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Chapter 6
The next morning, Pomfrey allowed Harry out of bed and so he returned to the deserted (the other students had left) dormitory. He began to pack things neatly into his trunk. The dormitory door swung open and Dumbledore swept in. he had a sombre look on his face.
"I'm going to do it Professor" Harry said before his headmaster could say a word. "Just let me have the holiday first."
Dumbledore sighed and sat down "I didn't come here to hassle you. I came to apologise."
Harry stared
"Since I discovered who you are related to, I've been treating you horribly. I didn't realise what I'd been doing until I left the hospital wing last night. I am sorry Harry."
Harry reddened. Although he knew he deserved the apology he felt embarrassed. "It's ok sir."
"No, it's not. The reason I spoke to you like I did is because." Albus hesitated "because I recognised myself in you and I couldn't handle it."
"What do you mean?"
"Contrary to popular belief, I did not choose the life I lead. All I wanted out of life was to be a teacher, and to have a family. To be happy. I was, until Grindlewald came to power. He terrorised England for about ten years. Nobody knew how to defeat him.
When I came to teach at Hogwarts, I began to develop extraordinary powers. My elders were overjoyed. I was the key to the war. If my power could be harnessed, Grindlewald would be gone forever! The day I got the power my life changed."
Harry looked at his mentor in sympathy.
"the training, the battles with Grindlewald and his supporters changed me. I was surrounded by darkness. Everyone expected me to fight. I was always to be victorious. Anytime the wizarding world is threatened I am again called upon."
"Why do you always agree to help?"
"For the simple fact that if I don't nobody else will. I resented it at first. The opportunities I had lost. To have a family became impossible. I merely continued to fight. When I first laid eyes on Tom Riddle, I sensed darkness within him. Unfortunately I was powerless to prevent the inevitable. Dippet wouldn't believe me, and now Riddle has gained power. Perhaps worse than Grindlewald."
Harry sat on another bed opposite Dumbledore.
"When I first saw you, I knew you would one day fill the shoes I now wear. You carry the same burdens that I do. I tried to shield you as long as possible, but the attempts were never successful. When Sirius bought you to my office, I felt I had some how failed you by condemning you to share my fate.
I was angry at the whole situation and had to repress all emotions of guilt and sadness in order to lead you down my path. With my help you will survive this battle, and you will take my place in people's eyes."
"You always seemed so happy."
"it is how I choose to cope. If I look for the good in everyone, the humour in every situation, the darkness recedes."
Dumbledore stood next to Harry's trunk and helped to arrange the belongings within it.
"Enjoy your holiday." Albus then left the room.
Harry stared at the door for a long time. Lost in thought. He supposed that just as Dumbledore drew strength from looking for the good, he himself drew strength from his friends, and Sirius. He jumped in shock as Sirius himself strode into the room.
"Holidays!!!" He exclaimed like a child. "Ready to go home Harry?"
"Yeah." Harry said. Just before Sirius lifted the trunk, Harry was overcome with the sudden desire to hug the man, and so he did. Looking a bit surprised Sirius hugged back and they left for Silvermoon Manor.
Once he stumbled out of the large fireplace in his living room, Harry collapsed into an armchair, thrilled to be home. The house elves came running into the room and greeted Harry excitedly with a large plate of cakes and a mug of hot chocolate.
"Hi guys!" he chuckled as one of them tried to force the tray into is hands.
Sirius sat down in the chair opposite him. The elves left. "We need to talk Harry."
Harry looked down, suddenly finding the chocolate éclair in his hand to be very interesting.
"I've been worried, many people have."
"I'm going to do it, after the holiday."
"I thought you would. That's why I am worried. I want to know if you're doing this because of pressure from Dumbledore or because you want to."
Harry faltered. He had many reasons "I guess Dumbledore is a part of it" He admitted "but there are also many other reasons. I have to do this for you. Not just you, my friends, innocent people that will be killed like Cedric - "
"would I be right in guessing there is more than a little revenge mixed in too?"
"yeah. I suppose."
Harry looked at his godfather dubiously , expecting a lecture.
"Harry, believe me I understand revenge. I was prepared to kill Peter. Still would given the opportunity. You can't let it govern your every move though."
"I won't" Harry took a sip of hot chocolate "Sirius, what if I end up a squib?"
"I'll look after you. Make sure you are happy." Sirius said, tears in his eyes. "I couldn't bear it if I lost you. Please be careful Harry. I've nearly lost you so many times now."
"I've seen what a boggart turns into around you. My corpse."
"Yeah." Sirius said looking uncomfortable.
The two lapsed into silence. Suddenly Sirius's face lit up with a sudden idea "Harry! Lets decorate this house! I haven't done it in years. We can get a tree and a wreath and tinsel!"
Harry smiled. Never before, had he been allowed to put up Christmas decorations. "Great!"
The two ran outside and chose a tree from the garden; it needed almost no transfiguration to look perfect. Sirius transported it into the house and they began pulling out decorations.
Harry liked red, green and gold decorations best, but Sirius kept throwing decorations of random colours on, such as purple and baubles that change colour depending on the mood of people looking at them.
"You're a lot better at this than you were last time!" Sirius noted "but then you were only about 5 months old."
"What?"
"your automatic magic was really powerful up until your first birthday, it's quite common in babies, anyway, every time you cried, a few of the glass baubles shattered. In the end your parents gave up and cast an unbreakable charm on them. Took all day as each ornament had to be charmed separately. I got to take you out while they worked."
Sirius often digressed into old stories, and despite the marauder reputation he was actually one of the most sentimental guys Harry had ever met.
"Where did we go?"
"I took you to my parents house, I hadn't visited in about 6 months - we didn't really get on, so I stormed in, locked the door behind me, announced that I'd kidnapped you and that the ministry was looking for me. I then went around the house and boarded up all the doors and windows while they stood in shock in the front room."
Harry looked at him with a mixture of amusement and horror.
"then I joined them in the room, half hid you in my jacket and paced up and down the room looking scared and talking about prison, and how sorry I was that they were now accessories. Then I took a picture of the looks on their faces with an auror spy camera and disapperated with a cheery wave. It was BRILLIANT. Revenge for all the times they - well never mind, they were a bit like the Dursleys, use your imagination."
Sirius grinning madly, summoned the picture downstairs with a wave of his wand and gave it to Harry, who cracked up. The people did have a very Dursleyish look about them.
They both looked like Vernon did when Mr Weasley destroyed their living room by coming through their fireplace and said calmly "that's better. Ah - You must be Harry's Aunt and uncle!" offering a handshake. Harry told Sirius about it and they both laughed.
The two of them spent the evening going through catalogues ordering Christmas presents for their friends.
Chapter 6
The next morning, Pomfrey allowed Harry out of bed and so he returned to the deserted (the other students had left) dormitory. He began to pack things neatly into his trunk. The dormitory door swung open and Dumbledore swept in. he had a sombre look on his face.
"I'm going to do it Professor" Harry said before his headmaster could say a word. "Just let me have the holiday first."
Dumbledore sighed and sat down "I didn't come here to hassle you. I came to apologise."
Harry stared
"Since I discovered who you are related to, I've been treating you horribly. I didn't realise what I'd been doing until I left the hospital wing last night. I am sorry Harry."
Harry reddened. Although he knew he deserved the apology he felt embarrassed. "It's ok sir."
"No, it's not. The reason I spoke to you like I did is because." Albus hesitated "because I recognised myself in you and I couldn't handle it."
"What do you mean?"
"Contrary to popular belief, I did not choose the life I lead. All I wanted out of life was to be a teacher, and to have a family. To be happy. I was, until Grindlewald came to power. He terrorised England for about ten years. Nobody knew how to defeat him.
When I came to teach at Hogwarts, I began to develop extraordinary powers. My elders were overjoyed. I was the key to the war. If my power could be harnessed, Grindlewald would be gone forever! The day I got the power my life changed."
Harry looked at his mentor in sympathy.
"the training, the battles with Grindlewald and his supporters changed me. I was surrounded by darkness. Everyone expected me to fight. I was always to be victorious. Anytime the wizarding world is threatened I am again called upon."
"Why do you always agree to help?"
"For the simple fact that if I don't nobody else will. I resented it at first. The opportunities I had lost. To have a family became impossible. I merely continued to fight. When I first laid eyes on Tom Riddle, I sensed darkness within him. Unfortunately I was powerless to prevent the inevitable. Dippet wouldn't believe me, and now Riddle has gained power. Perhaps worse than Grindlewald."
Harry sat on another bed opposite Dumbledore.
"When I first saw you, I knew you would one day fill the shoes I now wear. You carry the same burdens that I do. I tried to shield you as long as possible, but the attempts were never successful. When Sirius bought you to my office, I felt I had some how failed you by condemning you to share my fate.
I was angry at the whole situation and had to repress all emotions of guilt and sadness in order to lead you down my path. With my help you will survive this battle, and you will take my place in people's eyes."
"You always seemed so happy."
"it is how I choose to cope. If I look for the good in everyone, the humour in every situation, the darkness recedes."
Dumbledore stood next to Harry's trunk and helped to arrange the belongings within it.
"Enjoy your holiday." Albus then left the room.
Harry stared at the door for a long time. Lost in thought. He supposed that just as Dumbledore drew strength from looking for the good, he himself drew strength from his friends, and Sirius. He jumped in shock as Sirius himself strode into the room.
"Holidays!!!" He exclaimed like a child. "Ready to go home Harry?"
"Yeah." Harry said. Just before Sirius lifted the trunk, Harry was overcome with the sudden desire to hug the man, and so he did. Looking a bit surprised Sirius hugged back and they left for Silvermoon Manor.
Once he stumbled out of the large fireplace in his living room, Harry collapsed into an armchair, thrilled to be home. The house elves came running into the room and greeted Harry excitedly with a large plate of cakes and a mug of hot chocolate.
"Hi guys!" he chuckled as one of them tried to force the tray into is hands.
Sirius sat down in the chair opposite him. The elves left. "We need to talk Harry."
Harry looked down, suddenly finding the chocolate éclair in his hand to be very interesting.
"I've been worried, many people have."
"I'm going to do it, after the holiday."
"I thought you would. That's why I am worried. I want to know if you're doing this because of pressure from Dumbledore or because you want to."
Harry faltered. He had many reasons "I guess Dumbledore is a part of it" He admitted "but there are also many other reasons. I have to do this for you. Not just you, my friends, innocent people that will be killed like Cedric - "
"would I be right in guessing there is more than a little revenge mixed in too?"
"yeah. I suppose."
Harry looked at his godfather dubiously , expecting a lecture.
"Harry, believe me I understand revenge. I was prepared to kill Peter. Still would given the opportunity. You can't let it govern your every move though."
"I won't" Harry took a sip of hot chocolate "Sirius, what if I end up a squib?"
"I'll look after you. Make sure you are happy." Sirius said, tears in his eyes. "I couldn't bear it if I lost you. Please be careful Harry. I've nearly lost you so many times now."
"I've seen what a boggart turns into around you. My corpse."
"Yeah." Sirius said looking uncomfortable.
The two lapsed into silence. Suddenly Sirius's face lit up with a sudden idea "Harry! Lets decorate this house! I haven't done it in years. We can get a tree and a wreath and tinsel!"
Harry smiled. Never before, had he been allowed to put up Christmas decorations. "Great!"
The two ran outside and chose a tree from the garden; it needed almost no transfiguration to look perfect. Sirius transported it into the house and they began pulling out decorations.
Harry liked red, green and gold decorations best, but Sirius kept throwing decorations of random colours on, such as purple and baubles that change colour depending on the mood of people looking at them.
"You're a lot better at this than you were last time!" Sirius noted "but then you were only about 5 months old."
"What?"
"your automatic magic was really powerful up until your first birthday, it's quite common in babies, anyway, every time you cried, a few of the glass baubles shattered. In the end your parents gave up and cast an unbreakable charm on them. Took all day as each ornament had to be charmed separately. I got to take you out while they worked."
Sirius often digressed into old stories, and despite the marauder reputation he was actually one of the most sentimental guys Harry had ever met.
"Where did we go?"
"I took you to my parents house, I hadn't visited in about 6 months - we didn't really get on, so I stormed in, locked the door behind me, announced that I'd kidnapped you and that the ministry was looking for me. I then went around the house and boarded up all the doors and windows while they stood in shock in the front room."
Harry looked at him with a mixture of amusement and horror.
"then I joined them in the room, half hid you in my jacket and paced up and down the room looking scared and talking about prison, and how sorry I was that they were now accessories. Then I took a picture of the looks on their faces with an auror spy camera and disapperated with a cheery wave. It was BRILLIANT. Revenge for all the times they - well never mind, they were a bit like the Dursleys, use your imagination."
Sirius grinning madly, summoned the picture downstairs with a wave of his wand and gave it to Harry, who cracked up. The people did have a very Dursleyish look about them.
They both looked like Vernon did when Mr Weasley destroyed their living room by coming through their fireplace and said calmly "that's better. Ah - You must be Harry's Aunt and uncle!" offering a handshake. Harry told Sirius about it and they both laughed.
The two of them spent the evening going through catalogues ordering Christmas presents for their friends.