March 7, Happy Birthday to me!

Chapter 15

The walk to Dumbledore's office was a silent one. Well, silent on Harry's part anyway. Dumbledore on the other hand thought it would be a good time to talk about the history of jewelry in the magical world. He was now on the part of how house elves used to use something to do something at some place…

Needless to say Harry wasn't paying attention. With every thought he took his mind jumped to wilder and crazier ideas. At one point the even considered trying to oblivitate the Headmaster, but he had never tried to use the charm before. He didn't want Dumbledore to end up with no idea who he was like Lockheart, plus he'd probably die from the guilt.

Think, dammit! Think! You just finished telling Draco you had a Slytherin side. Find those Slytherin brain cells, dust them off and use them before you dig yourself into your own grave, Harry internally shouted at himself, frantically rubbing the top of his head with both hands as he thought this.

Story? Story? What's his story? He already said a friend from 'home' gave it to him, thus a muggle. What would sound believable to Dumbledore? He'd probably knew he had no friends when he still went to school with his cousin Dudley, so it had to be a new friend that no one else knew about. A really new friend, from this summer would be the best explanation. WHY would a new friend give him a gold ring?!

I'm going to have to tell Dumbledore, my head master, that I'm dating him. Why does that scare me, wondered Harry, spotting the portraits they were passing watching him with a mixture of worry and puzzlement.

"The Cat in the Hat then used the one and only ring to propose to Aslan and after the wedding they lived happily ever after in the land of Oz," said Dumbledore, smiling when Harry still didn't acknowledge what he was saying. He used the opportunity to speak, instead, to the portrait on his right, afterwards he began hum to himself until they reached the gargoyles that guarded his office.

Harry nearly walked past Dumbledore, until he heard the Gargoyle laugh at him. He swirled back around and snuck into the stairwell just before it closed again. Once it shut behind him, he almost turned right back around to pound on it to escape. What was he thinking by not thinking of some sort of excuse not to come here?

Sitting at his desk, Dumbledore suggested to the set in front of it and held out a small dish of muggle candy.

"Lemon drop?"

Shaking his head, Harry tried to go over the story again in his head only to realize he hadn't actually came up with one yet.

"So, Mr. Potter, what is the name of the person who gave you such a fine ring?"

"A-Alex," said Harry quickly, hoping that he wouldn't slip if he kept his lies as close to fact as he possibly could.

"Only Alex?" asked Dumbledore, looking at Harry with the bright blue eyes that seemed to be able to look into his very soul.

"Alex-," began Harry, but he couldn't think of what the book had said that possible Axel's last name was. What was a common last name? "Smith."

"Please, tell me more about this Alex Smith. How did you two meet?" asked Dumbledore, helping himself to one of the lemon drops.

"Near where I lived during the summer," said Harry. Not even in a lie would he call that place home. "I ran into him when I got lost."

"My dear boy, I find it hard to believe that you would get lost in a place you lived throughout most of your childhood," commented Dumbledore, chuckling slightly.

"It was beyond the neighborhood, where I hadn't been before," said Harry, wondering if Dumbledore was just humoring him.

"I see. What happened then?" asked Dumbledore, placing his head in the palm of his head, leaning forwards as he did so.

"He helped me back and I went and visited a few times afterwards," said Harry, spotting the ring that was now sitting casually on the head master's desk. How far would he get if he grabbed the ring and attempted to run for it?

"And he simply gave you a golden ring," Dumbeldore more stated then asked.

Harry nodded, since Axel had simply given him the ring, but he decided it probably wouldn't be best to leave it at that.

"We became very close."

"Oh? How close?" asked Dumbledore, looking very curious now.

"That's private, head master," said Harry. Surely no other student would be questioned about a ring like this.

"I'm afraid I must insist Harry," said Dumbledore.

"We-we're dating," said Harry, feeling both excited and ashamed to say it aloud. He really did need to explain dating to Axel, and properly ask him to be his boyfriend. Glancing up at the head master, Harry almost swore he saw a glare but whatever it was it was quickly gone and replaced with a smile.

"Congratulations Harry. Truly wonderful to be in love, isn't it? I'm assuming you believe he is a muggle, then," said Dumbledore and, for the first time Harry ever saw, he spit his candy into the wrapper and placed it into the rubbish bin.

"Why wouldn't he be anything but a muggle, sir?" asked Harry, trying to keep his voice as steady as possible.

Picking up the engraved ring, Dumbledore held it up so both of them could properly see it.

"This is a highly magical ring, Harry. We must find it's original owner and bring him to Hogwarts immediately."

The expression on Dumbledore's face was so serious, Harry found himself gulping from nervousness. When the words sank in he practically few from his seat.

"You can't! He has his own life. You can't just take him away from it!"

"It's for his own good, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore stated simply.

"But-but you can't even be sure he's the original owner. His family may have gotten it by accident," Harry tried to reason.

"In this case, it's quite impossible," stated Dumbledore.

The door to the office opened and Professor McGonagal stepped in.

"I've brought Miss. Granger and Mr. Weasly with me, as you requested Albus."

Watching as his two friends were waved in, Harry fell back into his chair.

"How? When?"

"When you were distracted on the way here, my dear boy. You really ought to pay more attention," said Dumbledore, waving his wand to summon two more chairs on either side of Harry. He waited until they were seated and McGonagal stood by his before he continued. "I imagine that Mr. Potter has told you both about his new boyfriend?"

Ron's face was one of mock anger as he shook his head.

"Never heard a word of it sir."

"That's a lie," exclaimed Hermione, springing up from her seat, much to the horror of Harry and Ron. "You just told me what Harry explained to you earlier today!"

Harry didn't know who to be more angry with. Hermione for blurting out his biggest secret or at Ron for telling her without him. At least Ron had the decency to look apologetic about it.

"I see," said Dumbledore simply. "Then you can tell me where to find him?"

"No," shouted both Ron and Harry.

"Yes," declared Hermione.

"Hermione," said Harry breathlessly, in complete disbelief.

Hermione looked at Harry sadly and winced when Harry moved away as she attempted to place her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Harry, but I know what I'm doing." She turned back to face the head master. "Axel is in the Forbidden Forest."

Ron immediately started shouting at her, but Harry couldn't understand what. He was so shocked, paralyzed by her words he couldn't even tell if he was still breathing. He was unaware of the people talking, shouting and moving around him and he never noticed how Dumbledore's eyes shone brighter then any other time he had known him.

It was the head master's following words that brought Harry out of his trance:

"Call the order, we must go into the forest for him tonight."

"No," shouted Harry again reaching into his pocket for his wand, only to find that it wasn't there. He looked up to see Hermione holding it as she moved away from him.