Chapter 6: Conversion and More Conversations
by ataraxis

The staff meeting the following day had yielded three students the professors thought would do well with trying to convert to the side of Light and for spying. If all the conversions were successful, they would triple their chances at finding out information on the new Dark Lord and his plans.

Emma had been charged with the task of meeting with each of them at varying times to determine their receptiveness. They decided to pick the students from different houses and years, lowering the possibility of discovery.

Emma and Severus were meeting once more in Severus' suite to discuss that day's meetings and to toss ideas back and forth on eliciting information from the students without them being aware of it.

"Why do you think the new Dark Lord is recruiting children?" Emma asked the former Death Eater for enlightenment.

"Because children are idealistic and easily led astray. Plus, they have untapped potential. I was such a child. I thought myself an adult and that I knew better than the adults around me. They might not have the knowledge or experience you or I have; they can still be a force to be reckoned with. An example of that would be the DA that had been led by Harry Potter. They may have been children, but they had been fierce fighters. Worthy opponents, all of them."

With the subject of Harry Potter finally introduced between them, Harry thought this was all the opening he needed to find out how the other man truly felt about him.

"Ah, yes, the illustrious Harry Potter. I've not heard much about him since the defeat of Voldemort. I wonder what that young man is up to now. Do you have any ideas?" Emma asked of her companion.

Harry watched Severus' face closely, for any outward show of emotion that would give him further clues. The man's face though gave nothing away as the question was asked

"I have no clue." Severus paused in thought, his face becoming almost puzzled and bewildered. "In all honesty, I'm surprised that no one, not even Albus or Minerva have mentioned him. Albus has always cared deeply for Mr. Potter, and Minerva has always been arrogant and superior in flaunting the successes of her students, present or former."

"Well, perhaps he's become a hermit, hiding from the fawning public. I'm sure the adulation of the wizarding world would be unbearable on the shoulders of a lonely eighteen year old."

"Harry Potter had many friends, that know-it-all Ms. Granger and irritating Mr. Weasley, just to name a few. I don't believe he would abandon them completely. He cared for them; stood up for them. So, no, I honestly don't think he would have become a hermit." Severus hummed in contemplation as if deciphering through a puzzle. Harry was then surprised when Severus asked Emma if perhaps the new Dark Lord wasn't Draco Malfoy, but Harry Potter.

Emma spluttered and gave a resounding no to that idea. "I mean surely, why would someone who went out of their way to defeat the Dark Lord and all that he stood for, become the very thing he detested?"

Severus reluctantly agreed, "Perhaps. It's odd though that several students from his year have disappeared without a word. Perhaps I should contact Ms. Granger or Mr. Weasley about Mr. Potter, if I cannot gain any information on him from Albus or Minerva."


Emma warned Albus about the conversation with Severus, letting the Headmaster know to expect inquiries about Harry Potter. Albus said he was surprised that Harry Potter had even come up in conversation between the two professors, while giving Emma a stern look that warned not to pursue raising Severus' concerns about the illustrious Boy-That-Lived-Once-More. Harry just ignored Albus' implied warnings, for he was bound and determined to find out how the Potions Master truly felt for him. So far, from the lone conversation they've had about him, he'd concluded that Severus Snape at least thought he was an admirable fighter and would make a worthy opponent.

But Harry could give no further thought to what the Potions Master felt or didn't feel, for Emma Malsby had her first appointment the following Monday with Mr. Turner -- a fifth year Gryffindor -- on the pretext of helping him with his career planning, just as Professor McGonagall had done with Harry in his fifth year.


"Mr. Turner, come in and have a seat," Emma spoke with her slow smooth tones as she waved her wand to close the door behind her visitor.

Harry watched as the young, shy man took his seat, like a skittish colt being corralled.

"Mr. Turner, there is nothing wrong, if that was your concern. I know Professor McGonagall didn't give you a reason for this meeting, but I assure you, it's harmless. You are here for us to discuss your future and your career goals."

Emma watched as the student before her slowly relaxed, the tension in his body almost melting away from him.

"Oh, I wasn't sure. I mean, I didn't think I had done anything wrong in class. But shouldn't I be having this discussion with my Head of House?"

Emma smiled politely at the young man, as if commiserating with him. "Normally you would. However since you show a better aptitude for Charms than Transfiguration, she and I thought it would be best if I guide you in your choice. If that is acceptable to you?"

Harry only hoped that Michael Turner wouldn't make any more fuss, if he did, then that lowered their chances for his being open to conversion. As Harry held his breath while waiting for the response, he thought over the rest of their potential conversation. Before he finished exhaling on his second breath, his Charms student shrugged his shoulders and said he thought that would be fine.

From there, Harry gradually led the career seeking conversation to Michael's outside interests and his ideals.

"From the way you help your fellow students in class and outside it, you show a natural caring streak. Plus, with your innate ability to do household and magical care charms, that makes me wonder if you would be interested in working with the Ministry orphanage system in helping Muggle-borns who have been orphaned or abandoned be placed with Wizarding families?" asked Emma as one final career planning question.

Harry watched as Mr. Turner paled and started to stutter as he replied. "I ... I'm not sure. I mean I think it sounds like a worthy cause, but..."

Emma prompted him to finish his thought, "But...? Is there something or someone in your life who wouldn't like you helping Muggle-borns?"

Harry continued to watch her student as he struggled with an appropriate response. Michael sighed and sank back into his chair. "Yeah, I'm part of this group that supports pureblood rights. I joined because my mate, Martin, said it would be outstanding; that we'd learn new spells that weren't taught at school and we'd get to do wicked secret things. It really is kind of cool, but it also makes me feel wrong sometimes.

"Does that make any sense to you?"

Harry smiled and found the opening he was looking for. Emma proclaimed to understand completely and then started giving Michael a bit of a history lesson. Harry knew that Michael had been at Hogwarts when Tom Riddle had been vanquished, but Michael had been cloistered from the final battle, and many of the details of the reprehensible deeds that Lord Voldemort had perpetrated on the Wizarding and Muggle world had largely gone unpublished and left to the still silence. Even the history classes taught at that very school still had no curriculum from events just before the first destruction of Voldemort and nothing since after, as Professor Binns had given up the ghost long before then.

Michael Turner was mortified from what he learned that day, and realized just what this new club he'd joined really meant. "Then maybe I should quit it, not go to the next meeting."

Emma wanted to shout at him with a resounding 'no,' but knew that would scare the lad even further. "Wait, please. I'd like you to talk to Professor Dumbledore about this club, share with him everything you've done and learned at each of the gatherings. From all that you've told me, other students are involved in this and we'd like to find a way to counsel them as well. For now, just talk to him and keep mum about what's been said here and what will be shared later. All right?"

Michael paled, but nodded his head. "Sure. I know that the next meeting isn't until the next Hogsmeade weekend, so I don't have to worry about it for at least two more weeks."

Emma's eyes almost bugged out. "You mean they've got meetings planned during the Hogsmeade weekends? School just started. Who is planning all this, how do you find out when and where?"

Michael squirmed in his seat. Harry knew from that tale tell sign that Michael didn't want to rat out his friends, even if he now knew that the purpose behind the club was wrong.

"That's quite all right, Michael. Don't worry, you don't have to tell me anything. Why don't you discuss that instead with the Headmaster. He's a powerful wizard and he'll look out for you, as he does for all the students."

Emma patted Mr. Turner on the back and then escorted him out the door, letting him know that Professor Dumbledore would contact him discreetly for a meeting within the next few days. After the student had left, Harry used the Floo to call Albus and alert him to the situation.

"Albus, Mr. Turner is amenable to having a meeting with you and your attentative, sympathetic ear. I told him you would contact him quietly to have a meeting with him, perhaps over a talkative tea and definitely offer him some of those lovely, calming lemon sherbets of yours."

"Ah, he is approachable, but is not talkative about things, then?" asked the Headmaster.

"Indeed, when I started to ask direct questions about things, he squirmed. A clear sign that he doesn't want to tell on his friends. I didn't feel like I should push, and thought that would be more up your alley." Emma smirked at the bright twinkle and laugh Albus gave.

"Quite right, my dear boy. Will you be joining me this evening for an after dinner chat?"

Emma shook her head, and the Floo fire danced around her face as if in mischief. "Not this evening, I think I might ward my room and let down my hair, if you get my meaning. I need to reclaim my inner self for a while, just as a reminder. If that's okay?"

Albus smiled in understanding, and nodded. "Take care and relax. You do look a bit ragged around the edges. I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast, looking refreshed and bright as a newly minted Galleon."

Harry terminated the call, then left Emma's office to retire for the evening.

A/N: Thanks to Magdelena for her beta reading my chapter. Quick and wonderful as always. Apologize for the delay, I've been absolutely sick with this nagging cold.