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CHAPTER TWELVE
SUSPICION
Harry and Hermione went back upstairs to join the others. Ron greeted them with a confused look, but he didn't say anything. The Shrieking Shack was getting a little more crowded as other members of the Order of the Phoenix arrived to make reports.
Mad-Eye Moody was one of the people who had just shown up. He was giving orders and taking reports from the various people in the Headquarters. He cast a glance over to Harry and his friends when he was finished. "It's best for you three to stay here for the moment. There's no telling what else Voldemort has up his sleeve, and I want to keep my eye on you." Harry noticed that the man's magical eye was indeed fixed on them. It made him just a little uncomfortable.
Moody turned his attention to the still unconscious Peter Pettigrew. Mrs. Weasley had finished dressing his wound and there was now a very neat bandage job covering his stump.
"How is he, Molly?" Moody asked.
"He'll live," she replied as she left the room, "whatever that's worth."
"Good." Moody stood over Wormatail's body, brooding over him like a cat about to pounce on a mouse. "Hello, Peter." he said with a crooked smile. "I am going to enjoy interrogating you." Mad-Eye took out his hand and gave Pettigrew a tap on the forehead. He instantly awoke to find Moody's stony face staring at him.
"Ahhh!" he screamed. "Wh...Where am I?!?"
"Don't you worry about that." Mad-Eye sneered as he cast a binding spell on Pettigrew. "Looks like Harry pounded your face in pretty good. Would you like to get in some more shots, lad?" Mad-Eye said as he turned to Harry.
Normally Harry would have declined the invitation, but he still had a great deal of emotions brewing inside of him. He walked over to where Peter sat on the floor, trembling. Harry remembered the day that he had kept Sirius and Lupin from murdering him. So much had changed since then. Pettigrew had killed Cedric, his betrayal led to Sirius' death, and he almost killed Lupin. He was a pathetic, weak, piece of filth. Despite all that, Harry still couldn't help but pity him.
Harry's pity, however, did not suppress his anger.
Harry squatted down to face Wormtail. He looked him straight into his watery eyes and voiced a simple question. "Where is he?"
"I...I don't know. He never tells me anything."
"Liar. I know when you're lying to me, Wormtail."
Peter's expression changed from fear to terror. "You...sound just like...just like HIM!"
"Where is he?" Harry repeated, louder.
"I can't tell you that...he'd never forgive me!!"
"Open your eyes, Peter!" Harry yelled as he grabbed him by the robes. "He sent you into Hogsmeade alone. He didn't care if you got caught. You were nothing but a pawn, and you even failed at that. And you KNOW how the Dark Lord feels about failure."
Peter said nothing.
Harry continued to press, goaded by his increasing anger. "Cedric, Madam Rosmerta, Bertha Jorkins, even Sirius...they're all dead because I spared you. Do you have any idea how much that hurts, Wormtail? No, of course you don't."
Harry could feel Peter's emotions as his gaze bored into him. He could tell that the miserable little man had no idea of the pain he had caused so many people. In his rage, Harry forced the mental connection between them open. He poured his swelling emotions into that connection, forcing Pettigrew to see all the sorrow he had caused him. He brought all his years of anger, sadness, and pain to bear on Wormtail's weak mind in a flood that overwhelmed him.
"STOP, STOP!!" he screamed. "GET OUT OF MY MIND!! I'M SORRY!! PLEASE!"
"That's enough, Harry."
The words were softly spoken, but they broke Harry out of his fury. He turned to see Professor Dumbledore looking at him kindly.
"Leave him, Harry. I think you have made your point."
Harry reluctantly let go of Wormtail. The miserable little man slumped to the floor, sobbing quietly.
"Professor Dumbledore." Arthur Weasley said as he forced his gaze away from Harry and Peter. "I thought you would be at the Ministry."
"Normally, I would be. I have important news to share though. There has been another series of escapes at Azkaban. Some of the Aurors that were guarding the prison were drawn from there to help with the investigation here in Hogsmeade. Many Death Eaters escaped, including Lucius Malfoy."
"So Hogsmeade was a diversion, then." Mad-Eye said. He had been standing next to Harry during his interrogation of Peter, and judging by the slight note of cheer in his voice, he had apparently enjoyed the show.
"It would seem so." Dumbledore replied. "But Voldemort was also trying to spread terror with his attack on Hogsmeade. I believe he was successful in that. Anyways, I have been told that Harry and Lupin are responsible for Peter's capture."
"Harry had more to do with it than I did." Lupin croaked. He still looked very sick. "Harry cut off his hand, with a spell." Lupin gave Dumbledore a meaningful look as he spoke.
"Hmmm. I see." Dumbledore said as he stroked his long beard.
"What do we do with him?" Moody asked, gesturing towards the puddle on the floor that was Peter Pettigrew.
"We do what the law requires." Dumbledore said loudly. "We shall bring him to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He will receive a fair trial and a chance to plead his case. However, it is very important that Cornelius Fudge does not get the opportunity to use Peter's capture for his own political gain. I suggest that Arthur be the one to take him into custody."
"Ah. Yes, I see." Arthur Weasley said, appearing to be a little nervous. "The Aurors and I will see to it."
Harry saw Ron's expression change to shock, but once again, he remained silent.
"Good, good." Dumbledore said with approval. "Remus, Harry...may I have a word?"
Dumbledore led Harry and Lupin out to a room near the rear of the house. It was also a recently renovated room, with several soft couches in it. Lupin eagerly reclined on one while Harry stood with Dumbledore. He had a feeling that he was not going to like this meeting.
Dumbledore spoke first. "Harry, you seem to be turning into quite a capable wizard."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"You used a severing charm to cut off Peter's hand." Lupin said gravely. "That spell isn't supposed to be strong enough to sever limbs."
Harry thought about that. Just a few weeks ago he had attempted to use the Diffindo spell to sever the tendrils of the brain thing that had captured Ron. That attempt hadn't been successful at all, but now he apparently had the strength to pull it off.
"A first year Legilimency student shouldn't be able to force their own thoughts into someone else's mind, either."
"It was Peter Pettigrew." Harry defended. "he's the most weak-minded creature on the planet. I don't think it's that hard with that kind of target."
Lupin did not seem to agree. "You're getting stronger Harry."
"Well, yeah." Harry said as if it was obvious. "I'm older, and I've gotten a lot of practice defending myself recently."
"No, Harry." Dumbledore sighed. "Your age and experience have increased your skill level, not your strength. You are getting stronger because Voldemort is getting stronger."
Harry didn't know what to make of that at all. He looked to Lupin to see if he was confused as well, but his serious expression showed that he knew exactly what Dumbledore was talking about.
"When he gave you the scar," Dumbledore continued, "Voldemort created the means by which you share your mental connection. When he used your blood to create his new body, he bound his life force to yours. He is tied to you, and you to him. As Voldemort's strength increases, so does yours. It has been steadily happening for some time now. Your recently acquired ability to see into Voldemort's mind is another example. Also, just months ago you battled a number of Death Eaters."
"I didn't do it by myself." Harry protested. "I had help from my friends."
"Friends that you trained." Lupin added. "None of them would have been able to cope with that situation had it not been for you."
"But, Peter Pettigrew added his hand to the potion. Isn't he affected by this too?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "Pettigrew's sacrifice was of a different nature since he was a willing participant. His connection to Voldemort was also very different than yours. I don't believe that Tom fully understood the consequences of the magic he used. That is, of course, very fortunate for us."
Harry was confronted with a mixture of emotions. He was somewhat frightened of this new connection with his enemy, but he was also pleased that he was gaining strength. Something didn't quite add up though. "Wait a minute, if we share life force, there's got to be some kind of limit, right?"
"Yes Harry." Dumbledore answered. "As you grow older, you claim more of that shared power for yourself. At some point there will not be enough life force for both of you. One of you will have to go."
"Neither can live while the other survives." Lupin said ominously.
"I never really understood that part of the prophecy." Harry said. "I mean, I've been alive for sixteen years now. Voldemort's still around. If both of us can't live, why isn't one of us dead already?"
Dumbledore seemed to be prepared for this question. "Living is more than just existence, Harry. Living means fulfilling your dreams, enjoying the pleasures of life, being with the people that you love. We are all alive Harry, but not everyone truly lives. As long as Voldemort is alive, you will be hunted. You will never be at peace. Already, Voldemort's presence has cost you so much. In many ways he has taken what should have been the best part of your life, your childhood. Conversely, as long as you draw breath, Voldemort will never be able to attain the level of power he seeks. He always be threatened by your very existence. Neither of you can reach your full potential while the other walks this earth."
"Why are you telling me this now? Do you finally think I'm old enough to hear this?"
"Yes. Yes Harry, I do. You are no longer a child, and I shall no longer treat you as one. I would have told you this earlier, after the events at the Department of Mysteries, but I felt that you had already been through enough at the time."
The three men were silent for a while after that. They could distantly hear the creaking of floorboards and sounds of voices as the other Order members carried out their business. "So," Harry finally said, "what happens now?"
"The Hogwarts staff is currently conducting a very thorough search of the grounds. You will stay here until we've determined that everything there is safe. Once we can ensure your safety, we will have to wait. You may be called as a witness in Peter's trial, which I believe will take place as soon as possible."
"I'll be more than glad to testify. Is there a chance he could get the death penalty?" Harry added with hopefullness.
"No Harry," Dumbledore said as he stared out of a boarded-up window. "not for Peter."
***
The rest of that evening went by quickly. Professor McGonnagall came and confirmed that nothing had been found on the Hogwarts grounds. Harry and his friends returned to the school with an escort from Hagrid, who was very quiet during the whole trip. It seemed that he was taking the loss of Rosmerta very hard. Harry was emotionally and physically exhausted. Ron and Hermione nearly had to carry him through the portrait of the Fat Lady.
They weren't surprised to find the Gryffindor common room full of awake students, although it was well past midnight. When they arrived, they were quickly surrounded by inquisitive faces, but something about Ron and Hermione's expressions kept anyone from saying a word.
When Harry finally laid his head to rest on his familiar four-poster bed, he silently prayed that no nightmares would haunt him this evening. He was asleep soon after.
Morning announced itself with bright sunlight that broke Harry out of his slumber. When Harry grudgingly opened his eyes, he saw Ron and Hermione sitting on the edge of his bed staring at him."
"How long have you been watching me sleep?" Harry said in a raspy voice. His mouth was very dry.
"Just a few hours." Hermione said casually. "We've been making sure no one bothers you. You've been asleep for a while. It's nearly lunchtime."
"Great." Harry said, sitting up. "Did I miss anything?"
"There's a new special edition of the Daily Prophet out," Ron said as he folded the paper underneath his arm, "but you'd probably better save that for later. Dumbledore just sent a message, he wants to see you in his office ASAP."
"Lovely." Harry excused himself from his friends and headed to the bathroom to take care of his morning business. He came back, got dressed (after Hermione had headed down to the common room), and walked with his friends towards Dumbledore's office. It was a Sunday so there weren't any classes, and there were many students in the hallways. Ron and Hermione kept anyone from assaulting Harry with questions.
Harry's friends waited patiently outside as Harry went into Dumbledore's office. Once again, he found that someone most unpleasant was already there.
Sitting across from Dumbledore, was Draco Malfoy.
"What is he doing here?" Draco shouted as he stood up and pointed at Harry. "You didn't say anything about this!!"
"Settle down, settle down." Dumbledore said in soothing tones. "Harry has an interest in this matter, Draco. I believe it is best for both of you to be on the same page, so to speak."
"No way." Draco protested. "If word of this gets out to the Death Eaters, they'll kill me!!"
"You have my word that anything you say will stay in this room, Draco. Besides that, Harry could not divulge the secret without risking great harm to himself."
"What's this all about?" Harry asked in confusion.
"There has been a development in the investigation concerning the spy at Hogwarts." Dumbledore said plainly.
"So it was you, Draco." Harry said with obvious glee. "It's been nice having you here at Hogwarts. Do you need help packing your things?"
"I think you should let the headmaster finish, Potter."
Harry turned to Dumbledore. Things were apparently not as they seemed.
"Yes. You see, Mr. Malfoy has graciously provided us with the identity of the infiltrator. It seems that Vincent Crabbe is the guilty party."
"I don't believe it." Harry looked into intently into Draco's cold gray eyes, but he couldn't tell if Draco was lying. Draco broke eye-contact before Harry could get any further impressions.
Harry was astonished. "You turned in Crabbe?!? But he's your friend."
Draco did not spare a glance at Harry as he sat back down. "I don't have any friends."
"When Draco came to me with this information," Dumbledore continued as he stroked Fawkes (whose gaze did not leave Draco for a moment), "I immediately sent Filch to investigate. Just a few moments ago, he caught Mr. Crabbe heading towards the owlery with a most incriminating piece of parchment. Draco's intentions are apparently...sincere."
"Why?" Harry said to Draco accusingly. "Why would you help us? You're practically a Death Eater in training."
"I personally have nothing to do with the Death Eaters, Potter. My mother insists that I stay out of it until I'm older. My father never trusted me with anything to do with the Death Eaters anyway. I was in Hogsmeade when the fires broke out. I had no idea it was going to happen, I could have been hurt!"
"Oh, what a tragedy that would have been." Harry said sarcastically.
"Voldemort's attempts to gain power could very well get me killed." Draco continued, ignoring Harry. "As much as it pains me to help you, I know what I have to do to save my own skin. If there is one thing that I have learned from my father, it's to look out for number one."
"Spoken like a true Slytherin." Phineas Nigellus said from his portrait on the wall.
"Speaking of your father," Harry said after the truth of Phineas' statement had sunk in, "where is he? Did he send you a message last night after his escape? Is that what this is really all about, Draco? Did dear daddy tell his protege it's time to join the team? Are you too scared to join the Dark Lord?"
That put Draco over the edge. He stood up quickly and turned to face Harry. "Sod off, Potter. I don't need this from you!"
"Well, Draco," Dumbledore interrupted loudly. "thank you for your help. May I assume that you will share more information as it comes your way?"
"Of course, Headmaster." Draco turned and left, casting one last hateful look at Harry.
As soon as the door was closed Harry spoke again.
"I don't trust him."
"Neither do I." Dumbledore said as he folded his hands on his desk. "Not yet, at least."
"I couldn't tell if he was lying, could you?"
"I could not be sure, but there is good reason for that. Severus gave him Occulumency lessons over the summer."
"What?!"
"Narcissa Malfoy asked Severus to teach him after the arrest of her husband. She is apparently concerned about the Death Eaters trying to influence him. Not to mention the Aurors, who have a particularly strong interest in the Malfoy family these days. It is a good idea for him to be able to defend his thoughts, for his safety as well as ours. Draco knows many things that he doesn't know that he knows."
"Give me a few minutes alone with him." Harry said, looking at the door that Malfoy just left through. "I bet I can get the truth out of him."
"You will do no such thing, Harry. Though I have confidence in your abilities as a Legilimens, Draco is also a capable student. If his predisposition for deception is any indication, he is most likely very good at guarding his thoughts. You would not be able to find the answers you seek without causing him harm, and I will not knowingly allow any student under my care to be damaged in such a way."
"Alright then, so how do we know that Draco didn't frame him?"
"Severus felt that Crabbe's mother knew too much about our defenses. She's not exactly a secretive woman, you see. Severus wasn't sure if she was getting the information from her son or some other party. That was the little matter Severus came here to discuss when you encountered him. He wanted me to watch the dealings in the Slytherin house."
"So Draco wasn't lying after all."
"Well, his information seems to be genuine. His motives, however, are still in question."
"I don't trust him."
"I heard you the first time, Harry. As I said, I agree with you. This could very well be an attempt to draw suspicion away from him. Or perhaps Crabbe was working on his own and his operation was threatening to reveal some other, more insidious, plot. Draco could even be truly trying to turn over a new leaf. We cannot know for sure at this point. Regardless, I am certain that Draco spoke at least some truth. He will choose whatever path he feels will ensure his survival. We will have to wait and see what that is."
"Why even risk it? Why don't you just kick him out right now?"
"To my knowledge, Draco has done nothing severe enough to warrant expulsion. I will not condemn him for the actions of his father. He deserves a chance to stand on his own."
"Chances. I'm tired of hearing about chances. You gave Tom Riddle a chance. I gave Peter Pettigrew a chance...and look what happened!"
"Harry, I know all too well how you feel. I admit that sometimes I question myself for not stopping Tom when I had the opportunity. After all these years though, I still know in my heart that I made the right decision. It is not the place of you or I to judge someone for something they might do. One can never tell what choices others may make. If I were to expel Draco simply because I don't trust him, it would be an insult to the respected position of Headmaster. If you had let Remus and Sirius kill a helpless Peter Pettigrew in their blinding rage, you would have allowed two noble men to become murderers. I can think of few things more horrible than that."
"I need to go for a walk." Harry said, heading towards the door. "There's still something else I want to talk to you about later."
"Yes Harry, I know. In due time. Where, may I ask, are you going now?"
"The kitchens."
"In need of a little snack?"
"No, I'm going to have a chat with Dobby about his former employers."
*********************************************************************
Author's notes:
Happy New Year everyone! This chapter is a little short because of the holidays and the lingering flu, I'll try to make up for it next time. Thanks for making this the recommended story at harrypotterfanction.com!!
SUSPICION
Harry and Hermione went back upstairs to join the others. Ron greeted them with a confused look, but he didn't say anything. The Shrieking Shack was getting a little more crowded as other members of the Order of the Phoenix arrived to make reports.
Mad-Eye Moody was one of the people who had just shown up. He was giving orders and taking reports from the various people in the Headquarters. He cast a glance over to Harry and his friends when he was finished. "It's best for you three to stay here for the moment. There's no telling what else Voldemort has up his sleeve, and I want to keep my eye on you." Harry noticed that the man's magical eye was indeed fixed on them. It made him just a little uncomfortable.
Moody turned his attention to the still unconscious Peter Pettigrew. Mrs. Weasley had finished dressing his wound and there was now a very neat bandage job covering his stump.
"How is he, Molly?" Moody asked.
"He'll live," she replied as she left the room, "whatever that's worth."
"Good." Moody stood over Wormatail's body, brooding over him like a cat about to pounce on a mouse. "Hello, Peter." he said with a crooked smile. "I am going to enjoy interrogating you." Mad-Eye took out his hand and gave Pettigrew a tap on the forehead. He instantly awoke to find Moody's stony face staring at him.
"Ahhh!" he screamed. "Wh...Where am I?!?"
"Don't you worry about that." Mad-Eye sneered as he cast a binding spell on Pettigrew. "Looks like Harry pounded your face in pretty good. Would you like to get in some more shots, lad?" Mad-Eye said as he turned to Harry.
Normally Harry would have declined the invitation, but he still had a great deal of emotions brewing inside of him. He walked over to where Peter sat on the floor, trembling. Harry remembered the day that he had kept Sirius and Lupin from murdering him. So much had changed since then. Pettigrew had killed Cedric, his betrayal led to Sirius' death, and he almost killed Lupin. He was a pathetic, weak, piece of filth. Despite all that, Harry still couldn't help but pity him.
Harry's pity, however, did not suppress his anger.
Harry squatted down to face Wormtail. He looked him straight into his watery eyes and voiced a simple question. "Where is he?"
"I...I don't know. He never tells me anything."
"Liar. I know when you're lying to me, Wormtail."
Peter's expression changed from fear to terror. "You...sound just like...just like HIM!"
"Where is he?" Harry repeated, louder.
"I can't tell you that...he'd never forgive me!!"
"Open your eyes, Peter!" Harry yelled as he grabbed him by the robes. "He sent you into Hogsmeade alone. He didn't care if you got caught. You were nothing but a pawn, and you even failed at that. And you KNOW how the Dark Lord feels about failure."
Peter said nothing.
Harry continued to press, goaded by his increasing anger. "Cedric, Madam Rosmerta, Bertha Jorkins, even Sirius...they're all dead because I spared you. Do you have any idea how much that hurts, Wormtail? No, of course you don't."
Harry could feel Peter's emotions as his gaze bored into him. He could tell that the miserable little man had no idea of the pain he had caused so many people. In his rage, Harry forced the mental connection between them open. He poured his swelling emotions into that connection, forcing Pettigrew to see all the sorrow he had caused him. He brought all his years of anger, sadness, and pain to bear on Wormtail's weak mind in a flood that overwhelmed him.
"STOP, STOP!!" he screamed. "GET OUT OF MY MIND!! I'M SORRY!! PLEASE!"
"That's enough, Harry."
The words were softly spoken, but they broke Harry out of his fury. He turned to see Professor Dumbledore looking at him kindly.
"Leave him, Harry. I think you have made your point."
Harry reluctantly let go of Wormtail. The miserable little man slumped to the floor, sobbing quietly.
"Professor Dumbledore." Arthur Weasley said as he forced his gaze away from Harry and Peter. "I thought you would be at the Ministry."
"Normally, I would be. I have important news to share though. There has been another series of escapes at Azkaban. Some of the Aurors that were guarding the prison were drawn from there to help with the investigation here in Hogsmeade. Many Death Eaters escaped, including Lucius Malfoy."
"So Hogsmeade was a diversion, then." Mad-Eye said. He had been standing next to Harry during his interrogation of Peter, and judging by the slight note of cheer in his voice, he had apparently enjoyed the show.
"It would seem so." Dumbledore replied. "But Voldemort was also trying to spread terror with his attack on Hogsmeade. I believe he was successful in that. Anyways, I have been told that Harry and Lupin are responsible for Peter's capture."
"Harry had more to do with it than I did." Lupin croaked. He still looked very sick. "Harry cut off his hand, with a spell." Lupin gave Dumbledore a meaningful look as he spoke.
"Hmmm. I see." Dumbledore said as he stroked his long beard.
"What do we do with him?" Moody asked, gesturing towards the puddle on the floor that was Peter Pettigrew.
"We do what the law requires." Dumbledore said loudly. "We shall bring him to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He will receive a fair trial and a chance to plead his case. However, it is very important that Cornelius Fudge does not get the opportunity to use Peter's capture for his own political gain. I suggest that Arthur be the one to take him into custody."
"Ah. Yes, I see." Arthur Weasley said, appearing to be a little nervous. "The Aurors and I will see to it."
Harry saw Ron's expression change to shock, but once again, he remained silent.
"Good, good." Dumbledore said with approval. "Remus, Harry...may I have a word?"
Dumbledore led Harry and Lupin out to a room near the rear of the house. It was also a recently renovated room, with several soft couches in it. Lupin eagerly reclined on one while Harry stood with Dumbledore. He had a feeling that he was not going to like this meeting.
Dumbledore spoke first. "Harry, you seem to be turning into quite a capable wizard."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"You used a severing charm to cut off Peter's hand." Lupin said gravely. "That spell isn't supposed to be strong enough to sever limbs."
Harry thought about that. Just a few weeks ago he had attempted to use the Diffindo spell to sever the tendrils of the brain thing that had captured Ron. That attempt hadn't been successful at all, but now he apparently had the strength to pull it off.
"A first year Legilimency student shouldn't be able to force their own thoughts into someone else's mind, either."
"It was Peter Pettigrew." Harry defended. "he's the most weak-minded creature on the planet. I don't think it's that hard with that kind of target."
Lupin did not seem to agree. "You're getting stronger Harry."
"Well, yeah." Harry said as if it was obvious. "I'm older, and I've gotten a lot of practice defending myself recently."
"No, Harry." Dumbledore sighed. "Your age and experience have increased your skill level, not your strength. You are getting stronger because Voldemort is getting stronger."
Harry didn't know what to make of that at all. He looked to Lupin to see if he was confused as well, but his serious expression showed that he knew exactly what Dumbledore was talking about.
"When he gave you the scar," Dumbledore continued, "Voldemort created the means by which you share your mental connection. When he used your blood to create his new body, he bound his life force to yours. He is tied to you, and you to him. As Voldemort's strength increases, so does yours. It has been steadily happening for some time now. Your recently acquired ability to see into Voldemort's mind is another example. Also, just months ago you battled a number of Death Eaters."
"I didn't do it by myself." Harry protested. "I had help from my friends."
"Friends that you trained." Lupin added. "None of them would have been able to cope with that situation had it not been for you."
"But, Peter Pettigrew added his hand to the potion. Isn't he affected by this too?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "Pettigrew's sacrifice was of a different nature since he was a willing participant. His connection to Voldemort was also very different than yours. I don't believe that Tom fully understood the consequences of the magic he used. That is, of course, very fortunate for us."
Harry was confronted with a mixture of emotions. He was somewhat frightened of this new connection with his enemy, but he was also pleased that he was gaining strength. Something didn't quite add up though. "Wait a minute, if we share life force, there's got to be some kind of limit, right?"
"Yes Harry." Dumbledore answered. "As you grow older, you claim more of that shared power for yourself. At some point there will not be enough life force for both of you. One of you will have to go."
"Neither can live while the other survives." Lupin said ominously.
"I never really understood that part of the prophecy." Harry said. "I mean, I've been alive for sixteen years now. Voldemort's still around. If both of us can't live, why isn't one of us dead already?"
Dumbledore seemed to be prepared for this question. "Living is more than just existence, Harry. Living means fulfilling your dreams, enjoying the pleasures of life, being with the people that you love. We are all alive Harry, but not everyone truly lives. As long as Voldemort is alive, you will be hunted. You will never be at peace. Already, Voldemort's presence has cost you so much. In many ways he has taken what should have been the best part of your life, your childhood. Conversely, as long as you draw breath, Voldemort will never be able to attain the level of power he seeks. He always be threatened by your very existence. Neither of you can reach your full potential while the other walks this earth."
"Why are you telling me this now? Do you finally think I'm old enough to hear this?"
"Yes. Yes Harry, I do. You are no longer a child, and I shall no longer treat you as one. I would have told you this earlier, after the events at the Department of Mysteries, but I felt that you had already been through enough at the time."
The three men were silent for a while after that. They could distantly hear the creaking of floorboards and sounds of voices as the other Order members carried out their business. "So," Harry finally said, "what happens now?"
"The Hogwarts staff is currently conducting a very thorough search of the grounds. You will stay here until we've determined that everything there is safe. Once we can ensure your safety, we will have to wait. You may be called as a witness in Peter's trial, which I believe will take place as soon as possible."
"I'll be more than glad to testify. Is there a chance he could get the death penalty?" Harry added with hopefullness.
"No Harry," Dumbledore said as he stared out of a boarded-up window. "not for Peter."
The rest of that evening went by quickly. Professor McGonnagall came and confirmed that nothing had been found on the Hogwarts grounds. Harry and his friends returned to the school with an escort from Hagrid, who was very quiet during the whole trip. It seemed that he was taking the loss of Rosmerta very hard. Harry was emotionally and physically exhausted. Ron and Hermione nearly had to carry him through the portrait of the Fat Lady.
They weren't surprised to find the Gryffindor common room full of awake students, although it was well past midnight. When they arrived, they were quickly surrounded by inquisitive faces, but something about Ron and Hermione's expressions kept anyone from saying a word.
When Harry finally laid his head to rest on his familiar four-poster bed, he silently prayed that no nightmares would haunt him this evening. He was asleep soon after.
Morning announced itself with bright sunlight that broke Harry out of his slumber. When Harry grudgingly opened his eyes, he saw Ron and Hermione sitting on the edge of his bed staring at him."
"How long have you been watching me sleep?" Harry said in a raspy voice. His mouth was very dry.
"Just a few hours." Hermione said casually. "We've been making sure no one bothers you. You've been asleep for a while. It's nearly lunchtime."
"Great." Harry said, sitting up. "Did I miss anything?"
"There's a new special edition of the Daily Prophet out," Ron said as he folded the paper underneath his arm, "but you'd probably better save that for later. Dumbledore just sent a message, he wants to see you in his office ASAP."
"Lovely." Harry excused himself from his friends and headed to the bathroom to take care of his morning business. He came back, got dressed (after Hermione had headed down to the common room), and walked with his friends towards Dumbledore's office. It was a Sunday so there weren't any classes, and there were many students in the hallways. Ron and Hermione kept anyone from assaulting Harry with questions.
Harry's friends waited patiently outside as Harry went into Dumbledore's office. Once again, he found that someone most unpleasant was already there.
Sitting across from Dumbledore, was Draco Malfoy.
"What is he doing here?" Draco shouted as he stood up and pointed at Harry. "You didn't say anything about this!!"
"Settle down, settle down." Dumbledore said in soothing tones. "Harry has an interest in this matter, Draco. I believe it is best for both of you to be on the same page, so to speak."
"No way." Draco protested. "If word of this gets out to the Death Eaters, they'll kill me!!"
"You have my word that anything you say will stay in this room, Draco. Besides that, Harry could not divulge the secret without risking great harm to himself."
"What's this all about?" Harry asked in confusion.
"There has been a development in the investigation concerning the spy at Hogwarts." Dumbledore said plainly.
"So it was you, Draco." Harry said with obvious glee. "It's been nice having you here at Hogwarts. Do you need help packing your things?"
"I think you should let the headmaster finish, Potter."
Harry turned to Dumbledore. Things were apparently not as they seemed.
"Yes. You see, Mr. Malfoy has graciously provided us with the identity of the infiltrator. It seems that Vincent Crabbe is the guilty party."
"I don't believe it." Harry looked into intently into Draco's cold gray eyes, but he couldn't tell if Draco was lying. Draco broke eye-contact before Harry could get any further impressions.
Harry was astonished. "You turned in Crabbe?!? But he's your friend."
Draco did not spare a glance at Harry as he sat back down. "I don't have any friends."
"When Draco came to me with this information," Dumbledore continued as he stroked Fawkes (whose gaze did not leave Draco for a moment), "I immediately sent Filch to investigate. Just a few moments ago, he caught Mr. Crabbe heading towards the owlery with a most incriminating piece of parchment. Draco's intentions are apparently...sincere."
"Why?" Harry said to Draco accusingly. "Why would you help us? You're practically a Death Eater in training."
"I personally have nothing to do with the Death Eaters, Potter. My mother insists that I stay out of it until I'm older. My father never trusted me with anything to do with the Death Eaters anyway. I was in Hogsmeade when the fires broke out. I had no idea it was going to happen, I could have been hurt!"
"Oh, what a tragedy that would have been." Harry said sarcastically.
"Voldemort's attempts to gain power could very well get me killed." Draco continued, ignoring Harry. "As much as it pains me to help you, I know what I have to do to save my own skin. If there is one thing that I have learned from my father, it's to look out for number one."
"Spoken like a true Slytherin." Phineas Nigellus said from his portrait on the wall.
"Speaking of your father," Harry said after the truth of Phineas' statement had sunk in, "where is he? Did he send you a message last night after his escape? Is that what this is really all about, Draco? Did dear daddy tell his protege it's time to join the team? Are you too scared to join the Dark Lord?"
That put Draco over the edge. He stood up quickly and turned to face Harry. "Sod off, Potter. I don't need this from you!"
"Well, Draco," Dumbledore interrupted loudly. "thank you for your help. May I assume that you will share more information as it comes your way?"
"Of course, Headmaster." Draco turned and left, casting one last hateful look at Harry.
As soon as the door was closed Harry spoke again.
"I don't trust him."
"Neither do I." Dumbledore said as he folded his hands on his desk. "Not yet, at least."
"I couldn't tell if he was lying, could you?"
"I could not be sure, but there is good reason for that. Severus gave him Occulumency lessons over the summer."
"What?!"
"Narcissa Malfoy asked Severus to teach him after the arrest of her husband. She is apparently concerned about the Death Eaters trying to influence him. Not to mention the Aurors, who have a particularly strong interest in the Malfoy family these days. It is a good idea for him to be able to defend his thoughts, for his safety as well as ours. Draco knows many things that he doesn't know that he knows."
"Give me a few minutes alone with him." Harry said, looking at the door that Malfoy just left through. "I bet I can get the truth out of him."
"You will do no such thing, Harry. Though I have confidence in your abilities as a Legilimens, Draco is also a capable student. If his predisposition for deception is any indication, he is most likely very good at guarding his thoughts. You would not be able to find the answers you seek without causing him harm, and I will not knowingly allow any student under my care to be damaged in such a way."
"Alright then, so how do we know that Draco didn't frame him?"
"Severus felt that Crabbe's mother knew too much about our defenses. She's not exactly a secretive woman, you see. Severus wasn't sure if she was getting the information from her son or some other party. That was the little matter Severus came here to discuss when you encountered him. He wanted me to watch the dealings in the Slytherin house."
"So Draco wasn't lying after all."
"Well, his information seems to be genuine. His motives, however, are still in question."
"I don't trust him."
"I heard you the first time, Harry. As I said, I agree with you. This could very well be an attempt to draw suspicion away from him. Or perhaps Crabbe was working on his own and his operation was threatening to reveal some other, more insidious, plot. Draco could even be truly trying to turn over a new leaf. We cannot know for sure at this point. Regardless, I am certain that Draco spoke at least some truth. He will choose whatever path he feels will ensure his survival. We will have to wait and see what that is."
"Why even risk it? Why don't you just kick him out right now?"
"To my knowledge, Draco has done nothing severe enough to warrant expulsion. I will not condemn him for the actions of his father. He deserves a chance to stand on his own."
"Chances. I'm tired of hearing about chances. You gave Tom Riddle a chance. I gave Peter Pettigrew a chance...and look what happened!"
"Harry, I know all too well how you feel. I admit that sometimes I question myself for not stopping Tom when I had the opportunity. After all these years though, I still know in my heart that I made the right decision. It is not the place of you or I to judge someone for something they might do. One can never tell what choices others may make. If I were to expel Draco simply because I don't trust him, it would be an insult to the respected position of Headmaster. If you had let Remus and Sirius kill a helpless Peter Pettigrew in their blinding rage, you would have allowed two noble men to become murderers. I can think of few things more horrible than that."
"I need to go for a walk." Harry said, heading towards the door. "There's still something else I want to talk to you about later."
"Yes Harry, I know. In due time. Where, may I ask, are you going now?"
"The kitchens."
"In need of a little snack?"
"No, I'm going to have a chat with Dobby about his former employers."
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Author's notes:
Happy New Year everyone! This chapter is a little short because of the holidays and the lingering flu, I'll try to make up for it next time. Thanks for making this the recommended story at harrypotterfanction.com!!