Summary: AU. Harry Potter was taken away the night of 31st October, 1981 by his nemesis, Lord Voldemort. What will be the consequences? What will his return to the wizarding world look like? Mostly set in the year of GoF, so beware!
Author's note: I know it took very long for me to update – I'm really sorry! I had some time off of my computer… Anyway, I hope you will like this chapter – I had some serious doubts about how the scene in the headmaster's office should evolve. Enjoy!
And now BIG thanks to my betas:
PadfootzChick, Vaughn and EncantaSenorPotter
The chapter would have been a complete mess without their help!
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own Harry Potter nor almost any of these characters, places and spells:( All the rights reserved to JK Rowling and her peers!
Chapter 3 – The Introductions
'My name is Harry Potter, sir,' I said hesitantly.
The headmaster peered down his crooked nose suspiciously and grasped his desk. In the moment of silence, I could feel the tension in the room getting thicker. Then Dumbledore regained his voice and exclaimed:
'How can that be! You vanished thirteen years ago!'
'My Master took me in, sir. He has been raising me for these long years. He thought I would be in danger if left alone.' I couldn't help but smile at that statement – I was sure that the headmaster would think me being brought up by the Dark Lord was somewhat perilous.
Dumbledore stared at me with those piercing blue eyes, as if searching for something. I could feel the prickling in my head, again.
'No!' I whispered. 'There is no need. I said I will tell everything that is essential for you to know.' I stated these words firmly. And the tension was getting thicker and thicker…
'I am sorry, my boy. You must understand that you've put me into a position where it's hard for me to trust you,' he said lightly, as if this happened everyday.
'But there is no point in shattering my trust in you, sir.' Now it was my green eyes that pierced him. 'I'm confident you know at least a couple spells that can dispel your doubts about my ancestry. Your Potions Master, if he is able, could brew Lineage Potion if any further uncertainties may occur.' I know I was cheeky and that kind of attitude could ruin the plan, but I just couldn't help it.
Albus Dumbledore gazed at me for a while, his glasses slipping down his nose. 'Yes…' he finally whispered. 'Please sit here,' he said, gesturing to the stool in the middle of the room, and I will… perform the spell.'
I did as I was told and he approached me. For a couple of minutes, he murmured, prodding me with his wand once in a while. I felt like an oddity on which experiments were performed. Then he suddenly stopped and smiled what I suppose must have been akin to 'wicked' for this man. The twinkle in his mesmeric eyes now resembled that of a distant star.
'So you are, my boy. So you are…' he looked as if he wanted to embrace me. Thankfully, he regained his composure and sat down by his desk again, fingers clasped loosely.
'Do you now believe me, sir?' I asked, already knowing the answer.
'Of course I do… Harry.' He smiled at the name, then hesitated for a moment, 'May I ask you some questions, now that a most urgent issue has been settled?'
'You may, but I will answer only those that I believe to be appropriate and relevant,' I supplied confidently.
The headmaster raised his eyebrows, taken aback for a second or two.
'Where were you for the past thirteen years, Harry?' he inquired.
'I lived with my Master in his ancestors' Manor, in the North, sir,' I expressed politely, as Voldemort had instructed me.
'You lived with him alone?'
'Oh no, sir. There were a couple of house-elves, and portraits too.' I smiled the most earnest smile I could master.
He smiled back at me strangely. Maybe it was pity, maybe just sadness – I don't know. He considered his words for a moment and then asked, 'I assume you have no recollection whatsoever of the night…' he stopped for a second, delicatley wording the next bit, '…when you vanished from the wizarding world?'
'I remember nothing, sir. But I was told of the… incident.' In my mind, I knew that one could not name one's parents deaths an 'incident', but I was most eager to see Dumbledore's reaction.
'Incident?' Dumbledore asked, clearly taken back. 'How could you call the occurrences of that night an incident?'
'I have preferred not to revisit the memories of that night since the day I learned the truth, sir.' I turned my eyes to my hands.
O.o.o.o.o.o.O
'But why? How could you, Master?' the ten-year-old boy with the raven black hair asked. His green eyes were full of hatred and disbelief.
'I did as my destiny told me to. If I had not, you would have never be with me here,' the ghost of Lord Voldemort uttered.
'But I could have been living with my parents now! You took that away from me! And I trusted you!' The boy whimpered as tears started falling down his cheeks.
'No, Harry. That night, I saved you from a life that would have been more painful than you can imagine. I gave up my own life, and your parents' lives for you. One day you will learn that the choices I made, which may have been dire, were right.'
The boy looked pitifully up at his Master. The only thing he now saw were the truthful eyes he learned to love during those years. 'The Master does only what is the best for me,' he thought. Harry smiled honestly and wiped his tears away. 'The Master does only what is the best for me…'
O.o.o.o.o.o.O
'And as such, I desire not to speak of those matters.' I looked up at him, and once again saw that sad smile.
'I'm guessing you will not tell me whom your Master is, Harry?' the old man inquired.
'Your guess is correct, sir. My Master told me not to reveal his identity until he is ready. Try not to worry, sir. He will even come to Hogwarts one day, he said.' I smiled impishly.
In my mind I imagined the scene: Lord Voldemort in his ghost form, standing across from Dumbledore and chatting with him as with a friend. I suppressed the chortle.
'And what of your education? Did you get any?' Dumbledore nimbly changed the subject.
'My Master and his ancestors' paintings taught me well, sir. Also, the Manor's library was not an unknown territory to me. But I feel that I could learn more here at Hogwarts, the most prestigious wizarding school in England.' I paused at that statement to see the headmaster's reaction. He was pleased, just like I'd imagined. 'Unfortunately, I've been using a wand that is not quite suitable for me.'
'Can I see the wand, Harry?' Dumbledore wondered innocently. I know he was eager to see it, as my Master warned me. He told me not to relinquish my wand, ever.
'There is no need, sir. It's old and not a remarkable one. Besides, I prefer to have it with me at all times. In fact, I want to buy a new one in… what's the name? Drabon Alley?' I knew full well what it was called, but why show the old man my vast knowledge'Always let people underestimate you, Harry,' my Master's voice rang in my head.
'Diagon Alley,' the headmaster said automatically, displaying his experience as a teacher. 'I am sure we can arrange for you to go there before school starts.' He smiled, his twinkle visible.
He then stood up in an abrupt and surprisingly agile manner for a man his age, approached the fireplace and threw in a handful of Floo Powder. We had some of it in our Manor too, but rarely used it, as it worked only within the Manor grounds. What is more, I was the only one who could make use of it, and with all my heart I despised that mean of transport. The headmaster talked for a while, but I didn't pay too much attention. I decided to use that time to explore the room I was in a little more.
The thing I noticed for the first time was a bird preening its wings. It was a phoenix! A rare bird to come across, and Dumbledore was in possession of one. Or was it the other way around? The phoenix then looked straight at me, the uncanny glint in his eyes made me shiver. I knew in an instant that he knew I was hiding the truth – a truth that is so much more satisfying for that kind of creature.
'Fawkes is a phoenix.' Dumbledore had obviously ended all his conversations and had decided to inform me. One could see he was proud of his pet.
'Oh.' For the first time in the office, I didn't know what to say. 'Are they rare?'
'Phoenixes are peculiar creatures. They select a wizard on their own, and if they are no longer needed they, simply disappear without a trace. I sometimes wonder with trepidation when Fawkes will feel the necessity to abandon me… And yes, Harry, they are rare…' There was a sad glint in his eyes at that statement, but then it suddenly changed, and a merry twinkle reappeared. 'But not as rare as the sight of the Hogwarts teaching staff standing at the door, looking ready to kill if I do not enlighten them.'
I looked behind at the afrementioned gathering, causing some of the teachers to gasp. By their number, I gathered they were all present. Severus was among them, with his sneer present. I also noticed a massive, hideous man – a giant!
'My boy, meet the staff!' The headmaster then named all of them, but only a few of them did I remember: Severus' surname was Snape – how appropriate! The old, stern looking lady was called McGonagall, a funny, goblin-like man – Flitwick, and the giant – Hagrid. There was an obese woman, wearing a patched hat, looking as if she just fooled around in the mud. At her name I suppressed laughter – Sprout!
'One of the members of our staff, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, is unfortunately… delayed,' Dumbledore informed me. Snape pierced him with his black eyes, as if irritated. 'But he will be most happy to see you.' The headmaster never seemed to tire of his smile. I could also hear Severus murmuring something that mysteriously sounded like 'Mindless, foolish…'
The headmaster then introduced me to the staff. 'And this, my fellow teachers – is Harry Potter!'
All of them gasped at once. The Sprout lady even looked as if ready to faint. As they were too shocked to even utter a word, Dumbledore took his chance and said, 'Harry Potter will attend Hogwarts this year, and as such, I gathered you all here in order to perform ability tests on him. Every one of you, in the field you work in, will assess on which level he is. We surely don't want him to be struggling to pass your classes, or worse – be bored.' He chuckled.
And then it started. For hours I'd been quizzed and tested, potions-making included. I don't even remember if I got everything right, or how many subjects I was examined in. When it finally ended, I was exhausted. They took me to a bedchamber and the elves helped me to my bed. When I touched the pillow, with my eyes already closed, I fell asleep instantly.
AN: What do you think of this chapter? Like it? Like it not? I know I'm not really good at dialogues, especially with the Headmaster..
And the text about truth, that is 'so much more satisfying' – I really loved it, when I read 'The Slytherin Connection' by KrysRoz.
Please REVIEW! It really helps!
Kamorie: Glad you still like it :)
Virginia Riddle-Malfoy: I'm glad you like it. I love the 'Master' thing too :) For the Dumbledore's reaction we will have to wait a while… But it will be worth it (I cross my fingers!) I hope you got a chance to read this chappie – I was doing what I could to make it fast.
A Crazy Elephant: Thank you! I am trying but obviously I'm really confused with the whole coding and a little scatterbrained at that.
Lord Localfreak: Thank you! JKR would hang me for that mortality ;)
Julie Long: I'm glad you gave it a try too :)
fudgebaby: Thank you!
Mystiksnake: Well, the update wasn't as soon as I expected :( I can't wait for the next chapters to come either :)
