A/N – I guess I was unclear about one of the "hints" about Filch. Sorry
about that but thanks to the feedback/reviews I can clear it up. When I
refer to him saving Harry from the Dementors, I refer to Ch46/47 of my own
story, not from the third book.
A/N – It's been a long road – thanks for all the support.
Chapter 60
Finally Free
He hadn't heard anything that had been said lately.
He didn't even hear Voldemort raise his wand and shout "CRUCIO". And he certainly didn't see Filch writhing around on the ground. He didn't hear the high-pitched, cold laugh that usually followed when Voldemort punished one of his Death Eaters.
Instead, what he did hear was the beautiful song of the Phoenix. It was calming and wonderful and encouraging all at the same time. He couldn't imagine a sweeter sound in the whole wide world. He continued to lie on the ground reveling in his pain free surroundings. He saw nothing and heard nothing except for Fawkes' song. He didn't even realize that his breathing began
It took Harry a few seconds to realize that his scar was no longing searing with unbearable pain. In fact, it no longer hurt at all. Suddenly remembering himself and his circumstances he sprang into the air finally realizing that seconds counted.
What greeted him was an extraordinarily odd sight. Fawkes was hovering so close behind Voldemort's head that it appeared to Harry as if Voldemort's head had sprouted two magnificently golden wings. Additionally, Voldemort was aiming his wand at and cursing Filch. He, Harry Potter – the Boy Who Lived, was standing ten meters away from him but instead of focusing his attention on him, Voldemort was cursing Filch. Harry couldn't believe it.
Indeed Voldemort seemed to come to his senses as well. He release Filch from his curse and turned his attention to Harry.
"IMPERIO!"
Harry steeled himself for the curse to hit. He knew he could beat it – after all, wasn't he the only one able to shake off the fake Moody? He could do this! Who cared if the curse was coming from the greatest Dark Wizard of his time? He had shaken it off before. He tried to ready himself to fight it. His body was tensed all the way from his curled toes all the way up to his clenched teeth. Any time now -- he was ready. He was tense and on guard. Any time now –
--- Any time at all...
He was ready. Let Voldemort do his best. Any time.
--- Any time at all...
But the impact never came. Slowly he opened his eyes to find out why the curse didn't hit him. He could barely believe what he saw.
Albus Dumbledore was standing in between himself and Voldemort.
"I'm sorry Tom but I do believe you'll find that that particular curse has no effect on me. Now if instead you would prefer to try a simple disarming spell --- "
"DUMBLEDORE! You do not scare Lord Voldemort."
"Really Tom? That's not the way I understand things."
Harry couldn't find the willpower to do anything except to watch the exchange going on between the two most powerful wizards on the planet. He was watching the epitome of good versus the epitome of evil and he wasn't going anywhere.
"Albus do not brag. It doesn't become you. You are no match against me. Admit it old man. Your time has come and gone." With that Voldemort shouted ---
"GRUNIVITORA!"
Harry had never heard this particular curse before. He watched dumbstruck as the ground opened up beneath Dumbledore. Harry raised his wand and started to cast the Levitation Charm when he realized that Dumbledore was doing just fine without it. Dumbledore seemingly hadn't noticed that the ground opened up beneath his feet because he was still standing (or floating) there like nothing happened.
Dumbledore muttered something but Harry couldn't make out any spell or charm being cast. "Surely you have more up your sleeve than that Tom?"
"TINGULO"
Before Voldemort had even finished saying the curse Harry could tell that the weather had turned. He could feel the static in the air growing in intensity. He actually screamed in fright when he saw the massive lightening bolt come from nowhere and strike Dumbledore.
Time seemed to stand still for Harry. He didn't stand a chance to escape if Dumbledore was dead. He started rushing over to Dumbledore so he could try to catch him before he fell into the giant crater that was still beneath him. Harry would give every one of his possessions if that would help ensure that Dumbledore still had a pulse.
But before he had even taken two steps towards his Headmaster, a strange sound greeted Harry's ears --- the last sound he expected to hear right now and one he was wholly incapable of producing given his present circumstances. He heard Dumbledore laughing.
"Tsk Tsk Tsk --- Tom is that all you can do? It's a wonder that your Death Eaters are so scared of you. If you can't do any better than that then I must ask you not to tell anyone that you received your magical education at Hogwarts."
"EXPELLIARMUS"
Harry had shouted this last curse at Voldemort. With Dumbledore keeping him busy, there was no reason why Harry couldn't steal his chance. The only effect this had though was to make Voldemort laugh that horrid high- pitched laugh of his.
"It's time to put you in your place old man - you and your little pet student too. You want to see something better? Then how about --- "
"GRINGOMODU"
Harry stood rooted in his spot. At the last second Voldemort had changed direction of his wand and aimed the curse directly at Harry instead of at Dumbledore. Too late he tried to dive out of the way of the curse. Harry barely had time to register the look of surprise and panic on Dumbledore's face before the curse hit him.
Amazingly, surprisingly, nothing happened when the curse hit him square in his midsection.
"Enough games Tom," Dumbledore began. "We must be going now."
Harry was only partially paying attention to the dialogue. He was intently focused on examining his body for the effects of whatever curse Voldemort had just sent at him.
Dumbledore tilted his head and snapped his fingers. This caused every single plant and tree in the area to sprout legs and begin to march towards Voldemort.
While Voldemort was distracted with the hundreds of new enemies coming at him, Dumbledore took action.
"HARRY," Dumbledore shouted so that it could be heard over all the curses that Voldemort was screaming at the trees.
Snapping out of his semi-daze, Harry stopped examining his body and looked up at his Headmaster. Dumbledore didn't say anything else but instead reached down, grabbed the nearest stick, and flung it toward Harry.
Harry reached out with his non-wand arm and caught it – more out of reflex than anything.
That was when he felt the almost familiar sensation of a jerk from somewhere behind his navel. Dumbledore had somehow transfigured a stick into a portkey in between the time his picked it up and the time he flung it toward Harry.
Harry tried to catch himself but couldn't. He was sprawled out on the ground in his new surroundings. He felt around on the ground near him until he found his glasses. Shakily, he found his feet and stood upright. Spitting grass and dew and dirt out of his mouth, he slowly turned around in a circle to take in his surroundings.
There could be absolutely no doubt. He had been here several times before. This was his home away from home and he could recognize it anywhere – even in the absolute dark of this moonless night. He was definitely standing in the middle of the Quidditch Pitch at Hogwarts. As he looked around though he realized that he wasn't alone. Dumbledore was standing only a meter away. Lying at his feet was an immobile and tightly bound Argus Filch.
Before Harry could ask any questions Dumbledore grabbed his shoulder and began leading him back towards the castle. Glancing over his shoulder, Harry noticed Filch sprawled on a stretcher, unconscious, following him and Dumbledore back up to the castle.
Dumbledore didn't utter as much as a single syllable as he led his trio up to the castle. The only effect this had was to make Harry even more nervous. He had been wondering before but now he was all but convinced that Dumbledore blamed him for him not being able to capture Voldemort a few minutes ago. Obviously, Harry thought, Dumbledore thought that Harry couldn't protect himself for even a few seconds and instead of trying to capture Voldemort, Dumbledore spent his energies protecting little, feeble, vulnerable, defenseless, Harry Potter instead.
He felt horrible.
But then again... if Dumbledore had trusted him to look after himself for more than two seconds... perhaps Voldemort would be in custody this very second. After all, he had been hit by one of Voldemort's spells, which had absolutely no affect on him. And, Harry forced himself to remember, as he was getting angrier and angrier, he had bested Voldemort to become the leader of the Order of the Serpents. He was also the leader of the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore was one of the members – one of his followers. What else did he have to do to get Dumbledore to trust him to look after himself for a few lousy minutes? Dumbledore could have beaten Voldemort if only he had trusted Harry to look after himself.
When they reached the entrance, the doors to the Great Hall flew open. As Harry had already known, it was still the middle of the night and no one was there to greet them. Harry wasn't sure where they were going so he continued following his Headmaster. Finally, Harry found himself outside of the Hospital Wing.
"Harry," Dumbledore began softly, "wait for me out here. I'll only be a moment." With that and a quick wink, the Headmaster and the unconscious form of Argus Filch disappeared behind a set of swiftly closing doors.
Harry considered trying to sneak into the Hospital Wing to find out what was going on but decided instead to wait patiently. Too much had happened tonight to worry about other things and he just couldn't muster the energy within himself to take the trouble to find out what Dumbledore was doing. He decided to try to spend the time figuring out why Dumbledore didn't trust him to look after himself. He opted instead to sit against the stonewall gazing into nothing waiting for the Headmaster to call him out of it.
But it wasn't the Headmaster that gained his attention.
SLURP
It was a giant black dog licking his face that gained his immediate attention.
"SIRIUS! Go away!" Harry was laughing in spite of himself while he was trying to smack the dog across his snout.
The black dog wagged his tail even more ferociously and sat down next to Harry. He growled somewhat playfully (and somewhat ferociously) as Harry finally landed a particularly solid slap across his snout.
"Leave me alone. Besides, you're free. You don't have to hide any more. Shouldn't you be a human?" Harry asked while scratching his Godfather behind the ears and laughing despite all his wishes to the contrary.
By way of an answer, Sirius licked Harry's face again.
Harry playfully whacked his Godfather across the snout again. "Stop it Sirius."
"Oh all right," said the now transformed Sirius Black as he went to sit down next to his godson. "So, besides giving your godfather a heart attack, are you going to tell me what you've been up to this evening?"
"It's a long story."
"It better be. I've been beside myself since Ron and Hermione told me what happened. I couldn't find Dumbledore so at least I knew he had most likely found you --- "
"Yeah, that's right Sirius. He saved me. He rescued poor little old me."
Sirius was more than a little shocked at Harry's attitude. "What's wrong Harry? You're fifteen. Of course he went to rescue you. You're fifteen. Voldemort is the most powerful dark wizard of our time. And did I mention that you're fifteen? Did you expect us to wish you luck and hope for the best?"
"Of course not."
"Then I don't understand what's wrong. I, for one, am ecstatic that Dumbledore found you tonight and brought you back safely. After all, whom would I play Quidditch with this summer if you weren't around?"
Harry couldn't help but smile a small smile at the thought of playing Quidditch with his Godfather. The thought that he wouldn't have to go back to the Dursley's this summer was more than enough to bring a smile to himself.
"Sirius, you don't understand."
"What don't I understand?"
"If Dumbledore had trusted me to look after myself for more than a few seconds, he could have defeated Voldemort tonight. It's my fault Voldemort is still around to bring fear and devastation to the wizarding world. Don't you see? It's my fault."
Sirius opened his mouth to respond but the voice that Harry heard did not belong to his Godfather. "I assure you that it's much more complicated than that."
Harry scrambled to his feet. "Headmaster, where's Filch?"
"He's waiting for us in my office. Shall we?" Dumbledore didn't wait for either of them to answer. He began walking towards his office. The gargoyle seemed to recognize his presence because it sprang open at just the right time so that Dumbledore didn't have to break stride continuing to the staircase.
After Harry and Sirius followed Dumbledore in to his office they noticed that the office wasn't empty. Filch was bound tightly to a chair and his mouth was gagged. His eyes were darting furiously around the room as if looking for a chance to escape.
Harry walked straight over to Fawkes. "'Lo boy. Thanks again. I don't know how to repay you for times like these when you help me out."
Fawkes inclined his head toward Harry in a sort of mini bow. Harry turned his attention back towards the room's other occupants steeling himself to ask the question that had been burning in his head for the last hour or two.
But as he opened his mouth to ask it, the door flung open. McGonagall and Snape walked in. Harry wasn't surprised but he did feel a pang of disappointment because there was no way he could, or would, ask his question in front of Snape.
He closed his mouth.
But he opened his mouth again as he noticed Mr and Mrs Weasley as well as Remus Lupin enter the office. Remus closed the door behind him. Mrs Weasley enveloped Harry in a giant bear hug. Mr Weasley and Lupin grasped Harry on a shoulder and shook hands saying how wonderful it was to see him healthy.
Even though they had the best of intentions, it reminded Harry that Dumbledore wasn't the only one who thought that he wasn't capable of looking after himself. He faked a small smile before studying his shoes.
Dumbledore clasped his hands. "Ah, excellent. I see everyone is here. Now although I know most of the story myself, I believe Harry can best tell us how the story began because all I know is that Mr Ronald Weasley and Ms Granger were running through the castle shouting at the top of their lungs until Professor Snape here found them. They refused to tell him anything except that they needed to see me. He of course brought them to me straight away."
"I had to," Snape sneered, "they were giving me a headache."
Dumbledore chuckled before proceeding. "I'm sure that wasn't their intention."
Harry wasn't so sure. But that was beside the point. He returned his attention to Dumbledore dreading the moment that he would be forced to tell his part.
Dumbledore was saying, "They told me how the Map was a portkey --- "
Snape interrupted. "What map Headmaster?"
Harry felt his heart leap into his throat. With a significant look toward Remus and Sirius he was able to relay exactly what Map they were referring to.
Sirius jumped in. "That's not really important is it Dumbledore?"
Once again sporting the twinkle in his eyes, Dumbledore acquiesced after a quick look in turn to Sirius, Remus, and finally Harry. "Of course it's not."
Snape looked furious. (Of course it was hard to distinguish that from his usual look.) He started to protest but Dumbledore lifted a hand signaling for him to stop.
"As I was saying, I was told that Harry had been portkeyed away from Hogwarts. I didn't need them to tell me who they thought had done it. I knew it was Voldemort. I wasn't sure where to start but I decided to try all of Voldemort's favorite places from before. It was at one of these that I found Voldemort, Harry, and I'm sad to say, Argus Filch.
"Harry was doing just fine for himself but I took it upon myself to bring him back. However, I must admit that in doing so I almost made a grave mistake. I gave Voldemort a chance to attack Harry. Fortunately," Dumbledore said with obvious relief in his voice, "Harry was spry enough to avoid the other, seldom used, killing curse."
Professor McGonagall and Mrs Weasley both raised their hands to their respective mouths. Sirius sank to his knees. Remus turned around (barely in time) and vomited into a nearby waste receptacle. Even Snape seemed to have paled.
Harry was shocked at everyone's reaction. He replayed the last few sentences that Dumbledore said trying to discern what had caused this reaction in everyone. He didn't know what had caused everyone to respond like they did.
Snape was the first one able to speak again.
"Surely you don't mean that he tried --- "
"I'm afraid so." Dumbledore truly looked sad as he was answering his Potions Master. The twinkle in his eyes was gone and his speech was slightly slower than normal. "Voldemort tried the Gringomodias Curse on Harry."
Before he could move, Mrs Weasley had enveloped him in another one of her gigantic bear hugs. He could feel her tears freely falling on to the top of his head. Harry remained immobile for more than a couple of seconds before he was released. Harry waited for a few more moments hoping that someone in the room would offer up the information that he so obviously wanted to know --- but no one did.
"Er --- what is the Grindo --- er --- Bringo --- er whatever that curse was?"
Mr Weasley answered (or at least corrected) him this time. "The Gringomodias Curse Harry."
"Right, that one. What is it?"
Mr Weasley sighed heavily as if trying to muster the nerve to answer his question. "It's another type of killing curse. Except that instead of actually killing the victim, he or she has their brain sucked out and all of their magic removed. Whoever cast the spell would get some of the magical abilities and talents of the victim."
No one said anything for a few seconds. Finally Harry had to ask.
"And so what happens to the victim? Does he or she die?"
Mr Weasley looked almost murderous. "Oh no Harry. It's worse than that. The victim is not only rendered insane but also loses all magical abilities. It's much worse than the Avada Kadavra Curse."
It still hadn't sunk in to Harry that he had almost met that fate. His brain was only beginning to process the information but it was still treating it more as a clinical study than anything else. "Then why isn't it an Unforgivable Curse?"
Dumbledore stepped up. "Because it is such a difficult curse that it's almost impossible to do. There hasn't been a case of it in over fifteen years. Fortunately it just doesn't come up all that often. The aim has to be absolutely perfect or the curse is rendered harmless, as you saw earlier this evening."
Dumbledore's subtle reminder caused several faces in the office to pale again.
"Where does it have to hit?"
"It must strike the victim directly in the center of their heart." Dumbledore looked around room and spoke to everyone else. "I believe it hit Harry in his stomach."
The effect of those words was predictable. Remus got sick again but this time Sirius joined him. The two witches grabbed their chests. Mr Weasley and Snape tried in vain to not look startled by the news.
Harry broke the silence. "So when was the last time this curse was used?"
"That, I'm afraid is a discussion for another time Harry. Now let us continue discussing tonight's events. As I was saying Voldemort attacked me and then Harry and then we left. I had known for quite a while that there was another spy at Hogwarts but I hadn't known who it was. At least I hadn't until I saw him there along with Voldemort and Harry --- it was Argus Filch." Dumbledore paused here and removed his half-mooned spectacles.
Various responses of indignation and disbelief emanated from those gathered in the office.
Dumbledore raised his hands in mock surrender. "I know dear folks, I know. He's been my trusted caretaker for over a decade. All I can say is that he's played his role perfectly. There is no doubt – you see him here with your own eyes. Harry and I witnessed him with Voldemort tonight."
The headmaster sighed deeply and replaced his glasses on his head.
"Harry, I owe you an apology for this – for putting your life in danger. I knew there was a spy on the staff. As a matter of fact your own dreams told us as much. But I didn't know who it was. I purposely didn't hire a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year because I wanted to be able to trust everyone on my staff. It wasn't until well into the year that I knew I couldn't trust everyone but I didn't know who not to trust. Everyone had been with me for several years. I admit, there are others I would have suspected before I suspected Filch. As a matter of fact, he's been with me longer than many on the staff. So let us hear from him now."
Dumbledore nodded towards Snape.
Snape reached into his robes and pulled out a small vial that looked eerily familiar to Harry. He knew it was Veritaserum.
Filch's eyes widened when he saw the vial. He clamped his mouth tightly shut and struggled against the inevitable. Snape put the bottle down on the Headmaster's desk. He used one hand to hold the dropper and the other to pinch Filch's nose closed. When Filch opened his mouth to breath, Snape dispersed five drops of the powerful Truth Serum in to the former caretaker's mouth quickly, before he had a chance to close it.
No one said anything.
After a few seconds, Harry looked around the room and realized that everyone was looking towards him. Slowly, the significance of this dawned on him.
He stepped up slowly but deliberately towards Filch. He tried to slow his breathing so that he could at least appear calm before everyone in the office. He forced himself to keep walking until he was less than a meter away from Filch.
Harry started his interrogation.
"Are you under the effects of the truth serum?"
"Yes."
"Would you tell me if you weren't?"
"No."
Harry looked briefly to Snape first and then to Dumbledore. The headmaster nodded reassuringly telling Harry that the serum was working. Harry continued.
"Was it you that lured me to Voldemort?"
"I don't know."
This perplexed Harry. He didn't want to ask anyone for help. He wanted to think about this and figure it out for himself. Finally he did. Finally he realized that Filch didn't necessarily know who was asking him the questions.
"Was it you that lured Harry Potter to Voldemort?"
"Yes."
"Why did Voldemort punish you when he saw you this evening?"
"He usually punishes his followers. It's just a reminder as to who is in charge. He is very wise and wants to ensure that we don't grow too big for our own good. He didn't mean anything by it and I will not question his judgment."
Harry stole a quick glance towards his Potions Master before asking the next question. "How long have you been working for Voldemort?"
"Ever since I can remember."
"What?"
"Ever since I can remember."
"No. I heard you. I mean, how is it possible that you worked at Hogwarts all this time while being a Death Eater?"
"I was a sleeper. The Dark Lord didn't wish to share my existence with most of his followers. He still wasn't sure that some of them weren't spies for Dumbledore."
Snape moved forward to interrupt Harry's questioning but Harry raised a hand to stop the interference.
In deference to his Potions Master he asked, "Who does the Dark Lord think is the spy?"
"He doesn't know for sure."
Harry didn't miss a beat. "Who does he think it might be?"
"He thinks it might be me, Snape, Crabbe, Goyle, or either of the sons of Crabbe or Goyle."
"Who recruited you?"
"No one. I approached them."
"How did you come to be at Hogwarts?"
"I was ordered to apply for the job. He suggested to me over fifteen years ago that since I had my magical education at home I could act the part of a Squib. I have tried very much since then to protect my identity as a supporter of the Dark Lord. No one suspected my true loyalties. Especially not that Muggle loving Headmaster."
Harry felt his stomach get upset. He steeled himself to continue.
"Why did you come to Hogwarts?"
"Voldemort told me to. He said that Dippet wouldn't hire me because he wanted a magic user as the caretaker and since I had been home schooled no one had heard of me and wouldn't hire me to work at the great Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But he said that when Dumbledore took over, he would be looking to give someone a second chance – and that's when I could take my chance. So I did."
"Do you know all of the Death Eaters?"
"No."
"Are there any other Death Eaters at Hogwarts?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"I'm not sure."
"Who do you think?"
"Crabbe, Goyle and Snape"
"When was the last time you heard Voldemort express sentiments that those three were Death Eaters?"
"Over a year ago."
"What dark acts have you committed?"
"Many --- depending on your interpretation."
"Have you committed any Unforgivable Curses?"
"Yes."
"Which ones?"
"All of them but mainly the Imperius Curse."
"Against who?"
"Students who I don't like and want to get into trouble. Even if Dumbledore won't let me torture them at least I can get them in to trouble and make it so that no one believes them."
Harry had asked everything that he thought significant. He looked around the room at the other occupants. No one else seemed to have a question so Harry stepped back out of the center of attention and stood next to his godfather.
Dumbledore clasped his hands together. "Well, Severus and Minerva, I must ask you two to go to the Ministry and fetch Fudge and his assistants to take Filch and his statements. By the time you return Filch will have been removed to more secure surroundings so if Fudge insists on bringing Dementors with him this time, he will not be granted access to the prisoner. Please ensure that he knows that."
Snape and McGonagall inclined their heads and swept quickly from the room.
"Arthur, Molly, I must ask you two to go to Gryffindor Tower and ensure your clan as well as Miss Granger know that Harry is all right and will be joining them shortly. Additionally, I must ask you to swing by the kitchens so that you may take them a plethora of sweets, food, and Butterbeer so that no Gryffindor feels the need to leave the Tower tonight. If I recall correctly from your time here at the school, I believe you two know the way." Dumbledore's twinkle had returned as he looked directly at the somewhat blushing couple.
He added, "The password is Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes." Their blush deepened as they left the Headmaster's office.
Their departure left only Filch, Remus, Sirius, Harry and Dumbledore in the office (besides Fawkes).
Dumbledore summoned Dobby to his office. The small House Elf ran head long into Harry's legs almost knocking the fifth year Gryffindor backwards.
"Harry Potter sir! Harry Potter sir! Is you all right? Dobby has been so worried about Harry Potter." Harry wasn't able to tell because the elf had buried his face within Harry's robes, but he thought the House Elf was crying.
Harry was trying to reassure Dobby that he was just fine while simultaneously looking around the office to the others for help. Meanwhile, the wailing sound from his midriff verified that Dobby was shedding tears.
When Dumbledore was finally able to gain his attention and calm him down, Dobby was told to take Filch down to the Prisoner Cells and to keep watch on the "wizard". Under no circumstances, Dobby was advised, was he to remain unguarded.
Dobby nodded his understanding before disappearing with the prisoner.
So now besides Dumbledore and Harry, only Remus and Sirius were left in the office. Each of the four of them plopped into nearby chairs. The silence was almost deafening. Harry's resolve to study his Trainers broke down and he looked at the three other wizards in the room. All of them were watching him intently. He didn't know what they wanted from him (and he was much too tired to try to reckon it out) so he decided to study his shoes some more.
Finally Dumbledore spoke. "So Harry, what is on your mind?"
He paused for half a second deciding whether or not he wanted to voice this in front of Remus but he quickly decided that his former professor would do nothing except try to help him. He knew he didn't have to worry about what he said in front of his former DADA instructor. It wasn't like Snape was still in the room.
"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry that I stopped you from killing Voldemort this evening. I'm sorry that you didn't trust me enough to take care of myself long enough to vanquish Voldemort from the wizarding world. I'm just so sorry --- " He couldn't think of any more words to describe his grief. He lowered his eyes and fell silent with his elbows on his knees and his head cradled in his hands.
Harry had blurted all this out so quickly that his only hope was that Dumbledore had understood him and he didn't have to repeat any of it. He didn't dare lift his eyes. He didn't even dare to move a single muscle. He didn't want to meet any of the three gazes that he knew were waiting for him. He heard Dumbledore sigh a deep, heavy sigh. However, afterwards the office remained silent and still. Harry didn't want to have to look in to the eyes of any of the three wizards present and he wasn't going to. They had all known his parents. They had all known what potential Harry had been born with. He didn't want to face anyone that knew what he should have been able to do on this night.
The silence echoed on.
Someone cleared his throat. The room once again fell silent.
Dumbledore finally, but quietly, spoke. "Harry, dear boy, please look at me."
He didn't move. He didn't want to have to face anyone right now, much less his Headmaster. Slowly Harry lifted his gaze to the wizard.
He waited for an eternity. Dumbledore's gaze pierced him inside and out. Finally he spoke, "Harry, is that what you really think?"
The question surprised him greatly. The tone was almost sad; it had been quiet and reserved. Harry thought about his answer for a moment. He didn't want to disappoint Dumbledore any more but he didn't want to lie either. So he answered truthfully, "Yes."
He was surprised at the reaction this caused. Dumbledore just sat there blinking, although the famous twinkle behind the half-mooned spectacles was no longer present. Sirius hung his head so abruptly that Harry though his spine might have snapped. Remus leapt to his feet but didn't move from there.
Time seemed to freeze while everyone remained in those positions.
Finally, Dumbledore spoke to Harry although he was looking at Sirius alone. "I think perhaps, it's time to tell him the rest of his story."
Whatever he was expecting, this was definitely not it. "My --- my --- my story. You mean --- you mean that there is more?"
Again everyone in the room seemed lost in their respective positions. Sirius looked up at Harry and Harry didn't think he had ever seen him look sadder. Remus now plopped back in his chair so quickly that Harry thought he might have hurt himself but his former DADA professor didn't seem to notice that anything was amiss. Dumbledore merely continued to stare at Harry as though trying to look into his soul. Finally though, he spoke.
"I'm afraid, dear boy, that in fact there is more to your story. Why don't you first ask me the question that had been on your mind this evening?"
He didn't even care how Dumbledore knew. He wanted to ask it and he did.
"Why didn't you trust me to look after myself? Why didn't you take your opportunity to defeat Voldemort instead of looking after me? I know you cast a shield charm on me instead of taking your opportunity to defeat Voldemort." When Harry finished talking, he walked over to the phoenix cage and began stroking Fawkes again.
The silence was deafening to Harry's ears. Finally Dumbledore spoke again.
"Nothing like that happened tonight. It is my fault though that you think it did."
Harry looked up at his Headmaster. He wasn't sure what to think or say. So he remained quiet until Dumbledore continued speaking.
"Harry, we think it's time you know about the prophecy."
"Prophecy? What prophecy?"
"I've said to you before that Sybill Trelawney has made a true prediction before. She predicted that you and Voldemort would battle to the death, with only one survivor. The prophecy did not say which wizard that would be."
Harry didn't know what to say at Dumbledore's revelation to him. As his words starting to sink in to his brain, he realized that he wasn't that surprised. These words rang true. It seemed almost obvious to him now. These words just didn't surprise him. Ever since he was a baby he was destined to duel with Voldemort. It made sense, after all these encounters with Voldemort, to find out that he and Voldemort were destined to do battle to the end. It did make it somehow more real to hear Dumbledore confirm what he had already known.
"I see," he began tentatively before realizing what he had just said. "Well actually, no I don't. I still don't understand --- "
"What that has to do with tonight?" Dumbledore finished his question for him. Harry nodded dumbly.
"Well it actually has everything to do with tonight. You see, I did not try to defeat Voldemort because I cannot defeat Voldemort."
Harry looked at his godfather and his godfather's best friend to see if they found this as unbelievable as he himself did. Here was the most powerful light wizard in the world saying that he couldn't defeat Voldemort. What chance did the wizarding world have then? Surely Dumbledore didn't say what Harry just heard. However when he looked at Sirius and Remus, both were sporting expressions of dread and sorrow. That could only mean one thing.
"So, so then... I have to defeat Voldemort or he will take over the wizarding world? No one else can defeat him?"
"I'm truly sorry to say my dear boy that that is correct. Despite what you may think, I did not defeat Voldemort tonight not because of anything you did but instead because of the prophecy. I cannot defeat him. Indeed, as soon as I got there I should have gotten you and left. But instead I was hoping he would hurt himself trying to destroy me. All I did was allow him a direct shot at killing you and I would have never forgiven myself if he would have hurt you because of my arrogance."
Sirius finally found himself and got up. He walked over to be in front of Harry where he knelt down in front of him.
"Son, nothing tonight was your fault. It is we who continually let you down, not the other way around. Unfortunately what Dumbledore says is true but it's us who should better protect you until, at least, you are of age and not a second before. Prophecy or no, we still have a duty to you are we are going to do better by you."
Harry just sat there trying to absorb all of the information he had heard tonight. But it was too much. He felt numb. When everyone had stayed silent for over a minute he excused himself and made his way up to Gryffindor Tower. He left so abruptly that he didn't give anyone the chance to offer to accompany him up there.
For that, at least, he was glad. He used his time during the walk to think about nothing. He thrust everything from his mind and enjoyed the walk up to his tower without worrying about anything. It had been too long since he had done that.
"Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes," he supplied to the Fat Lady without much enthusiasm. All the noise coming from the Common Room didn't even faze him.
When he stepped through the Portrait Hole he found himself once again enveloped in a massive hug. He was starting to understand what it felt like to be part of a large family. Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Fred and George ran over to him and began jumping up and down celebrating his safe return.
The two Weasley adults hugged him one more time before warning all of their kids to behave and making their way out of the Tower. Despite his utmost desire to go to bed for the next three weeks, they forced him to tell an abbreviated version of the night's events. Finally, he was allowed to retire for the evening.
Mercifully, no one woke him up the next morning. He woke up around lunchtime to find his dorm empty except for the smiling face of his Headmaster sitting on the windowsill staring at the grounds below him. Harry quickly moved to don his glasses, sit up, and face his Headmaster.
"What's the matter Professor Dumbledore?"
Dumbledore chuckled slightly. "Nothing Harry. Nothing at all my dear boy. I just wanted to be sure that there wasn't anything else that was causing you concern. Of course, I was completely honest with you yesterday and I wanted to make sure that you didn't have any lingering doubts or concerns. At least, any more concerns than could be expected."
Harry thought for a minute.
"Who all knows about the prophecy?"
Dumbledore sighed again. "Voldemort and whomever he chose to share it with, Arthur and Molly Weasley as well as their sons Bill and Charlie, Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Alastor Moody, and Nicholas Flammel and his wife as well as whoever you shared it with last night."
"I didn't tell anyone."
"Then just the wizards and witches that I just mentioned. Sybill doesn't even remember giving the prophecy."
"So then --- they all know that I'm destined to die or to kill?"
"Yes."
Harry thought about that for a while. He wondered how that affected what the Weasleys thought about him.
"Does the prophecy provide a deadline?"
"No. It doesn't say when this has to take place by."
"Do you know when it has to take place by then?"
"I have my own guesses but they are nothing more than that --- only guesses. I do not wish to share them at this time --- perhaps when I am more sure. You have enough to be dealing with without my adding things that might not even be true."
They sat there in silence for a while. Finally Dumbledore spoke.
"You are excused from any classes you wish this week but I must remind you that your OWLs are in two weeks. Most of the professors are spending this week reviewing. I expect all of my Prefects to do well this year." And with that Dumbledore got up and left Harry alone in his room.
A/N – When I did this the first time, I concluded the year/story in five more paragraphs. I've finally decided to go back and do it properly so I can sleep peacefully at night.
A/N – The ideas about the Prophecy came from JKR's book 5 to help my story stay truer to the canon. Again, I hope you enjoyed my version of book 5 but remember that all of this is themed off the works of JK Rowling and that I will make no money off of this story.
A/N – It's been a long road – thanks for all the support.
Chapter 60
Finally Free
He hadn't heard anything that had been said lately.
He didn't even hear Voldemort raise his wand and shout "CRUCIO". And he certainly didn't see Filch writhing around on the ground. He didn't hear the high-pitched, cold laugh that usually followed when Voldemort punished one of his Death Eaters.
Instead, what he did hear was the beautiful song of the Phoenix. It was calming and wonderful and encouraging all at the same time. He couldn't imagine a sweeter sound in the whole wide world. He continued to lie on the ground reveling in his pain free surroundings. He saw nothing and heard nothing except for Fawkes' song. He didn't even realize that his breathing began
It took Harry a few seconds to realize that his scar was no longing searing with unbearable pain. In fact, it no longer hurt at all. Suddenly remembering himself and his circumstances he sprang into the air finally realizing that seconds counted.
What greeted him was an extraordinarily odd sight. Fawkes was hovering so close behind Voldemort's head that it appeared to Harry as if Voldemort's head had sprouted two magnificently golden wings. Additionally, Voldemort was aiming his wand at and cursing Filch. He, Harry Potter – the Boy Who Lived, was standing ten meters away from him but instead of focusing his attention on him, Voldemort was cursing Filch. Harry couldn't believe it.
Indeed Voldemort seemed to come to his senses as well. He release Filch from his curse and turned his attention to Harry.
"IMPERIO!"
Harry steeled himself for the curse to hit. He knew he could beat it – after all, wasn't he the only one able to shake off the fake Moody? He could do this! Who cared if the curse was coming from the greatest Dark Wizard of his time? He had shaken it off before. He tried to ready himself to fight it. His body was tensed all the way from his curled toes all the way up to his clenched teeth. Any time now -- he was ready. He was tense and on guard. Any time now –
--- Any time at all...
He was ready. Let Voldemort do his best. Any time.
--- Any time at all...
But the impact never came. Slowly he opened his eyes to find out why the curse didn't hit him. He could barely believe what he saw.
Albus Dumbledore was standing in between himself and Voldemort.
"I'm sorry Tom but I do believe you'll find that that particular curse has no effect on me. Now if instead you would prefer to try a simple disarming spell --- "
"DUMBLEDORE! You do not scare Lord Voldemort."
"Really Tom? That's not the way I understand things."
Harry couldn't find the willpower to do anything except to watch the exchange going on between the two most powerful wizards on the planet. He was watching the epitome of good versus the epitome of evil and he wasn't going anywhere.
"Albus do not brag. It doesn't become you. You are no match against me. Admit it old man. Your time has come and gone." With that Voldemort shouted ---
"GRUNIVITORA!"
Harry had never heard this particular curse before. He watched dumbstruck as the ground opened up beneath Dumbledore. Harry raised his wand and started to cast the Levitation Charm when he realized that Dumbledore was doing just fine without it. Dumbledore seemingly hadn't noticed that the ground opened up beneath his feet because he was still standing (or floating) there like nothing happened.
Dumbledore muttered something but Harry couldn't make out any spell or charm being cast. "Surely you have more up your sleeve than that Tom?"
"TINGULO"
Before Voldemort had even finished saying the curse Harry could tell that the weather had turned. He could feel the static in the air growing in intensity. He actually screamed in fright when he saw the massive lightening bolt come from nowhere and strike Dumbledore.
Time seemed to stand still for Harry. He didn't stand a chance to escape if Dumbledore was dead. He started rushing over to Dumbledore so he could try to catch him before he fell into the giant crater that was still beneath him. Harry would give every one of his possessions if that would help ensure that Dumbledore still had a pulse.
But before he had even taken two steps towards his Headmaster, a strange sound greeted Harry's ears --- the last sound he expected to hear right now and one he was wholly incapable of producing given his present circumstances. He heard Dumbledore laughing.
"Tsk Tsk Tsk --- Tom is that all you can do? It's a wonder that your Death Eaters are so scared of you. If you can't do any better than that then I must ask you not to tell anyone that you received your magical education at Hogwarts."
"EXPELLIARMUS"
Harry had shouted this last curse at Voldemort. With Dumbledore keeping him busy, there was no reason why Harry couldn't steal his chance. The only effect this had though was to make Voldemort laugh that horrid high- pitched laugh of his.
"It's time to put you in your place old man - you and your little pet student too. You want to see something better? Then how about --- "
"GRINGOMODU"
Harry stood rooted in his spot. At the last second Voldemort had changed direction of his wand and aimed the curse directly at Harry instead of at Dumbledore. Too late he tried to dive out of the way of the curse. Harry barely had time to register the look of surprise and panic on Dumbledore's face before the curse hit him.
Amazingly, surprisingly, nothing happened when the curse hit him square in his midsection.
"Enough games Tom," Dumbledore began. "We must be going now."
Harry was only partially paying attention to the dialogue. He was intently focused on examining his body for the effects of whatever curse Voldemort had just sent at him.
Dumbledore tilted his head and snapped his fingers. This caused every single plant and tree in the area to sprout legs and begin to march towards Voldemort.
While Voldemort was distracted with the hundreds of new enemies coming at him, Dumbledore took action.
"HARRY," Dumbledore shouted so that it could be heard over all the curses that Voldemort was screaming at the trees.
Snapping out of his semi-daze, Harry stopped examining his body and looked up at his Headmaster. Dumbledore didn't say anything else but instead reached down, grabbed the nearest stick, and flung it toward Harry.
Harry reached out with his non-wand arm and caught it – more out of reflex than anything.
That was when he felt the almost familiar sensation of a jerk from somewhere behind his navel. Dumbledore had somehow transfigured a stick into a portkey in between the time his picked it up and the time he flung it toward Harry.
Harry tried to catch himself but couldn't. He was sprawled out on the ground in his new surroundings. He felt around on the ground near him until he found his glasses. Shakily, he found his feet and stood upright. Spitting grass and dew and dirt out of his mouth, he slowly turned around in a circle to take in his surroundings.
There could be absolutely no doubt. He had been here several times before. This was his home away from home and he could recognize it anywhere – even in the absolute dark of this moonless night. He was definitely standing in the middle of the Quidditch Pitch at Hogwarts. As he looked around though he realized that he wasn't alone. Dumbledore was standing only a meter away. Lying at his feet was an immobile and tightly bound Argus Filch.
Before Harry could ask any questions Dumbledore grabbed his shoulder and began leading him back towards the castle. Glancing over his shoulder, Harry noticed Filch sprawled on a stretcher, unconscious, following him and Dumbledore back up to the castle.
Dumbledore didn't utter as much as a single syllable as he led his trio up to the castle. The only effect this had was to make Harry even more nervous. He had been wondering before but now he was all but convinced that Dumbledore blamed him for him not being able to capture Voldemort a few minutes ago. Obviously, Harry thought, Dumbledore thought that Harry couldn't protect himself for even a few seconds and instead of trying to capture Voldemort, Dumbledore spent his energies protecting little, feeble, vulnerable, defenseless, Harry Potter instead.
He felt horrible.
But then again... if Dumbledore had trusted him to look after himself for more than two seconds... perhaps Voldemort would be in custody this very second. After all, he had been hit by one of Voldemort's spells, which had absolutely no affect on him. And, Harry forced himself to remember, as he was getting angrier and angrier, he had bested Voldemort to become the leader of the Order of the Serpents. He was also the leader of the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore was one of the members – one of his followers. What else did he have to do to get Dumbledore to trust him to look after himself for a few lousy minutes? Dumbledore could have beaten Voldemort if only he had trusted Harry to look after himself.
When they reached the entrance, the doors to the Great Hall flew open. As Harry had already known, it was still the middle of the night and no one was there to greet them. Harry wasn't sure where they were going so he continued following his Headmaster. Finally, Harry found himself outside of the Hospital Wing.
"Harry," Dumbledore began softly, "wait for me out here. I'll only be a moment." With that and a quick wink, the Headmaster and the unconscious form of Argus Filch disappeared behind a set of swiftly closing doors.
Harry considered trying to sneak into the Hospital Wing to find out what was going on but decided instead to wait patiently. Too much had happened tonight to worry about other things and he just couldn't muster the energy within himself to take the trouble to find out what Dumbledore was doing. He decided to try to spend the time figuring out why Dumbledore didn't trust him to look after himself. He opted instead to sit against the stonewall gazing into nothing waiting for the Headmaster to call him out of it.
But it wasn't the Headmaster that gained his attention.
SLURP
It was a giant black dog licking his face that gained his immediate attention.
"SIRIUS! Go away!" Harry was laughing in spite of himself while he was trying to smack the dog across his snout.
The black dog wagged his tail even more ferociously and sat down next to Harry. He growled somewhat playfully (and somewhat ferociously) as Harry finally landed a particularly solid slap across his snout.
"Leave me alone. Besides, you're free. You don't have to hide any more. Shouldn't you be a human?" Harry asked while scratching his Godfather behind the ears and laughing despite all his wishes to the contrary.
By way of an answer, Sirius licked Harry's face again.
Harry playfully whacked his Godfather across the snout again. "Stop it Sirius."
"Oh all right," said the now transformed Sirius Black as he went to sit down next to his godson. "So, besides giving your godfather a heart attack, are you going to tell me what you've been up to this evening?"
"It's a long story."
"It better be. I've been beside myself since Ron and Hermione told me what happened. I couldn't find Dumbledore so at least I knew he had most likely found you --- "
"Yeah, that's right Sirius. He saved me. He rescued poor little old me."
Sirius was more than a little shocked at Harry's attitude. "What's wrong Harry? You're fifteen. Of course he went to rescue you. You're fifteen. Voldemort is the most powerful dark wizard of our time. And did I mention that you're fifteen? Did you expect us to wish you luck and hope for the best?"
"Of course not."
"Then I don't understand what's wrong. I, for one, am ecstatic that Dumbledore found you tonight and brought you back safely. After all, whom would I play Quidditch with this summer if you weren't around?"
Harry couldn't help but smile a small smile at the thought of playing Quidditch with his Godfather. The thought that he wouldn't have to go back to the Dursley's this summer was more than enough to bring a smile to himself.
"Sirius, you don't understand."
"What don't I understand?"
"If Dumbledore had trusted me to look after myself for more than a few seconds, he could have defeated Voldemort tonight. It's my fault Voldemort is still around to bring fear and devastation to the wizarding world. Don't you see? It's my fault."
Sirius opened his mouth to respond but the voice that Harry heard did not belong to his Godfather. "I assure you that it's much more complicated than that."
Harry scrambled to his feet. "Headmaster, where's Filch?"
"He's waiting for us in my office. Shall we?" Dumbledore didn't wait for either of them to answer. He began walking towards his office. The gargoyle seemed to recognize his presence because it sprang open at just the right time so that Dumbledore didn't have to break stride continuing to the staircase.
After Harry and Sirius followed Dumbledore in to his office they noticed that the office wasn't empty. Filch was bound tightly to a chair and his mouth was gagged. His eyes were darting furiously around the room as if looking for a chance to escape.
Harry walked straight over to Fawkes. "'Lo boy. Thanks again. I don't know how to repay you for times like these when you help me out."
Fawkes inclined his head toward Harry in a sort of mini bow. Harry turned his attention back towards the room's other occupants steeling himself to ask the question that had been burning in his head for the last hour or two.
But as he opened his mouth to ask it, the door flung open. McGonagall and Snape walked in. Harry wasn't surprised but he did feel a pang of disappointment because there was no way he could, or would, ask his question in front of Snape.
He closed his mouth.
But he opened his mouth again as he noticed Mr and Mrs Weasley as well as Remus Lupin enter the office. Remus closed the door behind him. Mrs Weasley enveloped Harry in a giant bear hug. Mr Weasley and Lupin grasped Harry on a shoulder and shook hands saying how wonderful it was to see him healthy.
Even though they had the best of intentions, it reminded Harry that Dumbledore wasn't the only one who thought that he wasn't capable of looking after himself. He faked a small smile before studying his shoes.
Dumbledore clasped his hands. "Ah, excellent. I see everyone is here. Now although I know most of the story myself, I believe Harry can best tell us how the story began because all I know is that Mr Ronald Weasley and Ms Granger were running through the castle shouting at the top of their lungs until Professor Snape here found them. They refused to tell him anything except that they needed to see me. He of course brought them to me straight away."
"I had to," Snape sneered, "they were giving me a headache."
Dumbledore chuckled before proceeding. "I'm sure that wasn't their intention."
Harry wasn't so sure. But that was beside the point. He returned his attention to Dumbledore dreading the moment that he would be forced to tell his part.
Dumbledore was saying, "They told me how the Map was a portkey --- "
Snape interrupted. "What map Headmaster?"
Harry felt his heart leap into his throat. With a significant look toward Remus and Sirius he was able to relay exactly what Map they were referring to.
Sirius jumped in. "That's not really important is it Dumbledore?"
Once again sporting the twinkle in his eyes, Dumbledore acquiesced after a quick look in turn to Sirius, Remus, and finally Harry. "Of course it's not."
Snape looked furious. (Of course it was hard to distinguish that from his usual look.) He started to protest but Dumbledore lifted a hand signaling for him to stop.
"As I was saying, I was told that Harry had been portkeyed away from Hogwarts. I didn't need them to tell me who they thought had done it. I knew it was Voldemort. I wasn't sure where to start but I decided to try all of Voldemort's favorite places from before. It was at one of these that I found Voldemort, Harry, and I'm sad to say, Argus Filch.
"Harry was doing just fine for himself but I took it upon myself to bring him back. However, I must admit that in doing so I almost made a grave mistake. I gave Voldemort a chance to attack Harry. Fortunately," Dumbledore said with obvious relief in his voice, "Harry was spry enough to avoid the other, seldom used, killing curse."
Professor McGonagall and Mrs Weasley both raised their hands to their respective mouths. Sirius sank to his knees. Remus turned around (barely in time) and vomited into a nearby waste receptacle. Even Snape seemed to have paled.
Harry was shocked at everyone's reaction. He replayed the last few sentences that Dumbledore said trying to discern what had caused this reaction in everyone. He didn't know what had caused everyone to respond like they did.
Snape was the first one able to speak again.
"Surely you don't mean that he tried --- "
"I'm afraid so." Dumbledore truly looked sad as he was answering his Potions Master. The twinkle in his eyes was gone and his speech was slightly slower than normal. "Voldemort tried the Gringomodias Curse on Harry."
Before he could move, Mrs Weasley had enveloped him in another one of her gigantic bear hugs. He could feel her tears freely falling on to the top of his head. Harry remained immobile for more than a couple of seconds before he was released. Harry waited for a few more moments hoping that someone in the room would offer up the information that he so obviously wanted to know --- but no one did.
"Er --- what is the Grindo --- er --- Bringo --- er whatever that curse was?"
Mr Weasley answered (or at least corrected) him this time. "The Gringomodias Curse Harry."
"Right, that one. What is it?"
Mr Weasley sighed heavily as if trying to muster the nerve to answer his question. "It's another type of killing curse. Except that instead of actually killing the victim, he or she has their brain sucked out and all of their magic removed. Whoever cast the spell would get some of the magical abilities and talents of the victim."
No one said anything for a few seconds. Finally Harry had to ask.
"And so what happens to the victim? Does he or she die?"
Mr Weasley looked almost murderous. "Oh no Harry. It's worse than that. The victim is not only rendered insane but also loses all magical abilities. It's much worse than the Avada Kadavra Curse."
It still hadn't sunk in to Harry that he had almost met that fate. His brain was only beginning to process the information but it was still treating it more as a clinical study than anything else. "Then why isn't it an Unforgivable Curse?"
Dumbledore stepped up. "Because it is such a difficult curse that it's almost impossible to do. There hasn't been a case of it in over fifteen years. Fortunately it just doesn't come up all that often. The aim has to be absolutely perfect or the curse is rendered harmless, as you saw earlier this evening."
Dumbledore's subtle reminder caused several faces in the office to pale again.
"Where does it have to hit?"
"It must strike the victim directly in the center of their heart." Dumbledore looked around room and spoke to everyone else. "I believe it hit Harry in his stomach."
The effect of those words was predictable. Remus got sick again but this time Sirius joined him. The two witches grabbed their chests. Mr Weasley and Snape tried in vain to not look startled by the news.
Harry broke the silence. "So when was the last time this curse was used?"
"That, I'm afraid is a discussion for another time Harry. Now let us continue discussing tonight's events. As I was saying Voldemort attacked me and then Harry and then we left. I had known for quite a while that there was another spy at Hogwarts but I hadn't known who it was. At least I hadn't until I saw him there along with Voldemort and Harry --- it was Argus Filch." Dumbledore paused here and removed his half-mooned spectacles.
Various responses of indignation and disbelief emanated from those gathered in the office.
Dumbledore raised his hands in mock surrender. "I know dear folks, I know. He's been my trusted caretaker for over a decade. All I can say is that he's played his role perfectly. There is no doubt – you see him here with your own eyes. Harry and I witnessed him with Voldemort tonight."
The headmaster sighed deeply and replaced his glasses on his head.
"Harry, I owe you an apology for this – for putting your life in danger. I knew there was a spy on the staff. As a matter of fact your own dreams told us as much. But I didn't know who it was. I purposely didn't hire a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year because I wanted to be able to trust everyone on my staff. It wasn't until well into the year that I knew I couldn't trust everyone but I didn't know who not to trust. Everyone had been with me for several years. I admit, there are others I would have suspected before I suspected Filch. As a matter of fact, he's been with me longer than many on the staff. So let us hear from him now."
Dumbledore nodded towards Snape.
Snape reached into his robes and pulled out a small vial that looked eerily familiar to Harry. He knew it was Veritaserum.
Filch's eyes widened when he saw the vial. He clamped his mouth tightly shut and struggled against the inevitable. Snape put the bottle down on the Headmaster's desk. He used one hand to hold the dropper and the other to pinch Filch's nose closed. When Filch opened his mouth to breath, Snape dispersed five drops of the powerful Truth Serum in to the former caretaker's mouth quickly, before he had a chance to close it.
No one said anything.
After a few seconds, Harry looked around the room and realized that everyone was looking towards him. Slowly, the significance of this dawned on him.
He stepped up slowly but deliberately towards Filch. He tried to slow his breathing so that he could at least appear calm before everyone in the office. He forced himself to keep walking until he was less than a meter away from Filch.
Harry started his interrogation.
"Are you under the effects of the truth serum?"
"Yes."
"Would you tell me if you weren't?"
"No."
Harry looked briefly to Snape first and then to Dumbledore. The headmaster nodded reassuringly telling Harry that the serum was working. Harry continued.
"Was it you that lured me to Voldemort?"
"I don't know."
This perplexed Harry. He didn't want to ask anyone for help. He wanted to think about this and figure it out for himself. Finally he did. Finally he realized that Filch didn't necessarily know who was asking him the questions.
"Was it you that lured Harry Potter to Voldemort?"
"Yes."
"Why did Voldemort punish you when he saw you this evening?"
"He usually punishes his followers. It's just a reminder as to who is in charge. He is very wise and wants to ensure that we don't grow too big for our own good. He didn't mean anything by it and I will not question his judgment."
Harry stole a quick glance towards his Potions Master before asking the next question. "How long have you been working for Voldemort?"
"Ever since I can remember."
"What?"
"Ever since I can remember."
"No. I heard you. I mean, how is it possible that you worked at Hogwarts all this time while being a Death Eater?"
"I was a sleeper. The Dark Lord didn't wish to share my existence with most of his followers. He still wasn't sure that some of them weren't spies for Dumbledore."
Snape moved forward to interrupt Harry's questioning but Harry raised a hand to stop the interference.
In deference to his Potions Master he asked, "Who does the Dark Lord think is the spy?"
"He doesn't know for sure."
Harry didn't miss a beat. "Who does he think it might be?"
"He thinks it might be me, Snape, Crabbe, Goyle, or either of the sons of Crabbe or Goyle."
"Who recruited you?"
"No one. I approached them."
"How did you come to be at Hogwarts?"
"I was ordered to apply for the job. He suggested to me over fifteen years ago that since I had my magical education at home I could act the part of a Squib. I have tried very much since then to protect my identity as a supporter of the Dark Lord. No one suspected my true loyalties. Especially not that Muggle loving Headmaster."
Harry felt his stomach get upset. He steeled himself to continue.
"Why did you come to Hogwarts?"
"Voldemort told me to. He said that Dippet wouldn't hire me because he wanted a magic user as the caretaker and since I had been home schooled no one had heard of me and wouldn't hire me to work at the great Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But he said that when Dumbledore took over, he would be looking to give someone a second chance – and that's when I could take my chance. So I did."
"Do you know all of the Death Eaters?"
"No."
"Are there any other Death Eaters at Hogwarts?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"I'm not sure."
"Who do you think?"
"Crabbe, Goyle and Snape"
"When was the last time you heard Voldemort express sentiments that those three were Death Eaters?"
"Over a year ago."
"What dark acts have you committed?"
"Many --- depending on your interpretation."
"Have you committed any Unforgivable Curses?"
"Yes."
"Which ones?"
"All of them but mainly the Imperius Curse."
"Against who?"
"Students who I don't like and want to get into trouble. Even if Dumbledore won't let me torture them at least I can get them in to trouble and make it so that no one believes them."
Harry had asked everything that he thought significant. He looked around the room at the other occupants. No one else seemed to have a question so Harry stepped back out of the center of attention and stood next to his godfather.
Dumbledore clasped his hands together. "Well, Severus and Minerva, I must ask you two to go to the Ministry and fetch Fudge and his assistants to take Filch and his statements. By the time you return Filch will have been removed to more secure surroundings so if Fudge insists on bringing Dementors with him this time, he will not be granted access to the prisoner. Please ensure that he knows that."
Snape and McGonagall inclined their heads and swept quickly from the room.
"Arthur, Molly, I must ask you two to go to Gryffindor Tower and ensure your clan as well as Miss Granger know that Harry is all right and will be joining them shortly. Additionally, I must ask you to swing by the kitchens so that you may take them a plethora of sweets, food, and Butterbeer so that no Gryffindor feels the need to leave the Tower tonight. If I recall correctly from your time here at the school, I believe you two know the way." Dumbledore's twinkle had returned as he looked directly at the somewhat blushing couple.
He added, "The password is Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes." Their blush deepened as they left the Headmaster's office.
Their departure left only Filch, Remus, Sirius, Harry and Dumbledore in the office (besides Fawkes).
Dumbledore summoned Dobby to his office. The small House Elf ran head long into Harry's legs almost knocking the fifth year Gryffindor backwards.
"Harry Potter sir! Harry Potter sir! Is you all right? Dobby has been so worried about Harry Potter." Harry wasn't able to tell because the elf had buried his face within Harry's robes, but he thought the House Elf was crying.
Harry was trying to reassure Dobby that he was just fine while simultaneously looking around the office to the others for help. Meanwhile, the wailing sound from his midriff verified that Dobby was shedding tears.
When Dumbledore was finally able to gain his attention and calm him down, Dobby was told to take Filch down to the Prisoner Cells and to keep watch on the "wizard". Under no circumstances, Dobby was advised, was he to remain unguarded.
Dobby nodded his understanding before disappearing with the prisoner.
So now besides Dumbledore and Harry, only Remus and Sirius were left in the office. Each of the four of them plopped into nearby chairs. The silence was almost deafening. Harry's resolve to study his Trainers broke down and he looked at the three other wizards in the room. All of them were watching him intently. He didn't know what they wanted from him (and he was much too tired to try to reckon it out) so he decided to study his shoes some more.
Finally Dumbledore spoke. "So Harry, what is on your mind?"
He paused for half a second deciding whether or not he wanted to voice this in front of Remus but he quickly decided that his former professor would do nothing except try to help him. He knew he didn't have to worry about what he said in front of his former DADA instructor. It wasn't like Snape was still in the room.
"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry that I stopped you from killing Voldemort this evening. I'm sorry that you didn't trust me enough to take care of myself long enough to vanquish Voldemort from the wizarding world. I'm just so sorry --- " He couldn't think of any more words to describe his grief. He lowered his eyes and fell silent with his elbows on his knees and his head cradled in his hands.
Harry had blurted all this out so quickly that his only hope was that Dumbledore had understood him and he didn't have to repeat any of it. He didn't dare lift his eyes. He didn't even dare to move a single muscle. He didn't want to meet any of the three gazes that he knew were waiting for him. He heard Dumbledore sigh a deep, heavy sigh. However, afterwards the office remained silent and still. Harry didn't want to have to look in to the eyes of any of the three wizards present and he wasn't going to. They had all known his parents. They had all known what potential Harry had been born with. He didn't want to face anyone that knew what he should have been able to do on this night.
The silence echoed on.
Someone cleared his throat. The room once again fell silent.
Dumbledore finally, but quietly, spoke. "Harry, dear boy, please look at me."
He didn't move. He didn't want to have to face anyone right now, much less his Headmaster. Slowly Harry lifted his gaze to the wizard.
He waited for an eternity. Dumbledore's gaze pierced him inside and out. Finally he spoke, "Harry, is that what you really think?"
The question surprised him greatly. The tone was almost sad; it had been quiet and reserved. Harry thought about his answer for a moment. He didn't want to disappoint Dumbledore any more but he didn't want to lie either. So he answered truthfully, "Yes."
He was surprised at the reaction this caused. Dumbledore just sat there blinking, although the famous twinkle behind the half-mooned spectacles was no longer present. Sirius hung his head so abruptly that Harry though his spine might have snapped. Remus leapt to his feet but didn't move from there.
Time seemed to freeze while everyone remained in those positions.
Finally, Dumbledore spoke to Harry although he was looking at Sirius alone. "I think perhaps, it's time to tell him the rest of his story."
Whatever he was expecting, this was definitely not it. "My --- my --- my story. You mean --- you mean that there is more?"
Again everyone in the room seemed lost in their respective positions. Sirius looked up at Harry and Harry didn't think he had ever seen him look sadder. Remus now plopped back in his chair so quickly that Harry thought he might have hurt himself but his former DADA professor didn't seem to notice that anything was amiss. Dumbledore merely continued to stare at Harry as though trying to look into his soul. Finally though, he spoke.
"I'm afraid, dear boy, that in fact there is more to your story. Why don't you first ask me the question that had been on your mind this evening?"
He didn't even care how Dumbledore knew. He wanted to ask it and he did.
"Why didn't you trust me to look after myself? Why didn't you take your opportunity to defeat Voldemort instead of looking after me? I know you cast a shield charm on me instead of taking your opportunity to defeat Voldemort." When Harry finished talking, he walked over to the phoenix cage and began stroking Fawkes again.
The silence was deafening to Harry's ears. Finally Dumbledore spoke again.
"Nothing like that happened tonight. It is my fault though that you think it did."
Harry looked up at his Headmaster. He wasn't sure what to think or say. So he remained quiet until Dumbledore continued speaking.
"Harry, we think it's time you know about the prophecy."
"Prophecy? What prophecy?"
"I've said to you before that Sybill Trelawney has made a true prediction before. She predicted that you and Voldemort would battle to the death, with only one survivor. The prophecy did not say which wizard that would be."
Harry didn't know what to say at Dumbledore's revelation to him. As his words starting to sink in to his brain, he realized that he wasn't that surprised. These words rang true. It seemed almost obvious to him now. These words just didn't surprise him. Ever since he was a baby he was destined to duel with Voldemort. It made sense, after all these encounters with Voldemort, to find out that he and Voldemort were destined to do battle to the end. It did make it somehow more real to hear Dumbledore confirm what he had already known.
"I see," he began tentatively before realizing what he had just said. "Well actually, no I don't. I still don't understand --- "
"What that has to do with tonight?" Dumbledore finished his question for him. Harry nodded dumbly.
"Well it actually has everything to do with tonight. You see, I did not try to defeat Voldemort because I cannot defeat Voldemort."
Harry looked at his godfather and his godfather's best friend to see if they found this as unbelievable as he himself did. Here was the most powerful light wizard in the world saying that he couldn't defeat Voldemort. What chance did the wizarding world have then? Surely Dumbledore didn't say what Harry just heard. However when he looked at Sirius and Remus, both were sporting expressions of dread and sorrow. That could only mean one thing.
"So, so then... I have to defeat Voldemort or he will take over the wizarding world? No one else can defeat him?"
"I'm truly sorry to say my dear boy that that is correct. Despite what you may think, I did not defeat Voldemort tonight not because of anything you did but instead because of the prophecy. I cannot defeat him. Indeed, as soon as I got there I should have gotten you and left. But instead I was hoping he would hurt himself trying to destroy me. All I did was allow him a direct shot at killing you and I would have never forgiven myself if he would have hurt you because of my arrogance."
Sirius finally found himself and got up. He walked over to be in front of Harry where he knelt down in front of him.
"Son, nothing tonight was your fault. It is we who continually let you down, not the other way around. Unfortunately what Dumbledore says is true but it's us who should better protect you until, at least, you are of age and not a second before. Prophecy or no, we still have a duty to you are we are going to do better by you."
Harry just sat there trying to absorb all of the information he had heard tonight. But it was too much. He felt numb. When everyone had stayed silent for over a minute he excused himself and made his way up to Gryffindor Tower. He left so abruptly that he didn't give anyone the chance to offer to accompany him up there.
For that, at least, he was glad. He used his time during the walk to think about nothing. He thrust everything from his mind and enjoyed the walk up to his tower without worrying about anything. It had been too long since he had done that.
"Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes," he supplied to the Fat Lady without much enthusiasm. All the noise coming from the Common Room didn't even faze him.
When he stepped through the Portrait Hole he found himself once again enveloped in a massive hug. He was starting to understand what it felt like to be part of a large family. Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Fred and George ran over to him and began jumping up and down celebrating his safe return.
The two Weasley adults hugged him one more time before warning all of their kids to behave and making their way out of the Tower. Despite his utmost desire to go to bed for the next three weeks, they forced him to tell an abbreviated version of the night's events. Finally, he was allowed to retire for the evening.
Mercifully, no one woke him up the next morning. He woke up around lunchtime to find his dorm empty except for the smiling face of his Headmaster sitting on the windowsill staring at the grounds below him. Harry quickly moved to don his glasses, sit up, and face his Headmaster.
"What's the matter Professor Dumbledore?"
Dumbledore chuckled slightly. "Nothing Harry. Nothing at all my dear boy. I just wanted to be sure that there wasn't anything else that was causing you concern. Of course, I was completely honest with you yesterday and I wanted to make sure that you didn't have any lingering doubts or concerns. At least, any more concerns than could be expected."
Harry thought for a minute.
"Who all knows about the prophecy?"
Dumbledore sighed again. "Voldemort and whomever he chose to share it with, Arthur and Molly Weasley as well as their sons Bill and Charlie, Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Alastor Moody, and Nicholas Flammel and his wife as well as whoever you shared it with last night."
"I didn't tell anyone."
"Then just the wizards and witches that I just mentioned. Sybill doesn't even remember giving the prophecy."
"So then --- they all know that I'm destined to die or to kill?"
"Yes."
Harry thought about that for a while. He wondered how that affected what the Weasleys thought about him.
"Does the prophecy provide a deadline?"
"No. It doesn't say when this has to take place by."
"Do you know when it has to take place by then?"
"I have my own guesses but they are nothing more than that --- only guesses. I do not wish to share them at this time --- perhaps when I am more sure. You have enough to be dealing with without my adding things that might not even be true."
They sat there in silence for a while. Finally Dumbledore spoke.
"You are excused from any classes you wish this week but I must remind you that your OWLs are in two weeks. Most of the professors are spending this week reviewing. I expect all of my Prefects to do well this year." And with that Dumbledore got up and left Harry alone in his room.
A/N – When I did this the first time, I concluded the year/story in five more paragraphs. I've finally decided to go back and do it properly so I can sleep peacefully at night.
A/N – The ideas about the Prophecy came from JKR's book 5 to help my story stay truer to the canon. Again, I hope you enjoyed my version of book 5 but remember that all of this is themed off the works of JK Rowling and that I will make no money off of this story.