safe. But how could they possibly understand? Arthur Wesley joined Dumbledore as he became surrounded by parents shooting questions at him left right and centre. Where were their children going? How could he have any right to take them away? And for how long? Desperate mothers pleaded with their older sons and daughters not to go as they grimly hauled cases across the floor. He saw several Disapparate suddenly, taking struggling offspring with them.
In the middle of it all, Harry felt a little lost. The Dursleys, he knew, would be only too happy to see him go. They had dropped more than a few hints over the past couple of years that he might want to flee the nest at some point, suggesting that he get a job or leave school. Uncle Vernon had taken to leaving stacks of Jobseeker forms and property pages outside Harry s door for him to trip over in the mornings.
'To make a difference, however small', he mused. Well, he knew where his loyalties lay. Harry stood firmly with Ron and Hermione, and indeed, Dumbledore.
"Children and parents alike, you are looking forward to starting what for some of you would be your final year or years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Perhaps some with more reluctance than others, but I feel sure you would have muddled through it all the same. The path to adulthood is prone to stumbles and upsets after all."
"However, today I am asking you to step off that path for a time and take another fork in the road. You have been selected as potential warriors for the cause. Notice I say selected"- this last was said over some mumblings of alarm from the adults present- "and not conscripted or even coerced."
Then his tone became more sombre and the lines more pronounced. A shadow seemed to move across his face as he began once more.
"I am asking those who have the courage and heart to lend themselves to our continuing fight to step forward now. This is not a thing which I ask of children, but of individuals who are willing to make a difference to our world. It is no secret that certain Dark forces continue to advance into our realm, bringing with them confusion, despair and, in some cases bereavement."
At this Harry bowed his head, remembering those who were already lost. Yet at the same time he asked himself what help he could possibly be. Or indeed any of them against the evil he had been witness to. Just two years ago he had stood at the mercy of the Not-Yet-Resident-Evil and watched its stunted body drink his own blood for regeneration. Since then, every year less children seemed to come back to Hogwarts, their families seemingly vanished, or in some cases (he suspected) turned to the other side. His private fear since walking into the room was than they were the only ones left. The only pocket of clean magic users in increasingly tainted stock.
After a moment's silence Dumbledore was beckoning another to join him. The white haired witch that Harry had previously spotted with a tray of tea and cakes made her way slowly to his side. She smoothed her pristine bun and faced them all with a face which was serene and somehow very beautiful, despite her old age. She had a kind of radiance which captured the attention of all present.
"My colleague Arabella will speak to you presently of the course of action we are suggesting", said Dumbledore. "For now, I will ask all who do not feel they can give more than they already have to leave. Parents who have not yet done so should also make their goodbyes. And remember, we will not force any of you to make this commitment."
"Now hold hard, Dumbledore!", came a voice from the edge of the crowd. Harry craned his neck to see the speaker- a round faced red cheeked man with his arm protectively around a slight boy next to him. Harry recognised Ernie Beeswax, the Hufflepuff seeker, just fourteen and a little embarrassed-looking at his father's outburst. "My boy is too young to fight in any army of yours. You should be ashamed of yourselves suggesting that children be fodder for one of your crackpot schemes."
There were, indeed, many angry looks on the faces of the assembled adults. Harry signed, remembering the war of words against Dumbledore in the magical press recently. He had been accused of scaremongering and jumping at shadows, inventing problems where none existed.
"Errol, please do not be alarmed. I am not trying to kidnap your son. I am simply offering these young adults a chance to be all they can be. To make a difference, however small, at a time when the scales are finely balanced."
Dumbledore spread his hands, opening them in a sign of honesty and entreaty. Harry did not think he had ever seen the old man seem so earnest and sincere, not holding back behind wit and bluster. At that moment he knew he could trust his mentor to do what was right. He was prepared to step forward when the time came. A glance at Ron and his brothers told him that he would not be alone.
Ernie, apparently felt the same way. He pushed away from his father and then through the crowd, coming to a stop at the foot of the dais.
"I will fight. If it will help, you have my loyalty to the end." A hushed silence greeted the words. Harry was impressed- it was a big speech for Ernie, whom he remembered stuttering asking for his autograph in the first year. Perhaps I will look up to him a little now, thought Harry to himself, recognising how hard it must have been to disagree with his father in public like that. Indeed, Errol Beeswax had gone a little purple with rage and his mouth was popping open like a goldfish.
"Thank you for your words young man", said Dumbledore gently. "However, I cannot take you without your father's consent as you are not yet sixteen. Perhaps we will meet again under other circumstances."
"For now perhaps we should draw a line under these proceedings. I ask all those who can stand with us now to step forward and those who feel unable to take their leave." He made a complex sign with his fingers and a blue line appeared on the floor, bisecting the room. "At the end of a five minute period I would like all students who are interested in taking this further to be on this side of the line. All others, and all adults should take their leave. I am sorry for the short notice but unfortunately time grows short and these premises may not remain secure."
At this the small platform shrank back into the ground and Dumbledore stepped forward. Harry saw him shake Ernie's hand as around them pandemonium broke lose. Mrs Wesley was like a dervish, running between her children and hugging them as they pulled their possessions over the line in an immediate show of support. Hermione was in tears, trying to explain to her parents that they should not worry and that she was going to be absolutely safe. But how could they possibly understand? Arthur Wesley joined Dumbledore as he became surrounded by parents shooting questions at him left right and centre. Where were their children going? How could he have any right to take them away? And for how long? Desperate mothers pleaded with their older sons and daughters not to go as they grimly hauled cases across the floor. He saw several Disapparate suddenly, taking struggling offspring with them.
In the middle of it all, Harry felt a little lost. The Dursleys, he knew, would be only too happy to see him go. They had dropped more than a few hints over the past couple of years that he might want to flee the nest at some point, suggesting that he get a job or leave school. Uncle Vernon had taken to leaving stacks of Jobseeker forms and property pages outside Harry s door for him to trip over in the mornings.
'To make a difference, however small', he mused. Well, he knew where his loyalties lay. Harry stood firmly with Ron and Hermione, and indeed, Dumbledore.