Reviews:
Spazzman29: It is indeed called a bakery, but the problem with that is when I tell people they imagine a small little shop where I make bread. I don't know exactly how many chapters are left but I am planning to end this around the end of fourth/beginning of fifth year.
Shadefyre : Thanks.
Idk: Thanks.
Chapter 30 -
Professor Dumbledore arrived on Azkaban Island, only to look at the prison in horror when he realised that he was too late. A large part of the side of the prison was broken and the dementors were no longer there. he could not feel their presence here, sure he could feel the lingering evidence that they had been here but no evidence to prove that they were still here. The headmaster's face was pale, so much so that he could give Severus Snape a run for his money.
Dumbledore just could not believe it, why? Why would Harry do this? What in Merlin's name would possess the boy to do something like this? Dumbledore had always thought that young Harry Potter was a nice and innocent boy, a model student. Minerva had always told Dumbledore that Harry possessed the best parts of his father, James, while Professor Flitwick had always told Dumbledore that young Harry possessed the best part of his mother. Professor Sprout had always said that Mr Potter was a perfect student, Severus was the one exception amongst the teachers since he was the only one who didn't like Harry, apart from Severus all of the teachers seemed to only have good things to say about them. And Dumbledore knew that the majority of what Severus had said about Harry had been due to his own hatred of James Potter, and less so about how Harry acted.
And for all of Severus's complaints about the boy - most of which could be summed up as 'arrogant...blah blah...stupid...blah blah...talentless...blah blah...swine...blah' - he had never at any point mentioned anything that would lead Dumbledore to suspect that Harry would act much like a dark lord would and break people out of Azkaban. Dumbledore could not help but wonder just how badly he had misjudged Harry Potter. He could not believe it, was the boy truly following in Tom Riddle's footsteps?
'No,' Dumbledore thought to himself, almost desperately. 'I've already experienced two dark lords, Gellert Grindelwald and Tom Riddle, I won't...no...I can't let another rise up'.
"Oh, sorry." Penelope Clearwater as she bumped into someone, only to pause when she realised who it was. "Oh, hello Harry." She said with a small smile, she still found it very hard to believe that the little first year she had met on the train had become such a popular and well behaved student.
"Hello Penelope, it's good to see you again." Harry said, returning her smile before he noticed her magic. "Are you okay?" He asked in a concerned voice.
"Why do you ask?" She quickly said before wincing slightly at how defensive she sounded.
"It's hard to explain but you just feel a little...'off' for lack of a better description." Harry calmly replied. "May I ask what it is that has upset you so much?" Harry asked.
"I...wow, I am that obvious, huh?" Penelope said, snorting slightly. "Well, I was going out with Percy Weasley but we have decided to break up."
"Oh, I am sorry." Harry replied.
"Thanks, I...I think it was just a long time coming, really. The relationship was hardly perfect." She admitted.
"That's just the way things are sometimes," Harry shrugged. "what was the catalyst to your relationship ending? If you don't mind me asking."
"It's alright for you to ask," Penelope said with a small sigh. "well...truthfully I think we both had different ideas of what to expect from our relationship. I wanted to build up my career first, have one or two kids and go back to work. Percy on the other hand wants to do the same except he wants a housewife for a partner, now while there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a housewife, I don't see myself being one, not for a long time anyway."
"Hmm," Harry hummed, he saw this as a great opportunity to recruit Penelope, he had always wanted to recruit her but for one reason or the other he had never managed to get to it. He was sure that Percy would not complain if Harry took Penelope since they were now broken up, and even if he did a simple new job or girl would shut the redhead up, and if that doesn't work then Harry could always send Bellatrix to shut Percy up. Penelope was a smart and intelligent witch, far too good to have her talents wasted when she desired to actually be something. "why don't you step into my office?" Harry said as he gestured to the door on his right.
"Um...Harry, this is a broom closet." Penelope pointed out.
"I am well aware of that, now get the fuck in."
"Amelia," Dumbledore said as he sat in the office of the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. "I promise you that Harry Potter was involved in the breakout of Azkaban." He said in a serious tone.
"Hmm," Madam Bones hummed as she looked at Dumbledore with a rather blank expression. "and what makes you say that?" She asked.
"Because he told me," Dumbledore answered. "I'd be willing to provide a pensieve memory of the conversation."
"Albus, you know as well as I do that they are not admissible in court." Madam Bones replied. "Besides, we've not been able to find any evidence that Harry Potter was at Azkaban."
"No, you misunderstand me," Dumbledore said with a small shake of his head. "I am not saying that Mr Potter was physically involved in the break out, but he had told me he had planned it. If he did not actually plan it then he at least knew something about it."
"Albus," Madam Bones said as she let out a rather long sigh. "perhaps Mr Potter did plan it, perhaps he did all of it himself, but I cannot take action against the teenage head of a most ancient and noble family, especially one as famous as Harry Potter, unless you can actually get him to admit it in front of several witnesses or even one reliable witness."
"The portraits in my office had heard him," Dumbledore said quickly. "they can testify and tell you that all I have told you about was true."
"No, that will not work, Professor Dumbledore." Madam Bones said, shaking her head slightly. "Portraits do not count as sufficient witnesses, especially since a great many of them are bound to aid certain individuals. For example it can be argued by a great many people that the Hogwarts portraits would lie for you."
"Amelia, he told me about the attack a mere few minutes before it happened!" Dumbledore hissed. "The timing alone is enough proof!"
"Albus, it is quite simply just not good enough," Madam Bones said in a calm voice. "it is just not good enough, Dumbledore. Do you not see that? What you are trying to do is say that one of your students, Harry Potter - the boy-who-lived, one of the best Hogwarts students of all time according to my niece and those working in the education department, the boy who captured not only Bellatrix Lestrange but also Sirius Black and proved that they were both innocent and those are just a few reasons why he is so popular - is a young dark lord who has not only managed to trick yourself and the rest of the Hogwarts professor's while also planning and being the mastermind behind the destruction of a large part of Azkaban and the most famous and biggest and only mass breakout in the history of Azkaban prison, is that what you are trying to say? Because I am telling you now that this is sure as hell what it sounds like." She finished before she raised an eyebrow at the older wizard.
"I..." Dumbledore began before pausing as Madam Bone's words registered in his head and he realised that that was indeed what it sounded like. "...I see what you are saying." He said with a small frown. "So what must I do now?" He asked in a quiet voice.
"Well..." Madam Bones paused and looked to be locked in deep thought, Dumbledore gave her a slightly hopeful look. "...I swear I will regret this." She muttered to herself before she coughed and looked at Dumbledore. "Professor Dumbledore, if you are able to somehow manage to get proof, and by proof I mean definite proof that can't be explained away as something else, then I can investigate into your claim that a world famous, underage student is secretly a dark lord."
"I did not say that he was a dark lord, just that he could easily be one or become one." Dumbledore corrected her.
"I promise you that does not make any of this any better." She said in a dry voice.
"Hmm, good day to you, Madam Bones." Professor Dumbledore said as he stood up, "I will be back as soon as I can with the proof you require." Dumbledore said before he straightened his robes and walked out of the room, deep in thought.
"Don't take too long." Madam Bones called once Dumbledore had left the room.
"Hmm, that was very impressive of you." A familiar voice said just a few seconds after Dumbledore had left. She felt the hands that belonged to the owner of the voice as they gently placed themselves on her shoulders, she almost let out a moan of pleasure as she felt his magical fingers work on her shoulders. "You managed to play your part for me to the man who is not only the Chief Warlock but also Supreme Mugwump and considered to be the most powerful wizard in the world, that takes guts." He complimented.
"You're more powerful," Amelia breathed out. "I have felt Dumbledore's aura, he has nothing on you." She said, and it was the truth. It was like comparing a tiger to a baby house cat.
"Neither do most men but I try not to brag," Harry replied before he leaned forward and kissed the side of her neck and began planting several kisses up and down her jaw. "but still...you have done well, Amelia. Or would you prefer it if I called you Madam Bone?" Harry asked.
"You can call me anything you want." Amelia said as her boy shivered, it did not help her situation when Harry continued planting kisses on her neck and jaw line.
"In that case from now on I will call you mine." Harry smirked. "My loyal Amelia, I think I should start with your reward."
"So...this is a little bit awkward, isn't it?" Harry asked as he casually sat opposite Professor Dumbledore in Professor Dumbledore's office. Harry was leaning back in his chair with his fingers intertwined and his hands resting over his stomach, his legs were crossed and his feet were resting on Professor Dumbledore's desk. "Wouldn't you agree Mr Dumbledore?" Harry asked, an amused smile on his lips.
"That is 'Professor Dumbledore' or 'Headmaster Dumbledore' to you, Mr Potter." Dumbledore said before he leaned forwards and gave Harry an almost pleading look. "Harry, please, talk to me. Are you being forced down this dark and horrible path? If you are then tell me, I can help you. I can save you!"
"You mean like how you saved your sister?" Harry asked in a casual voice before he licked his lips, all the smiling was causing them to dry. Dumbledore's eyes had widened to almost comical sizes at that comment but he quickly recovered.
"Harry, l..."
"Ahem," Harry interrupted Dumbledore. "that is Mr Potter or Lord Potter to you." Harry said with a smirk.
"Mr Potter," Dumbledore amended. "Please don't make this any more difficult than it needs to be." Dumbledore said in a calm voice, or at least one that was as calm as he could manage in this situation, he tried to shove Harry's comment about his sister to the back of his head but it kept coming back, why did Harry mention her? Was it just to upset him? How much did Harry know about what had happened?
"For your information, Professor Dumbledore, I am not being forced to do anything by anyone." Harry replied. "This is all to complete a mission, a mission that I had chosen to accept."
"What mission?" Dumbledore asked.
"Oh, I could tell you but I won't, that would be telling you far too early. Spoilers, I'm sure you understand." Harry said in a polite voice.
"Mr Potter, you will tell me." Dumbledore said as he sent a mental probe to Harry in an attempt to read his mind, it was safe to say that Professor Dumbledore was more than surprised when he was pushed back into his chair and ended up with a slight headache.
"That was very cute of you, Professor Dumbledore but please try not to read my mind again." Harry said in an almost bored voice. "From what I understand that is considered to be rude in modern wizarding society."
"The...the mind arts are advanced magic." Dumbledore said as he shook his head to clear it.
"I am an advanced wizard." Harry shrugged.
"Mr Potter, you will tell me and you will tell me now!" Professor Dumbledore demanded
"Oh, and what are you going to do if I don't tell you?" Harry asked with genuine curiosity, raising an eyebrow at the old headmaster. "I sincerely hope that you're not planning on attacking me, that would be a very, very large headache for you and just a bit of effort for me. Actually scratch my earlier comment, feel free to attack me." Harry grinned.
"I do not need to resort to violence," Professor Dumbledore sniffed. "I am still your headmaster and I can still punish you. If you don't tell me what your mission is then..."
"You'll do nothing," Harry interrupted. "I am not stupid Dumbledore, did it ever occur to you that a bunch of planning had to have gone into the Azkaban break out and telling you about it and that I clearly have some plan involving escaping punishment from you?" Harry asked, though truthfully he had spent less than five minutes planning the Azkaban break out. "If you want to punish me with detentions and points then I will be more than willing to take my case to the board of governors and the wizarding public and mention how the 'senile old man' is accusing me of being a dark lord. Face it Dumbledore, my strength eclipses yours, your rules bind you and my mind outwits yours."
"You are evil." Dumbledore said in a quiet voice as he glared at Harry in an almost heartbroken way.
"Oh I wouldn't start throwing out compliments just yet," Harry said with a small laugh. "I haven't even got to the good stuff yet. For example, do you think Professor Snape would be better chopped or diced? Boiled or grilled?"
"I WILL stop you, Harry." Dumbledore said in a firm voice.
"And I know that you will try, and when you fail, I'll still be here."
"I am a smart man, Harry. I can come up with a plan to stop you."
"Come up with a plan? Hmm, well I wish you the best of luck, you are going to need it." Harry responded. "Because I'm smarter than you and I've got a head-start since I have been planning this all of my life."