I'm back from the dead! Sorry for the incredibly long break, I had my wisdom teeth out and then had just the worse case of writer's block. I'm not even sure how I feel about this chapter, but we shall see. Anyways, Reviews are amazing, so please do it! We're close to the finish now...
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Albus Dumbledore was a complex man, with many hidden facets and unturned secrets. He has been careful in his age to preserve himself, watching the mishaps or mistakes of so many of his students. Because of this, he felt as if he was regarded quite reproachfully by many, especially students who are intimidated enough by the unknown. Sometimes, he pictured himself a mysterious omniscient being, watching the lives of his charges flit and flourish around him. Of course, this was much too pretentious for Albus to take seriously, and his mind never ceased to amaze himself with the goings on of youth, the secrets of the castle and the people who dwell in it.
It has been imperative, in Albus's mind, to keep a watchful and compassionate eye over every student, especially when the tensions of the outside world have began to threaten the sanctity of the Hogwarts halls. He often feels his efforts are too little to late with some, as if he is swimming to the surface with feet to go, but runs out of precious air, and cannot kick or claw quick quite enough. Of course, there are other cases that surprise him, marvelous examples of human good played out in the interactions of school children.
It is interactions such as these that give Albus hope, interactions that he must remind himself of when he travels the world and is able to see the darkness that is only a trickle of shadows inside the castle. These cases often circulate around specific charges of his, but can also be impressive acts of bravery from those who normally fade into the background. Albus often enjoys thinking back on these events at the end of the year, the end of some students' education, where they will begin to truly carve their paths into the future.
Take Sirius Black for instance.
The very first time the boy came into the Great Hall, he had a peculiar mix of terror and smugness on his face. Smugness that was wiped away when he was placed into Gryffindor. Albus recalled the first few weeks of that year, Black seemed on the cusp of falling. One way, into the crippling intimidation of his cousins and family, into their web. The other way, one of hardship and defiance, one that would put him into history, if only a small history at that.
The choice was made the same day that Black was sent to Albus's office for the very first time. He had been practicing levitating charms in class, as was usual for First years. That was, until he had levitated a certain Slytherin boy that was teasing a muggle-born sitting next to him. He had levitated the boy onto one of the cross beams that supported the high ceiling of Flitwick's classroom, and it had taken an hour to get him down. Black sat in front of Albus with a defiant expression on his face, eyes blazing. That was a small moment in the boy's history, but one that Albus could see resonated with him each proceeding time they met (usually for the outrageous pranks the boy pulled with the help of his friends.)
And, conversely, there are instances of students who have fallen, those who may have had potential but could not summon the courage or will to pursue it. What always comes to Albus's mind, would be one Severus Snape.
The boy, like Black, seemed on the edge of a knife, for many of his young years in school. Like Black, he had a disadvantage in his home life, growing around hate and cruelty. But there was hope for the boy. Unfortunately, his fate took a turn for the unfavorable in his later years at school, when he began to show more intense obsession with the Dark Arts, and distanced himself from purity and strength. Albus remembers one instance most of all: a group of young men had been found with one Mary MacDonald, her skin bruised and eyes terrified. They were torturing her, boys of the age of fifteen were practicing cruel dark magic on this girl. Albus had been called immediately, his heart heavy as he strode towards the dungeons. In his the corner of his eye, he saw black hair whip swiftly into a dark corridor, and knew Snape had been at least somewhat responsible. It was from then on that he watched the boy's decline into Dark Arts, into the trap of his peers and his family had set for him. But, given the circumstances, Albus always felt for students such as these, who may have simply made all the wrong choices.
But he is becoming lost in his thoughts. He tends to do this at the end of the spring, when students are at their most boisterous and relaxed. Exams are over, and summer is fast approaching. To many students, this means returning to the real world, the dangers it holds. And for a certain group, the return is permanent.
And now to the matter at hand. The handful of those aforementioned students, the Seventh years with only a day left in their time here, sitting in front of him.
James Potter was nursing his bruised elbow, avoiding Albus's gaze as if his life depended on it. He looked very much like his father now, lanky frame now grown more angular and mature. His wild charcoal hair was full of twigs, undoubtably from falling earlier. As Albus expected, he was the first to speak.
"Professor, the entire plan was my idea." He stated loudly. His peers began to protest. Albus held up a hand in silence.
"Mr. Potter, I recall a time, not too many years ago, where you would be the last person to claim blame for your wrongdoings. Especially not if others were involved." The boy's ears turned pink with his unexpected compliment, and he seemed shocked into silence.
This was not the first time Albus Dumbledore had seen James Potter drunk. The first time was many years ago. James was raw and wild, full of anger and confusion. Albus recalled the boy running as fast as he could around the castle, being followed by a blur of fiery hair. That was the last time Albus had seen James Potter drunk, when Lily Evans came to his rescue.
Lily Evans was also here now, in Albus's office, twisting her bright red hair around her fingers in guilt. This was, however, the first time Albus had seen Ms. Evans drunk. The pair, Head Boy and Girl, were sitting closest to Albus, almost protectively surrounding their friend seated behind them. Albus did have to admire their loyalty to friends, as well as their attempts to appear sober. These attempts were very much thwarted however when Potter closed his eyes sleepily, and fell out of his chair.
Laughter punctuated the room. James pulled himself together quickly, looking sheepish.
"Prongs, you're a mess." It was Sirius Black, though it was a bit hard to tell through his thick layer of red paint adorning his body. Albus's cool gaze silenced the boy, and he felt now was a good time to speak.
"So, I presume you all know the seriousness of your actions tonight." He said neutrally. It was easy to see the effect his words gave to the trio. Lily looked about ready to vomit (although, it could have been from the drink), and Sirius was white as a sheet. Albus felt a small smile grip his face.
He had found the Black and Potter, very unsurprisingly, in the middle of a prank. Though he was not quite sure the logistics of the prank itself. Albus had found a delight in discovering the newest mischief that the four self-deemed 'marauders' had cooked up. Although it meant him usually distributing detentions and Filch breathing down his neck, the creativity and care brought to each scheme was a bit admirable. He must have caught the boys in the beginning stages though, for this prank was clearly only partially finished. It seemed to be some tribute to their leaving tomorrow, a last hurrah of sorts. The boys, once knowing they were caught by Albus, had tried to climb down the tall tree that was only a few paces from the Astronomy Tower, when they suddenly turned invisible. Albus was quite bemused, before catching a glimpse of a dark figure on the top of the tower, assumably the spellcaster. It was far too late for trying to hide, he had mused, and he in turn cast his own charm on the figure, levitating them down slowly from the tower. To his surprise (though it wasn't a great surprise), it was Lily Evans.
"I would've came down myself, you know." She had grumbled, clearly trying to hide the terror of being caught. Thinking back, Albus couldn't remember if the girl had ever gotten caught breaking school rules before. But, he figured, there was much more to Lily Evans than met the eye. Unfortunately, Albus didn't know about the paint. So, when Ms. Evans's elbows brushed the bows of the tree, gallons of the stuff began to fall. It coated the two, priorly invisible boys, who'd been trying to make a break for it. It coated the bottom half of Lily's robes. And it coated Albus.
And that's what led them here, on the last night of school, Albus behind his desk, three paint-covered Seventh years before him. Three drunk, paint-covered Seventh years.
"We're so sorry professor! All of our actions tonight were disrespectful and wrong." Lily called out in dismay. Albus swore heard Black whisper "kiss-ass".
"That's right. I roped Lily into it, she'd never have done it if I didn't convince her." Potter said, still clearly trying to defend his friends. "I'm the delinquent, I should be punished."
"Hey! If anyone's the delinquent here it's me. Who planned to put a watch so far away? It's a miracle we even got that far." Sirius said derisively.
Their bickering almost made Albus laugh. The three were so loyal, so ready to take the blame. Although Black seemed more like he had a reputation of shenanigans to uphold, his heart was clearly in the right place.
"Alright you three." Albus said softly. They quieted. "I assume you weren't the only ones involved." Lily's transparent face gave the answer away.
"May I ask, what were you all planning to do?" There was silence for some length, as they grappled with the consequences that could come from telling versus the consequences of them not telling.
"Paint the tower with Gryffindor colors." James finally mumbled. Albus smiled. This was not even as wild as he'd imagined. Albus decided he may as well give them a bit of a speech.
"Tomorrow, you'll be leaving on the Express with no guarantee that you will return. And now, you've decided to waste your last night at this school in my office." The three looked dreadfully ashamed. Albus softened.
"So, with that in mind, there is no real reason to punish the lot of you." They gaped. Black let out a whoop, to which Lily elbowed him.
"Sir, why aren't we getting detention or something?" She asked, eyes wide.
"How could I give you detention when you're already graduated?" Dumbledore asked, feeling his eyes sparkle with amusement. The three seemed a bit slow to understand his logic, James crinkling his eyes with confusion.
"The points are in, the Cup's already been awarded, and I'm afraid it is too late. You're now adults, out of my reach to punish you. And I am thankful for that, as I believe Mr. Filch would have a conniption to see Potter and Black back with him once more." Dumbledore smiled benevolently, and the three students began to smile as well.
"Thank you sir, that's very generous of you." Lily said, between hiccups that had started in the middle of his speech. James stretched his drunken hands out to shake Albus's, and nearly fell over. Sirius looked ready to bolt for the door.
Albus gave them a nod, signaling their dismissal, and they got up to exit the office.
"Oh, before you go." Albus called. Their faces whipped back, eyes frightened that he'd changed his mind.
"I look forward to seeing you at the Order Meeting next week."