Gone With the Wind

Last time:

He lowered the chain of the turner around his neck and turned the hourglass twenty-five times, one for each year back he would travel. He looked up into the eyes of Dumbledore. The twinkle he had come to love and hate was fading. Harry knew what he must do. He closed his eyes for many minutes and when he opened them again Dumbledore was gone, the Hall was empty and the morning light streamed into the room.

Chapter 2 – See a Penny Pick it Up, All Day Long You'll Have Good Luck.

Harry stood for many moments looking at the empty chair, memories of days forthcoming flooded through him and for the first time in many years he let a tear fall. For those dead, those who would die, and most of all for those left to pick up the pieces. The tear was for what he had fought his entire life for, what he was still fighting for, and what he would die fighting for.

Harry turned to face the doors and slowly descended the steps from the raised teachers platform. Time began to slow down and it seemed as though it took him forever to walk past the empty house tables. His heart heavy as he threw open the door to the deserted entrance and made his way to the stone gargoyles. He stood before the frozen stone, silent for a few moments. Harry began muttering curses under his breath.

"Password, damn it! Eh...lemon drop? Chocolate frogs? Animal crackers? Liquorish allsorts? Soft mints?" Harry stood there for many minutes shouting as many sweets as he could think of. Harry fell silent having finally run out of sweets, muggle and wizard alike.

"Fuzzy Peaches," said a familiar voice from behind him, a hint of amusement in his voice as the gargoyles leapt aside revealing a moving staircase, "After you sir," a smile of the utmost contempt plastered on his face.

"Please, sit down," said Dumbledore taking a seat opposite Harry. "Would you like a cup of tea?" Without waiting for an answer Dumbledore conjured up two cups filled with steaming hot tea that sent a sweet smell around the room. Harry took this opportunity to look around his office. The portraits on the wall were looking on in mild interest; though most seemed to be looking on as a matter of obligation not choice. Somehow the office seemed more crowded, books, piles of parchment, and trinkets littered the room; sitting on a table hidden in the corner was a stone basin of silvery pensieve much like that he had found in his fourth year and there was no space on the many tables and stools left. Dumbledore handed Harry a cup bringing him out of his trance but did not drink immediately.

"Now I think I am right to guess you have reasons other than sitting in my office drinking tea, and you don't seem to be a student. What is your name?" Dumbledore said taking a sip of his tea and frowning before adding another lump of sugar with the end of his wand then twirling his wand in the air and watching the warm liquid swirl inside the cup. He looked up at Harry expectantly, raised and eyebrow, waiting for his response.

"My name is Harry James Paterson," he said simply, giving no other information. He took a sip of his tea before looking at Dumbledore, waiting for his answer.

"Well Mr. Paterson may I inquire as to what you are doing here?" Dumbledore said patiently, looking as though he could wait a lifetime for Harry's answer.

Harry sat for a few moments before answering, hoping that for once the man would be interested in him for more than just pity. "I am here to apply for the defence against the dark arts teaching position, I believe it is open?" Harry said, knowing quite well that it was and that he would be the one to fill it.

Dumbledore looked up and nodded, "you seem young to fill such a demanding position but I am not one to look at age as a barrier. Do you have a résumé?"

Harry handed over the parchment he had filled out earlier. Some things had to be changed slightly, like his school. For obvious reasons he could not have attended Hogwarts since Dumbledore would have known him, having only just graduated that year. Not that he had attended the graduation feast either; being dead did have advantages.

"The International Academy for Witches and Wizards in South East Asia, a remarkable school," Dumbledore muttered to himself and continued reading, "18? That seems rather young but age does not measure experience," after a few minutes, muttering a few comments here and there he looked up at Harry, placing the parchment on his desk in front of him.

"I am willing to accept you as a teacher if you can pass one simple test." Dumbledore looked him in the eye for a second; it was so fast that Harry thought he had imagined it. Dumbledore looked serious, "I would like you to show me your left forearm," Harry had been prepared for this he lifted his arm to reveal a tattoo of a phoenix with a single tear falling down his arm.

"You are a member of the order?" Dumbledore said looking mildly surprised for the first time since the arrival of this stranger. Harry nodded and handed over another letter of which contents explained that Harry was a member of their headquarters abroad and was here to help increase the numbers where the dark side had most power. How Dumbledore had managed to explain this was hard to say, whatever he had done convinced this Dumbledore and that was all that mattered. Harry sat thinking about the last few weeks while Dumbledore looked over the rather long letter. So much had happened in such a short space of time, not that this surprised Harry considering he had a knack for finding himself in unexpected situation. Not that Dumbledore ever seemed to car. After his fifth year Harry's faith in Dumbledore had dwindled.

Dumbledore had finished reading the letter and threw it into the fire a grave look on his face. "You start on September 1st, which incidentally is tomorrow. I will have a house elf show you to your quarters. Unfortunately I must leave you now, good-bye Professor Paterson and good luck. You will find the syllabus already in your room," Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling madly, looking straight at Harry's startlingly green eyes. "Oh and you may want to do something with your hair," Dumbledore said chuckling. "It will attract too much attention."

"Yes professor, thank you for everything." Said Harry realising just how little he had actually spoken throughout the entire meeting. He was suddenly overcome with an urge to spill out everything, start to end. Everything about the future, everything he shouldn't tell him, everything he was severely warned not to reveal under any circumstances.

Harry followed the house elf that had appeared with a 'pop' and stepped onto the descending staircase. His thoughts ventured to his parents he would finally meet them, it was only three times a week but it is more than he can remember in a life-time.

Harry suddenly tripped over his robes and threw out his hands to break his fall. The house elf came rushing over as quickly as his legs could carry him.

"Sir? Sir? Is sir okay sir?" said the elf looking at Harry oddly.

"Yes, yes fine thank you," Said Harry. He began to get up and brush off the dust from his hands and robes. As he lifted his hands from the cold stone floor he noticed a knut stuck on the palm of his hand. He peeled it off and slipped it into his pocket, not really understanding why. He started following the house elf once more down the deserted hall ways and soon all thoughts of the fall were out of his mind. Thoughts of the up and coming year engulfing his brain and taking his mind, for the first time, off his past and the world he could never have. It was another day, another year, in another time.

A/N: The story seemed rather popular so I have updated as fast as I can. A few people mentioned length and I know this isn't much longer (4 pages in word) so please tell me if this is more what you prefer.

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