Hogwarts, Great hall
Dumbledore was sitting in his golden throne in Great hall and smiling at the arriving students. Many of them he had seen dead in the pensieve and for the first time since his return, he was really grateful for his new chance. He watched as new students got sorted and after the feast he stood up. Students fell silent a he started.
"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. A have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used in the corridors." He paused. "This rule had been violated in the past, but from this year there will be harsher penalties, namely suspension from school clubs, and expulsion."
He looked at Slytherin table, where students were looking at him with doubts. They didn't think he was serious. "Don't be mistaken, it's not that hard to find out the culprits. Vows, prior incantato, pensieve memories and after discussion with Madame Bones, who is the Head of DMLE, we agreed to use veritaserum in serious crimes.
"Also, if you feel that any teacher awarded or took points unfairly, you can submit complaint to your Head of house or to me. I will be also doing regular inspections in classes."
He then smiled. "This year there will be a dueling club, so if you find yourself in conflict, you can solve it there." Students looked pleased at this revelation. "You will learn the details soon. "Mr. Lupin," he gestured towards tired-looking man in shabby clothes "will be running this club with my occasional assistance." Students politely clapped, but most were surprised that it wasn't Lockhart running the club.
"Also, please welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart!" Lockhart stood up, flashed his brilliant smile and waved. He really has no spine. Of course, most girls were happy. After all, he was a five-time winner of the Witch Weekly's most-charming-smile award, so he must be a good teacher.
"And the last thing before you go to sleep," he paused for a better effect "Donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, donated twenty-eight new brooms for Quidditch teams" There was cheering in the Great hall after this statement. Brooms were expensive and most people on quidditch teams played on old brooms.
Dumbledore continued. "Mr. Anonymous expressed his hope that Quidditch matches will now be more balanced and more interesting."
"What model it is Professor?" Shouted bewildered Fred Weasley.
"A Nimbus 2001, of course." Said Dumbledore with a satisfied smile, while thinking about Malfoy.
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Next morning Dumbledore woke up early and summoned few house-elfs. He instructed them to bring him the vanishing cabinet from the first floor. This blasted cabinet provided a hole in the wards of Hogwarts. Thinking about wards, they maybe should be strengthened. They didn't last long when Voldemort attacked.
While the elfs were looking for vanishing cabinet, he was walking to Hagrid's hut. This was another matter he could have solved long time ago. He knocked on the massive door. Hagrid opened and motioned him inside. "Good morning Hagrid." Greeted Dumbledore and sat down.
"Mornin' Perfessor Dumbledore, everythin' right?" Said Hagrid. "Want a tea?" Dumbledore nodded and continued.
"I have some news for you Hagrid. One good, one bad." Said slowly. "The bad is, somebody apparently discovered an Acromantula colony in the forest and the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical creatures was notified. They will be coming here next week. As you can guess, it was decided that the spiders have to go." He finished. Hagrid was frowning.
"They would not hurt a fly Perfessor!" He shouted desperately. "Could't ya do somethin' ?"
Dumbledore was glad he didn't say it was him, who notified the Department. Hagrid looked outraged. But it was right decision. These acromantulas were responsible for many deads in the Battle of Hogwarts, which he saw in pensieve. He will never forget it. "Alas, my friend, I couldn't do anything. I must ask you not to interfere. I am sorry."
Albus paused, sipped a tea and continued. "But that's not all. I also spoke to Madam Bones and she agreed to open again your case. As you know, you were never really investigated about that incident fifty years ago. She agreed to send one of her aurors with veritaserum. You will be questioned about it. Which means next week you could buy a wand a continue education. Remus Lupin agreed to teach you, that is if you want."
Hagrid was nodding enthusiastically. His anger dissipated. His little furry friends will just have to live elsewhere, and while he will miss Aragog, they weren't as friendly as before. And he will have a new wand! Hagrid gave up his hope years ago and now he could do magic freely. Tears of joy started running down his cheeks.
Dumbledore saw that Hagrid was no longer listening to him, so he stood up and left before Hagrid decide to give him his bone-crushing hug.
"Great man Dumbledore, great man.." Hagrid repeated for a few hours after he left.
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First two weeks were peaceful for Harry and his friends. Potions with Snape were dreadful as usual, but there were some big changes. Snape was sneering and scowling, throwing around his remarks about dunderheads, but his favoritism for Slytherin ceased. No more points given to Malfoy for breathing and no taken points from Harry for breathing. What an amazing change.
Oliver Wood came up with an idea of reserve quidditch team and Ron, Dean Thomas and Ginny Weasley got the post along with Cormac McLaggen and some sixth-years. They were mostly flying on the old team brooms. Harry lent his Nimbus to Ron, but after a few trainings he gave it to Ginny. "The keeper didn't need the fastest broom and Ginny is really good." Explained Ron. He was good strategist and after few his comments, he was planning the strategy for matches along with Wood.
Defense against the Dark Arts hadn't improved from last year. Lockhart wasn't teaching anything. Instead, Harry was forced to play scenes from his books. There was also that disaster with Cornish Pixies, where Lockhart after his "Peskipiksi Pesternomi", which had absolutely no effect, ran from classroom and left them on their own. Of course, Hermione saved them with immobulus, but it was a huge blow for her.
"I can't believe it!" She shouted while they were on their way to the Transfiguration class. Harry and Ron exchanged glances and shrugged. "I mean, I found a few errors in his books, but I thought it was only printing error or something like that" she continued. "And to think I had that stupid smile every time I saw him arrrggh! I was changing into another Parvati and Lavender." She finished miserably.
"Don't worry about it Hermione," said Harry, trying to calm her down. "You weren't only one who thought he is perfect. Maybe in the dueling club we will learn something." He finished and they sat down. But he didn't really believed it. If that man, Lupin, was any good, why didn't Dumbledore hire him to teach DADA?
"Yeah, maybe," said Ron. "Hope he will teach us something better than peskipiksiiii pesternoumiiii" he said theatrically in pompous voice like Lockhart. Harry snickered but Hermione didn't look much better. Fortunately she was the first to change her animal to goblet and McGonagall gave her twenty points, which improved her mood a little. Harry was the second to accomplish that, to the surprise of everybody.
His first year he was only average in classes and most time he spent with Ron playing chess, flying or wandering through the halls. But over this summer he realized that he should work hard and learn everything he can. Not only because it is right thing to do, but mainly because of Voldemort. He was still alive, somewhere in the shadows in his wrath form, looking for a way to come back.
It wasn't easy at first. In primary school, he was good at first, but after three days in cupboard with no food because he earned better marks than Dudley, he quickly learned not to work hard. And he had it deeply planted in his head. Professor Dumbledore said he will never come back there, so from now he will do his best.
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The dueling club for second years was at Thursday at the Great hall. Harry, Ron and Hermione stood near the dueling platform, where Mr. Lupin and Professor Dumbledore were talking. When everybody was there, they stopped.
"Welcome to the dueling club students!" Started Mr. Lupin. "Today you will learn and practice a few spells and Professor Dumbledore here," he gestured towards Dumbledore "kindly offered his assistance today. First charm is disarming charm. Its incantation is expelliarmus. The second charm is shield charm. Incantation is protego." He looked at Dumbledore who nodded.
They stood against each other. "Now, the demonstration. Pay attention to the wand movements and correct pronunciation. Three, two, one, now!" Dumbledore flicked his wand and said 'expelliarmus', which Lupin side-stepped and responded with his own. Dumbledore calmly, but loudly and clearly said 'protego' and a silvery shield appeared in front of him. Red coloured spell was absorbed by his shield and he quickly sent another disarming charm. Lupin this time didn't reacted, only stood there waiting for the red beam to hit him.
It hit him straight to the chest. He was thrown six feet backwards and his wand flew through the air to Dumbledore, who caught it with a good reflex for his age. Students applauded and he gave Lupin his wand back. "Now make pairs and practice it against each other. Cast only these two charms if you want to come back next time, are we clear?" He said seriously.
It was very enjoyable lesson and compared to Lockhart, Mr. Lupin taught them something other than useless charm against pixies. Lupin and Dumbledore were walking around and corrected students with wrong wand movement or pronunciation. After an hour Lupin told them to stop. "Excellent!" He said beaming. "We will continue next week. After final exams at the end of school, there will be a dueling tournament with a price for a winner. See you next week." He finished his speech and left the hall.
Harry, Ron and Hermione started walking to the Gryffindor tower, when Professor Dumbledore stopped them. "So, did you enjoy the lesson?" asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Yes Professor," answered the trio in unison. "It was much better than what that fraud..." started Ron but Hermione elbowed him in the stomach. Dumbledore smiled. "I was temporarily deaf Mr. Weasley so I didn't hear anything. He said and Ron looked ashamed and relieved. "Now Harry, Miss Granger, I was hoping you could come the my office after dinner. The password is Chocolate frog." And he left humming a melody under his breath.
"What was that about?" Asked Ron.
Harry shook his head. "I have no idea...Hermione?"
She too looked confused. "We didn't do anything, did we?" She said nervously. "If Headmaster want to talk to us it must be something really serious. "She stated, while they walked into the Gryffindor tower. "I guess I will see you at the dinner then." And with that she ran into her dormitories.
Ron and Harry shrugged. "Dumbledore is barmy." Murmured Ron.
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After dinner, Harry and Hermione took their way to the Headmaster's office while Ron went to the Gryffindor tower. They stopped in front of large gargoyle and said "Chocolate frog." Gargoyle revealed the staircase and massive door. They knocked. "Come in." said Dumbledore from inside. They entered and he motioned them to sit.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Surely you are wondering why I wanted to talk to you." He started slowly and they nodded. "It is quite a story so make yourself comfortable. Lemon drop?" They politely declined and waited.
"Last year, Harry Potter finally came back to the wizarding world. I admit that I was curious about you Harry. The wizarding world savior, The-boy-who-lived." He paused and lifted his hand to stop Harry, who looked like he wanted to say something. "I know you don't like that title my boy." He said. I wanted to know what potential you have and what type of person you are" Dumbledore now looked at Hermione.
"Miss Granger, I want to ask you something. It is about third floor corridor, which was forbidden last year." She looked at him with suprise. "What about it, sir?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Didn't you wonder how is it possible, that three first-years could overcome the obstacles, which were supposedly to stop anyone who tried to steal the stone?" Dumbledore was smiling at Hermione, who looked thoughtful.
"Er..yes sir. At the time I wasn't thinking about it. We were worried about the stone, sir. But now...it was too easy." She muttered.
Dumbledore nodded. "It was. As I said, I was curious about you Harry, so I made this series of obstacles and gave you a pointer here and there. Hagrid was with you in Gringots and you saw a small package. He 'accidentally' told you about Nicolas Flamel, about Fluffy guarding something and so on." He paused and looked and Harry, who wasn't angry as he thought, but looked confused.
He continued. "It was meant to be a test, my boy. With Cerberus, you were supposed to find about music, or use an invisibility cloak. Devil's snare is a first-year curriculum. Then there were keys and brooms. To tell you the truth, you were supposed to use summoning charm. I know it isn't taught until fourth-year Miss Granger," added Dumbledore quickly. "But it is not surprising if some first or second year know it."
"The broom was alternate solution. As for the chessboard..." He stopped. You were supposed to use that broom. The keys would have followed you and distracted the troll, while you could beat him." They looked at him perplexed. Now, when he was talking about it, it seemed logical.
"Flame freezing charm with flames and then there was the mirror. I will come to it in a moment, Harry." Harry nodded sheepishly, because he wanted once again to say something.
Dumbledore sighed and now looked a few years older, if it was even possible. "You are now surely thinking, what if you died or something..there is a catch. You weren't supposed to go there without me, disillusioned of course. I would have intervened if there was a danger. For example, I would not let you fight the troll without keys distracting him."
"There was another catch Professor, right?" piped Hermione. "Yes indeed Miss Granger. I am still wondering why Voldemort thought I would place a stone there. He must have been really desperate. He wasn't supposed to be there at all." He shook his head sadly.
Harry finally get his moment. "But what about the stone in the mirror? There was a stone, wasn't it? I had it in my pocket..." he finished lamely.
"So, it was a fake?" Hermione asked. Dumbledore nodded. "Yes Miss Granger, it was a fake. The mirror was a final test. It was a test of heart."
Harry and Hermione didn't understand. "I will explain. Voldemort wanted the Stone for himself. He wanted Elixir of life so he can have a body." Harry couldn't help it. "A little gold can help too." He muttered. "Aye," said Dumbledore with a chuckle." Last year in infirmary, I told you that you had to want a stone, but not to use it to get it from mirror. It wasn't the truth." He paused again and took one of his lemon drops.
"You Harry, were supposed to be there alone, or maybe with one friend, it doesn't matter now. The mirror test was about your heart. If your heart were pure, you would get the stone, if not, you would see yourself making gold or elixir. Does it make a sense?" He asked finally.
"Ehm sir, but if the Quirrell wasn't supposed to be there, why would I go there in the first place?" asked Harry curiously. Dumbledore chuckled again. "Professor McGonagall told you that I am on my way to London. Flying by broom of all things. And you thought someone wanted to steal it, didn't you? I was in London in fact, but through the floo. Professor McGonagall thought I changed the day so she sticked with original plan. We actually planned it a few days later. Otherwise she wouldn't just dismissed you." He finished. "Does it make a sense now?"
Harry shook his head. "I still don't understand one thing, sir. What do you mean it was test of heart?"
Dumbledore looked at Hermione and she flushed. "Miss Granger, you seem to know something about it. Care to enlighten us?" He asked with a smile.
"Ehm, um...Harry, imagine you have an opportunity to have the legendary Philosopher's stone, unlimited money and Elixir of life. But if you take it, you would be a thief and the Flamels..um," She glanced uncertainly at Dumbledore, who nodded, so she continued. "They would die without the stone. So you would have the stone, but you will be a murderer and a thief." She finished. Dumbledore beamed at her and added:
"And before you ask me Harry, why I lied to you about the destruction of the stone, we wanted to do it. I mean the real stone. But, if you want to know, we found another solution." He said, visibly satisfied with that.
Harry, who finally understood, nodded. "So, it was this what you wanted to talk about, sir?" He asked uncertainly.
"Partially. You still hadn't ask the most important question."
Hermione looked irritated with herself. So many questions and she didn't know the answers! That was new experience for her.
"I wanted was to find out, what type of person you are Harry and based on the result, I would or would not offer you something. You get the stone so your heart is pure and based on that I would like you to offer special tutoring. Rest assured I would not offer you this chance if you didn't get the stone from the mirror." He said finally the point.
They looked at him, flabbergasted. "You want to teach us, sir?" Hermione asked. She was started to glow with joy.
"Yes, well not me personally," he said, "not yet," he added quickly. When he saw disappointment on her face. "I talked to Professors Flitwick and McGonagall, who agreed to tutor you. If you want to. And in a few years, I will train you personally." He finished.
"You see Harry, with Voldemort still out there, you should be ready when he come back. He will go after you for certain. If not for anything else, he is ashamed that one year old could defeat him and he will want to prove his power. You are the symbol of light, whether you want it or not, and your death would be a huge blow for light side."
He then looked at Hermione. "As for you Miss Granger, it was tradition to offer tutoring for best students." She beamed. "But after the end of last war, there wasn't a single student, who was tutored. It is time to change it."
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As Harry and Hermione left, Dumbledore sighed. He didn't lie too much. He wanted to know, if Harry is not new Tom Riddle, who was a thief already in eleven and he was certain that had he offered this choice to Riddle, he would be staring to the mirror and got nothing. He really wanted to know if Harry is pure of heart last time to make a sacrifice at the end, not to train him.
It was all because of that blasted prophecy. "Dark lord will mark him as his equal.." So he made series of obstacles to find out if Harry is the same as Tom Riddle was in eleven. Of course, everything went wrong and Harry nearly died. Splendid.
Harry looked better than last year or this year in old timeline. Apparently the potions did a good job. With this new training and no stress this year because of the "Heir of Slytherin" thing, Harry can actually have a good year. He of course doesn't äknow about all his horrible years here.
But Dumbledore now stopped his thoughts. There was something he have to do.
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While Dumbledore was berating himself for his stupidity and thinking about his next step, Harry and Hermione were walking to Gryffindor tower. As soon as they left Dumbledore's office, Hermione jumped at Harry and enveloped him in her bone crushing "Hermi-hug."
"Oh Harry!" She exclaimed enthusiastically. "I am so happy! I must write to my parents, this is perfect!" She was having a time of her life, what better could happen than more studies? They came into Gryffindor tower and Hermione gave Harry another hug and kiss on each cheek. He blushed like tomato and quickly ran into his dormitory.
Hermione sighed but wasn't sad. She knew that boys don't think about girls yet. All they think is food and quidditch. She will have to wait.
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Midnight. In the castle there was nobody awake. The corridors were empty. Well, not completely. Albus Dumbledore was walking to the certain girl's bathroom on the first floor. He was disillusioned and silenced, just in case. He had a plan. He didn't know if it will work, but he wanted to try.
From Harry's speech at the end of this year in old timeline, the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was there. He came to the bathroom and set up a ward to warn him if someone stepped in. Moaning Myrtle was nowhere to seen. She probably took her favourite waterslide straight into the Black lake.
Dumbledore drew his wand and silently casted serpensortia. Large snake appeared and before it could bite him, he casted imperio. The snake calmed down. "Say open!" Dumbledore commanded. He heard the snake hiss. The sink began to move and left a large pipe exposed. It worked! Dumbledore couldn't believe it. It was really easy.
"Fawkes!" He called his familiar. Fawkes appeared with a burst of flames. Dumbledore didn't need to tell him anything, he caught his tail and Fawkes took him down. It was after half an hour when Dumbledore finally found the solid wall in which two entwined serpent were carved, their eyes set with great, glinting emeralds. He again commanded the snake to say "open". The serpents parted as the wall cracked open.
He entered and saw a very long chamber with large pillars and at the end was this giant face of Salazar Slytherin. According to Harry, Basilisk was behind that large mouth, which one could open with a password. He knew that password from old timeline, Harry said everything that night in his office.
He transfigured few stones into cages and placed one cage behind every pillar, and conjured roosters. Then he stopped. Will conjured roosters have the same effect as real roosters? He cursed aloud. No need to risk. He called Fawkes again and they left.
They came again within an hour and Dumbledore carried a cage with two real roosters. He levitated it to the top of Salazar's statue and shielded it with a transfigured wall. Here it comes. He took a deep breath and commanded the snake. Snake started hissing and the large mouth opened.