Disclaimer: I own none of the Intellectual Properties displayed in these ramblings.

AN: So I've had this thought for a while now, that Evil! or Manipulative!Dumbledore is way, way over done to the point of almost lunacy. It got so old that I decided to write this out as a kind of counter-point Dumbledore, a Professional! or NotSuperManipulativeJackass!Dumbledore. Should be fun.

One-Shot

If Dumbledore Did His Job

Albus Dumbledore sighed as the tiny little first year, Harry Potter, nervously scooted into his office. He'd noticed something off about the child the very first time he had set eyes on him in over a decade during the sorting of the First Years. The abuse was pretty much written on Harry's face and body language. Maybe not physical abuse, he didn't seem to carry himself with any long healed injuries, he couldn't detect any scars on his back through the child's shirt, not currently covered by a robe. But mental and emotional abuse, those were the types that were damaging. Scars could heal, mental scars could last a lifetime. The Headmaster had been an educator for almost his entire life, he'd seen plenty of abused children come through Hogwarts' hallowed halls, and Harry Potter carried some hallmarks of some very serious mental anguish.

Putting the twinkle back into his eye, he looked the nervous little boy in the eyes and held up a candy dish "Lemon Drop?"

The tiny first year in front of him cracked a small grin and leaned forward to take a candy. Albus considered this to be a great victory.

"Harry" he continued "I called you here to ask about your first week of school, and maybe some other questions. How are you adjusting to Hogwarts?"

Albus smiled as the child in front of him went into great detail about his first week at the boarding school. The Headmaster knew that Harry was glossing over a lot of details, about how the vast majority of the students couldn't seem to get enough of staring at his scar, how whispers followed him in the hallways and the like. He knew because he was using Legilimency to scan Harry's surface thoughts. Normally the Headmaster wouldn't do this, he believed that people's private thoughts were sacred, but in abuse cases, it had to be done.

"I noticed you didn't mention anything about your first Potions class? How was that?"

Harry momentarily hesitated before tentatively replying that they were fun, for the most part. It took most of Albus' considerable willpower not to frown mightily at what Harry's thoughts revealed as to the behavior of Professor Snape. He had hoped, for the most part, that in the almost fifteen years since Severus Snape had last seen James Potter, that the man would be able to finally move on from what was, mostly, a few pranks and a small feud. One that Severus had actually started, if Albus was remembering that class's opening feast correctly. He would have to have a talk with Severus. A very severe talk, he amended when Harry thought of the part of the lesson where Severus blamed him, Harry, for Neville Longbottom's mistake. Perhaps a suspension from his head of house duties would be a nice wakeup call to the dour professor.

Harry sat there apprehensively, wondering what was coming next and valiantly fought the almost overwhelming desire to visually explore the Headmaster's office. He was dearly hoping that he wouldn't be sent back to the Dursley's. "I don't think I could stand going back to their house after being here, I'd probably run away within the week."

Albus caught Harry's latest train of thought and couldn't help but feel anger starting to course through him. "And how about your home life, Harry, how are your Aunt and Uncle treating you?" He was curious as to what the response would be, and started to slightly dread it as a miniscule wince overtook the boy's body momentarily.

Dumbledore started to get more and more concerned the longer young Harry talked. The way the child was describing his home life obviously put the Dursley's in the best possible light, but Albus could see Harry's thoughts behind his words. He could see the cupboard, he could feel Dudley's fists, and he could sense Harry's distress at his Aunt and Uncle's words. It took all of his willpower not to storm from the Castle grounds in a rage. But he had over a century and a half to learn how to control himself.

Albus cleared his throat and gave Harry a kind smile "Thank you for coming to visit me, Mr. Potter" he said as he wrote something on a bit of parchment "take this note with you and return to your common room, it is getting quite late and while you do have the weekend off, you'll undoubtedly need the rest for your first week of homework."

Harry nervously returned the Headmaster's smile and scampered out of the office.

Albus sighed deeply and steepled his fingers in front of him on his desk. He spent the next half hour going over everything Harry had told and unconsciously shown him, whether he wanted to or not. Taking a large breath through his nose and letting it out through his mouth, the Headmaster got to his feet and went over to his office fire place. Taking a pinch of Floo Powder he tossed it into the fire and called out "Potions Master Office". This was going to be a long and uncomfortable evening for Severus Snape, that was for sure.

AN: If anyone wants to take this and run with it, go ahead, just give credit where credit is due.