Chapter 2: Albus Dumbledore

Harry dropped on his bed feeling the after effects of the Cruciatus curse. Fawkes sat on his shoulder and started crying. Two tear drops removed all of Harry's pain. He was still feeling awful, not physically but mentally. Fawkes started singing, cheering him up considerably. He wondered why his relatives hadn't come busting through the door upon hearing the Phoenix song. They were probably out since it was a weekend. Probably overfeeding Dudley in some restaurant.

Harry had finally avenged Sirius's death. But he didn't fell any satisfaction. He also didn't fell guilty of killing those Death Eater's. It was the first time Harry had killed anyone but he didn't feel anything except a strange emptiness. Even the Phoenix song couldn't remove this emptiness.

Harry laid down in his bed and Fawkes sat on Hedwig's perch. Hedwig, oh no, He had left her with Tom. "Fawkes could you do me a favor." Fawked puffed up his chest and gave a short bust of wonderful song which sounded like yes. "Could you go to the Leaky Cauldron and bring Hedwig and my trunk. With a bust of red and gold flames Fawkes disappeared and appeared a moment later with his trunk and Hedwig's cage. Hedwig hooted looking confused. Harry let her out of the cage and she settled on her perch. 'Fawkes will need his own perch', thought Harry 'one on which he can burn.' Harry didn't know where he could get such a perch so told Fawkes, "Could you get your old perch from Dumbledore's office boy?"

Fakwes disappeared but didn't appear instantly. After a few seconds Fawkes appeared and sat on Harry's shoulder and Harry's world turned into red and gold flames. After a second Harry found himself sitting on a comfortable chair in Dumbledore's, or rather McGonagall's office. "Why did you bring me here Fawkes?"

"Because I asked him to." an all too familiar voice said. Hope rose in Harry's heart. Had the old man survived somehow? Harry turned and was both happy and disappointed at once. Dumbledore wasn't alive but his portrait was. Harry ran to the portrait with tears in his eyes. "Sir…I…" Harry couldn't find the words.

"Harry its wonderful to see you too, my dear boy. How are you?" Dumbledore's portrait said.

"I am fine sir. It's so nice so see you again." Harry didn't know what else to say. This wasn't really Dumbledore. It was just an imprint of Dumbledore's memories wasn't it? He didn't know enough about wizard portraits to be sure. "Is it really you sir? Do you remember everything?"

"Not everything, Harry. I remember up to the point you came to my office after talking to Professor Trelawney. You were trying to convince me not to trust Snape. You warned me that Draco was up to something and I didn't listen to you. Now I wish I had." Dumbledore sighed and continued, "After you left my office I updated my memories in this portrait before joining you in the Entrance Hall. I always used to update this portrait's memories before going on dangerous missions. (Sigh!)The habit has finally paid off. I asked Minerva what had happened after that. She could only tell me how the Death Eaters had gotten in the school through the room of requirement and how Snape killed me. Of course she couldn't tell me the details of our adventure as you had refused to tell her anything. A good judgment on your part Harry."

"I was only doing what you told me to do professor. I wasn't supposed to tell anyone except Ron and Hermione about the Horcruxs."

"Excellent Harry, just don't call me Professor anymore. Albus would be fine. Now tell me everything that happened after we left Hogwarts that evening Harry."

"Yes Prof...I mean Albus." Harry told him everything in detail, the cave, the potion, the Inferi and also described the return to Hagwarts and finally how Snape killed him.

"I was very angry with you Pro…Albus. Why did you did you freeze me when I was under the Invisibility cloak and undetectable. You could have easily defended yourself and I could have helped you."

"I am not sure Harry. I don't remember it, so I can't really tell you what I was thinking. Perhaps you were making too much noise while running or perhaps the potion had affected my reasoning. I can't say for sure Harry. But maybe I would have died even if I hadn't frozen you since I was so weak from the potion. Remember Snape killed me. We both would have trusted Snape in that situation and he would have killed me anyway. There's no use crying over spilled milk as muggles say it. We must concentrate on the present rather that lament over the past. Tell me everything that happened after that." Harry described Snape's escape. He also described the fake Horcrux and the letter from R.A.B.

"Do you know who this R.A.B is?" Harry asked hopefully.

"I suspect it's Rupert Andrew Black. He was Sirius's distant uncle. The Black family had produced a long line of Dark Wizards and the Black family's knowledge of the Dark Arts is legendary. Rupert wasn't a Dark Wizard though his knowledge of Dark Magic could be only superseded by Voldemort himself. Rupert had spent years studying his family magic. I considered Rupert the foremost scholar of Dark Arts in the world. But, as you can understand Harry, Dark Arts was never considered a subject for scholars. So Rupert never got any recognition he deserved. He believed that there is no such thing as light magic or dark magic. It's just the intention of the caster."

"Is it true?" Harry asked.

"Yes I agree with Rupert. For example Harry you can use the Wingardium Leviosa, a typical light spell, to drop something heavy on a man crushing him. While you can use the Killing Curse to end the suffering of a man in terrible pain who would die anyway. It isn't the spell that is good or evil, Harry its how you use them. You can use a knife to cut vegetables and you can also use a knife to kill people. Its you who are good or evil Harry not the knife. The same goes for spell's."

Harry had never thought of it like this. He believed that Dark Magic was nothing but bad. Dumbledore continued "Sadly no one agreed with Rupert's point of view. No one but a few people. Among them was Tom Riddle. After Rupert was publicly condemned for encouraging Dark Arts Tom started corresponding with him. Rupert wasn't a very close friend, but we both respected each other for our deep knowledge in ancient magic. Rupert was an expert on dark magic and I on light. We both met from time to time and compared our knowledge. After he was publicly insulted I went to console him. He told me at the time he had found a young man who understood his views, who wrote to him frequently. This young man was Tom Riddle. At the time Tom Riddle was working in Borgin and Burkes. Some time after Tom had disappeared I asked Rupert in a letter if he knew anything about him. But Rupert replied he didn't know anything. But after you told me about that letter Harry, I am beginning to suspect Rupert knew exactly where Tom was."

"You mean Rupert had sided with Vodemort." asked Harry.

"I was not implying that Harry. At the time Rupert was the foremost expert of Dark Arts in the world. But as I said before Rupert wasn't a Dark Wizard. He only believed that people shouldn't brand an entire field of magic as bad. He agreed that some spells like the unforgivables should definitely be banned, but their was a lot of magic which were useful but had been branded dark and people were too afraid to learn or use them. For example there are some very useful blood spell's that require a bit of the casters blood. But all blood spells are considered Dark and people will never think of using them. Rupert wasn't trying to encourage dark magic, but was trying to make people more open minded. I myself learned many spells from Rupert. I think Voldemort tricked him into believing he also had the same ideals. I think all those years that Tom Riddle disappeared, he spent considerable time with Rupert."

"He must have somehow convinced Rupert to teach him the Dark Arts. Something not too difficult for charming young Tom to do. This will also explain how Tom had gained so much knowledge at such a young age. He must have convinced Rupert not to tell anyone that he was Tom's mentor. Rupert must have agreed considering how he was shamed publicly. He must have wanted to protect young Tom from his fate. He must have believed that Tom would carry on his work. Tom must have learned the spell to make Horcrux's from Rupert. That would explain how Rupert knew about Tom's Horocrux. After Tom Riddle became Lord Vodemort using Rupert's knowledge, I think Rupert tried to redeem himself by finding and destroying his Horocrux. I am assuming that Rupert didn't know about the multiple Horcrux's. He must have believed that there must be one Horocrux and thus tracked down the most obvious choice- Slytherin's Locket."

"But how did he track it down? He couldn't possible have known about the cave Tom had visited as a child" asked Harry.

"You forget Harry, Rupert was an expert in Dark Arts. And Slytherin must have put some dark spell on his locket. Rupert must have tracked the locket by its magical signature. So we have one less Horcrux to worry about Harry. I trust Rupert has destroyed the locket. So there must be three left assuming Rupert didn't know about them."

"So what happened to Rupert?" asked Harry.

"Rupert disappeared mysteriously three years after Voldemort's rise to power. He was a powerful wizard and, I am guessing, he knew more about Voldemort than anyone else. Voldemort couldn't afford to have an enemy like Rupert." After a moment of silence Dumbledore continued, "Tell me everything that happened after I died Harry."

Harry told him about his last encounter with Minister Scrimgeour. Dumbledore said, "Its best if you stay clear of the ministry Harry. They are stupid and they are desperate at the moment. Scrimgeour just like Fudge is more interested in saving his political career than fighting Voldemort. I suspect he would try to persuade you to help him using any means necessary. You must not give him any opportunity Harry."

"That's what I was thinking Sir. I have decided not to use my wand until I am of age. Hermione suggested I learn wandless magic. I have also decided to learn Occlumentary and Animagus Transformation till my birthday." said Harry.

"An excellent decision Harry. It's best you use the protection Privet Drive provides till you are of age. And I admire your choice. Those magic will come in most handy. Perhaps I can assist you with your training. I don't think in the current circumstances the ministry will be monitoring underage magic. But they may make an exception for you. At this point Minister Scrimgeour just needs an excuse to get you under his power, make you his pawn. I know how you can use your wand without the ministry detecting it."

"How?"

"There is a advanced spell which can mask your magical signature for a couple of months. We need someone who can cast—" Dumbledore was cut off by the door slamming open.

"HARRY!!! What are you doing here, How did you get in?" a startled Minerva McGonagall asked.

"Nice to see you too, Professor." replied Harry.

"-But-how— "

"Fawkes brought him here at my request Minerva." Dumbledore's portrait said.

McGonagall relaxed a bit. "You just left in the morning Harry, and back in the evening. Cant stay away from Hogwarts, Eh?"

"I have always considered it my home Professor." Replied Harry.

Minerva looked strangely at Harry for a moment before turning to Dumbledore's portrait, "The Weasley's have sent Bill to India, His treatment is estimated to last about a month."

"You have found a way to cure Bill?" asked Harry excited.

"Albus recommended an Indian wizard. The Weasley's used a long distance portkey today to go to him. They are just back, Bill will have to stay there for a while. The wizard said that he will be healed completely and all His scars removed." Turning to Dumbledore she continued, "The meeting starts in about fifteen minutes Albus, It'll be best if Harry is gone by then."

"She is right Harry. I called an order meeting here. Minerva could you cast the magic signature masking spell on Harry? He will need it." Dumbledore said.

She looked as if she was going to protest but then moved to Harry and put her wand over Harry's head and muttered silently. Harry felt a tingling in all of his body, specially in his head but after a second it was gone. "Don't take any risks Harry. Just because you can do magic undetected now doesn't mean you can go straight into the war." she said with a warning tone.

"He is a responsible young man. I trust him Minerva." said Dumbledore. Harry felt a tingle of guilt in his stomach. What would Dumbledore think if he found out about his visit to Diagon Alley. Dumbledore continued, "Could you duplicate my portrait Minerva, for Harry."

With a wave of her wand a portrait similar to Dumbledore's appeared in thin air. The frame and the background were same. The only difference was that there was no Dumbledore in this new portrait. Dumbledore explained noting Harry's confusion, "I can move between my different portraits. If you need me Harry just knock on the portrait and I'll be there. You should be returning now Harry."

"Can I take Fawkes's old perch? I don't know where else I can get a perch like that." said Harry.

Dumbledore smiled, "You really don't need to ask Harry. The perch belongs to Fawke's in the first place."

After saying goodbye to Minerva and Albus, holding the perch in one hand and the portrait in other Harry told Fawkes to take him home. A moment later he was in his bedroom.

Harry used his wand to non-verbally transfigure a peg into the wall opposite to his bed. He decided to do as many spells non-verbally as possible. He had learned his lesson form his last encounter with snape. As he hung the portrait he heard a scratching sound from the window. An owl was trying to get in. He opened the window and took the letter from the owl which sat waiting for a reply. The envelope only had his name on it. No address. He opened the letter and laughed while reading.

Harry,

Where are you? Do you know Flourish and Blotts was attacked by Death Eaters. I am really worried about you. Reply quickly. I know you are not going to believe this, A Phoenix stole your stuff. I swear it's the truth. It appeared out of no where and—puff— it was gone with your trunk and owl. There was nothing I could do.

It's strange, I had never ever heard of a Phoenix stealing anything. Must be you-know-who's Phoenix. Come back as soon as you can or send me a reply.

Tom

With a smile Harry taught, 'Poor guy must be afraid. Death Eaters attack Diagon Alley and Voldemort's pet Phoenix stole my trunk.' Harry was tempted to send the reply using Fawkes but decided not to scare the man any further. He wrote a reply.

Tom,

Don't worry about me. I am fine. And Sorry, that was my Phoenix. It was stupid of me. I should have sent a letter with him. Thanks for taking care of my stuff. Bye.

Harry

As Harry was tying the letter to the owls leg another owl flew in. It was Pig-widgeon. Harry didn't bother to try and catch the exited little owl. He pointed his wand at it and thought, 'Accio Letter'. The letter flew out of the owls leg into Harry's hand. He quickly opened the letter.

Dear Harry,

Guess what? My parents just returned from India. Professor McGonagall recommended an Indian Wizard named Mayank Chandel. He is an expert on healing curse wounds. He has encounter this type of wounds before and said there's no danger of Bill turning into a werewolf. He may be violent during the full moon, that's all. But he can be cured. Even those horrid scars will be removed. But Bill has to stay in India for now to begin his treatment. Everyone's Happy. Specially Fleur.

Hermione will be apparate to my house at ten o'clock tonight to work out a training schedule. She also has some plans for researching about R.A.B. We will also work out a plan to visit you. Hermione hasn't seen your house and I can't apperate both of us yet. Maybe we will use some muggle transport. When should we visit you? Bye.

Ron.

Harry told Pig-widgeon to go back. He would send the letter by another owl. The little owl hooted angrily before going out of the window. Harry quickly wrote a reply.

Dear Ron,

I am thrilled to hear about Bill. I need to see both you and Hermione tonight. It's important. I will send Fawkes to you after ten o'clock to bring you. Bye.

Harry

"Fawkes would you deliver this letter for me." Fawkes sang and took the letter in his beak and disappeared in a bust of flames. Hedwid hooted jealously. "Sorry girl, needed that to be delivered instantly." Fawkes returned with another bust of flames.

Harry sighed, It had been a long day and he hadn't faced the Dursleys yet. He smiled suddenly realizing he could do magic. First time in his life he could use magic against the Dursleys. Suddenly he couldn't wait to face the Dursleys. He took off his cloak and changed into more comfortable clothes. The Dursleys weren't home yet. Harry hoped they would be back soon.

Author's Notes (Who reads this anyway?): I'll update the next chapter 'Welcome Home Dursleys' soon. It's your responsibility to encourage me to continue writing this story. How do you do it? Continue writing nice reviews of course. All your suggestions to improve this story are welcomed. If you want to point out my mistakes, do so in sweet words, because I am sensitive.