To The Dark Lord
Jo
Disclaimer: story idea and Ocs* I'd like to claim, everything Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.
*Notes at end.
_0.o_
Chapter Three: Game of Confessions.
_O.o_
Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards.
and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was without question a powerful man.
In four years Harry had never had reason to fear The Headmaster, but in this moment as his knees throbbed and his heart raced all he wanted was to run as far from the man's perceptive gaze as he could get, it didn't help any that the prickling in his scar was starting again.
Lucky for Harry Snape chose that moment to come charging out of the purple flames unluckily Snape also walked right into him.
"Disrespectful child, get up. You are here for a serious discussion with the headmaster, not to loll about on the floor in front of the fire like a dog." He yanked Harry up roughly, dragging him across the office and pushed him into a seat across from the Headmasters desk.
Harry tightly griped the wooden arms of the chair and levered himself so he was properly sitting, his movements were slow as he focused. Harry hadn't been properly angry for a few weeks now, Snape certainly didn't help matters but it was the sight of Dumbledore calmly sitting at his desk that had the first spark flare, the mans attention had turned to one of the many knickknacks on his desk, dismissing Harry after that first gaze. Harry's feelings from the beginning of summer threatened to rise up and burst out in a hot burn of frustration and accusations, it was a considerable effort to clamp down on his emotions, this was not the time to lose control.
Fearful of meeting the old mans eyes again Harry forced himself to take deep even breaths and focus instead on the strange instrument Dumbledore had pulled closer to inspect.
Dumbledore tapped the delicate thing gently causing it whirr and click rhythmically the top half folded open like a strange metal flower leaving tiny tubes and gears exposed Harry could see a thick green substance swirling amount an inner compartment and for a long while it seemed like the thing, whatever it was, would do nothing. Harry chanced a glance at Dumbledore only to meet confused light blue eyes his scar prickled and the silver flower thing gave a rapid set of clicks prompting Dumbledore to stare intently as green smoke begin to rise. It may have been Harry's imagination but the smoke seemed unsteady as it rose and fell, condensing in some parts only to fade in others until it resembled a snake that had bits missing.
Dumbledore looked greatly perplexed by the deformed snake, prodding the smoke with his wand only managing to get the snake to curl up before he finally taped the flower to close it. Smoke slowly dissipated as Dumbledore gave the small instrument a look of deep consideration, his interlocked fingers came apart and he nodded as he came to some inner decision, he picked up his wand returning it to an inner pocket and stood up moving around the desk, the chair next to Harry scraped over the rug and Dumbledore robes could be seen just at the edge of Harry's sight as he sat.
"Mr. Potter, I wish to know what happened to you this summer." Dumbledore asked cautiously.
Harry looked at the headmaster careful not to catch his eyes, his lips parted slowly, silty tacky, from being pressed together. "I can't tell you sir."
Dumbledore hands moved to the tassels on his beard when he spoke again it was in a firm voice. "It's not my intention to accuse you, and I certainly do not mean to hurt you, but in this situation I must speak plainly. Frankly Harry at this moment I find that I am greatly unsettled by your reappearance." Harry stuck his hands under his thighs, his eyes sifted down to study his knees. Dumbledore noticed.
"Please don't get me wrong. I'm extremely pleased to see you, if a bit worse for wear, at lest alive and in one piece. However, you have been missing for a month. No one, my self included, could find so much as a trace of you, we feared you dead or worse."
Harry grimaced guiltily. "Do you see our dilemma? Missing for a month, only to show back up with no warning, no trace how you got here, although I am certain you are in fact, Harry James Potter I can not be certain that you are here alone."
"I don't." Harry's voice cracked and gave out. "I don't understand I am alone." He insisted.
Unaware Harry had tensed up at the headmasters statement. The two wizards shared a calculating look over his head.
Severus stepped forward. "Headmaster we can not trust anything the boy says, I implore you to use the veritaserum." He offered.
"No' no you can't do that!" Harry jumped a foot in the air as Snape's hand clamped down on his shoulder.
"Potter!" Snape was looking at him very strangely as if he expected Harry to grow another head and his wand was pointed at him again. "Sit back down potter, slowly."
Harry frowned in confusion realizing that he was indeed standing, he'd been so panicked he had shot out of his seat without thinking. Harry foolishly rubbed his neck, once Snape had stepped back he pulled the chair back into place taking care to sit straight, locking his eyes on a quill on the headmasters desk.
"M' sorry sir." He mumbled.
"Don't mumble Potter" Snape snapped reflexively, it didn't have his usual bite.
"Harry." Dumbledore sounded calm but there was, something, a distance to his tone that made Harry's throat tighten. "Your scar connects you to Voldemort, it lets you know when he is near, when he is angry. his failed attempt to kill you as a toddler forged a connection, and this past summer I fear that connection has only grown stronger, he could, he would manipulate that."
Harry shook his head more confused and frustrated than ever. "I can't tell you where I was or what happened its to important. I wasn't with him or his followers." Harry hesitated remembering his strange dreams. "He's not in my mind."
"We've no way to know that Potter. If the Dark Lord has penetrated your mind even you my not be aware. you're a danger to the school Potter plain and simple, you can not be trusted."
"I can't be trusted." Harry snapped. "What about you, you're one to talk. How can anyone trust you. You followed him once, you believed in him once, where's the proof that you're on this side? You're his trusted spy after all, it sure didn't take you very long to get back into the inner circle. he's been Crucioing people left and right how were you so easily forgiven."
Tension swelled at Severus dark glare. "You just proved my point. There's no way for you to know any of that or ligilmancy or occlamency." Harry flinched, his eyes snapping shut at the accusation.
"No, I didn't look into your mind Potter but I know the signs of beginning learners. Your attention is divided, your slow to respond verbally and physically as a result, your body's trembling from overuse of magic and your eyes have a slight glaze to them." Snape paused and Harry dared to open his eyes he expected to see Snape's wand only to see the man rubbing his temples in frustration.
"Harry, you are in no danger in this office." Dumbledore voice had changed it was more like Harry remembered, familiar comforting. It drew his attention away from a confusing Snape. "Neither Severus or I will harm you, nor will we use legilimency against you."
Harry's grip made the chair groan in protest. "Severus is correct, the practice of occlamency takes great energy. Without the proper training, the energy involved can throw your magic out of balance, it is wearing away at you as we speak. You must stop...please trust me Harry I only want to help. I give you my wizards oath." Snape grumbled at this but other wise didn't comment.
One deep breath, two, three. "What if you can't help, what if...what if you are the one who would hurt..." Harry's already shaky voice trailed off with a choked sigh.
Snape started to say something but Dumbledores arm raised to pause him. "It's troubling to see you believe this so strongly. To be fair, although I want to, I can not promise you that I'd never do such a thing without knowing what that thing is, so why don't we try something simple. Earlier this summer." Dumbledore paused in thought. "Severus is Harry allowed a calming draught at this time?"
Harry turned towards Snape to refuse but the man glowered him silent, Snape waved his wand over his head reading the floating abbreviations that sparkled just above Harry's brow line. "A small mild dose now would be fine." He pulled a vial from his robes poring a small amount of light pink liquid into a mini paper cup he had conjured. "All of it. And not a drop more until sixteen hours have passed understand."
"Yes thank you sir." Snape hummed vaguely, vanishing the paper cup and finally taking the other seat Dumbledore had conjured up, he favored Harry with an assessing look.
Snape was the last person Harry wanted to figure out, what he was doing this summer, there were to many reasons to not trust Snape. The man was set on proving this tonight it seemed and Considering the past Harry didn't have a very giving option of the man, hostile bully, would have been the nicest thing Harry could have said but every year Harry manages to learn something that just doesn't fit perfectly into that frame and after what he had heard last year in the hospital wing, well Harry wasn't sure what to believe, other than Snape was complicated.
Dumbledore insisted that Snape was to be trusted so he couldn't ask for the man to leave and confusingly enough he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to anyway, Harry would just have to be careful, very careful.
Harry didn't realize he'd been watching Snape until the man spoke. It was the most composed voice Harry had ever heard outside of a lecture.
"We know what happen this summer up to a point. Once the Dementors attacked, your cousins memory was unusable as he had lost consciousness* he woke in time to see you and a woman, she spoke the Dark Lords name, which if I'm correct in guessing, was set to activate the portkey that then sent you, where exactly?"
Dudley had been the last thing on Harry's mind this past month, hearing about the Dementors again made him slightly guilty. "Young Dudley is fine, tho he did receive a few bruises and a good healthy scare." Dumbledore injected Harry nodded in thanks wondering just how they had gotten the hurleys to let them at Dudley.
Snape cleared his throat but surprisingly didn't snap at Harry for stalling, only raising an eyebrow as he folded his hands together, keeping his wand tucked loosely on his lap. "When the Dementors attacked you and your cousin, the ministry was alerted to a patronus." Snape pause as Harry shook his head, the man frowned but didn't stop Harry.
"Wasn't mine. I dropped my wand, Dudley had hit me. it was a mouse, the patronus, it came out of nowhere. She saved us." Harry had to swallow thickly careful, careful or he would tell them everything.
_O.o_O.o_O.o _O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o _O.o_O.o_
"Ma'am Thank you for helping us but I can't just run off to help you with...whatever, look just let me get my cousin home and I can send a message to some... friends and they could probably help you." Harry turned away from the woman's disappointment to check Dudley only to have his wrist snatched up and twisted back. Harry stumbled over his own feet partially steeping on Dudley's leg as he was wrenched around to faced his strange rescuer.
"No! you have to be the one, you have the most vested in this than anyone else." the ministry's envelope was ripped from his numb fingers, the woman slipped a smooth thick paper into his hand and released him. At this point Harry should have shot a spell at the stranger, ministry restriction be damned, he should have run, she wasn't after Dudley, Harry should have done a number of things but all thought left his mind, as he gaped at the photo in his hand an impossible photo that he could not look away from.
"Harry! listen to me Harry, I was never very brave but I tried my best to protect ..I tried." she sobbed. Harry was horrified at the tears streaming down her cheeks before he could figure out how to help her she shook her head and growled grabbing his shoulders. "Don't trust anyone Harry. you can't the ...they are to important. Even good people will do the worst if it means winning this war, telling the wrong people could ruin everything, any chance of defeating him could be lost."
Dudley made a long moan behind him but Harry couldn't turn to check on him, the woman still had a hold of him, she looked so desperate and lost and for moment something sad and wounded flickered in her eyes before she pulled it back giving him nothing but fierce determination.
"Ow my head" Dudley groaned in the background, his trainers scuffing on the pavement as he levered him self up. "Th'k I'm gonna hurl. Harry? Who's that? What's going on?"
Harry bit his lip, not darling to look away. "Defeat who?" He wasn't stupid, he knew what he was asking, he just needed to hear it out loud.
The woman squeezed his shoulders and stepped back. She gave him a miserable half-smile. "Voldemort."
Harry's fingers stuck tight to the photo. The horrible feeling of helpless fear crawled into his chest as his belly bottom was jerked back to his spine, Harry had just enough time to turn towards Dudley as he yelled for him, he scramble to his knees only to drop as a spell hit the bigger boy dead center. The world started to spin and Harry lost all sense of up and down a sharp pain in his shoulder was the last thing he felt, then the portkey pulled him away.
_O.o_O.o_O.o _O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o _O.o_
Harry was grateful for the hard knocking that interrupted Snape's dark glare, even Dumbledore grinned knowingly at him when he let out a relieved breath as Snape got up to answer the door, the man hadn't turned away once while Harry talked no doubt picking up on the things he had edited, Harry made a note to thank whoever it was later.
There was a small argument at the door before Snape stepped back, the usually composed professor Mcgonagall was looking very flustered as she charged into the room, she gave Harry a searching look when she determined that he was in one piece it seems to cheese her off more.
"Well Mr. Potter it's good to see you, does Madam Pomfrey know your here or have you been sprinted away?" She eyed Harry's messy hair and wrinkled hospital gown displeasingly.
Harry had the distinct impression that her question was a trap somehow. "Um she knows I'm here professor. My clothes were just...I didn't have anything to change into." Harry used his long hair to hide his blush he hadn't meant to say the last bit.
"Is that so." Mcgonagall said darkly. Harry scouted down in his seat he'd heard that voice before and nothing good ever came of it.
"Albus Dumbledore how dare you. Eighty-seven times, eighty-seven that's Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, Miss Weasley, Mr. Longbottom, the entire quidditch team, nearly my interest house, various Huffepuffs, Ravenclaws, Mr. Malfoy granted that was more of I hope he doesn't come back. Staff members and lets not forget the many letters from the elder Weasleys, Remus lupin, and orde..others. Eighty seven times I've been bombarded with questions. Where is Mr. Potter? Is Mr. Potter alright? When can we see/talk to Mr. Potter? Next time you decide to divert your owls and close your floo a little information would be nice." Harry realized his mouth was hanging open and snapped it shut, the fact that Dumbledore looked thoroughly chastised was a novelty even Snape had wisely move out of fire near a shadowy bookshelf.
"My dear professor." Mcgonagall tossed up her hand stopping Dumbledore before he could start.
"No. I don't want to hear it. Mr Potter looks fine he is also unrestrained so I assume he is in fact Mr. Potter. A good bath and a haircut and he'll be fit for visitors. He will have visitors Albus I'm not going to run interference anymore. The children are currently busy with class, even then I've just barely managed to stop them from sneaking off three times now, the only problem left is Mr. Black who somehow ended up in my office demanding to see Harry. I'm leaving that to you as I have class and I suggest you hurry the man won't stay put for long." Even as she spoke Dumbledores fire flared red and Sirius tumbled out.
Sirius shook his head in a very dog like manner. "Ha it worked stung like a...um well it hurt." Sirius trailed off at Mcgonagalls furious glower. "Hey Mini I tried to wait but you were gone like forever and then the twins came by and said... well it doesn't matter, but I couldn't wait I had to see how Harry was and hey now wait a second." Sirius got to his feet but wasn't entirely sure were to go as Mcgonagall pulled out her wand, she didn't exactly point it but it was clear she wanted to.
"I told you to stay out of sight." She warned.
"That's why I used the floo it's an aurors spell for emergencies or raids, I didn't think it would work actually it so old." Sirius tried a small grin but it faded at Mcgonagalls frown.
"Sirius Black you are very luck that I have a class. I do not want to find you in this castle in either form, you are here for a visit only." With that she rounded on Dumbledore. "And Harry will be present for dinner the boy is all bones if you insist on having him up here you could at lest order lunch from the house elves." Mcgonagall swept the room once more Harry was sure Snape ducked further in the shadows and Dumbledore looked just the right amount of sorry she sniffed at Sirius and gave Harry another once over causing him to tug the hospital gown strait, when the door slammed shut everyone sighed in relief.
Sirius was the first to move. "Harry where were you? I'm glad to see you. why didn't you owl me? I missed you. do you know what I went through? man I'm glad to see you. are you all right? are you hurt? why are you still in a hospital gown? should you be with Pomfrey?" Harry managed to pull back enough to take a breath from Sirius death grip.
"Sirius I'm fine, I've missed you to. I'm fine really, stop, Sirius stop patting me." Harry laughed and had to slap his hands back as Sirius started checking him again looking for injuries. Sirius took a step back the look in his eyes was so relieved as if he feared he'd never see Harry again that Harry choked up he didn't protest again as Sirius pulled him in for one more long tight hug.
"if your quite finished black we've yet to finish matters with Potter." Snape sneered.
Sirius's lip curled in retaliation but Dumbledore cleared his throat pointedly. "Sirius why don't you join us." Dumbledore nodded to a chair, Sirius who was still eyeing Snape saw the other mans eyes flicker in irritation and grinned wickedly.
Sirius sauntered over and plopped himself down in the only available chair, trying to be as tactless as possible he even nudged his chair closer to harry, when Snape only grumbled and rolled his eyes Sirius grinned widened in satisfaction until he caught Dumbledores disapproving frown.
"I didn't say anything." Sirius protested as he sat correctly.
Dumbledors eyebrow raised. "Severus why don't you take my seat." Sirius eyes bug out but he was careful to keep his expression otherwise clear as Snape made his way behind the large desk, once Dumbledores eyes were off the two men Harry was sure Snape smirked smugly at Sirius.
"Now Sirius, Harry was just telling us the missing pieces from young Dursleys memory, what he hadn't explained yet was where the portkey deposited him or who the young woman was."
Harry fidgeted as the attention was directed back to him. Sirius gave his shoulder a squeeze, thought Harry knew no one would be happy with his next answer. "I can't tell you were I was there was a spell, the one my parents were supposed to be under Fidelius."
"Well we figured that was an option. it's alright Harry how about the woman, who was she." Sirius tried helpfully.
Harry thought for a moment that question was a bit more dangerous. "She. I was there alone she didn't portkey with me." Dumbledores look was far to piercing. Harry let his eyes drift over the many bookshelves.
Sirius's laugh sound a bit forced. "Alone? what the bloody, what was the point. Harry? What were you doing there wherever you were?" Harry bit his lip as he looked at Sirius actually looked at him the lines around his eyes seemed to have deepened he was thin worn down and his smile was definitely forced at this point. Sirius was way more shaken up by this than Harry had anticipated.
Harry swallowed guiltily. "I can't tell you."
Harry cringed back as Sirius exploded out of his chair with a growl, Snape was up by the time the chair hit the floor with his wand out and Dumbledore leaned forward watchfully, none of it was necessary as Sirius had spotted Harry's frightened look, he fell to his Knees by Harry seconds later.
"Merlin Harry I'm sorry. I'm not angry at you. I would never hurt you. it's just I'm frustrated, a month Harry, you where gone for a month. I looked everywhere for you." Sirius reached up and wiped the tears from Harry's cheeks. Harry tried to keep his head bent from the men in the room but Sirius wouldn't t let him. "Look at me Harry. I'm sorry but you can't expect me, us, to let this go. you do not get to slink into the great hall looking like something the cat sicked up, only to tell me nothing of were you've been."
Harry had never seen Sirius so parental it only made things harder his chest ached from embarrassment but more from the absolute knowledge that Sirius cared not just because he obligated to but because he genuinely cared. Harry had never in memory had anybody look at him that way. Sirius eyes were shining with his own tears and determination. "I will not let you get out of this, it hurts you but I do it because I love you."
Harry started to shake his head he didn't know what to tell them. Sirius gave him a firm shake.
"No Harry. you need to talk to us." Sirius stood and fumbled in his jacket pulling out a stack of parchment. Harry wiped his eyes not bothering to look at anyone else.
"Madam Pomfrey sent me your medical files." Sirius rifled through the pages nearly ripping them. "Harry is unhygienic and unkempt. type of water and lack of food, proper or otherwise in system lead me to believe that the past month was spent in very poor conditions, lack of clean water, no access or improper functioning facility's." Sirius looked up. "Is she wrong?"
Harry tried to talk but his voice didn't work under Sirius troubled gaze, Harry thought he would stop then but he only grit his teeth and rifled thought the file again.
"Harry recently has suffered a fractured wrist, likely from a fall. Additionally there are a number of bruises, small cuts, and scrapes. though not worrying individually, the sheer number is daunting. Harry shows very low traces of magic residue not his own. Harry's magic is depleted, levels indicate a low-level continuous drain, no medical reason could be found. lack of proper nutrition contributes to magical drain, whether this is the only factor I can not say at this time." Sirius looked drained as he slowly lowered the parchment.
"What does this mean huh, to me it suggests that you were held somewhere by this woman. you weren't tortured as I'd feared for the past month. Your injured yes, deprived of basic needs but not what we would have expected from being held captive. so what is this." Harry's stomach was in knots hearing the medical report. he wanted to beg Sirius to stop but he couldn't bring him self to fight with him when he was obviously so worried.
"The only good thing on this report, the only thing other than a report that assured us Voldemort didn't have you, was the lack of severe injuries. you also gratefully lack any trace of dark magic or dark curses. Harry?" Harry knew he was gaping like a fish but he couldn't stop.
Sirius stared at Harry for a moment before he sighed in resignation turning away. his calm demeanor as he pull his chair upright was very deceptive, he sat, crossed his leg and folded his hands in his lap. "I want an answer Harry. you can't expect me to believe you were alone after this." He waved the medical chart. "One way or the other, if I have to take you out of Hogwarts, or turn you over my knee you will talk to me."
"I don't know what to say, I can't." Harry had barely gotten the words out when Sirius sprung forward and grabbed his arm. his intent to pull him over his lap was obvious. Harry braced his arm on the chair and squeaked in surprise.
"Sirius don't. I really can't, the..the..jjkkgg..I..I..fuddernad. Fidelius. Sirius. Fidelius. it was under a spell, I really can't please." Sirius thankfully stopped but didn't release Harry his eyes were hard. he was not bluffing.
Harry was completely unbalanced, one yank from being over his godfathers lap, completely aware that the hospital gown was far to short for this and two other adults that Harry would rather not see him in such a way were in the room, but it didn't stop him stuttering wildly when Sirius tugged him closer. rescue came surprisingly in the form of Snape.
"Let the boy go Black he can't get a word out to save his hide, which I'd rather not see. You'll just have to work around the Fidelius charm." He drawled. Harry risked a glance to see Snape leaning back casually, he looked bored but Harry spotted his wand, partially hidden by his long sleeves pointed right a Sirius, Harry didn't get a moment to wonder about the protective jester as Sirius had let him go.
"Fine. sit down Harry." Sirius leaned forward elbows on his knees. "You can't talk about the place." Harry shook his head. "But it's like Madam Pomfrey thinks."
"Yes. but I wasn't locked up, I could leave when I needed to." Harry sat further back at Sirius's flabbergasted look.
"When you needed to...you left and didn't call for help. why? where did you go?"
"Food. I needed to get food sometimes." Harry hesitated. "she, didn't have enough supplies." Sirius hung his head pinching the bridge of his nose. Harry looked to Dumbledore but his eyes were half closed in concentration, apparently fine with Sirius taking over.
"Where? No not the place, Harry where did you get food from. that wasn't under Fidelius. Where?"
"Small town Little Hangleton." Harry whispered. Dumbledores eyes opened entirely focused on Harry.
"Wait. that's his town izinit." Sirius looked up and spotted Dumbledores look. "I'm right. his town. Harry who was this woman." Sirius demanded.
"She was um, I don't, um a slave. I guess she was a slave." Dumbledore shot a look to Snape but Harry didn't catch his response. "I don't know much, she was a slave for a long time, since the first war I think? she was with someone important to Voldemort, that's why she needed my help she had... information. She wasn't a death eater. she didn't have the mark like sna... professors Snape's. she just needed help." he rushed on.
"What is the woman's name Potter." Harry jumped as Snape's voice broke the silence.
Harry frowned in thought he'd managed to avoid saying much but a name was different they might get more than Harry could think of from a name. "Don't bother with the lie you just thought up. Would her name by chance be Opal." Snape hummed darkly when Harry jerked. "I thought so the Dark Lord is already looking for her. she seemed to have stolen something from him as of now he is trusting no one with this knowledge, whatever it is he is determined to get it back...the information ." Snape paused as Harry had. "Whatever it may be is worth more than even your life, at the moment his entire focus has shifted to this. I suggest you trust your godfather and the headmaster before you get in over your head."
Harry closed his eyes his hands fisted over his knees. "it's already to late. I can. not. trust. anyone right now with what I know. I do need help. it is too much. but I still can not tell you. I don't know enough, not nearly enough to make any type of decision." Harry agonizingly opened his eyes and looked right at Dumbledore. "Even good people will do the worst things if it means winning a war. Tell me she was wrong professor. tell me and I'll gladly take your help."
Dumbledore face seemed to age before his eyes with uncertainty, a shadow that Harry didn't understand passed behind the bright blue of his eyes and as he turned away, Harry knew the man wasn't infallible and he couldn't take this weight from Harry not now, not today. Harry sagged in his seat, relieved and disappointed.
Sirius conjured a glass and filled it with water in the silence, Harry thankfully accepted, for the first time realizing that he was trembling, he didn't pull away as Sirius's hand worriedly felt his forehead. "Harry that's a very poor way to look at things." He said softly. "Do you think that I would do that."
"I, I, don't.." Harry felt like the worlds biggest prat for hurting the few people who did so much for him. "I want to believe that you're not. I just need some time." Harry trailed off as Sirius's hand left this shoulder and he turned away he didn't bother to hide the wounded look in his eyes and Harry figured he earned it
"Harry I would like you to consider a compromise if you will. I mentioned that I was concerned about the connection between yourself and Voldemort. this connection is dangerous. if I'm not mistaken your scar has been hurting you, maybe you've experienced thoughts or feelings that seem out of context or dreams." Harry told himself staring at Sirius wouldn't make things right and focused on Dumbledores question frowning in thought.
"I've had a few dreams. And my scar definitely. it hurt all of yesterday and bit when I fell out of the floo, but the other thing, feelings and thoughts no. Profess Snape was right I've tried oclumency, I don't know much. I've just been picturing something constant, like, well I see a snitch and it's like, well I'm following it my mind just like practice. it's hard, I couldn't keep the picture in my mind for more than a few seconds but I've gotten better."
"At the cost of your magic you imbecile. You have been using a very old and ineffective technique." Snape had the tone of a lecture. "you haven't gotten any better your magic has just subconsciously given you a boost, that is what is causing your magic to show a constant drain, even now if you think on it, the wall as you put it, is still present likely faded but still there."
Harry gasped, Snape was right, his wall was still present. he tried to let it go like he has plenty of times before only to realize that it never really left as he'd thought. the treat of magical drain became all to real. "How do I stop?" He asked horrified.
"You don't." Snape said discouragingly. "Your brain has learned the technique and in this branch of magic that is disastrous, the only thing to do now."
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "a perfect moment to interject."
"That's a horrible moment to interject." Sirius rallied for Harry.
Dumbledore smiled good-naturedly. "this brings us to my originally bargain, Harry I'd like us to meet during the school year. a mutual exchange of information if you will, it doesn't have to be a serious talk, you could simply tell me about you classes if you please. We could also discus legilimency and occlumency. eventually I would like to build trust between us. Harry there are things I haven't told you these past years for fear of putting too much on your shoulders. I see now, that in my old age, I've underestimated you and I'd very much like to correct that."
Dumbledore waited patiently as Harry studied him. he looked sincere Harry wanted very much to trust him again, maybe this would be a good thing and Harry could get the help he needed.
Harry next looked to Sirius, he had managed to hold a fairly blank look on his face trying so hard not to influence him. Sirius deserved so much more than Harry's lies. Near silent movement caught Harry's eye, he instantly recognized the habit from years of potion class. drumming fingers curled into a fist as Snape's glared met Harry's searching look. They all deserved more.
"I think a meeting would be a good idea sir."
_O.o_
Dumbledore escorted Harry and Sirius to a small meeting room not far from his office and had lunch sent up. Sirius was reminded not be seen as he made his way out of the castle, directly after lunch because he would not be rescuing Sirius from professor Mcgonagall. Sirius laughed in agreement, saying Mcgonagall detentions had been the worst. he did stop Dumbledore once Snape had left. Harry couldn't hear what they whispered, he thought he might have heard Weasley mentioned but he wasn't sure, a spell must have been in use because his ears rang slightly. Dumbledore studied Harry as Sirius talked he finally nodded and patted his shoulder before summoning a parchment and quill he jotted something down and passed it to Sirius then made his farewells.
Sirius grinned as the door shut and practically bounded over thrusting the paper under Harrys nose. "Go on read it."
"The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London,"
"What's this mean." Harry was ready for another big talk but Sirius only grinned and set the paper on fire. Harry hurriedly tossed it into his water-glass.
"Wile you were off on vacation, we were starting a coup d'état."
"You did what?" Harry was sure his eyes had popped from his skull.
"Ha! ok calm down maybe I exaggerated."
_O.o_
Severus peeled the shadows away from his shoulders as Sirius left the small meeting room just before lunch ended, the other man stumbled as the tracking spell his ankle, his back straitened but he didn't stop for a confrontation.
"I do believe he would have kept his word." Snape kept his eyes on Black until he ducked into a secret passage.
"Potter is a..tricky subject for Black, I thought a little assurance was in order." Snape answered carefully. He waited a moment. "Potter is hiding something. he managed to avoid any real questions. He may have whatever this woman stole." Dumbledore silently walked over to the room housing potter.
"Severus I fear that your task has become infinitely harder." Dumbledore seemed to struggle his thoughts inwardly focused. "everything is shifting." a chill when up Severus's spine.
"Headmaster?" Dumbledore looked up and focused on Snape's eyes.
"Severus I would ask you to be very cautious these next few weeks." A dreadful premonition tingled in the back of his head as Dumbledore left him in the hallway. Severus took a moment to breathe around the dark feeling, when the courtyard clock rang seconds later, he swept off without looking back.
_O.o_O.o_O.o _O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o_O.o _O.o_
*It is often believed that even if they don't understand in a conscious sense that they do hear and understand the intent of speech while in a coma. - I'm using this a s it fits with what I need
Hi again. ok it turns out I had the first half of this written out three different ways and naturally no oneway worked, so I ended up shuffling them together. I'm still not ecstatic about it but if I poke at it any more I'll go crazy so...
well I hope you like it despite the mistakes have a good read :)