Chapter 3: The First Meeting

"Your password is 'skiving snackbox'?" Harry choked, stifling a severe urge to snort with laughter.

Dumbledore shrugged. "Yes, well, Minerva didn't really understand it, but I'm sure if she did she would dislike it even more than she already does."

Harry chortled all the way up to the Headmaster's office, where Albus pointed him to a squishy armchair opposite his desk.

"What is it you wanted to talk to me about, Harry?"

"Um, well, sir, there's quite a few things, really. I honestly don't know where to begin."

"I see. Would you like a lemon drop? I find they sometimes help me to gather my thoughts."

"Oh, yes, sir, thank you, I—"

Harry stopped mid sentence, upon realization of what the Headmaster had just offered him.

"You eat lemon drops, sir? But they're a Muggle sweet!"

Dumbledore shrugged innocently. "Ah, well, Muggles certainly have a few good tricks up their sleeves, if you'll pardon the pun."

Harry shook his head, smiled considerately at how the Headmaster never ceased to surprise him, and sucked on the lemon drop thoughtfully. He decided that after the night's events that he couldn't bring himself to mention the Prophecy and what he and Hermione had talked about. Crunching the sweet into pieces and swallowing, Harry carefully selected his words to describe his feelings about being put on the back of a Chocolate Frog card.

"Um, sir?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"So I've noticed that you like Muggle sweets, but do you ever eat Wizard Candy?"

"Oh yes, I have my little stash. I'm sure you heard last year when I was… shall we say, booted from the Wizengamot-- that I didn't care if they stripped me of my Order of Merlin as long as they—"

"Didn't take your name off the Chocolate Frog Cards!" Harry finished for him, sighing with relief. "So Bill Weasley wasn't lying then, was he?"

Dumbledore smiled bemusedly. "No, Mr. Potter, he wasn't. I do rather enjoy a good Chocolate Frog from time to time. I was rather lucky once, and happened to get a Ptolemy card. They're quite rare, I've heard. I do also enjoy Acid Pops."

Harry nodded, "Yeah, they Ptolemy cards are rare. Ron's been looking for one for ages."

"Has he now? Does he have Morgana? I might be willing to trade!"

But Harry wasn't to be side tracked.

"Sir," he said, preparing to take the blunt route. He thought it might be best to speak directly, as the Headmaster seemed to be easily sidetracked- especially on the subject of sweets.

"Sir, I've been put on the Chocolate Frog cards."

Now it was Dumbledore's turn to drop his jaw. "Have you now! Harry, that's wonderful! I must admit, I'm quite sur—"

Dumbledore paused at the hurt and confused look on his protégé's face. "Ah, I see you are… not pleased?"

"No. Not at all!" cried Harry, exasperatedly, glad that he could finally get it off his chest. "This is the last thing I need! Malfoy got one of my cards today and came to take the Mickey out of me on the train!"

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow into his wizard's hat. "Did he? What happened? What did you do?"

"I told him that if he thought having my photo on the back of a Chocolate Frog card was something I'd get off on then he had no idea what makes me tick.

"I offered to let him have the card Hermione had gotten and do with it whatever he liked. I told him that if he left it with me that I was just going to burn it."

Dumbledore's cocked eyebrow now disappeared completely into his hat. "And what did he do, Harry?"

"He walked away. He didn't take the card, either."

"Well, then. It appears that our young Mr. Malfoy has indeed learned a thing or two over the summer."

Harry searched at the Headmaster's expression, as if looking for a hidden meaning.

"Maybe…"

Harry decided not to question Albus at this point in time. He knew that if there was something imperative about Malfoy that he should know then the Headmaster would undoubtedly tell him when he thought the time was right.

"But sir?" he continued back to the original subject at hand. "What can I do? I don't think that I can just tell them to take my name off. Besides- if I did, then the ones already in circulation would just become more valuable and it would probably just get worse!"

"That's a fair deduction, Harry. I really don't know what to tell you about this one. I guess the only advice I can offer is to just take it as it is- a compliment."

Harry snorted, "A compliment? Half the things listed on the back I did with other people! And some of them weren't even credited! Like the part about the Philosopher's Stone! It doesn't say it directly, it just talks about how I "delayed his return to power" or something, but it doesn't mention how there was no way I could have done it without Ron and Hermione's help! And don't even get me started on the TriWizard Tournament! They didn't even mention Cedric!"

Dumbledore sucked on a lemon drop, and pondered for a minute before replying. "Well, Harry, I suppose you could always owl the company and have them change it. But then that just goes back to your other reason of the ones already in circulation becoming more 'valuable' in the trade market."

Harry shrugged, and helped himself to another candy. "I guess so. But to me it's worth it so Cedric, Ron and Hermione can get their credit as well. Do you think I should tell Ron and Hermione that I'm going to write the company?"

Dumbledore sighed, and reflected. "I suppose it doesn't really matter, in the end. Sooner or later they will find the card or someone will show it to them, so they'll find out anyway."

"I guess you're right. I'll let them find out on their own. I don't want to embarrass Ron."

"A wise decision. Very noble, as well, Harry."

Dumbledore grabbed another candy, and paused.

"May I ask you what you did with the card Miss Granger found?"

"Burned it."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, making his scar disappear underneath his Wizard's Hat.

"Did you really?"

"I told Malfoy that's what I would do with it because I was so angry at the time. After the fact, it seemed like a really good idea so I did it anyway. I don't regret it. I'll probably burn all the ones I get. Either that or just swear off Chocolate Frogs all together."

Dumbledore laughed. "That's too bad, Harry. Chocolate Frogs really are delicious... Besides, I would have liked to have one."

"Oh shut up, Professor!" cried Harry, laughing and throwing a lemon drop at him.

Albus laughed along with him, and shrugged. "Well, can you blame me? I have an inside scoop now, and I collect. You're going to write the companies to have them change the card, and so the one currently on the market will be exceptionally valuable. Why wouldn't I want one?"

Harry chuckled, "Well, Professor, I suppose if I find one instead of burning it I'll let you have it. But after that, I'm burning the rest."

Dumbledore shrugged, "Suit yourself, Harry. But just remember- it's supposed to be a compliment."

"I'll try, sir. Really, I will. But that one's going to be hard. At least I don't think I'll have to worry about the Ferret teasing me about them."

"That's true, Harry. And may I commend you for keeping your temper with him this afternoon on the train. I don't think you could have handled it any better."

"Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome, Harry."

Dumbledore paused, reflecting on what had just been said.

"Harry, did you just refer to Draco Malfoy as 'the Ferret'?"

Harry blushed, and grinned.

"Yes, sir. Sorry. It's just something that Hermione, Ron and I have called him ever since fourth year when Professor Moody—well, the imposter Professor Moody, any way—transfigured him into a ferret for trying to hex me behind my back."

Dumbledore smiled.

"Ah. I see. Well, I suppose I've heard worse. I imagine he has names for yourself, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley as well, am I correct?"

Harry groaned, "Don't remind me."

Albus grinned, and then searched Harry's expression.

"Is there anything else you'd like to talk with me about, Harry?" he inquired carefully.

Once again, Harry had that strange feeling that the Headmaster could see right through him. Forcing himself to remember the techniques Snape had taught him in Occlumency, Harry attempted to empty his mind of all thought and emotion. Staring straight back at the Headmaster, Harry saw that he was smiling.

"I see you've been practicing your Occlumency, Harry?"

"Yes. …And I do have other things I need to talk with you about, just not now. I still have some thinking to do on those."

The Headmaster nodded. "I understand. Whenever you're ready, Harry, you know where I live."

Harry smiled, "And as do you know where I live, sir, whenever you're ready."

Dumbledore blushed, and looked to the ground, but not before glancing nervously at the tapestry on his wall.

"All in good time, dear boy, all in good time. But at this particular time, I'm sure there are some that are waiting for your return to your common room."

"Yes, sir, they are. And thank you for seeing me on such short notice."

"Any time, Harry. I know you won't abuse the privilege."

Harry nodded his head, and grabbed a lemon drop for the way back to Gryffindor common room.

"Oh, Sir?" he asked, turning around.

"Yes, Harry?"

"Do you know anything about what's going to happen with my Firebolt? I mean, if Umbridge walked out of the ministry she surely can't keep up me and the Weasley's life-long Quidditch ban, can she?"

Albus smiled. "No, Harry. I don't believe she can. I'll have to check on that for you with Professor McGonagall, though, before I answer anything as to your broom."

"Thank you, Professor. Good night."

Once again, Harry turned and began to walk towards the door.

"Oh, Harry?" called Albus.

"Yes, Professor?"

"How are things with your new pet? Did you find a name for her? I was curious."

Now it was Harry's turn to blush. "No, sir. I seem to be having difficulty with that one."

Dumbledore smiled knowingly.

"Ah, no need to worry, Mr. Potter. Fawkes was nameless for nearly two months before I found something that we both agreed on. I tired many other names, but he wouldn't respond to them. I may be able to bring in Phoenixes from the wild, but coming up with names is quite another thing."

He laughed, and added, "As you can tell from my name, this is not a dilemma that I inherited from my parents. They had no trouble coming up with names. I have four."

Harry grinned, and then his smile faded with realization.

"Sir! I never sent Professor Snape a thank you note for the gift. Do you think it's too late?"

Albus smiled, "No, Harry, I don't think it's ever too late for a thank you. It may not be necessary in this case, but I'm sure it would be appreciated all the same."

"Thanks. I'll have to send one along. Good night, Professor. I'll see you tomorrow."

With a swish of his cloak, Harry turned and walked down the spiral staircase out of sight. Once the door had closed, Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape came out from another room hidden behind a tapestry on the wall to the right of the Headmaster's desk.

"What do you think, Minerva?" asked Albus.

Professor McGonagall smiled, while all it seemed Severus could do was scowl.

"I think he's ready," voiced Minerva.

"Severus?"

The hook nosed man sniffed. "I see no sense in keeping it from him any longer. But I can't believe that he hasn't even named the bird yet. Honestly!"

Minerva and Albus laughed.

"Well, Severus," giggled McGonagall, "I guess he is just taking it very seriously. He wants to make sure it's absolutely perfect."

Snape sniffed once again, "I hope you're right, Minerva. I certainly wouldn't want a Phoenix to be christened with a name like 'Pookey' for all eternity."

Albus chuckled, "Now what's wrong with Pookey, Severus? I named my first teddy bear that."

Severus choked, although it could have been on the lemon drop he had just swallowed, and not the comment the Headmaster had made.

"Well, I have to say that it's certainly not as creative as 'the Ferret'. I don't know if I'll be able to look at Mr. Malfoy quite the same any more."

Minerva laughed, "I can only imagine what Draco has come up with for Harry and Ron."

Severus shook his head, "Honestly, I really don't think you want to know."

"Either way, I think he's ready," offered McGonagall, switching back to the original topic. "All we need to do is decide when to tell him."

"Ah, well I imagine as soon as possible, since it shall be starting next month!" said Albus, as if it were obvious.

Minerva cringed, and Severus groaned.

"Headmaster," he asked, confusedly, "I thought we were talking about the other thing?"

"Oh the other thing? Ah. Yes. I suppose you're right about that, too, Severus."

"Well, then, Albus, when do you think we should explain to him about the other thing?" asked Minerva.

"You know, as to that I am not entirely sure. I imagine it will be soon. We shall have to see, then, shan't we?"

With that, the other two teachers adjourned from the office. After seeing them to the door and then closing it behind them, Albus sighed.

"Well, Fawkes, it looks as if things just keep getting more and more complicated don't they?"

Fawkes' only answer was a small trill. Albus smiled, and stroked the bird's maroon and gold plumage,

"Well spoken, my dear Fawkes, as always."