[Hogwarts, Scotland.]

Nate could have said he was in a fantastic mood but was feeling sour. He had bought Albus Dumbledore to the negotiation table but that did not mean he was going to like the price of the man's silence. In his fifth year, Nate would have been magically superior and Dumbledore more desperate to save Harry Potter's life.

"Honestly, I am not sure how to feel about you. Blackmailing your student. Headmaster, your predecessors would be rolling in their graves."

"Sadly, you will find Mr Grey, that I am one of the more lenient Headmasters of Hogwarts. Most of them would be prideful enough to not even bother discussing this further."

"Most of them would go to their office, without their memories, having a newer and better opinion of me. Not that most of them would have looked at me, a good arrogant Gryffindor twice."

Dumbledore frowned," I hope I don't have to worry about such a thing in my staff, do I?"

Nate could hear a threat in his voice, "Of course not sir. What do you take me for a criminal?"

"Yes, were in doubt of such a thing?" Dumbledore japed.

"Oh come on, everybody breaks some laws. Laws like the statute of secrecy are meant to be broken don't you think."

"Many members of our society would wish to keep it going, but I can see the appeal it might hold to some, the ones with delusions of grandeur." There was a knowing glint in the man's eyes.

"So what do you want from me?"

"What can you give me?"

"Nu-uh, you go first."

"Three favours."

"Nope. I am not giving you three chances to drag me away from a path like Tom Riddle."

"There are not many that know Lord Voldemort's real name."

"I know of your greatest secret and this surprises you?"

"How do you even know all this, my boy?"

"I used Divination." Nate shrugged.

Dumbledore looked sceptical, "Mr Grey, I am not your enemy. You have my greatest secret with you just like I have yours. I would say trust is like a legilimency spell, it works both ways."

"Tom Marvollo Riddle was the person to get one of the highest OWL scores in this school's history."

"And he was just around the same age, you would expect someone of Voldemort's knowledge to be?"

"Age was not a factor in my deductions, headmaster, no need to try to bait me. The deal that sealed it was Tom Riddle's defence and arithmancy scores. He got the highest in centuries. Surpassing your score in the arithmancy section. The funny thing is Lord Voldemort just so happens to be a great hand at spell craft, the dark mark, either the tattoo or the one in the sky. He has been known to use spells unknown, not that many could tell, with his knowledge of the dark arts."

"That is a stretch in your logic, Mr Grey," Dumbledore said still not believing him.

"Except fifty years ago, the Chamber of Slytherin was opened and the culprit revealed to all by one, Tom Riddle." Nate said while inwardly thinking, ' Believe goddamn it, I can't think up more relations as to how I could know, you old goat.'

"Hm... You have really looked into Tom, haven't you?"

"Aren't there more people doing it?"

"Most who tried when he was alive turned up dead, not many try now that he is dead."

"No eager journalists like Skeeter doing it?"

Dumbledore said, "No publication to publish it. It is more a matter of a group not doing it than an individual."

"Why not your bird club?" Then he remembered that Mist and Fawked were still staring at each other. He called out," Mist."

His companion immediately joined back into a single spirit hound that came to Nate and curled up beside him as if it was not about to take on a Phoenix. Nate patted his head, ' As much as I like Mist, she couldn't match the bird of resurrection. She would hold him back but not win, not that I would require her protection in some time.'

Nate then looked at Fawkes the Phoenix, he was eyeing Nate curiously as if looking at a puzzle. Nate murmured, "Forgive me, Fawkes, your master and I had a bit of a tussle."

The Phoenix opened its mouth and let out a melodic trill as if saying,' No worries.'

"Thank you, as I was saying, no three unconditional favours."

"So let us put some conditions on them."

"I won't kill for you. I won't spy for you. I may fight for you. Any favours that I agree to will be reasonable."

"Understandable."

"So wanna ask any favours or do you want to go back to your office and let me study in peace?"

"I do not have a favour to ask but I would request answers to some questions?"

"Go on, I would rather give you the answers than have you snooping around."

"What were yesterday's events meant to achieve?"

Nate shrugged, "Honestly, it was to remind people that their lives aren't as peaceful as they think."

"You think Lord Voldemort still lives?" Dumbledore was probing him, Nate realized.

"I don't know maybe the tattoo he gave his followers that still works like cast yesterday would prove it. The traces of the magic linger."

"Who showed you this tattoo?" Nate nearly snarled, ' I need a name.'

"Can't risk you knowing his or her name, Dumbledore," Nate replied.

"Of course." Dumbledore nodded as if agreeing.

'The man probably thinks I am a moron. That I went ahead and trusted a death eater.'

"He was in dire straights. I helped him. Do not try to trace them down. If you try to play me, you will find yourself on an entirely new chessboard." Fawkes trilled a pacifying note then.

"I will pay your warning due heed."

"Anything else?" Nate couldn't help but drawl out.

"Yes Mr Grey, how's Project Legacy coming around?"

"Great." Nate cringed, knowing the old goat knew something by the expression on his face.

"Oh? I am aware you have made a deal with the Centaurs."

"I did. You will not be informed of its contents."

Dumbledore frowned, "My boy, why are you so wary of me, how have I caused you ill feelings?"

"Because as much as I like you Dumbledore, your friendship and enmity are equally devastating."

Dumbledore's eyes that had been twinkling softly until then dimmed, "The war?"

"Wars." Nate felt disturbed by the sad look the man threw at him.

"I think, I can understand your reluctance better. You care for your family."

"My family can take on most death eaters and could send them towards their graves but they will not be ready to take on the likes of yourself or Riddle. Unfortunately, neither am I, and I will not be ready to take Riddle while protecting others for some time."

"I can understand that, Mr Grey. I just hope that you trust me, if not as a friend, then as a mentor."

"I hope I can too, Dumbledore."