Chapter 6: Dumbledore's New Army

Albus Potter walked into the Headmistress's office after everyone else had gathered. Professor Weasley was seated at her desk and Harry had pulled up a chair next to hers. Ron Weasley stood in the corner. On Albus's side of the desk sat Ashley Wright and her brother John, Lily Potter and Hugo and Rose Weasley. Professor Weasley, and all the pictures around the room, stared a hole into Albus as he closed the door, which he ignored. He was used to it by now.

"Enjoy the tomb?" she asked.

He turned around quickly. Too quickly. "How did you know I was there," he said, deciding that the truth was best in this case.

She pointed to a piece of parchment on her desk, "Gift from your father," she said.

"Gee thanks Dad," Albus said as he took his seat. "Who's missing?"

"Your brother James. We called him from Auror School for this." Harry replied. "Tell me, what did you see at the tomb?"

"Enough," Albus said, smiling. Harry grinned too. Suddenly the fireplace lit up bright green and James Potter emerged into the office.

"What occasion calls this late at night?" he asked.

"Travers has struck at Hogwarts," Harry said softly. All the students except Albus reacted. James took his seat opposite Professor Weasley. "Gellert Grindelwald has attacked Albus Dumbledore's tomb and stolen the Elder Wand."

"You're sure it was him?" James asked.

"He left his mark on the tomb," Professor Weasley said softly.

The comment was met with silence. Finally Albus Potter turned to Albus' Dumbledore's picture and asked, "Can we stop Grindelwald if he has the Deathstick?"

Dumbledore took a long time to respond. "It is possible, but it got exponentially more difficult now that he has it. If he is in fact an inferus than yes, he can be stopped. If not, I'm afraid none of you could do it."

"I don't think he is. I don't think he left the mark of the Hallows on your grave to claim the act," Harry said. "There is no reason for him to claim it and certainly no reason for Travers to have him do it. I believe he left it there because you believed in the Hallows and he believed that it should be there. Otherwise he would have broken into it the same way Snake Face did."

"Interesting theory," Dumbledore said.

"An inferus would not do that," James said. "It requires memories of his first life. An inferus would not have those memories."

"Then Grindelwald is not an inferus," Hugo said.

"But that would make him even more powerful," Lily said. "If he has his memories than he has his skills too. He's truly back."

Silence followed that comment.

Finally Albus Potter got up. "I'll fight him. I have the skills, I can do it."

"You will stay here and continue your education," Harry said firmly. Albus sat back down. "You do not have the best weapon here. He is the owner of the Elder Wand, but not its master. That's why I couldn't feel the wind he created. I didn't want to feel it and the wand does not do anything to me that I don't want it to do. I will go fight Grindelwald. You will stay here and learn."

Albus began to protest, but Harry added, "Besides, if I fail, you still have a chance to beat him when you're educated. You have lived up to your namesake," he said, pointing at Dumbledore. Dumbledore winked.

"It is settled then," Professor Weasley said. "Ron and I will accompany you. Professor Patil will be interim Headmistress in my absence."

"No, Hermione," Harry said. "I don't know where I'll be going, and wherever it is, it's probably in America and thus one British wizard is probably one too many. Stay here. I'll keep you informed." And he moved to the fireplace and disappeared before she could argue. James followed.

"You're dismissed," Professor Weasley said to the students. "Go back to bed."

The next day the six students met beside Dumbledore's tomb looking out over the lake. Grindelwald's mark shone off the freshly repaired tomb like a dandelion in a freshly mowed lawn.

"So," Ashley said, grabbing Albus' hand as she spoke, "what are you going to do about Travers? I know you won't sit here and just attend class."

"Yeah," Hugo added, "what are we doing? I can't sit by on this one."

Albus chuckled. "We're doing nothing. We can't. I am not getting in my dad's way. I owe him that much after last summer." He grabbed a rock and sent it skipping across the lake.

"Are you sick, Al," Lily asked. "You haven't said anything like that since May. Don't make me start to wonder if you're really a Potter now."

"Or a Weasley for that matter," Hugo added.

"Guys, what can I do?" Albus asked. "I don't know where Travers is any more than my father does. I haven't had a vision since..."

And then he was in a dark graveyard, and he recognized it again. It was Rolla, Kansas. Travers' parents graveyard. He walked calmly through the gate and up to a man who Albus recognized as Adam Travers. Albus tried to figure out who he was, but he had no idea. "Present as requested, master," Albus' host said.

"Though much later than I had hoped. You have been disappearing Grindelwald. I am beginning to wonder where your loyalties are," Travers said, looking at Grindelwald as if he was a science project gone wrong.

"My loyalties are to you forever," Grindelwald said.

"Of course," Travers said, brushing the comment off. "Just wondering. Make sure you're more present in the future. This army must train under its general to be successful."

"Yes, sir. I will train the army, sir."

Travers studied Grindelwald for several minutes before saying, "Very well. Be off then."

Albus woke flat on the concrete foundation of Dumbledore's tomb. Ashley was pouring water on his head, the others were looking at him like he was about to explode. Or had just exploded.

"What did I say?" Albus asked, trying to produce a smile. It was difficult after what he had just heard.

"You said you would train the army and a bunch of other nonsense," John Wright said.

Albus sat up, rubbing his left arm absentmindedly. "Travers has an army, and Grindelwald is leading it. My dad is walking into a trap," he said, fighting back tears.

"What can we do?" Lily said.

"Nothing. You can do nothing. None of you have the skills to deal with Grindelwald," Albus said, standing up.

"And you do?" John said.

"Yes. I will join my father."

"No you won't, not without me," Ashley said. "Remember that without me you would have been killed by muggles."

"And you almost got killed by zombies," Albus said. "You don't have the skills yet."

"So train us," John said. Everyone turned and faced him.

"What do you mean?" Lily asked.

"When your father was faced with this situation, preparing for a war he didn't know how to fight, he started Dumbledore's Army. Follow his lead. Train us. Give us the skills so that when the time comes to fight, we CAN join you."

"Here, Here!" Hugo said.

"But I can't," Albus said. "It's all instinctual, I wouldn't know where to start, or where to end. I can't teach."

"So just pick someplace and go. Any knowledge we can get will help us," Ashley said. "Don't roll your eyes at me! You know we won't let you go to war alone. Please," she added, throwing in a little eye batting for effect.

"Fine." Albus said. "Where?"

"Same idea," Rose said, "Same place. The Room of Requirement. Saturday night."

"Open or closed group?" Lily asked.

"Open," Ashley said. "Closed," Albus said. Then he changed his answer.

"Then it's settled," Hugo said. Albus nodded and the group headed back to the castle discussing what they could do first.