A/N: Still not mine. Well, I updated with Chapter 6 but never saw my story appear on the main page, so I'm going to try again. Thank you to everyone who reviewed! Thank you so much for your encouragement. I hope you continue to enjoy. This chapter's a bit longer than the others. The one after this is even longer than that...
Chapter 6: The Professors' Proposition
Harry woke early the next day. Sunlight and cool morning air were streaming in through the open windows. He sat up and stretched his arms high above his head, feeling refreshed and very awake. A folded set of clothes on the nearby chair caught his eye. He had never seen them before, but who else could they be meant for? Upon rising and donning the shirt and trousers, he found that they fit him well. It was a decidedly pleasant sensation to be wearing Muggle clothing that fit properly.
Harry was relieved to find that his possessions had all been retrieved. His trunk sat at the foot of his bed, and the Firebolt was propped up against the chair by the window. Harry opened his trunk, dug out his wand, and stuck it in his pocket. A light breeze blew into the room, ruffling his unruly hair. His attention caught, Harry walked over to the open windows. He took hold of the green curtains and pushed them out of the way, revealing the manor grounds. Harry's breath caught in his throat. Last night he had not been able to see things properly, and now the morning light revealed how extensive the property was. He was looking out over the front lawns; they were rolling, green, and dotted with trees. Harry could see woods nearby and a small lake near the edge of the trees.
Harry leaned against the windowsill, completely lost in thought as he gazed at the scene before him. His stomach growled loudly into the silence, reminding him that he was famished. Yesterday it had seemed that no matter how much he ate in one sitting, he was always ready for more a few hours later. Hungry as he was, he found it difficult to turn away from the window and leave the room.
Harry stepped through the door and found himself staring once again. He was at the end of a long hallway, in which many doors stood open, sunlight streaming through. A long, patterned carpet covered the length of the floor. Paintings hung on the walls between doors, and here and there vases of roses stood on tall tables. The high ceilings were decorated with ornate plasterwork. A great staircase with a carved wooden banister stood forward and to Harry's left. He moved to the stairway and looked down; he was on the third floor. When he was halfway down the stairs he could see the large foyer below; the two massive front doors were covered in carvings. A large chandelier hung to the right of the stairs. Harry stretched his hand out, but it was too far out of reach.
The sound of voices drifted up to Harry from somewhere downstairs. When his nose picked up the smell of sausages, he quickened his pace. Once he reached the first floor, he began weaving his way through the rooms, following the delicious smells. His stomach growled again as if urging him to hurry.
Finally, Harry rounded a corner and found himself standing in a room full of potted plants and wicker furniture. All the adults were sitting in chairs around a long table, with the exception of Snape, who was nowhere to be seen. He must already be gone, Harry thought to himself.
Lupin looked up from the plate full of rolls he was holding. "Good morning, Harry!" he said. The others raised or turned their heads to look at Harry. Every face bore a smile.
"Come and have a seat," Professor Thornby said, indicating an open chair next to Sirius. "We're just about to start breakfast."
Harry sat, and Sirius positively beamed at him. He watched like a hawk as Harry took a little bit of everything. "Is that enough?" he asked, when Harry stopped piling food on his plate. "You need to get your strength back."
Harry looked sideways at his godfather. "Yes, mother," he said.
Lupin made a choking sound and appeared to be trying not to spit out his mouthful of orange juice. His shoulders shook with silent laughter. Healer Bigelow began to chuckle, and even Dumbledore was smiling openly. Bellaton threw back his head and roared, and Professor Thornby tried to hide her smiles in her goblet. Sirius scowled at them all for a few moments before giving up and joining in the general mirth. As Harry laughed around a mouthful of toast, his heart felt lighter than it had in months.
Harry spent most of breakfast watching the other adults and listening to them talk. Professor Thornby in particular held his attention. Harry upgraded his opinion – she wasn't just pretty, she was very pretty, and it was even more obvious by the way Lupin and Sirius looked in her direction a little too often. They looked at Professor Thornby with admiration, but Harry looked at her with curiosity. He very much wanted to know why Dumbledore had sent someone he'd never met to look in on him. Even more than that, he wondered why she would have risked her own life to save his.
After breakfast, Healer Bigelow took his leave, claiming the need to help with the reconstruction of Hogsmeade. The healer was all smiles and joviality as he shook Harry's hand, and with a few last words of farewell to the others, he Disapparated.
Harry was overjoyed to hear that Sirius and Lupin intended to stay for at least a few more days. Neither cared to show his face in Hogsmeade – Lupin because too many people knew what he was, and Sirius because he was still a hunted criminal. As friendly as his new teachers seemed, Harry felt easier knowing that he would have old friends with him for a little while longer.
"Well!" Dumbledore said briskly. "We have some important matters to discuss with you, Harry, and I don't think they should wait any longer. I intend to return to Hogwarts in a few hours, myself. Shall we have our talk in the garden? It is a beautiful morning."
The six of them headed out through a door at the back of the house. Harry tried to look every direction at once as they walked. From the outside, it was clear that the building was a large manor house, of the sort that lords used to have when they were very rich and the peasants were very poor. Professor Thornby saw Harry looking around and spoke up. "I call Alverbrooke my home, but it doesn't belong to me. It has been the property of the Headmaster of Hogwarts almost since the school was founded. It has been passed from Headmaster to Headmaster ever since. I don't think that the Ministry of Magic even remembers that it exists anymore."
"This is your house?" Harry asked, addressing Professor Dumbledore.
"As long as I am Headmaster," he replied. "When I retire I shall pass it on to the next one. It has been used for many purposes by its different owners over the years. I use it as a dwelling for some of my trusted friends."
Harry looked back at Professor Thornby. She nodded, and so did Bellaton. "I live here, too," he said. "There are a few others, but everyone else is off in foreign lands at the moment. That's fine with me. Less people hogging the hot water in the morning."
"It's a very curious old house," Professor Thornby continued. "Many of the headmasters and headmistresses left their own stamp on it; some enjoyed Herbology, others Astronomy, and just about anything else you can name. The result is now a great hodgepodge of rooms full of enchantments."
They entered a large garden with winding stone paths and huge banks of flowers all around. A riot of colors assaulted Harry's eyes. "This is the wildflower garden," Bellaton said. "The house-elves tend it, and we generally leave the selection of flowers up to them. It's one of the few things they seem to enjoy doing that doesn't generally involve looking after humans."
They walked along the winding paths until they came to a bank of rosebushes. Dumbledore took a seat on a stone bench, and the others followed his lead. Sirius took the second seat on Harry's bench, and Harry smiled inwardly. He didn't think Sirius would hardly let him out of his sight while they were in the same house, but he didn't mind. They had years of separation to make up for, after all.
Dumbledore began right away. "I do not have long to linger here, so I will get right to the point. Harry, Voldemort has used you to return to a proper body, but I fear you may find yourself in more danger than ever. Many things that can be magically done can be undone as well. What I mean is that you can be used to destroy Voldemort."
Something Dumbledore had said tugged at Harry's ear. "What do you mean, I can be used?" he asked.
Professor Bellaton spoke up. "You could be made captive by someone and used as a component of a spell to finish off the Dark Lord," he said. "Most people prefer not to believe that he has returned, but eventually they will have to face facts. When they do, some may want to sacrifice you for what they see as the greater good."
"You're in danger from both sides," Sirius said. "Voldemort wants you dead. He knows that you can still destroy him. And you're in danger from anyone who's smart enough to figure out how you can be used to do just that."
"We don't think that many people will realize how to use you, because few have heard the story of how Voldemort was reborn," Bellaton continued. "There are some that will put two and two together, though, and if they have small minds and a singular purpose, they can be dangerous."
Harry suddenly understood. "Fudge," he said.
No one answered him, but the silence was deafening.
"Am I the... the only person who can stop Voldemort?" Harry asked quietly.
"No," Dumbledore said. "There are many ways to put an end to him. None of them are simple. You must understand that Voldemort does not see you merely as a threat to his existence. He hates you out of principle, because you survived his curse and broke his power. I think the incident with the Dragonthistle Potion has made it clear that he is not finished with you."
A silence fell over the group. Harry saw all the adults looking at him, trying to see how he was taking the news. He felt overwhelmed and tired. Was there ever going to be a time when someone wasn't trying to kill him?
He didn't realize he had spoken aloud until Dumbledore answered his thought. "Someday soon, we all hope," he said. "You have lived through more than anyone should have to go through in two lifetimes, Harry, and yet you have always shown a strength and maturity beyond your years. We will not allow you to be sacrificed as a convenient end to these difficult times, and we will not allow Voldemort to destroy you."
Harry looked up. Dumbledore smiled at him in a reassuring way. Sirius was positively beaming with pride. "Okay," he said, letting out the breath he'd been holding. "Thanks."
"We have a proposition for you," Bellaton said. Professor Dumbledore has asked Celeste and myself if we would be willing to be your bodyguards."
"Bodyguards?" Harry said incredulously. "Malfoy will never let me hear the end of it," he moaned.
"No, no, Harry," Bellaton said. "No one else would know. Well, except for Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger, I suppose. You shouldn't have to keep secrets from them."
"Professor Thornby would be your primary guardian," Dumbledore said. "Her duty will be to protect you. She will make a refreshing change in your History of Magic class, I expect, but that is merely an excuse for her to be at Hogwarts. Professor Bellaton will be sworn to guard the entire student body. With Voldemort back, the other students will need protection as well."
Harry looked over at Professor Thornby, who had been sitting silently with Lupin. She looked back at him calmly. "I won't be hovering over your shoulder night and day, but as your guardian, I'll know when you are in danger, and will always be watching out for you. I am yours, if you wish it."
"How do I know I can trust you?" Harry said. "I trusted Moody, and then it turned out that he wasn't Moody after all. Cedric's dead because I trusted him," he finished bitterly.
"Cedric Diggory is not dead
because you trusted someone," Dumbledore said firmly. "The blame can be laid at the feet of Voldemort and no one else.
He is cunning, and it is wise to always have your wits about you even in
the best of times. You had your wits
about you, Harry, and there is no way you could have foreseen what befell you
and Cedric. Your trust in others may
ultimately be the most powerful weapon you have against the shadow."
"If she swears to you, you'll
know the moment she is false," Lupin said. It was the first time he had spoken since
entering the garden.
"That is true," Dumbledore said. "You cannot have a sworn guardian who is not wholly yours."
Celeste Thornby stood up. She carefully placed her wand on the bench where she had been sitting, and folded her hands at her waist. "It's your decision, Harry," she said.
Harry looked at her. He needed a reason. "Why you?" he asked.
"I have no doubt that Sirius or Remus would be glad to serve as your guardian, but unfortunately, they can barely show their faces in public," she said. "Even if they could, they would be too obvious a choice. You need someone no one will suspect, and few History of Magic teachers are very skilled in defense."
"Most people look at a pretty woman and are distracted by her face. They're less likely to think there might be more beneath the surface than if she were a man." Lupin stopped speaking, and everyone turned to look at him. Sirius and Bellaton were grinning like madmen. A blush stained Lupin's cheeks under everyone's scrutiny, but it was Professor Thornby he looked at. She smiled slightly and looked away. Harry thought she looked pleased.
"Albus has trusted me for many years," she continued. "He is the wisest wizard I have ever known, and he thinks very well of you. His wish is my command, and he thinks you need someone to watch your back."
"Please stop. You're making me blush," Dumbledore said.
Professor Thornby laughed. So did Harry and everyone else.
"If Albus has such a high opinion of you, then you must be a rare sort of person. It would be my honor to be your guardian." She smiled at Harry then, a real smile.
The honesty in her face convinced Harry, and he nodded. "If Professor Dumbledore trusts you, then so do I," he said.
"Then I will swear to you," she said, and strode forward. She knelt smoothly in front of Harry, who was still seated on his bench. She reached forward and took both of his hands, placing them together as if in prayer. Her own hands closed around them. Harry was so shocked that he tried to pull back, but she held on tightly.
Dumbledore stood up and moved to stand beside the kneeling professor. Sirius rose and stood behind Harry. "Sirius and I are witnesses," Dumbledore said. "I am a witness for Celeste, and Sirius is a witness for you. Are you ready?" Harry nodded numbly.
Dumbledore pointed his wand at Professor Thornby. "Aegis Datoris," he said. He pointed his wand at Harry and said, "Aegis Receptoris." The air around Harry seemed to thicken, and Professor Thornby began to speak.
"I swear before God and man that I will watch over and defend you, Harry Potter, from danger and death, with all that I have, unto my last breath."
The feeling of thickness grew harder, and Harry felt it constrict. It grew tighter and tighter, and Harry realized that it was sinking into him. His entire body felt warm, and his skin tingled. Professor Thornby shuddered slightly, and Harry was instantly aware of her in a way that he hadn't been before. He could sense her proximity in his head, and it had nothing to do with the fact that he could see her kneeling right in front of him. The feeling was soft, in a way, and somehow Harry knew that he could trust her with his life. He stared at her, wide-eyed, feeling those new sensations.
She stood up, and Sirius reached out to give Harry's shoulder a firm squeeze. "Wow," was all Harry could say. Professor Thornby pressed his hands between hers and released them. "We're going to have to get to know each other a little better," she said.
Dumbledore smiled at them both, looking very pleased. "I will certainly rest easier now that I know you have a guardian, Harry," he said.
"So will I," Sirius said gruffly, and Lupin nodded his agreement.
As they left the garden and headed back to the house, Harry's mind was working overtime. Guardians. This was going to take some getting used to.