Becoming Old
AN:
Okay first off, I blame the stupid automatic spell check I have on my computer for the 'memorized' 'mesmerized' mix up in the last chapter. We all know what I meant. But it will not be fixed until I fix all of my chapter's typos... which probably won't be for a bit yet. I'm writing too many different things to fix minor errors in this fic.
Secondly, someone said that they didn't think Harry would break down that quickly, but he was afraid of his other secret coming to light while they were trying to confirm the one they already suspected and that's why I had him break down so quickly. If it weren't for his other secret I would have made him fight more.
Finally I do not own HP, but then again, we all know this.
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Remus Lupin walked back into the Headmaster's office calmly with no sign of distress showing on his face. Unfortunately this was a bad thing and no one except his best friend would know this, but his best friends were dead and he was the last of the Marauders.
He sat down in front of Dumbledore who was looking sorrowfully at Snape who, judging by the scowl on his face, had apparently just said something scathing.
"I am sorry Severus, but I will not allow you to take points off of Gryffindor for a legitimate question," the headmaster was saying.
"It was not a legitimate question. It was a deliberate attack against me for putting him into that situation. My personal life has nothing to do with this," Snape snapped angrily.
"Are you certain about that?" Dumbledore asked.
"I'm positive Headmaster," Snape said icily. "Also the boy is hiding more than what he is telling. You do know that don't you? I would like to know how he managed to hide those particular memories during his Occlumency lessons."
"Yes I am aware that Harry is still hiding more secrets," Dumbledore said. "Teenage boys with dark pasts do not often tell more than what they are required to in order to appease whoever may be questioning them. They will find a way to keep their secrets for as long as possible and that is probably what inspired him to be able to block his childhood memories. I believe you were the same way."
He then turned to the silent man, who was listening to the current conversation, and said, "Hello again Remus. Is there a reason you came back here?"
"Yes, I want to know what you are planning on doing about the Dursleys," Remus said. "I would also like to know how the hell Harry managed to end up in that hellhole. If I recall correctly, you were the one who decided he would live with the Dursleys."
"We've been through this already Lupin," Snape sneered sickly. "He put Potter in that 'Home' in order to keep him safe. It was for his own protection."
"Protection?" Remus asked incredulously staring at the headmaster.
"Yes," the headmaster sighed looking old. "I made a mistake. I have already been through this with Severus. I made a horrible mistake…"
"What is going to happen to the Dursleys?" Remus asked again.
"They'll be persecuted to the fullest extent of the law of course," Dumbledore said distractedly.
"Headmaster, you're about to make another mistake," Remus said shortly.
"And what is that?" Dumbledore replied just as short, it had been a long day, far longer than any he had experienced in the past several decades.
"I would like to know that too," Snape said looking at Remus oddly. "I would have thought that you would have found it satisfying to see those Muggles punished for what they did to Potter."
"I would find it satisfying to see someone to put those 'people' in their place but I seem to be the only one who is thinking about Harry at the moment. You all seem to have forgotten that Harry doesn't like his fame," Remus said ignoring Snape when he scoffed disbelievingly.
"I can assure you that I at least have not forgotten," Dumbledore said.
"Really? You haven't forgotten that Harry despises being the center of attention? That's news to me because you are willing to put a boy who hates attention through a medial circus with its full concern on how many papers could be sold," Remus spat angrily, standing up and finally letting his anger overtake his actions, gesturing wildly while ranting. "I know of several reporters who would love to break the story on how Harry Potter was beaten as a child. To make him an even bigger 'Tragic Hero.' The public loves heroes who overcome odds, even if they haven't yet, they are just expected to by naive members of the community. Not to mention Voldemort. He would LOVE to hear about how Harry was tortured even when he was bodiless. He would try to use Legimens to make Harry's dreams into nightmares about what Vernon Dursley did to him. And lets not forget that the majority of the population of Hogwarts would start treating him with satin gloves, and we all know how much Harry loves to be coddled. Quite frankly, Headmaster, I do not believe that Harry will be able to handle all of that crap right now."
"You're right Remus," the headmaster sighed. "Thank you for reminding me. That would have caused grave problems for everyone."
"But sir," Snape said sharply. "You cannot let these people go unpunished just because they abused a famous boy who shrinks from public view. They should be arrested and sentenced to a good long time in jail for their crimes."
"I assure you Severus that they will not go unpunished," Dumbledore said. "However they will not be arrested. Not by the Ministry of Magic nor the Muggle authorities."
Snape sputtered angrily until Remus said quietly, "They never arrested your father for beating you did they?"
Snape glared at Lupin so fiercely that most of the student population would have hidden behind the nearest solid object and attempted to cast a disillusionment charm on themselves to escape his wrath. However Remus had grown immune to his colleague's attempts at intimidation while they were still in school.
"My personal life has nothing to do with this Lupin," Snape said coldly.
"Hmm, here I thought Slytherins were supposed to be cunning," Remus said thoughtfully. "But their head of house is acting like a dunderhead and cannot see the truth."
"Enough, the both of you," Dumbledore commanded stopping a potential duel before it began. "Remus, Severus obviously does not want to speak about his past anymore than Harry does at the moment and you must respect that. Severus, Remus reiterated my earlier point that your judgment on these matters may be clouded do to past events."
"Fine, what are you planning for the Dursleys if they will not be arrested?" Snape asked waspishly.
"I am not yet certain, but rest assured that they will see the consequences to their actions," Dumbledore said gravely.
"And I'm to listen to a man who put a child into an abusive household?" Snape asked.
"Yes," the headmaster said. "Now if you and Remus would leave me, I have some things I need to attend to."
"I'm sure you do," Snape sneered and left the room his robes not billowing as they usually did.
"Goodnight Headmaster," Remus said formally before also taking his leave of the room.
When he was alone in his office save for the portraits and Fawkes, all of who were silent during the entire discussion he looked at them and said, "Not a word of this to anyone," and received several nods of promise.
The headmaster took off his half moon glasses and rubbed his eyes with the tips of his fingers in frustration, "I'm getting too old for all of this."
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Please remember to review!
AN:
Okay first off, I blame the stupid automatic spell check I have on my computer for the 'memorized' 'mesmerized' mix up in the last chapter. We all know what I meant. But it will not be fixed until I fix all of my chapter's typos... which probably won't be for a bit yet. I'm writing too many different things to fix minor errors in this fic.
Secondly, someone said that they didn't think Harry would break down that quickly, but he was afraid of his other secret coming to light while they were trying to confirm the one they already suspected and that's why I had him break down so quickly. If it weren't for his other secret I would have made him fight more.
Finally I do not own HP, but then again, we all know this.
II
II
V
Remus Lupin walked back into the Headmaster's office calmly with no sign of distress showing on his face. Unfortunately this was a bad thing and no one except his best friend would know this, but his best friends were dead and he was the last of the Marauders.
He sat down in front of Dumbledore who was looking sorrowfully at Snape who, judging by the scowl on his face, had apparently just said something scathing.
"I am sorry Severus, but I will not allow you to take points off of Gryffindor for a legitimate question," the headmaster was saying.
"It was not a legitimate question. It was a deliberate attack against me for putting him into that situation. My personal life has nothing to do with this," Snape snapped angrily.
"Are you certain about that?" Dumbledore asked.
"I'm positive Headmaster," Snape said icily. "Also the boy is hiding more than what he is telling. You do know that don't you? I would like to know how he managed to hide those particular memories during his Occlumency lessons."
"Yes I am aware that Harry is still hiding more secrets," Dumbledore said. "Teenage boys with dark pasts do not often tell more than what they are required to in order to appease whoever may be questioning them. They will find a way to keep their secrets for as long as possible and that is probably what inspired him to be able to block his childhood memories. I believe you were the same way."
He then turned to the silent man, who was listening to the current conversation, and said, "Hello again Remus. Is there a reason you came back here?"
"Yes, I want to know what you are planning on doing about the Dursleys," Remus said. "I would also like to know how the hell Harry managed to end up in that hellhole. If I recall correctly, you were the one who decided he would live with the Dursleys."
"We've been through this already Lupin," Snape sneered sickly. "He put Potter in that 'Home' in order to keep him safe. It was for his own protection."
"Protection?" Remus asked incredulously staring at the headmaster.
"Yes," the headmaster sighed looking old. "I made a mistake. I have already been through this with Severus. I made a horrible mistake…"
"What is going to happen to the Dursleys?" Remus asked again.
"They'll be persecuted to the fullest extent of the law of course," Dumbledore said distractedly.
"Headmaster, you're about to make another mistake," Remus said shortly.
"And what is that?" Dumbledore replied just as short, it had been a long day, far longer than any he had experienced in the past several decades.
"I would like to know that too," Snape said looking at Remus oddly. "I would have thought that you would have found it satisfying to see those Muggles punished for what they did to Potter."
"I would find it satisfying to see someone to put those 'people' in their place but I seem to be the only one who is thinking about Harry at the moment. You all seem to have forgotten that Harry doesn't like his fame," Remus said ignoring Snape when he scoffed disbelievingly.
"I can assure you that I at least have not forgotten," Dumbledore said.
"Really? You haven't forgotten that Harry despises being the center of attention? That's news to me because you are willing to put a boy who hates attention through a medial circus with its full concern on how many papers could be sold," Remus spat angrily, standing up and finally letting his anger overtake his actions, gesturing wildly while ranting. "I know of several reporters who would love to break the story on how Harry Potter was beaten as a child. To make him an even bigger 'Tragic Hero.' The public loves heroes who overcome odds, even if they haven't yet, they are just expected to by naive members of the community. Not to mention Voldemort. He would LOVE to hear about how Harry was tortured even when he was bodiless. He would try to use Legimens to make Harry's dreams into nightmares about what Vernon Dursley did to him. And lets not forget that the majority of the population of Hogwarts would start treating him with satin gloves, and we all know how much Harry loves to be coddled. Quite frankly, Headmaster, I do not believe that Harry will be able to handle all of that crap right now."
"You're right Remus," the headmaster sighed. "Thank you for reminding me. That would have caused grave problems for everyone."
"But sir," Snape said sharply. "You cannot let these people go unpunished just because they abused a famous boy who shrinks from public view. They should be arrested and sentenced to a good long time in jail for their crimes."
"I assure you Severus that they will not go unpunished," Dumbledore said. "However they will not be arrested. Not by the Ministry of Magic nor the Muggle authorities."
Snape sputtered angrily until Remus said quietly, "They never arrested your father for beating you did they?"
Snape glared at Lupin so fiercely that most of the student population would have hidden behind the nearest solid object and attempted to cast a disillusionment charm on themselves to escape his wrath. However Remus had grown immune to his colleague's attempts at intimidation while they were still in school.
"My personal life has nothing to do with this Lupin," Snape said coldly.
"Hmm, here I thought Slytherins were supposed to be cunning," Remus said thoughtfully. "But their head of house is acting like a dunderhead and cannot see the truth."
"Enough, the both of you," Dumbledore commanded stopping a potential duel before it began. "Remus, Severus obviously does not want to speak about his past anymore than Harry does at the moment and you must respect that. Severus, Remus reiterated my earlier point that your judgment on these matters may be clouded do to past events."
"Fine, what are you planning for the Dursleys if they will not be arrested?" Snape asked waspishly.
"I am not yet certain, but rest assured that they will see the consequences to their actions," Dumbledore said gravely.
"And I'm to listen to a man who put a child into an abusive household?" Snape asked.
"Yes," the headmaster said. "Now if you and Remus would leave me, I have some things I need to attend to."
"I'm sure you do," Snape sneered and left the room his robes not billowing as they usually did.
"Goodnight Headmaster," Remus said formally before also taking his leave of the room.
When he was alone in his office save for the portraits and Fawkes, all of who were silent during the entire discussion he looked at them and said, "Not a word of this to anyone," and received several nods of promise.
The headmaster took off his half moon glasses and rubbed his eyes with the tips of his fingers in frustration, "I'm getting too old for all of this."
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Please remember to review!