THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
Chapter 6: I'm not so sure what answers I'm seeking.
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to their respective owners.
-TRNT-
December 25th 2001
St. Mungo's Hospital
The reception area looked pleasantly festive: the crystal orbs that illuminated St. Mungo's had been coloured red and gold to become gigantic, glowing Christmas baubles; holly hung around every doorway; and shining white Christmas trees covered in magical snow and icicles glittered in every corner, each one topped with a gleaming gold star. Harry found himself looking around, taking in the sights as they moved around the corridor.
It had been a series of surprising events and revelations that had led to Harry and his two hosts coming here today. Before boarding the Hogwarts Express, he had speculated and imagined what it would be like to have Christmas with the Longbottoms and while most of what he found had lived to his expectations this particular revelation had been a little out of his imagination.
He had speculated that Alice and Frank may be in hiding, and that was why they hadn't answered his letters, he had even thought that they may be in a coma somewhere and their caretakers had simply read the letters and not replied. What he hadn't expected was them being in hospital only without being in their right minds. Augusta had not hesitated to tell him of their heroics and the tragic fate that had befallen them.
For the first time in his life, Harry felt something other than apathy for another person. Neville had it worse than him, his parents were still alive but out of reach. They couldn't raise him, or show him the love any parent should show their child. They didn't even recognize him, it was like they were complete strangers, and he had to live with that fact. His parents were alive but they didn't know him, it was like they were not there at all.
Unlike Harry who knew his were dead and had accepted the fact, Neville knew his weren't and yet by all intents they were lost to him. The only thing he had that was better than Harry was that there was a chance of getting then back, but that hope seemed to have been snuffed out of the boy a long time ago. He was actually embarrassed of his parents, ashamed even, and had been against Harry escorting them for this visit, almost violently so.
Augusta had actually been proud at the passion he had shown, but she had already made her decision, Harry was to go with them at St. Mungo's. Ever since he joined them on the 23rd, Harry as per his norm had kept himself from getting involved in the two Longbottom's lives and instead observed them and how they treated each other. Neville was clearly afraid of his grandmother, and yet she didn't do anything to change the fact, as a matter of fact she seemed to revel in it.
Constantly barking at him and reminding him of how much he didn't compare to his father. Harry could see that whatever confidence the other boy had developed while at Hogwarts was slowly being snuffed out by his grandmother. And with in two days, the boy had gone back to his clumsy and forgetful self. More than once, Harry thought of doing something but he didn't know what and ultimately, that wasn't why he had come here.
The main reason he was here was lying in St. Mungo's permanent ward and that was where they were today, this Christmas afternoon. Apparently it was a ritual of sorts for the two remaining Longbottoms where they visited Neville's parents and spent the afternoon with them. Augusta greeted the healers with familiarity from her visits for ten years now and Neville, his head down simply nodded at them. They weren't offended, clearly used to that as well. Harry of course wasn't noticed thanks to his magic.
As they ascended to the floor they were supposed to go to, a matron looking healer ran into them. She greeted Augusta and Neville brightly before she offered to escort them up. She led them up to the fourth floor and then the Healer pointed her wand at the door of the Janus Thickey Ward and muttered, 'Alohomora.' The door swung open and she led the way inside. Harry dropped his magic as they went through the door and that was when the healer noticed him.
"Oh, I see you brought company." The healer commented as she ran her eyes over him.
"Don't you recognize him?" Augusta said with a smile. "This is Harry Potter!"
The woman gasped, her eyes immediately going to Harry's forehead. "Isn't he supposed to be the same age as Neville."
"I am. I just seem to be growing much faster than my peers." Harry replied softly as he offered his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
"No, the pleasure is all mine, Mr. Potter. This is probably the best Christmas gift I could ever hope to get." The woman replied as she shook Harry's hand with both of hers. "And I'm sorry about your parents. They were good people."
"You knew my parents?"
"I did, treated James and his friends more times than I can remember." The healer replied with a smile. "Lily though was as cautious as she was dangerous. She was intrested in healing but sadly didn't have the talent for it."
"Jennifer here was the Order's healer and probably why the resistance stood for as long as it did." Augusta explained as they went further into the ward. "Otherwise, Frank and his lot would have gotten themselves killed off sooner."
"Yes, I was that good." The healer_ Jennifer laughed. "You can't imagine how much injuries they would come back with. True Gryffindors those three, I'm telling you."
"Three?" Harry asked.
"Yes. James, Sirius and Frank." She said. "The wouldn't know subtlety if it slapped them in the head. Though they were quite dangerous, probably the strongest in the Order after Dumbledore and Moody."
Augusta was smiling proudly, Neville too had a smile of his own though it dropped swiftly as they came towards the end of the ward. The curtains had been drawn back from the two beds but Harry knew that that was where they headed.
"For such good people, it's so sad what happened that night." The healer said as they reached their destination. "I'm glad that the people responsible are rotting in Azkaban."
Harry stayed back as the two Longbottoms went behind the curtains. There was a bench on the side and he sat down. A moment later, the healer sat down next to him.
"It breaks my heat seeing that boy's face as they leave." The woman, probably as old as Madam Pomfrey said sadly. "You can see that whatever hope he had disappears every time he sees them. I just wish Augusta would stop bringing him along, it seems like torture to me."
Harry didn't know why she was telling him this. "From what little I have seen of her, I doubt anyone could change her mind."
"Probably not." She laughed lightly. "Though she would listen to Dumbledore, and unlikely as it may seem, I believe she would listen to you as well."
"You think so?"
"I do." The healer nodded seriously. "She looks at you with the same eyes she does Dumbledore. And that is no small gesture from a woman like Augusta Longbottom."
Harry hummed quietly in thought. He had noticed that she treated him differently from how she did Neville but he had assumed that it was because he wasn't her grandson and he didn't look like a failure in her eyes as Neville did compared to his father. She was more willing to listen when he talked and didn't bark at him or talk back condescendingly at him. Turns out it was more than just courtesy.
"How well did you know my father and Black's relationship?" He asked suddenly, catching the witch by surprise.
"Quite well, I'd say. Atleast I thought I did and then Halloween happened." She finished with a frown. "Those two used to be thick as thieves, even closer than they were with Remus and Peter, but I guess he was just too good that he managed to fool even his closest friends."
"And so from what you know, it would have been impossible for Black to betray my father?"
"My own father used to tell me that war changes a man." She shook her head. "All it takes is a single moment, and you won't be the same again. The Sirius I used to know would never have betrayed James, but that man who was thrown in Azkaban...I can't say for sure."
The healer excused herself and left Harry to his thoughts. There was alot that had happened on that Halloween, and it seemed as if the only way he was going to get answers about his parents was by understanding all that had happened. Everything he had learned showed that Black was as close to James as a brother and then he had suddenly changed and decided to betray his friend. Had he been a traitor the entire time? Had he simply decided to change sides? And if so, what could have prompted him to do so. All these were questions he needed answered, and only one person could answer them, Sirius Black himself.
And then there was Peter Pettigrew. That one also had his own questions that he needed to answer.
"Harry dear." Augusta's voice pulled him from his musings. "Would you please come and say hello to Neville's parents?"
Harry nodded and got up. He followed the old witch behind the curtains and got his first look at Neville's mother. Her face was thin and worn, her eyes seemed overlarge and her hair, which had turned white, was wispy and dead-looking. She did not seem to want to speak, or perhaps she was not able to, but she made timid motions towards Neville, holding something in her outstretched hand.
"Again?" said Augusta, sounding slightly weary. "Very well, Alice dear, very well- Neville, take it, whatever it is."
But Neville had already stretched out his hand, into which his mother dropped an empty Drooble's Best Blowing Gum wrapper.
"Very nice, dear." said Neville's grandmother in a falsely cheery voice, patting his mother on the shoulder before turning to Harry. "Alice dear, there's someone here to see you."
Alice froze, and Harry could see that the vacant expression in her eyes had disappeared. She slowly turned away from Neville and her brown eyes, not unlike Neville's landed on Harry. There was certainly recognition in them as she silently walked over to him. "Harry? Is it really you?"
"Yes. It is me, Lily's son." Harry replied softly, the others were looking at them in silence as she ran her skinny hands over his face and then she laughed, startling everyone.
"I know it's you, James. Silly." She turned away. "Frank, James is here!" She called and walked over to the sleeping man, his back was turned to them. "Frank, won't you wake up dear?"
Her voice broke as she called for her husband. When she got no reply, she went to her own bed, climbed in and went to sleep. She did not spare either of them another glance.
"I guess that will be it for today." The healer had come back. "I must say, I have never seen her that lucid before. Perhaps you coming here was more of a blessing than I had initially thought. Wouldn't you agree, Augusta?"
"Yes, thank you very much, Harry." The old witch said, wiping the tears that had been leaking from her eyes. "Maybe they're still in there somewhere after all."
"After what I've just witnessed, I can say for certain that they are." The healer said. "And once I've told the others of what happened here, I'm sure they'll agree as well."
"What does that mean?" Neville spoke for the first time.
"It means that your parents don't belong in this ward, and we shall renew our efforts to make sure that they are returned to their normal selves."
"And it is all thanks to your friend, Neville." Augusta said with a wide smile directed at the boy. Neville smiled too, his eyes glistening with unshed tears as he mouthed a 'thank you'.
January 5th 2002
Hogwarts Express
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"
Harry jerked awake and almost fell from the seat he had been lying on. He turned around and glared at the person who had woken him and got a squeak of fear. The small girl scrambled away from him and hid behind her friend.
"What did you do that for?" He growled and the girl who had been peeking over Daphne's shoulder squeaked again and hid.
"Wasn't me!" She mumbled, not daring to look up again.
"You're scaring her, Harry." Daphne said.
"She should have thought of that before shouting in my ear." Harry grumbled as he sat up. "How did you find me, anyway?"
He knew his magic had been up, and sleeping didn't make it collapse. No one should have been able to find him. He had left the compartment he was sharing with Neville when Draco and his stooges came in. He didn't stick around to find out what transpired but after the holidays they just had, he was sure it hadn't gone like Malfoy had expected. Whatever confidence Neville had lost at the start of the holidays had bounced back after their visit to St. Mungo's and then some.
"Tracey found this apartment and I opened it." She replied. "Did you receive our gifts?"
"I did." He had been surprised when he woke up to find gifts for him on Christmas morning. All his life he had never received any and hadn't expected that to change, instead he had gotten one from each of the people he usually talked to. Books from Neville, Hermione, Daphne and Blasie, while he got a box of chocolate frogs from Tracey and an album filled with pictures of his parents compiled by Hagrid and McGonagall.
Surprised at the gesture, he hadn't known what to do and had asked Neville for advice. The boy had asked him for money and together with his grandmother, they had shopped gifts for all those who had sent him. Neville knew each of them well enough that Harry trusted him to pick the appropriate ones and so hadn't bothered to check on them.
"Yes, and I appreciate them." He replied. "I hope you recieved mine as well."
"Yes though they came a little late." She said as she gave him a pointed look. "It almost felt like you were feeling guilty that you hadn't bought for us and scrambled to collect them."
When she didn't continue Harry frowned at her. "Am I supposed to be defending myself?"
Tracey snorted and Daphne shook her head.
"Anyway, I looked into what you asked." Daphne said. "Mary McDonald left England after the fall of the Dark Lord. Father suspects she's living in America in the muggle world. Any Owls sent to her are diverted to Gringotts to her financial manager."
Well, that complicates things. Apart from Alice, Mary was closest to Lily and if anyone could give insight into Lily's life, it would be these two, well Snape could as well but after their last one on one, he doubted the swallow man would be forthcoming. With Alice indisposed as she was, Mary was the only other option and yet finding her would be near impossible in the muggle world. Not without her name atleast as he doubted she still called herself Mary McDonald.
"As for Lupin, he is in Englad but very hard to pin down as he is always on the move, never staying in one place for more than a month and some times even less." Daphne continued with a shrug.
"Thank you, Daphne." Harry said. "I really appreciate it."
"I didn't do it for your appreciation, Potter." She shook her head. "You're going to owe me big time for this."
Harry frowned, this was exactly why he preferred to do things himself or in a way that the other person wasn't aware they were helping him. He hated being in another's debt, it gave them power of him and that was a position he had promised himself never to be in since he got his independence from the Dursleys.
"If you hadn't just tried to kill me, I would fell sorry for you." Tracey spoke up for the first time and got a glare in reply. She squeaked and ran out of the compartment. Daphne shook her head and followed her out. Gesturing his hand towards the door, the lock clicked and Harry went back to sleep.
Harry followed the rest of the Gryffindors up to their tower after the welcome feast. And while the others went to the common room to catch up on what had happened during the holidays, Harry climbed up to the dorms. He saw Neville and Hermione hugging each other while the girl chattered nonstop and just shook his head. Hermione had stayed at Hogwarts despite Neville inviting her to come along with them, and it seemed she had quite a bit to talk about.
Entering their shared dormitory, Harry was about to climb his bed when he saw a package on it. It was very light, and when he unwrapped it, something fluid and silvery gray went slithering to the floor where it lay in gleaming folds. Harry frowned as he picked it up and examined it. "An invisibility cloak?"
He had read about them just in passing and he knew they were very rare and expensive. He only recognized it from its appearance and wondered who could possibly be sending him such an expensive gift, a magical one at that. He walked over to their dressing mirror and threw the cloak over his shoulders and sure enough his lower body disappeared completely. Not even a shimmer or any blurring could be seen, it was like he no longer existed and now he could see what was behind him in the mirror with his head floating in midair.
He put the hood over his head and it too disappeared. There was no reflection of him, even as he moved around, there wasn't even a hint of his presence. He walked back to his bed and found a note on the floor which had probably fell with the cloak when he opened the package. Harry pulled off the cloak and read the letter. Written in narrow, loopy writing he had never seen before were the following words:
Your father left this in my possession before he died.
It is time it was returned to you.
Use it well.
A Very Merry Christmas to you.
There was no signature. Harry had at first assumed it was from McGonagall but he knew her handwriting as well as all the teachers he had interacted with so far. Could it be from one of his parents' friends? Maybe the letters he sent on Halloween had bore fruit after all. From what he had learned of his father's friends, only Remus Lupin was in a position to write back. Maybe McGonagall would recognize his handwriting, she had taught him as well.
Harry got into bed and tried to sleep but it refused to come. For the first time, he had a possession of his parents. This was no photo, it was something that had belonged to his father. He had put on this cloak numerous times, most likely as he did mischief around the castle with his friends. Harry could imagine a young James Potter, walking around the halls of Hogwarts, scaring first years and simply getting in trouble. Unbidden, a small smile appeared on his lips and he got out of bed. He had been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't even heard the others come in.
Everyone was on their bed and when he went to the common room, it was empty. But that suited him just fine. With the cloak over his shoulders and the hood on his head, Harry left Gryffindor tower behind. Like a phantom, he wondered the halls of Hogwarts, he could almost feel his father's spirit walking besides him as he explored the castle and its empty hallways. More than once, he ran into Filch and his cat but he did not fear, not even Mrs. Norris could find him, it was like his scent had been masked by the cloak as well.
It could have been hours, or minutes, Harry wasn't sure how long he walked, he felt the companionship of the cloak, like it was a part of him he had never realized was missing until they were finally reunited. Checking his watch, Harry cursed under his breath. It was getting extremely late and yet he had lessons the next day. It seemed like his adventure was coming to an end, atleast for tonight. He tried to place where he was but he didn't see anything familiar.
He was probably in some abandoned part of the castle. A door stood ajar to his left, It looked like an unused classroom and maybe if he saw the grounds through the window, he would make sense of where he was. Entering the room, Harry saw dark shapes of desks and chairs were piled against the walls, and there was an upturned wastepaper basket - but propped against the wall facing him was something that didn't look as if it belonged there, something that looked as if someone had just put it there to keep it out of the way.
It was a magnificent mirror, as high as the ceiling, with an ornate gold frame, standing on two clawed feet. There was an inscription carved around the top: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. He stepped in front of it but he couldn't see his reflection, and he remembered the cloak. Pulling it off, Harry looked back in the mirror and his mouth opened in shock.
He looked behind him but nothing had changed and yet when he looked back his eyes met the same thing. He leaned closer to the mirror and ran his hand on its surface. "This...what am I looking at?"
"It is called the 'Mirror of Erised'." Harry had whirled around the moment the person started talking, his wand snapping into his hand in less than a second. Only to freeze when he came face to face with Dumbledore. "Amazing reflexes you've got there, Mr. Potter. Have you considered a career in dueling?"
"Not really, no." Harry replied, stowing his wand back in its holster. Dumbledore didn't seen to be surprised to see him. "Am I in trouble?"
"It would be hypocritical of me to punish you for being out late when I'm doing the same thing." The man said in amusement. "Though I would ask that you don't make it a daily occurrence, my colleagues may see it differently."
"I see." Harry said before he turned to the mirror. "What does it do?"
"Let me put it this way. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is. Does that help?" Dumbledore looked at Harry expectantly.
He frowned as he considered his words. "It shows us what we desire."
"Exactly, ten points to Gryffindor." Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling in the moonlight. " "It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible."
"I can see how that would happen." Harry mused. "Seeing what you want most and yet it's out of reach, one would rather stay here and get it if only as a glimpse of what could be."
"Your mother was an astute young lady, I'm glad to see that you're a lot like her." Dumbledore commented with a smile. "What is it you see in the mirror, Mr. Potter. If you don't mind me asking?"
"An avenue through which I'm to get the answers I seek." Harry replied.
"And what answers do you seek, Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore asked. "Perhaps I could be of assistance."
Harry was quiet for a few seconds.
"To tell the truth, I'm not so sure what answers I'm seeking." He looked back at the mirror. "I thought I did, but after seeing this... I can't say for certain anymore."
"I have learned over the years that sometimes the answers we seek are already with us, we just need to know where to look." The old man told him and Harry nodded.
"Perhaps you're right." He mused before he put on the invisibility cloak and disappeared from sight. "Goodnight, headmaster."
"Goodnight to you, Mr. Potter." The man replied. "Oh and Harry, the Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, and I ask you not to go looking for it."
"I assure you, professor..." Harry's disembodied voice came from just outside the room. "I got all I needed from the mirror, I have no further need for it."
Dumbledore didn't hear any receding footsteps but he knew the boy had left. Harry Potter was turning out to be more of an enigma than he had anticipated. He tried to keep track of the boy but that was a challenge on its own. The boy seemed to just fade out of existence, more often than he cared to admit, he had found himself wondering if he was even in the castle but then he would catch a glimpse of him with Neville or just walking in the hallways by himself.
After the Malfoy incident, Albus had decided to keep a closer eye on the boy but he hadn't been as successful as he had hoped. All he knew was that the boy was a loner, he kept to himself for the most part but managed to stay friendly with everyone in his house. He didn't voluntarily participate in class but if called upon, he showed that he was quite gifted magically. Albus suspected that there was alot going on with Harry than the boy was letting on. For one, he seemed older than he was supposed to be, not only mentally but physically as well.
It was quite hard to miss given that the boy towered over all his classmates and avast majority of the second years. Maybe it was some kind of magical creature manifestation? As far as he knew, neither James nor Lily had any creature relations in their lineages but that wasn't saying much given how old the Potter family was. It was possible that the bloodline had simply faded out with time and diluting of blood, and if any lost bloodlines were to reappear, who better than a child of prophecy.
And speaking of prophecy, Voldemort was stirring, Albus knew he had an agent in Hogwarts, most likely Quirrell but he had nothing concrete about his Defense professor. The only good thing was that Voldemort was still weak and too afraid of him to come after the Stone himself. For now, the Stone was safe, anything short of the Dark Lord himself, the other professors responsible of guarding it could handle. Even if the dark Lord were to come, he was still weak and Albus wouldn't have to get involved directly.
"Mr. Potter, please stay behind." McGonagall called as the students got up to leave for lunch. It was the day after they had come back and most of them were still sluggish from not only the holidays but the journey back as well.
"You wanted to see me, Professor?" Harry asked once the rest had all left.
"Are you alright, Harry?" She asked. "I know about your condition but you have always managed to stay awake during class. Today however, you practically slept through the entire class."
"I'm fine, Professor, I just had a late night is all." Harry told her. "And that mixed with with the journey, I just feel a little more tired than usual."
"And what were you doing at night to stay up late?"
"I was talking to the headmaster." McGonagall clearly didn't believe him if her raised eyebrows were any indication. "I ran into him while I was taking a walk."
"I see. But have you tried to get any medical help about your condition?" She asked. "It could be something serious."
"You needn't worry yourself, Professor it's not a big deal." Harry waved her off. It felt strange having someone concerned about his wellbeing. "Besides, it haven't affected my performance in any way."
"And that us the only reason I haven't dragged you to the hospital wing myself." She sighed. "But you need to have it checked, if only to make sure that nothing is wrong alright?"
Harry sighed, it really was strange. And he could see that her concern was genuine. "I'll go and see her."
"Good." She nodded in satisfaction. "The other reason I wanted to talk to you is about our next private meeting."
"You said you would show me what you remember of my parents."
"Correct. Have you heard about a Pensieve?" Harry nodded. He had read about it after his incident with Snape and he wanted to find out about ways magicals could see other people's memories. Two had interested him the most, one was through a spell which he assumed Snape had used on him, and the other was through a Pensieve.
"A stone basin where someone could view another's memories."
"Yes, they're quite rare but fortunately for us, Albus has agreed to let us borrow his whenever we want." She told him. "I was thinking about meeting in those last days before the end of term."
"Won't you be busy then, with assessing exams and all that?"
"Not as much as you might think." She shook her head. "Besides, one I put the memory in the Pensieve, I don't have to be there with you for you to see it."
"Alright then, I guess we shall meet then."
McGonagall nodded. "Yes, and remember that my door is always open if you ever want to talk about something very important."
Harry nodded and left the class. He was still mystified by McGonagall's concern, was it out of pity for his being an orphan? Maybe she had owed one his parents and she was hoping to fulfill that debt through him. Either way, he didn't mind, enjoyed it even, it was liberating in its own kind of way and Harry wouldn't mind experiencing it a little more.
Neville and Hermione were waiting for him outside the classroom.
"Everything okay, Harry?" Hermione asked the moment he closer the door behind him. "What did the professor want?"
"She wanted to talk to me about something I had asked her." Harry replied. "Why were you waiting for me?"
"Well-" Neville started, looking around to make sure no one was listening. "What do you know about the Sorcerer's stone?"
"Nothing other than the fact that it was made by some bloke called Flamel."
"The stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal!" Hermione narrated from memory. "The dog must be guarding Flamel's Sorcerer's Stone! I bet he asked Dumbledore to keep it safe for him, because they're friends and he knew someone was after it, that's why he wanted the Stone moved out of Gringotts!"
Harry frowned in confusion. "It was in Gringotts? But then they brought it here, how do you even know all this?"
"Well, I talked with Hagrid alot during the holidays." She said, her ears burning at the tips. "He has a tendency of letting information slip when you know what questions to ask. It was only a matter if putting it all together and I had a lot of free time."
"I see." Harry finally said after he had given it some thought. After seeing it in Snape's head, he hadn't given it much thought but he couldn't help but pick up a few things here and there with his observations. "What I don't see is why you're telling me this now."
Neville looked around again before he leaned in. "We think someone here at the castle is trying to see it."
"Professor Snape to be exact." Hermione added.
"I wouldn't worry yourselves too much, Hogwarts is supposed to be the safest place in the magical world." Harry said. "Besides, I'm sure Dumbledore considered the fact that the thief might come for the Stone and had put up some effective defenses."
"You're probably right." The girl conceded after a moment. "I mean, this is Dumbledore we are talking about."
"Yeah, I pity anyone who goes against Albus Dumbledore." Neville laughed. "Even You-know-who feared him."
After that, the Stone was never mentioned between the three. Whatever secret research Hermione and Neville had been doing stopped and they put it out of their minds. Harry didn't forget it though, he was interested in the Stone, not for gold or immortality, he seemed to have enough gold to his name to live out a lifetime and immortality just didn't appeal to him that much. Besides, he wouldn't have the first idea on how to use it even if he wanted.
No, Harry didn't want the stone for himself, he wanted it for its bargaining power that it could offer him. If the Stone was genuine, then he could imagine quite a number of people who would want to get their hands on it. Most important of which was Albus Dumbledore, the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamont.