The temptation of power

After Harry had eaten a full breakfast and drank a cup of tea, his head was no longer pounding as it had been earlier. He had planned to go explore the castle to see the renovations and repairs done, but he also wanted to finish viewing all the memories. He would explore later, when he was done.

He was making his way up to the Headmistress' office, not paying very much attention to where he was going, when suddenly it felt as though he had been drenched in ice water. He gasped, shivering.

"Well don't mind me," came the voice of a very indignant-sounding Gryffindor ghost. Harry turned, apologising.

"Sir Nicholas, I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there," said Harry. "I was miles away," he mumbled.

"Harry!" exclaimed Nearly-Headless Nick, the incident seemingly already forgotten. "How are you my dear boy?"

"I'm well thank you. How are you? Had any success with the Headless Hunt yet?" Harry didn't want to stand and talk to the ghost, but didn't want to be rude either.

"Alas, no success yet. They are still insisting that I have to have a complete detachment of my head in order to qualify. I am beginning to give up on that," said the ghost rather sadly.

"Don't give up yet. You never know, they might just change their mind sometime."

"Perhaps," said Nick. "But what are you doing here Harry?" he asked, perking up.

"Well, I have one last... task from Dumbledore," he said vaguely. "Nothing dangerous, though," said Harry quickly, catching the look on the ghost's face. "If you'll excuse me, though, I have to get back to it."

"Of course, dear boy. It was nice seeing you again. Keep well." Nick doffed his head and floated away. Harry was always nauseated by that particular habit of the ghost.

He almost ran the rest of the way up to the office, not wanting to meet any other Hogwarts denizen, living or otherwise. He stopped in front of the gargoyle, pausing to catch his breath.

"You have to say the password. Just because you have been in and out here for the past day or two doesn't mean I'll give you automatic entrance every time, you know," said the gargoyle, snootily.

"I was catching my breath," Harry growled back before muttering the password. The gargoyle moved out of the way, choosing not to say anything further.

Back in the office, Harry was becoming more accustomed to the change of decoration that Professor McGonagall had chosen. The sword and hat were still in their same places, as were several of the spindly tables with odd instruments on them. Harry assumed McGonagall knew what these instruments did. The desk and throne-like chair were the same too, but Harry noticed a lot of new furniture too.

Deciding not to dwell on the changes, he picked up the next memory in line. He hoped dearly that this memory was not as violent and action-packed as the last one had been, but resigned himself to the fact that it could be just about anything. One thing his training had taught him very quickly was to be prepared for anything. He sighed, and poured the memory into the pensieve.

-xxx-

For a moment, Harry thought he hadn't gone anywhere. He was still in the large, circular office with portrait-lined walls. He quickly realised, however, that this was most definitely not the same room as he had just been in. Granted, it was the Head's office, but it was not that of Professor McGonagall. Nor was it, upon closer inspection, that of Dumbledore's either.

He looked around, finding himself alone in the room. After a moment, however, there was a gentle knock on the door. A tall, very frail looking wizard was sitting in his chair when Harry turned back to the Headmaster's desk. Harry wondered for a moment where he had appeared from, but figured he had been in his private chambers.

"Enter," said the wizard, and Dumbledore came in. "Ah Albus, you got my message then?"

"I did indeed, Headmaster." Dumbledore sat in a chair in front of the desk, something Harry thought was very out of place. Harry stood to the side to observe the conversation between the two men.

"Would you like a drink?" asked the Headmaster, standing up and approaching a cabinet near his desk.

"Just a small Firewhiskey, if you don't mind." The Headmaster poured out two tumblers of Firewhiskey and put the bottle away. Dumbledore – and Harry – waited patiently for the man to speak.

"Albus," he said, passing Dumbledore the drink. "I have been thinking a lot lately. I feel as though there are other things, things outside of these walls that I would like to pursue. I don't think I have much longer to live, Albus, and I want to travel the world." The Headmaster sipped his drink. Dumbledore didn't move.

"So what you are telling me, Armando," said Dumbledore, dropping the formalities, "is that you are resigning?"

"Precisely. And you, being my Deputy, will take over my place. Albus, I had considered this years ago, when that incident occurred with Miss Myrtle. However, I was convinced by you to remain. But now is the time that I should step down. I think you will do a splendid job as headmaster. You are respected enough as it is. This will merely be a step up." Professor Dippet said, almost casually, sipping his drink once more. Dumbledore had yet to touch his.

Dumbledore was silent for a long moment, seemingly considering this proposal. He was staring at his drink pensively. "Armando, surely there is another. Is there no one else that is suited for the job?"

"My dear Albus, you are one of the most respected wizards in recent history thanks to your defeat of Grindelwald. You have been offered the post of Minister already. Why you refused that, I don't understand, but you are the best choice for this job. I don't think I could trust anyone else to take care of this beloved school and those under its roof as much as I do you." Dippet smiled jovially, Dumbledore did not seem to share the feeling.

Dumbledore stood up, drink still in hand, and went over to one of the windows that overlooked the grounds. He said nothing for a long while. Eventually, he downed his drink in one shot and turned once more to face Dippet.

"Alright. I'll do it. I accept your proposition. I suppose I should have thought about it before becoming deputy."

"Why do you seem so opposed to doing this, Albus? Do you feel as though you could not care for this school?" asked Dippet.

"I care more for this school than you think, Armando. I just don't want to see it fail under me..." Dumbledore said quietly. Dippet merely laughed.

"Ah, Albus. I somehow doubt that this school will do anything else but thrive under your care. Now, another drink?" he asked, still smiling. Albus nodded, resigned.

Harry felt the tug of another memory, and the scenery dissolved around him.

This time, when the memory reformed around him, Harry found that he was in the great hall. One look at the ceiling quickly told Harry it was dinner. The Gryffindor banners were displayed all around the Hall, and the students at one table were cheering.

"Congratulations, Gryffindors," said Professor Dippet standing at his place where Harry was used to seeing Dumbledore. Harry saw that Dumbledore was instead sitting at the place next to the Headmasters seat, where McGonagall normally sat.

"Now, I have an announcement to make before we retire for the evening." Dippet paused, looking around at the students looking up at him. "I have served this school as Headmaster for a good number of years. After much thought, I have decided that it is my time to step down from my position." He paused again to wait for the students who had all suddenly begun murmuring. "This means," he said loudly, and the students quietened. "This means that as from the start of next term in September, Professor Dumbledore will be taking my place as Headmaster."

The students were quiet for a moment, but suddenly all the students at the Gryffindor table began cheering loudly, clapping and getting to their feet. The rest of the students quickly followed suit, and soon, the whole school including staff were cheering for Dumbledore. Harry watched as he smiled jovially and nodded to the teachers who were patting him on the back.

"And now, it is time for me to bid you my final farewell. Goodnight, my dear students, and goodbye." All the students stood and began filing out of the hall, chattering excitedly. Dippet sat down and turned to speak with a few of the teachers who were leaning over to talk to him. Harry saw Dumbledore drain his goblet. He seemed to put on a smile as the other teachers came over to congratulate him. He wondered why Dumbledore was so reluctant to take over this job.

The scene faded once more, and when it reformed, he was once more in the Headmasters office.

The office was once more familiar to him. This was the office as it had been under Dumbledore. The man in question was sitting on a chair by the fire. The chair opposite him was occupied by Professor McGonagall, and they were playing a game of chess. The two of them seemed to be drinking Firewhiskey. McGonagall looked to Harry to be in her early twenties.

"But I don't understand, Albus. This is an honourable position. Why do you keep turning it down? This is what, your fourth offer? Think of the power you could have..." McGonagall was saying.

"That is exactly it, my dear Minerva. I don't think I would be able to be a successful Minister. I don't care for that much power. Is it not enough that I am glorified as a hero?" said Dumbledore, sighing.

"You are glorified because you saved us from Grindelwald. I can quite easily see why you are wanted as Minister."

"Just because I defeated Grindelwald, does not mean I am fit to be head of Magical Britain. Those two things are entirely different. One has nothing to do with the other," argued Dumbledore.

"But Albus, people look up to you. People respect you. Not many would have had the guts, never mind the power, to stand up to that madman, and yet you did, alone, and defeated him."

"He too was alone. I never attempted to take him down to earn fame and glory. I never wanted that. If I could have lived the rest of my life as an ordinary wizard, I would have been happy."

"That is nonsense and you know it, Albus," said McGonagall firmly. "You like where you are. I think that you would have been restless had you gone into a normal job or remained an ordinary wizard, as you put it."

"You are probably right, Minerva. But what's done is done, and the past cannot be changed, unfortunately," he sighed. Minerva smiled. "I still am not entirely fond of the glorification and adulation. I suppose my consolation is that I did get my name on a Chocolate Frog Card." He smiled wryly.

"There is that I suppose," agreed McGonagall. Harry had not missed the turn of conversation away from the offer of Minister, but McGonagall seemed to be distracted by the drink and the game. "Checkmate," she said after a moment. Dumbledore knocked his king over, smiled, and poured her another drink. Harry felt the tug of the memory ending, and found himself once more in McGonagall's office.

-xxx-

Harry was slightly confused by the memories he had just seen. It didn't make sense to him entirely. He pulled open the letter and read.

Harry

These memories may confuse you at first. Let me explain. The common element in all of these memories is power and prestige. Following my defeat of Grindelwald some years before, I was heralded as a hero, the saviour of the magical community at large – much as you were when you inadvertently defeated Voldemort all those years ago.

At first I loved all the fame and recognition I was receiving. After all, that was what I had been searching for when I began making plans with Grindelwald. That was the original reason for pursuing the Hallows. The 'Master of Death' would have unimaginable fame and power. I think that desire came from many years of being bullied and taunted for being my father's son, and wanting recognition and respect for who I was and for something I did, rather than my father's infamy.

But I soon realised that the power would become an addiction. I did, after all, wield the most powerful wand known to wizard-kind. I had to keep myself in check. I knew that accepting positions of power could easily corrupt me once more, and so I was reluctant to accept the position as Headmaster. I didn't want to be responsible for all these people. I didn't want to be a negative influence over these young minds. But how could I tell that to Professor Dippet, to refuse him on the grounds that I didn't want the power to go to my head.

That kind of power has always been a temptation to me, my greatest weakness. I had to refuse. I had been tempted all those years ago with Grindelwald, and I didn't dare think of accepting again. I was selfish, and I didn't always consider the consequences of my actions, and it was that which I feared the most. I never revealed my weakness to people, lest they judge me. So I remained here, doing as little damage as I could to those I cared about.

I do hope that you find it in your heart not to judge me too harshly Harry.

A.D.

Harry remembered during the war when he had been struck down by the Killing Curse and had found himself in Limbo with Dumbledore. The old man had told him that power had been his greatest weakness, his greatest temptation. Harry had never really understood it until he had Dumbledore's life to compare it to. Now he understood why Dumbledore refused the offer of Minister several times. He didn't trust himself to bear the responsibility selflessly. Harry still thought, despite all he had seen, that Dumbledore would have been a good Minister for Magic.

A/N: My apologies for delay on this chapter. I had planned for it to be up much earlier, but I had exams. Now that it is my holiday, I plan to finish this story. I also have a plan for another story which I hope to start getting up soon. I solemnly swear my chapters will be up in good time.

Please read and review (and perhaps send me a PM if you have any suggestions for another memory you'd like to see)