Knowledge is Power

Disclaimer/Plot/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER

Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my good friends: my recommended reads are Saviour of Magic by Colt01, For Love of Magic by Noodlehammer, Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Less Wrong, Partially Kissed Hero by Perfect Lionheart, Harry Potter and the Daft Morons and Angry Harry and the Seven by Sinyk, Harry Potter and the Prince of Slytherin by The Sinister Man, Harry Potter and the Rune Stone Path by Temporal Knight, A Study in Magic and A Study in Magic: The Application by Books of Change, Dark and Light by Pleasedial123 and Harry Potter: My Life Is My Own by Sashian

Pairings: Eventual Harmony; Others TBD

Normal Speech

'Thoughts'

/Parseltongue/

Review Answers:

The power: Interesting theories all round: hope you like what's coming up;

Noble Korhedron: Don't worry: things are starting to come together nicely, so you should be able to get it soon enough;

"But then again, maybe this is exactly what I need to see, if only to be the real me and not just who I think I am right now."

Turning away from the mirror, Harrison folded his arms as he asked, "At least, that's what you want me to realise, isn't that right, Headmaster?"

Albus Dumbledore looked like he'd been shot point-blank through the heart, though as he looked into Harrison's eyes, the aged Headmaster let out a sigh before he looked to the mirror and back to his young student.

"Harrison, I think it's time we have that talk now."

Chapter 24: The Truth Will Set You Free

For a long moment, which seemed to drag out into an hour and more, Harrison was silent, stone-faced and remarkably-calm, even though he'd just been told it was time for him to know what he wanted to know about for a long time now.

And he wasn't just talking about since the day he'd first had the honour of meeting Dumbledore himself.

Taking a slow breath, Harrison looked back to the mirror before, sniffing once, he said, "You put this here."

"I did."

"Why?" asked Harrison, looking at his reflection while, at the same time, doing what he could to ignore the tempting and – he wouldn't deny it – very interesting revelations held in his reflection. "Is it a trap?"

"It is."

"For me?"

"No."

At that last response, Harrison turned back to Dumbledore, one eyebrow raised in curiosity as he asked, "Did you mean for me to find it?"

"Yes…and no," replied Dumbledore, looking past Harrison for only a moment as he went on. "Perhaps, in order to explain such things, you can answer me one question, Harrison."

"If I can."

Moving to stand next to his student and charge, Dumbledore took a breath before he looked into the mirror itself as he asked, "Do you realise, even with just one glance, what this mirror does, exactly?"

"It shows one their heart's desire," replied Harrison calmly, looking now to the mirror before he took a breath as he continued with a response that even Dumbledore would later admit was well thought-out. "But even to suggest such a thing is possible; that's an oxymoron because, for example, the happiest person in the world could look into the mirror and only see themselves exactly as they are. Therefore, what it really shows us is the deepest, most desperate of desires in our hearts, either in a bid to encourage, disgust or, possibly, drive one insane with the thought of obtaining said desire, whatever the cost."

"Five points to Gryffindor for your understanding," replied Dumbledore, a note of amusement in his voice as he added, "And, you're right, of course: this mirror offers neither knowledge nor truth and, as you yourself have said, men have wasted away staring at it…even gone mad. However, this brings me to the question you raised earlier, regarding a trap."

"One not meant for me, according to you," said Harrison, earning a nod from Dumbledore before he asked, "So does that mean you are my ally as you claimed to be when you gave me what was rightfully mine to begin with?"

"I am, and I did mean every word," replied Dumbledore, taking a breath before, removing his spectacles, he rubbed at his nose before returning his glasses to his face as he went on. "I understand your scepticism given the mistakes I have made and the lack of trust I have earned from you; and I suppose, given your cautionary nature, you've also had your cloak checked for…hidden surprises?"

"Yup…but you needn't worry: Professor Flitwick returned it to me within forty-eight hours, saying it was clean," said Harrison, earning an amused chuckle from the Headmaster while Harrison's lips twitched in amusement as he added, "Of course, if I had found any surprises, you can bet your pension that I would have made sure you knew what me disappointed looked like, you do realise that, don't you, Headmaster?"

"I do and I would not have blamed you for seeking retribution," agreed Dumbledore, a note of humour in his words while he also cleared his throat as he went on, "However, contrary to what you assume of me, my boy, I am not here to be your enemy or to lead you down a path you do not wish to walk…and not just because of the rare circumstances with your Sorting or the skill and power you demonstrated back on Halloween Night, which I assume you've been looking into."

"And found a few theories, but nothing concrete, yes," finished Harrison, folding his arms before, turning away from the mirror, he walked across the room towards the back wall where, placing a hand against the cool, stone brickwork, he sniffed once as he added, "But that's not what I want to talk about, Headmaster: you said it's time for the talk, which, as you know, is the only topic I want to discuss with you: my former place of residence with magic-hating relatives and everything else that happened to me since then."

As Dumbledore nodded, he cleared his throat before he asked, "Then, if I might offer a comforting suggestion, Harrison: perhaps we could adjourn to my office? If you wish Filius or your friends there, I will send them a message and they can meet us."

"I'd appreciate that," replied Harrison honestly, though he didn't sound like it.

Then again, it was Harrison, so such attitudes were normal, especially around anyone he didn't trust.

Knowledge is Power

Ten minutes later, a solemn, but curious-looking Harrison, as well as Neville, Hermione and a curious, but also-relieved Professor Flitwick gathered in the office of Albus Dumbledore, the familiar sights, sounds and even smells – as Harrison noted when he smelled a burning scent that indicated Dumbledore's phoenix had just gone through a Burning Day – helping relax Harrison, but not enough that he dropped his guard.

Instead, looking away from the Headmaster while he examined the small, slightly-mottled-looking chick with pale-red feathers to the man's desk, he asked, "Well, Headmaster? Where do you want to start?"

"Before I start," replied Dumbledore, looking away from Harrison as he directed his next words at the three others with them.

"I must ask that you each give me your word, without magic involved that you will not speak of what I'm about to reveal to anyone. Not your friends, family members or even your peers; what is said in this room stays between the five of us."

"As Harrison's Head of House, I am bound by confidentiality vows anyway, Albus, but you have my word," said Filius, looking once to his student as he explained, "However, if you ever need to discuss what we're about to learn, Harrison, my door will be open to you."

"Thank you, sir," said Harrison; when Neville and Hermione also gave their words and added that Harrison could also come to them if he needed to talk, the young sorcerer finally pulled himself away from the chick to return to his friends and the old man with them.

Taking a seat, which put him between his friends, Harrison cleared his throat before he asked, "So where do we start, Headmaster?"

"Where all good explanations, start, Harrison, at the beginning," replied Dumbledore, drawing his wand from his robe before, flicking it once, he conjured a tray of treats and drinks for everyone, indicating them as he explained, "And while we talk, help yourselves to nibbles and refreshments: after all, you're here, so you're missing dinner and I'd hate to deny growing boys and girls of their food."

While the trio thanked the Headmaster for his generosity, Harrison reminded Dumbledore to keep on topic as he cleared his throat before he took a breath as he asked in a cool, calculating tone, "Tell you what, Headmaster: how about we do it like this as a sort of compromise between us? I'll ask you what I want to know and you give me the answers. However, if I suspect you're holding back, I'm out that door and you will never get the olive branch extended to you again, deal?"

Nodding once, Dumbledore wiped a stray tear from his eye, a part of him wondering exactly how someone as sweet and innocent as Harrison used to be when he was a baby could be so like Tom, but not Tom at the same time – as was evident by the warmth and trust shown between friends, teachers and Dumbledore himself – before he replied, "You have a deal, Harrison. Of course, after today, if I pass your test, if there is anything more you would like to know about, you may ask me and send your lovely owl my way."

Harrison just hummed in response before, clicking his tongue once, he asked, "Okay, so we'll start with the big one: why did my parents die?"

Even Neville looked surprised by Harrison's frankness while, at the same time, Hermione's skin paled in fear and worry.

At the same time, Albus looked somewhere between troubled and with an expression similar to one who'd known something like that would be first on the young man's list of queries. Still…he had promised to tell the truth and tell Harrison what he wanted to know and, small though it was right now, Albus knew he needed to find a way to open the door further so he could try and redeem the mistakes of the past by helping Harrison achieve his ideal future.

Biting his lower lip, the old man cleared his throat before he spoke, "First, and I advise you to listen very carefully to this, children: what you are about to learn is not common knowledge. Nor is it the sort of thing I would expect to burden eleven-and-twelve-year-old minds with so early in their development…however, Harrison, you have asked for the truth and I will give it."

Here, Dumbledore indicated a surprised-looking Neville as he went on, "At the same time, it is fortunate that you are one of the few he trusts with this, Mr Longbottom, because, and I am sorry to admit this now, but what I have to tell Harrison also concerns you…in a small way."

Suddenly, Neville's expression could have matched the dark look Harrison had at Christmas.

One of dread, dislike and memories he would much rather forget if he could, while his voice was low and edged by nervousness and suspicion as he asked, "My…my parents' attacks?"

"Exactly," said Albus, linking his hands together while he cleared his throat again, tugging at his collar like there was a lump lodged there, before he continued, "You see, shortly before the two of you were born, I was interviewing candidates for the role of Professor in one of the electives you can take in your third year: Divination."

"Which sounds as silly as one believing their heart's desire is so easily-achieved, sir, with all due respect," argued Harrison coolly, shrugging once before he explained, "I might not know much about the subject in question, but the art of Divination, revolving around fortunes, fate and the idea of Seers and the Gift could only really be taught to those born into such things…right?"

"I suppose," agreed Dumbledore, looking now to Harrison while he explained, "However, at the moment in time where this explanation takes place, I was interviewing a…shall we say…shady character who didn't appear to possess much in the way of The Gift. However, she is a direct descendant of one of the most-powerful and renowned Seers in history, so I was tempted to give her a chance; unfortunately, as you suspect, she didn't seem too keen to demonstrate her talents, so I was prepared to let her go."

Here, Dumbledore's eyes darkened with pain and sorrow as he whispered, "That was when it happened…just as I was about to deliver the sad news, this applicant…our very own Professor Sybil Trelawney…she went into a trance, much like the one you went into on Halloween Night in your bout with Mr Malfoy, Harrison."

Harrison's glare hardened in his face while Neville and Hermione both looked surprised by this revelation.

At the same time, even Filius seemed troubled by what he was hearing even as Dumbledore went on. "She seemed to be pitching a fit and, at the same time, there was this intense magical air about her that drew me in again…and that was when she said it."

Pausing to take a long draught from a goblet of lemon juice, Dumbledore cleared his throat before he took a deep breath as he recited the very thing Harrison wanted to hear.

The truth…

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.

Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies.

And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not.

And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.

As he finished his recitation, Dumbledore looked up in time to see Harrison had gone very still, his posture was tense while his green eyes had a glow about them that had never been there before, not even when he'd gone into his own trance back in the aforementioned duel with Draco.

Next to him, however, Neville appeared to have gone a sickly shade of pale, his eyes wide and his pupils like black dots in his face as he took in what the Headmaster had just told them.

After only a moment, however, Harrison was the first to break the silence as he whispered, "Voldemort…he came after them…because of this…"

"Yes," said Dumbledore sadly, a part of him then aware of a troubled, if not terrified look in the eyes of Miss Hermione Granger while Filius looked somewhere between angry and saddened, though he seemed more concerned by the state of mind his protégé was in.

As Harrison drew in a slow, surprisingly-calm breath, however, he looked once to Neville as he said, "Your birthday…it's the same time as mine."

"The day before," said Dumbledore, earning another suspicious look from Harrison while Neville was still white, though his expression looked like he was switching between rage, pain, sorrow and even hatred as he glared daggers at Dumbledore while the Headmaster went on. "You, on the other hand, Harrison, had been born at seven minutes to midnight on July thirty-first, nearly twelve years ago now. Your parents had also confronted and survived Voldemort's wrath on three separate occasions, including escaping an attempt to coerce them into siding with him and an attempt on your Mother's life while she was pregnant with you."

"Marked as his equal…" whispered Harrison, a note of amusement in his voice as he asked, "That wouldn't be the scar on my brow, would it?"

"It's possible," replied Dumbledore, a note of worry in his voice as he took a shaky breath before he added, "However, as you have likely figured out by now, Harrison, this prophecy was leaked to Voldemort, who decided, as we have speculated, that you were his target. As a result, your parents were forced into hiding, using a complex and very powerful charm known as the Fidelius Charm."

"Albus!" hissed Filius suddenly, his voice edged by a note of sheer disbelief and horror as he asked, "Are you seriously telling me you put the fates of Lily and James in the hands of one person when even I know of how the wards at the ancestral castle homestead of the Potters could have kept a nest of rampaging dragons out, let alone him! Are you honestly telling me that?"

"I am…and I am saddened to admit it, Harrison, but this was but the first of the mistakes I made to cause you…whatever traumas have led to you being the way you are today," replied Dumbledore, a lone tear rolling down his cheek while he took a breath as he went on.

"You see, at the time, we had many candidates for the Secret Keeper, as is the title of the one Filius just mentioned, but not a lot of time to decide, given the fact that Lord Voldemort had stepped up his assaults, resulting in the deaths of the Bones family, save young Susan, whom is a Hufflepuff and niece to Director Bones of the DMLE in the Ministry. There was also an attack on the Prewitt Family, whom young Mr Weasley and his twin and Prefect siblings in Gryffindor were related to via their Mother…and, as a final jest to your family, Voldemort captured, tortured and, eventually, left your grandparents, Charles and Dorea, for dead…but not before James found them."

Suddenly, Harrison's chair flew back in a fit of rage while the young wizard himself leapt out of his seat, his eyes filled with rage, fury and no small amount of hurt as he snapped, "This…Secret Keeper…name him!"

"Peter Pettigrew," replied Albus, a note of pain in his voice as he explained, "Though I am ashamed to admit I did not admit this myself, Harrison; you see, in a bid to protect the Potters and believe in the old friendship between your Father and said man, I let a rumour be leaked out saying that Sirius Black, whom was your Father's closest friend, was the Secret Keeper instead."

"But Black's in Azkaban, isn't he?" asked Neville suddenly, earning an alarmed look from Harrison while Dumbledore nodded.

"Indeed, he is, Mr Longbottom, and many believe it was for betraying Lily and James to Voldemort; however, his crimes stretch further than that. For when he was apprehended, he was found laughing like a madman in the middle of a destroyed Muggle street…after having apparently murdered twelve Muggles and young Pettigrew too."

While Harrison's eyes widened to new levels, Dumbledore held up a single finger as he added, "A finger was all that remained and, given Black's mental state, he was sentenced to Azkaban by Bartemius Crouch Senior, the former Director of the DMLE."

"Without a trial?" asked Harrison, earning a shake of the head from Dumbledore. "Didn't anyone try anything? What about you, Headmaster? Aren't you meant to be some high-ranked authority all your own?"

"I was and still am Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, yes," replied Dumbledore, earning another enraged glare from Harrison.

This time, however, Albus also saw what looked like sparks crackling against the boy's body as the Headmaster went on.

"However, you must understand, Harrison: this was an age of fear, terror and suspicion and, given the fallout from your parents' deaths due to the betrayal of their best friend and the evidence stacked against him…"

"You could have said something!" hissed Harrison, though as he did so, his eyes widened suddenly as he asked, "Hang on…this Black person, he wouldn't happen to own a…a flying motorbike and sidecar, would he?"

"He was given it as a gift by Lily, yes," replied Dumbledore, his eyes narrowing suddenly as he asked, "But how do you know that, Harrison?"

"Because I remember it, you senile old fool!" hissed Harrison, his sharp, furious tone surprising Hermione while Neville looked just as troubled by this news as Harrison himself as said wizard continued, "I remember a bike taking me away from Godric's Hollow by your gamekeeper, Hagrid…but just before I remember that bike, I remember someone demanding Hagrid give me to them…was that Sirius?"

"I…I would imagine so, but I had given Hagrid strict instructions…"

Suddenly, even Hermione jumped while Filius looked alarmed when Harrison's magic was let loose again: this time, however, the strength of said magic broke clean through the tray Dumbledore had conjured, as well as the table underneath; as for the treats and drinks, they were now splayed out across the floor, the liquid bubbling and frothing while the cakes, treats and sandwiches actually seemed to melt away, as though they'd been eaten by acid.

As for Harrison, his breath was slow, shaky and edged by tearful rage and pain as he hissed, "So…so it was you…you who left…left me with them!"

As shocked as he was by the boy's power, especially since he vaguely recalled Minerva saying how Harrison had never had an Accidental Magic outburst, Dumbledore still tried to maintain his look of pain, regret and remorse as he whispered, "Yes…but Harrison, please, you must understand; they were your only family…I thought…I hoped…"

"They abandoned me!" thundered Harrison, slamming his hands down on the cracked table while he snapped, "In London, Headmaster: they left me and lost me and when the Muggles tried to help, they…they found they'd run away! Left me to…to the mercies of an orphanage that was more than willing to hand me over to adoptive parents who abused me, broke my heart, shattered my will, took my trust and left it in a pile of dragon shit!"

"The Millers!" gasped Hermione suddenly, earning a cold, scathing glare from Harrison.

"Don't even speak their name!" snarled Harrison darkly, looking back to Dumbledore as he snapped, "All that happened…all I suffered…all my pain and…and even turning away friendship…happiness…a NORMAL CHILDHOOD!"

Suddenly, a nearby cabinet smashed while Harrison's voice was more like thunder than ever as he boomed, "IT'S YOUR FAULT!"

"Yes I…" Dumbledore began, but before he could finish, he gasped in alarm and fear, his hand quickly moving towards his wand while Neville, Filius and Hermione let out mutual cries of alarm and fear as what could only be described as a raw shockwave of pure, emerald-green magic flew out of Harrison, turning the old man's office into a warzone – or the aftermath of one – while even the images in the portraits fled in terror.

At the centre of it, however, Harrison was numb to it all, blind and deaf to the cries of his friends, mentors and the man who claimed he was an ally.

All he knew was the sound of his own scream of rage as the shockwave tore out of him, accompanied by a sound akin to that of a crack of thunder.

Knowledge is Power

The sheer force of the wave, as well as the cry of the one who unleashed it, resonated throughout Hogwarts like the explosion of the world itself, making many people worried, if not alarmed by the sound.

In the Headmaster's office, however, Harrison could do nothing but scream before, to the surprise of the others – all of whom were protected by a shield Dumbledore had barely managed to get up in time – his shockwave receded, his scream died down and, right there and then, he did the only thing he seemed able to do.

He fell to the floor, narrowly missing the jagged edge of Dumbledore's desk as he fell, his body now as limp as a ragdoll while his eyes rolled into the back of his head as the blackness of unconsciousness came for him.

Knowledge is Power

As Harrison fell and his friends and mentors rushed to check on him, however, none of them were aware of just how powerful the wave Harrison had unleashed had become.

Knowledge is Power

Unbeknownst to said boy, not to mention those in the Great Hall whom were enjoying the evening meal, in an office meant for a certain kind of teacher, Professor Quirinus Quirrell suddenly felt his whole body burning up, though the cause of it was unknown to him.

Him or his disembodied master, who let out a primal scream all his own as he exclaimed, "What is this ma…"

Before the shade of Lord Voldemort could finish, however, his host body exploded in a shower of blood, gore and ashes made up of magical origins the likes of which even he had never experienced.

All that remained was a bloodbath, a pile of burned-up robes and a single black mark on the back wall of the man's office.

A mark shaped like a bolt of lightning.

Chapter 24 and, holy shit, talk about the truth setting you free, but it looks like Harrison's 'freedom' like all magic, comes with a price, but what is that price and what will it mean for our hero now?

Also, what the bloody hell – no puns intended – happened to Quirrellmort and what will become of our emotionless hero now he's learned the dark truth of his past, not to mention ties he shares with friends and family?

Keep Reading to Find Out

Next Chapter: Harrison's not dead, but he might as well be given the fact he won't wake; however, while friends worry, allies ponder and even those who loathe his guts worry about him, it seems our hero's on a new adventure all his own: one of self-discovery and, through that, regeneration into the true wizard he is…but who will that be? Only time will tell;

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