Chapter 3: First steps
Harry met Dobby in just prior to his second year at Hogwarts. In that time he had grown used to the house elves enthusiastic greetings. "Harry Potter, sir," began Dobby. "I is hoping to see you when you and your friends return from your break sir. But Dobby is very happy to see you now." Harry smiled at the elf. "I am very happy to see you too Dobby." Replied Harry before a question popped into his mind. "Dobby, what are you doing out here? I mean I thought the house elves only came out at night to clean the dormitories." "Well yes, Harry Potter sir, that is true during while you and your friends are here. But during the summer sir we is coming out all the time to get the school ready." Harry thought about this for a moment. He could not help but think that Hermione would love to see all the house elves roaming the halls. The thought was interrupted by Dobby's next sentence. "Besides Dobby doesn't work at Hogwarts anymore, sir." "WHAT?" exclaimed Harry. "But what happened? You didn't get sacked, did you?" "Dobby doesn't know where to start, sir," he began. "You see, Harry Potter, while Dobby was cleaning the office of the Headmistress he overheard her talking to the portrait of Professor Dumbledore. I hear them say Harry Potter's name so I listen very close. I hear her say that Harry Potter and his friends are not coming back to Hogwarts this year. She tells the picture they is going to finish what Harry Potter and Professor Dumbledore started. Dobby does not believe his ears. He asks her headmistress if it is true. She says it is and Dobby immediately resigns to go find Harry Potter and help him. I was just about to leave the castle sir when I saw you in the entrance." Somewhere inside, Harry smiled. This creature in front of him had shown him more loyalty and love than any of his real family had ever tried to. "I'm sorry," he said after a moment of silence. "Where I'm going Dobby is dangerous and I can't put you in that danger." "Harry Potter has always been a noble wizard. But Dobby wants to help." Harry thought for a second. Suddenly a fantastic thought occurred to him. "Okay Dobby. I'll tell you how you can help. My friend Ron's brother is getting married. I want you to go help Mrs. Weasley with the wedding preparations. After I am done with my quest we will talk about you coming to live with me." Harry could tell by the look in Dobby's eyes this was going to be agreeable. "However Dobby there are some conditions to this agreement. First, I will pay your wages out of my vaults. But you must not tell anyone that. Second you will take an extra day off a month during which you will get away and enjoy yourself however you please. Do you agree?" Dobby agreed immediately. "Good." said Harry. "in that case I will see you at the Burrow." With that being said Dobby disapperated and Harry was alone in the hallway.
As Harry made his way to the headmistresses' office a thought crossed his mind. Dobby had just appearated inside Hogwarts. He had known Dobby for five years and now that he was thinking about it he had seen him do it several times. Harry decided he would ask Hermione why this was possible and continued on his way. This new revelation was still on his mind when he found him self face to face with Professor McGonnagall. "Harry," she began, "are you ready for this?" He started to reply yes, but suddenly he wasn't sure. Inside he knew he had to do it, but he could not force himself to say yes. The headmistress placed her hand on his shoulder,"Take your time, I am going to check on the preparations for the upcoming year." She looked at him for a moment before smiling and saying "the password is chocolate frogs." Harry smiled at this to. He remembered Dumbledore's great fondness for sweets. The thought seemed to strengthen him. Looking into the gargoyles eyes, he took a deep breath and said the password. The gargoyle slid to the side and the familiar spiral steps began to ascend. Harry stepped on and made his way up.
The first thing Harry noticed was that the office still looked exactly as it did the night of the attack on the school. All of Dumbledore's instruments were still there. Harry wondered if they were useful to Minerva or if she just did not have the heart to get rid of them. He gazed around at the portraits of the previous occupants of the office. All of them were feigning sleep as normal. But none of the sleeping portraits mattered to Harry. He was staring transfixed at the newest painting in the room, Albus Dumbledore himself, when a thought occurred to him. "Professor," he said aloud. There was no response. "Professor!" Again there was no response. "Professor Dumbledore!" By this time Harry was yelling. The picture jumped. "Hello Harry," came the kind and familiar voice. "I do apologize," began the painting, "you see when you said professor I of course assumed you were speaking to someone else, as I am no longer a the headmaster or a professor." Inside Harry thought that speaking to the picture should have unnerved him. Instead it was quite the opposite. The calm face he had spoken to so many times had a calming effect on him, and although he had a million questions he wanted to ask Dumbledore he found himself speechless. "Harry," said the hanging,"do not get yourself overly excited. I am merely an imprint, a shadow if you will, of the Albus Dumbledore that you know. Regretfully, I cannot be much help to you as I have very few of the memories that will be required to help you." Harry immediately felt his heart sink. Dumbledore however continued, "I am afraid that my true self attempted to keep his mind clear of as many things concerning Tom Riddle as possible. He siphoned his mind regularly and kept the vials with his memories in very safe places. He did this in case something happened to him before the fall of Riddle. If the circumstances arose someone else could possibly put his memories to good use." Harry stared at the picture for a moment. All questions but one had been driven from his mind. "Where do I find these memories?" The former headmaster smiled at Harry, "You will find them both in the care of people who I trusted beyond all others and in places that hold special meaning for me."
"Professor," Harry began before the painting interrupted "Harry, I am no longer a professor at your school. Please call me Albus." Harry nodded respectfully at his mentor. "Albus," he paused before continuing, "what will these memories show me?" "My dear boy," said Albus. "They will show you everything I ever wanted to teach you. I am not there to how you magic anymore, however you will get to watch me train first hand. I have clues as to the locations of the other Horcruxes. These I will pass on. Finally, I am sure you have questioned many times my trust of a certain teacher. I will explain why I trust, and no Harry I did mean trust not trusted, Severus Snape." Harry did not know what to say. "Now Harry I insist on giving you your first clue so you may begin your journey." Harry's ears perked up. He was ready. "I believe you are familiar with the Hog's Head pub in Hogsmeade." The young wizard nodded. "Good, " said Albus. "Am I also correct in saying you find the bartender very...familiar." Again Harry shook his head. "Very good." The painting was smiling mischievously at Harry now. "Approach the bartender and tell him you collect chocolate frog cards. I am sure will love to tell you his tale. I will get Minerva to take your pensieve to Grimmuald Place." Instinctively Harry got up to leave. He suddenly realized that he did not say goodbye to the painting. But when he turned to do so Albus Dumbledore was "asleep."
