Author's Notes:
Hi everyone! I'm sorry this chapter is a little short. It's finals time and I've been mad busy working on those lately (and waiting to hear back from a job interview...wish me luck!) and I'd rather give you a shorter, but better quality, chapter rather than a long and disjointed one. Even so, I think this chapter is super important and really sets the mood for the remainder of Harry's childhood with the Marauders. So I hope you'll forgive the shortness in leu of the content.
Also, I wanted to let you guys know that I've published a second story! It's called The Lost Ones. It's a Next Gen story about an OC in the Potterverse. I will not be regularly updating that story because I want to be able to focus on Ignoring Destiny since it was my first and already has a set schedule. I will promise to post at least once a month for TLO until after the bar exam. Once that's over I should have way more time to devote to consistent updates for both stories.
Also, keep an eye out for a one shot I've been working on over the last month or so! It's been coming together little by little when I've had writers block for ID. It's a bit funky, but I think it's interesting (obviously!) .
Midnitewanderer: I'm sorry I had to do that to you last time! No cliffhangers this time, I promise. Definitely root for Rick. I promise this will be a Remus/Tonks fic. I know what you're trying to say about Narcissa. She loves her husband and respects the old, pure-blood views but she also understands that the changing of time requires adaption and evolution. She may be used to the finer things in life, but she also knows what she wants and will do whatever necessary to achieve it. She's kind of badass in my book. Geekymom: Thank you, as always, for reading and reviewing!
Well, Ramble time is over. Thanks for reading Ignoring Destiny! Until next week, folks!
Chapter Twenty: Knowledge Is Power
James watched the memories silently while Dumbledore stood next to him. He watched as young Voldemort learned about Hogwarts and demanded Dumbledore give him a demonstration. He watched, and gasped, as the younger Dumbledore lit Voldemort's dresser on fire and Voldemort dumped his box of trophies onto the bed.
He watched in confusion as young Voldemort showed up at Hepzibah Smith's house and as she showed him her prize treasures: the locket of Slytherin and Hufflepuff's cup.
As they came back out of the pensieve, James was more confused than ever as to what Dumbledore thought was important about these particular memories. To him, they seemed like small snippets of days in the life of Tom Riddle. Sure, the first one showed he was a sociopath, but that was something they already knew.
Dumbledore sat back in his chair and looked at James over the tips of his fingers, "What did you think?"
"To be honest, I'm not sure why those memories are important. We already know Voldemort's a sociopath."
Dumbledore smiled at James, "I'm afraid I must admit that I, too, am unsure where in the puzzle these two particular pieces fit. I do know, however, that shortly after Lord Voldemort visited Ms. Hepzibah Smith she died and her two prized possessions, the Cup of Hufflepuff and Slytherin's Locket, disappeared."
James sat up, suddenly intrigued and confused, "They disappeared? Has anyone seen them since? Wait, what did she die of?"
"That is, as they would say, the million-galleon question. Those particular treasures have not been seen since Ms. Smith showed them to Lord Voldemort. Mr. Borgin tried tirelessly to obtain those particular objects from Ms. Smith but never succeeded. They have since been lost to time. As for Hepzibah Smith, she was found, dead, two days after her encounter with young Voldemort. It seems that her house elf, Hokey, in her old age, mixed up the sugar and rat poison one evening while making her mistress a cup of tea. She was, of course, disciplined by the Ministry and has subsequently passed. With some difficult spell work, I was able to break the memory enchantments placed on Hokey and I was able to retrieve this memory."
"Memory enchantments?"
"Yes. Someone, Lord Voldemort I suspect, placed strong memory altering charms upon Hokey the house elf so that she wouldn't remember, or, more accurately, would remember incorrectly the events of the day her mistress passed."
"But why? What purpose does changing the memories of a house elf serve Voldemort?"
"I have no idea. I speculate that he is the one who stole Hepzibah Smith's treasures. Why, I cannot say at this time."
"So, what's important your memory?"
"I honestly have no idea," Dumbledore said smiling emptily, "Perhaps because it shows that, even as a young child, he enjoyed torturing others."
"Well, fat lot of good this does to help us prepare for him to ever come back. Have you started researching into those immortality possibilities? Maybe if we knew more about them this would all make more sense."
"I have," Dumbledore said as he stood up and strode to one of his many book shelves.
Dumbledore raised his wand and tapped a book on the shelf with the point of it. Suddenly, the books on the shelf moved away and formed an entrance into a side chamber from Dumbledore's office. He looked back at James and motioned for him to follow as he stepped into the side room. James quickly followed him, both astounded and not all that shocked to learn that the headmaster's office had some special secrets about it.
Inside the room was what seemed to be a private study complete with a bathroom, a second desk, a coffee station with a french press, candy table, and several more book shelves. Some of these shelves were encased and secured with locking charms. James watched in fascination as Dumbledore made some complicated wand movements in front of one of these encased shelves and it sprung open. Dumbledore proceeded to reach in and remove several books before turning to James.
"These are some of the various books that have been removed from the school library over the several centuries we have been open. A few contain information relating to Horcruxes, one has information about philosopher's stones, two are potions books that contain incomplete recipes for those we had discussed. But even with these, the research is incomplete. I need access to those books that only some pure blood families have. Some families have works so ancient in their vaults that are not replicated anywhere else. But, alas, I will most likely never be granted access to those works.
"You are welcome to borrow these for educational purposes of course. I will expect them back upon the completion of your inquiries."
James gingerly took the books from Dumbledore. He looked down at them, it was almost as if he could feel the evil of them leaking out onto his fingertips. He looked at the top book; it was made of black leather, what he hoped was leather, and was embossed with liquid gold. He didn't recognize the symbols on the front, he assumed they were ancient runes. He supposed he had to learn how to read runes now.
"Uh, thank you?" James asked, unsure of how he should respond to the moment.
"You are very welcome," Dumbledore said, smiling, "If you will follow me, I don't like to dwell too long in this particular room."
"Albus," James started as they walked back into the main office area, "We need to discuss the prophecy. If Voldemort comes back like we think he will, we need to prepare Harry for what he's going to have to do."
"I have already given you my advice, James, that has not changed."
"Albus, I think you're really not thinking this through. Sure, Harry is a child. But if we train him now, without telling him he's training for something, isn't that better than sending him in blind, unprepared, and defenseless when Voldemort ultimately returns?"
"James, you need to let Harry be a child. Training him now for war will change who he is meant to be. Should a child grow up knowing he will have to kill or be killed?"
"Yes! So that he can better prepare himself for the eventuality of his situation he should! He needs proper training, a variance from the Ministry to practice defensive and offensive magic outside of school. He needs physical training, martial arts and weaponry. He needs knowledge, Albus, just as much as he needs to be able to be a child. He can have both."
"I believe," Dumbledore said carefully, "that this is where we must agree to disagree, James. If you wish to choose to train Harry I shall not stop you. I will assist in any way that I can. But, please, remember my advice and think about this before you make your decision."
"I have thought about it, Albus, and I've made my decision. Harry needs training and he's going to get it. He's going to learn how to fight with his fists and with weapons as it becomes more age appropriate. I can't have the information and the ability to prepare him and then not do it. That would be setting him up like a lamb for slaughter, Albus."
"It is your choice."
"Damn right it's my choice. I'm his bloody father!" James yelled, "I need to get home. If you have any more information you choose to be forthcoming with, I will appreciate it. Until then, you know where to find me."
With that, James turned on his heel and threw floo powder onto the logs in the fireplace and headed home.
End Notes:
Thank you for reading Ignoring Destiny! Please make sure to check out my other story, The Lost Ones and to like, follow, and review this chapter!
