Chapter 21: Where He's Been
The day he escaped custody Dumbledore had immediately attempted to go back to Hogwarts to get things from his office but found the wards around the castle were barring his entrance. This had infuriated him 'I have been Headmaster here for nearly forty years and now the school itself has turned on me.' He thought before apparating away. He needed to find a place to lie low. He refused to leave Britain though. He would be needed for when Voldemort finally returned no matter how everyone saw him.
He decided to disguise himself, so after much deliberation he cut his beard and hair before dying them both light brown. He then made his way to Devon. He decided he needed to be close to a wizarding family so he'd be able to get bits and pieces of information going on in the wizarding world. He chose the Weasley's because due to their numerous children they rarely made their way into the nearby town which would mean he could hide in plain sight. He had been able to snag an old copy of the Daily Prophet from the Weasley's bin and was shocked when he say the headline from the Monday after he escaped.
'Whatley is dead?' he thought, 'No I only stunned him…this isn't my fault.' He had tried to rationalize this so he could shift blame to someone else as he always had. 'No its all Minerva's fault. If she had just done as I told her to do everything would have been fine.' He growled to himself. He sighed and returned to the house he was staying in.
He had found a young man in town who lived alone and modified the boy's memory to make him believe Albus was his long lost uncle. The young man readily agreed to let Albus stay with him. After settling in Albus knew he had to get to brewing his specialty potions if he was going to get any allies. He couldn't do anything to Arthur and Molly because as soon as they saw him whether he was disguised or not. They'd immediately recognize him and report him. His best bet would be to get one of their children to be his lackey.
He waited for a long time for the chance to get one of the young red heads alone, but anytime they came out in the open they were always with and adult or one of the older children who knew who he was he couldn't risk being identified. Finally after watching for nearly six years one of the young Weasley's came out all by himself. Albus approached the boy in a friendly manner offering him some candy. The boy greedily accepted it which made the old man smirk. Less then a minute after eating it the boy appeared to look at the former Headmaster with admiration.
He learned the boy's name was Ronald, the youngest of the Weasley's boys, and the boy told him all about a party he had been at for Harry's seventh birthday. Albus frowned at this, he had hoped to have Harry more secluded and away from the wizarding world to keep him from becoming too confident. Clearly, Minerva didn't share his sentiment as she was apparently raising the boy amongst other witches and wizards. Albus had been surprised to learn that Narcissa Malfoy and her son had been taken in by Sirius and Sirius had been officially named Lord Black of House Black.
To Albus' disappointment he also learned Ronald had made an ass of himself at this party. He had hoped to use the boy to get close to Harry. He could tell Ronald was a bit dumb and definitely lazy, so if he was able to become Harry's friend he would be able to influence the boy not to try so hard their by making Harry more dependent on those around him. This plan wouldn't work anymore though since Ronald tried to bully one of Harry's longtime friends Ronald would never be able to attain Harry's full trust.
His next idea was to get Ronald to slip Harry one of Albus' potions. Albus was by no means a potions master but there were a few potions he excelled at making. Loyalty Potions and Revulsion Potions were his specialty. But the next time the Weasley's were invited to Harry's home, Ronald wasn't allowed to attend so that plan fell through as well. He was beginning to lose his patience with this boy. He still considered himself 'The Leader of Light' so he refused to Imperius a seven year old he'd just have to convince the boy to be as friendly as he could the next time he saw Harry.
He had a hard time developing plans now he wasn't headmaster and a wanted criminal, he couldn't reach out to his contacts to set up anything. He was sure Alastor Moody was trying to hunt him down, and watching all of his old contacts closely for any sign of him. They had been close friends for years, but now Albus was a wanted criminal and wanted for murdering a cadet Auror, Alastor would likely be on the war path to capture him. Moody was one of the ones he could never potion up. The man refused to take any candy or drink from anyone, let alone Albus. The man's 'Constant Vigilance' mantra kept Albus from properly controlling the most dangerous Auror out there. The only thing he could do was befriend him and keep him close.
'If only I knew where Peter was,' he'd tell himself, 'I could use him as a spy to keep an eye on Harry.' Soon his prayer was answered.
One day when Ronald came to visit him he held up a rat he had found digging in their trash. Albus immediately recognized the beast as Peter's animagus form. He put the boy to sleep and forced Peter to change back into himself. "Hello Wormtail." He smiled as Peter cowered before him.
"Is that you Professor Dumbledore?" the ragged man asked.
"Indeed." Albus smiled to him.
Peter straightened himself up a bit, "I know you won't try to turn me in you're in even more hot water than I am so what do you want?" The rat man said with more confidence than Albus had anticipated. It irritated him but the bastard was right.
"Of course I'm not planning to turn you in…" Albus smiled, "I simply want your help."
"With what?" Peter asked confused.
"Harry will be going to Hogwarts soon. I need someone to…keep an eye on him for me." He told him.
"Are you insane?!" Peter exclaimed, "Remus is at that school now if he see's me I'm dead!"
"Yes, I read all about the 'Cure' and Remus' appointment as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." He had been annoyed when Ronald brought him that paper, "But fear not I will alter your animagus form so you won't be noticed."
Peter looked worried but asked, "How?"
"We'll change your fur color, and size making you a little smaller. I'll also disillusion that missing finger so it will look as if its still there. No one will be the wiser." Albus said smirking.
"And what do I get out of this?" Peter asked cockily.
"You'll be close to Harry so when your Master finally returns you'll be able to bring the boy to him." Albus grinned.
Peter's eyes widened, "The Dark Lord is going to return?"
"Oh yes Peter he isn't dead I assure you." Albus smiled lying to the man. He had no intention of letting Peter take Harry to Voldemort, but he didn't need to know that.
"Fine I'll do it." Peter said.
"Good now after you transform back and I perform these charms you can't change back or they will be dispelled. You must stay in your rat form until the end of the year and Mr. Weasley here brings you back home. Your actually lucky he brought you to me before his parents they would have recognized you immediately."
"You're right." The man said nervously.
"Now transform back I'll make the changes, awaken Mr. Weasley here, and send him home." Albus told him. Peter obliged and transformed back into his animagus form. Albus made short work of altering the rat form; changing the fur to black, shrinking him making him a bit smaller, and finally making it appear as if the missing finger on the rats claw was still there.
He then woke up Ronald and smiled to him making him think the now black rat was the one he had brought to him. The boy was sent home with the rat in hand to beg his parents to let him keep the rat as a pet. Albus let out a sigh, 'Finally I'll be able to get somewhere.' He thought to himself as he returned to attempting to make plans as he'd have to wait for a long time for Peter's first report but it would be worth it.
Minerva McGonagall was sitting in her office looking over a letter she had received a few months ago from one of Dumbledore's old acquaintances, Nicolas Flamel:
Professor McGonagall,
First I would like to let you know I am truly appalled by what I heard Albus had done. I truly admire your decision to have rescued the Potter Heir from Albus' schemes. I had heard about you from Albus a few times in the past and he always described you and a brilliant witch so I am writing you directly to ask for your advise. As I'm sure you know I am the creator of a very particular item that is rather valuable, the Sorcerer's Stone. Recently, it appears someone is trying to steal it I'm growing exceedingly worried. I'm hoping you could advise me on what I should do. Looking forward to your response.
-Nicolas Flamel
Minerva had thought about this after reading this message. First, thinking it could be anyone who desired the ability to turn and metal into gold, but then she remembered the other use of the Stone. The Elixir of Life, 'Oh Merlin,' she thought, 'If Voldemort gets ahold of that before we find that last Horcrux we'll be doomed.'
She immediately responded requesting he destroy the Stone immediately. She warned him the one attempting to steal it could be after its other ability to create the Elixir of Life and the one responsible may be a very Dark wizard; omitting the part about her thinking it was possibly Voldemort who was after it. She had been waiting for a response from him while looking over his original letter when and owl swooped down into her office. It dropped the letter in front of her and she quickly ripped it open:
Professor McGonagall,
After debating what you told me I finally conceded. You're right, if a Dark wizard is after the Elixir it would be best to destroy the stone. I have since done so. It would be a nightmare if some Dark wizard managed to get it from me. This will be my last correspondence since even with the stone destroyed the one who had been trying to steal it may target me next to get me to make another. I'll be going into hiding in another country. I wish you the best in all your future endeavors.
-Nicolas Flamel
Minerva let out a sigh of relief, "Thank Merlin." She said to herself, "Well now I can finally focus on the new year." She then began to proceed reviewing the lesson plan the new transfiguration teacher had brought her to look over. For the first four years Minerva continued to teach her old class but finally, after being pestered by Remus and Severus, who said she was stretching herself too thin, she had hired a new professor. The woman was young, but like Minerva she was very strict a no nonsense type witch, Minerva liked that. After her interview the young woman asked if it'd be alright for her to submit her lesson plans each year for Minerva to review. She had happily agreed to this and soon learned the woman's style of teaching was very similar to her own as well.
Minerva then sat back in her chair and sighed, 'In just a month Harry will be walking these halls.' She thought. While she was happy she would get to see him throughout the year now the boy himself had given her a stern warning not to peek into his classes or show favoritism towards him. He had heard of his grandmother's 'No nonsense' behavior from the older Weasley's and Nymphadora. He was eager to see her in her 'natural element' as he put it, excited to see a different side to his grandmother than her usual doting self. She let out a another sigh then continued to look over the lesson plan submitted by her sucessor.
A/N: Ugh that old man is actually working with Peter! Ooooo When Sirius finds out Peter is sneaking around Harry...dat traitorous rat will be DEAD! If you can't tell Minerva is clearly not having the nonsense in HER castle. No ridiculous tests will be going on under her watch.
Up Next: Harry and the gang make their way to Hogwarts, but have the most annoying and uncomfortable ride on the way there.