AN: Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling. I do not own it. This fan
fiction is for the entertainment of other fans awaiting Rowling's next work
from her creative genius.
Harry Potter knew what it was like to have won the battle, but lost the war.
For a long time he thought the war was with Voldemort, but that was just the battle. No, the war was over Ginny Weasley's heart, and he hadn't even known it. Looking back he could see it all now so clearly. It made him feel more and more like Dumbledore, then he should. Harry smiled. Dumbledore knew the whole time what the real was about.
"History tends to greatly repeat itself Harry, but with slight variations," the great headmaster had told him during summer break after his fifth year. "For example, do you know the reason why I adore sweets so?" Harry shook his head. He was still just trying to comprehend everything that had been said earlier. Dumbledore had indeed told him everything about his parents and Voldemort, more than what he did in his fifth-year anyway. The thing that his mind was stuck on was Snape, or rather Snape and his mother. Snape had been in love with his mother. The very thought made him cringe. That was why Snape turned spy against Voldemort - to prove himself to her. That was shy, even after she married his father, Snape continue to spy. He wanted to keep her safe, even if he could not be with her. He had been the one to warn Dumbledore that Voldemort was after the Potters and that one of their friends may also be a spy. Harry brought up the fact that he knew that Snape had called his mother a "mudblood," when they were both at school. Dumbledore smiled and just simply asked how she replied, the tone of her voice. It was cold, Harry remembered. He thought it was like that because Snape had insulted her. But, then again he was in Snape's pensive when he saw it, which means it was from Snape's memory. Maybe her reply was cold because it was how he believed it cold, hurt. Harry really didn't want to think about being in Snape's pensive anyway.
The fact that Snape loved his mother also was probably another reason Snape hated Harry. Everytime he looked at him, Snape saw a living reminder that the woman he loved didn't love him. No, she loved James Potter, his archenemy, and she had died saving her and James' child. "Harry?"
Dumbledore's voice brought him back to reality.
"Sorry?"
"Quite all right," the headmaster grinned. "I was just asking if you would like a lemon drop." Harry shook his head no.
"As I was saying, dear boy, the reason men do almost everything is women. Strange isn't it. They are the greatest catalysts of the universe, though I doubt anyone would like to admit it. Sometimes they are not directly involved other times they are. Your mother was a great catalyst, helping us learn about Voldemort and eventually helping lead to his first downfall. My Rose was a great woman too." Harry looked up. Rose who? The glimmer that usually shone from Dumbledore's eyes dulled. He noticed Harry's stare and smiled.
"She is the reason I adore sweets. In my youth, I too, had to face a dark wizard." "Grindelwald."
"Yes. I am sure you have had the unfortunate task of ready about it for Professor Binns class. However, I doubt it mentioned one very important individual, Rosalind Brook-Ziegler. She was the reason for everything."
Harry was quite confused by the remark, and Dumbledore took note of the expression and began to explain. "Grindelwald and I were very much like Severus and James and yourself and Mr. Malfoy in school. Clashing personalities you might say, but where it really came to head is Rose. She was . . . lovely. Light brown hair and eyes the color of the heavens. I was quite taken by her, but so was Grindelwald. He was always into the dark arts more than most and power is how he planned on getting Rose. "Soon he had become engrossed in the dark arts so that his goal was no longer Rose, but the world. I and a few others banded together against him, to not only protect Rose, but the world. When it was all over Grindelwald was defeated, but we had both lost Rose."
"She died?" Harry heard his voice crack.
"On no good boy," Dumbledore smiled. "While we were busy fighting Zackary Ziegler stole her heart. They married owned a sweet shop for a while, Ziegler's Zingers. I visited them everyday just buying candy to see her again."
"Sir, what does this have to do with me?"
"Nothing at the moment Harry. I'm just trying to show you history and its variations - Rose, Grindelwald and myself, Lily, James and Severus."
"I don't understand sir."
"Don't worry. One day you will."
And he was right, as always. Now, sitting at his desk, Harry could see exactly when the real war started. It was on the train to Hogwarts coming back after his world had fallen apart.
Harry Potter knew what it was like to have won the battle, but lost the war.
For a long time he thought the war was with Voldemort, but that was just the battle. No, the war was over Ginny Weasley's heart, and he hadn't even known it. Looking back he could see it all now so clearly. It made him feel more and more like Dumbledore, then he should. Harry smiled. Dumbledore knew the whole time what the real was about.
"History tends to greatly repeat itself Harry, but with slight variations," the great headmaster had told him during summer break after his fifth year. "For example, do you know the reason why I adore sweets so?" Harry shook his head. He was still just trying to comprehend everything that had been said earlier. Dumbledore had indeed told him everything about his parents and Voldemort, more than what he did in his fifth-year anyway. The thing that his mind was stuck on was Snape, or rather Snape and his mother. Snape had been in love with his mother. The very thought made him cringe. That was why Snape turned spy against Voldemort - to prove himself to her. That was shy, even after she married his father, Snape continue to spy. He wanted to keep her safe, even if he could not be with her. He had been the one to warn Dumbledore that Voldemort was after the Potters and that one of their friends may also be a spy. Harry brought up the fact that he knew that Snape had called his mother a "mudblood," when they were both at school. Dumbledore smiled and just simply asked how she replied, the tone of her voice. It was cold, Harry remembered. He thought it was like that because Snape had insulted her. But, then again he was in Snape's pensive when he saw it, which means it was from Snape's memory. Maybe her reply was cold because it was how he believed it cold, hurt. Harry really didn't want to think about being in Snape's pensive anyway.
The fact that Snape loved his mother also was probably another reason Snape hated Harry. Everytime he looked at him, Snape saw a living reminder that the woman he loved didn't love him. No, she loved James Potter, his archenemy, and she had died saving her and James' child. "Harry?"
Dumbledore's voice brought him back to reality.
"Sorry?"
"Quite all right," the headmaster grinned. "I was just asking if you would like a lemon drop." Harry shook his head no.
"As I was saying, dear boy, the reason men do almost everything is women. Strange isn't it. They are the greatest catalysts of the universe, though I doubt anyone would like to admit it. Sometimes they are not directly involved other times they are. Your mother was a great catalyst, helping us learn about Voldemort and eventually helping lead to his first downfall. My Rose was a great woman too." Harry looked up. Rose who? The glimmer that usually shone from Dumbledore's eyes dulled. He noticed Harry's stare and smiled.
"She is the reason I adore sweets. In my youth, I too, had to face a dark wizard." "Grindelwald."
"Yes. I am sure you have had the unfortunate task of ready about it for Professor Binns class. However, I doubt it mentioned one very important individual, Rosalind Brook-Ziegler. She was the reason for everything."
Harry was quite confused by the remark, and Dumbledore took note of the expression and began to explain. "Grindelwald and I were very much like Severus and James and yourself and Mr. Malfoy in school. Clashing personalities you might say, but where it really came to head is Rose. She was . . . lovely. Light brown hair and eyes the color of the heavens. I was quite taken by her, but so was Grindelwald. He was always into the dark arts more than most and power is how he planned on getting Rose. "Soon he had become engrossed in the dark arts so that his goal was no longer Rose, but the world. I and a few others banded together against him, to not only protect Rose, but the world. When it was all over Grindelwald was defeated, but we had both lost Rose."
"She died?" Harry heard his voice crack.
"On no good boy," Dumbledore smiled. "While we were busy fighting Zackary Ziegler stole her heart. They married owned a sweet shop for a while, Ziegler's Zingers. I visited them everyday just buying candy to see her again."
"Sir, what does this have to do with me?"
"Nothing at the moment Harry. I'm just trying to show you history and its variations - Rose, Grindelwald and myself, Lily, James and Severus."
"I don't understand sir."
"Don't worry. One day you will."
And he was right, as always. Now, sitting at his desk, Harry could see exactly when the real war started. It was on the train to Hogwarts coming back after his world had fallen apart.