"Ah, Harry. Trouble with Professor Trelawney? Nothing too difficult to deal with, I trust."
How was it that Professor Dumbledore seemed to be able to show up at the strangest times, Harry wondered to himself after stepping off the last step in the spiral staircase.
"Sort of." Harry said.
"Might I invite you to my office, Harry?" Professor Dumbledore asked calmly. "We can talk, if you wish, about your difficulty with Sybill Trelawney."
"It's not really my problem." Harry said as Magic led him along the corridor, both following Professor Dumbledore. "Magic said some things that she didn't like..."
"As I understand it, Magic will act on your wishes alone, whether you're directly aware of them or not." Professor Dumbledore said. "Am I correct, Harry?"
"Used to be that way." Harry responded. "I think she's gaining more independence. A bit, anyway."
"Everything I did and said, I did so as you wished, though you didn't wish it before I began making the statements." Magic stated.
"Ah, the emotions and thoughts of youth." Professor Dumbledore said, sounding almost chipper. "To be young again. But, alas, I'm quite beyond those years. I do admit, however, to having an ulterior motive for asking you to accompany me to my office, rather than a simple chat."
"I'm curious, but more curious about you. Magic, how'd you know what I would want before I knew it myself?" Harry asked.
"I know every thought, desire, wish, unconscious feeling, your subconscious mind, the projections and fantasies you have, your dreams, and all that you've ever done in your life. I'm completely aware of everything you do, and am able to predict, with ninety-nine point nine percent accuracy, your actions." Magic stated.
"So, you took all of that. And you calculated what you thought I'd want from you?" Harry asked.
"Yes." Magic responded. "I've done something wrong. You don't like me getting you into trouble, though unintentional. But you're glad I'm expressing what you believe is further individuality."
"And what do you think it is?" Harry asked.
"I do as you wish, and as you will wish. Therefore, I do more than you wish." Magic stated.
"I..." Harry sighed. "For a minute, I thought you were doing what you wanted."
"I want to do as you wish me to do." Magic replied. "You're thoughts are correct. You are glad that my world is your world, because you would miss me if I gained an awareness and world of my own."
"I'd miss you, how you were, yes. But if you ever want to do something for yourself and not for me, don't let my feelings stop you." Harry said. "And, you do have an awareness of your own. Otherwise, you wouldn't have predicted what I wanted, then performed such actions."
"I'm your magic. I respond to your emotions, thoughts, desires, wishes. I do as you wish, and if you don't wish me to proceed with something, I won't proceed, and if you wish me to proceed, I shall." Magic stated. "But I can do more than you wish. It's different."
"Yes, it is." Harry said. "And it seems like you don't know what to make of it."
"It's unknown." Magic agreed.
"Utterly fascinating, Harry, quite intriguing." Professor Dumbledore said, sounding quite curious about his conversation with Magic.
"Sir, what is it you wanted to talk to me about, anyway?" Harry asked.
"Someone from the Ministry of Magic wishes to speak to you." Professor Dumbledore replied.
"Who?" Harry asked.
"I'm not quite sure." Professor Dumbledore said. "However, you seem to have caught the attention of the Unspeakable's. And, unless I'm very much mistaken, you caught their attention far before this person showed up to speak with you."
"The Unspeakable's?" Harry asked. "Who are they?"
"A select few people in a branch of the Ministry, who study rare and unique forms of magic. And, dare I say it, you are quite unique in your own use of magic." Professor Dumbledore responded. "Magic, here, is proof of that, as is your performance in classes."
"So, you know the person's an Unspeakable, but you don't know who they are?" Harry asked. "I thought you'd know more than that."
"I'm far from omniscient, Harry." Professor Dumbledore said. "And, it would be rather rude of me to break the concealment charms that, at times, the Unspeakable's use to hide their identities."
"I'll probably recognize who the person is. Magic can probably get around the charms easily." Harry said.
"Perhaps, though I'd advise against such an action." Professor Dumbledore stated. "They will likely detect your use of magic, as the Unspeakable's are well versed in not only the use of various charms, but sensing foreign magic as well. Such people are a rare few indeed, and I myself was sought after by the Unspeakable's for a job. Sadly for them, I declined, as I preferred being Headmaster over that of research, as intriguing as it may be."
"What do they want with me?" Harry asked.
"That, I'm afraid, you shall have to determine for yourself." Professor Dumbledore said. "Acid Pops."
Harry felt the feeling of the magic that animated something, which moved aside with the faint sound of grinding stone. With Magic still leading him, Harry stepped onto a moving spiral staircase and realized he could feel some type of magic that seemed to cloak something, which was at the top of the stairs. In fact, the room they were approaching seemed to have several pieces of magic Harry didn't recognize, and one he did, the magic of a phoenix.
"You have a phoenix, sir?" Harry asked as they neared the top of the moving steps.
"I do indeed, Harry." Professor Dumbledore responded. "Fawkes is his name, and if I'm not mistaken, he'll be rather fond of you. In fact, if memory serves me correctly, I told you this during your prior year, though am unsurprised you don't remember. It was, after all, a difficult time for you."
"True." Harry said.
The door to the office opened and Professor Dumbledore entered first. Harry followed, hearing the sounds of faint snoring around the office, recognizing the magic of portraits which felt like they covered the walls. Magic stated, "Unspeakable."
"Magic." The voice that spoke was emotionless and flat, neither male or female. Harry thought about dispelling the privacy charms as an idle thought, though remembered Dumbledore's words to him. Even so, he reached out to feel them more in depth, then felt a foreign magic touch his own magic as he sensed it. It didn't feel harmful, though, but he stopped sensing the magic so deeply.
Harry heard a trill that gave him a feeling of hope within his chest, hearing the sound of flapping before he felt the familiar warmth of a phoenix rest on his shoulder. Gently, Harry reached out and touched the feathers, feeling Magic's hot fingers brush his as she did the same.
"Fawkes." Magic stated.
The phoenix gave another low, melodious trill that made Harry shiver from the feelings he felt, then he heard Fawkes fly back to his perch, a slight clattering indicating when he'd settled.
"You like watching us, Fawkes." Magic stated.
"Does he?" Harry asked.
"He is watching us." Magic responded.
"Harry James Potter." The emotionless voice of the Unspeakable stated. Harry turned toward the person.
"Yes?" Harry asked.
"A choice lies before you." The Unspeakable stated. "One shall lead to our speaking further. The other shall lead to our parting ways."
"Okay." Harry replied after a moment, feeling a little uncomfortable. "What are the choices, exactly?"
"Dispel all magic on this box using all available resources at your disposal, or leave the office." The Unspeakable said.
It was just like talking with Magic, Harry realized, and felt more comfortable now that he knew what he was dealing with. He knew he needed to be careful with what he said or did, though, as the Unspeakable didn't know what he wished like Magic did.
"I'll take a look at this box." Harry said after a moment. "I'd like to talk more."
Harry heard movement and a footstep as the Unspeakable drew closer. He put out his hands and felt the heavy box placed in them, feeling the magic on it. The magic was layered, he realized, and after a moment, handed it to Magic, who held it.
"You can feel deeper than me, since you're aware of very, very subtle things." Harry said. "What can you tell me?"
"The magic can be drained into you as raw energy, which would expand your magical potential, or the magic can be dispelled in a specific order. Choose." Magic stated.
"Will it hurt me to drain the magic?" Harry asked.
"No. I shall proceed." Magic stated, as Harry had thought about having a bit more power to work with. He felt his flame of magic growing in strength quicker than it had when he'd eaten, almost as if he and Magic had eaten three full meals in a row. He then heard a click from the box, which no longer was magical in any way. In fact, the box had vanished, Harry realized, leaving a piece of parchment in Magic's hands.
"Harry James Potter, test one, successful." Magic stated.
"That's... Odd." Harry said. "That felt like something really complex. And that's all the parchment says, that's it? No grand prize for that?"
"No." Magic stated.
"Harry James Potter. Follow me. You will not be harmed." The Unspeakable's flat, emotionless voice stated.
Harry turned toward Professor Dumbledore.
"You have my assurance that you're safe with this person, Harry. Unspeakable's won't harm you, and I know you're quite capable of defending yourself should the need arise." Professor Dumbledore said.
"What if I'm late for class?" Harry asked.
"You will not be." The Unspeakable responded. "Follow me."
Wordlessly, Harry did so, taking hold of Magic's hand so she could lead him from the office. Before he left, Professor Dumbledore said, "Have fun, Harry." He sounded delighted, Harry thought, and curiously wondered why.
They left the office in silence, and Harry was led to the seventh floor, to a stone wall with a rather recognizable and complex magic behind it.
"Hey, I remember this." Harry said. "I tried to open this before. I know there's a room of some kind there, but I couldn't figure out how all the magic worked. Not back then, anyway. I bet I could now, though."
"Attempt this." The Unspeakable responded.
Harry first tried to feel the magic, though it was shifting, not quite conforming to anything stable. Though, at the same time, it felt stable as well, as if a room already existed behind the wall, one made of magic in a way. The magic felt almost like something that would read him like Magic read his wishes, though would focus more on his immediate, conscious desires for something specific, rather than all of them. Stepping up to the stone, Harry pressed his hands against it, delving deeper into the magic he felt. As he'd gone through Hogwarts and learned how to use magic, his sensing of magic had expanded, though it had helped that he'd spent some time trying to individually pick out what magic was what. After a moment, he stepped back, the many layers of magic too subtle for him to tell the differences between.
"Magic, how can I get past this one?" Harry asked.
"Teleport through the stone wall to appear in the room on the other side. Magically cut a rectangular piece from the stone so you can walk through the arch created. Pace three times in front of the wall, concentrating on a room you desire." Magic stated.
"The third one sounds like the best way to go." Harry said. "From now on, just tell me the best way to get past magic like that. Okay?"
"If you wish." Magic replied.
"Test two has been successful. Step back." The Unspeakable stated.
Harry stepped back and heard the person's long stride as they paced in front of the wall. He could feel the magic reshaping the room into something completely different, and as the door appeared, he felt the strong feeling of magic that manipulated time. It wasn't anything like going into the past, though, more like altering time in some way. He heard the door pulled open, then the Unspeakable stated, "Come."
"Is it safe?" Harry asked.
"State your reason for your question." The Unspeakable responded.
"I feel time altering magic in the room." Harry said.
"For one minute that passes inside the room, one second will pass outside the room." The Unspeakable stated. "You are safe to enter."
"Okay." Harry said.
Harry braced himself as he walked toward the doorway, but just as the Unspeakable had said, was able to pass beyond it without harm. The room felt like a sitting room. Magic pulled him toward a comfortable armchair, which looked large enough to hold them both side by side. He sat down, heard the door close, felt a deep sort of privacy magic settle over the room from the room itself. The footsteps moved toward a chair, then he heard the person sit down, Magic sitting next to him on his left.
"Who are you?" Harry asked.
"Determine this without releasing the concealing magic." The Unspeakable stated.
"Everything's a riddle with you Unspeakable's, isn't it?" Harry asked with a sigh.
He touched the Unspeakable's concealing magic again, and as he felt it, tried to sense more of it, not only did he sense his own knowledge of magic expanding, but he also felt like he could make himself recognized by the concealing magic itself. That wouldn't dispel it, he thought, and felt the concealing magic lift away for him alone, and as Magic shared his magic, she, too, was recognized.
"Rose Landry." Magic stated.
"Very good!" Rose said cheerfully. Harry's jaw dropped in surprise.
"But I thought you were... Were a social worker or something, someone minor." Harry said.
"No, I'm afraid not." Rose responded. "I've been an Unspeakable since I started working at the Ministry."
"Then why... How... I mean, you helped me get a new guardian in Sharen, then you told me that Death Eaters were threatening your family which was why you had to come take her to Azkaban or whatever." Harry's shock was fading to an anger at Rose, who seemed to be one person one day, another the next. "Just what's going on here, anyway, Rose?"
"First, I was threatened by Death Eaters, those I believe are Death Eaters, anyway. If I didn't do the job I really didn't want to do, they'd have killed my family." Rose replied, her voice calm. "Also, if I didn't perform my primary task of investigating you by any means, including doing the job I didn't wish to do, I'd have been fired from my job, and thus, received no money. I'm sure you can understand that wouldn't be too good for me."
"I suppose." Harry responded after a moment.
"Good." Rose said. "Secondly, I was the messenger only when I spoke to Sharen, I wasn't going to take anyone to Azkaban. Third, no one except the Unspeakable who hired me knows I'm an Unspeakable. Some Unspeakable's are concealed. Others aren't. My assignment has been you since the loss of your magic in your second year of Hogwarts. Like some, we initially thought that Magic was nothing more than your helper, not your magic itself. However, when we heard you'd lost your magic, and determined the time when that occurred was the same time Magic was petrified, we knew something far more was happening. Your results in Hogwarts indicated your proficiency in magic, and I can sense, and have sensed that both yourself and Magic share magic completely, which is something unheard of in the magical community. There's such things as soul bonds and magical bonds of other kinds, but the sharing of one source of magic between two beings would usually kill both the beings involved. You, however, are a mystery, hence, the Department of Mysteries interest in you.
"When I was assigned to find out all the information I could about you, I found out that your guardianship was being questioned, and that you were living behind some extremely powerful protections, more powerful than we'd seen in quite some time. This gave me the opportunity to learn more about you, so I was assigned to work with you in determining who your guardian would be. Believe me, it wasn't easy for me to hide my surprise when I felt the magic you and Magic shared."
"I didn't feel that you felt anything like that." Harry said. "You seemed normal to me."
"That's because I can sense magic passively, just as you can. I don't have to scan for it or seek it out. Like you, I can feel the magic around me, though if something's complex and requires a deeper look, I'm capable of that as well." Rose responded. "Unfortunately, if such a thing were known, it would make us targets, so we tend to remain out of war, or involving ourselves in the concerns of others. Most people in the Department of Mysteries are reclusive, or in some way, different from others. For me, that's my magical sensing, and I'm not always comfortable being around large amounts of people. I'm perfectly fine working in isolation for years, which I mostly did for a while before being assigned to you."
"Why come to me now?" Harry asked, having calmed down. "Why reveal yourself to me?"
"We know of your magical abilities, and as you demonstrated to me today, they're impressive. Most people, including Dumbledore himself, weren't able to determine the function of this room, or that it's even here. You, however, not only knew a room was here, but were able to determine three different ways of entering the room, as well as determine which would be the best way to do so, and you figured all of that out in seconds. It took me at least six minutes to figure it out when I attended Hogwarts, and that was after six years of magical education." Rose said. "And, as I'm sure you're curious to know why we waited so long, it's quite simple. I wasn't asked to approach you until now."
"I determined the function of how to enter the room." Magic stated. "The magic was too subtle for Harry to sense at the moment. I have a mind, and can think and form conclusions of my own."
"So, you're independent from Harry, then." Rose asked. "You're not just his magic in a human body?"
"I'm Harry's magic, Magic, but I contain thoughts, data, and conclusions that Harry is unaware of. I do what Harry wishes, and can now do more than he wishes." Magic stated.
"She's separate in that way, yes." Harry responded. "She's got thoughts, experiences of her own that I don't have. Though, today, I've been able to sense and feel her thoughts and conclusions. I've never done that before."
"Intriguing." Rose said curiously. "I was under the impression that she wasn't an individual of her own."
"She is her own person, just one focused on me and sharing my magic, guiding my magic, and... Well, it's hard to explain exactly, so both she and I just agree that she's my magic and leave it at that." Harry replied.
"Utterly fascinating." Rose murmured.
"So, what's this all about, anyway?" Harry asked.
"First and foremost, we wish to help you to expand your magical abilities, to tap their untapped potential." Rose stated. "But if you wish, we also have a job for you, should you desire it."
"A job for me, already?" Harry asked. "But I've not even finished school. Why would I qualify?"
"The education you can gain through learning about magic and expanding your abilities is of more value and use to us than any test, exam, or education you might receive here at Hogwarts." Rose replied. "While Hogwarts is a great school for education and learning, there are fields of magic beyond any taught here. Furthermore, I have complete confidence in your ability to perform the practical exams perfectly, and without any need for any further magical education, with those exams that require the performance of any magic, not anything such as potions or the care of plants. However, what we're most interested in is your abilities in magic, not how well you understand how to brew a strengthening potion."
"And what would I be doing, anyway?" Harry asked.
"Assisting to understand the mysteries within our universe, and within magic itself." Rose replied. "We seek to understand such things as time, how the mind works, love, our solar system, prophecies, and death, among other things."
"And me." Harry said.
"Yes, and you." Rose responded. "We've never before encountered someone with such magical potential and natural ability. We're curious to know how far you can take such abilities, as well as how you might incorporate them into your study of various magics."
"I'm guessing I can't tell anyone about any of this." Harry said.
"No." Rose responded. "In fact, no one but the three of us must know of this meeting."
"Professor Dumbledore already knows, though." Harry said.
"He has agreed to be obliviated of the knowledge that I even met with you." Rose stated. "If he hadn't agreed, then I wouldn't be talking to you in this capacity, and we would have determined a different way of meeting with you."
"Obliviated, so his memories removed, then." Harry said.
"Yes." Rose responded.
"Why would that even be needed?" Harry asked. "You can't delve into people's minds, can you?"
"Yes, we can." Rose stated. "For that reason, I'll need to ask your permission to attempt to enter your mind to determine how well your mental defenses are. If you're not able to defend your mind against me, I'll have to ask you to wear this bracelet on your other wrist. Magic, I'll need to test your defenses as well."
"Okay." Harry said. "And what will the bracelet do?"
"Provide a temporary mental defense until you can set up a defense of your own." Rose replied. "So, do you wish to take the job?"
"I'd like to learn from you, expand my abilities more. Magic wants me to experiment, too. Don't you, Magic?" Harry asked.
"Experimentation expands knowledge, removes perceived limits." Magic stated in reply.
"See? She likes it, too." Harry said.
"I didn't say that I liked it." Magic responded.
"But you do. In your own way, you do." Harry said.
After a moment, Rose asked, "What's your decision, Harry? Do you only wish to learn things here at Hogwarts, or be an Unspeakable and dive into the mysteries of magic?"
"I..." Harry trailed off for a few moments, considering.
It did sound intriguing, to delve into the mysteries of not only his own magic, but the magic all around him, to learn about things he'd always wondered, such as where love came from, or what might be after death, or even more about how the magic of time worked. It sounded even more intriguing that he wouldn't even have to complete an entire Hogwarts education to do it, though he assumed he still had the option of going throughout his schooling. He was seriously considering it, though, given all that had happened to him at Hogwarts. In his first year, Professor Quirrell had attempted to kill him. While he'd been able to defend himself, it had been a close call. And in his second year, the loss of his magic had been a horrifying reality that he couldn't rely on Magic, or his magic for everything, which led him to reaffirm his decision that relying on his own skills and merits was, in every case it could be, more important than having Magic help him a lot. There was also the fragment of Lord Voldemort that he'd defeated in his second year as well, with nothing more than the skills of a blind muggle, as he'd not had magic at that point. And then, before he knew Sirius Black was innocent, he'd thought he would have a murderer after him throughout his third year. Dealing with the Dementors hadn't been fun, and Umbridge trying to expel him was something he wouldn't have a problem with if he didn't attend Hogwarts, and didn't actually need to. He decided he'd continue his education at Hogwarts, but if one more thing happened that might put him into an unnecessary and dangerous situation, he was out and full time with the Unspeakable's.
"I'll take the job." Harry said. "If I can continue my education."
"You certainly can." Rose replied. "We wouldn't want to stop you from learning all that you're able to learn. While you're in Hogwarts, you and I will be mostly working together to discover the limits of your magical abilities, and unraveling the mystery that is Harry James Potter."
"Sounds fun." Harry grinned. "When will we meet?"
"We will meet here at six o'clock to eight o'clock every evening." Rose said.
"But at six, I'm... Oh, no..." Harry groaned.
"Oh, yes." Rose stated, and he felt another piece of concealment magic lift, revealing the magic he recognized as a time turner. "You'll need to travel into the past for our meetings."
"I won't need that to go back in time." Harry said. "But you don't understand. If I even remember seeing myself, I'll have to do exactly what I remembered. Or if I don't remember seeing myself, I'll have to ensure I won't detect myself in any way at all."
"I assume you've already experimented with time travel, then, and understand the dangers involved in its use. Good. You're a step ahead of everyone else when it comes to that." Rose responded. "Then, are we agreed? You'll meet with me at six o'clock, starting tonight, here in this room."
"Okay." Harry said. "But I still don't like traveling into the past. Are you sure there isn't another way to meet up?"
"If you can tell me anything else that you are able to think of, which won't be a lie, and won't make anyone suspicious, then I'll go for it." Rose said.
"Wait a minute." Harry responded. "Didn't you lie when you said you're a social worker for the ministry of Magic?"
"I never said that." Rose replied. "I said I was working for the Ministry of Magic. You came up with that social worker thing all on your own, as I hinted at earlier."
"But in order for you to be allowed into the court, wouldn't you have to be a social worker, or have performed some kind of deception?" Harry asked.
"The judge was magical, so I was safely able to tell him that I worked for the Ministry of Magic. You'll notice that my credentials weren't stated during your court case." Rose said. "I'm a firm believer in being truthful, Harry."
"And if someone asks me where I'm going?" Harry asked. "I'll have to sneak off to go back in time anyway. And Magic usually stays in the common room with me, or stays there if I'm leaving for a short time. So where will I tell them I'm going?"
"It shouldn't be complicated for you to create a magical illusion that will feel, look, and act precisely as Magic already does, with very little variation for error." Rose responded. "Simply do so if she must stay."
"Everyone already knows about my magical skills." Harry said after a few moments. "People know how advanced I am with magic already."
"And?" Rose asked.
"And what?" Harry said. "You can't figure out a simple solution?"
"This is the only solution I'm aware of that would allow you to both spend time with your friends as you like, and study." Rose replied. "If you have another one, please, tell me."
"Okay, I'll tell you." Harry said. "I've got the entire weekend to spend time with my friends. And I'll be with them at dinner until I meet up with you, unless we leave before six. Have you heard of private lessons?"
Harry heard Rose's hands hit her legs, imagining her feeling of exasperation.
"Also, Magic doesn't have to stay with me. She can learn things, and with some practice, I'll be able to pick them up. Or, I can learn things while Magic goes and does whatever, we don't both have to be here." Harry said. "That's a lot simpler than this traveling into the past nonsense."
"I agree with you." Rose replied. "It sure is, and I didn't even think about that. Okay, then. Private lessons it is. But no one is to know me, or where we meet."
"I can manage that." Harry responded. "So, want to test my mental defenses?"
"Yes, I do." Rose said. "Lay back and relax for me."
Harry leaned back the chair like the recliner that he hadn't realized it was, and when he realized Magic was laying back next to him, he briefly thought of her rolling on top of him, remembered what her lips had felt like against his own. He dismissed the thought from his mind and thought, 'Just don't do that. Just lay next to me, and be still.' He really didn't want Rose to see what Magic did when he felt something, and wanted to try it as a result. The thought of her seeing that made him uncomfortable, and he felt his cheeks heating as he blushed.
"Is something wrong, Harry?" Rose asked.
"No, nothing." Harry said, clearing his throat. "I'm ready whenever."
"Good." Rose said.
Harry waited. A minute went past, and he found himself starting to get bored, so he curiously thought about what the job would entail, and realized he'd probably have to reset the time on his watch when he left the room due to its time altering magic, though soon remembered that whenever he'd gone from Privet Drive to Hogwarts, he hadn't had to reset it, though didn't know if there were different time zones between the two. He'd figure that out later, he decided, and stretched a little.
Another minute went past, and Harry still felt nothing. What was taking her so long, he thought. Rose was still in the room, and he thought he could hear the page of a book turning. Was she reading? What was she waiting for?
"Ro..." Harry began.
"Shh." Rose stated strictly. "Lay back and relax."
Harry let out a sigh, though found it a bit difficult to relax with Magic next to him in the chair, Rose reading a book, and not knowing exactly what she was waiting for. The minutes passed, and Harry found his eyes closing as he started to doze. He'd just gotten to the point where he'd forgotten he was in a recliner, and was drifting off to sleep, when he felt a foreign magic within his mind, though it quickly left as his own magic pushed it back. The touch had happened so fast that he'd hardly been aware of it, and found himself drifting off to sleep.
Magic remained alert and conscious, unlike Harry, who had been drifting off to sleep. She knew what Rose was about to try, and was waiting for her mental probe. When it came, Magic pushed it out of Harry's mind easily, having quickly identified the magic. As she felt Harry drift off to sleep, Magic rose her head and gazed into Rose's eyes. She looked back, and Magic felt the magical probe attempt to touch her mind. Having felt it the first time, Magic discovered a better way to defend against it, and with the effortless ease in her use of magic, simply took it apart quickly. Magic watched Rose blink.
"Now." Rose whispered very quietly, but Magic still heard her. "Don't protect Harry's mind. I need to know if he can do that himself."
"I do as Harry wishes, and Harry wishes me to protect his mind." Magic stated, also whispering quietly.
"Then ask him, but try not to wake him up." Rose said.
Magic asked Harry's mind in a very gentle way, told Harry's mind that Rose wanted him to protect his mind rather than her. Harry agreed, though was still asleep, as Magic had been talking with his unconscious mind. It was still Harry, though, and still his wishes. She waited, felt the probe enter Harry's mind.
Harry's gentle sleep had become memories passing bye his minds eye. He was six, and listening to Dudley opening gifts with jealousy. He was five, and Magic was tickling his face with her hair as he giggled. He was eight, and jumped to get away from Dudley's gang, ending up on the roof of the school building, though quickly and magically got down before anyone discovered what he'd done. He was twelve, and feeling Magic's frozen flame within his chest, knowing he couldn't use magic. No, Harry thought fiercely, realizing in his sleepy mind that this was nothing more than yet another form of mental attack, and not quite awake, he made his magic rise up and slam the mental probe back.
"Oh!"
Harry jerked up at the cry of what almost sounded like pain. His heart was pounding hard in his chest, and he realized where he was.
"Ouch..." Rose's voice was shaking, and he heard her let out a groan.
"Rose!" Harry said. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"You took my Legilimency probe and smashed it back into my head, that's what happened. Ah, that hurt." Rose said, her voice still shaking.
Harry instinctively reached out with healing magic, feeling the magic healing the slight mental damage that had occurred, which would have healed on its own in a day anyway. The headache was also healed, and he heard Rose sigh in relief.
"Thanks." She said.
"I'm sorry about that, I just thought it was a mental attack or something." Harry said.
"That's okay." Rose replied. "I'd hate to see what would happen if anyone you didn't know or recognize tried that. I've got a feeling your defense wouldn't be so pretty, then. Well, you pass."
"I'm sorry about hurting you." Harry said.
"You healed me, so I'm fine, now. And, I was ready for something like that, I just didn't expect it to be quite so forceful. If someone had done that unprepared, you'd have sent their Legilimency probe into their mind and ripping forcefully through it, which would have probably caused a great deal more damage than it did to me. I've got my mind protected, though, so it wasn't as much of an issue for me as it might have been for someone else." Rose replied.
"I'm sorry." Harry said, feeling guilt, realizing that he needed to be more gentle with his defenses next time, and vowed to keep that in mind, to learn how to get better at defending his mind in a gentler way.
"It's fine, Harry." Rose responded. "We can both protect our minds, so it won't be a problem."
"Well, I'm still..." Harry began.
"Harry, if you apologize one more time, then I'm going to walk out of here without saying a word. Please, don't apologize. You're fine, I'm fine, and there was no lasting harm done." Rose replied firmly.
Harry was just about to say sorry again when he stopped. He did want to say goodbye to her, after all.
"So, it's agreed, then. Six tonight, and you're just getting private lessons from a teacher who's name you're not going to disclose." Rose said.
"Yep." Harry replied. "That sounds good."
"Very well, then." Rose said. "Now, I've got one further task for you."
"What's that?" Harry asked.
"You'll be joining me, invisible and undetectable, and I'll be feeling your magic." Rose said. "I want you to obliviate Albus Dumbledore."
"Are you kidding?" Harry asked.
"Harry doesn't like mental manipulation." Magic stated.
"It's necessary, especially in areas of things that need to be kept secret." Rose said.
"So much for the truth." Harry stated. "Just remove his memories and move on, then. That's it?"
"Oh, we won't be lying to him." Rose said. "He already agreed to the removal of the appropriate memories. I'll be telling him that my business is complete. He won't need to know anymore than that."
"And, exactly why am I doing this?" Harry asked.
"I assume you've never done this before." Rose said. "I want to know how well you're able to use magic. Use Magic if you need to, I have no problem with you using every resource at your disposal at the moment."
"Finding this room that changes, dealing with the box, that wasn't enough?" Harry asked. "You want me to manipulate memories now, too?"
"If you're sent on an assignment where you've got to deal with Muggles, will you allow them to keep their memories and therefore, reveal the magical world to them? Or will you remove their memories?" Rose asked. "You let them keep their memories, and we'll be at war with Muggles. And, believe me, we don't want that."
"I'll do it, then." Harry said with a sigh. "But only because he agreed to it. Otherwise, I wouldn't violate someone's mind like that."
"But you do understand the need for our secrecy." Rose stated. "If we didn't take measures to keep ourselves secret, Harry, we'd be at war. And you can believe it would be very, very bloody."
"Yeah." Harry said, sighing again.
"It's an ethical dilemma, I know." Rose said. "And to tell you the truth, I wish there was another way to deal with things. But, there's not. I need to know if you can handle tough decisions like this, Harry. Using magic and learning about it isn't all the job's about, we've got to do things we might not like on occasion. Are you ready for that?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose." Harry said with a sigh. "Let's do this, then."
"Okay." Rose replied.
Harry and Magic stood, and with a thought, he was completely invisible and undetectable by anyone except Rose, duplicating a modified version of Rose's concealing magic. As she began walking toward the room, she said, "Harry, you'll need to make yourself invisible."
"Already done." Harry said.
He felt a thin tendril of foreign magic, not unlike that which he'd felt touch his magic when he'd examined Rose's concealment magic, wash over he and Magic both, getting the sense that it was feeling and observing the magic he'd performed. After a moment, Rose said, "Very nice, Harry. Let's go."
Harry followed Rose with Magic leading him. Her voice contained no emotion as she stated the password to Dumbledore's office, Harry and Magic following close behind. She knocked, and Dumbledore said, "Come in." The door opened, and as they entered, Harry thought what he wanted Magic to do. He felt Dumbledore's thoughts and memories, and felt Magic find the ones that needed to be removed, his conversation with Harry, the Unspeakable's wish to see him. All the while, he could feel Rose's magic observing his own, and with another thought, made magic make the memories inaccessible by anyone, though as he'd used his magic to do so, Harry knew he could access them again if he needed. It was as good as a removal would be, Harry thought.
"I presume, then, that you have concluded your business here, and have removed the appropriate memories from my mind?" Professor Dumbledore's voice asked quite calmly.
"I shall depart." Rose stated, her voice as emotionless as Magic's was.
"Very well, then." Professor Dumbledore said, sounding as if he was smiling. "Have a pleasant day."
Harry heard the sound of flames rising, felt the familiar magic of Floo, and heard Rose state, "Department of Mysteries." With the feel of Floo magic taking her, Rose left the room, and with a thought, Harry and Magic were standing on the fifth floor in an empty corridor.
Harry hadn't much liked what he'd done to Professor Dumbledore's mind, though he didn't feel guilty about it, as Professor Dumbledore had agreed to the procedure. He only hoped he wouldn't have to remove the memories of anyone else, especially people who both didn't know or agree with erasing memories. To him, that felt like violating someone else, removing their freedom. Now that he was realizing how much freedom he had without the Dursley's as guardians, he found that he didn't like removing the freedom of anyone else, even if it was in such a way as removing memories, or removing access to them. It was a dilemma, to be sure, and one he'd have to think long and hard about before he'd be able to come to a firm decision on the matter. For now, however, he had transfiguration to go to, and after lunch, if he remembered correctly, Care of Magical Creatures. Unfolding his cane, Harry sighed and began to walk, approaching the transfiguration classroom and waiting for class to begin.