13. HARRY

TUESDAY

At breakfast, Hedwig soared into the Great Hall and landed in

front of Harry with her usual grace. She dropped a letter in front

of him."Morning,Hedwig," he said,scratching her head. She gave his

fingers a friendly nip,and did the same to Hermione and Ron when

they stroked her feathers. Harry fed her a bit of toast. She ate

it. "Craaawk," she said,content. She pushed the letter towards

Harry.

He opened it.

HARRY:

Please come to my office after breakfast. Your assistance would be

greatly appreciated. The password is "Chocolate covered almonds."

-ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

"I'll see you guys later."

He had already told Ron and Hermione about the dream.

"Maybe we should go,too," Ron said,his mouth full of food.

"Keep chewing," Hermione said. "Go,Harry. We understand."

"Thanks,'Mione."

He excused himself from the table,and exited the hall.

Harry wandered over to Dumbledore's office.

When he got there,he was surprised to see the groundskeeper from

Springfield lurking around in the hallway with a broom.

"Hi," Harry said. "I'm Harry. You must be Willy."

"Aye,Willy's m'name. Are ya a magic lad?"

"Everyone here is," Harry said. "Didn't they tell you that?"

"Ach. Blasted Skinner left lotsa things to me imagination."

"Skinner's the headmaster in Springfield? Wait,that's America. You

call him the principal rather than the headmaster,right?"

"Yer a bright lad,Harry. Now 'scuse me. Gotta sweep."

"I'm here to see the headmaster," Harry said.

"I saw me 'eadmaster a lot when I was a wee lad."

With that,he swept away down the hall.

Harry,suddenly alone,said "Chocolate covered almonds."

The gargoyle moved.

Harry pushed the door open.

For a moment,he stood on the threshold; he didn't feel worthy

enough to enter. He had wrecked this place last time he'd been

here. He had screamed at Professor Dumbledore and called him an

old fool and-

"Ah,there you are,Harry. Please,come in. Did you have a good

breakfast?"

Professor Dumbledore was at his desk,quill in hand.

"Yeah," Harry said.

Harry stepped into the room. Several of the portraits vacated

their canvases. Fawkes, though, looked happy to see him.

"Excellent. Then,I will cut to the chase-"

"Sir-"

"Yes?"

"I just...I never apologized. I owe you a huge apology."

"You owe me nothing,Harry."

"But-but I said things that-you opened yourself up to me and I

tore you apart-I tore this place apart. I made you cry."

"I deserved every bit of it."

Harry opened his mouth to speak and couldn't.

"Are you angry at me?" Dumbledore asked.

"What? No. No way. Never. I was...angry,but...please,

I didn't mean to hurt you-"

"I owe you everything. And you owe me nothing."

"...you're quoting THE X FILES?"

"Am I?"

"The film. Mulder tells Scully 'I owe you everything-"

"-'and you owe me nothing.' Hmm,that's right. Harry, after

you left, what do you suppose I did?"

"What did you do?"

"I finished what you started. I completely trashed this place.

Fawkes assisted me-" From across the room,Fawkes chirped-"and

realized there were things in here that weren't important anymore.

Useless stuff that I disposed of immediately. Harry, I would never

think of spiting you or hating you. I would never hurt you."

For a moment,there was silence.

"Please,sit down."

Harry did.

"Is this a new chair?"

"Do you like it?"

"It's...yeah,I do."

"Now. Based on some information I recieved last night,I have

decided to Apparate to Springfield."

"I dreamed about Springfield last night."

"Yes, I know. Lee Jordan and I tried to analyze your vision."

"Yeah, I saw Lee in there..."

"I destroyed the pensieve we used,in respect for your privacy."

"Thank you,sir,but that's not what's important right now. I think

Hagrid's in danger-"

"I share your belief. I'm confident in Hagrid's ability to

look after himself,but I'm leaving nothing to chance."

"There was that woman with the blue hair..."

"Yes, that was Marge Simpson."

"How do you know her?"

"I spoke to her daughter Lisa before the exchange."

"And...there was that other part...they mentioned replacing me."

"No one could possibly replace you,Harry."

"Then what did they mean?"

"I don't know," Dumbledore said. "Harry...you're the only one who

knows what the men in the car look like now that the pensieve is

gone. I would appreciate it if you'd accompany me to Springfield."

"I don't know how much help I'd be,I didn't see much of them. But

I could recognize their voices,I guess."

"That will be just fine."

"When do we go?"

"Now."

"Now?"

"Now."

"All right," Harry said. A look of concern flashed across

his face. "I don't know how to Apparate yet."

"Not to worry. I'll make a portkey."

He made one right there on the spot, out of a piece of parchment.

Dumbledore handed him one end and held onto the other.

In a moment,the office was empty.