Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling and her publishers, not to me. I'm not making money off this.

Spoilers: All five HP novels.

PRELUDE TO WAR—MUSINGS AND CONVERSATIONS

VIII: Harry, Albus, Remus and Severus (Sunday, 7 July, 1996)

Harry rose early the next morning, determined to get all his chores out of the way before his professors came to call. After assorted cleaning, mopping and tidying, and fixing the usual Sunday breakfast, he started back up to his room, but was stopped while Vernon Dursley made his opinion of the whole matter known.

"Boy! Your...people...had better not make a sound anyone else can hear outside this house. I will not have it said that anyone in this house consorts with...nutters!"

"These aren't nutters; they are Professors of mine, and one is the Headmaster of my school," Harry replied, doing his best not to snap back. "If anyone is able to appear normal, or out of sight, he is; he's one of the greatest of our kind alive."

"He had better be. Just keep them in your room until they go away, and let us know when they are gone."

"It will take at least a couple or three hours; we are planning my future course of study for the next two years."

"Fine, so long as we don't have to see or hear them." With that, Vernon went into the living room to start on the Sunday Times.

Harry continued up the stairs and into his shabby room. He looked around to be sure it was as tidy as it was going to get, then sat down at his desk to await his visitors.

Promptly at ten, a larger flash of flame appeared, and then the room was full: Dumbledore, Lupin and Snape let go of Fawkes and landed neatly on the floor. The Headmaster was the first to greet his host.

"Harry, thank you for hosting us."

"You're welcome. Uh, this is the only chair in here..." Harry slid out of the desk chair, offering it to the Headmaster; he then gestured to the neatly made bed for the other two men. "Good morning, Professors, Remus." He nodded politely, and then sat down on the floor. All three nodded in return.

"Nonsense, my boy, for a serious chat we ought to all be comfortable," Dumbledore said gently. "We are Wizards after all, and since you are still underage I will take care of things." With a couple of wand flourishes, the small bed was Transfigured into a comfortable sofa, easily large enough for the three older Wizards; Harry's chair was enlarged and cushioned, until it resembled one of the guest chairs in Dumbledore's office. A low table appeared between the chair and the couch, with a tea service, four cups, and a plate of biscuits. A perch for Fawkes also appeared, with a food bowl; it appeared that the Phoenix would also be staying. Dumbledore then sat down on the newly-made couch, with Snape on his left and Lupin on his right; Harry got up and sat in the chair, half-wishing he could keep it that way, but knowing that it would be confiscated or destroyed if the Dursleys saw it in its current state. Some things were really not worth a quarrel.

When all were settled, and tea had been served, Dumbledore opened the discussion. "As the eldest and senior, I claim first right to speak." He looked directly at Harry. "First of all, your generous apology is more than accepted. I, too, am glad things did not come to blows between us; I think the portraits would have been even more scandalized!"

Harry didn't know what to make of that last comment, so he said, "Did you tell them I'll apologize when I'm next there?"

"I did indeed, and I will hold you to it; some of my predecessors were very proud men and women, with a far less informal attitude than I have. I have especially explained things to Phineas; he is of two minds on the matter, in that he was pleased in a way that you were acting in the name of his last descendant, but appalled at how you behaved to me, your superior in his eyes. A separate chat with him may help." Dumbledore consulted a parchment, then said, "As to the trinkets and furniture, all were easily repaired or replaced, and some were put away; the office was getting cluttered, after all. Payment is not needed. So, from my view, all is forgiven. You were acting under a horrible load of pain, and if breaking things helped to ease it at all--well, maybe that is another use to which you can put the Room of Requirement." The twinkle was back in full force for a moment, but then dimmed more than a little. "I, too, must apologize, for all the wrongs I have done to you, the mistakes I have made that caused you pain, and most of all, for seriously underestimating you again and again. As I said then, many of them were the mistakes of an old man who has seen and done too much, and often forgets there are other ways to do things." He stood, and held out his hand to Harry. "Friends again?" His eyes met Harry's, but with no feeling of Legilimency. This was just an honest, direct meeting of eyes.

Harry stood as well, and took the offered hand. "Friends, Sir." He truly hated to be at odds with the old man; Harry cared about him more than he would admit. If the Headmaster was willing to make amends, Harry could do no less. Besides, as he had said, one of their problems was wasted time, and prolonging a quarrel needlessly was doing just that. They both needed each other too badly for that. However, his trust would not be fully regained until he saw some results. He had a feeling that Dumbledore knew this.

Both sat down, and the Headmaster continued. "I have been in discussion with the Ministry for some time about the Underage Magic Restrictions. While I have not had an answer yet, I have hopes that the restrictions may be lifted within the residences of underage witches and wizards, down to First-Years--if they have passed, at the end of term, an examination of their knowledge of the laws on proper use of magic, and a practical on very basic safe usage. Anyone who has passed the OWLs and above would be exempt from the examination. With things appearing to be headed the way they are, we need more able defenders, not fewer, without fear of legal reprisal, especially in areas such as this where there are few magic-users to help each other. Prosecuting First-Years for using a little Transfiguration to make Yule ornaments or for Stunning an intruder is, in my mind, a waste of the legal resources more properly allocated to serious offenses. When I have more information, I will let you know, but a waiver such as this would have prevented the case against you last year for defending yourself and your cousin."

Harry thought that one over. "That is something that shouldn't have happened in the first place, but thank you for trying." Another thought struck him. "Is there going to be any punishment for Umbridge for sending the Dementors after me, and using that horrible quill in detentions?"

Snape spoke up for the first time. "You were one of the victims of her Blood Quill?"

"Is that what it is called? I had never heard of it before."

"Yes, and that is a Dark Artifact, prohibited for use in schools, and the use of which on a student carries a one-year sentence to Azkaban and a hefty fine, depending on the number of victims," Snape replied. "I have heard about Mr. Jordan, and some others, but not that you were one of those involved. Why did you tell no one?"

"Because I was serving detentions for telling the truth, when she told me it was for telling lies," Harry replied softly, not looking at the man. "Professor McGonagall told me not to cross Umbridge, but I could not let her stand there in the classroom and tell lies--about Cedric, and about Riddle!" He realized he was starting to get loud. "Uh, Professor, could you please cast a Silencing Charm? I really don't want any of this to be heard by the rest of the household, and they don't want to hear that anything is going on up here at all." This side request enabled him to get control of himself again; he was still too easily triggered. "And after that, she was in charge, and I didn't want to endanger any of the other teachers, especially Professor McGonagall." He unconsciously clenched his fists. "A lot of good it did; she got hurt anyway. She will be all right, won't she?"

"Oh, yes, she no longer needs her cane now, and will be totally recovered before the start of term." assured Dumbledore. He flicked his wand lightly and cast the Silencing Charm. "There; we can hear outside if we need to, but they will not be able to hear us."

Lupin leaned forward, "Harry, what is that on your hand?"

"That's what her quill did to my hand when I wrote lines." "I must not tell lies" was engraved on the back of his hand. "Hermione fixed it up with murtlap essence, so it's not as bad as it could have been." He held out his hand for the others to see.

Dumbledore sighed and shook his head. "I think that the majority of our problems all last year can be laid to various types of poor communication. Quite a few people were not given information they should have had, when they should have had it." He looked at Harry again, then took the scarred hand in both of his own and examined it closely. "I think this can be healed. See Madam Pomfrey when you get back to school, and have her give this a closer examination." He gently pressed the hand, and let go. "But to your original question: Dolores Umbridge is still in St. Mungo's, and there is no date indicated for her recovery; until then, a trial cannot be held. Be sure that there will be one, as soon as she has recovered enough to stand trial." His voice grew that much harder. "One thing I cannot abide is the unwarranted torture of the children under my care; she will pay for this, and for the Dementors, one way or another. So will anyone who conspired with her to do such things, whether they are Death Eaters or Ministry officials. This is a matter of personal and professional honor for me, that I allowed this to happen under my watch; I will not be fooled again." A little of his true power was showing—the power that made him such a feared adversary. This was not a Wizard to cross lightly, where the well-being of his children was involved. Harry nodded, and let that matter drop for now.

Dumbledore remembered something else. "Last on that, and then we may put Ms. Umbridge aside: I have this for you." He took something small out of his pocket, and enlarged it; it was Harry's Firebolt broomstick. "It was indeed in the dungeon, but there are no security trolls there now. I have personally checked it for hexes, and had it cleaned and polished for you, so it should be in no worse condition than before."

Harry took it with the first smile any of them had seen that day. "Thank you, sir; this means a lot to me." Another thought struck him, as he carefully put away his treasured broom. "What about all those Educational Directives?"

"Those have also been set aside. Really, I have been able to wring a number of concessions out of Minister Fudge, in exchange for not publicly embarrassing him; rescinding those directives was among them." Harry sighed in relief; he could play Quidditch again, if he could make the time.

"Next is the matter of the extra training and books you have asked for. I have brought you the books for your core Sixth-Year classes; Professor Snape has found you a book on Occlumency, and Professor Lupin--" his eyes twinkled again--"has brought you a book on Muggle meditation techniques; they can be done without magic, and may be a more effective method of clearing your mind."

"'Professor' Lupin?!" Harry didn't miss that one, nor the smile on Lupin's face.

"Yes, I had already planned to recall Remus to the Defense post. After last year's catastrophic selection from the Ministry, for which they received quite a few Howlers from parents, they were only too happy to let me have my way, so long as I can assure them that his special needs will be provided for, and that an adequate substitute will be available as needed. However, I have decided to try something different this time: he will not be your Defense Professor; he will be teaching the first four forms. I have someone who is somewhat more advanced in both Dark Arts and combat for the upper levels." Dumbledore sat back with a smile.

Harry didn't miss the slight smirk on Snape's face, either. "You, sir?" he asked.

"Indeed, Mr. Potter," he replied; the smirk widened a little. "I will be teaching all of the OWL, Advanced and NEWT Defense classes, and the upper-level Potions classes as well; another professor will be found for the first four levels in that subject. There will also be a Remedial Practical DADA class, taught by Professor Lupin, for those students unfortunate enough to depend solely on last year's assigned written work, and who did not take the--initiative--to practice outside of class. This will be voluntary, and open to anyone who scored an A or less on the DADA OWL or NEWT, or the comparable end-of-year exams on the other levels, after which the exams may be retaken. This includes former Seventh-Years, and their records will be amended as needed." He inclined his head toward Harry. "You, however, along with certain of your cohorts, appear to have no need for such a remedial class, and I look forward to personally seeing just how much you did learn in your extracurricular Defense study group known as 'Dumbledore's Army'. I will be interested to compare the results with those from the Slytherin 'Serpent's Fangs' study group."

"'Serpent's Fangs'?"

"Yes. There were quite a few people in my House who could not or would not endure a group run largely by Gryffindors, but saw the same major fault in Umbridge's curriculum as you and Miss Granger did: lack of practical exercises. All the students in both groups scored at least an A on the DADA practical, and there were many Es and Os."

Harry nodded; that made sense to him that the Slytherins should form their own group. There was no lack of intelligence in that House, after all. "I think we can all agree on that, sir."

"Indeed," Dumbledore nodded. "The primary instructors were some Seventh-Years who are quite talented." He looked over his notes again. "Now—next, a related subject, your request to form a junior Order for those who are underage but willing to commit to the war already. I think that idea has much merit. Not all members of the Order are involved in everything. There are already members of the Order who are helping in one specific field: Madam Pomfrey is one. She is the one who knows why Professor Snape spends so much time in his quarters at certain times rather than the less-secure Hospital Wing. I do not see why we cannot include students, who are going to be involved anyway, so long as what they are doing do not intentionally put them in harm's way; that should remove the loudest objections from Molly Weasley and others who do not approve of students knowing too much. That is not what we believe in: we, the parents and teachers, are supposed to be guiding and guarding the next generation, not sending it off to war." He gave another sad sigh. "But war has come again, you young people are in it whether we will or no, and it is now our duty to give you the tools you need to survive it; we can no longer guarantee your safety. You have given me quite cogent reasons to include your comrades from the Ministry battle, and I can think of some others who could make a valuable contribution. Research, training and strategy practice are perfectly suitable activities for students, and will help to free the older members for more active duty." The blue eyes were now shadowed. "You are our future; you are what many of us are fighting for, so that another generation does not sacrifice its youth to having to fight Tom's schemes, as did your parents' generation. Too many of you already have." He looked directly at Harry. "I will present your suggestion to the next meeting of the full Order. Assuming they accept the idea, we will ask an oath of allegiance and determine what this will mean to each of you. If you pass the other tests, which for you yourself is a given, I see no reason why you cannot become junior or auxiliary members before summer is over."

Both Lupin and Snape sat there with bent heads; both had survived the first war with Voldemort directly out of school. After a brief silence, Dumbledore continued.

"That covers all the points you addressed to me alone. I will now let Professor Snape respond to your letter to him; then we will take up the matters you addressed to both of us."

Snape raised his head, and looked directly at Harry. Again, there was no feeling of Legilimency, just directness. Harry met the dark gaze as calmly as he could. "When I received your letter, I was highly disturbed for several reasons. You showed more coherence and intelligence in it than in most of the essays you have written for me, and without help from Miss Granger, at a time when I expected you to have none. In your letter to the Headmaster, you showed that you do, indeed, understand what I do for the Order, and somewhat of the cost." A very slight smile showed. "I am gratified in your faith in my loyalty, although it would be a mistake to trust me too much: some of what I may be obliged to do to maintain my cover may, in the end, be more than upsetting to you and cause you to question me." He held his head higher. "But, here and now, I do reaffirm my oath to the Order, and to the goal of making an end of Tom Riddle and his organization, no matter the cost to myself. I now know some of the reasons why you are the focus of our effort, and to that end, I will do all that is in my power to get you what you need to achieve that goal." The smile faded; Snape leaned forward and spoke more quietly and intensely. "But, please remember the cost you have so clearly seen: you already know that at any time, I may be called. One day, it will be for the last time. You have shown uncommon generosity under extremely trying conditions, and in that, I see Lily, not James. Do not add me to your list of those you care for; that is a guarantee of more pain for you, at a time when you do not need it. Keep me on the list of reliable and expendable enemies, instead, and that may make things easier."

Harry nodded sadly. "So long as it gets us to where we are all trying to go, I will try to understand. Ron is the one you're going to have to convince. I'm not sure that he passed his OWL high enough for your NEWT Potions class, but it is going to be a rude awakening for him to have you for NEWT Defense. I would suggest that you talk to Arthur—not Molly—and see if he can convince Ron where you stand. He sees too much in pure black and white, and you are really neither. Besides, you have been favoring the Slytherins in class for just that reason; this is only more of the same." He looked back into the man's eyes. "But I will not treat you as less worthy than any other Order member, Sir; I cannot, even though we don't like each other. You are intelligent and cunning enough that you have lasted this long; you may yet surprise yourself and survive."

"I may wish for that, but I refuse to expect it." Snape paused for a moment; then returned to his notes. "Be that as it may—because you were showing a side of yourself I had no idea existed, I went for advice to Remus Lupin: he is the only adult in the Order, bar Albus, who knows you at all well enough to determine if you were both serious and sane, and who knows about the matters you mentioned. In the course of that discussion, Remus and I have decided to at least call a truce, as our relationship has been colored by the old quarrels. We are working toward the same goals, and what you said about wasted time applies here, too. Afterwards, we both went to the Headmaster, so that we could frame a reply with as much background as we could. That is why all three of us are here today.

"To cover your points in order: first, I will accept your apologies for your own actions, as they appear to be far more sincere than I ever expected from you. You knew you were wrong, you only told affected persons for what appears to have been a valid reason, and you have promised not to repeat your actions. If you will hold to those promises, nothing more need be between us on that matter. In the matter of apologizing on behalf of your father and Godfather, that is a little more difficult, but since both are now gone and unable to make amends themselves, I will accept that as an end to it. As you have said, we cannot afford to waste more time; I have...decided...that continuing this feud with the dead is a pointless waste of time and energy. You understand who was wrong, and have learned all that you can from it; I will accept this as ended." The Potions Master's voice had a couple of hesitations as he spoke; this was obviously difficult. "On the same topic, on the related topic of the Life-Debt, and per your wish that we could work together: as I said, Remus and I have called a truce for the duration. I do not consider him at fault for something over which he had no control in the incident incurring the Life-Debt, and I have accepted his apology for the incident recorded in the Pensieve. You are generous to count those incidents you cited in your letter as suitable repayment for the Life-Debt." His voice then took on more intensity. "Do you realize, however, that the fact of the Life-Debt makes you somewhat immune to my betraying you to my Master? It is, in and of itself, a binding Wizard's Contract; if I were to hand you over to Riddle for him to kill you, as he no doubt may wish someday for me to do, the consequences would be severe."

Harry thought that one over for a few minutes. "It seems that there are three Life-Debts in this mess: yours to James Potter and thus to me; Pettigrew's to me; and Riddle's to Pettigrew—whether he has acknowledged it or not; that revival should count as such." He thought some more, then looked up at Snape. "Do you need the Life-Debt to enforce your oath to the Order, or is it more of a hazard for you to have it if Riddle ever finds out?"

Snape hid his reaction; this was the second time that Potter had deeply surprised him with unusual intelligence, framed in an equally unusual directness. "The Dark Lord will not accept it as an excuse for failure to carry out orders, should he ask it of me," he replied slowly. "To him, my life is his and his only, to use or dispose of as he pleases; he recognizes no other binding or oath. Also, there is a fourth Life-Debt in this matter: mine to Professor Dumbledore, in the matter of the night I changed sides. That is in part the foundation of my Phoenix Oath; a second one is not needed. Therefore, I will accept your offer as an even settlement: we are neither of us indebted." He turned to Dumbledore. "Albus, in this case I think a formal release is called for, and Harry is of sufficient age and maturity to act on his own behalf: will you witness us?"

"I will," Dumbledore replied easily. "Remus, you should witness, too. Severus, your wand; hold it out in the formal manner. Harry, hold out your wand, touch his, and say, 'I, Harry Potter, son of James Potter, say to you, Severus Snape: Your debt to my house is fulfilled--you are now free. From today, no obligation in these matters binds us to the past.' "

Harry got out his wand, and the two touched wand tips. Harry recited the release, and then Snape did the same in reverse (except he said "myself" instead of "my house", as he was speaking on his own behalf only). Both wands glowed briefly. Dumbledore and Lupin touched theirs to the join of the other two, and said, "I witness this release of debt between two Wizards of honor: all obligations in these matters are ended, and they may walk as equals." All four wands glowed, more brightly this time, then faded. But before they were separated, Fawkes trilled a song, and flew up onto Dumbledore's shoulder. He touched his beak to the apex of the four wands, and a ribbon of flame trailed down each wand; this also flared and faded. All four Wizards were stunned by this, then eased and relaxed by the Phoenix song.

It was Dumbledore who broke the silence, and his voice had a note of wonder. "Well, I would say I have not seen many Phoenix witnessings, and none except Order oaths in the last half-century. I believe, gentlemen, that Fawkes agrees with all of us that it is time to put aside the excess baggage of the past and work together to achieve a future." The four Wizards put away their wands, and tacitly decided it was time for another tea-and-biscuit break. Dumbledore conjured another plate, this time of sandwiches, for it was already past lunchtime.

After enough of the food and drink was consumed, Snape returned to the letters. "The next matter you have mentioned in both our letters is the Dark Lord's revival ritual. What exactly is it that requires a live Peter Pettigrew for your use?"

Harry thought a few moments, gathering his ideas. "First, do all of you know exactly what happened and how? I know I told you and Sirius, Headmaster, and I did describe it somewhat in the Quibbler interview with Rita Skeeter, but I don't know who else knows all the details, or how much I may have left out that was important. That is why I offered you a Pensieve memory; that way, you could see all the details I may have missed. I was in shock and pain from my injured leg, and had just seen Cedric killed, so I didn't try to remember every detail."

Lupin answered, "I know the general sequence of events, but not all the details. Are you sure you want to share such a painful memory, in such an intimate manner?"

Harry closed his eyes. "I think I have to, so that you who are more expert than I am in...such things...may see if there is a detail I missed." He forcibly calmed himself; then he said, "Perhaps also, if I can share it, then I can get it out of my nightmares that haven't truly stopped since that night. I can't do this with my friends, but you are all experienced Wizards who have probably seen many things more horrible than this." He looked into the distance for a moment. "I do wish I could play this on a projector of some kind, for Hufflepuff House; maybe that would put paid to the worst lies told about what happened to Cedric. They weren't there; I was."

Dumbledore hung his head. "I had not thought of the aspect of nightmare relief, or I would have done this for you long ago. Add that to the list of mistakes I've made with and for you. I am sorry." He picked up and opened a carry case he had brought with him, and drew out his Pensieve. "Harry, are you certain you wish to do so today? We can wait, and do more research first."

Harry opened his eyes, and met the kind blue ones. "No, let's do it now, while we are all here and in private, and while I still have the nerve; then I can explain better what I think I want, and why." He looked first at Lupin, then at Snape. "Are you willing to share? This will not be pretty, but I need you to understand."

Both men nodded. "Harry, if it will help you at all, I will do so gladly," Lupin said gently. "Besides, have you considered that this is firsthand evidence of the Dark Lord's return and that Peter is alive?"

"I know. But somehow I don't think Fudge would have believed it anyway."

Snape gave a characteristic snort. "Fudge is an idiot, and a blind one at that. If he would not believe me when I showed him my Mark, he certainly would not believe your memory. I will share what you have offered me. Do you wish to be there as well?"

"I have to be, so that you get the time sense," Harry replied.

"All right, Harry," said Dumbledore, "you know what you have to do. Think of the memory as strongly as you can, and in as much detail as you can, and then touch your wand-tip to your temple. I will help you pull it free and place it in the Pensieve."

Harry did so, and in a few minutes the bowl was filled with a shining silver cloud. "Now, together." The four wizards went together into the memory, seeing what Harry had seen a year before: from the agreement between him and Cedric to take the Tri-Wizard Cup together, to his return with Cedric's body.

When they returned, all were stunned silent for a time. It was Lupin who broke the silence. "Oh, Harry, now I understand why you wish we'd murdered Peter that night!" He stood up, went over to the chair, and hugged Harry tightly. "I didn't think he had the power or the skill for something like this, not after living as a rat for twelve years!" Harry hugged back, taking some comfort from his father's old friend.

It was Snape who spoke next, in a slightly shaky voice. "Potter—Harry, I take back most of everything I have ever said in your detraction. Very few adults could have survived that--and you were fourteen, and injured as well! Yes, the Priori Incantatem was an amazing piece of luck—but you were able to make use of the luck, to do all that you could with it and get back alive, and with Diggory's body, too. What you witnessed was more than ordinary Dark Magic; I know Pettigrew, and he couldn't have done that on his own. That is Blood Magic and Necromancy on a high level. The Dark Lord found or wrote that ritual, I am certain, taught it to Pettigrew and gave him his own wand to use." He sank back on the couch and buried his face in his hands.

"I agree with Severus," Dumbledore said quietly. There were tears in the old man's eyes. "You told us about it that night, but seeing it is far worse. And for my part, this proves that there is no way you are culpable for poor Cedric; you were both caught in the same trap." He went around the table, knelt, and embraced both Lupin and Harry. "How I wish I could have spared you that!" The three held each other tightly another moment, then let go, and went back to their respective seats. The silence stretched out for a few moments; then Snape broke it again.

"I am sorry, but I must ask you again—what is this idea you have to undo this, that requires a living Pettigrew?"

"Well, for my idea he doesn't need to be alive; that's more to clear Sirius's name and estate, to ensure the Black House for the Order, and to get intelligence out of him. What I want is that silver hand, and to keep it well away from Remus. I don't know what he can do with it, and I don't want to find out the hard way." He was on slightly firmer ground here; he had worked out some details. "See, there was 'blood of the enemy'—that was me, and there ought to be a way that I can reclaim it, at least in symbol. 'Flesh of the servant'—well, he got Pettigrew's hand, I'd have the silver one, so if I could force some kind of a magical trade back...that only leaves 'bone of the father'. His father was mortal, a Muggle, not even a Wizard; mortals can die or be killed!"

"I can answer part of that," offered Snape. "He can do some wandless magic with it, as if it were a wand; it is his wand hand that he sacrificed, and he can use it to amplify his wand spells. It is also far stronger and less vulnerable than a normal hand." He scowled a little. "He is the Dark Lord's abject and cringing servant, and is somewhat despised by most of the Death Eaters for not being as powerful. Yet, now and then I see flashes in his eyes; sometimes I think he might get a spine long enough to give you some payment on the debt he owes you. This is going to be a long-term project, to get him captured in a way that does not compromise me." He looked at Harry with somewhat more respect. "I have no idea as to whether we can make your idea work, but it is the best and most unusual I have heard so far. Tell me, what inspired it? I know you don't spend time with Dark Arts texts."

Harry paused a moment to recollect his musings of earlier in the week. "Well, I was wondering: just what is Voldemort, anyway? I mean, other than something that used to be a human Wizard named Tom Riddle. Is he still a man, to be treated as one, or a thing, a construct? Or a part-human, like Remus is, or a non-human intelligent type, like a Goblin or a House Elf? He surely isn't all human any more, with the serpent scales and features; he did use serpent venom as part of his nutrients."

"One could argue for him being a revenant, such as are made Vampires," Dumbledore suggested. "That is one idea, anyway. Why did you wonder that?"

"It was the whole idea that I should have to kill him in the first place. Is it murder, assuming that it isn't in combat, or is it—I don't know—finishing off a death in self-defense that should have occurred fourteen years ago? And if I manage to kill him in other than war—say I surprise him somehow and kill him in cold blood--will I be prosecuted? Has he the rights of a Wizard?"

It was Snape who shook his head. "Harry, I have no idea under what circumstances you will have that encounter. But I can assure you that he will not go without a fight. You have seen him duel; you know that his greatest wish is immortality. He does not hesitate to kill, either; you have also seen that. It will not be in cold blood, and I would be very surprised if you are not acting in defense of yourself or others. As to what he is, I can only suggest using what would work on any other mortal; he is not immortal yet, but I will warn you that he is very strong, skilled and powerful." His dark eyes grew colder, and his voice harsh. "And if anyone dares prosecute you or anyone else who has a hand in his death—let them look to themselves, for there will be the biggest scandal ever to hit the Wizarding World! If I live through this, I promise that it will be so!"

Harry could not help it any more; the entire discussion had been weird, but seeing such passion in Snape, normally a very private man, for a subject he normally loathed--speaking out in public and creating scandal--he stared at Snape. "Who are you, and what have you done to Professor Snape?"

The Potions Master tilted his head a little, and eyed Harry with a little amusement. "Why, do you suddenly not believe my identity?" His voice lowered a little, to a small-room version of his usual smooth classroom lecture voice. "You have been given more than adequate proof that all three of us are genuine. You have been interacting with me for the better part of three hours as if I were. What is different? And how could I have possibly been changed or compromised in the presence of Professor Dumbledore?" He turned to his mentor and employer, who was sitting there quietly with a little smile and a brighter-than-usual twinkle in his eyes.

It was Lupin who answered. "Severus, remember you said that in his letter Harry showed you a side of him you didn't know existed, and it disturbed you? Well, you've just done the same back to him. You've shown him--and us--more of the human being under your 'Evil Slytherin Death Eater' mask than he's seen clearly in the whole five years you've known each other. He was seeing through it without knowing it, hence the things he said to you and Albus in your letters. Now, your mask is off, and he's seeing it full force--what you might have been if things had gone differently--and he's disturbed." The werewolf grinned. "Personally, I think using public scandal is a very Slytherin thing to do; it's just a bit more openly expressed than usual."

That drew a raised eyebrow from the other man. "Indeed? I, a human being? I have it on very good authority that I am any of several different creatures, mainly vampiric, and all of them Dark." A sardonic smile accompanied this comment, and the dark eyes seemed to hold just a trace of humor. If anything, that was unnerving Harry even more. He had expected to deal with the usual Snape: biting of wit, highly intelligent, and capable of great courage--but harsh, cruel and bitter as his life had made him. He didn't know how to respond to this.

Dumbledore took advantage of the gap in conversation. "Truly, Harry, I cannot see how you could possibly be prosecuted for the death of Tom Riddle; in the oldest Wizarding traditions, you would be well within your rights to call him out in Wizard's Duel, for murdering your parents at least. I hope you do not; you are not yet prepared for such a thing. And that brings me to the last topic we wished to discuss: your training." His eyes dimmed a little, and his voice intensified. "Harry, we will give you every bit of knowledge and training at our disposal to help you fulfill your destiny favorably. Reading your letters indicates an urgency--and not just a wish to 'get it over with'." His head bowed a little; his age seemed to hang as a veil upon him, and his long white hair shadowed his face. "I must tell you now that I have been feeling the same urgency: that we must bring this war to a conclusion soon--within the next year or three--or we will be fighting on, in decreasing numbers, for decades. Tom has already turned the Dementors; I know he will free at least some of his Inner Circle soon. We cannot afford to wait much longer than that; we cannot let him gather too many allies, and we must draw him out to a battleground of our choosing rather than his, so that as few as possible innocent lives are risked. Once there, we must strike hard and finally, and make an end to him. Then, we will have a second problem, which you alluded to without realizing it: the Ministry. There is a growing faction there, sitting back and gathering power and influence while waiting for matters to conclude between Riddle and the Order. Once there is a clear winner, then they will attempt to suborn or preempt the winner, all in the name of power. These are the Umbridges and the Fudges of the world, although Cornelius is amenable to reason...sometimes...if his facts are undeniable. We must make a clear victory and use the power to put honest people in charge of the Ministry, so that we are not trading one tyrant for another."

Harry was dismayed. "I know that he has supporters in the Ministry, too. How are we going to manage that?"

Dumbledore straightened up. "That is my problem; I am tasked with the overall picture. Yours is one specific task, without which completion we are possibly doomed to a long and protracted war with Tom, and then maybe a civil war, too. As I said, we will give you whatever you need. I will speak to Kingsley this coming week; he can test you to evaluate your current level, then you may begin serious training with either himself or Alastor Moody. Later, depending on your progress, and if we have time, I will start giving you personal training. I will not be the first to do so, however; before I deal with training a student, I must first re-enter training myself. In my current profession, and at my age, it is too easy to let one's physical fitness go; I cannot afford to do so any more. All of us, myself included, will need to be at our peak, not only physically, but magically." He gave Harry a smile, which eased some of the worry the boy was feeling. "I still have some good years of health left; we Wizards can live to two centuries easily. However, I may appear this year to be slowly declining. This will be for public consumption; in the meantime, I will be preparing a bit of a surprise. In the meantime, to give you the cover you will need, you will continue your studies at Hogwarts, and if you are doing extra-credit work in Defense or Charms, well, all of that will look quite good on your record when you apply to the Auror's Academy." His eyes lit up again, "Or, if we do well in the battle, and win the peace as well, perhaps the need for you to be an Auror may be delayed; you could still play Quidditch for England. I know Professor McGonagall would greatly enjoy that."

Harry allowed himself a smile at that. "She would."

"Indeed. Also as part of your cover of being a more-or-less normal student, I suggest you keep up your Defense group. While you will have not one, but two competent professors this year; extra practice is not a bad idea. This will also teach your core group more about leadership and group actions."

"I'd like that," Harry nodded. "No—I'll need that. Riddle may be my problem, and I think I'll be able to take him someday if the time is right; but I can't see me ever getting so powerful as to take him on and a cadre of his Inner Circle, too. Whether I want it that way or not, I have to rely on other people to deal with the rest of the enemy, whether it's Aurors, Hit Wizards, Order, or the DA." Suddenly, his eyes smarted with unshed tears. "I never thanked you for saving us at the Ministry; I was too upset about—about the life I couldn't save, to be properly grateful, as I should, to you and the Order for saving the rest of us."

"You are not the only one, Harry," Dumbledore replied gently. "You six fought an excellent battle, considering the foes that you faced, and the hazards you encountered that night; we are more than happy to have safely retrieved you. In any case, despite the reasons you were there, despite your pain, and despite our loss—one good thing has come out of it: Tom was drawn out where everyone could see him, and his return cannot be denied any more.

"And Harry, remember my other mandate: the safety and security of Hogwarts. I think you and your cohorts will be the seed of what we need to help keep it safe, besides the wards and charms." The old man smiled gently at Harry; on his perch, Fawkes sang quietly.

Harry's heart was full; he was actually not only being taken seriously—and by some of the last people he could imagine—but he was getting almost everything he asked for, or a reasonable answer at minimum. His heart went cold at the stray thought that forced itself in. They're desperate, he thought to himself. They need me, and will do whatever they must to help me. Now, I have to put up or shut up, and carry my part. I will do this; I have to.