Disclaimer – Nothing's mine but the plot.
Chapter 9 – Elven Oak
The aftermath of Fudge's visit was one of the biggest the staff at Hogwarts had ever seen. The Daily Prophet somehow got hold of it and every day it reported the most ridiculous stories.
The Slytherins, other than Draco, still taunted the Gryffindors. Telling them that the war was over and that Voldemort had already won. Lucius Malfoy made almost daily visits to the castle, under the guise of visiting his son, trying to find out any information on Harry's whereabouts. His almost desperate need for the boy was something that chilled Dumbledore to the bone.
The staff meeting the day after the first story came out was brutal but that was nothing in comparison to Order meeting the elder Weasleys and others demanded the next evening. Dumbledore had managed to hold them off for over a week but eventually he gave in and they met at headquarters late that Sunday night.
Albus found himself having to explain exactly why he had hidden Harry from the Order and what had possessed him to adopt the boy. Molly Weasley was beside herself.
'Albus, you are over a hundred years old. If you wanted someone to adopt Harry we would have done it in an instant.' She had practically shrieked at him.
Albus shook his head. 'No Molly, that wasn't what Harry needed. I did it to protect him. If he had been with you or someone else Voldemort or Lucius could have got to him. Under my direct protection no one will be able to harm him.'
No one in the room could miss the strength in the headmaster's voice.
'Can we see him?' Molly pleaded softly. Many in the room echoed the question. Albus looked at them in contemplation before nodding slowly.
'I will ask. That's all I will promise. I'm not making Harry do anything he's not ready for.'
Molly and the others nodded hopefully as Albus stood and left the meeting room.
He walked up the two flights of stairs and knocked gently on Harry's open door.
'Come in.' came Harry's soft voice and Albus poked his head in to show Harry it was him before coming inside.
'Hello, dear boy.' Albus smiled, sitting down on the edge of the bed as Harry placed the book mark in the book he was reading and looked up.
'They want to see me, don't they?' he said knowingly.
Albus raised an eyebrow at the perception the child had. 'Only if you are ready, Harry. I don't want you to do anything you don't want to.'
Harry glanced down at his book. 'No. I will see them; if only to silence their fears.'
Albus shook his head. 'Don't do it for them, Harry. Do it for you. Do you want to see them?'
'I want to show them I'm alright. That the war isn't over yet.'
Dumbledore reached out and placed an arm around the boy. They had really made progress in the last week as Harry leaned into the one armed hug. 'Have I told you just how proud I am of you Harry?' Albus said softly.
Harry looked up and grinned. 'Not since yesterday.' He snickered.
Albus smiled and helped him off the bed and into his night robe. In silent companionship they walked back down the stairs, Albus' arm never moving from Harry's shoulders. They stopped in front of the door, Albus watching as Harry steeled himself before nodding slowly.
Albus pushed the door open and gently propelled the boy inside, never taking his arm from around Harry's shoulders. Harry barely had time to look at the twenty odd faces staring at him before Molly Weasley gasped.
'Harry.' She cried before barrelling across the room towards him. Harry's eyes grew impossibly wide and he shrank back towards the headmaster who wrapped both arms around him, shielding him from the emotional witch.
'Albus.' Harry whispered plaintively.
Just as Albus opened his mouth to stop her, Snape stepped directly into her path from his place beside the door, his imposing figure halting her progress instantly. 'Which part of do not scare the boy did you not understand?' The silky baritone was deadly and Molly opened and closed her mouth several times, unable to do say anything in response.
Snape moved slightly closer to her, giving her no choice but to move away and Snape moved back to his place by the door no one in the room missing the grateful look Harry gave him or the nod and small twitch of the lips the boy received in return.
'Harry?' Dumbledore said softly. Harry looked up, tearing his eyes from the potions master's and swallowed heavily.
'I'm fine.' Harry breathed heavily.
Albus rolled his eyes. 'I swear I'm Oblivating you and removing that word from your vocabulary.'
'Get in the queue.' Snape murmured. Harry poked his tongue out at the older wizard, an unbelievably childish gesture that stunned the entire room. Harry Potter did not do child. He never had.
Snape just snorted and moved to sit down making sure to leave a seat free between himself and the headmaster, one which after a little prompting from Albus, Harry took slightly nervously. There were more people in this room than Harry had been exposed to since his rescue. He gave a small sigh as he felt Dumbledore's hand come to rest on his own and he grabbed it tightly. He didn't know why, but his level of anxiety seemed to lower considerably when he simply held the hand of someone he trusted.
He almost reached out for Snape's too as he had done many times this week during his lessons. The first time Albus had pointed a wand at him had almost sent him over the edge but Snape had caught him, and he had held on for grim death until finally he had nodded and Albus had sent a tickling charm at him. Things had got better since then.
Snape, as if knowing what he was thinking had surreptitiously placed his hands in his lap under the table, before reaching out for Harry's. Harry's eyes widened comically but Snape gave him a look that spoke volumes and Harry knew not to say a word.
'Harry?' Molly asked. 'How are you?'
'I'm fine.' Harry said automatically. Snape rolled his eyes and Albus squeezed Harry's hand. 'I will be fine.' Harry corrected.
Molly didn't seem all that satisfied. 'Surely you want to be with Ron and Hermione and Ginny at the moment.'
Harry opened and closed his mouth several times. 'Not really.' He said softly.
'Aren't you bored here?'
Harry shook his head. 'I have lots to practice before going after Tom.'
'Going after whom?'
'Voldemort.' Harry clarified quietly as over half the room flinched.
'What do you mean going after?' Mad-Eye Moody interrupted.
Albus went to speak but Harry disentangled his hand and reached up to place it on the headmaster's shoulder effectively stopping him. 'Riddle has waged war on the wizarding world for long enough.' Harry said softly. 'He has to die, and soon.'
'Mr Potter you surely can't be ready to duel him and his Death Eaters all on your own. Certainly not after what has happened.' Kingsley Shacklebolt insisted. His comment echoed by many others.
Harry sighed. 'I won't be dueling the Death Eaters, I won't even be dueling Tom, and I certainly won't be on my own.' He added glancing up at both Albus and Snape.
'Harry, what are you saying? How are you going to destroy You-Know-Who if you won't even duel him?' Arthur Weasley spoke up. Harry glanced once more at Albus who nodded reluctantly before giving Snape a pointed look. A moment later Snape stood and left the room and Harry kept his eyes downcast on the hands in his lap.
Many around the table seemed to want to continue questioning the Boy-Who-Lived but one look at the headmaster's face held them at bay. Several minutes later Snape returned placing a box in front of Harry before sitting down. Harry took a deep breath before releasing the clasps on the box and opening the lid. He reached in and pulled out what looked to be a muggle gun.
'Harry, no.' Arthur breathed.
'Is that….?' This from Arabella Figg.
'You can't use that, Harry.' Tonks gasped, the horror in her voice echoed by nearly everyone in the room.
'Why not? Won't it work?' Harry asked innocently.
'You don't understand, Harry. You can't use a muggle gun in a duel. Albus, you can't let him use a muggle gun in a duel.' Tonk couldn't seem to get past it.
'I told you. I'm not duelling him. I'm destroying him.' Harry was insistent, not letting the headmaster speak.
'But Harry, muggle weapons have never been used in our world. Ever since guns and such were invented there was an implied agreement throughout the wizarding world that they would never be used. You would be an outcast even if you did succeed in bringing down the Dark Lord.' Molly's plea was impassioned but it had no effect.
Harry just shrugged. 'I don't care. I just want this all over and done with.' He said quietly, nervously flicking the safety of the gun on and off until Snape took the weapon carefully out of his hands and placed it back in the box.
'But Harry, surely if you just waited, trained some more.' Molly insisted again.
Harry glanced down at his lap, his shoulders slumping as he took a deep breath. When he looked up the members of the Order couldn't help but see the pain and fear in the boy's eyes. 'I can't wait anymore, Mrs Weasley. Can't you understand that? I just want this to be over. I'm so tired.' Harry's gaze dropped once more to his lap.
'Harry?' Albus said softly.
Harry looked up at him, his eyes bright. 'Albus, may I be excused now please?' he pleaded. Albus smiled at him, gently squeezing his shoulder.
'Of course, dear boy.' he said softly pushing his own chair away and beginning to stand. Snape shook his head.
'I'll take him Albus, you stay and finish the meeting. You still haven't discussed the other day.' The potions master gave him a pointed look and Albus glanced at Harry, who nodded.
'Thank you, Severus.' Albus smiled as Severus gently helped Harry out of his chair and slowly from the room. The Order members openly gaping as they caught a glimpse through the not quite shut door, of the normally irascible potions master lifting the weary Boy-Who-Lived in his arms and heading for the stairs.
When the meeting finally finished, Albus, having to defend Harry's choice of action for over an hour after the boy had left, walked slowly up the stairs and into Harry's room to find Snape and Harry in the exact positions he had left them every night this week. The older wizard in the rocking chair with Harry curled tightly in his lap. This time however, the potions master was also fast asleep.
Dumbledore smiled, conjuring a blanket and placing it over his boys before moving quietly from the room. He knew they would know he had returned to the school. He had spent the weekend at Grimmauld Place but another week began the next day and Albus had to be back at Hogwarts. He would be back for an hour at lunch and then again after dinner as he had been all week.
Snape had been staying with the Boy-Who-Lived as Dumbledore took his classes. They practiced during the day, showing Albus at night how far Harry had progressed. Snape was in awe of the boy, something Albus had no trouble seeing even as the Potions master tried to hide it. Harry seemingly had no problems trusting the other and as the week progressed they grew closer and closer. Harry found out that the normally snarky man possessed a wicked sense of humour and he had no qualms in joking with him, saying things he would never have said to Dumbledore. Snape, for his part, looked after the boy as if he was his own. Making sure he ate enough and got enough sleep, and every night Harry would sit curled on Snape's lap in that comfortable rocking chair as Snape murmured nonsensical stories to him to make him go to sleep. Those quiet times, after the deadly training of the day, allowed Harry the chance to be a child, the chance to see what a real childhood should have been, and Harry grabbed onto it with both hands and refused to let go.
Another week passed, Snape finally admitting that Harry was ready. Albus arrived for his usual supper, this time carrying a small rectangular box which he set down on the table before Harry. Harry, for his part, just stared at it unmoving.
'Harry?' Snape said softly.
Harry started and looked up, swallowing nervously before reaching for the box. Slowly he lifted the lid and stared at the long stick of wood contained within. 'My wand.' Harry breathed.
'Harry, there is something you must know about your wand.' Albus said carefully. Harry tore his gaze from the contents of the box and looked up once more.
'What is it?'
'The wood, Harry. The wood it is carved from is very special. It is from an Elven Oak; a mystical tree with powerful protective properties.'
Harry glanced down at the bright gold wand that still lay in the box. 'That's why you wanted me to learn to shoot.' He said quietly.
Albus nodded sadly. 'You cannot cast anything even remotely offensive with this Harry. You will be able to cast shield charms that will stop almost anything but nothing offensive, not even so much as a Hiccough Hex.'
'It doesn't matter.' Harry said softly. 'After seeing what even some of the simplest spells can be used for I don't know if I could say them anyway.'
Both Dumbledore and Snape placed their arms around his shoulders and hugged him between them.
'You don't have to do anything, Harry, we will help. All you have to do is fire as soon as you have a clear shot. Nothing more.' Snape promised.
Harry glanced up and smiled. 'Then I can go?' He questioned.
'Wherever you want.' Albus promised.
Harry smiled again and allowed himself to be guided up the stairs and into the bedroom. Snape took his customary place in the chair as Harry changed into some pyjamas, wrapping a blanket around himself and climbing onto the potions master's lap, sighing happily as the strong arms came and held him.
'Do you realise that you would give nearly every student at Hogwarts a heart attack if they could see you now?' Harry giggled.
Snape gave him a mock glare. 'And that is exactly why they will never know.' He said sternly. Harry giggled again before suddenly going quiet.
'Harry?' Albus asked from his seat on Ron's bed. 'What is it?'
Harry shook his head, looking up at the potions master in fear. 'You're not going to….?' He trailed off.
'I'm not going to what, Harry?' Snape asked curiously. He didn't know what could have caused the boy to suddenly become speechless. 'Tell me.'
Harry swallowed, burrowing deeper into the blankets. 'It won't be like it was, will it?' Harry pleaded softly. 'When we go back tomorrow, you won't change will you?' Snape looked stunned that the boy knew they were returning to the castle.
'How?'
Harry grimaced. 'You wouldn't have given me the wand if we weren't.' he said simply. 'It won't be the same as before will it?' The green eyes were pleading with him to agree and it was all Snape could do not to promise the boy the world.
As it was he gently began rocking back and forwards. 'No Harry, for you, it won't be the same as before.'
Harry just beamed, his eyes suspiciously bright before he closed them and let the gentle rocking help him drift off to sleep.
It was some time before either man spoke, Harry's breathing and the soft rocking the only sounds to be heard. Eventually Snape couldn't stay silent any longer. 'Can he do this, Albus?' he whispered. 'Hogwarts, I mean.'
'I believe he can, Severus. Harry is strong, however he does have a reason to fear returning to the castle.'
'You mean apart from Lucius.' Snape raised an eyebrow.
'Severus, can you promise me something?' Albus asked hesitantly. Snape looked at him curiously and the headmaster went on. 'No matter how bad the day, or the class, or anything else, don't turn him away, don't hurt him.' The request was so plaintive, so unlike the normally strong and powerful wizard that all Snape could do was nod dumbly. 'These last two weeks you have helped Harry more than you will ever know. When Tom attacks and Harry finally succeeds, and I do not think it will be long in coming, it will be because of the trust you built with him. Don't let the pressures of the school render it forfeit.'
'I won't, Albus.' Snape whispered firmly.
Dumbledore smiled, standing slowly and crossing to stare down at Harry's sleeping face. He lifted a hand and gently brushed the hair from the boy's forehead, cupping the cheek and sighing softly. 'I know you can do it, Harry.' He said quietly. He gave Snape's shoulder a pat before walking to the door. With a hand on the door knob he turned back.
'Don't spend all night in that chair, Severus. You aren't as young as you used to be.' Albus scolded, grinning brightly at the scowl the younger man sent his way before moving swiftly from the room, his chuckles able to be heard all the way down the stairs.
Dumbledore waited as Minerva tapped her goblet, catching the attention of the students as they ate their breakfast the next morning. Within moments the room was silent and Dumbledore stood.
'Good morning children. I hope you are ready for another week of learning. I'm sorry to disturb your breakfast but I have some wonderful news and a couple of small requests.' Albus looked out over the hall. 'More than five months ago we lost one of our own. Harry Potter was taken from Gryffindor Tower, never to be seen again. As you all read in the Prophet two weeks ago young Harry has been found.' Whispers broke out around the hall. 'And he will be returning to Hogwarts this evening.' Dumbledore finished loudly, but was drowned out by the cheers that exploded from the tables.
Dumbledore waited until the noise abated, finally resorting to tapping his fork against his goblet himself this time. The students looked back up at the headmaster in anticipation. 'Here is where I ask you all to help me with several small things and I know that, as proud students of Hogwarts, you will do your utmost to fulfill them. Young Harry has been through an awful ordeal, something I doubt that any of you could even begin to fathom in your direst of nightmares.' The headmaster paused a moment to glance at the Slytherin table to notice Draco Malfoy looking sheepishly at his lap.
'Harry is not completely well yet and there are several things you all need to remember around him. Firstly, do not ask him about his time away from us. Trust me, you do not wish to know the details. Secondly, do not crowd him, he is still nervous around many people and lastly, do not point a wand in his direction. Any student I hear of do such a thing even if no spell ever leaves their lips, will find their wand snapped and themselves on the Hogwarts Express back to London before they can say Canary Creams. I trust you all understand.'
Nods were given from all around the hall and Dumbledore's face broke out into a beaming smile. 'Wonderful, wonderful. Now for the next two weeks we are having what muggles call casual days. In other words you can all wear anything you like. I don't want to see a black Hogwarts robe anywhere in sight. Now tuck in, there are books waiting for you all.'
Dumbledore sat down as the hall exploded once more. He knew tonight was going to be difficult for Harry. He just hoped the others students would leave the boy alone.
Harry had allowed Snape to hold him tightly as they flooed from Grimmauld Place to land in Dumbledore's office. He saw the headmaster waiting for him and quickly crossed the room and into the waiting arms.
'Albus.' Harry breathed allowing the older wizard to hug him tightly.
'My dear boy.'
It was several minutes before the two pulled away and Harry smiled tentatively up at the headmaster. 'I assume you told them I was coming?' he asked hesitantly.
Dumbledore nodded. 'Yes, I did. I didn't want anyone troubling you.'
'Will I be staying in G...Gryffindor Tower?' Harry stammered, distantly feeling the potions master place a hand on his shoulder.
'No, Harry. You will be staying up here with me.' The sigh of relief the boy tried desperately to hide did not go unnoticed. 'Each of your teachers will escort you to your next class and you will eat with us at the head table.' There was that sigh of relief again and Harry gave both wizards a grateful look.
'Are you ready to go down now, Harry?' Snape asked tentatively.
Harry gave a small smile and nodded. 'As I'll ever be.' He whispered.
'Do you have the weapon?'
Harry nodded, patting the small of his back where the gun and holster were strapped under many concealing charms.
'Good, only take it off in your room. You never know when the Dark Lord will decide to show his scaly face.'
Harry snickered at the potions master's description and allowed the two older wizards to steer him from the room.
The trip to the great hall through the empty corridors seem to pass far too quickly for Harry's liking and in what seemed like seconds they were passing through the small room that was off the hall up near the head table. Albus stopped beside the door, the rumble of talking students filtering through the door. Harry hesitated, feeling the potions master's hand take his own.
'Alright there, Harry?' he said softly. Harry glanced up at him and nodded, relaxing slightly as Dumbledore's arm came to rest on his shoulders and the two led him through the door.
The rumble stopped almost instantly and the entire school watched an extremely nervous Harry Potter be escorted to the head table to sit between Snape and the headmaster. It was blatantly obvious to all in the room that Harry was under the direct protection of the two most powerful wizards in the school.
The seventh year Gryffindors waved to Harry who gave them a small smile before they turned back to their food. Harry tried hard to ignore the staring as Albus loaded his plate with food. Eventually Ron had had enough, noticing none of the rest of the students had followed their example and gone back to their meals, and half stood in his chair and bellowed.
'Yes, it's Harry. He's not going to change colour on you so stop bloody gawking and eat for Merlin's sake.'
Harry shot him a grateful look and Ron winked, saluted and sat back down. Harry snorted softly at the display and felt slightly more at home as he tucked into the food on his plate. He knew coming back here was going to be hard but he also knew it wouldn't be for long. Voldemort would soon learn that he was back, if he didn't know already, and Harry knew Tom Riddle would not wait much longer.