Chapter 22
Early Morning Tea
AN:
Hi!
You're SO lucky that I got this done...
I've been studying for two AP exams, one calc formula final, and one spanish final for this week.
My brain is going to be fried by friday afternoon.
I don't own Harry Potter.
On with the story:
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Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was up at a peculiar hour in the morning for any sane person, three forty-three in the morning. He walked leisurely through the hallways nodding hello to a few ghosts and the portraits who were trading late night gossip, most notably Violet running from portrait to portrait picking up more rumors than Bertha Jerkins did in her first two years at Hogwarts.
The headmaster walked down the hallway with portraits dedicated to food and tickled a certain pear that turned into a handle, allowing him into the ever popular kitchens. Dumbledore walked over to the table that corresponded with the Gryffindor table in the Great hall, where Remus Lupin was sleeping, resting his head on his arms with a steaming cup of tea in front of him. Dumbledore smiled as he lightly shook the man awake.
Remus shot up and looked around quickly before seeing the headmaster looking at him with that annoying twinkle in his eye. "Hello headmaster. Why are we meeting at such an obscene hour in the morning when even the owls are sleeping?"
"Oh, its not such a bad hour," Dumbledore said sitting down and smiling brightly. "It's a good time to watch the stars, or to be alone. Don't you agree? It's a time of day when you can get away with practically anything."
"I wasn't even awake at this hour when I attended Hogwarts as a student and we had a particularly complex prank to play on the Slytherins that morning and waking at that time would be the best time for us to start unless we wanted to risk getting caught," Remus yawned.
"Would Master Dumbledore sir like a cup of tea?" Dobby asked seemingly popping out of nowhere to Remus.
"Some lemon tea would be delightful," the headmaster said thoughtfully. "And please, be generous on the sugar."
"Yes sir, Master Dumbledore," Dobby said joyfully and scurried off to get the requested tea.
"So Albus," Remus said taking a long draught of his black tea trying to revive a bit. "Why are we meeting in the kitchens at ten till four in the morning?"
"I always thought having refreshments nearby was a good way to conduct business," Dumbledore said.
"And conjuring food is beyond your ability?" Remus asked sarcastically.
"My dear boy," Dumbledore chuckled. "I do believe you have been spending too much time with Severus. You sounded just like him." Remus looked at the headmaster in horror for a minute before Dumbledore decided to take pity on him and answered his question, "I also have some things I'd like to ask the house-elves to do for me and since they always keep their master's secrets I believe this to be the place we are least likely to be overheard by unwanted ears."
"Um Headmaster, there is a room on the fifth floor which is a very good place to spy on the kitchen from, or guess what is for dinner that day," Remus said. "Sirius and I once spied on one of Lily and James' indoor picnics in the kitchen because I t was raining and the house-elves created a small park in the corner of the kitchen for them."
"Ah yes," Dumbledore said smiling. "I know that room quite well and rest assured, I have fixed the possible problem."
"Here is your tea Master Dumbledore sir," Dobby said placing a cup and saucer in front of the elderly wizard along with a container of extra sugar. "Is there being anything more you is wishing?"
"Yes there is," Dumbledore said. "What is your favorite drink Dobby?"
"I is liking pumpkin juice sir," Dobby said.
"Good," Dumbledore said then flicked his wand, summoning a jug of pumpkin juice and a tumbler. "I would like you to sit down with us and discuss something."
"Sit down? With yous sir? Dobby is honored sir! But Dobby is not worthy to sit with you sir," Dobby said his ears drooping.
"Nonsense," Dumbledore said. "You are free are you not?"
"Yes sir," Dobby said. "Sir is very kind to pay Dobby for working sir."
"Well anyone who is free or who wants to be free is worth enough to sit and talk with me," Dumbledore reassured the elf.
"Sir is too kind to Dobby," Dobby wept.
"Come on Dobby," Remus said smiling. "Sit down."
Dobby sat down next to the headmaster after blowing his nose on the maroon sweater he was wearing with jean shorts that were functioning as pants and an assortment of buttons on his tea-cozy including one that said 'Weasley is our King.'
"How do you believe Harry is doing Remus?" Dumbledore asked as soon as Dobby was settled down.
"He seems more quiet in my classes and with his friends than I remember him in his third year," Remus said with a sigh. "But he is doing well in my class and has already caught up with his D.A. club and has turned in all of his make up essays. He is either an accomplished actor or not depressed to the point of suicide. He is definitely more quiet, but Sirius did die just a few months ago and I know that I still haven't' gotten over it yet."
"Dumbledore nodded as if that was the report he expected to hear. "All of his other professors but one all say he seems to be doing well in his classes, has all of his back work done and seems normal, if quiet."
"Let me guess, Snape is the one who doesn't report that," Remus sighed thinking of his colleague's loathing of James Potter's son.
"Correct, he insists we should take away Harry's wand and put him in Saint Mungo's psychiatric ward," Dumbledore said.
Dobby fidgeted angrily but said nothing as he drank his pumpkin juice and listened to the conversation.
"Does he have any proof that Harry is depressed?" Remus asked.
"No, not even with the Occlumency lessons he's giving Harry again," Dumbledore said. "He's put his memories of those lessons into my pensieve so I may examine them but all of Harry's memories have been of his previous years at Hogwarts. Also Severus has told Harry right out that he doesn't believe him."
Remus groaned and put his head into his hands, "The bleeding idiot."
"Well he does have ignorance to allow him to make foolish choices, but he does not retain that ignorance willingly. It is not his fault that I have deceived him," the headmaster said. "But I did not want to risk Harry breaking into his mind again and finding that particular memory. It could ruin any chance we have of him trusting us."
"We're watching him like he were an experiment Albus," Remus said bitterly. "I for one would severely dislike the people who treated me like that without my consent."
"Alas my boy, but it is necessary," Dumbledore sighed. The headmaster turned to Dobby and said, "Dobby I have a favor to ask of you."
"Whats be it Master Dumbledore sir?" the house-elf squeaked and jumped to his feet.
"I would like you and some of the other house-elves to watch Harry invisibly and silently and report immediately to either Remus or myself if he does anything that could harm him," Dumbledore asked seriously.
"But we is already doing that for Miss," Dobby said brightly. "We has been watching Harry Potter sir since he gots out of the Hospital Wing."
"What?" Remus sputtered incoherently.
"Dobby, who asked you to do this?" Dumbledore asked patiently.
"Harry Potter's Miss sir," Dobby said. "Miss asked us not to tells anything about hers wanting to have us watch Harry Potter but since yous is wanting us too we can tell you too."
"Who is Harry's Miss?" Dumbledore asked again.
"Miss is the one who be trying to convince the other elves to be free," Dobby said quietly. "But Miss is promised not to try to gets them to be free unless they asks for it. Or is doing something wrong."
"Hermione?" Remus asked wonderingly.
"Yes! Harry Potter's Miss!" Dobby exclaimed happily.
"Hmmm, perhaps I should talk with Miss Granger," the headmaster said. "Remus, I suggest you go back to your rooms and get a few more hours of sleep before classes. I plan on doing the same thing."
"Gladly," Remus said standing up and pondering over what Dobby had just revealed to them. "See you at breakfast."
"Get some sleepy my boy," Dumbledore nodded.
Remus left, leaving Dumbledore and Dobby alone. The old wizard turned to the elf and said, "I would appreciate it if you and your coworkers would not tell Miss Granger or anyone else about tonight alright?"
"Yes Master Dumbledore sir," Dobby said nodding. "I is not saying a word to her ors anyone else."
"That's good Dobby. Now if you excuse me, I would like to have a tad more sleep. Good night Dobby," Dumbledore said smiling and heading out of the kitchens leaving Dobby to his work cleaning up their tea.
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V
AN:
A fairly long chapter for this story anyway... roughly 1,500 words.
Since I did not write a cliffie this time, remember 10 reviews!
Otherwise... dun dun dun... the dreaded cliffie...
BTW... I'll eventually be going back to fix all of the typos I found in previous chapters...
I pratically melted when I saw them... "The Typos! THE TYPOS!"
Anyway
REVIEW!!!
Early Morning Tea
AN:
Hi!
You're SO lucky that I got this done...
I've been studying for two AP exams, one calc formula final, and one spanish final for this week.
My brain is going to be fried by friday afternoon.
I don't own Harry Potter.
On with the story:
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|
|
|
|
|
V
Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was up at a peculiar hour in the morning for any sane person, three forty-three in the morning. He walked leisurely through the hallways nodding hello to a few ghosts and the portraits who were trading late night gossip, most notably Violet running from portrait to portrait picking up more rumors than Bertha Jerkins did in her first two years at Hogwarts.
The headmaster walked down the hallway with portraits dedicated to food and tickled a certain pear that turned into a handle, allowing him into the ever popular kitchens. Dumbledore walked over to the table that corresponded with the Gryffindor table in the Great hall, where Remus Lupin was sleeping, resting his head on his arms with a steaming cup of tea in front of him. Dumbledore smiled as he lightly shook the man awake.
Remus shot up and looked around quickly before seeing the headmaster looking at him with that annoying twinkle in his eye. "Hello headmaster. Why are we meeting at such an obscene hour in the morning when even the owls are sleeping?"
"Oh, its not such a bad hour," Dumbledore said sitting down and smiling brightly. "It's a good time to watch the stars, or to be alone. Don't you agree? It's a time of day when you can get away with practically anything."
"I wasn't even awake at this hour when I attended Hogwarts as a student and we had a particularly complex prank to play on the Slytherins that morning and waking at that time would be the best time for us to start unless we wanted to risk getting caught," Remus yawned.
"Would Master Dumbledore sir like a cup of tea?" Dobby asked seemingly popping out of nowhere to Remus.
"Some lemon tea would be delightful," the headmaster said thoughtfully. "And please, be generous on the sugar."
"Yes sir, Master Dumbledore," Dobby said joyfully and scurried off to get the requested tea.
"So Albus," Remus said taking a long draught of his black tea trying to revive a bit. "Why are we meeting in the kitchens at ten till four in the morning?"
"I always thought having refreshments nearby was a good way to conduct business," Dumbledore said.
"And conjuring food is beyond your ability?" Remus asked sarcastically.
"My dear boy," Dumbledore chuckled. "I do believe you have been spending too much time with Severus. You sounded just like him." Remus looked at the headmaster in horror for a minute before Dumbledore decided to take pity on him and answered his question, "I also have some things I'd like to ask the house-elves to do for me and since they always keep their master's secrets I believe this to be the place we are least likely to be overheard by unwanted ears."
"Um Headmaster, there is a room on the fifth floor which is a very good place to spy on the kitchen from, or guess what is for dinner that day," Remus said. "Sirius and I once spied on one of Lily and James' indoor picnics in the kitchen because I t was raining and the house-elves created a small park in the corner of the kitchen for them."
"Ah yes," Dumbledore said smiling. "I know that room quite well and rest assured, I have fixed the possible problem."
"Here is your tea Master Dumbledore sir," Dobby said placing a cup and saucer in front of the elderly wizard along with a container of extra sugar. "Is there being anything more you is wishing?"
"Yes there is," Dumbledore said. "What is your favorite drink Dobby?"
"I is liking pumpkin juice sir," Dobby said.
"Good," Dumbledore said then flicked his wand, summoning a jug of pumpkin juice and a tumbler. "I would like you to sit down with us and discuss something."
"Sit down? With yous sir? Dobby is honored sir! But Dobby is not worthy to sit with you sir," Dobby said his ears drooping.
"Nonsense," Dumbledore said. "You are free are you not?"
"Yes sir," Dobby said. "Sir is very kind to pay Dobby for working sir."
"Well anyone who is free or who wants to be free is worth enough to sit and talk with me," Dumbledore reassured the elf.
"Sir is too kind to Dobby," Dobby wept.
"Come on Dobby," Remus said smiling. "Sit down."
Dobby sat down next to the headmaster after blowing his nose on the maroon sweater he was wearing with jean shorts that were functioning as pants and an assortment of buttons on his tea-cozy including one that said 'Weasley is our King.'
"How do you believe Harry is doing Remus?" Dumbledore asked as soon as Dobby was settled down.
"He seems more quiet in my classes and with his friends than I remember him in his third year," Remus said with a sigh. "But he is doing well in my class and has already caught up with his D.A. club and has turned in all of his make up essays. He is either an accomplished actor or not depressed to the point of suicide. He is definitely more quiet, but Sirius did die just a few months ago and I know that I still haven't' gotten over it yet."
"Dumbledore nodded as if that was the report he expected to hear. "All of his other professors but one all say he seems to be doing well in his classes, has all of his back work done and seems normal, if quiet."
"Let me guess, Snape is the one who doesn't report that," Remus sighed thinking of his colleague's loathing of James Potter's son.
"Correct, he insists we should take away Harry's wand and put him in Saint Mungo's psychiatric ward," Dumbledore said.
Dobby fidgeted angrily but said nothing as he drank his pumpkin juice and listened to the conversation.
"Does he have any proof that Harry is depressed?" Remus asked.
"No, not even with the Occlumency lessons he's giving Harry again," Dumbledore said. "He's put his memories of those lessons into my pensieve so I may examine them but all of Harry's memories have been of his previous years at Hogwarts. Also Severus has told Harry right out that he doesn't believe him."
Remus groaned and put his head into his hands, "The bleeding idiot."
"Well he does have ignorance to allow him to make foolish choices, but he does not retain that ignorance willingly. It is not his fault that I have deceived him," the headmaster said. "But I did not want to risk Harry breaking into his mind again and finding that particular memory. It could ruin any chance we have of him trusting us."
"We're watching him like he were an experiment Albus," Remus said bitterly. "I for one would severely dislike the people who treated me like that without my consent."
"Alas my boy, but it is necessary," Dumbledore sighed. The headmaster turned to Dobby and said, "Dobby I have a favor to ask of you."
"Whats be it Master Dumbledore sir?" the house-elf squeaked and jumped to his feet.
"I would like you and some of the other house-elves to watch Harry invisibly and silently and report immediately to either Remus or myself if he does anything that could harm him," Dumbledore asked seriously.
"But we is already doing that for Miss," Dobby said brightly. "We has been watching Harry Potter sir since he gots out of the Hospital Wing."
"What?" Remus sputtered incoherently.
"Dobby, who asked you to do this?" Dumbledore asked patiently.
"Harry Potter's Miss sir," Dobby said. "Miss asked us not to tells anything about hers wanting to have us watch Harry Potter but since yous is wanting us too we can tell you too."
"Who is Harry's Miss?" Dumbledore asked again.
"Miss is the one who be trying to convince the other elves to be free," Dobby said quietly. "But Miss is promised not to try to gets them to be free unless they asks for it. Or is doing something wrong."
"Hermione?" Remus asked wonderingly.
"Yes! Harry Potter's Miss!" Dobby exclaimed happily.
"Hmmm, perhaps I should talk with Miss Granger," the headmaster said. "Remus, I suggest you go back to your rooms and get a few more hours of sleep before classes. I plan on doing the same thing."
"Gladly," Remus said standing up and pondering over what Dobby had just revealed to them. "See you at breakfast."
"Get some sleepy my boy," Dumbledore nodded.
Remus left, leaving Dumbledore and Dobby alone. The old wizard turned to the elf and said, "I would appreciate it if you and your coworkers would not tell Miss Granger or anyone else about tonight alright?"
"Yes Master Dumbledore sir," Dobby said nodding. "I is not saying a word to her ors anyone else."
"That's good Dobby. Now if you excuse me, I would like to have a tad more sleep. Good night Dobby," Dumbledore said smiling and heading out of the kitchens leaving Dobby to his work cleaning up their tea.
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V
AN:
A fairly long chapter for this story anyway... roughly 1,500 words.
Since I did not write a cliffie this time, remember 10 reviews!
Otherwise... dun dun dun... the dreaded cliffie...
BTW... I'll eventually be going back to fix all of the typos I found in previous chapters...
I pratically melted when I saw them... "The Typos! THE TYPOS!"
Anyway
REVIEW!!!