A/N: I'm sorry, you can all say it, I suck at updating.
Please let me know what you think, and Laura, no spoilers if you review. No spoilers.
Samantha.
CH I Shall Endeavor To Tell You.
"What did the Professor say?" Hermione asked as Harry walked out of the classroom.
"Not much, she seemed a little surprised, then at the end she asked me not to create Dementors in the classroom again."
"At least we're free for the afternoon." Ron sighed. "What do you think about heading down to the lake?"
"I could do my reading for Arithmancy while we're there." Hermione smiled.
"That sounds good." Harry nodded.
"Master, how is class being Master Harry Potter?" Dobby asked as he appeared.
"Class was fine Dobby." Harry told him. "Is there something wrong?"
"Harry Potter must give Dobby all of his books, for Harry Potter must go." Dobby told him. "I has a note for you from the Professor." Dobby fished the note out from one of his socks, which looked like leg warmers on him. Harry passed his books to Dobby, who sent them upstairs with a snap, while he opened the note.
'Harry, I promised that you and I would talk regarding certain issues, and find that my evenings have become very full.
However I am free this afternoon should you wish to speak with me, you can find me in my office. Sincerely, Dumbledore.'
Harry read the note silently to himself. "I won't be able to make it down to the lake." He found himself saying. "Another meeting?" Hermione asked, looking sympathetic.
"Something like that." Harry nodded, "You two have fun without me."
"Come on then Harry, the sooner you get there, the sooner you can leave." Tonks told him.
Harry didn't say a word to correct her as he and his bodyguards made their way up to Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Enter!" Dumbledore called out once Tonks had rapped heavily on the door.
"You sent for Harry, Professor." Kingsley answered.
"I did." Dumbledore rose from his chair and nodded. "There are several matters that I wish to discuss with Harry, things that are deeply private so I would ask that you leave us for now. I will contact you when we have finished."
"Are you sure?" Tonks asked.
"Quite sure, thank you." Dumbledore nodded. "Please leave us."
Once Kingsley and Tonks had left the room Harry stood there, facing the Professor, feeling a little awkward. "Please Harry, take a seat." Dumbledore gestured to the vacant chairs opposite him.
Harry sat down quietly and waited for Dumbledore to speak again.
"Would you like some tea Harry?"
Dumbly Harry nodded, watching as Dumbledore poured two cups of tea, adding sugar to both cups.
"So, do you have any specific questions you'd like to ask me?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"Yes." Harry answered, feeling his mouth go a little dry, and he reached for his cup of tea, wrapping his hands around the mug. "In my first year, in the hospital wing, I asked you why Voldemort would want to kill me, and you said I wasn't ready for the answer. I know about the prophecy now, and I know about who Voldemort was and some other things, but why me in the first place? I mean really he had a choice, Neville or me. Why did he choose me to mark, when he didn't know what the prophecy was back then?"
Dumbledore paused to drink some of his tea before speaking. "I don't really know the answer to that Harry, the only one who would know is Voldemort.
I can speculate though, and the conclusion that I have drawn after thinking on the question for many years is that Voldemort drew parallels between your life and his, even when you were a baby. Your mother was a witch yes, but she was also Muggle-born, and sometimes Lily's family had difficulty understanding her. Your father on the other hand was the only son of a couple of which both were the descendants of ancient wizarding families. But as I say, that is only my thoughts."
Harry nodded, shifting in a slightly uncomfortable way. "When Voldemort rose, and he took my blood, you said that it was so he'd have the same protection as I do. Why would he want that? And what will that protection give him?"
"You know that when your mother died to protect you, she left a lasting 'imprint' on you, in you. "Dumbledore looked directly at Harry as he spoke, watching Harry carefully as he nodded. "That imprint is stronger than magic, stronger even than Avada Kedavra, and that is why as a one-year- old baby you were able to survive the curse that killed both your parents. So when Voldemort insisted that he use your blood in the potion to create himself another body, he made an error."
"An error?" Harry asked, suddenly finding his voice. "I don't understand."
"Voldemort took your blood so that among other things he could touch you, and so that the protection your mother gave you would pass to him. But that imprint your mother left on you was love, and so I believe that the protection Voldemort has from that is not as strong as it is in you. I believe that it may also play a part in his undoing, but of course that has yet to be seen."
Harry sat there quietly for moment. "Professor, Sirius didn't die. Not really. He was Stunned and he fell... through the Veil."
"What brought this about?" Dumbledore asked gently.
"A dream." Harry admitted. "I had a dream not last night, but the one before. Sirius told me that he was coming."
Dumbledore started, leaning forward. "What exactly did Sirius say to you in your dream?"
"Harry, I'm coming. Don't worry, I'm coming." Harry said quietly. "I didn't know if he meant it literally, or whether he meant something else."
"Curious." The Professor's eyes twinkled for a moment, then returned to normal.
"And since the start of the term, sometimes I wake up at night, suddenly, like someone's touched me on the shoulder. There's never anyone else there though, and all the other boys in my dormitory are sound asleep." Harry added, then pressed on. "Once I woke up and went downstairs, to the common room and asked Dobby if he'd been up in my dormitory, but he said that no one had been upstairs yet."
"I must admit to you Harry," Dumbledore began, almost as though he was trying to divert the conversation to another topic. "I was worried, that you would ask me a series of questions I wouldn't be able to answer. But I should tell you about the meetings you keep being called to." Dumbledore paused to pour them both some more tea, and provide a plate of cakes. "You are called because Minister Fudge seeks to exert control over us both. Me, because he suspects that I am up to something, and you because he sees you as an icon. You had him worried in the last meeting, telling him that you didn't care."
"I don't." Harry told him. "I know what I have to do, so whatever Fudge does, or doesn't do... I don't care, as long as I can keep my friends safe and out of danger, I don't care. Fudge hasn't done anything for me."
"Harry, you don't need to be this way. You shouldn't be angry with Cornelius. He like the rest of us, is only human, and we all make mistakes."
"But his cost so much." Harry fumed. "When he makes mistakes people die."
"That is true." Dumbledore nodded, bowing his head. "But I myself have also made errors, errors which have caused people to come to harm."
"I don't believe it."
"Harry, it was I who suggested that your parents go into hiding where they did."
"Voldemort would have found us anyway." Harry shook his head, almost startled by the realization, and by his own usage of the collective word, 'us', in reference to his family. "Wormtail would have told him, wherever they went."
"Then you have a bigger heart than I, Harry." Professor Dumbledore told him. "Because so far I have been unable to completely forgive myself."
"It wasn't your fault." Harry said quietly. "You couldn't have known."
"Did you have anymore questions for me, Harry?"
"No sir." Harry answered.
"Then Harry you are free to go, and also free to return here, and speak with me again, any time you wish." Professor Dumbledore told him, but to Harry, the elderly man looked much older than he had only minutes before.
Please let me know what you think, and Laura, no spoilers if you review. No spoilers.
Samantha.
CH I Shall Endeavor To Tell You.
"What did the Professor say?" Hermione asked as Harry walked out of the classroom.
"Not much, she seemed a little surprised, then at the end she asked me not to create Dementors in the classroom again."
"At least we're free for the afternoon." Ron sighed. "What do you think about heading down to the lake?"
"I could do my reading for Arithmancy while we're there." Hermione smiled.
"That sounds good." Harry nodded.
"Master, how is class being Master Harry Potter?" Dobby asked as he appeared.
"Class was fine Dobby." Harry told him. "Is there something wrong?"
"Harry Potter must give Dobby all of his books, for Harry Potter must go." Dobby told him. "I has a note for you from the Professor." Dobby fished the note out from one of his socks, which looked like leg warmers on him. Harry passed his books to Dobby, who sent them upstairs with a snap, while he opened the note.
'Harry, I promised that you and I would talk regarding certain issues, and find that my evenings have become very full.
However I am free this afternoon should you wish to speak with me, you can find me in my office. Sincerely, Dumbledore.'
Harry read the note silently to himself. "I won't be able to make it down to the lake." He found himself saying. "Another meeting?" Hermione asked, looking sympathetic.
"Something like that." Harry nodded, "You two have fun without me."
"Come on then Harry, the sooner you get there, the sooner you can leave." Tonks told him.
Harry didn't say a word to correct her as he and his bodyguards made their way up to Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Enter!" Dumbledore called out once Tonks had rapped heavily on the door.
"You sent for Harry, Professor." Kingsley answered.
"I did." Dumbledore rose from his chair and nodded. "There are several matters that I wish to discuss with Harry, things that are deeply private so I would ask that you leave us for now. I will contact you when we have finished."
"Are you sure?" Tonks asked.
"Quite sure, thank you." Dumbledore nodded. "Please leave us."
Once Kingsley and Tonks had left the room Harry stood there, facing the Professor, feeling a little awkward. "Please Harry, take a seat." Dumbledore gestured to the vacant chairs opposite him.
Harry sat down quietly and waited for Dumbledore to speak again.
"Would you like some tea Harry?"
Dumbly Harry nodded, watching as Dumbledore poured two cups of tea, adding sugar to both cups.
"So, do you have any specific questions you'd like to ask me?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"Yes." Harry answered, feeling his mouth go a little dry, and he reached for his cup of tea, wrapping his hands around the mug. "In my first year, in the hospital wing, I asked you why Voldemort would want to kill me, and you said I wasn't ready for the answer. I know about the prophecy now, and I know about who Voldemort was and some other things, but why me in the first place? I mean really he had a choice, Neville or me. Why did he choose me to mark, when he didn't know what the prophecy was back then?"
Dumbledore paused to drink some of his tea before speaking. "I don't really know the answer to that Harry, the only one who would know is Voldemort.
I can speculate though, and the conclusion that I have drawn after thinking on the question for many years is that Voldemort drew parallels between your life and his, even when you were a baby. Your mother was a witch yes, but she was also Muggle-born, and sometimes Lily's family had difficulty understanding her. Your father on the other hand was the only son of a couple of which both were the descendants of ancient wizarding families. But as I say, that is only my thoughts."
Harry nodded, shifting in a slightly uncomfortable way. "When Voldemort rose, and he took my blood, you said that it was so he'd have the same protection as I do. Why would he want that? And what will that protection give him?"
"You know that when your mother died to protect you, she left a lasting 'imprint' on you, in you. "Dumbledore looked directly at Harry as he spoke, watching Harry carefully as he nodded. "That imprint is stronger than magic, stronger even than Avada Kedavra, and that is why as a one-year- old baby you were able to survive the curse that killed both your parents. So when Voldemort insisted that he use your blood in the potion to create himself another body, he made an error."
"An error?" Harry asked, suddenly finding his voice. "I don't understand."
"Voldemort took your blood so that among other things he could touch you, and so that the protection your mother gave you would pass to him. But that imprint your mother left on you was love, and so I believe that the protection Voldemort has from that is not as strong as it is in you. I believe that it may also play a part in his undoing, but of course that has yet to be seen."
Harry sat there quietly for moment. "Professor, Sirius didn't die. Not really. He was Stunned and he fell... through the Veil."
"What brought this about?" Dumbledore asked gently.
"A dream." Harry admitted. "I had a dream not last night, but the one before. Sirius told me that he was coming."
Dumbledore started, leaning forward. "What exactly did Sirius say to you in your dream?"
"Harry, I'm coming. Don't worry, I'm coming." Harry said quietly. "I didn't know if he meant it literally, or whether he meant something else."
"Curious." The Professor's eyes twinkled for a moment, then returned to normal.
"And since the start of the term, sometimes I wake up at night, suddenly, like someone's touched me on the shoulder. There's never anyone else there though, and all the other boys in my dormitory are sound asleep." Harry added, then pressed on. "Once I woke up and went downstairs, to the common room and asked Dobby if he'd been up in my dormitory, but he said that no one had been upstairs yet."
"I must admit to you Harry," Dumbledore began, almost as though he was trying to divert the conversation to another topic. "I was worried, that you would ask me a series of questions I wouldn't be able to answer. But I should tell you about the meetings you keep being called to." Dumbledore paused to pour them both some more tea, and provide a plate of cakes. "You are called because Minister Fudge seeks to exert control over us both. Me, because he suspects that I am up to something, and you because he sees you as an icon. You had him worried in the last meeting, telling him that you didn't care."
"I don't." Harry told him. "I know what I have to do, so whatever Fudge does, or doesn't do... I don't care, as long as I can keep my friends safe and out of danger, I don't care. Fudge hasn't done anything for me."
"Harry, you don't need to be this way. You shouldn't be angry with Cornelius. He like the rest of us, is only human, and we all make mistakes."
"But his cost so much." Harry fumed. "When he makes mistakes people die."
"That is true." Dumbledore nodded, bowing his head. "But I myself have also made errors, errors which have caused people to come to harm."
"I don't believe it."
"Harry, it was I who suggested that your parents go into hiding where they did."
"Voldemort would have found us anyway." Harry shook his head, almost startled by the realization, and by his own usage of the collective word, 'us', in reference to his family. "Wormtail would have told him, wherever they went."
"Then you have a bigger heart than I, Harry." Professor Dumbledore told him. "Because so far I have been unable to completely forgive myself."
"It wasn't your fault." Harry said quietly. "You couldn't have known."
"Did you have anymore questions for me, Harry?"
"No sir." Harry answered.
"Then Harry you are free to go, and also free to return here, and speak with me again, any time you wish." Professor Dumbledore told him, but to Harry, the elderly man looked much older than he had only minutes before.