CHAPTER 9: Nothing's going to change
A/N: Yo peeps, another long chapter for u guys. Won't say much except I hope you enjoy. Without further ado...
Exterior, Lemon Drop, Ottery St. Catchpole – Afternoon
The clouds casted a gloomy shadow across the green planes, hovering menacingly and appearing much closer than they ought to be, completely obscuring the sky from view.
A single, brick exterior cottage stood lonely, and proud, on top of a small hilltop. It had gable roofs with a chimney protruding through the middle. There was a single bay window over an alcove hiding a small balcony that had a wooden chair peeking above the brick railing.
Two cottage windows below the balcony sneaked a peek inside the cottage. Though it was hard to discern the interior because it was so dark and the weather didn't help either.
A stone pathway led to the front door through a curving passage that was surrounded by two feet long hedge on either side.
To the right, a trail of red roses adorned the side of the cottage, brushing against the wall. With no fence of any sort whatsoever bordering the structure the property seemed endless with nothing but greenery as far as the eye could see.
It was a majestic scenery, like a painting come alive when taking the twin mountains behind the cottage with their looming presence into account.
A loud commotion of sounds was coming from the backyard, if one could even call all this vacant space a backyard. Boys and girls of all shapes, sizes and colours were strewn across the field in small groups, most sitting on the neatly cut grass with a couple standing.
They seemed to be relaxing if their sweat dampening shirts were anything to go by, and the heavy breathing.
"Fuck, I don't think I'm going to feel my arms in the morning" groaned a boy, who had a buzz cut of white blond hair on his head. His wand was lying next to him as he leant back on his arms with his legs stretched out. He was sitting in a group of seven to the far right.
"I don't think I'm waking up, not in the morning that's for sure," said another boy. He had golden brown hair. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his forearm.
"We're so fucking lucky that there is no sun today. Just imagine" said that boy with freckles all over his face. He seemed a little younger than the rest of the group. He was also the only one who had a mop of red hair among everyone.
A visible shudder ran through the group at his comment.
"Christine wouldn't even have lasted fifteen minutes" snickered the boy who was sporting an orange tan and had short, spiky brown hair.
"Shut up, Jenson" scowled the girl who sat opposite him with her legs bent and her arms around them. She blew a strand of black hair that had fallen over her left eye as a gust of wind flew past them. "Let's not forget who faked an injury to escape the Zeemo test."
The grin wiped away instantly from Jenson's face as a chorus of laughter ran through the group.
Christine shot him a smirk as he glared back at her.
"I didn't fake anything. Professor Dumbledore said it himself that I need to heal my injury so that I don't cause further damage to it!"
"Oh, and you were just so happy to oblige him." she chortled, before continuing. "We all saw the look on your face. I don't think I've ever seen anyone look so relieved and I have seen Crispus orgasm so that should tell you a lot."
A loud guffaw from the girl beside her drowned the noise of a few sharp intakes of breaths before she covered her mouth.
Everyone sat staring, shocked, before turning their eyes towards the boy whose face was beet red in embarrassment. He was also the only one in the group who was standing, but his once laid-back posture of his arms folded across his chest had given away to looking like a deer caught in headlights as if he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
His mouth was opening and closing with every five seconds of interval as he made spluttering sounds. A few seconds later his gaze turned indignant towards Christine who was seeking his forgiveness with pleading eyes.
However, she was momentarily saved from the awkwardness that seemed to be turning into an unpleasant situation by a loud exclamation from someone in another group.
"Oh my god!"
Everyone turned their eyes in the direction of the voice and it turned out to be a girl standing in a group that was in the middle of others, her eyes wide with shock. Everyone immediately shifted their gazes to follow her line of vision and a similar reaction was soon etched on all their faces.
"Oh my-"
"Is that-"
"It can't be-"
"I think it is-"
"Oh my-is-is it really him! Tell me that's really him!"
"I think that's really him"
"I think I'm going to die"
"Oh! He's coming towards us. Oh, I'm going to faint!"
"Oh my god, his hair"
"His beard!"
"Shut up! Before he hears you!"
"I don't care!"
"Shut up!"
All of them were sporting varying degrees of shock, jubilation, disbelief, bewilderment and almost giddy-childlike expressions on their faces as Harry approached them.
He stopped a few yards before them as they all huddled into one large group in the middle in a matter of seconds. He shifted his weight to his right leg as he roamed his eyes from left to right. He sniffled and put his hands in his pockets.
"Who's your instructor" his voice was raspy and a little gruff.
A tall girl whose hair was tied in a ponytail raised her arm. She was standing at the front, a few spaces to the left from the middle.
Harry nodded his head at her. A deep blush rose to her already pink cheeks as she lowered her arm.
"It's j-just Pro-professor Dumbledore today, sir-I mean Mr. Potter sir-I mean Mr. Potter" she closed her eyes and cursed under her breath in embarrassment as few of her peers snickered behind their hands.
"Hmm" Harry hummed, biting the inside of his cheek. He tilted his head to the side and gazed along the landscape. "Alright" he turned back to them. "Get back to it." he turned around and started making his way towards the double doors under the porch.
"Umm, Mr. Potter" a tentative voice from somewhere within the group made him stop and turn around. He raised an eyebrow and waited for the person to step forward or raise their hands. A few seconds later a boy with shoulder length blonde locks parted in the middle stepped forward.
He had his hand folded behind his back and was nervously shifting from one foot to another. He cleared his throat and lifted his eyes from staring at the ground.
"Sir...I was hoping if I c-can have your autograph" he'd barely finished the sentence before dropping his gaze back down.
Harry trailed his gaze across everyone else and they all had the same hopeful expression. He swiped his tongue across his bottom lip as he exhaled a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair.
"Alright, make it quick" he said.
They all ran back to their previous spots and picked up their wands before dashing back towards him. Harry already had his wand in his hand as he waited for them to form a line, which was proving to be rather hectic as they all pushed and pulled each other while yelling that was increasing in volume with every second.
Harry rolled his eyes and whipped his wand forward from bottom to top in a ninety-degree circle.
They all yelped as each one of them was sorted in line with a whoosh of wind. Some even had both their feet leave the round and were unable to move any part of their body as if immobilized.
"Whoa!" whispered several, in awe before training their attention forward.
Harry lifted his wand and swirled it in the air. Golden writing started appearing in the air, following the pattern of his wand. He finished the movement and brought his wand to his side as he stared at his name written in a cursive font. It wasn't neat, nor was it symmetrical but it didn't seem to matter to any of them as they looked at it with beaming smiles on their faces.
The first person in line, a girl, raised her wand towards the name. A moment later the golden letters flew towards her wand and dove right into the wooden tip.
Her wand glowed golden for a few seconds.
"Thank you, sir!" she beamed at him.
He nodded back, looking utterly bored by the whole ordeal. She walked off to the side, her eyes never once leaving her wand.
What followed was a repeat motion from Harry and some kind of gushing praise from the person next in line, mostly girls, before they trotted to join their friend and squeak together in delight.
"I see you still haven't lost your fanbase" came a voice from behind him as he pocketed his wand. Everyone whipped their heads towards the voice while Harry slowly turned around.
An old man, with wrinkles stretching almost every patch of his pale white skin was staring at him. He had shimmering white long hair that ran past his shoulder blades and a beard that ended above his chest.
Even though he was in a wheelchair there was no mistaking his height. He was a tall man.
He was dressed in navy blue robes and wore half-moon glasses that were perched low on his nose.
The students hurried to form five straight columns before bowing their heads in respect.
The old man lifted his hand and smiled at them. "I'm afraid I have to conclude our lesson for the day. Please make your way to the floo."
"Yes sir!" They shouted, before making their way towards the door.
"Mr. Northington and Mr. Skives, I hope for your sakes that you head straight back to your dormitories" he inclined his head. A red tint came over both boys' cheeks as they smiled sheepishly. "Be that a warning to you all and I'm not just addressing those who attend Hogwarts, though I would give an extra cautionary warning to my fellow Hogwartians because as you all know." He turned his head back towards Harry before continuing. "I have eyes in every corner of the castle so your attempts to divulge even in a little bit of mischief can have grave consequences as I'm sure you're all well aware of."
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore sir!"
Harry's jaw slackened as he held his stare, his eyes burning with unbridled rage, which were a total contrast to Dumbledore whose eyes seemed to twinkle as he peered above his spectacles.
Soon, it was just the two of them. A long stretch of silence passed before a sound emanated that was not the wind. A loud thunder exploded high above them as the clouds turned a darker shade of grey.
Dumbledore tilted his head back and a ghost of a smile came over his lips as a single drop of rain landed on his chapped lips. It was followed by another drop on his cheek which he wiped away with a long bony finger.
He dropped his eyes back towards Harry before placing his hand on the stick on the right arm of the wheelchair. He pulled it to the right and the wheelchair turned on the spot before heading inside.
Harry stayed out for a moment longer before following him inside.
Interior, Lemon Drop – Afternoon
His footsteps echoed off the walls as he slowly trudged forward. The room was pitched in darkness except the gloomy light coming in through the windows.
"Close the door, will you" came Dumbledore's voice from somewhere further.
Harry turned around and shut the doors before turning around.
A second later the room was glowing with bright yellow candles that were hanging from various points on the walls.
Harry turned left and walked through a tight passage that led to a larger area. He saw Dumbledore behind the bar on the other side of the room pouring firewhiskey into two glasses. He picked up one glass and with a snap of his fingers levitated the other before sending it towards Harry.
He caught it and drowned the drink in one big gulp.
Dumbledore arched an eyebrow as Harry sent the glass flying back towards him. Dumbledore caught it and filled the glass once more before sending it back towards him.
Again, Harry drowned it one gulp.
Dumbledore let out an exasperated sigh as he sent the glass back towards him. He caught it and placed it on the shelf. This time he grabbed the bottle and threw it at him. Harry caught it and uncapped it. He tilted his head and nearly finished half the bottle in one breath.
He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and glared back at the old man who was staring at him with an unreadable expression.
At this point it had started raining quite heavily with lightning flashing every few seconds.
"You should be ashamed of yourself." Dumbledore spoke, his deep voice rumbling and somehow drowning out the rain that was absolutely pelting the windows. "Of all the foolish, dumbstruck things you've done in your life, this is your lowest point, son. The way you behaved towards that girl in front of an entire class was absolutely despicable"
Harry took another large swig before wiping his mouth. He walked over to him and dropped on the leather recliner lined against the wall. He placed the bottle to his forehead and closed his eyes.
"If you don't act fast and put your shit together then believe me this is going to be your future" Harry opened his eyes and saw him pointing a lonely finger at himself. "Do you like what you see?"
Harry kept his eyes on him as he took another swig.
"I know how much you love her, anyone with two eyes can see that but that's not what matters in the end. Believe me" He strolled his wheelchair closer till their knees were almost touching. "It's time to let go, Harry" he put a hand on his leg. "Stop living in the past, it's gone, it's not coming back."
"Don't" gritted Harry, an alarming look on his face as his jaw tensed under pressure.
"Live for her instead. Live for those you love...who love you...like you used to. You have a big heart my boy, pure, untainted, with so much love to give and receive. You just need to-"
"She is leaving me" The bottle slipped from Harry's hands as he covered his eyes with his hands. He was breathing heavily and harshly. "Don't you fuckin cry, don't you fuckin cry" he kept murmuring over and over. He dropped his hands as he sniffled couple of times. He shook his head as he stared at the floor. "Fuck" he whispered, scratching the skin under his right eye.
"Hermione?" Dumbledore asked softly.
Harry let out a hollow laugh before shaking his head. "No,,,,,,,that case is closed...Rosy"
"Rosy?" Harry nodded his head. "You mean she is moving out?" Harry answered with a single nod. "Then that's not too terrible."
Harry whipped his head towards him.
"I mean, children eventually move out of their parents' house. At this point in their life, they seek freedom, trying to figure out who they are, if they have what it takes to survive on their own and most commonly, enjoy their adulthood without the looming presence of their parents' constantly hanging above them. It's...life. I'm not saying it happens in every family or that every child is built that way but Rosy has always been independent, very much like you and Hermione"
"That's not the point" Harry shook his head in irritation. "We talked about this. She and I had a long talk about it a couple of years back. She was going to get an internship at Mungo's and after that she was going to move into the London flat, only if she wanted to. I even hated that idea because I always wanted her in my sight. But...then I find out that she had been planning to move out right after graduation and the reason is because she doesn't want to live with me anymore...that-that she is sick of our fights." He lifted his gaze and his eyes were thick with emotion. "She said that I never loved her" he whispered.
"Oh Harry" Dumbledore placed his hand over his. "You know she didn't mean that"
"And then-then...I don't know what happened...I just remember feeling this-this anger coursing through me and the next thing I know is that I'm about to fucking hit her. I mean what the fuck's wrong with me! It's-It's never happened before. I swear! You know I would never hit her. Fuck I would kill myself before I-before I..." He trailed off, shaking his head as his eyes filled up.
Dumbledore lightly patted his knee to calm him.
Harry sniffled before looking at him. What's wrong with me" his voice cracked at the end. "Hmm. What's wrong with me"
"Nothing's wrong with you" Dumbledore whispered, as tears started gathering behind his eyes. "You've just had very bad things happen in your life, things no one should ever go through. I have full faith in you, always have, always will. There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it."
Harry scoffed as he wiped at his eyes. "What if my mind is where the problem is?" He let out a long breath as silence surrounded them for several seconds. The thunderstorm continued to rage outside.
"I'm coked out of my mind most of the day" he admitted, looking up at him but Dumbledore didn't seem surprised. He nodded for him to continue. "At this point it has become a necessity, rather than a habit. I need to feel something other than anger or-or nothing, which is what I feel most of the time. Just nothing. I don't care about anything or anyone. Lost in my own little world, numb to everything else."
"This isn't your first time partaking in drugs, my boy. I still remember it quite vividly when I caught you smoking a joint in this very house when you were thirteen." Dumbledore chuckled.
Harry smiled before shaking his head. "It's different now. Back then it was just for fun. I stopped doing hard drugs when Rose was born."
"I remember our chat that led to that wise decision very well" Dumbledore's mouth quirked at the corner.
"Yeah" chortled Harry. "So, do I" he turned serious again. "But I was never dependent on them. They never dictated my life but now..." He hollowed his cheeks before exhaling slowly. "I just can't stop."
"Is it just coke" Dumbledore inquired, as he furrowed his eyebrows.
"Mostly" responded Harry, scratching his chin. "I mean I drop onto some heroin, LSD and Skullcraze every now and then but they don't provide the type of stimulant I'm looking for"
"Hmm" Dumbledore leaned back in his seat and stroked his beard. "Is Hermione aware of this?" he asked.
Harry shrugged his shoulder. "I don't know. I couldn't care less if she is or not. My concern is only Rose."
Dumbledore arched an eyebrow. "I take it things are still the same between you and Hermione, then. Still not talking"
"No, we're way beyond that now" Harry nodded his head.
"I don't like the sound of that"
"Oh, wait till you hear it. You're going to love it" Harry said dryly.
"What have you done now" he asked warily.
"What the fuck!" Harry glared at him. "Why is it that everyone always assumes that it's me who's the fucking culprit."
"I'm sorry." Dumbledore lifted his hands. "That was wrong of me to presume"
"No! It's not because you all have created this fucking picture inside of your head that she is some kind of saint. This-this fucking image of her that she is nothing but a sweet, innocent, fucking-can do no wrong perfect human being who is the high standard we all should strive to be and that I'm the fucking low life who is nothing but a monster who treats people like shit!"
"Harry-"
"You think I don't know that! How everyone sees me. What they think of me!"
"Harry-"
"I still remember these morons who said that I corrupted her" He jumped up from the chair. "That it was the only way she would have ever agreed to be with me because I fucking corrupted her. How the fuck would I even go on about doing that. I'm the guy who got 5% on his potion's exam and barely passed his charms exam. And these were her friends for fuck's sakes! And I have faced these brown-nosing bigots all throughout my life who still to this date believe that she made a big mistake by choosing me. That I'm still concocting a batch of mind manipulating fucking potion every night in my basement to keep her with me."
"Harry! Calm down" Dumbledore ordered him, though his eyes were twinkling with mirth.
Harry sat down with a sigh before running a hand through his hair. "You see now" He pointed at himself. "How quickly I can lose my shit. That's the what the coke's for" he breathed heavily.
"Well, we need to find another alternative to that" Dumbledore reasoned. "But let's put that aside for now" He waved his hand. "What's going on with you and Hermione. What were you going to say before you went into full on rant"
"We're done" he answered. Dumbledore closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat, putting a hand on his forehead. "Gave her the divorce papers, she signed it. It's getting processed now. Will be finalized in a month" he shrugged his shoulder. "That's all"
"Great, now I have one more thing to sort out before I step through the golden gates to join your grandmother. She is already pissed at me enough you know. Always comes into my dreams and gives me a right bollocking to hurry up"
Harry let out a small chuckle before shaking his head. "You can't sort this mess out old man so I say you listen to her"
Dumbledore opened his eyes. "Is that a challenge, because I should warn you that we Dumbledore's never back down from one. Infact, we charge it head on."
"Oh, I'm well aware" Harry humored him. "Don't forget I'm a Dumbledore myself so that same blood runs through my veins"
Dumbledore's smile softened and his gaze turned warm. "Yes, you are" he whispered. He cleared his throat. "So, tell me what made you two idiots take this leap"
"What's there to tell" Harry shrugged his shoulders. "It was always heading towards this point. We were just prolonging it for no reason"
"No, you were prolonging it because you both knew that you couldn't fathom living apart no matter how much you fought, or shouted at each other and I'm fairly certain that something much awful has happened that has caused this. Not some painful or hurtful words, no, your love is much stronger than that. So, stop fooling me and tell-"
"She was fucking behind my back" Harry stared hard at him; his jaw set in a firm line.
Whatever Dumbledore was expecting it definitely wasn't what came out of Harry's mouth if his wide-eyed reaction was anything to go by.
"There you have it. Happy." He raised his eyebrows when Dumbledore kept staring at him, looking completely befuddled, unable to form any sort of response. "Bet you wasn't expecting that were you. Sweet, innocent Hermione Granger cheating on her husband. Who would've thought. I didn't, that's for sure and it seems like neither did you. So, I guess we both didn't know her as well as we thought, did we" he snarled.
Dumbledore blinked his eyes a few times as he returned to stroking his beard, a contemplative expression on his face. "How did you find out?" he asked.
"Does it matter" grumbled Harry.
"Yes" Dumbledore answered instantly.
"Well, she didn't tell me if that's what you are wondering"
Dumbledore took a deep breath as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. He shook his head. "I don't know what to say."
"Well, I take it as a good sign that you're not blaming me for this like others"
Dumbledore's eyebrows reached his hairline. "Who's blaming you?" there was an edge to his voice.
"No one as of now because you're the only person I've told and I know for sure she hasn't told anyone but I bet you once someone else hears about it all the fingers will be pointing at me." He scoffed, shaking his head. "He's the one who left, he drove her away, he didn't treat her well, he was mentally torturing her, poor Hermione this, poor Hermione that, poor Hermione my foot!" he picked up the firewhiskey bottle lying next to his chair and threw it across the room.
But before it could smash into the wall an invisible force caught it and pulled it back. The bottle slowly glided back towards them before Dumbledore grabbed it with his outstretched hand. He put it on the shelf.
"Show off" muttered Harry.
"It takes one to know one" Dumbledore pushed his glasses up his nose before clasping his hands.
"Harry, I'm very sorry. I truly am, son. I can't fathom what you're going through but it is not good to keep all this inside you. You already have so much else to worry about and now with this case, it is too much for anybody to handle. It can turn even a sane man crazy let alone find some comfort in drugs."
"What do you suggest I do then. Huh?"
"You need to let it out, talk to-"
"Talk to who, hmm." he spat. "The people who abandoned me when I needed them the most. I talk to them!"
"That's not true, Harry" Dumbledore reasoned, a pained expression on his face. "I know you hold everyone responsible for not providing the comfort you wanted but you need to see it from their perspective as well. Everyone was so scared of you back then. No one knew how you were going to react from one moment to another. They thought it was best to give you some space"
"You didn't" he whispered; voice dripped in anguish.
Dumbledore smiled. "Because I'm your grandfather, because you're my blood, because I know you better than even you." He sighed. "But even I wasn't able to provide you the comfort you needed or fully understand how to help you. I became your source of venting your pent-up rage but I have come to realize that it probably did you more harm than good" he finished in soft voice, his eyes dropping to the floor.
"You tried" whispered Harry. "Which is more than what anyone else ever did and that includes my mother, my father, my wife!" His voice was rising with every single word and his face was turning a dark shade of red. "The woman I fucking married! Who after fourteen years of marriage didn't have the capacity to fucking understand what I was going through! Who then tells me that it was all my fault! That I couldn't protect my own family while she is fucking that motherfucking pisshead behind my fucking back!" his chest was heaving at a rapid pace as loud wheezing noises escaped his lips.
His nails were digging into the recliner with such force that he ripped through the leather.
"Rowan Kyle?" Dumbledore asked after a long stretch of silence once Harry's breathing had turned normal.
"What?" Harry looked at him in confusion.
"Rowan Kyle?"
Harry kept staring at him with the same expression before realization dawned on him. He nodded his head.
"Yeah, how did you-"
"You said pisshead." he replied.
Harry scoffed. "Yeah...anyway. I'm done with all this. She made her choice. If she wants to be with him...whatever. He's always wanted her, I know. I just care about Rosy. She's all that matters to me."
"That's a lie" Harry snapped his head towards him. "And don't deny it. You still care about Hermione. I'd even go as far to say that you still love her"
Harry gritted his teeth as he glared at him. "What does it matter. Nothing's going to change"
"True. But like I said before you can't keep all this locked up inside you. You need to talk to her about it. Like civil beings. Listen to what she has to say and I mean truly listen. Even if you don't like anything she says, even if it makes you more angry, or hurts you more, you need to listen. Then, you need to tell her your side, let it all out. Trust me you'll feel a big weight lift of your chest. You may not feel better but it won't be gnawing at your heart from the inside"
Harry shook his head. "I can't. I-I don't know how I'm going to react. That image of her with him is printed in my fucking mind and that's all I see every time I close my fucking eyes. I swear I was this close to killing that fucker when I saw him" He held his thumb and forefinger apart by just a small gap.
"Alright, then don't talk to her if you are that much on edge. Let it cool down for a little while. Start with small steps, come to the burrow with me tonight. Everyone will be there, including her."
Harry started shaking his head.
"No, listen to me" Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder. "She is going to be a part of your life, Harry, whether you like it or not. She is the mother of your child and believe me this will have an impact on Rose's life too. This is a very delicate situation that needs to be handled with a straight head. If Hermione can show up to the party and not be afraid that you're going to be there then you can do the same. If you are going to have that talk with her and you will, then this is a starting step in that direction. Avoiding her will do nothing but fill your heart with more contempt and despair while you watch her from afar carry on with her life. If you show up today it will build your resolve to finally be in the same room with her. It may even happen today or it may take several tries but trust me you will eventually get there. The end point of all this is to turn your life around Harry and this is just a very small step in that direction. It will also show Rose that you're trying. Plus, she needs to hear from you that her parents are no longer together. It makes all the difference how she perceives this information."
"But she knows that I'm not going to show up. She knows that" Harry bit the inside of his lower lip as he looked to the side. "Plus, everyone else is going to be there. I can't deal with them"
"That's even better if she thinks that you won't show up. Surprise her. Make her feel as uncomfortable as you and about everyone else...fuck em" Harry whipped his head towards him, the incline of his eyebrow the only indication that he wasn't expecting him to use that word. "Why should you be the one who's always hiding. It's not like you don't speak to all of them. You still have Ron, Draco, and me. Plus, the kids, your godchildren, Rosy. They love you. I'm sure you want to see them so why not. Why should other people being there should stop you from spending time with those who you do want to spend time with. And you may never know the night may hold a few surprises as well" he shrugged his shoulder as he leant back, a playful glint in his eye as his lips quirked at the corner.
A reluctant smile came over Harry's mouth before he shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. "There's just one problem." He paused. "That pisshead is going to be there as well. I barely held it in the last time. I'm not sure I'll be able to this time"
"Don't worry. I'll be with you in every moment so I'll reign you in if I feel your inner monster sensing prey"
"You better" he grunted. "Cause once you see your innocent wife succumbing to another man" he mock voiced before scowling. "That's another level of hatred let me tell you"
"Oh, believe me I understand and I never believed Hermione was that innocent. Certainly not after that night" he finished, lost in the past.
Harry's eyes lit up as he leaned forward. "What night" he asked with almost a manic glee in his eyes.
"Oh, I can't share that with you."
"Are you fucking serious! Harry exclaimed. "How bad can it be"
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows.
"That bad, huh" Harry asked.
"That bad" he nodded.
"Alright, now I have to know this"
"Harry-"
"Look, I don't get much pleasure nowadays in case you didn't notice and this isn't me trying to learn a dirty little secret about her so I can taunt her with it. Maybe, but that's not the point. I just genuinely want to know because I know it's going to give me some joy in my otherwise pathetic excuse of an existence"
Dumbledore heaved a tired sigh as he rubbed his eyes. "You play a cruel game. Oh alright. But don't say I didn't warn you"
"Deal"
"So, this is during the easter break of 1997. Hermione's sixth year. Being prefect, she has access to the prefect's bathroom on the fifth floor, as you know" Harry nodded his head. "But during the break we shut it down and the students who stay back during the break can't access it. Mainly, for cleanup and to check if everything's in perfect working order. You know the plumbing and stuff like that."
Harry nodded again.
"Well, during the first day of the break Hermione comes in to my office, by the way this was her first time staying back, as far as I can remember. She knows that the bathroom is locked beforehand, how, I don't know but I don't question her because she is Hermione Granger. The smartest witch Hogwarts has ever seen. She says and I quote 'I lost my bracelet in the bathroom'. First of all, I never once saw her wear a bracelet. That should have been the first red flag but at the time I didn't anything of it. Apparently, she went in for a bath the previous night and figures it's in the bathroom because she has checked everywhere else. Again, I nod my head because it's Hermione Granger, top student and all that, and if she says she lost her bracelet, then she lost her bracelet. So, like any good headmaster I tell her that I will go right away and search for it, myself.
She starts shaking her head and says that she has to catch up on some reading right now so she can't go at the moment but that if I give her the password then she can go during the evening some time and fetch her bracelet. Again, I see nothing wrong with that because..."
"She's Hermione Granger, the smartest witch Hogwarts has ever seen" Harry finished, as he chortled.
"So, I give her the password and get back to whatever is it I was doing. Cut to around...11 or 12 at night."
"It was late" Harry added.
"Yes." chuckled Dumbledore. "Very late. I was strolling through the castle, you know, like I used to. I merely glanced at the door to the prefect's bathroom as I walked by it but" he paused for dramatic effect, lifting his index finger. "I noticed something odd. So, I walked over to it and immediately knew that someone was inside. I know the magic had been breached and this late, naturally was cautious.
So, I walked inside. Absolute silence. Pin drop. Still, wanting to make sure and quell my worry I walked further inside and that's when I saw it and don't ask me to explain what it was because believe me I couldn't even if I wanted to but let's just say Hermione was mimicking a dog and Ernie MacMillan was holding her from behind, a euphoric expression plastered across his face. From the way their mouths were moving figured a Silencio was in place"
Harry guffawed, as his mouth opened in shock. "Oh my god!" he burst into laughter. "You saw Ernie fucking her from behind" he said it all very fast before he started howling madly.
Dumbledore cringed as he shook his head. "Must you be so vulgar. I tried to stay as clean as possible" he reprimanded.
"Oh, this is gold" Harry gasped, wiping the tears from his face. "Oh man...wait" He halted his laughter. "What did you do after. Don't tell me you stayed on for the whole show because I'll admit that's going over the territory even for me"
"Don't me foolish" he frowned. "I left as quickly as my wits came back. But" a smirk came over his lips as he continued. "Next morning, during breakfast I asked her if she found her bracelet. She said yes. So, I told her that since she is such an exemplary student, I will make an exception for her. She can enjoy the prefect's bathroom for one night. You should've seen the smile she gave me. It was like Christmas came early. So, I gave her the new password and walked away"
"You gave her the wrong password" grinned Harry.
"I gave her the wrong password" smiled Dumbledore. "Next morning, during breakfast she walks up to me with this annoyed look on her face. For some reason the password didn't work. So, as innocently as I could I asked her to repeat the password. She did and I thwacked my head for my mistake. I explained that I gave her the wrong password but couldn't offer her any compensation because there was some work being done in the bathroom till the remainder of the holidays. Oh, you should've seen her face. I thought she was struggling to whether strangle my throat or not but from my perspective I saw it as a fair payback, don't you"
"Of course," agreed Harry.
"So, that was that" Dumbledore finished.
"Oh man" chuckled Harry. "I remember her telling me that she had a small fling with Ernie, she may have even mentioned this particular incident and I just can't remember it because my brain's all fucked up but...whoo!...that-that was some story, and a well-played prank" he gave a thumbs up, as he swiped at his eyes.
Dumbledore tipped his glass in return.
"Oh man" another small bout of laughter escaped Harry as he tipped his head back. "God" he chortled. "Tell you what" he snorted. "You promise to tell this story tonight at dinner and I give you my word that I'll come. I swear" He stuck his hand out.
"That's never going to happen" Dumbledore said firmly, even though his face lit up with amusement.
"Oh, c'mon!" insisted Harry. "You don't even need to say her name, but she'll know and that'll be worth it. I can just picture her face!" he cackled, as he doubled over in his seat.
Dumbledore hid his smile behind his glass as he took a small sip.
"It'll be a great dinner story. C'mon, it'll liven the place up." Dumbledore shook his head. Harry smirked. "If you won't I will"
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed immediately. "You wouldn't dare" he warned.
"Oh really" he taunted. "Why? You know I have a screw loose so I'm not afraid"
"Because I know things about you that you wouldn't want anybody else to know"
"Yeah, like what" he scoffed. "If you're going to bring up that New year's incident then just stop because that's not going to stop me. Plus, she already knows"
"No" Dumbledore shook his head, his mouth curving at the corner. "I wasn't going to bring that up. I was merely referring to the 37,16,25." The smile vanished from Harry's face in an instant. "Or as I like to refer to it as the night you got kicked out of the camp." He tipped his glass back and drowned the remaining drink. He placed the glass on the shelf before shifting his gaze back towards Harry. "Tell me, grandson, does anyone beside myself, your father, Severus, Sirius and Remus know the actual story of why you finally decided to join Hogwarts in your seventh year."
If looks could kill Dumbledore would've evaporated on the spot. "You promised to never speak of it again" hissed Harry.
"I did, but I'm also your grandfather and if I see you acting like a knob and I have nothing to threaten you with then I'm afraid you leave me no choice but to use the one weapon in my arsenal that I know will keep you in check."
"Fine" gritted Harry through clenched teeth.
"Good" smiled Dumbledore.
"I so badly want to slice that wrinkly old throat of yours" glared Harry, eliciting an even bigger smile from Dumbledore.
"I don't doubt it for one second"
Harry ran a hand through his hair and leaned back in his seat.
Silence enveloped them as the rain dwindled down to light pattering against the windows.
Harry was resting his forehead against his hand, his elbow placed on the arm of the recliner.
Dumbledore was staring at a spot on the wall behind Harry, his face devoid of any emotion.
Time continued to pass and yet neither moved or uttered a word. Whatever bleak light that had been passing through the windows gradually died as hours trickled by and the sky turned dark. The candles dimmed to a soft glow as well, the room glistening in a pale hue. The storm, however, came back with renewed vigor in the shape of snitch sized hail balls, resonating a cannon blast as they thrashed into the windows and the roof, a complete contrast to the subdued mood inside the house.
Both men remained lost in their thoughts, never once moving their gaze.
"Charles Rivia" Dumbledore began, snapping Harry back into reality. He blinked a couple of times before focusing his gaze on him and sat up straighter. "was a very bright student. Introvert, shy, didn't have many friends...if any." He paused, wiping his glasses with the sleeve of his robe before putting them back on. "I'm sure you already know what happened to his parents. Tragic...truly tragic. After the death of his father, he became even more reclusive. I distinctly remember the moment when I told him what had happened." he shook his head, a distraught expression on his face.
"No child should have to go through that...certainly one that young. He had such a pure heart, always eager to help teachers after lessons to sort out the chairs or other mess the students made. Infact he preferred spending time with staff members since his interests didn't lie in quidditch or all the other things children at that age are into, and the teachers humored him.
I remember during late night staff meetings his name was more often than not brought up. They were besotted by him, found him utterly precious." He heaved a long sigh.
"Anyway, that all changed when I told him what had happened to his father. I swear Harry, it was like watching a dementor sucking his soul right in front of me...and I was unable to do anything." His voice broke at the end and he looked away. "I've never hated myself more than I did at that moment. There are nights when I have nightmares...wake up with sweat rolling down my face...his eyes haunting me...pleading with me...not for protection, or empathy, no-no...but for me to say that it was just a prank, just a silly little joke...that's it."
Harry turned his gaze down and scratched his beard.
"When did the fights start" he asked.
"Not long after. One after another. Everyday. It got so bad that he was brought to my office, multiple times and his reason was always the same...they started it. No matter how much I wanted to believe that was true and that he was telling the truth, not that it would have justified his actions, but still I felt that if it was just him reacting in a very aggressive manner after being provoked that I could've somehow helped him. But no..."
Harry craned his neck up towards him, a frown marring his features. "You're saying he started those fights"
Dumbledore nodded his head. "Not only started but he was the one doing the provoking."
"You looked inside his head" it wasn't a question.
"I had to."
"What happened then?"
"I gave him a severe warning. Told him what ramifications his actions could hold. Just to warn him, not scare him. I feared for the stability of his mind. A few days later he was in another fight, this one far worse as it nearly killed another student...there was no question in my mind that he would've killed that boy if Prof. Slughorn hadn't interfered in time. He was choking him, with his bare hands. After that I decided that it wasn't safe for him to stay at Hogwarts, for his own safety and the safety of those around him.
But I also didn't want to simply shun him away like the board wanted me to. I believed he needed time and an environment where he could be closely looked after while continuing his studies and grow as a wizard. Hogwarts couldn't have given him that and neither could've the adoption house where his sister was. I was certain that this behavior would've continued if he was sent to live with his sister. That many children living together. Twenty kids to a room. The temptation would've been too strong. Plus, there is no school in Crawley Lane so his growth as a wizard would've completely stopped and that was big no for me. That would've only fucked with his brain even more as time would've passed. Feeling like you don't belong anywhere. A wizard who can do no more than lift a fucking glass."
"You sent him to ISC." Harry said.
Dumbledore nodded his head. "The Institution for Special Children was the best option in my opinion. At the time they only had fifty students. There were seven or eight that were his age. But all that didn't matter. What mattered was that he would be able to continue his study while also getting the help he needed. There would be two-hour long sessions every day with a psychiatric healer after his classes. He would have a room all to himself. The healers would examine his mental health progress daily. Plus, he could still interact with his peers for two hours a day in a controlled and staffed environment"
"What about the fee? ISC isn't cheap. My special squad teammate, Horecto, had a sister who went there and it drove his parents crazy. Working 10-12 hours a day. Who was paying for that?"
He raised both eyebrows at Dumbledore's prolonged silence as he shifted in his wheelchair.
"Really?" Dumbledore nodded. "Wow!" He ran a hand through his hair. "Does anyone know?"
"No"
"Not even the kid" Dumbledore shook his head. "C'mon, he had to" Harry sounded exasperated. "I can't imagine that he wasn't a little bit curious about who was paying for him when he got older or when he left the institution"
"He didn't leave the institution"
"What do you mean? He can't still be there. Not when he turned seventeen. You either go back to the real-world or get sent away to some psychiatric ward. Plus, he had a sister. I imagine you had to sign some kind of papers when he was allowed to see her"
"Harry" Dumbledore leaned forward. "Charles Rivia never left the institution because he died inside the institution. He was fifteen at the time and till then he hadn't met his sister. His mental condition worsened with time so the head of the institution never allowed him to visit her and she couldn't because she was very sick.
She had a condition that is very rare. She wasn't a squib but she couldn't perform magic. Her magical core was so weak that it could only serve one purpose and that was to keep her alive. Without her magic she would've died instantly. She would sleep twenty hours a day. Fragile little thing. I only saw her once, right before I visited Charles. It was the only time I saw him when I sent him away."
"How did that go?" asked Harry.
Dumbledore shrugged his shoulder. "As well as you can expect, I suppose. I got notified by Cordelia Keller, she ran the institution, that Charles had gone into severe depression. So, she asked me if I would bring in his sister to cheer him up since that's all he keeps asking.
So, I told them to tell him that I would bring his sister the very next day and that they can spend all day along but that turned out to be impossible. So" cleared his throat before coughing into his hand.
"You alright" Harry frowned in concern, lightly patting his knee.
"Yeah, just..." he cleared his throat.
"You want me to get you some water?"
"No, thank you. I'm okay" He gave him a wry smile. "Perks of old age"
Harry's lips curved at the corner as he gently rubbed his knee. "You're alright"
"As I was saying, I went to see him, regardless. I wanted to tell him personally, you know, so that he didn't feel betrayed. I was so happy to see him and I thought he was too when he first saw me. But then I realized that excitement, it was all for seeing his sister and" He snapped his fingers, a loud clicking sound echoed off the walls. "It went away that fast. The moment he sat down on the other side of the glass I could feel this dark aura permeating off him."
He turned his gaze down at his left hand and started fiddling with the ring on his third finger.
"Where is she...that's all he said to me. I told him the truth. Maybe that was a mistake on my part but at the time I thought it was the right thing to do. He stared at me for good five minutes and I stared back at him. I was a bit taken aback, didn't how to react if I'm being honest and then without saying a word, he got up and left"
"How did he die?"
Dumbledore took a deep breath. "There was an obscurus. A sixteen-year-old girl. Pureblood, parents died in the great war. They were Voldemort's supporters. She was captured by someone from our side whose family was killed by her parents. He was a muggleborn. Jasper Hayden. He abducted her. No one knew about it. She was four at the time.
He locked her in his basement and tortured the poor girl every night. He raped her, beat her up every time her magic would try to get out. On her fifteenth birthday he brought some of his friends home and they all raped her." He paused, shifting his gaze back towards Harry. "She killed them, all of them. Her magic erupted in such a powerful force that it blew a hole through the house. An entire side of the house and the roof were literally blown apart.
A team of aurors found her, lying in her own blood on the table where she was raped, naked. She was then brought too ISC. She was put in a secure bunker on the underground floor of the building. She was only brought out for one hour every day. To interact with her peers. Apparently, her progression was going quite well but then one day, some kids started teasing her and none of the staff members were around. Things got out of hand fairly quickly and her magic flared up. Now, all this information I was told by Cordelia, and even she was didn't see it firsthand. None of them did. It was the bang, she said to me. She said that she could literally feel the ground moving beneath her feet.
They all ran out and saw to their horror a huge whole in the large wall that surrounded the institution. ISC is located on a cliff, surrounded by the crashing waves of the sea hundred feet below. But she said that wasn't the worst part...it was the blood. On the ground, on the wall. Limbs torn open. Bones scattering the ground. Heads split open. Some children were thrown off the cliff, to their doom. Charles was one of them."
"Yeah, I remember now" Harry mused. "Reading it in the paper" He shook his head with an annoyed huff. "My brain is so fucked I can barely remember the shit from five days ago"
Dumbledore smiled and reached his hand out to ruffle his hair. "Don't worry, we'll get you sorted out. Now!" he checked the time on his watch. "We have ten minutes before we leave for the burrow. So, freshen up if you have to and lighten your mood"
Harry lifted his head and sent a bewildered look his way. "How the fuck is one supposed to lighten the mood. That too after the shit show of a story you just told me!"
"You're an auror. You hear shit show stories of this kind every day. So, lighten up!" Dumbledore said over his shoulder as he reached the other side of the room before going through the narrow passage.
"Wait!" Harry jumped up and followed him. "What happened to his sister?"
"She was adopted a few months after his death. The lady who ran the orphanage said it was a touring couple from America. Now, no more work questions." Dumbledore halted the wheelchair and turned it around to face Harry. A charming grin on his face. "Now, cheer up! We're going to a party!"
Interior, The Burrow – Night
It was an all-out ruckus. People shouting over the rising clamour of voices, bumping into one another as they tried to wheedle their way through the traffic of bodies. A trio of two little boys and a girl zoomed their way through, knocking a plate perched on the edge of an enormous dining table. Fifteen chairs lined up on either side and two at each end.
"George! Watch it, mister or they'll be no cake for you!" yelled an elderly woman with curly red hair. She had an apron tied to her waist and was levitating a bowl of meatballs with the utmost concentration in the middle of the table.
She let out a huge sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from her forehead as the bowl landed gently on to the gloss polyester wood. The table was gold in colour and had black edges.
"Molly, the roast is done but you need to tell Ron to leave the kitchen or there won't be any cake left" A woman with shining black hair and white undertones put a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh merlin, what am I going to do with this boy" Molly huffed. "He's even more of a nuisance than the kids. Cissy, could you please help Hermione with the tomatoes. Poor dear has been gone for ten minutes"
The woman smiled and squeezed her shoulder. "I got it. You need to stop worrying so much. Everything is going to turn out great."
"Oh, I wish I had your confidence. But there's so much to do still and-Oh dear!" Her eyes went wide as she caught the sight of the grandfather clock. It read; you're running out of time. Better pick it up!
"Oh, don't pay that blasted thing any mind"
"I need to finish the cake. The fish has yet to be marinated. Potatoes need to be peeled."
The woman laughed as she watched Molly stomp her way out of the dining room, muttering along the way.
She turned around and headed for the archway that led to another room that was occupied by men. Sofas were lined on either side of the room with chairs set in between. A small rectangular table was placed in the middle that had a bottle of Ogden's finest perched on top along with a few bowls of snacks.
Her eyes went straight towards the man with shiny white hair, not unlike Draco who was sitting alongside a man with red haired ponytail a few seats away from him. They even had similar facial features with minor differences. The same jawline, although Draco's was more pronounced, the same aristocratic nose, except Draco's was a little broader and the same coloured eyes. Piercing blue.
Sensing someone's eyes on him he tore his attention away from the man who was similar in age to him but had a round tummy and just a few strands of wavy red hair atop his bald head and turned to face her. A grin lit up his face and he raised his eyebrows.
"Everything alright, darling" he asked in a posh accent.
She narrowed her eyes at him and put her hands on her hips. Her action made every person stop their conversation and turn to her. "Molly is this close to going mad and the girls and I are also up to our wit's end while you men are sitting here having a jolly good time!"
"But honey, the entire point of this evening is to have a jolly good time. It's not our fault that you women can't handle that simple of a concept" they all burst out laughing but immediately shut up when her eyes narrowed into tiny slits.
"Say that one more time, Lucius Malfoy, I dare you" she said in a sweet voice.
There was silence for a few seconds before he shot up. "C'mon men! Let's go help our beautiful wives" he trotted past her, followed by everyone else.
She rolled her eyes and smiled at James as he was having trouble lifting himself off the bean bag. She snorted and pulled him up.
"Thanks"
"You're getting old, young man" she smirked.
He scoffed. "Young man. Tell that to my knees. Where's Lily?"
"In the kitchen"
His eyes turned wide in mock fear. "Oh dear, everyone's still alive aren't they"
She rolled her eyes, nudging his shoulder. "Shut up and go lend a helping hand to your wife"
"Oy! James, what the fuck are you still doing here!" A man with long curly black hair popped his head in before walked over to them. "You're not getting out of this old pal. If I gotta help, you gotta help" he pulled on his arm and started dragging him along. "Oh, and Narcissa, Molly says to go help Hermione pick out the tomatoes"
"Oh dear, I forgot"
"Ouch Sirius! Slow down, I'm not twenty anymore" James grumbled.
Sirius snorted. "You don't have to tell me that, Prongs. You can barely move"
Sirius led him out of the room before leaning close to his ear. "Tell me, are you still able to get it up" he dropped his eyes to his crotch before giving him a sly wink.
"Mate, this bad boy can still go for an hour's ride" James scoffed.
"Hmm. And after"
"Then it needs a good rest for about a week to get charged up for the next ride" Both men laughed as they walked into the kitchen.
James walked over to Lily who was stirring the soup with a deep frown on her face. "You know it's not your enemy" he murmured, enclosing his arms from behind her.
She was startled by his presence and whirled around. "James! You scared me!" she glared at him before turning back around.
"I'm sorry, darling" he kissed the back of her head before taking over the stirring. "Here, let me"
"Thanks" she kissed his cheek before looking at the woman putting the frosting on the cake. "It's looking beautiful, Fleur"
Fleur beamed at her. "Thanks. All the credit goes to Molly. She is the true architect"
"Of course," Ginny said, as she walked in. "We're all but mere pawns of her" she opened the oven and levitated the pie out. "James, tell me if this is done or not" she flew the pie across to him.
James sniffed the smell and tapped his finger on the pastry. "Yup, that's done"
"Thank merlin" Ginny groaned. "Mum was having fits about it" she levitated it out of the kitchen as Hermione and Narcissa walked in, their hands full of tomatoes.
"Over here ladies" James pointed on the shelf next to him.
Hermione dropped the tomatoes before leaning against the shelf alongside Lily as Narcissa walked out of the kitchen. She laid her head on her shoulder.
"Tired darling"
"Exhausted" murmured Hermione.
Lily chuckled as she cradled her cheek. "Why don't you go and lie down on the sofa"
"Molly will kill me" Hermione deadpanned, making Lily giggle.
"Yeah, you're right."
Hermione lifted her head and arched her neck.
"Where's Rose" Lily asked.
"She was with Caroline and Scorpius last I saw her. God, my neck is so stiff" she groaned.
"Here. Let me massage it for you." She motioned Hermione to step in front of her before rubbing her fingers on her neck.
"Oh, that feels so good" moaned Hermione.
"Is Rowan coming" Lily asked.
"I don't know"
Just then there was a loud shout from somewhere in the house.
"Hey party people! Guess who's here!"
"Well, that answers that" chuckled Lily.
"That man sure knows how to party, I'd give him that" James said, as he swiped the tomatoes he'd cut on the tray into the soup.
Hermione opened her eyes and moved away. "Thanks" she said to Lily. "I better get to him before either Ron or Draco does. This dinner will take a very drastic turn very fast if that were to happen"
She bumped into Molly on her way out.
"Oh, sorry dear" Molly put her hands on her shoulder to steady her. "Rowan's here" she smiled.
"I know. I was just going to greet him"
"Yes, do that before Ron or Draco greet him in their own style"
Hermione laughed. "You took the words right out of my mouth"
Molly walked into the kitchen as Hermione walked away.
"Alright, everything seems to be done and thank merlin just in time too" She walked over to James and dabbed her finger in the soup before putting it in her mouth. "Oh James, that's delicious"
"It was all Lily, Molly. She did all the heavy lifting"
Molly looked at Lily and both women shared a secret smile.
"Rowan" Rowan turned towards Hermione and a beaming smile lit up his face. Roslyn was standing next to him, leaning against the wall.
"Hey" he scooped Hermione into a big hug and kissed her cheek. "How are you"
"I'm good. How are you"
He pulled back and shot her a toothy smile. "Dashing as always"
Hermione shook her head. "You need to check that head of yours. It's getting bigger day by day"
"Hey, I got no problem with that. I don't mind having a big head" he winked. "If you know what I mean"
"Ouch!" Roslyn cringed. "I don't want to hear that"
"Oh, c'mon Rosy. You're an adult now. Surely, you've heard worse"
"Yes, but you're my godfather" she harrumphed.
Rowan gave Hermione a pouty look.
"She's right" Hermione said in a stern voice. "Keep your filthy mouth away from her"
He made a sealing motion over his lips. "Check"
"Alright people, dinner's ready!" Molly's sonorous voice rang all throughout the house.
Everyone started gathering into the dining room. Kids came running in from playing in the backyard and fought over chairs.
"Boys!" Luna glared at the twin boys.
"But mummy! I touched the chair first," said George.
"No, I did" yelled his twin.
"I don't care. Fred, you come and sit next to me" she ordered.
Fred dropped his shoulders and scraped his feet along the floor as he made his way towards her.
Roslyn was sitting next to a boy and girl her age. The boy had a mop of spiky red hair but apart from that he was the carbon copy of his father, right down to his blue eyes.
The girl had wavy blonde hair similar to Luna but her face was adorned with freckles, like her father.
"Percy, I forgot the pot roast on the shelf. Be a dear and bring it" Molly said.
Percy nodded his head and walked out.
"Remus, where are you going"
The man with sandy brown hair turned to the woman. She had straight brown hair that ran past her shoulders.
He pointed towards James and Sirius who were seated near the head of the table, across from each other.
"Oh okay" she smiled, but it was evident that she was disappointed.
"No, that's fine, honey. I'll come sit next to you. I'm not caring much for their company tonight either"
She gave him a warm smile and kissed his cheek. "Go, fuck off" she giggled.
He chuckled and gave her a small peck before taking his place next to James.
"Oy! Severus!" Sirius yelled, as he spotted Severus who just walked in. "Over here"
Severus nodded before walking over to him. He sat down next to him.
"Hey, Professor" James reached his arm. Severus grabbed on to his elbow and shook it.
"Prongs" he repeated the greeting with Remus. "Moony"
"What, none for me" Sirius looked offended but Severus brushed him off with a roll of his eyes. "Ha ha!" Sirius barked a laugh before throwing his arm around Severus and squeezing him.
"Oh, get off you blithering idiot" Severus grumbled, but there was a smile on his lips.
"Hey Severus, wasn't sure you were going to show up"
Severus turned his head. "Lucius" he nodded, shaking his hand. "How are you"
"Good, old friend. Good"
"Oye Severus!"
Severus shifted his gaze as the man with a bald head walked over to them.
"Arthur" Severus shook his hand before Arthur took his seat at the head of the table.
"Alright everyone" Molly got everyone's attention as she stood on the opposite end of the table. Everyone turned to her as she looked around the table, a huge smile on her face.
"I just want to thank all of you for coming tonight"
Ron looked across the table towards Draco and rolled his eyes. Draco ducked his head to hide his smirk. Hermione, who was sitting next to Ron saw their little exchange and nudged him in the stomach with her elbow. "Behave" she hissed.
"...it's the last break for Caroline, Scorpius and Roslyn before they graduate from Hogwarts and we wish them all very best. Tonight is for them!" A loud cheer went around the table as all three teenagers ducked their heads in embarrassment.
"Let's tuck in!'
Just then the floo behind Arthur roared to life and everyone turned their heads in its direction.
"Oh, that'll be Albus!" Molly announced.
Sirius turned to James; his eyebrows raised in surprise. "You knew about this!" he whispered.
James shook his head.
The fire dimmed down and Dumbledore rolled the wheelchair from under the chimney.
"Albus!" There was a loud chorus of his name being shouted as he raised his hand.
"Great grandpa!" Roslyn stood up and ran over to him. She dropped to her knees and hugged him fiercely. "I've missed you so much" she whispered.
"As have I, dear child...as have I" He pulled back and kissed her forehead.
"Come" She held his hand. "Sit next to me. There is space"
He nodded as she pulled him along.
"Albus"
"Arthur" he nodded.
He stopped when he reached James. A few seconds of heavy silence passed between them before James leaned over and hugged him. "Hey Dad"
"James"
"Doing alright" James asked as he pulled back.
"Much better now" Dumbledore smiled warmly before turning his attention towards Remus.
"Remus"
"Albus" Remus put a hand on his shoulder
"Sirius, Severus, Lucius" he nodded his head at all three of them.
"Albus" Lucius nodded back.
"Professor" Snape bowed his head.
"Hey old timer" Sirius winked.
Dumbledore chuckled as Roslyn pulled him along.
"Charlie"
"Albus"
"Edith"
"Albus" smiled the woman sitting next to Charlie.
"Lily"
"Albus"
"Penelope"
"Albus"
"Percy"
"Albus"
"Narcissa"
"Albus dear, how are you"
"Splendid"
"Florence" he nodded to Remus's wife.
"Albus"
"Ivy"
"Albus"
"Bill"
"Albus'
"Fleur"
"Albus"
"Draco"
"Albus"
"Ron"
"Sir-I mean Albus" Draco snickered as Ron glared at him.
"Hermione" Dumbledore stopped and fixed her with a penetrating gaze.
"Albus" Hermione shifted a little in her seat as he kept staring at her.
"Hmm" He hummed before looking up at Roslyn and nodding his head.
She continued pulling him.
"Mr. Kyle" he said with a little too much enthusiasm.
"Albus!" Rowan grabbed his hand and gave it a hard shake. "Wow! Your grip is still very strong" he chuckled.
"It can be when I want it to be" Dumbledore said evasively and flashed Rowan a wide grin before letting go of his hand with a hard squeeze.
Rowan smiled but his face showed pain as he held his hand.
"Here we are" Roslyn said, giving him more space by sliding her chair closer towards Scorpius.
"Thank you, my dear" he placed a gentle kiss on her hand before releasing it.
"Scorpius, Caroline"
"Headmaster" they both ducked their heads in respect.
'Oh no need for that. I'm no longer your headmaster. Infact, I retired before your time" he smiled, making them chuckle. "Molly, my dear" he beamed at her. "Thank you for inviting me"
"Oh pish!" she snorted. "Inviting you. As if you need an invitation to come but nonetheless it's great to have you"
"You're too kind" he looked around the table at the splendid spread. "I must say you have once again outdone yourself"
"Thank you" Molly hid her blush by looking away. "Well, c'mon then. Now that everyone is here, tuck in!"
Everyone moved to do just that but Dumbledore lifted his finger. "Hold on!"
They all looked at him, some with interest, some in confusion and others in irritation who couldn't take any more of the waiting. None, however, showed their disappointment as openly as Ron.
"I believe we are one guest short" he smirked.
Molly frowned as she looked around. "I don't think so Albus. Everyone is already here"
"I think you may have forgotten in the preparation, my dear but hold on a sec, he'll be here"
Murmurs of "he?" went around the table as they all stared at Dumbledore who kept his gaze locked on the fireplace.
They all waited, patiently, and some not so patiently, as the seconds ticked along.
Hermione looked at Dumbledore with a small frown. "Can't you just tell us who it is Albus. That way Molly can confirm if that person was invited or not"
Dumbledore turn towards her, his face not betraying any emotion. "I believe my dear, that sometimes surprises can bring a lot of joy to people, and sometimes they can hurt you worse than a sword piercing through your heart." He smiled sweetly. "I believe this is the former. Our guest has a thing for theatrics, as I'm sure you're all aware of." He chuckled. "Always believed in making an entrance"
Her forehead scrunched in even more confusion and she was about to open her mouth but just then the fireplace once again roared to life and everyone whipped their heads towards it.
It looked like they were all waiting with bated breath for the fire to die down and the person to reveal themself.
They didn't have to wait long as the green flames evaporated into thin air and the person stepped outside.
A/N: You know the drill. Post your comments and let me know your thoughts. I'll see you on the flip side