Truce and trust

The kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place was filled with an uneasy tension. Even though Mr. Weasley had come back from St Mungo, the relief of the Weasleys was tainted by their concern for Harry's safety. After reading what had happened in a letter from Ron, Hermione had decided to leave her family to spend Christmas in London with her friends. Her parents had been, as usual, very considerate and had asked her to let them know if there was anything they could do.

She arrived at the same time as Tonks and Lupin. Sirius barely greeted them, but their presence helped to lighten the mood and Mrs. Weasley decided that she would cook a special dinner to cheer them up. As everyone stayed in the kitchen to help, apart from Sirius who had decided to go in his room, Hermione pulled discreetly Ron aside.

'Do you think he's gone after Him?' She whispered while glancing towards the kitchen door to make sure no one had followed them.

'You mean You-Know-Who? He's got some bad ideas over the past years, but this one would really take the cake,' replied Ron grumpily.

Hermione turned her gaze towards him with a surprised look.

'Are you mad at him?'

'Of course, I am,' said Ron irritated. 'I don't blame him for going after You-Know-Who, though. I blame him for going without us!'

'Well, it's not like he's been with us lately. I mean he was, physically,' she corrected. 'But he clearly had his mind on something else.'

'Exactly!' Exclaimed Ron. Hermione glanced at the door again while waving her hand at him as an indication to speak in a lower voice. Obeying, he sighed and went on. 'Since when does Harry have secrets for us?'

'Listen, I know you're angry about this…'

'Aren't you? Hermione can you look me in the eye and tell me that you aren't, at least, bothered by this?' Growled Ron, staring intently at her.

'I am,' she replied quickly while withstanding his gaze. 'But more than that I worry about him. Ron, he is our friend, he would never hurt us on purpose.'

'I worry too! It's just…' He briefly closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm down. 'It's just that I thought he trusted us.'

Hermione could hear Ron's sadness in his voice, and she hated to see him like this. Hesitantly she put a hand on his arm to comfort him.

'I miss him too,' she finally said. 'I heard that Dumbledore was looking for him. I am sure he will come back with Harry soon.'

'I suppose you're right,' replied Ron whose eyes were absently fixing Hermione's hand. He remained silent a few seconds and like snapping out of a dream, he added: 'What if he refuses to come back?'

His question came up against a wall of silence.

They silently stared at each other. They both looked miserable. Harry had refused their help and had been hiding things serious enough for him to think that going alone after Voldemort was a good idea.

'Those who don't want to be helped, can't be helped,' whispered Hermione eventually. 'But if he doesn't come back, I say we go after him.'

'What?' Ron's face lightened up. Here was an idea! However … 'But we're underaged, Hermione. We wouldn't reach the other side of the road before getting caught.'

'There are other ways than magic to travel,' replied Hermione patiently.

'Are you talking about buses and train?' Asked Ron. 'Great idea except for the fact that, unlike Harry, we can't get invisible.'

'No but we could change our shape,' smiled Hermione.

Ron studied her face. Her eyes were sparkling the same way as the day she had come up with the idea of the Polyjuice Potion in their second year. He still hadn't decided if this constituted good news or not.

'You miss coughing up fur balls that much?' He joked. 'Ouch!' Hermione had hit him on his shoulder. 'Ok, ok that was a bad one. But who would we turn into anyway?' He added with a more serious look.

'Anyone,' she replied. 'As long as it is not too obvious.'

Ron pondered the situation. It's not like he had a better alternative to offer.

'All right,' he agreed, 'we will need to figure out who to find the ingredients.'

'I think I can help you with that.'

They both turned their heads to find Sirius sitting on the stairs watching them with a wide smile. He stood up and approached them so they could talk without being heard.

'I can't leave this place,' continued Sirius, 'but if you too are willing to help Harry, then I'll do anything to assist you.'

Ron and Hermione glanced at each other.

'So what's the plan?' Asked Ron curiously.

'You'd be surprised what you can find in old witch houses.,' smiled Sirius. 'Follow me.'

The snow was softly crunching under his shoes as Harry entered the dark and calm village. There was an eerie feeling in the air he couldn't explained. It was the village where he had been born but he had no recollection of his time here. He had hoped he would at least feel a sense of being at home. He was a stranger in his hometown, and he almost loathed himself for that. He wandered through the sleeping village. It was the middle of the night, and the scattered streetlamps struggled to illuminate the street with their yellowish light on the fresh and unspoiled snow.

Knowing perfectly what he would find there, he headed towards the graveyard located behind the church. It consisted of several tombstones of different sizes and shapes organized in rows. When he found the one he was looking for, he raised a trembling hand and cleared away the white ice until the engraved names of his parents appeared. The glow from the moonlight revealed the epitaph:

"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

It was subtle but Harry felt it. His magical surrounding had changed, disturbed by a powerful yet peaceful presence. One he would recognize anywhere.

'It was unwise of you to come here tonight, Harry.' Dumbledore had not raised his voice, but Harry would have preferred to hear him yell.

'It was the right thing to do!' Retorted Harry surprised by his loud voice.

Dumbledore raised his eyebrow.

'Then I would like you to enlighten me about the reason that led your footstep at this very place, Harry,' said Dumbledore while making a step forward. His blue piercing gaze peering at Harry above his half-moon glasses, gave the boy the uncomfortable sensation of being X-rayed.

'I.. Has it ever occurred to you, that perhaps you do not know everything?' Why on earth was he so insolent with Dumbledore? He was in no position to do so and yet he couldn't help it.

'I am all ears.' Answered Dumbledore lifting his chin, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

The monster roared in Harry's chest. He wanted to annihilate this glint, he wanted to bring this man who was mocking him to his knees. He knew that his reaction was probably due to the Horcrux feeding on his shame and anger, but this time he wasn't able to control himself. In a fit of rage, he unleashed his magic.

The dash of light reached the older wizard, but it vanished as soon as it made contact.

'You don't mean it,' said Dumbledore with a soft smile. 'It is not in your nature to hurt others.'

'You know nothing about my true nature!'

'I know enough to know that you wouldn't hurt me. That is why I won't defend myself against you. You won't hurt me.'

Dumbledore was right and it was infuriating. At this very moment Harry wished he could have hurt the older wizard, he wished he could have made him pay. For the insults and the repetitive blows from the Dursleys. For Cedric and his parents. For everything he had gone through over the past years. He wished he could have made the most powerful sorcerer in the World flinch.

But he couldn't find it in himself. Why couldn't he be strong?

Dumbledore stayed quiet and motionless, giving Harry the time he needed to process his emotions. He could feel the battle inside the boy. A fight between himself and an entity which was still foreign to the Headmaster though he suspected its link with Voldemort. Dumbledore didn't know why Harry had ran away but he was no fool. Fawkes had found him near Little Hangleton, Tom Riddle's birthplace. What he knew, however, is that Harry's intention was based on pure loyalty towards him and Hogwarts even if it was oblivious to the boy. Otherwise, the Phoenix would have never helped him.

Suddenly, Harry turned his heels and headed towards the opposite exit of the cemetery.

'Where are you going?' Asked Dumbledore casually.

'If I can't hurt you, there is no reason for me to stay here any longer,' replied Harry with an acid tone. 'As to where I am going it is none of your business, not anymore.'

Dumbledore's silence should have warned him that a trick was at play. As he approached the cemetery gate, a force was growing stronger step after step. It felt like an invisible wall was now surrounding the graveyard, exactly like the one that had protected the House of Gaunt.

'Let me out,' he said in a cold and calm voice.

'No,' said Dumbledore simply.

'You still want me in a cage?' Asked Harry with a snide tone.

He turned back to face Dumbledore.

'I don't want to be a part of your games anymore, let me out.'

'I will let you out,' said Dumbledore peacefully while making another step towards Harry. 'But before that, I'd like to have my say.'

'Your say?... If you don't… DO YOU THINK I CARE ABOUT YOUR SAY!?' Roared Harry, his voice echoing through the cemetery. 'I don't want to hear anything you've got to say!'

'You will,' said Dumbledore with a hint of sadness in his voice. 'Because you are not nearly as angry with me as you ought to be. If you truly wanted to hurt me, I would deserve every blow.'
'If I listen to what you have to say, will you let me go?' Asked Harry, trying to sound as calm as possible.

'You will be free to go wherever you want and I will not try to stop you, Harry,' replied Dumbledore. 'You have my word.'

Harry glanced at the gate and sighed. He had thought about using the Invisibility Cloak, but he knew that it wouldn't fool Dumbledore. Besides he was convinced the old wizard could, if not see through it, at least guess through it.

'May I suggest that we go somewhere more appropriate for the conversation we are about to have?' Asked Dumbledore kindly.

Harry shrugged and followed him. As they were walking down the streets of Godric's Hollow, he remembered his last conversation with Tom. He still wasn't sure if the Headmaster would try to manipulate him or truly help him. He caught himself imagining them hunting the Horcruxes together and couldn't help but feel comforted by this possibility. The thought of being with someone who would teach him, protect him, care about him… There was the question. Did Dumbledore truly cared about him or was he just a mean for him to get rid of Voldemort? Could he really let him know about his true nature? What about Tom?

Harry glanced towards the older wizard. His aura was calm and peaceful, as usual, and Harry would have given a lot to simply surrender his Fate to his wisdom. Whatever was about to happen, he would have to remain vigilant.