Chapter Nine

"Harry, I have a mission for you," Mr. White said from the parlor. "Come on, leave those damn cauldrons alone and come here!"

"Yes sir," said Harry. "What do you want?"

"A mission, have you forgotten what that is? I remember when you were only eight years old, you completed ever so many missions."

"Well, you haven't given me any for three years, now, despite how many times I've asked you for them. Now you give me one? What's changed?"

"Your training, you are more mature and a better fighter than before," said Mr. White as he sipped a cup of brandy. "Now, do you want a mission or not?"

"Yes, I do," Harry said, "But I also want part of the money that goes along with it."

"Don't get smart with me boy, I've provided for you for all your life. You should be happy with ten percent."

"I am not, okay? I want twenty percent, no less."

"Fine, have your twenty percent if it makes you feel any better. Now do you want to here the mission or not?"

"Okay," Harry said, nodding. "Tell me about this big mission of yours."

"It's an assassination, of Albus Dumbledore. I assume you've heard of-"

"Albus Dumbledore!" Harry shrieked. "Are you insane? Not only is he in Hogwarts, which I have read is by far a fortress of magic, but he is also considered to be the most powerful wizard in the-"

"Yes, yes, I know," Mr. White said, annoyed. "Now, are you going to do your mission without all your whining and bitching?"

Harry sighed. "This is going to take some time, to prepare…"

"I understand. You have a week."

"A week?! I need at least a year for this kind of thing."

"Well you don't have a year. You have deadlines now, and if you want to be a professional you better get used to it."

Harry narrowed his eyes, "Fifty percent, then."

"What? No way, brat, I already agreed on twenty, so there's no-"

"Or I don't do it." Harry said firmly. "I am placing my life here on stake, if you can't get me half the money, then forget about it."

"Do you want to die boy," Mr. White said menacingly as he pulled out his wand.

Harry drew his wand just as fast, "Bring it, old man. I'll show you what I've learned so far. And I'm not scared of your crucios anymore, you fucking-"

"Crucio!" Mr. White said.

Harry ducked, and said, "Apperium," conjuring a bright blue shield all over himself. "Die!" said Mr. White, "Avada Kedavra!"

Harry jumped up in the air, ten feet, because it was magically propelled and he started shooting stunners which distracted Mr. White long enough for him to come back with a good spell of his own, "Haryusaimus!" Golden spears flew at Mr. White, who adeptly dodged them as he shot spells of his own.

The duel lasted fifteen minutes. Soon Mr. White had Harry tied to the ground. "You see boy, you are no match for me."

"Then why don't you do this mission yourself?"

Mr. White sighed. "Here, I'll untie you."

"What's going on?"

"Let me explain, Harry, I love you like my own son, I really do. There's a reason I have to be so hard on you-"

Harry narrowed his eyes, "Shut up with your lies."

"The only reason I have to give you this mission is because I cannot get into Hogwarts."

"And I can?"

"Yes, because you are going to go as a first year student," explained Mr. White. "Don't worry, you don't actually have to face Dumbledore, I'm sure you can poison him or something."

"You can't be serious, though? Me, a first year student? That's ridiculous. I know everything in the Hogwarts curriculum, I probably know more than the seventh years."

Mr. White nodded, "And you will have to keep it a secret, okay?"

Harry sighed, looking defeated. "Fine, but its going to be so frustrating to deal with annoying little brats."

Mr. White shrugged, "Well, that's life, huh?"

"Can I have my wand back?"

"Sure," Mr. White tossed Harry's wand to him.

Harry took it, nodded, turned around and started to leave. Then he looked back and said, "By the way, I look up to you as my father as well."

Mr. White smiled faintly, "Well thank you, Harry, that's very kind-" His eyes widened as Harry pointed the wand at him and said, "Avada Kedavra!"

Mr. White didn't have time to react as the green bolt of light sped to him and killed him. He was dead as he hit the ground with a thud.

Harry walked over to him, grinning, "You, my father? You are such a fool, you know that." Harry kicked Mr. White's dead body. "Now what to do with you… Let's see, I could dump you in the ditches and live out my life in this nice mansion you got. I'm sure there's loads of money…"

He saw the bottle of brandy, "A celebratory drink, shall we?" He gulped a few sips down. "Disgusting!"

Then he looked out the window, at the soft summer sky. It was nearing evening.

He reached a descision, "No, I will continue with your plans… father. I will go to Hogwarts." His eyes hardened, his pulse quickened.

"Albus Dumbledore is a dead man."

-----

"Hagrid, I want you to deliver this letter to Harry Potter. Can you do that for me?" asked Albus from across his desk to Hagrid, who stood instead of sat on the chair.

"Well sure can, but that's a heavy responsibility, professor. Are you sure I can handle it?"

"Just by asking that, you have proven yourself to me." Albus said. "Now, go on, give this letter to him. You'll find his address on the letter."

"Okay, will do professor." Hagrid left.

Albus turned to the window and looked at the setting sun, deep in thought.