Chapter 7 Take's one

Another short one. Enjoy

The Holiday break and the subsequent semester flew by and it was the last week of term. Ravenclaw won the House Cup thanks in no small part to the ridiculous amount of points I racked up. After the Sharp Mind elixir I didn't even have to try to remember the answers, I just had to read the book once.

It was the day before we left for the summer when I got a summons that had my heart in my throat.

"Professor Dumbledore wishes to speak to you Mr. Diggory." Professor Mcgongall said.

I was so nervous to meet the man, because I had no fucking idea which Dumbledore I would be getting. After reading so much Fanfiction I could barely even really remember what his real cannon personality and motivations were. Then there were all the conspiracy theories. Was he the puppet master that allowed all the bad shit to happen to Harry to turn him into a weapon or was he just overconfident and foolish?
He left a child in the care of people someone he trusts completely in McGonagall just described 'as the worst kind of muggles'. Then didn't check on him for a decade. I mean WTF. Just handwave that away by saying there was a middle age woman watching him from across the street.

Honestly the fact he had someone watching him is even more disturbing because it should mean Dumbledore knew how bad it was. Hence the turning Harry into a weapon theory.

I really didn't know what to expect as I knocked on the door. As I was coming down for a second knock it opened on its own.

"Come in Come in. Take a seat." He said gesturing to the seat in front of his flamboyant desk. "Care for a lemon drop?" he asked as I came forward.

"No thank you" I said, shaking my head as I sat down nervously.

"Tea then." He said pouring some without waiting for a response.

I took it and it smelled good so I took a sip.

"Umm. Is that honey?"
"Indeed it is. I have found I quite like it. Hagrid even raises some bees for my penchant. I hear you have been to see Hagrid many times over the year. I'm sure you have passed right by them."

I gulped. I had been going to see him to build up ties for some of my plans. I didn't like using the big dolt but it was too easy. As long as you treated him as an equal he pretty much was your best friend.

Dumbledore gazed at me for what felt like hours. Just before I was about to ask why he had called me to his office he spoke.

"I think congratulations are in order Mr Diggory, top of your class, very impressive." He said smiling.

"Thank you sir." I said relaxing figuring that was what this was all about.

"Yes, quite impressive. What's more impressive is you brewed the Sharp Mind elixir as a first year."

He must have waited for that exact moment to say that as I had just taken a sip of tea. It predictably went out at supersonic speeds, right at Dumbledore. I guess the jokes on him.

He just waved at himself with his wand and cleaned his face and all that had gotten on his desk, all while smiling the whole time.

Cedric got his first exposure to the Elder Wand. The most powerful wand in existence was feet in front of him. It was just like it had been in the movies. It's knobby vestige was entranc…..

"Many have been lost in lust for this wand Cedric. Don't be its next victim." Dumbledore said putting the wand away, breaking me out of my trance. All geniality gone from his face and demeanor.

"Sorry Sir."
"It's nothing my boy." The fake was back, smiles and all. I was convinced I just saw the real Dumbledore.

"How did you know I brewed the Sharp Mind, sir?"
"Well I only had suspicions until the truth literally hit me in the face." He laughed at that "Your question confirms it completely though."

I stood there slack jawed. Did I really fall for that?

He chuckled but continued "When your deputy Headmistress tells you that a student went from bright to a prodigy seemingly overnight and it's right after a Giant's toe went missing no less, well you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure it out."

That sounded a lot like something only Sherlock Holmes would pick up though. I mean it was still in my first year maybe magic just clicked.

"Really though it was just a shot in the dark. I wasn't sure." He said holding back his

chuckles poorly.

Dammit this man was frustrating.

"Well thank you for that Mr. Diggory, you can go." He said waving his hand.

"Wait that's it." I said shocked I wasn't getting punished for essentially stealing and

basically cheating.

"Oh right thank you for reminding me. You will serve the first month of next year in detention with Snape for stealing his property. It might have been illegal property but two wrongs don't make a right. Don't worry I am docking his pay for having illegal ingredients on

school grounds. Fair is fair after all."

I stood there slacked jawed again did I just punish myself. What just happened?

I started to leave, as I reached the door the real Dumbledore returned.

"The problem with time and age Mr. Diggory" He paused as I turned I saw his sad tired eyes "is that there are always new nightmares to replace the ones you have repressed."

I just stood there opening and closing my mouth like a fish. Apparently he had tried to read my mind and ran into a memory I had suppressed. That's how he knew about the elixir.

Wait does that mean he has taken it as well, was that how he knew?

"Goodbye Mr Diggory, have a good summer. I trust you can find your way back." He said gesturing to the door.