Chapter 7
A Mighty Wizard
[Author's Note: A dialogue-heavy chapter. Nothing much happens here, though Harry's curiosity does get satisfied. Dumbledore also comes to his senses.]
Mycroft, Sherlock, Emrys and John entered Dumbledore's chamber after dinner. Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore waited for them. In a few minutes, they were joined by Sirius, Remus and Harry.
Fawkes landed on Emrys' shoulder and trilled happily. Emrys spoke to the phoenix in a low voice.
"I am pleased that the Dementors are gone, Mycroft, but do you not think the entire exercise was a little high-handed? Cornelius made a mistake. Was it really necessary to remove him?" Dumbledore asked, looking straight at Mycroft.
"He resigned," Mycroft replied casually.
"We both know he would never resign of his own accord."
"You are free to speak to him, Albus."
Dumbledore sighed. "Really, Mycroft, it was a minor matter. We know it is essential to capture Peter Pettigrew."
Mycroft smiled dangerously. "You really need to take better care of your students, Albus. If Harry is to be in mortal peril on a regular basis while at school, I am sure Sherlock would prefer to transfer him to Beauxbatons."
"I doubt if Harry would wish to leave his friends," Dumbledore said. There was a triumphant look in his eyes.
Mycroft's smile grew wider. "Why don't we ask my nephew himself? What do you think, Harry?"
Harry shrugged. "I'd hate to leave my friends…but if Sherlock thinks there's no other way, I'd shift." The bees around Harry glowed brighter.
Dumbledore stared at Harry and Harry felt a prickling sensation in his head. Then Dumbledore went flying backwards and slammed into a wall.
"Do NOT do that," Sherlock growled, his eyes flashing silver.
Dumbledore stood up and brushed his robes. "Apologies. I was merely attempting to ascertain if Harry was under the influence of any mind-spells."
"So you decided to violate his mind?" John asked angrily.
"Ah, Mr Watson," Dumbledore said. "How you have grown. Your grandmother would be proud."
John glowered silently at the old wizard.
"Headmaster," Emrys spoke softly but firmly. "We have no desire to disrupt your authority. However, Harry is a Holmes child now, and we will not compromise on his safety and welfare. Your mistakes in the past have cost Harry dearly, and the Holmes family will not stand by and watch him suffer anymore. Prophecy or not, Harry will not be anyone's pawn. He will live his life for himself, and we will ensure that he can."
Dumbledore sighed. "You cannot fight Harry's battles for him, Mr Holmes. It will only make him weaker."
"Harry is anything but weak," Mycroft cut in smoothly. "You forget, Albus, that he is a child. You place responsibilities upon him which most adults would fail to shoulder, and yet he performs admirably. No, Albus – Harry is a mighty wizard, and anyone who cannot see that is a deluded fool."
"You left an innocent baby with abominable muggles who abused him for years and nearly killed him," Sherlock snarled. "You let a child face Voldemort and monsters by himself. You have treated Harry as nothing more than a pawn in your sick game with Voldemort. It stops now, or Hogwarts will need a new Headmaster."
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening me, Mr Holmes?"
Sherlock smiled his not-nice smile.
Fawkes trilled before either man could do anything. Harry stepped up to the two men and took Sherlock's hand.
"I don't think Professor Dumbledore intended for me to be harmed, Sherlock. He only sent me to Privet Drive for blood protection derived from my mother's sacrifice."
Sherlock snorted. "No, Harry, with Voldemort gone, he could have placed you anywhere and you would have been safe. He put you with your aunt because he wanted you to have a hard life – he knew she hated magic – so that when you entered the wizarding world at eleven, you would be so grateful for the reprieve that you would gladly sacrifice yourself to save it." He glanced at Dumbledore. "Even the Iceman could not have managed such callousness. You are surprisingly ruthless for someone who pretends to care so much."
Dumbledore looked away. "I had no choice."
"There is always a choice, Albus," Severus spoke up. "You taught me that."
"The prophecy cannot be averted," Dumbledore said sadly. "I have tried."
"But it can be fulfilled. We can help Potter destroy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and then he will be free," Minerva said. "He does not have to be alone, and he certainly does not need to be in an abusive environment."
"He carries a piece of Voldemort's soul, Minerva," Dumbledore said tiredly. "It latched on to him when the curse rebounded."
Professor McGonagall gasped. "How do we remove it?"
"You don't need to," Mycroft said quietly. "It has already been done. Merlin himself did it. Sherlock, Emrys and I were there; we saw it."
Dumbledore looked shocked for a moment. Then the twinkle returned to his eyes and he smiled broadly.
"Four more horcruxes have also been destroyed," Sirius added.
Dumbledore brightened further. "Which one remains?"
"The snake," Remus replied.
Dumbledore rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If we track Peter Pettigrew, he is likely to lead us to Voldemort and his snake."
The Holmes brothers rolled their eyes. Harry could hear the unspoken obvious.
Dumbledore sobered and turned to Harry. "I owe you more than apology, my boy," he said softly. "I have made mistakes and caused you great suffering."
"It's all right, Professor," Harry said awkwardly.
"If there's anything I can do for you…"
A thought struck Harry. "May I borrow the Sorting Hat, Professor?"
"Of course, Harry," Dumbledore replied and summoned the hat.
Harry looked at his new protectors expectantly. Sherlock groaned. "Really?"
The brilliant green eyes turned pleading. "Please?"
No Holmes could say no to that.
Harry handed the hat to Mycroft. The oldest Holmes brother put it on his head and a small voice spoke up.
Ah, Mr Holmes. What an interesting mind! You affect imperturbability, but you feel deeply. You have no desire for power or riches, but you achieve so much just so you could keep your little brothers safe, and your family happy. You would be a good fit in any house, Mr Holmes, but your mind, which is the cleverest that I have seen in my life, even Rowena herself, makes me think that you are best suited for RAVENCLAW!
The last word was said out loud. Harry grinned. Mycroft offered him a small smile and handed the battered hat to Sherlock.
Another Holmes. Very interesting indeed. Almost as clever as your older brother, too, but you are flamboyant where he is quiet. Fiercely loyal, too. Each Founder would want you and you will do well in all houses, too. However, you are the quintessential hero at heart, Mr Holmes, and you would do best in GRYFFINDOR!
Harry and John beamed at Sherlock. Sherlock, who'd been annoyed with the hat, couldn't help smiling back. He handed the hat to Emrys.
Merlin! You chose to be a Holmes! How can I sort you? You are magic herself. Oh, you want me to rate your human traits. You are a true Holmes, Emrys, so similar to your brothers. I am glad to see you happy and finally have a proper family that appreciates you…and yet you hold so many secrets, even from them. Better be SLYTHERIN!
Everyone except Mycroft and Sherlock looked stunned.
Emrys grinned at Harry and John. "Told you," he said.
Harry grinned back and hugged the youngest Holmes.
"All right, you've proved your point," John grumbled.
"Does this mean you want me to be best friends with Malfoy?" Harry asked worriedly.
"A Malfoy ally might be useful," Mycroft said thoughtfully.
Harry grimaced.
Emrys laughed and ruffled the boy's hair. "Be friends with whoever you want, Harry. It doesn't matter what house they are in. There are good people and bad people everywhere."
"Would you have liked me better if I had been sorted into Slytherin?" Harry asked Snape.
Snape was startled. "I do not think you would even be considered for Slytherin, Potter."
"I was nearly sorted into Slytherin. The hat put me in Gryffindor only because I begged it not to put me in Slytherin."
Severus turned to Dumbledore. "Is this true?"
The Headmaster nodded. Severus and Minerva exchanged a stunned look.
"Why do you attach such importance to house divisions? It is ridiculous. Bravery does not preclude intelligence, loyalty does not preclude ambition. Also, people change over time. An eleven year old child can be brave, and yet grow up to be a coward at eighteen. Wasn't Peter Pettigrew also a Gryffindor? Was he brave?" Sherlock ranted, clearly annoyed. "You have misrepresented Gryffindor to be a house of heroes and Slytherin as a house of evil purebloods, so much so that children who should have been in other houses based on their characteristics, plead with the hat to place them in Gryffindor or Slytherin based on their background. I suspect the same goes for students in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff as well. They have been brought up to idolise a certain house, regardless of their individual characteristics, and when the hat tries to sort them, they beg, plead or argue their way out to be placed in the house they have been taught to dream of. Look at Harry and his friends. Harry begged his way out of Slytherin. Hermione begged her way out of Ravenclaw. I am sure there are many more who did the same."
No one had a response to that.
Finally, Harry suggested tentatively, "Er…choice matters?"
"Choice would matter when it is an informed choice, Harry," Sherlock said gently. "The choices made here are based on prejudices imbibed by a child through his surroundings. If you had grown up with us, if you had not been warned off Slytherin as an evil house – would you have argued with the hat when it attempted to place you in Slytherin?"
Harry thought for a moment. "Probably not."
John stared at Sherlock. "Since when do you get into 'what if' scenarios?"
Sherlock shrugged nonchalantly.
The bees, which had settled around Harry's middle, suddenly woke up and swirled around him, making the boy laugh in delight. Sherlock caught his ward's shoulders.
"Don't worry if you think you don't belong, Harry," he said quietly. "If bravery defines Gryffindor, know that you are the bravest child I have ever seen. If loyalty defines Hufflepuff, you have surprised me with your fierce loyalty in the face of adversity. If intelligence defines Ravenclaw, you are not an idiot. If power defines Slytherin, you are certainly a powerful magical child."
"Not an idiot?" Harry echoed.
John laughed. "That's the highest compliment Sherlock is capable of, Harry. Be proud." He turned to the detective. "Would it really kill you to admit you think Harry is clever?"
Sherlock stuck a haughty pose. "I don't think Harry is clever, John." Harry's shoulders slumped. Sherlock continued smoothly. "I know he is."
"It must be a special day, indeed, brother dear, to wring such compliments from you," Mycroft remarked.
"Or Harry must be an extraordinarily mighty wizard to do so," Emrys said, smiling.
"A mighty wizard indeed," Dumbledore muttered and turned to Harry. "Off to bed with you, young man."
"I'll take Potter to the tower," Minerva volunteered and led Harry away. Sherlock's bees went with him.
"There is no need for you to keep up a patronus with Harry anymore," Severus told Sherlock. "The Dementors are gone."
Sherlock shook his head.
"My brother is very protective of his child," Emrys said. "It is also helpful for Harry. We don't want him to brood or fall into depression. He has suffered much lately."
"It will be very taxing to keep up the patronus from London," Remus said worriedly. "Sirius and I can take turns, Sherlock."
Sherlock shook his head. "It's fine."
John looked at Mycroft. "Sherlock will be ok?"
Mycroft smiled. "John, this is simple magic for my brother."
"How are you three so powerful?" Severus demanded. "We all know how difficult it is to sustain a patronus long-term, let alone at a significant distance."
"They are direct descendants of Vernet and Merlin," John said quietly. "And this information cannot leave this room."
Dumbledore's eyes widened in shock. Then he smiled. "I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you found Harry and took him in. Lord Voldemort does not stand a chance."
