Chapter Seven: Dumbledore
Harry sat in front of Dumbledore's desk for the second time that night, whereas previously he had felt comfort, he now fidgeted around as he awaited the headmaster. In his hand he held one of the concerns he faced, the silver Prefect badge he'd kept a secret from everyone, including Ron and Sirius. Thinking carelessly the pin dropped to the floor with a clink of metal, distracting him from his thoughts as it clattered over the floor, coming to rest against a pair of feet muffled in robes.
Harry followed the flowing purple cloth up to the silvery beard until he reached the sparkling eyes of Albus Dumbledore, as always he felt the eyes pierce him as if reading his every emotion. Picking up the badge from the floor, Dumbledore walked around Harry to the desk, allowing him to see the new lines of age that seemed to extend over the Professor's face, in just two months he appeared to have aged years. What Harry didn't realise was Dumbledore was looking back at him with the same feeling, but this ageing had been emotional and trying for Harry.
Sitting down in the chair Sirius had earlier occupied, Dumbledore let his gaze fall on Harry, letting his eyes delve into the boy before he began to speak. 'I understand you will not be taking up duties as a school Prefect this year?' his tone was oddly formal, neither accusing nor understanding, maybe it was this that caused Harry's throat to tighten. 'May I ask why?' he continued, causing a laden silence to encompass the room as his crystal clear eyes pierced Harry once more.
'Yes, you can ask,' Harry replied quietly, a small smile appearing on his face that mirrored Dumbledore's own little grin, both recalling their first ever meeting, during Harry's first Hogwarts Christmas, in the room containing the Mirror of Erised. 'But you already know.'
'I already know,' Dumbledore continued, more sombre now as Harry sunk back, the smile fading, 'Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Sirius…Cedric.'
'They've all been hurt because of me,' Harry continued, 'I can't let that happen again, especially if…if…' Harry trailed off, unable to continue in the silence of the office. Dumbledore nodded, not continuing this time as the thought echoed in both their heads, 'If I'm a Prefect then who knows what could go on? Anyone could be around me when something goes wrong – I won't let that happen.'
'I respect your decision Harry,' Dumbledore replied after a short silence, 'You do realise that your friend Mr. Weasley may not be quite so happy when he receives the badge tomorrow?' once more the familiar grin appeared on Dumbledore's face, but only for a fleeting second. 'This was not the reason that I asked you to come here, I trust you have gathered this already?' he looked deep inside Harry again receiving a curt nod, 'Sirius told you about the events, or rather the lack of them. However I asked him to neglect one piece of news, involving you.'
'You made him lie to me?'
'Oh no, he didn't lie to you, we really have no idea about Voldemort's plans…this is a separate plan, one I believe is the work of an old friend.' On this Dumbledore rose and stood behind his desk, unlike Sirius he didn't walk around the front to speak with Harry, reaching into the cabinet he removed the Pensieve and placed it on his desk. As Harry watched Dumbledore prodded the liquid gently with his wand, provoking a small figure into standing, wearing the black robes of a Death Eater, Harry recognised the sneering voice beneath the mask.
'I want that boy dead, only when he's gone can our Master's plans proceed. I don't care how you do it, kill him.' The scene shifted slightly and another hooded figure appeared, this one was clothed only in black with no discerning features, aside from a long scabbard protruding from beneath the robes. It nodded once, and then the scene dissolved, falling back into the normal watery state.
Harry just stared, for the second year running he'd witnessed a plot to kill him, 'How…when did you find this out?'
'I have known for just a few days, and believe me I am sorry to have kept it from you Harry, you recognised the Death Eater?' Harry just nodded, how long had Lucius Malfoy been planning this? Seeing that he was still listening, Dumbledore continued, 'I know you're concerned about everyone around you, otherwise I would have preferred not to tell you about this.'
'What?' Harry exclaimed, 'You weren't going to tell me that he was plotting to kill me?'
'No, I have some faith in my abilities to protect you Harry,' he added with a smile as Harry turned away, 'I suppose you have noticed our new Professor? I hired him not only because he has experience against the Dark Arts, but because he used to be one of the finest Aurors I knew – he's here to protect you.'
'So was Moody,' Harry replied, not as harshly as he done with Sirius, but quietly, even so Dumbledore was slightly put out.
'I realise you can't forget last year, but I would ask that you trust my choice this time, I happen to know that the man here is Julian Kilmorie, with Professor McGonagall's aid I tested him.' He spoke gently, knowing that Harry was himself uncomfortable with the way he had spoken, 'I would prefer for you to be concerned with the other in Lucius's plan.' Once more he pushed the Pensieve, this time causing the second hooded figure to emerge alone, 'we have identified this being as a Cambirer demon, it specialises in targeting the friends and loved ones of those it seeks to kill, finally it will attack the target when they are weak.'
'And it's after me.' Harry finished, it wasn't a question. 'So…Voldemort's done nothing, but Malfoy wants me dead?'
'That's what I understand Harry,' Dumbledore replied, 'I trust you to be careful this year, no unnecessary risks…if you can avoid them.' he added the last part with a familiar grin. 'Of course, should Mr. Malfoy find another unavoidable attraction to your fist, I'm certain you'll resolve the situation.' Standing once more Dumbledore gestured for Harry to do the same, 'Well, I'm sure you have better things to do then talk to me all evening, all that studying to do for your O.W.L.s, I'm sure Miss Granger will want to start tonight.' The grin remained on Dumbledore's face, even after Harry left, only when he returned to his desk and the stable Pensieve did trouble cloud it once more.
* * *
Harry emerged into Gryffindor Tower from the portrait hole to find the common room bustling and lively as always, the new first year boys were still grouped together with nervous smiles on their faces, still waiting to be told where their dormitory was. Walking over Harry was blocked midway as Ron stretched out from a chair and grabbed his arm, 'Wizard chess? Before Hermione ropes me into revising with her?' his voice sounded pained but his expression was one of humour as she glared over the top of a book at him.
'Just showing the new ones to their room,' Harry replied, laughing at Ron's over-theatrical sigh and heading towards the group.
If anything the amount of trembling increased as he arrived, with a smile he tried to recall Percy's welcoming speech, but stopped himself before shouting: Follow me, follow me, quickly. 'Hi,' he said, leaving a small pause in which a single mumbled, ''lo' was returned, 'I'm sure you're nervous enough without wanting to wait around here all evening, if you follow me I'll take you up to what might just be your dormitory.'
Another smile had them following him up the stairs to the dormitory that had been the home to the seventh years, it was odd to think he hadn't really known any of them, whereas this year he knew half of them from the Quidditch team alone. One flight above his room he opened a door to reveal a surprisingly similar room, there were five poster beds, the trunks placed at the end, although this room lacked the brightness of Harry's, it was then he noticed the windows had been taken out.
Slipping out quietly he left the new first years and jogged down the stairs, intent on seeing if the fifth year room remained the same, he opened the door and sure enough, the windows had gone – but he didn't notice this. Instead he slammed the door shut and bit back a laugh at seeing the expressions on Seamus's and Lavender's faces when they'd broken apart from their embrace.
Half crippled from laughter he walked back down to the common room where Ron was attempting to persuade Hermione to play Wizard Chess, instead he had The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5 in his hand and was glaring in Harry's direction. His smile increasing Harry debated sharing current events with Ron and Hermione but instead kept his mouth closed as a flustered Lavender shot down the boy's staircase and headed straight up to the girl's dormitories.
It wasn't really a surprise that he lost to Ron in five minutes, he'd been laughing too much.
