Chapter 13 – Deadly Confrontation's: Part One
Lillian sat in her room with a triumphant smile on her face. She had finally done it. She could actually conjure fire at will. After days of practice she had finally done it!
She glanced at the book beside her and the note stuck to it. There was no name but there was no doubt in her mind about who had sent it. After all, a burst of water did hit her in the face before revealing the book.
It was a book on mediation for the short tempered with a note stuck on it.
Read this book, it will help you with your metal capabilities and temper, so you can control what you wish to control if you catch my drift ... Once you finish reading it, concentrate on conjuring fire in your hands, that's all. If you're lucky it will happen in a few minutes. But, if you don't focus properly it will take you ages. And if you can't manage it after that, it simply means you have a brain like Weasley.
Merry Christmas
Why would he help her, she had no idea. In the hospital wing she was so sure he would refuse but was surprised when he said he would think about it.
"Harry Potter," she sighed. He confused her to no end. He would bug her to no end, yet help her whenever she asked him. The boy was a walking, talking, annoying oxymoron.
Every time she saw him, her hands would itch to curse him till he wasn't recognizable, yet she always went to him for help and answers. Why she went to him and not Hermione, who practically lived in the library she couldn't understand.
"What kind of a person was he?" she wondered. He was cold and rude to everybody around him except a few select individuals, he hated being the centre of attraction, he was a Slytherin, he was the top student in their year without even trying, he loved insulting her at every chance he got, hung out only with Blaise Zabini, and was a parselmouth. That's all everybody knew about him.
Her heart constricted when she thought about him being a parselmouth. How did she understand him? She was a muggleborn wasn't she? Then how on earth could she speak parseltongue?
Ron and Hermione had immediately said that being a parselmouth was a mark of a dark wizard and Hermione started spouting whatever she had read in some rare book she found in the library. Did this mean she was dark and liable to become evil or something?
She punched her pillow in frustration. She had so many questions and she didn't know whom to ask. Her first thought was Harry but knew she couldn't ask him. If she did she would have to reveal how she got to know he is a parselmouth and she was sure he wouldn't hesitate to go to his head of house with a big smile on his face. Even if she did ask him she was afraid of the answer even though she knew she shouldn't be. After all Harry wasn't dark was he?
She wanted to yell and scream at the lack of answers and an outlet was formed when a ball of fire erupted from her hand and ignited the hangings around her bed.
Yelping she scrambled out of her bed and yanked the hangings down and began to stamp the fire out. The other girls in the room began to scream and ran out of the room screaming for help. Suddenly, a stream of water hit the fire putting it out instantly.
For a moment she thought it was Harry, but it turned out to be Hermione, a small stream of water coming out of her wand.
Once the fire was out Hermione turned towards Lillian, who was grinning sheepishly.
"What on earth happened!" she demanded.
"Spell gone wrong, Hermione," she said cheerfully "Nothing else."
Hermione narrowed her eyes, "Be careful next time for Merlin's sake." Hermione had recovered her mishap with the polyjuice potion and was back to her normal self, to Ron and Lillian's relief.
"Yeah, sure Hermione," she said laughing nervously.
"What's that book you're reading?" she asked, spotting Harry's gift on her bed. But before Lillian could stop her she had grabbed the book.
"NO! Don't read… it ..." she finished looking on helplessly.
"20 ways to prove I'm dumb?" she read. "What on earth is this book!" she said incredulously.
Lillian gaped at her, "Let me see that," she said and snatched the book back. When she looked at it, the note and the name of the book were still the same. Then it struck her, Harry must have charmed it. "Err…. Well… I was going to send that to Potter as a Valentine's Day gift," she invented quickly.
"Valentine's Day gift for Potter! Have you lost your mind!"
"Possibly," Lillian muttered, stuffing the book under her bed.
"Honestly," huffed Hermione, "Well come on, Ron will be waiting for us."
"Now?" she said blankly.
"Yes now, it's almost dinner time," Hermione said exasperatedly, pulling her out of the dorm.
"Finally you come down," Ron said angrily "You have any idea how long I've been waiting!"
"Oh shut up Ron, it's not even seven yet," said Hermione, rolling her eyes.
Lillian just ignored him. She hadn't quite forgiven him for accusing her of sneaking around with Potter and being in league with him as he had told Hermione, just because she thought he wasn't the heir. She wondered how long it would be before he revealed it to everybody that Harry was a parselmouth.
The mood in the castle had grown more hopeful. There had been no attacks since the one on Colin. Term would be over in a few months and hopefully the culprit would be caught by then.
"Why do you think Potter's stopped attacking, Hermione?" Ron asked loudly, as they headed down to the great hall. Lillian rolled her eyes; he must have asked that question a thousand times when there was a crowd and forced herself not to respond.
"We have no proof Ronald and I don't think he's stopped. I think he's just lying low and waiting for everybody to drop their guard and then he'll attack," she replied.
"Any idea what the monster could be?" he asked her.
"No, none at all, I remember reading about it in Hogwarts a history but I left my copy at home and all the copies in the library have vanished and anybody I ask doesn't seem to have one," she said exasperatedly.
Lillian smiled to herself, she had a copy but there was no way in hell she was about to give it to Hermione. She didn't know why she was doing this, but for some reason she didn't want them to gain more proof pointing towards Harry. It wasn't that she was doing it for him… she was doing it for her too. If they could name him the heir of Slytherin for being a parselmouth, then they might as well call her the heir too and accuse her of all the attacks.
"I don't get it why we can't tell everyone he's a parselmouth, I'm sure he'll be thrown out once the teachers find out," she heard Ron say.
"We can't Ron, because we don't have any proof like I said before. We could go to any teacher but as long as they don't hear him speak it, they can't and won't do anything."
"Then throw a snake at him and make him talk to it," he said irritably.
Hermione stopped in her tracks and looked at Ron with amazement. "That is a great idea!" she exclaimed. "We could get him to speak to it and everybody will know!"
Lillian stepped in front of them, a look of fury on her face. "You will do no such thing," she said firmly.
Hermione and Ron goggled at her. "What's wrong with you Mary? Don't you want him to be caught?" Hermione asked frowning.
Lillian took a deep breath, "Look, maybe he is a parselmouth, but that is no way to confirm he's the heir." Hermione was about to interrupt but Lillian raised her hand effectively stopping her from saying anything, "If we actually see him attacking someone, only then can we expose him, until then just keep an eye on him alright?" she said, hoping they would agree with her.
To her relief they both nodded grudgingly. "But I'm getting Fred and George to tail him," said Ron.
"Do whatever you want," muttered Lillian just as they entered the great hall.
Lillian and Hermione went to the corner of the Gryffindor table and Ron, true to his word went and pulled his twin brothers to one corner.
"Listen, Fred, George, I think I know who the heir of Slytherin is," Ron began in a low voice filled with self importance.
Fred gasped, "Our Ronnikiens has been doing detective work, brother of mine!"
George nodded seriously, "Too true and I think he's going to name…"
"Harry Potter," the both chorused together.
"Wha – How did you know!"
"It's rather simple, you hate him."
"He's a Slytherin."
"He beat you."
"And us in a duel."
"So it's obvious you think it's him!"
Ron growled, "It's not just me, Hermione thinks so too and if you'll listen to me I'll tell you why."
Fred and George looked at each other, "Alright, our ears are wide open, little brother."
"Potter's a parselmouth."
This time Fred and George gasped for real. "Are you sure!"
"Yeah, Mary and I heard him speaking to a snake," he said importantly.
"Where did you see him?"
"We snuck into the Slytherin common room to find out who the heir is. Potter at first accepted the fact that he is the heir and then denied it in front of everyone else. Malfoy had gotten a snake for Christmas and we heard Potter speaking to it."
"Wow Ron, I'm impressed. You actually managed to get into the snake's common room. We've wanted to sneak in since our first year!"
"Well that's not important now, the thing is I wanted you guys to tail Potter and catch him red handed when he sneaks into the chamber wherever it is or attacks someone. I know you guys are the best at sneaking around unseen."
"You are absolutely right, Ronnikiens, we are the best at this job," said Fred.
"Fear not, if Potter's the one he'll be caught before he can say Quidditch," said George.
"After all we have the right tools don't we Forge?"
"Damn right we do Gred."
"Now Ronnikiens, we have a dinner to finish and some girls to woo, so if you'll excuse us…." They said and hurried over to Angelina and Katie who had just arrived.
Ron grinned triumphantly, thinking he had just accomplished something big. The one time he uses his brain and he's chasing the wrong person. What a pity.
Hidden behind a tapestry was a little girl with red hair who was grinning in amusement, "So, Potter is a parselmouth… interesting… Well little Ginevra, we have important work to do."
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Gilderoy Lockhart seemed to think he himself had made the attacks stop. Harry overheard him telling Professor McGonagall while the Slytherin's were lining up for Transfiguration.
"I don't think there'll be any more trouble, Minerva," he said, tapping his nose knowingly and winking. "I think the Chamber has been locked for good this time. The culprit must have known it was only a matter of time before I caught him. Rather sensible to stop now, before I came down hard on him."
"You know, what the school needs now is a morale-booster. Wash away the memories of last term! I won't say any more just now, but I think I know just the thing . . ." He tapped his nose again and strode off.
Lockhart's idea of a morale-booster became clear at breakfast time on February fourteenth. Harry hadn't had much sleep because of a late running Quidditch practice the night before, and he hurried down to the Great Hall, slightly late. He thought, for a moment, that he'd walked through the wrong doors. The walls were all covered with large, lurid pink flowers. Worse still, heart-shaped confetti was falling from the pale blue ceiling. Harry went over to the Slytherin table, where almost all the Slytherin's were looking sickened and a few girls were overcome by giggles, Parkinson included.
"What's going on?" Harry asked them, sitting down and wiping confetti off his bacon.
Blaise pointed to the teachers table, apparently too disgusted to speak.
Lockhart, wearing lurid pink robes to match the decorations, was waving for silence. The teachers on either side of him were looking stony-faced. From where he sat, Harry could see a muscle twitching in Professor McGonagall's cheek. Snape looked as though someone had just fed him a large beaker of Skele-Gro.
"Happy Valentine's Day!" Lockhart shouted. "And may I thank the forty-six people who have so far sent me cards! Yes, I have taken the liberty of arranging this little surprise for you all - and it doesn't end here!"
Lockhart clapped his hands and through the doors to the entrance hall marched a dozen surly-looking dwarfs. Not just any dwarfs, however. Lockhart had them all wearing golden wings and carrying harps.
"My friendly, card-carrying cupids!" said Lockhart beaming. "They will be roaming around the school today delivering your valentines! And the fun doesn't stop here! I'm sure my colleagues will want to enter into the spirit of the occasion! Why not ask Professor Snape to show you how to whip up a Love Potion! And while you're at it, Professor Flitwick knows more about Entrancing Enchantments than any wizard I've ever met, the sly old dog!"
Professor Flitwick buried his face in his hands. Snape was looking as though the first person to ask him for a Love Potion would be force-fed poison.
"Please tell me you weren't one of the forty six, Blaise," Harry said trying to fight the grin forming on his face.
Blaise glared at him with murder in his eyes, "If you weren't my best friend, I would stick you to Lockhart's arse for the rest of your life."
Harry chuckled, "Just checking Blaise, just checking."
All day long, the dwarfs kept barging into their classes to deliver valentines, to the annoyance of the teachers, and late that afternoon as the Slytherin's were walking upstairs for Charms, one of the dwarfs caught up with Harry.
"Oye, you! 'Arry Potter!" shouted a particularly grim-looking dwarf, elbowing people out of the way to get to Harry.
Hot all over at the thought of being given a valentine in front of a line of first years, which happened to include Ginny Weasley. Harry looked at the dwarf horrified, he looked around for an escape route but the dwarf sensing his thoughts, cut his way through the crowd by kicking people's shins, and reached him before he'd gone two paces. "I've got a musical message to deliver to 'Arry Potter in person," he said, twanging his harp in a threatening sort of way.
"Not here," Harry hissed, "Or you'll find your head so far up your arse that you'll be singing that message to your intestines you understand me, dwarf!" said Harry drawing out his wand.
"Right, lead the way then," the dwarf grunted pushing Harry ahead, not fazed by Harry's threat at all. "Get back to your classes," Harry snapped at the students standing around him.
Growling at the back of his throat Harry literally threw the dwarf into an empty class room. "Right, sing that bloody valentine and get the hell out."
"Here is your singing valentine:
His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,
His hair is as dark as a blackboard.
I wish he was mine, he's really divine,
The hero who conquered the Dark Lord"
"You done," Harry said gritting his teeth.
"Yes," it grunted and walked out of the room.
"If I ever find out who sent this valentine, that person will wish they were never born… Aw, crap, I'm ten minutes late for class," he muttered, kicking a chair in his way.
Hurrying out of the empty class room he headed for his charms class but suddenly stopped short half way.
Fred and George Weasley were laying on the floor, rigid and cold, a look of shock frozen on his face, their eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. And that wasn't all. Next to him was another figure, the strangest sight Harry had ever seen.
It was Nearly Headless Nick, no longer pearly-white and transparent, but black and smoky, floating immobile and horizontal, six inches off the floor. His head was hanging precariously on his neck and his face wore an expression of shock identical to the twins.
Harry stared in front of him, his breathing fast and shallow, his heart was doing a kind of drum roll against his ribs. He looked wildly up and down the deserted corridor and saw a line of spiders scuttling as fast as they could away from the bodies. The only sounds were the muffled voices of the teachers from the classes on either side.
As he stood there, unable to think, a door right next to him opened with a bang. Peeves the Poltergeist came shooting out. "Why, it's potty wee Potter!" cackled Peeves, knocking Harry's glasses askew as he bounced past him. "What's Potter up to? Why's Potter lurking..."
Peeves stopped, halfway through a midair somersault. Upside down, he spotted the twins and Nearly Headless Nick. He flipped the right way up, filled his lungs, and before Harry could stop him, he screamed,
"ATTACK! ATTACK! ANOTHER ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ATTAAAACK!"
Crash - crash - crash - door after door flew open along the corridor and people flooded out. For several long minutes, there was a scene of such confusion that twins were in danger of being squashed and people kept standing in Nearly Headless Nick. Harry found himself pinned against the wall as the teachers shouted for quiet. Professor McGonagall came running, followed by her own class, one of whom still had black-and-white-striped hair. She used her wand to set off aloud bang, which restored silence, and ordered everyone back into their classes. No sooner had the scene cleared somewhat Ronald Weasley came panting, on the scene followed closely by Lillian and Hermione.
Ron's eyes bulged when the saw his twin brothers. He looked up and saw Harry standing there expressionless. "MURDERER!" he shouted, pointing his finger at Harry.
"Shut up Weasley, I had nothing to do with this," said Harry calmly, but inside he was panicking, there was no way anyone would believe him now, teachers included.
All of a sudden Ron rushed at him fists raised, ready to knock the living daylights out of him. But Harry just side stepped him, grabbed his neck and slammed him into the wall.
"I said I had nothing to do with this," he said whispered dangerously in Ron's ear "And you best stop opening your mouth so often or something might happen to you."
This obviously was the wrong thing to do at the wrong time.
"Let him go Harry Potter!" shrieked McGonagall.
Harry left him and Ron slid to the ground coughing. He looked up at Harry with pure loathing and said, "He's a parselmouth."
Even though he said it in a low voice, everybody heard it. Harry eyes widened in surprise, did he just speak in parseltongue? No he only did that when he was face to face with a snake. Then how did Weasley know? Slowly everyone started muttering to each other about this revelation.
He heard traces of the student's voices, some muttering about purebloods, something about dark wizards, and all such nonsense which almost sent Harry over the edge.
McGonagall used her wand to set off another bang and everybody shut their mouths immediately. The twins were carried up to the hospital wing by Professor Flitwick and Professor Sinistra of the Astronomy department, but nobody seemed to know what to do for Nearly Headless Nick. In the end, Professor McGonagall conjured a large fan out of thin air, which she gave to Ernie McMillan of Hufflepuff with instructions to waft Nearly Headless Nick up the stairs. This Ernie did, fanning Nick along like a silent black hovercraft.
"Come with me Mr. Potter," she said.
"But, I didn't do anything and you didn't even see me doing anything!" he said furiously.
"Are you going to come along or shall I force you Mr. Potter," she said pointing her wand at him, her hand trembling.
Harry looked at her incredulously. He couldn't believe a teacher, Professor McGonagall, was holding him at wand point. He couldn't believe what was happening. He saw Blaise and the rest of the Slytherin's looking at him, expressionless. He looked at Ron and Hermione, who looked somewhat triumphant. He saw Lillian who looked regretful and sad?
Holding his head high, he glared at the transfiguration teacher and said, "Lead the way, Minerva." McGonagall looked shocked but just poked her wand in his back pushing him forward. They marched in silence and a few minutes later she stopped before a large and extremely ugly stone gargoyle.
"Lemon drop!" she said. This was evidently a password, because the gargoyle sprang suddenly to life and hopped aside as the wall behind him split in two. Even full of dread for what was coming, Harry couldn't fail to be amazed. Behind the wall was a spiral staircase that was moving smoothly upward, like an escalator. As he and Professor McGonagall stepped onto it, Harry heard the wall thud closed behind them. They rose upward in circles, higher and higher, until at last, slightly dizzy, Harry saw a gleaming oak door ahead, with a brass knocker in the shape of a griffin. He knew now where he was being taken. This must be where Dumbledore lived.
They stepped off the stone staircase at the top, and Professor McGonagall rapped on the door. It opened silently and they entered. Professor McGonagall told Harry to wait and left him there, alone. Harry looked around. One thing was certain; of all the teachers offices Harry had visited so far this year, Dumbledore's was by far the most interesting. If he hadn't been so furious and pissed and scared about being sent back to the Dursley's, he would have been very pleased to have a chance to look around it.
It was a large and beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises. A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it, a shabby, tattered wizard's hat - the Sorting Hat.
Then a strange, gagging noise behind him made him wheel around. He wasn't alone after all. Standing on a golden perch behind the door was a decrepit-looking bird that resembled a half-plucked turkey. Harry stared at it and the bird looked balefully back, making its gagging noise again. Harry thought it looked very ill. Its eyes were dull and, even as Harry watched, a couple more feathers fell out of its tail. Harry was just thinking that all he needed was for Dumbledore's pet bird to die while he was alone in the office with it, when the bird burst into flames.
Harry gaped at the bird in shock; the bird, meanwhile, had become a fireball; it gave one loud shriek and next second there was nothing but a smoldering pile of ash on the floor.
"A phoenix," Harry whispered.
"You are right, Mr. Potter, Fawkes is a phoenix," Dumbledore said from behind him, looking somber, holding a book under his arm. He gently picked the bird coming out of the ashes and placed it on its perch. "Please take a seat Harry," he said gesturing to the seat in front of him.
Hesitantly Harry took a seat. Looking at the headmaster, his anger began to rise. Here was the man who had left him with the Dursley's, who had not told him that he was his magical guardian, had not told him about his vaults. But he managed to control himself and look the headmaster in the eye.
"It's a pity you had to see Fawkes on his burning day Harry," said Dumbledore seating himself behind his desk. "He's really very handsome most of the time, wonderful red and gold plumage. Fascinating creatures, phoenixes…. They can carry immense loads…"
"Carry immense loads, tears have healing powers and are very faithful. I know," Harry said in monotonous voice that betrayed nothing of what he was feeling.
Dumbledore chuckled lightly, "I don't think many students read as much as you do Harry. With the exception of Miss Granger and a few Ravenclaw's I think."
Harry didn't say anything but stare back at Dumbledore with a stony expression on his face.
Seeing Harry wasn't amused Dumbledore sighed and took of his glasses and fixed Harry with a penetrating light blue stare. "Is there anything you want to tell me Harry? Anything at all?" he said softly.
There were many things he wanted to tell the man but he didn't. "No Professor, nothing at all," he said, with a little sarcasm in his voice.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, looks like he had to try different tactics to get him to talk. "Is it true you are a parselmouth?"
Harry sighed, "Yes….. Now are you going to expel me or throw me in prison for being one?"
"No, Harry, I am not, parseltongue is just a misunderstood ability. But I must ask you do you know anything about these attacks, anything at all?"
"No, I don't," he said staring into Dumbledore's eyes defiantly.
Dumbledore was frustrated. He couldn't even scan the boy's surface thoughts. There was no way he could determine if Harry was telling the truth or not. Sighing inwards he placed the book he brought with him in front of Harry.
"Do you recognize this book, Harry?" he asked him, watching him carefully for his reaction.
When the book was placed in front of Harry, his mouth dropped open in shock. "The old man had been sneaking around his room!" he thought furiously.
"Since my name is written on it, I think I just might," Harry said gritting his teeth.
"Then would you care to explain me why have you compiled a book on the darkest curses to exist in the magical world?"
"How dare you sneak into my room and go through my things," Harry hissed.
Dumbledore could literally feel the room temperature dropping. He then realized making an elemental angry is not the wisest to do, so he raised his arms in surrender.
"Professor Snape found this book in the common room, Harry. And he read the contents and then realized it belonged to you. I assure you we haven't been looking through your personal belongings."
Harry looked at Dumbledore skeptically, "In the common room?"
"Yes, in the common room, he showed me the book just before Professor McGonagall came to me and informed me of…. recent events."
"So is this your proof that I'm the heir of Slytherin?" Harry asked him, snorting.
"No Harry, I do no think you are the heir of Slytherin," Dumbledore said calmly.
Whatever Harry was going to say next was forgotten. He stared at Dumbledore in shock. "What did you say?"
"I do not think you are the heir of Slytherin, Harry."
"You don't?"
"No, I don't."
"Then why this interrogation, why are we here talking about that book, my Parseltongue ability and god knows what else!" Harry demanded, "Why!"
"The main reason I am talking to you Harry, is because of this book," he said, putting his hand over Harry's book of dark arts.
"If that's the case then I should tell you that I have another book which contains the opposite of those spells. In other words spells and curses you would approve off or like Weasley would say light magic, the idiot."
"Is that so," Dumbledore said quietly, "Then may I ask what motivated you to make this book?"
"Yes you may. Although, I may be…disinclined to answer," Harry spat.
"Harry I just want to help you, guide you," he said.
"Guide me! Help me! Have you lost your marbles old man!" Harry shouted standing up. "If you wanted to help me, why did you leave me with the Dursley's? Why didn't you tell me you are my guardian! Huh? Why didn't you inform me of my vaults? You left me to be raised with monsters, and kept me from the truth, which by far is the worst thing you have done to me!"
At every accusation Dumbledore grew paler and paler.
"And finally, where is the will of my parents which supposedly made you my magical guardian!"
Harry was seething now, one wrong word from Dumbledore and there was no doubt in the headmaster's mind that Harry would loose control and attempt to level his office to ground.
"TELL ME!" Harry screamed banging his fist in the table ignoring the outraged voices of the portraits berating him.
Dumbledore seemed to suddenly age 10 years during Harry's rant. Removing his glasses he looked at Harry regretfully. "Please sit down Harry."
"No."
"I shall be honest with you if you would just sit down and let me explain."
Glaring at the headmaster, he sat in his chair folding his arms waiting for Dumbledore to speak.
"Would you tell me how you got this information Harry," he said gently.
Harry just glared at him not opening his mouth.
"Please Harry."
"The goblins," Harry answered finally. "When I asked them to tell me how much money I had, they sent me to a goblin named blood something and he told me everything."
"Of course," Dumbledore muttered.
"Of course what?"
"Nothing Harry, nothing at all."
"Well then are you going to start explaining?"
"What do you want to know first?"
"Why don't you just start talking," Harry said rudely.
"To start talking one must know where to start," Dumbledore said jokingly.
"Don't…." he said, his voice trembling with fury, but he calmed himself and decided to just comply with the headmasters wishes…. for now. "Why didn't you tell me you were my magical guardian?"
"I didn't tell you because you didn't need to know. If I told you earlier would it make any difference? I felt it would be best if our relationship was limited to student and teacher."
Harry didn't know how to respond to that, he realized the old coot was somewhat right but that only brought up a hundred different questions in his head.
"If things were to remain as student and teacher, then why didn't you tell me about my vaults? Did you start acting like a father and thought 'Oh, the boy will spend all the money, we must keep him in line' huh?"
"Yes, I did think that way," Dumbledore admitted. "I was going to tell you when you were at least fifteen or older, when you became more mature."
Harry scoffed, "A magical child who grows up with the Dursley's is a hundred times mature than others."
"What do you mean Harry?" asked Dumbledore frowning.
"Where is the will of my parents?" asked Harry avoiding that question. "How did you become my guardian?"
Dumbledore just looked at Harry calmly, "I assure you I didn't do anything illegal to become your guardian," he said, his eyes boring into Harry's but Harry wasn't fazed one bit. After all he had endured worse at the hands of his uncle.
"I'm sure you didn't," Harry replied coolly, "So where is it?"
Dumbledore flicked his wand and a file came floating towards him. He didn't take his eyes of Harry and neither did Harry—it was as if it were a sort of competition of who backed down first. Finally Dumbledore broke the gaze and opened the file. Harry was crowing victory in his head.
The headmaster took out a parchment and handed it to Harry. "The original copy of your parent's will."
Harry stared at the parchment, feeling a little scared and excited at the same time about finally reading his parent's will.
"Take it, Harry," said Dumbledore, his eyes softening.
Slowly Harry took the parchment from Dumbledore's hand and began to read.
The Will of James Harold Potter and Lily Evans Potter
I, James Harold Potter and I, Lily Evans Potter leave everything we own to our son, Harry James Potter. In the case of our death, Sirius Orion Black, Harry James Potter's godfather is to gain custody of our son. If for any valid reason he is not able to take the child, Remus John Lupin is to gain custody, and if Remus John Lupin is unable to care for the child Peter Pettigrew is to raise our son.
If none of the above are capable then we leave Albus Dumbledore to choose a good family for our son.
Harry's expression didn't change one bit when he read the will. It was short and simple. Dumbledore was right. He didn't do anything wrong at all. It wasn't mentioned anywhere that Harry wasn't to go to the Dursley's or a Muggle family. He couldn't help but feel a little angry towards his parents for not being specific.
"It's short," Harry commented, dropping the parchment on the table.
"They meant to change it but never got the chance."
"But it said I was to go to my godfather, Sirius Black. What happened to him?"
"He's in Azkaban," Dumbledore said shortly.
"Why?"
Dumbledore didn't respond he just looked even sadder if that was possible.
"Why," Harry asked again, feeling a little nervous.
Dumbledore still didn't say anything.
"Is he dead?"
.
.
.
"Are you going to tell me or just look like your husband has just died?" Harry said, irritably.
"He betrayed your parents," Dumbledore said simply, bowing his head.
There was pin drop silence for a few seconds.
"W-What?"
"He betrayed your parents. He is the reason your parents are dead."
Harry didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to feel. He just felt empty, like he was lost in space. His stony expression crumbled and he looked up at Dumbledore his eyes pleading for answers. "B-but he's… was, my godfather," Harry stammered.
"Harry, this is the reason I didn't want you to read this will. You don't have to know."
"The hell I do! This guy betrayed my parents according to you and you don't want to tell me how and why! I have every right to know!"
Dumbledore sighed, "Sirius Black was your father's best friend. They were like brothers. They were never seen without the other. After your parents graduated they got married straight away. He was their best man. But then, Voldemort started targeting your parents which forced them to go into hiding. I suggested the Fidelius charm. Do you know what that is?"
"I think," Harry replied still in shock.
"Well, the Fidelius Charm is an ancient use of rune magic, warding, essentially, combined with advanced charms. It requires the complete and utter trust from the one who resides in the charm, for the one who is the secret keeper. I asked your parents if they would allow me to be their secret keeper, because someone close to your parents was a spy, but we didn't know who. Your father decided to make Sirius Black their secret keeper and refused to keep anyone else. But a month later, on Halloween 1981, Voldemort found your parents. And the only way he could have known where they were, was if…."
"The secret keeper gave the location to him," Harry replied softly.
"Yes, but then Voldemort was defeated by you and Black fled. But before he got too far, Peter Pettigrew caught up to him. Sirius then killed Pettigrew along with thirteen muggles before he was caught by the Aurors and thrown in Azkaban," he said heavily, sinking back into his chair.
"Is he still alive?"
"Yes, but he's most likely insane by now. Azkaban is guarded by Dementors and anyone would go insane if they lived there for more than a year."
Dumbledore looked at Harry worriedly. He was just staring at the desk in front of him. He patiently waited for him to say something, knowing that such knowledge is bound to cause a number of painful thoughts to go threw his mind.
"What happened to Remus Lupin?" he suddenly asked.
"Sorry?" Dumbledore said a little startled.
"What happened to Remus Lupin, it said that if that man can't take me then he was supposed to raise me."
Dumbledore noticed the bitterness in his voice when he mentioned Sirius indirectly. "He has a terrible illness because of which he couldn't take you and still can't."
"So he's still out there?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't he ever come and visit me or you for that matter. Why didn't you come at least once to just see if I was alive or hadn't run away! What if the Dursley's had killed me!" he asked his voice rising again.
"You don't mean that do you Harry? I'm sure the Dursley's wouldn't mistreat you."
That particular sentence made Harry snap. He laughed loudly, a rather maniacal laugh in Dumbledore's opinion. "You thing they treated me like a normal child! They beat me almost everyday; I was made to work like a slave and was hardly fed anything. If it weren't for my magic I would be dead now. Almost every week their whale of a son and his friends damaged at least one bone in my body-trust me it ain't a cakewalk!" he said, laughing rather insanely again.
Dumbledore was getting rather alarmed by Harry's behavior. "So tell me Dumbledore, do you think that's prince like treatment? If I got better marks than Dudley I was locked in the cupboard for days with just one meal a day. Sometimes I wouldn't even get a meal! Do you know the kid's favorite game in Privet drive? Do you think it was Go Fish? Hide 'n' seek? Maybe checkers? Nope, wrong on all counts. They called it Harry hunting. A rather apt name, I believe. You see, the object of 'Harry Hunting,' was to hunt down Harry. After you caught him, you would hold him up while you kicked him! It was a very entertaining game, professor. I imagine my pulse rate had rocketed past three-hundred at some points."
"But then…." he said grinning, "When I was six, something happened, I had always known I was different, I wasn't like the other kids, I was abnormal," he whispered. "Then I was able to scare the Dursley's with my abnormality, oh how I loved it to see them scared. It was so satisfying that they were scared to even touch me…. So don't you dare tell me that I am lying about how the Dursley's are…And you know what?"
"Its. All. Your. Fault," he said leaning towards Dumbledore, a dangerous glint in his eye. "You are the one responsible my miserable life. You alone, are the epicenter of my problems-not my dead parents. Not even Black. Definitely not Lupin."
Dumbledore was really getting worried now; Harry was acting insane and was reminding him more and more of another boy he had seen almost 50 years ago. The only difference was that he grew up in an orphan age and Harry grew up with his relatives.
He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding when Harry finally sank back in his chair looking extremely pained.
"I am truly sorry Harry," he began.
Harry just raised his hand and said, "Don't say that word when you don't know what it means."
"Harry, I…"
"Do you know I almost died last summer," Harry said suddenly.
"No Harry, I don't, Dumbledore said, dreading what Harry might say next.
"I had a block on my magic which was slowly killing me?"
"Excuse me!" Dumbledore said incredulously.
"Someone somehow managed to put a block on my magic which was slowly killing me," he said again sounding far away.
"That's impossible, the block can't kill anyone, and its purpose is to just limit the flow of magic until the person reaches the age of sixteen!" he said, without thinking.
Harry's eyes narrowed when Dumbledore said those words. Even Dumbledore was cursing himself. How long had it been since he let his emotions guide his tongue!
"What did you say?" Harry said dangerously, rising from the chair again.
"Harry, please…"
"It was you wasn't it? You put the block on my magic. After all you're the one who left me with the Dursley's… it was you….." he whispered.
"Harry, sit down," said Dumbledore firmly. Any other witch or wizard wouldn't dare disobey Dumbledore when he spoke in that tone but Harry was beyond reason, all he saw was red.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you?" whispered Harry. There was a flash of light and Harry's wand was in his hand. "Tell me Professor, why shouldn't I kill you for literally destroying my life single handedly?"
"Harry, sit down," he said loudly and firmly, drawing his wand and letting the beginnings of his aura show. But it didn't affect Harry one bit. A silver circle was forming in Harry's eyes as if it was being traced slowly and began to glow. The instant that happened Dumbledore knew Harry was not in control of his senses anymore.
The temperature in the room dropped to freezing and Fawkes flamed out with a squawk. The floor began to freeze below Harry's feet and he slowly raised his wand and the other hand ready to blast Dumbledore to oblivion. The trinkets in office started vibrating and Dumbledore leveled his wand at Harry, uncertain as to what was going to happen. He could feel the power radiating out of Harry, and he found it hard to remove his eyes from Harry's own. Dumbledore sighed. Harry was going to be a powerful wizard one day… Preparing himself, he raised the level of his aura even more, so much so that it was almost visible. Harry's eyes continued to glow, and the circle ran closer and closer to being closed.
But then, the door to Dumbledore's office opened and McGonagall and Snape marched in, Blaise and Ron coming in arguing behind them.
As soon as the door opened they were hit by a blast of freezing air and were almost hurled out of the office. Four eyes widened in shock and fear. McGonagall screamed bloody murder.
As soon as the door opened, Harry turned back sharply and glared at them, his eyes glowing green and silver with half formed silver circles around his eyes. But when he heard McGonagall scream, the half formed silver circles vanished and the room temperature came back to normal and everyone was quiet except for the yells coming from the portraits fallen on the floor.
Harry looked confused for a second before he realized what had happened. He had lost control, just like Lillian. If McGonagall hadn't screamed he couldn't imagine what kind of damage he would have done.
He looked at McGonagall and Snape, both looked extremely shaken and staring at Harry with fear, the latter more with apprehension. Behind them, Weasley and Blaise were kneeling on the floor shivering. Ron was looking plain terrified and flinched horribly when Harry looked at him, Blaise reacted the same way.
Harry just turned back towards Dumbledore and glared at him, before turning around and walking out of the office.
Everybody stared at him as he left the office, nobody attempting to stop him.
"Al-Albus?" said McGonagall hesitantly, her eyes flickering from the headmaster to the door. "What just happened here?"
"Just a terrible mistake Minerva, a terrible mistake," he said wearily collapsing in his chair.
"Back to your common rooms," barked Snape. "Minerva, please escort your student back while I take mine," he said giving her a meaning full look.
She nodded, "Come along Mr. Weasley," she said guiding Ron out who was staring at the floor unable to meet anyone's eyes.
Snape turned back to Dumbledore, "Shall I bring back Mr. Potter, headmaster?"
"No Severus, just leave him for now and thank Minerva for coming in when she did. I'm not sure what I would have had to do to stop him."
Snape nodded and left the office, his robes billowing behind him and Blaise hurried behind him, he had to find Harry.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"In you go Mr. Weasley, your punishment will be handed out later," she said. Ron just nodded, not really listening.
He muttered the password and entered the common room where Lillian and Hermione were waiting for him anxiously.
"Ron, what happened?" said Hermione immediately. "Did you get detention or just loose a large number of house points." Ron just collapsed in the armchair not answering.
"Ron," she said softly again, "What happened?"
He just shook his head in negative.
"Are you thinking about your brothers?" she asked again.
Again he shook his head.
"Then will you bloody tell us what the head said!" said Lillian exasperatedly.
"Mary!" said Hermione, "Something serious must have happened! Give him time!"
Ron laughed when he heard this. Finally he opened his mouth, "Potter was still there."
"Still!" said Lillian incredulously "He was sent there like two hours ago!"
"He and the headmaster were pointing their wands at each other and were about to attack each other."
Silence, the entire common room heard him.
"W-what!" stammered Neville Longbottom "Potter attacked the headmaster?"
Ron just nodded distractedly. "You should have been there. As soon as we entered the Dumbledore's office I felt like something was squeezing my lungs forcing the air out of me, I….," he trailed off.
"What do you mean," asked a third year.
Ron wasn't paying attention to anyone, he didn't even know they were just listening to him but he just went on regardless. "It- it was scary you know, the entire room was freezing cold and the floor was completely frozen, It was like... and Potter's eyes….." he said, a shiver running down his back. "The instant I saw them I just fell to the ground. I couldn't take my eyes of them and yet I just wanted to scream and run as far as I could…. it was like it was crushing the life out of me…. I've never felt so terrified before…. If he had asked me to do something I would have done it without question… They were glowing in a weird way with those half formed silver rings in his eyes….." he just trailed off shuddering.
As soon as he said that Lillian looked at him startled. "What do you mean?" she said.
"I mean his eyes were glowing green and silver and they were scary. When we went in Professor McGonagall screamed and instantly everything became normal in the room, but the fear still lingered," he whispered.
The entire common room was silent, just by watching him half the common room was shaking in fear.
Lillian had, had a number of dreams or rather nightmares after her duel with Harry. Usually she would see herself surrounded by fire with a weird glow in her eye with orange rings in her eyes. The scene would then change to one where she was burning a weak version of herself; she would then proceed to kill everyone in the castle until she was confronted by Harry who had a silver ring in his green eyes. But she always woke up before she could see what happened next. She couldn't figure out what these dreams meant and did they always start of with her killing herself.
"Are you sure Ronald?" asked Percy, fingering his prefect badge.
The whole common room stared at him. Ron looked up blankly.
"Then why hasn't Professor McGonagall informed us prefects," he said, sounding worried. "Its protocol to inform us prefects when such incidents take place. Maybe I should go and..."
Every word Percy said made Ron get angrier and angrier.
"Shut up Percy, you're not so important that the teachers would inform you if someone attacked the HEADMASTER! You're just a sodding stuck up who can't keep his nose out of business that doesn't concern you!" he yelled and stomped up to his dorm.
A few people chuckled nervously but no one else bothered to laugh. They shot filthy looks at Percy and if looks could kill, Percy would be dead a hundred times over.
"Ok everyone, stories over, back to your dorms," he said nervously and hurried back to his own dorm as fast as he could.
Lillian and Hermione exchanged dark looks, "Just watching him describe it is giving me the creeps," Lillian muttered.
"You think Potter's going to be expelled?" asked Hermione, still staring at the stairs to the boys rooms worriedly.
Lillian just shrugged, lost in her own thoughts.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Dumbledore was pacing in his office wondering how to approach Harry. There were so many questions running through his head about the boy, like how did Harry know that he had a block on his magical core? What did he mean that it almost killed him… did that mean he managed to remove the block? But Dumbledore knew that was impossible, the block he had put on Harry was one which would disappear over a period of time, there was no way to remove it as far as he knew. On the other hand why was Harry making a list of dark art spells and rituals? What did he mean he managed to scare the Dursley's when he was six, was it accidental magic or was he aware of his powers? And the boys wand… it was the elder wand! He could recognize that wand anywhere and it had chosen Harry! How was that possible? That wand hadn't even accepted him as its master. What did that mean? Is that supposed to be the power the dark lord knows not? How powerful was the boy? And where was he now? Severus had informed him that he wasn't in the dormitory and was last seen in the common room. He needed to find the boy and explain to him why he did what he did.
Sighing he went to the window and stared outside at the darkening sky, relishing the feel of the cool air on his face. He had never felt so out of control of a situation before.
He looked over the Quidditch ground and was surprised to find someone flying at this hour. The boy shot towards the ground at terrifying speed causing Dumbledore's heart to almost pop out of his mouth, but at the last second he gracefully pulled out of the dive and rose in the sky again.
Dumbledore knew only one person who could pull of such death defying moves like those and immediately rushed out of his office and made his way to the Quidditch ground.
Meanwhile, Harry was flying a little too recklessly. Flying always made him feel like he had no troubles at all. And now he needed to forget all he had learnt in the headmaster's office. The betrayal of his godfather, Dumbledore being the one responsible for his magical block, Dumbledore dumping him with the Dursley's, it was all too much for his twelve year old head, even though he wasn't any normal twelve year old.
He heard someone fly up too him and was startled to see Dumbledore flying on one of the school brooms.
"Hello Harry," he greeted cheerfully.
Harry just ignored the headmaster and dived again. When he was back in the sky Dumbledore came flying towards him again. "Harry please let me explain," he begged.
Harry just glared at him at shot off in the opposite direction, away from the headmaster. He knew he was acting a little childish now.
He turned back hoping to see Dumbledore give up but was shocked to see him right next to him.
Groaning in frustration, Harry looked at him, somewhat resigned for what was to come. "What do you want?" he asked flatly.
"I wish to explain to you why I placed a magical block upon you."
"Go ahead then, I'm all ears."
"It was to protect you."
"And please tell me how on earth was that going to protect me?" said Harry, disbelievingly.
"Harry, I knew your relatives did not like magic. So I decided to put a block so that you wouldn't perform accidental magic and anger your relatives. I hoped that they would treat you like their son if you didn't any magic, but clearly it didn't work," he said, the regret evident in his voice.
"They don't like magic? Forgive me professor but I don't thing you understand the magnitude of their hatred of the magical world. Maybe you should stay for a day with them and then you will realize what kind of people they are, I wouldn't be surprised if they put a bullet through you head. Maybe then you will understand what it is like to grow up with the Dursley's."
"I'm so sorry Harry."
"Don't say you're sorry that you left me with the Dursley's when we both know you aren't sorry at all. If you were sorry you'd remove from that hell hole a long time ago or at least sent someone to keep an eye on me," he said tonelessly. Little did he know someone was keeping an eye on him.
Dumbledore didn't say anything but the look on his face said it all.
"I thought so," Harry said quietly, "Although, you haven't told me why you decided to leave me with the Dursley's when you could have left me with any good wizarding family?"
"Do you remember what I told you when you asked me why couldn't Quirrell touch you?"
"How could I forget."
"The same blood that runs within you runs in your mother's sister's Petunia's veins as well. Thus the protection your mother left within you will be the most powerful as long as you are close any of her blood relatives. Using that protection I created wards around your house based on blood. As long as you are within those wards, no one with the intent to cause harm to you can enter."
"Except from within."
Dumbledore sighed, "Harry, you must understand that after Voldemort fell his followers were still around and would have given anything to see you dead for destroying their master. They wouldn't have thought about looking for you in the muggle world and with the blood wards you were practically untouchable. The other reason I didn't want you to grow up in the wizarding world was because everybody saw you as a hero and not a person. Various pureblood families would contest over adopting you for their own political reasons, you would be hero worshipped where ever you went, people would fall over your feet and want to touch you if you came out in public and reporters would constantly hound you for interviews as soon as you were old enough to talk properly. But if you were to live with your relatives, then you would be free to live like a normal child is supposed to live but then, I should have known Petunia Dursley would never consider you as part of her family and would go as far as to mistreat you. Professor McGonagall turned out to be right after all."
Harry quietly ran the headmaster reasoning over and over in his head and to his annoyance he could find no way to contradict him. "What do mean professor McGonagall was right?"
"She was against the idea of you living with the Dursley's."
Harry was surprised, "How many of you were there when you left me with those pigs?"
Dumbledore chuckled, "Myself, Professor McGonagall and Hagrid."
"Why on earth were McGonagall and Hagrid there?" As much as Harry hated the man right now, he couldn't stop himself from asking questions.
"That's Professor McGonagall to you Harry," chided Dumbledore. Harry glared at him, not amused at all. "Anyway, professor McGonagall was observing the Dursley's for a day and Hagrid was the one who brought you from Gordic's hollow to the Dursley's."
Dumbledore waited for Harry to ask any other question he had on his mind. He had to gain the boys trust and the only way that would be done was to answer everything he asked truthfully. He himself had loads of questions to ask but they could always wait. After all, the boy would be at Hogwarts for another 5 years.
Ten minutes passed and Harry still hadn't uttered a word. He was just floating silently staring at the moon. Dumbledore couldn't figure out what he was thinking about.
"If you don't have any thing else to ask me Harry, may I ask a few questions of my own?" said Dumbledore.
"Go ahead, ask," Harry said vaguely.
"Your wand," he began hesitantly, "did… Ollivander mention that it had belonged to someone else before you…?"
A small smile could be seen on Harry's face for the briefest of seconds. "The wand does not belong to anybody."
"I see," he said slowly trying to keep the excitement in his voice from showing, "And did the wand choose you?" he said, holding his breath in anticipation of the answer.
"Yes."
"Amazing," breathed Dumbledore.
"What is so amazing about a wand choosing me?" Harry asked, even though he knew Dumbledore had possessed the wand before him.
Dumbledore blinked. "Don't you know the wonderful story behind your wand?"
Harry was amused by the way Dumbledore was acting. "I know the story behind the wand better than anyone else in the world except for its creator of course."
"Did Ollivander tell you…?"
"Ollivander knows nothing, neither do you nor did your friend Grindelwald and the other before him," said Harry.
Dumbledore almost fell off his broom, before realizing he was about 30 feet above the ground. He stared at Harry wide eyed behind his half moon spectacles.
Harry himself was surprised to see Dumbledore react the way he did, he didn't realize he had called Grindelwald Dumbledore's friend. He was even more surprised when he saw the way Dumbledore's eyes widened in shock and fear?
"Err…. Professor? Is something wrong?"
"How did you….. What….. How?" stammered Dumbledore.
"What are you talking about sir?" asked Harry, completely confused now.
Dumbledore looked at Harry at bit fearfully before closing his eyes and talking a deep breath and mumbling something incoherent under his breath. Suddenly his eyes shot open and he looked completely normal again. "I'm sorry Harry, just bad memories."
Harry just nodded, not believing the headmaster one bit.
"Ah where we Harry? Yes, you were just about to tell me the story behind that wonderful wand of yours," he said his eyes twinkling.
Harry was amazed by the sudden change in Dumbledore's behavior. One moment he was serious then he looked like he almost suffered a nervous breakdown and now he was acting all cheerful. What kind of a person changed personalities that fast!
"You were saying, Harry?"
"Huh, Oh yeah, I wasn't going to explain the story behind my wand. I merely said that your version of the story was a bit off."
"A bit off….? Would you… care to explain?"
"Sorry sir, but I can't."
Dumbledore frowned and then looked at Harry, his twinkling eyes screaming TRUST ME, "You can trust me Harry," he said gently.
Harry smirked, "Sorry headmaster, but you haven't done anything to earn my trust."
"I'm sorry to hear that Harry, but I hope you will change your mind in the near future," he said sadly, trying to guilt Harry into telling him, but there was no way any self respecting Slytherin would fall for such a trick.
"Maybe," Harry said shrugging, "But it doesn't matter right? After all you're just my headmaster, not my guardian."
Dumbledore opened his mouth to correct Harry, but Harry beat him to it.
"Technically you are, but practically you're not. You said it yourself, your job was to find me a place to live-and I must say, you did that job quite admirably," he said, the sarcasm evident in his voice.
"I am truly sorry about that Harry."
"I have honestly lost count of the number of times you must have said sorry, sir. You seem to be sorry about quite a number of things, don't you?"
Dumbledore realized he was treading on dangerous grounds again. He had to change subjects before Harry would loose whatever little trust Harry had in him.
"Ah before I forget, I have something to return to you Harry," he said and waved his wand.
Harry watched in interest wondering what did Dumbledore have that belonged to him and his interest vanished and anger took its place when he saw the familiar brown covered book flying towards the headmaster.
"Here you are, Harry," he said handing the book to Harry.
Harry accepted the book without saying a word.
"Harry I must warn you, the dark arts may look attractive but they truly destroy a persons soul. I hope you haven't used any of those spells you have in that book, because once you do, there's nothing to stop you from using the more harmful ones," he said seriously.
Harry looked at the headmaster coldly, "Are you accusing me of using the dark arts headmaster?"
"No Harry, I am merely warning you. Even the best of wizards once lured by the dark side are lost to the darkness in a blink on an eye. And I do not want that to happen to you."
"Why? Speaking from personal experience?"
Dumbledore was once again thrown by Harry response. "I… no, I never used the dark arts but I saw a good friend lose himself in the darkness. I tried to make him see light but failed. Now he is wreck, a mere shadow of his former self, powerless and helpless doomed to spend the rest of his life in prison," he said bitterly.
"But enough about my past," he said firmly, Harry knew this was an order, not a request. "Now have you ever used any if these curses?"
"I know the affects of the dark arts better than you professor, why it shouldn't be used and why does it lure people to the dark side. You don't need to lecture me," said Harry.
"Then I am glad, although I am curious why are you listing such curses if you don't plan on using them?"
"Protection and knowledge," said Harry simply.
Dumbledore simply nodded, Harry wondered why he didn't question him about protection against what. "I believe we should head back now Harry, it is way past curfew and we wouldn't your friends to be worried in these dangerous times," he said gravely.
Harry turned back to walk back to the castle and was shocked to see his feet weren't on the ground. Dumbledore chuckled at his disorientation.
"I forgot I was on a broom too… and I must say, this is the first time I have ever had a conversation with a student on a broomstick," he said, his eyes twinkling happily.
Harry smiled, and they headed to back to the ground. Dumbledore banished the broom back to the broom shed and Harry slung his over his shoulder and they walked back to the castle together until they reached the Slytherin common room. Before Harry could utter the password Dumbledore stopped him.
"Harry, I must have said it a thousand times but I am truly sorry and I hope you can forgive me in time," he said regretfully.
"Hmmm… maybe," Harry said vaguely.
"Have a good night Harry," said Dumbledore and walked away.
.
.
.
"Wait professor!"
Dumbledore stopped and looked back.
"Erm… Weasley saw our not so little confrontation in your office and I'm sure he would have spread rumors about it. I was hoping you could do something to…. You know, rectify the situation," he said uncertainly.
"I do my best Harry," he said simply.
"Thank you sir," he said and walked back to his common room.
Dumbledore saw the entrance slid back. Sighing he walked back to his office. He had a lot of explaining to do tomorrow, though on the bright side he had managed to form a bond with Harry. Initially, he had planned on talking to him, make the boy trust him, introducing him to Fawkes and slowly build a relationship with him and guide him on the right path, the one he had hoped Harry would follow. But instead the boy had shown incredible knowledge, was clearly extremely intelligent and perceptive and was incredibly powerful for his age. He shuddered at the thought of what could have happened if Minerva hadn't interrupted them when she did, he would have had to use a powerful restraining spell on boy which would undoubtedly have other consequences, none for the good.
Dumbledore rubbed his forehead tiredly. He looked up and was surprised to find himself back in his office.
"Potter boy giving you trouble, Albus?" said the portrait of Phineas Nigellus slyly.
"You have no idea," muttered Dumbledore.
"I told you, the kids today have no respect for the elderly at all, they need to be strung upside down and beaten to submission until they learn to respect."
"Then I would be no better than Lord Voldemort," Dumbledore said softly.
"Maybe if you stopped hiding so many things from the boy, he would learn to trust you, Dumbledore. You'd best stop trying to mould his future to your liking else he will become like the one you lost 50 years ago. If the boy found out what you did last year you can forget any hopes you had of him trusting you. He's not going to grow up to be the perfect hero you wanted. You saw the power he has inside him and you don't want it directed towards you," said the portrait of Armando Dippet.
Dumbledore sighed, "Maybe you're right Armando, I only hope I haven't done to much damage… yet," he said and decided to think what to do with Harry later, after all he needed to make up a story else within a week there would be rumors of Harry nearing killing him and becoming a dark lord in training. He couldn't have the people think bad about Harry, they needed to view him as a good person not a….. He smacked himself on the head. He was doing it again, trying to dictate the boy's life. Maybe he needed to take a vacation, the stress of handling the students fights, Malfoy senior pushing for the headmaster removal as headmaster at every chance he got, Fudge badgering him for advice every second of the day, the chamber of secrets being opened again…. students being attacked, he was sure it wouldn't be long before he would be sacked, no doubt by Lucius Malfoy himself.
"I really need a vacation," he said aloud, walking to his sleeping chamber.