Dumbledore was known for being a patient man. He was also known for his great wisdom and endless supply of lemon drops. So when his Deputy Headmistress entered his office with wet eyes and five individuals in tow, he quickly conjured some tea and extra chairs.
He then carefully studied one Harry Potter.
In all five years of knowing the boy, Harry had always been easy to read. After his fourth year, some of his expressiveness had diminished somewhat, but the child had always worn his emotions on his sleeve. Not any longer, it seemed.
The Boy Who Lives face and posturing showed nothing more than polite interest, which considering the amount of stress the boy must feeling, is something that Dumbledore doubted the even-tempered Remus Lupin could achieve. Severus perhaps, but he greatly doubted it.
Really, It was becoming quite tiresome.
Harry Potter's little entourage was another matter entirely. A young blonde woman sat in a chair directly across from the Headmaster, with Harry almost standing at military attention to her left, and a small boy that seemed no older than eight was gravely studying Fawkes, who was eyeing him with interest. Dumbledore surveyed the woman in front of him, noting the feeling of déjà vu that was niggling in the back of his mind. She seemed to be giving the old Headmaster the same considering gaze that he was giving her. Frankly, it was quite unnerving.
"Are we just gonna stare at each other or-'
"Hush Gekko." Harry said sternly, glaring at the smaller boy. Dumbledore twinkled.
"Indeed, Maybe we should start with introductions, Professor Snape has informed me of Miss Millers identity, however, I would like to know how you came to be on such familiar terms with Mr. Potter."
He noticed that Harry's eyes sparkedwith amusement!
Dawn folded her hands onto her lap, smiling politely. "At the moment, my Dear Headmaster, I am Harry's mentor, and he my apprentice, since he has no longer professed any interest in resuming a public education within the walls of your school."
Oh, it was definite; the boy's eyes were sparkling with mirth. Dumbledore tried not to feel insulted. "Is that so?" He asked lightly, tapping a couple of fingers on his desk. Miss Miller smiled slightly; the game was set. "Indeed" She said quietly. Gekko giggled as Fawkes nosed his beak teasingly through the child's curly yellow hair.
I am aware of the magical repercussions of discontinuing a magical bond, Miss Miller, however, for young Harry's safety I must insist that Harry continue his education here at Hogwarts."
Dawn raised her eyebrow "I doubt I would call the boy young, Headmaster. In the end it is simply Harry's decision, and we both are wise enough to respect that."
Dumbledore frowned and glanced at Harry, his face was perfectly blank. "What do you think of this, Harry?"
Harry blinked once, and shrugged his shoulders. "I'll fight on my own terms, sir." He said quietly and firmly. Dumbledore stared at him. 'Do you think you will have a better chance at defeating Voldemort by training with this young woman?"
Harry's mouth twitched slightly "I doubt I would call my Mentor young, Professor. No, when comes down to the final battle, I don't think that any amount of training will help me."
Everyone except Gekko and Fawkes raised their eyebrows at him. He valiantly tried to ignore it.
Dumbledore leaned back in his squishy Headmaster's chair, twiddling his thumbs. "Oh? And what do you think will, Harry?"
Harry –once again- shrugged his slim shoulders, and smiled benignly. Dumbledore felt the first tremors of a migraine throbbing at his temples. As much as He loved the boy, Merlin help him, this act was getting tiresome. 'Touché.' He thought idly, and his eyes moved toward the young werewolf and Fawkes. Gekko was staring at him openly; lips curved with the grace of Pan, and was gently stroking the Phoenix's brilliant plumage. Fawkes, as most animals tend to do when being showered with affection, complacently ignored the occupants of the room, and preened for the small boy.
"It's not a matter of strength…" Harry murmured, shifting a little in his feet. Dumbledore looked at him as if he were seeing the boy for the first time. He couldn't possibly
Molly Weasley burst through the door, her eyes red and swollen, wearing a anguished expression and throwing her arms about Harry, skillfully squeezing him, he felt, into bits.
"Oh, Harry, I was so worried! Are you all right? Have you eaten?" She pulled away from him, his hair badly mussed and looking incredibly embarrassed. Mrs. Weasley paid him no mind and immediately started into a lecture, with Lupin and Dumbledore frowning and nodding in agreement and a severe attempt not to laugh.
Snape scowled. Harry focused on this shred of normality in a world that was rapidly going to hell.
"Honestly! What on earth were you thinking, young man, to run off like that! What will your Professors say?" She glared at Harry, who wisely, chose to remain silent.
"Erm…Stop your nattering woman, and Detention! Potter?"
Everyone looked at Snape, who looked strangely mollified, and then to Gekko, who had spoken the words. He assumed an innocent expression and pointed to Fawkes, who looked rather put out.
Harry bit his lip and clenched his fists, suppressing oddly hysterical laughter.
Dawn grinned and stood up, resting a hand on Harry's shoulder. "We'll stay the next two days, to sort something out, I left my business in the care of a good friend, but I'm sure he'll like me to come back sooner than later." She nodded to Dumbledore, who rose courteously and told the directions to their rooms (fourth floor, next to the portrait of Millie the Maladjusted setting rabid nifflers on her fourth husband, while the other three watched from the safety of a suspiciously tall oak tree) and distracted Molly long enough to shoo Harry away, looking mildly harassed, though Dumbledore doubted the boy would have put up with being mauled by anyone else.
The door closed behind them (Gekko waved to Fawkes and Snape, who regarded him with distaste, which really was an improvement, all things considered) and the four adults looked at each other, seemingly at a loss. Lupin smiled serenely and folded his hands in his lap, with, Severus Snape noted in extreme annoyance, a look that said he knew something everyone else didn't.
'Bastard' Snape thought, and tried not to twitch as Dumbledore started distributing more lemon drops and -in Molly's case- hankies.
"He sparkles." Lupin said quietly, a few minutes later, as him and Snape rounded a corridor en route to the dungeons.
"I beg your pardon?"
"His eyes, they sparkle Severus, I've never noticed before."
"What are you on about? So what? Dumbledore sparkles and we all know he's off his natter."
"Dumbledore twinkles, Severus, Harry sparkles; there's a difference."
"The full moon has finally addled you…pillock. There's no bloody difference."
"Don't grouse, it's unbecoming. There is a difference, Harry…Sparkling's more pure than twinkling…It kind of brings what already there into sharper focus, twinkling's a ruse, it hides more than it shows."
"Did you just imply that the Brat who nearly killed Lucius Malfoy is pure? Excuse me while I dance in the fucking tulips."
"Really now, there's no need for that. I just think Harry might know what he's doing."
"Wouldn't that be a first."
Lupin chuckled.
And Now….Q&A! Because who doesn't enjoy them. :)
Maxennce: Dawn is not going to be the DADA Prof, I gave that honor to Bill Weasley, and the little Ron Weasley that lives in my brain is thoroughly furious with me. ;)
Kuruna Icefire: Thank-you! Snape is a strange character, even in canon, and I have a feeling he deliberately treats Harry so horribly for reasons other than James Potter…I promise that he won't get any nicer though…methinks…
Tondo-the-half-elf: I haven't the faintest clue, but, if you come up with an appropriate Calm-down-the-crazy-soccer-fanatics-song, tell me, and I'll write a cookie.
Athena Kitty: Yes, Harry will go back to his job, as for the other question…I'm not at liberty to say…. shifty eyes
EJ2: Yes, dear, there eventually will shippiness. Of many possible kinds.
And a million hugs to everyone who reviewed and reviews!
I'll try to have the next chapter up soon, but (sadly) school comes first, and things have been getting busy!