Albus Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, combing his fingers through his ivory beard. A letter lay on the desk in front of him, forgotten his eyes staring straight ahead lost in thought. The Ministry had detected underage magic from Privet Drive yet again. Powerful magic. The kind that a fifteen year old boy should not physically or mentally be able to perform. But what was causing these sudden bursts of magic? And what should he do about it? He pondered over the problem a moment longer, finally coming to the conclusion that there only seemed to be one solution. Pulling out his wand, he conjured a patronus and sent it out with a message, then leaned back in his chair to wait.

A couple minutes later, the fireplace flared green and a man in black robes stepped out and dusted himself off. He palmed his long black hair out of his eyes as he nodded his greeting.

'Albus,' he said.

'Severus,' Albus returned, eyes twinkling.

'You can't be serious,' Snape's black eyes stared at Dumbledore, disbelief written in their depths.

'Why can't McGonagall go get the brat?'

'You know why she can't.' Dumbledore said, a smile forming on his lips.

'Well then-' Snape started.

'I picked you, Severus,' Dumbledore interrupted. 'Of all the teachers, he listens best to you. '

Snape snorted. 'He doesn't listen to anyone.'

Dumbledore sighed. 'Unfortunately not. But, I'm putting my faith in you, Severus. He will listen to you. He really is a good child, Severus. He just never knows when to stop. Do try to be nice, Severus. You don't need to scare him into submission.'

Snape ran a hand over his eyes, realizing all arguing was futile at this point.

'Fine,' he said.

'Thank you, Severus,' Dumbledore smiled again.

'But I'm not keeping him,' Snape growled.

'No,' Dumbledore said. 'I figured not. Just bring him to me.'

Meanwhile, Harry sat beside Hedwig's cage stroking her feathers through the bars.

'I blew the wall off of the house.' He told Hedwig numbly. 'That's more than I did the first time.' He let his hand drop on his lap and Hedwig hooted softly. 'But, can't magic go both ways?' Harry asked, frowning. 'Like, I can lock a door with a spell and I can unlock the same door using another spell. I can break something using one spell, and then I can fix it using another spell! So I've destroyed this wall, so surely I can fix it, right?'

He stood with a new energy and walked closer to the hole, looking down over the edge. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and spread out his hands, feeling his surroundings. A breeze blew, ruffling his hair. He could feel the floor under his feet, sure and steady. He inhaled, letting the cool air feel his lungs. Then he heard Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's door open, and rapid footsteps coming closer.

'WHAT DID YOU DO???' Aunt Petunia's voice. 'LOOK AT THE WALL!! Oh, you incorrigible-'

Harry turned to see Aunt Petunia in the doorway, shaking with fury, Uncle Vernon hot on her heels. 'YOU! FREAK!' He hollered. 'OUT! OUT, NOW!! I DON'T WANT TO EVER SEE YOU AGAIN!'

Harry stood staring at them. 'But, where can I go?' He asked. 'I don't-'

'I. DON'T. CARE!!' Uncle Vernon bellowed, quickly turning purple again. 'JUST GET OUT!! BEFORE YOU DESTROY OUR FAMILY ALL TOGETHER! AND DON'T YOU DARE COME BACK!!'

Harry turned to pick up his luggage, but was stopped by a loud crack. Uncle Vernon yelled and Aunt Petunia screamed and clung to Uncle Vernon's arm.

A man appeared from thin air. A man with a lean face, coal black eyes, and black eyebrows drawn together in anger.

'You!' Aunt Petunia snarled.

Snape swiveled to face her. 'Me,' he said, looking down his nose at her.

Uncle Vernon began yelling again, but Snape hardly seemed bothered at all. He waved a hand at Uncle Vernon and the man's screaming went silent, though his mouth continued to move.

Snape turned to face Harry.

'What is this?' Snape demanded.

Harry gaped at him.

'I said, what the hell is this??' He motioned with his hand around the place, obliterated wall included.

'A… mistake.' Harry finally answered.

Dumbledore had told Snape briefly of what had occurred here, but he hadn't known the full extent of it.

The eyebrows pinched together even more. Then he flicked his wand at the pile of luggage, shrinking it, and slipped it into his pocket.

'Hey!' Harry exclaimed. 'That's mine! You can't just take it!'

Snape fixed Harry with a glare. 'Is this all of your things?'

'Well, I mean, I think so, but-'

'Eloquent as always,' Snape hissed, grabbing a hold of Harry's arm.

Harry flinched and tried to rip his arm away, but the world around them had disappeared and Harry felt an awful sensation, like being pulled through a small tube by his navel.

At last a different scene materialized around them. It looked like - 'Are we at Hogwarts?' Harry asked, heart beating fast. His stomach lurched dangerously and he clamped his jaw shut to keep the vile fluids down.

Snape rolled his eyes and briskly walked toward the castle, towing Harry along behind him.

'Hey!' Harry exclaimed for the second time that day, trying again to wrestle his arm from Snape's grip. 'What about my luggage??! You can't keep it! I - I'll tell! Dumbledore will-'

'Come along, Potter,' Snape snapped.

Harry growled under his breath and lengthened his stride to match the potions master's before his arm was pulled off.

'Where are we going?'

Snape finally let go of Harry's arm, and Harry took the chance to rub the spot where Snape's fingers had been mercilessly digging into the skin.

'Where do you think, blasted boy.'

'We're going to Dumbledore's office?'

'Professor Dumbledore to you, Potter,'

'Would you just give me my luggage?'

'Ten points from Gryffindor, you will not speak to me like that. And you will get your belongings back in due time.'

'You can't take points from Gryffindor!' Harry protested. 'The school year hasn't even started yet!'

Snape didn't answer, just continued to walk, eyes fixed straight ahead.

Harry sighed. 'Can I at least have my wand back? After all, we are back at Hogwarts.'

'I know exactly where we are, stupid boy, and no, you cannot have your wand back yet.'

'Oh, c'mon!' Harry exclaimed. 'Why can't you just be a normal adult?? Anyone else would give it back.'

'Why can't you be a normal child?' Snape returned, completely ignoring the rest of the statement.

'I'm not a child,' Harry spat.

Snape glanced at him. 'Could've fooled me.'

Harry glared, feeling himself swell again.

'Control it.' Snape told him as they finally reached the griffin at the base of the spiral staircase. 'Lemon drop,' he intoned, and the griffin turned aside, letting them pass.

They climbed the staircase, the tap of their shoes on stone steps the only sound breaking the silence between them.

As they reached the top a great oaken door opened, leading into the headmaster's office. Snape stepped in, stopping just inside the door and Harry slipped in and stood next to him, eyes surveying the room around him. To his right there were cases of trinkets that Harry couldn't begin to explain. Beside those were the pictures of past Headmasters of Hogwarts. Some were whispering together, others pretending to be asleep, but peeking beneath drooping eyelids, snapping them closed again when they caught Harry looking at them.

He turned to his left and saw cases of silvery vials next to a pensive. He wanted to go pick one up and investigate, but thought this wasn't a good time to be snooping with Snape standing right there, looking as irritated and intimidating as ever.

In front of him, five steps led to an elaborately carved ebony desk with two comfortable looking chairs set invitingly in front of it.

Beyond that he could see cases of shelves, loaded with books, running alongside two curved staircases which met together at the top, creating a small platform which looked out over the room.

'Potter!' Snape snapped. Harry swung around to stare at him. Snape nodded sternly toward the desk Harry had noticed before. Seated behind the desk, Albus Dumbledore was smiling at Harry, eyes twinkling over half moon glasses.

'Harry, my boy,' he said, glasses sparkling cheerfully. 'Welcome back.'

'Hello, sir,' Harry greeted him, offering a small smile.

Beside him, Snape cleared his throat loudly.

Dumbledore looked at Snape, smile still in place. 'Thank you, Severus,' he said.

Snape nodded, then without a word turned with a swish of his robes.

'Wait!' Harry called. 'What about-'

'It's in your dormitory.' Snape said over his shoulder.

The door closed heavily behind him and Harry turned his attention to the headmaster.

Dumbledore pointed at one of the chairs in front of his desk. 'Have a seat, Harry.'

Harry obediently stepped forward and lowered himself onto the plush seat.

When he was settled, Dumbledore offered Harry a small dish of lemon drops, and Harry obligingly took one and popped it in his mouth.

'Sir,' he said around the sweet. 'Why did Snape come to pick me up? Anyone else would have been more suitable.'

Dumbledore chuckled. 'He asked the same question. You see, Professor McGonagall is working on an important project, and as for Professors Trelawney and Flitwick, can you picture either of them coming to pick you up?'

Harry almost laughed outright, but nearly ended up choking on his sweet.

'Professor,' he said, sobering and getting to the point. 'I don't know what is happening to me.'

He swallowed a lump in his throat that had risen up rather quickly and before he knew what he was doing, he had recounted his entire experience at the Dursley's as the wizened old wizard watched him, the twinkle in his eye diminishing.

When Harry finished his tale, Dumbledore sat a moment longer, a far away look in his eyes. 'This new power of yours,' he said slowly. 'Do you know how you came by it?'

Harry gave a small shake of his head and fiddled with a loose button on his shirt.

'When Voldemort gave you that scar he also unintentionally gave you a portion of his power. But, when your mother cast a powerful spell over you, protecting you with her blood, she also protected you from Voldemort's power - until yesterday when it was beaten out of you.'

Harry bit his lip. 'But how do I fix it?'

The twinkle returned to the blue eyes. 'Fix it, Harry?' He said gently. 'You don't need to fix it. It's a gift, and I can teach you how to use it. How to control it. But it will take time and a lot of patience. It could take a few months, or even a few years. Are you willing for whatever it takes?'

Harry nodded, hope beginning to bloom in his chest.

'Yes,' he said. 'I'm ready. Please teach me. Teach me everything you know.'