CHAPTER 20: The Half Blood Prince
Harry walked out of the office considering this new information. His head was overloaded with thoughts, and he suddenly realized why Dumbledore needed a pensieve. How had he made the scene in Dumbledore's mind change? He didn't really believe what he suggested to Dumbledore, he knew the headmaster didn't either.
Harry's focus drifted back to the duel he had seen between McClaggan and Dumbledore. Why had they been enemies? Why did Dumbledore call McClaggan Prince? And What did it have to do with Grindelwald? These questions kept circling through Harry's mind until he found himself outside the Defense Teacher's office. Harry looked at the door curiously, not realizing where his feet had carried him.
"Yes, Harry?" The Scot asked him, opening the door.
"I-Er-Sorry Professor, I wanted to ask you a question, but it's probably too personal." McClaggan nodded.
"I had a feeling this would come up sooner or later, come on in." McClaggan stepped aside and ushered Harry inside. The Scot poured Harry a cup of tea and sat down behind his desk, Harry sat opposite him.
"You mean you don't mind?" Harry asked, he was used to being told that he didn't need to know things.
"I told you almost everything about myself over the summer, now that you know something about this last part I figure it'd be a better idea to tell you everything than to let you guess. Besides, I told Dumbledore before you came to Spinner's end that he shouldn't keep things from you, I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't tell you."
"So why did you duel Dumbledore?" Breannan took a deep breath.
"In the 1940's an evil wizard named Grindelwald was gaining influence, much like Voldemort, only Grindelwald wasn't nearly as powerful, he was just charismatic. Grindelwald approached me with an offer to join him, and I accepted it. He told me about all of his plans to unite the wizarding world and make sure the muggles stayed out of our lives. Back then I wasn't nearly as good at reading people, I took him at face value. I joined his ranks and worked my way up rapidly. I made a good deal of friends that were tricked just like me into joining Grindelwald, then Dumbledore appeared on the scene. He started killing many of my friends, and even though I began to realize what Grindelwald was all about, I hated Dumbledore more. The fact was that I was too high up and too powerful in influence and magic to be attacked directly by Dumbledore, so after Grindelwald fell I tracked him down. I challenged him to a duel, I didn't care that he had beaten Grindelwald, I was just so mad at him for killing my friends. He beat me in that duel, I was too arrogant going in, I had never lost before. Then he did something that I would never have expected, he refused to kill me, he gave me my wand back and told me that he was done killing. He said if I renounced all the dark ways, which truthfully I had never gone for in the first place, that he would allow me to live in peace, he wouldn't tell anyone about my place in Grindelwald's army." Harry sat there, staring at the blank wall, not knowing where to start.
"But, why did he call you Prince?" Harry asked him after a few minutes of silence.
"Well, Harry, that is part of what Albus promised not to tell. I told you that a long time ago I was kicked out by my father when he found out I was a wizard, my father was king of my clan. What I didn't tell you was that my mother wasn't just any witch, she was the illegitimate daughter of Merlin the Great. This made me the son of a King, and the first half-blood, direct descendant of Merlin."
"I-What?" Harry managed to stammer.
"I'm technically a prince in both the muggle and wizarding worlds, I'm sure you have never heard of this, but their is a legend in the wizarding world about the Half-Blood Prince. This man held extraordinary powers and was able to vanquish evil with the greatest of ease. The most intriguing thing about this man, legend says, is that he cannot die. I can tell you that parts of this legend are false, I cannot vanquish evil easily, however it is a job I've taken upon myself. I also can die, just not easily. I cannot die by magic or old age or sickness, I can only die in muggle combat or by a muggle device, that's the reason I learned swordplay." Harry stared at his Professor.
"So…You're a kind of…superhero?" Harry asked, Breannan simply laughed at him.
"I guess you could look at it like that. I'd ask you not to tell anyone about this, simply because it would call for some unwanted attention." Harry nodded.
"Does Voldemort know about you?"
"I'm sure he knows of me, a wizard like that probably keeps track of his superheros." He said with a wry smile. "As to whether or not he knows that I am him I couldn't say. I'm sure he suspects something, whether he has put it all together as of yet is beyond me." Harry nodded and turned to leave. As he reached for the door he paused.
"Professor?"
"You may tell Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley, but nobody else. By the way, I spoke with Dumbledore and he agrees that you should continue your lessons with me in greater frequency, he is going to put off your apparition lessons until Christmas break."
"That means I'm staying here for break?"
"I'm not exactly sure what Dumbledore has planned, you'd have to ask him." Harry nodded and left.
Harry went to breakfast the next morning and heard the great hall buzzing. As soon as he walked in Dumbledore came striding towards him.
"My office, Harry. There is something you need to know, and I prefer you hear it from me." Harry was confused, but ran to catch up with his professor's long strides.
"Headmaster, a word." Came the icy voice of Professor Snape.
"Harry, go on and wait for me in the office, this won't take long." Harry looked at the two professors skeptically before continuing down the hallway. As he approached the stone gargoyles they leapt aside to reveal the spiral staircase up to Dumbledore's office. Harry walked in and sat in the chair opposite the headmaster's desk, Fawkes watched him curiously. He was about to say something to the phoenix when Dumbledore strode catlike through the room and sat down behind his desk.
"I have two pieces of information for you, Harry. Neither of which I am particularly happy to hear, but something I thought better heard from me than another student. The first piece of information that reached me was that Kingsley Shacklebolt died in the second raid on Malfoy Manner. Apparently the Death Eaters assumed the house was safe after it was searched the first time, and had been using it as a bit of a hideout. Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Rebastan Lestrange, and Macnair all escaped the attack. Narcissa Malfoy was killed trying to escape with them." Dumbledore gazed at Harry sympathetically.
"So Tonks and now Kingsley are dead? Professor, you realize there is only one way to stop this." Harry said quietly, his voice faltering.
"I understand that, Harry. But both knew the risks they were taking, and I'm sure neither would blame you."
"It doesn't exactly matter what they would be thinking, as they are dead." Harry said, his voice like ice and his emerald eyes glowing. He slammed his fist down on the arm of his chair, which splintered. Dumbledore and Harry stared at the splinters of wood, neither exactly sure how such a scrawny boy could muster that much strength.
"You have to relax, Harry. Remember how powerful your emotions make you, you do not want to destroy things needlessly, remember your purpose." Harry breathed deeply and seemed to shrink. His eyes faded back to a duller green and his voice returned to normal.
"Did you discover anything in that room?" Harry asked quietly.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, we discovered a great deal of things. However, I'm not sure I understand the list as it was presented to me, so I will have to tell you this later." Harry nodded solemnly.
"What was the other thing you wanted to tell me."
"At the same time that the Ministry Aurors were at Malfoy Manner a contingent of Death Eaters attacked Number 4, Privet Drive."
"WHAT! THAT HOUSE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE!"
"It is safe for you, Harry. Voldemort could not touch you while you were there. His forces attacked the Dursley's while they were out of the house and unguarded. After they were killed the house was open to them, it was destroyed." Dumbledore finished and flipped a copy of the Daily Prophet over to him. It had a large picture of what was left of the house with a Dark Mark floating over it. The title read "Boy-Who-Lived's Muggle Guardians Killed" Harry didn't read the article, he simply dropped the paper back down onto the table.
"So now Voldemort can find me during the summer?" Harry asked, his voice devoid of emotion.
"I'm afraid so, I would feel most comfortable if, by the time summer comes around Voldemort is still a threat, that you remain here for the holidays, I will also allow certain other students to stay here as well."
"How did they die?" Harry asked, trying to digest the information. "Avada Kedavra?"
"No, Harry. Each killed by a sword." Dumbledore said this while searching Harry's eyes for a reaction.
"So Voldemort killed them himself?"
"I believe so. They caused him too much trouble over the years by hiding you, whether they wanted too or not."
"You think he is sending me a message, don't you? That not only can he kill with a sword, but that not even my family is safe?" The boy asked, realization dawning on his face.
"Yes, I believe that is exactly what has transpired." Dumbledore spoke frankly, but seemed to become older.
"Then he made a mistake, I never wanted to go back their anyway, as much as I hate to hear that they are dead, he could have done much worse."
"You said something like that when Fudge was murdered." Dumbledore pointed out.
"Same theory, he's leaving the people I care about alone. His men killed Tonks and Kingsley, but the people he has attacked personally haven't caused me much pain. It's almost like he's trying to mess me up without making me angry."
"At this point in time, Harry, I don't think anyone would want you to use your emotions against them."