The Soldier
Chapter Three: In Which Harry Finds a Friend
The next few weeks passed quickly for Harry, and he heard nothing about the contract despite making enquiries from many of the ministry officials he had come across. He was given a wide tour of the Ministry building and he examined all the various offices, commiting to memory the layout of the Ministry structure both politically, socially, and physically. He found out that the purebloods had the most power and thus he set about making conversation with many of them to gain advantages and to promote himself. In particular he had many delightful conversations with Lucius Malfoy, who took great joy in explaining the mechanics of the wizarding world to the ignorant boy who lived. Harry was a fast learner.
The Minister was happy with this behavior and treated Harry cordially albeit coldly due to his harsh words on their first meeting. Harry apologized for what he had said, and the Minister became jovial toward Harry again. "Sir, can I perhaps read the contract I was forced to sign?" Harry asked.
"About the force, Harry," The Minister began, a twinkle in his eye. "You see, we tested Kingsley under veriteserum and it turns out your tale is nothing but that, a tale, and accordingly we, the Ministry, have determined through due legal procedures that the contract is in effect still standing and perfectly legitimate. According to the contract you are not allowed to peruse it after the first reading and signing of the papers, so I am afraid I have to deny your request."
Harry nodded numbly, and inwardly began to plot his revenge, "Well then Minister, what does the contract say I have to do, to learn magic?"
"Ah, you want to learn magic, now?" Fudge asked, smiling widely. "Well for that you need a wand, and to get a wand you have to visit Diagon Alley, and of course the press wants to speak with you, so to begin your training we will first have to discuss your press conference. I have much experience talking to the newspapers, and I will help you, guide you in what you have to say."
"I see," Harry said, knowing he was in a bind, and the Ministry would use him as a poster child despite what he wished. "Well then, tell me, how long is the contract supposed to last?"
"Ten years," Fudge said, grinning like a fox as he patted Harry on the shoulder and walked away.
Harry let out a breath and unclenched his fist, which he noticed was tightened so hard that his nails drew blood from his palms. Get in control, he demanded of himself, as he tried to push his anger away.
He instead went to his suite at the top floor of the ministry, which was designated as private and fit for only high end ministry officials from other countries. So Harry walked down the red carpeted corridor to his room, hoping he would meet some ambassadors from other magical countries so he could talk to them, probe them for information, and thus heighten his power and control in this new world. Perhaps he could explain his situation and get some more sympathy. He was dissapointed in that the hallway was empty. However, in a fit of courage brought on by the memory of Fudge's arrogant smile - as if he had outwitted Harry Potter - Harry decided to knock on a door, a seemingly random red wood door with golden numerals that read 331.
Harry knocked, and a deep voice said, "Come in, please."
Harry put his hand on the knob but was surprised when the door swung open on its own. He schooled his expression into a mask of indifference, as if he was used to such strange paranormal behavior and entered the ambassador's "house" which as Harry had previously decided, looked more like a hotel room than anything else judging by his own room. Harry looked around, and saw rows and rows, stacks upon stacks of parchments scrolls and books littering the floor of the living room, and leaking into the kitchen as well. The man who had called him inside was seated on a leather black armchair, his hands resting around a cup of hot tea, and his face jovial, old, and looking slightly senile. There was a sharp twinkle in his brown eyes that bespoke of intelligence. Harry bowed to the man.
"My name is Harry Potter, and I am about to be six years old. People say I am highly intelligent for my age, and my future dream is to be the greatest wizard in the world." He didn't know why he said that and he was surprised, mortified, that his greatest secrets were revealed so easily, by his own hand too. He instantly put his hand on his mouth, just as the old man started to chuckle.
"There is a charm on the box you are standing on," said the old man in a wheezy voice, "It compels the victim to introduce himself to my liking."
Harry glared at the old man and looked down toward his feet wehre he could see a box drawn in chalk with mysterious hyroglyphic runes scrawled all inside it. Harry felt estatic because he loved all sorts of magic and he had never seen such runes before. He wanted to learn, and he wanted the old man to teach him, or at least lend him some books.
"So your secret desire is to be the greatest wizard to ever live, hmm?" The old man said, "Forgive me, let me introduce myself to you, as you have done to me so kindly, so willingly," There was a smirk in the man's eyes. Harry started to hate that man but he leaned forward as the man said in almost a whisper.
"I am the ambassador from Albania, and my home is being terrorized by death eaters and Lord Voldemort. I have come to request aid from Britain's vast auror forces, which I have noticed are already stretched thin. So have many other countries come to the stronghold that is Britain to request aid in order to deal with this mad man, this lunatic who calls himself a dark lord."
"What is your name?" Harry asked, "Tell me your age as well, since I told you so much of me."
"My name is Leonard Roswell, and I am eighty one years old. I have a mastery in runes and potions, and I am more a scholar than a warrior, a man of the pen rather than the sword. Do you get my meaning?"
"I have read stories of both sorts," Harry said, "In my school library. I have read hundreds of books there and it is my belief that a man needs to be both, a master of the pen as well as a master of the sword. Only then can he succeed, only then can he gain power over others."
"You are intelligent far beyond your years, I see. Your introduction was not mere boasting but rather cold precise fact. Welcome to my abode, Harry, and make yourself at home. I have a vast collection of books here. You are welcome to them, you are welcome to expand your knowledge," Leonard said, "On the condition that you promise me you will speak to the Minister and the press about aiding Albania."
"Hmm, okay then," Harry said, nodding his head, "Fudge is gearing me for a press conference and I will place your case for Albania's benefit. Do not doubt me, for I will bring you the help and aid you need from Britain if you teach me all you know about magic."
Leonard chuckled to himself, "That might take some time, Harry, I know almost as much as the great Albus Dumbledore, we were colleuges and he was a great man. A shame he died... things would have been so much different had he been around to oppose and quarantine the dark lord."
"Who is this Albus Dumbledore? I have heard fragments and whispers about him but not everything, not the whole picture. You can start by telling me about this man, his accomplishments, and why he was so important to Voldemort."
Leonard nodded his head, and pulled out his wand. Harry looked at it hungrily, and wondered if he might be able to steal it so he could practice some spells and charms. He wanted a wand of his own to cast magic. He couldn't bear to be wandless, to be so powerless. But he always carried his backpack with him, even now, and he knew should he be attacked he would pull out his gun and kill without remorse, kill with brutal efficiency to all those who would dare harm him.
Leonard conjured a leather armchair much like his own, except this was green and gold in colour. Harry sat down opposite him on the armchair as Leonard conjured some more tea, which Harry happily accepted along with some blueberry scones. He ate his fill as Leonard proceeded to tell of Albus Dumbledore.
---- The Tale of Albus Dumbledore, as told by Leonard the Friend ----
In those days, times were touch because the muggles had some wind of what was going on. Only a few of them mind you, but it was enough for wizards to be on guard as they faced a secret group of muggles and muggle borns whose sole purpose was to hunt down pureblood wizards. It was a time of particular fear when the Stonemasons - for that was what they called themselves - decided to exterminate the purebloods, few in number in comparison to muggles and mudbloods.
Now don't look so hateful at the term. I am an old man and old habits die hard. It was a common name for them that carried no negative connnotation back then. Indeed it was a name that was given to them to mark their unique place in the wizarding world, and they were accepted. But they wanted more than their stations would allow and that was when the problem arose.
It mainly began with Albus Dumbledore's mother, who decided to start an organization called the Order of the Pheonix, self proclaimed leaders of the light side. Albus's mother, like Albus himself had a pheonix familiar. The same one in fact. It runs down the family actually, a family heirloom, much like the Potter's heir looms is their famous invisibility cloaks.
Albus grew to be a fine wizard in Hogwarts, acing all his tests and so forth. But he got in some bad company, and in those times there was no bad reputation associated with using the unforgivables on muggles. So him and Gellert Grindelwauld grew to be fast friends, and expert muggle hunters. But Gellert turned to the dark side, getting progressively more and more evil until he killed Albus's sister, Ariana.
Hmm... let's see if I remember this right, no it wasn't just him that was the murderer. Albus went along too in a way, a complicit, an accessory, whatever you want to call it. My foggy mind does not have the right words but rest assured Albus was just as guilty of his sister's death. It changed him very much. He got into a lonesome state, and beame a researcher and an apprentice under the great Nicholas Flamel, who by chance, is now the headmaster of Hogwarts.
Thirty years passed in relative peace until a new dark lord announced his presence, who other but Gellert Grindelwauld? Albus took up a position as Hogwarts' transfiguration teacher, but that was just his day job. With his mother's passing he took up the role as leader of the order of the pohenix and fought Grindelwauld from the shadows, eliminating his best resources, destroying Grindelwauld's greatest assets, all in secret, just like he did to Voldemort in the first war.
Hmm where does this tale take us, what would you like to know more about Harry?
---- Here Harry asks a question to Leonard, "How did Albus Dumbledore become so powerful though? I read his chocolate frog card and it states that he is the most powerful contemperary wizard the world has ever known save for Voldemort."
The story continues, and Leonard takes a sip of tea, and then says in his raspy voice.
----
"He was always powerful Harry. He just had the talent and the brains, much like Voldemort, much like you. I can help you, but only if you help me. We will continue this story tomorrow for I am tied."
Leonard sighed wearily, "Please, help my country, help Albania's terrorized villagers and peasants, and innocents. And I promise, I make a magical oath right now, that I will help you become strong, I will help you become great to the best extent of my ability. You will never lack a true friend so long as I am alive."
Harry nodded, and thanked the man for his time. "I will help you Leonard, and you will help me. We are, as you said, friends now. Do you mind if I borrow a few books from your vast collection though?"
Leonard nodded his head, and looked very pleased that Harry had called him a friend and that he would help Albania. "You may take anything you like so long as you return them in three days. You can come here as often as you like as well. I think that being a voracious reader will be very advantageous to your position. Would you like me to reccomend a few books about the state of contemporary society?"
Leonard got up from is armchair, and using a cane he hobbled toward the back shelves and brought Harry four books about the modern world, which Harry took, setting it aside. He also browsed through the collection of scrolls and picked some about magical theory, wandless magic, and a strange book called, "The Power of Love." He only picked the last one because it was written by Albus Dumbledore.
