A/N: Guess what! I've finally started serious work on this story again.
Sorry I stopped updating, but I think that if the quality of my writing,
and actually having a vague idea of what's going to happen is either bad,
or non-existent then I'm not going to update it obviously, because I don't
believe in uploading crap.
Let me know how you think this is going,
Samantha.
Part 16. Another meeting.
During Charms the next day, Dobby arrived, knocking softly on the door, and making his way to Professor Flitwick's desk. He spoke with the Professor for several moments, then turned and moved to the back of the room.
"Mr. Potter," Flitwick told Harry, "You've been summoned to a meeting with Professor Dumbledore in his office. Please make sure you obtain a copy of today's notes from one of your classmates."
Harry nodded, and packed his books up, leaving the room, with Kingsley and Tonks following him.
Harry tapped lightly on the door to Professor Dumbledore's office, then entered, Dobby, Tonks and Kingsley still shadowing his footsteps.
"Ah, Harry, there you are." Dumbledore greeted him. "We were just waiting for you."
"Thank you Professor." Harry replied, trying not to look at all of the people sitting in the room.
"Take a seat Harry." Dumbledore gestured to a cluster of vacant seats, "How was class?"
"I would have enjoyed finishing it." Harry told him truthfully. "But Hermione said she'd make me a copy of her notes."
"Well and good." The Professor answered as Harry took a seat beside Professor Said, Tonks and Kingsley sitting close by.
"Now," Another voice began, "We need to get down to business, and begin discussing the latest information on You-Know-Who." The small man shifted his bowler hat, and looked directly at Harry.
"I don't know what you want from me." Harry told him. "I don't know why I'm here."
"Harry..." Professor Said began gently.
"I'm sorry Professor," Harry told her, "But I'm still an under-age wizard, who had no place in any of these procedings. Does anyone even care that I'm starting my NEWTs classes?"
"Harry, calm down, please." Dumbledore told him mildly.
"I never even get told when these meetings will be, or what they're about until I get here." Harry told him, refusing to back down completely.
"There's been another attack Harry." Madam Bones said gently. "A wizarding family was killed in their home last night."
"Would we have a meeting if it was a Muggle family?" Harry demanded.
"I don't think it would be appropriate." Fudge told him, "Not if the family was Muggles."
"Then I think I'm finished here." Harry stood up abruptly.
"Harry, please sit down." Professor Said told him, her voice gently but firm.
"I don't see what the point of this meeting is if the Potter boy won't co- operate with us." One wizard said, his voice tinged with anger. "Anyone would think he's just a silly, spoilt little brat!"
At once the wizard found himself turned upside-down, bobbing in mid-air.
"Dobby, that's enough." Harry said in a monotone, making the house elf relinquish his hold on the wizard, dropping him in a most undignified manner to the floor.
"You shall not insult Harry Potter." Dobby was saying to the wizard. "You shall not call him horrible names."
"Dobby, could you find Hermione and Ron when they get out of class, and tell them that I'm in a meeting and that Ron should explain to Angelina where I am at Quidditch practice this afternoon if I'm not there. Then, could you go and ask Hagrid if he needs any help, and if he doesn't, take the afternoon off and go into Hogsmead with Winky."
The room was silent as the house elf disappeared.
"That was absolutely uncalled for!" Fudge fumed. "I demand that you apologize at once Harry!"
"I'm sorry my house elf saw fit to turn you upside down." Harry told the wizard at once, and then paused. "May I have an apology too please?" He asked pointedly.
"You want an apology?" The wizard asked.
"I don't really see myself as a silly, spoilt little brat." Harry told him. "Now I would appreciate an apology, or I am leaving."
Cornelius Fudge glared at the wizard who begrudgingly apologised to Harry.
"So why was this family killed?" Harry asked. "Everything Voldemort does he does for a reason."
The room remained silent, with no one even trying to answer him.
"Someone answer me!" He demanded. "I've asked a question, and I want it answered."
"When you..."
"When you are ready you will have the answers." Harry recited with Professor Dumbledore. "I'm sorry Sir, but I feel like I'm stuck between a wall and a veil, and no one will tell me anything. It's one of the reasons why I went to the Department of Mysteries last year. I wanted to save Sirius more than anything, but I also wanted to find out what was behind that door. I dreamed of it for months, and though I was trying to stop having the dreams, I was always trying to get to the other side, to open the door and see what was beyond it, or where it led." Harry's voice darkened. "No one would tell me, so I found out myself. All I found beyond that door was death. Death and the pain of life, and of living."
All of the adults were silent, but Harry kept speaking. "I've seen so many people die. I've even wanted to kill. And I can try to pretend that I'm happy, and safe and secure, but I never will be. Not until either the moment of my death, or the moment after Voldemort is gone. I can't be alive while he is, and none of you understand that. You sit here and you say, 'wait until you're older,' 'wait until you grow up.' I am older, I am growing up, and I'm growing up blind because so many people are hiding things from me."
"Harry..." Madam Bones began.
"I can't live like this anymore." Harry told her. "And I don't want to die like this."
"Sit down please." Dumbledore told him, his voice strangely calm.
"You've made an excellent point Harry." Professor Said told him. "Why should you be expected to put your life on the line when no one will tell you why you are being asked." Harry saw the look she exchanged with Dumbledore, but said nothing. "I've pledged an Order to this fight, and I know what to expect, I know what's going on. You've been expected to pledge your life, and you are right, we are telling you to do it blindly."
"Are you afraid die?" The wizard whom Dobby had turned upside-down asked.
"Am I afraid to live?" Harry asked in response, thinking of the prophecy, but also avoiding giving an answer.
"I hope not." Madam Bones told him gently.
"If something happens that affects me, I want to know about it." Harry repeated. "I can try to live for you, and try to help you all, but I won't be used by you, either as a poster boy for your campaign Minister, or as a pawn to lure Voldemort out."
Some of the witches and wizards looked shocked at his words.
"Harry," Fudge began,"You know that I can't..."
"I know that you feel that you need me Minister." Harry told him, standing up, "But I don't need you. I don't need to validate any actions I make, because your Ministry has failed me, and it has failed me for a long time. You held an innocent man captive for years in Azakaban, denying me my godfather, and it was your Ministry's fault that you didn't listen to Dumbledore, and to me when we told you that Voldemort was back. You as good as let the Death Eaters out of Azkaban. And one of them murdered my godfather." Harry was silent for a moment, as though lost in his own silent reverie. "How many other people have you caused to die?"
"Harry, that's quite enough." Professor McGonagall said quietly, but firmly as she entered the room.
"That's the problem Professor, if no one points out the problems how do they get fixed?" Harry asked her. "The Dementors were only kicked out of Azkaban when a handful of Death Eaters escaped."
"A reasonable question Harry." Professor Said told him, "But there are ways of doing things."
"I want no part in all of this." Harry fumed at the answers he was continually getting. "I couldn't care less if Voldemort becomes Minister for Magic, and throws parties for the Dementors. I don't care anymore. I just wish someone would be straight with me and tell me the whole truth, not some abbreviated version you think I'm ready for."
"I understand your frustration Harry." Dumbledore nodded. "In some ways you already know more than others in this room, but I think I should explain more to you."
"Enlighten me." Harry said to him, though this time he spoke respectfully. "I want to know."
"Then I shall endeavor to tell you."
Harry nodded.
"One night soon, when we are both free, Harry, you and I will talk. I only ask that you think carefully about the questions you wish to ask me, and whether or not you really want the answers." Dumbledore told him gently, though there was a warning in his words.
Let me know how you think this is going,
Samantha.
Part 16. Another meeting.
During Charms the next day, Dobby arrived, knocking softly on the door, and making his way to Professor Flitwick's desk. He spoke with the Professor for several moments, then turned and moved to the back of the room.
"Mr. Potter," Flitwick told Harry, "You've been summoned to a meeting with Professor Dumbledore in his office. Please make sure you obtain a copy of today's notes from one of your classmates."
Harry nodded, and packed his books up, leaving the room, with Kingsley and Tonks following him.
Harry tapped lightly on the door to Professor Dumbledore's office, then entered, Dobby, Tonks and Kingsley still shadowing his footsteps.
"Ah, Harry, there you are." Dumbledore greeted him. "We were just waiting for you."
"Thank you Professor." Harry replied, trying not to look at all of the people sitting in the room.
"Take a seat Harry." Dumbledore gestured to a cluster of vacant seats, "How was class?"
"I would have enjoyed finishing it." Harry told him truthfully. "But Hermione said she'd make me a copy of her notes."
"Well and good." The Professor answered as Harry took a seat beside Professor Said, Tonks and Kingsley sitting close by.
"Now," Another voice began, "We need to get down to business, and begin discussing the latest information on You-Know-Who." The small man shifted his bowler hat, and looked directly at Harry.
"I don't know what you want from me." Harry told him. "I don't know why I'm here."
"Harry..." Professor Said began gently.
"I'm sorry Professor," Harry told her, "But I'm still an under-age wizard, who had no place in any of these procedings. Does anyone even care that I'm starting my NEWTs classes?"
"Harry, calm down, please." Dumbledore told him mildly.
"I never even get told when these meetings will be, or what they're about until I get here." Harry told him, refusing to back down completely.
"There's been another attack Harry." Madam Bones said gently. "A wizarding family was killed in their home last night."
"Would we have a meeting if it was a Muggle family?" Harry demanded.
"I don't think it would be appropriate." Fudge told him, "Not if the family was Muggles."
"Then I think I'm finished here." Harry stood up abruptly.
"Harry, please sit down." Professor Said told him, her voice gently but firm.
"I don't see what the point of this meeting is if the Potter boy won't co- operate with us." One wizard said, his voice tinged with anger. "Anyone would think he's just a silly, spoilt little brat!"
At once the wizard found himself turned upside-down, bobbing in mid-air.
"Dobby, that's enough." Harry said in a monotone, making the house elf relinquish his hold on the wizard, dropping him in a most undignified manner to the floor.
"You shall not insult Harry Potter." Dobby was saying to the wizard. "You shall not call him horrible names."
"Dobby, could you find Hermione and Ron when they get out of class, and tell them that I'm in a meeting and that Ron should explain to Angelina where I am at Quidditch practice this afternoon if I'm not there. Then, could you go and ask Hagrid if he needs any help, and if he doesn't, take the afternoon off and go into Hogsmead with Winky."
The room was silent as the house elf disappeared.
"That was absolutely uncalled for!" Fudge fumed. "I demand that you apologize at once Harry!"
"I'm sorry my house elf saw fit to turn you upside down." Harry told the wizard at once, and then paused. "May I have an apology too please?" He asked pointedly.
"You want an apology?" The wizard asked.
"I don't really see myself as a silly, spoilt little brat." Harry told him. "Now I would appreciate an apology, or I am leaving."
Cornelius Fudge glared at the wizard who begrudgingly apologised to Harry.
"So why was this family killed?" Harry asked. "Everything Voldemort does he does for a reason."
The room remained silent, with no one even trying to answer him.
"Someone answer me!" He demanded. "I've asked a question, and I want it answered."
"When you..."
"When you are ready you will have the answers." Harry recited with Professor Dumbledore. "I'm sorry Sir, but I feel like I'm stuck between a wall and a veil, and no one will tell me anything. It's one of the reasons why I went to the Department of Mysteries last year. I wanted to save Sirius more than anything, but I also wanted to find out what was behind that door. I dreamed of it for months, and though I was trying to stop having the dreams, I was always trying to get to the other side, to open the door and see what was beyond it, or where it led." Harry's voice darkened. "No one would tell me, so I found out myself. All I found beyond that door was death. Death and the pain of life, and of living."
All of the adults were silent, but Harry kept speaking. "I've seen so many people die. I've even wanted to kill. And I can try to pretend that I'm happy, and safe and secure, but I never will be. Not until either the moment of my death, or the moment after Voldemort is gone. I can't be alive while he is, and none of you understand that. You sit here and you say, 'wait until you're older,' 'wait until you grow up.' I am older, I am growing up, and I'm growing up blind because so many people are hiding things from me."
"Harry..." Madam Bones began.
"I can't live like this anymore." Harry told her. "And I don't want to die like this."
"Sit down please." Dumbledore told him, his voice strangely calm.
"You've made an excellent point Harry." Professor Said told him. "Why should you be expected to put your life on the line when no one will tell you why you are being asked." Harry saw the look she exchanged with Dumbledore, but said nothing. "I've pledged an Order to this fight, and I know what to expect, I know what's going on. You've been expected to pledge your life, and you are right, we are telling you to do it blindly."
"Are you afraid die?" The wizard whom Dobby had turned upside-down asked.
"Am I afraid to live?" Harry asked in response, thinking of the prophecy, but also avoiding giving an answer.
"I hope not." Madam Bones told him gently.
"If something happens that affects me, I want to know about it." Harry repeated. "I can try to live for you, and try to help you all, but I won't be used by you, either as a poster boy for your campaign Minister, or as a pawn to lure Voldemort out."
Some of the witches and wizards looked shocked at his words.
"Harry," Fudge began,"You know that I can't..."
"I know that you feel that you need me Minister." Harry told him, standing up, "But I don't need you. I don't need to validate any actions I make, because your Ministry has failed me, and it has failed me for a long time. You held an innocent man captive for years in Azakaban, denying me my godfather, and it was your Ministry's fault that you didn't listen to Dumbledore, and to me when we told you that Voldemort was back. You as good as let the Death Eaters out of Azkaban. And one of them murdered my godfather." Harry was silent for a moment, as though lost in his own silent reverie. "How many other people have you caused to die?"
"Harry, that's quite enough." Professor McGonagall said quietly, but firmly as she entered the room.
"That's the problem Professor, if no one points out the problems how do they get fixed?" Harry asked her. "The Dementors were only kicked out of Azkaban when a handful of Death Eaters escaped."
"A reasonable question Harry." Professor Said told him, "But there are ways of doing things."
"I want no part in all of this." Harry fumed at the answers he was continually getting. "I couldn't care less if Voldemort becomes Minister for Magic, and throws parties for the Dementors. I don't care anymore. I just wish someone would be straight with me and tell me the whole truth, not some abbreviated version you think I'm ready for."
"I understand your frustration Harry." Dumbledore nodded. "In some ways you already know more than others in this room, but I think I should explain more to you."
"Enlighten me." Harry said to him, though this time he spoke respectfully. "I want to know."
"Then I shall endeavor to tell you."
Harry nodded.
"One night soon, when we are both free, Harry, you and I will talk. I only ask that you think carefully about the questions you wish to ask me, and whether or not you really want the answers." Dumbledore told him gently, though there was a warning in his words.