"Mum!" Dudley called out as soon as he had burst through the door. Harry slinked in behind him and quietly latched the door behind them. Normally, Harry would be home before Dudley but today Dudley had rushed home to tell his mother of Harry's new situation.
"You'll never believe it, Mum." Dudley said from the kitchen where Aunt Petunia was clipping coupons from the newest mailer. "They pulled the freak from class today and they told us he isn't coming back. They put him in special classes with some tutor."
"Is that true?" Aunt Petunia addressed Harry now who was standing in the hallway awkwardly. Her eyes were narrowed coldly at him.
"Yes." Harry answered and thought of his conversation with Professor McGonagall. They had spent the rest of the lesson talking about his home life and coming up with a cover story for what he was learning with her.
"Who is this tutor?" Aunt Petunia asked and Dudley stood beside her nearly bouncing in glee.
"Some teacher from one of the village schools that works on special cases like mine." Harry answered.
"And what is she teaching you?" Aunt Petunia questioned further and Harry squirmed under her gaze. It felt as if she knew something was up and was trying to get to the bottom of it. Special and Harry were two words that never went together nicely in her vocabulary and Harry was sure that if she thought he was getting something Dudley wasn't she would raise hell.
"Mostly remedial stuff." Harry answered again and shuffled through his sack that he had gotten from one of the school's donation bins. He handed her the book that the professor had said would keep his relatives from asking too many questions.
"Year 1 Maths!" Dudley read aloud and howled with laughter. "They finally know where you belong, freak!"
Aunt Petunia regarded the book carefully and flipped through a few pages before handing it back to him. "It would seem they have."
"May I go back to my cupboard now?" Harry asked and she nodded. Harry could make out Dudley continuing to blather on about how Harry was an idiot and the prank he pulled on one of the other boys today without being caught. Harry rolled his eyes finally free of his relatives and in the safety of his own space. He clicked the light on with a pull on the string and pulled the book back out. It was no longer 'Year 1 Maths', but was rather a book on magical creatures.
The professor had told him that any muggle who picked up the book would think it was just a remedial text as she had placed a charm on it. Harry had been quite impressed and had half expected it not to work, but it had. Magic was really amazing.
Harry sat down his things and began to read about something called an Acromantula. The professor had told him she wouldn't be assigning any real homework as she knew it would be hard for him to take notes, but she recommended he read the books anyway so the next day would be a bit easier. Some of the words were hard for him to understand, but Harry tried to learn as much as he could. Plus, it was better than being out there in any case.
Harry found he really enjoyed reading, especially about magic things. The sounds of his relatives and the neighbors slipped away as he continued to get fully engrossed in the book. A sudden bang on his door interrupted his thoughts. He stuffed his book back into his sack quickly sensing something was amiss. How long had he been reading for?
Harry opened his cupboard to find his uncle outside his room looking uncharacteristically pale.
"You have guests." He muttered and Harry stared at him in shock. Guests? Harry had never had anybody visit him before. He followed the large man into the sitting room where the oddest man Harry had ever set eyes on sat next to Professor McGonagall who was clad in full witch regalia including a pointed hat. The man beside her wore a bright purple robe and had a long beard that had been tied at the end with some sort of beaded rope. His bright blue eyes twinkled at Harry behind a set of half-moon glasses.
He gulped, should he pretend like he didn't know her? Harry locked eyes with the professor and she smiled at him reassuringly.
"It would seem our cat is out of the bag, Mr. Potter." She said.
Did that mean no more lessons? Harry thought sadly. He had really enjoyed his day with the professor and felt as if he had really learned something in school for once.
"Harry, my boy." The old man greeted with a familiarity that unsettled him, "It is wonderful to see you again."
"I'm sorry, sir. I don't know who you are." Harry blurted out.
"Ah, yes, of course. I'm Albus Dumbledore, the current headmaster of Hogwarts." He answered cheerfully seemingly unfazed by Harry's ignorance. Harry stood there awkwardly unsure of what to say to the man. What was the headmaster doing here with the professor?
"Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall spoke, finally breaking the tension that had settled in the room. "Would you show the headmaster and I your room?"
Harry looked to the Dursleys who had huddled together in the corner looking quite cowed by the witch and wizard. Dudley had burrowed his head into his mother's apron while she stroked his head gently. They didn't seem to even notice he was there.
"Er, sure." Harry answered. He wondered how long they had been there and what had happened between the Dursleys and them. He had never seen his uncle look so timid. Harry led them to the hallway and opened his cupboard door. The headmaster ducked into the tight space with some difficulty and came out with his hat toppled crookedly on his head. Harry leaned against the hallway wall trying to stay out of the way.
Professor McGonagall had taken out her wand and the pair seemed to talk to one another. Harry had tried to listen to what they were saying, but every time he did a strange buzzing sound filled his ears. He assumed she must have cast a spell to keep their conversation private. The professor looked quite agitated and was speaking quite quickly to the elder wizard who had begun to look grim. He nodded at Professor McGonagall and suddenly the buzzing sound faded.
"Mr. Potter, it would seem you and I have much to discuss." The headmaster announced with some finality. "How would you like to see Hogwarts?"
Harry nodded enthusiastically. "Please, sir. I would like it more than anything!"
The man chuckled and held out his hand for Harry to take. He did without a second thought.
"This may be quite unpleasant." He warned and Harry suddenly felt as if he was being squeezed through a tight tube. He gripped onto the headmaster's hand tightly afraid that if he let go he would be squeezed to nothing. His eyes were shut tightly in fear, but the sensation quickly ended. Harry peeked open carefully to find himself in a dimly lit room. He could feel his heart racing with anticipation as he took in his surroundings.
The first thing he noticed was there were no lights. The whole room had been lit by a single fireplace and several large metal candle holders throughout the place. The back wall was covered by a large array of books and odd trinkets that Harry had never seen the equal of. Several large portraits hung close to the ceiling with figures that seemed to be sleeping. There was a large window that let in some moonlight and Harry assumed they must be high up as there were no tops of trees or homes to be seen. The walls themselves were made of stone and the floor had been carpeted with several layers of ornately decorated rugs in many different colors. The headmaster let go of Harry and sat behind a large desk in a plush looking chair.
"Please, sit." The headmaster gestured to the seats before him and Harry sat very carefully afraid to ruin the antique looking furniture. That was when he saw the most magnificent part of the room. On a golden perch next to the headmaster's desk sat a bright red bird whose feathers sparked alight with embers.
"A phoenix!" Harry exclaimed. He had been reading about them in the book the professor had given him. He had never thought he would actually get to see one though. It was the most beautiful creature Harry had ever set eyes on. It regarded Harry carefully and let out a single trill that filled Harry with a sense of calm.
"I see you've noticed Fawkes. Although I would assume it is very hard not to. He outshines me even in my most outlandish robes." The headmaster stroked the phoenix, who nibbled at his fingers playfully. "Would you care for a lemon drop, Harry?" The man opened a small crystal container that held many bright yellow candies. Harry took one and popped it into his mouth curiously. The sour flavor made his face pucker and he spit it out quickly.
"I suppose they aren't for everyone." He said with a kind smile before taking two himself and shutting the vessel.
"Sorry." Harry said and stuffed the discarded sweet into his pocket.
"Nothing to apologize for, my boy. Now, I need to ask you some very personal questions and I would like you to answer them honestly."
Harry clenched the bottom of his t-shirt. He wasn't sure he liked where this conversation was going. The man seemed harmless enough and he had brought him to Hogwarts or at least that was where Harry assumed he was, but Harry didn't know him at all. The professor seemed to trust him, but Harry also didn't know her very well either.
"How do you like living with your relatives?" The headmaster asked, staring down at Harry thoughtfully.
"It's fine." Harry answered automatically and the wizard frowned. He broke eye contact with the man and stared down at the carpet. "I'm very lucky Aunt Petunia has been generous enough to let me stay with her."
"Harry," The wizard addressed him and Harry looked up at him again. His blue eyes twinkled kindly and Harry felt a wave of guilt crash upon him. "You can speak freely here. I promise, no harm will come to you for being truthful."
Harry didn't know why, but he believed him. He let out a long sigh and flexed his fingers away from his shirt and held them flat against his jeans to try and rid them of his perspiration. Perhaps the man could help him; Professor McGonagall certainly seemed to want to.
"They don't like me." Harry began and found himself staring at Fawkes. Focusing on the bird seemed to give him the strength to continue. "I've never done anything to try to make them mad, but they're always so angry at me. Aunt Petunia thinks I'm a big burden on her and the family. She told me my parents had died in a car crash and left me there to make her life miserable. They lock me in that cupboard to make sure I don't get up to any trouble while they're sleeping, but I would never do that!" Harry could feel himself starting to get angry at the Dursleys again. "Dudley does nothing, but whine, eat, and bully people and they love him! Even when I try to be good and try to do what they want, nothing is ever good enough."
Tears pricked at his eyes in frustration and self-loathing. Even after he had found out the truth, he had still tried to be good. Part of him still wanted his aunt to accept him as her own and to feel wanted. He knew now that he had purpose and that magic was waiting just around the corner for him, but all the magic in the world wouldn't make them love him. He felt something shatter in him at the realization and the tears poured freely down his cheeks.
"Harry, I know this is difficult for you. I just have one more question," The headmaster sounded sad and Harry looked up to see his blue eyes had become glossy. "Do you think of that place as home?"
Harry thought for a moment and shook his head sadly. "I've never felt like I belonged there."
"It would seem Professor McGonagall was correct in her assumptions then." The headmaster pressed his hands together to form a steeple as he stared thoughtfully into the flames. Harry felt some relief at getting a break from his piercing gaze. Something about those eyes just seemed to see deeper into Harry than he would have cared to reveal. "Alas, I've kept you up far beyond your bedtime. Would you like to see where you will be staying tonight?"
Harry did feel quite drained from all the activity of the evening and his eyes were still burning from the tears. "You mean I don't have to go back?" Harry questioned the wizened man who now stood before him.
"Not tonight." He answered and Harry felt a little disappointed. He had wanted the headmaster to tell him that he would finally be free of his awful relatives, but he supposed that had been pretty dumb to think. Who else would take in a kid that wasn't even related to them? He had already burdened his relatives, why then did he hope that he could burden someone else instead?
The wizard placed a gentle arm on his shoulder and led him away from the magnificent office and into his room for the evening. Harry was happy to note it wasn't another broom closet under the stairs. Instead, it was a rather generous bedroom with dark furniture, a comfy looking blanket, and plush pillows. Harry had never seen anything look so inviting before. The man bid him goodnight and Harry dove straight into the bed. His mind was still tired and numb from his admission to the headmaster and so sleep came easily.