Chapter Thirteen:

"Wotcher, Harry."

"Tonks," Harry nodded in greeting. "Didn't know Professors ever set foot outside of the castle."

"What have I told you about making me sound old?" Tonks warned in a jokingly manner.

Tonks walked to the Beech tree Harry sat under, and stared at the tentacles of the giant squid in the lake. "That lake would be lovely to swim in if it weren't inhabited by the squid."

Harry laughed, "oh, there are things a lot worse in there."

"Of course, you swam in it. Your fourth year." Tonks reminded herself.

"Yea." Harry's smile flickered a bit as he thought back to the Triwizard Tournament. Things were much more simpler when merpeople and fire-breathing dragons were all he had to worry about.

"Hermione tells me you spend a lot of time here," Tonks said.

"Great. More people talking about me behind my back. Tell me, did you hear anything about me shagging Cho?"

Tonks burst out laughing, "what?!"

Harry's cheeks turned pink, "just a stupid rumor. Never mind," he tried to hide a smile.

Somehow, no matter how bad things were, Tonks had a way of making him laugh.

"The point is, everyone is hiding things from me. Can't trust anyone. Even you."

"Me?" Tonks gave a fake gasp. "Harry, I know I can't tell you everything that goes on in the Order, but I'm really not much older than you." Tonks suddenly sounded serious. "And I am here whenever you need an ear to listen."

"Is that why Dumbledore hired you?" Harry asked.

"What? Don't think my Defense skills are up to scratch? I once won a duel against Moody, you know," Tonks boasted.

Harry laughed, "Is that right?" They shared a brief moment of silence before Harry broke it. "Tonks?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think Remus is ok?" Harry bit his lip in attempt to force back tears.

"Harry...I..." Tonks faltered.

"Snape told me a few things that Dumbledore and others neglected to mention."

Tonks raised her eyebrows, "you- Harry Potter, had a civilized conversation with Snape?"

"Tonks," Harry said, "I want to know the truth. I want to know what everyone is keeping from me."

Tonks sighed and pulled at a black curl that hung near her eyes. "Harry, I'm not the one to do this. As an Order member I'm not authorized to discuss any information with non-members." Tonks said this in a whisper even though the nearest ears were a few hundred feet away. "And now is not a good time to discuss this. I'm sorry, Harry."

"Yea, that's what everyone says," Harry sunk back against the beech tree. He knew Tonks was being rational, but he could not help it. Dumbledore, and everyone else for that matter, were still keeping secrets from him. Secrets he needed to know in order to bring back Remus, and finish off Voldemort once and for all. It seemed to Harry that there would be only one source he could retrieve information from. Yes, Harry decided, another encounter with Dumbledore was inevitable.

By the time Harry reached the west wing of the fifth floor, he was short of breath and decided to stop just outside of the revolving staircase before seeing Dumbledore. When he caught his breath he ascended the stair case. He cleared his throat and held out his fist to knock on the wooden door. To his surprise the door swung open before his knuckles even touched it. He was pushed backwards by a balding and grey-haired man wearing a hideous brown pinstriped suit.

"Sorry, Sir," Harry said. When he realized who it was he gasped.

"Ah, quite all right Mr. Potter. No need to see me out, Dumbledore. I don't want to interfere with young Harry's visit here."

"Oh, hello there, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore quickly greeted Harry before turning back to the Minister of Magic. "Now, Cornelius, I am right to assume that we will be in touch? We still have much to discuss with the council and-"

Fudge cleared his throat to indicate that Harry was present. Dumbledore ceased to speak at once, and grabbed Fudge's hand firmly to shake. "Good day, Cornelius."

Fudge placed his lime-green bowler hat over his head and waved goodbye. When he did so, Dumbledore invited Harry inside of his office.

"Is there anything in particular I can do for you, Harry?"

Suddenly all of what Harry planned to say to Dumbledore was forgotten. Bumping into Fudge like that had startled the thoughts right out of him.

"Well..." Dumbledore waited for a response.

"I...uh...um...er...." Harry mumbled stupidly.

Dumbledore smiled and offered Harry a lemon drop, which Harry politely declined. Dumbledore unwrapped the candy for himself and placed it on his tongue. He squinted a bit while getting used to the sudden tangy taste.

"Oh, How silly of me! Please sit down." Dumbledore offered Harry the usual seat across from his desk. "Now, where were we?..."

"Well, we weren't really anywhere yet. I was just wondering if I could talk to you about..." he paused, "well, pretty much everything." Harry said a bluntly.

The expression on Dumbledore's face immediately sobered up. "It is funny you should happen to ask for this now. Mr. Fudge and I were just on the subject of you."

"Me?" Harry asked with surprise.

"Yes, and the terms of your Quidditch ban."

"My Quidditch ban...?"

"For quite a few months now I have been trying to get the Council of Public Wizarding to lift the ban. Mr. Fudge is the co-head of the council."

"Who's the other head? And wait...Council of Public Wizarding?"

"Neglecting the Daily Prophet? Well, I'm surprised Ms. Granger hasn't brought it up by now."

"We've all sort of stopped reading it since the attacks on Hogsmeade. More of Mrs. Weasley's suggestion than anything."

"Ah, yes. Very protective that one. I do believe it is wise to know what is happening in the wizarding world in times like this however. But yes, The Council of Public Wizarding is a newly-formed department in the Ministry. A department set up to organize things during this time of war. You see, Minister Fudge is on edge. He is a foolish man, but not one who completely lacks common sense. Ever since-" Dumbledore paused in search of the right words. "Ever since last year's...incident with your encounter with Voldemort, I have been trying to push him to take precautions such as remove the Dementors from Azakaban. Since the Hogsmeade attacks many wizards have been writing in with complaints against the way the Ministry is being run. The Council is a way to let Fudge gain the peoples' trust. With the Council he can show the people that precautions are being taken against Death Eaters, and Voldemort. He is doing everything in his power to ensure the safety of the public."

"But, Sir, the public surely can't be safe now. We're practically in war already."

"Which is why the Council is here. To give the public a false sense of security. To prevent panic."

"So, " Harry said, "it's basically all a bunch of hogwash to keep Fudge in power?"

Dumbledore nodded, "yes, Harry. That is precisely what it is."

"And who is this other head of council?"

"Dolores Umbridge, naturally."

Harry boiled with anger, "You mean to tell me that...that....inhumane..woman is still around?"

Dumbledore nodded again. "I am afraid so."

"So what has the Council have to do with my ban?"

"Everything. Dolores Umbridge is the one who enforced the ban. As a high Ministry official she holds the rights to it. She is the reason why your punishment, if you were to go against the ban, is so severe."

"Azakaban," Harry sais so harshly a few flecks of spit flew out of his mouth. He did not seem to notice. "That was just one of the many things I have wanted to ask you all year."

"Well, Harry, now you know. Like I said earlier, I am doing everything in my power to get the majority of the Council's vote to override your ban. This has taken more trials than I expected. But I will not stop until it is lifted."

"Thank you," Harry said gratefully.

"Now, what I do not understand is why it has taken you this long to ask. You and I have never had trouble conversing until recently. I have apologized for what occurred last year, have I not?"

"You have, Professor. And I'm trying to forgive you fully, but it's hard."

"I can only hope that you will someday. Though I know my mistake is too grave to expect it."

"Professor, I think I will forgive you someday, but I don't know if I can trust you like I used to. That's why I haven't talked to you much this year."

"Ah, I see. Well, you came here to talk, and I sense something on your mind. Tell me what's bothering you."

"Professor Snape and I had a....uh..interesting conversation the other day." Dumbledore raised his eye brows in surprise. "He told me that Voldemort is leading everyone in his outter circle to believe that Wormtail is dead, while he suspects that he is still alive. He said that it could be connected to Remus's disappearance. Professor Snape also said that you and I are not the only ones that know of the prophecy. I believe you told me that we were the only ones that knew of it. Who is telling the truth, Professor?"

Dumbledore sighed and leaned back in his seat. "Harry-" he began.

"Professor, the truth. I think I have a right to know it. And I think you want to tell me if you ever expect to have my trust again." Harry looked directly into the Headmaster's eyes. They were blue, but still void of the twinkle they used to possess. Now, Harry though, Dumbledore looked older and weaker than ever. For a few short seconds Harry was afraid that Dumbledore would shatter like broken china right there on the spot. Dumbledore leaned forward in his seat, and gripped his gnarled, ice-cold hands onto Harry's.

"Harry, there is nothing more in the world that I want at the moment then to have you accept the fact that I cannot tell you. To do so might endanger your safety."

Harry pulled back, "endanger my safety when last year I-"

"Harry, I cannot let you know. It could greatly impact-"

"Impact what, Professor!?"

Dumbledore reached for something in his pocket. "Somehow I believe our conversation is about to end. So before you leave I want you to take this." Dumbledore handed him a lemon drop. Harry looked at Dumbledore with something of great discord. "Requested by Severus Snape, Harry. It will answer some of the questions you sought out of him for a long, long time. Take this a few minutes before you go to sleep tonight. It will give you answers. Not to the questions you have asked today, but it will help." Dumbledore pressed the wrapped lemon drop into the palm of Harry's hand. "Trust me." Dumbledore's blue eyes gazed into Lilly's- rather Harry's eyes.

Harry pocketed the lemon drop, wished the Headmaster a good day, and left the office. Dumbledore stared at the wooden door, and when it shut after Harry he turned his gaze to Fawks, who had just flown through the window. Fawkes opened his mouth to unleash the phoenix song, and perched on his master's shoulder.

A/N: Hope this chapter answers any questions. Thanks for all the reviews...especially the ones with constructive criticism. Don't be afraid to make suggestions or complaints...I thrive on that sort of stuff.