Prisoner of Azkaban
Chapter Four
Dumbledore's Plan
The Burrow
Meeting of the Order of the Phoenix
The Order had gathered at the Burrow at Dumbledore's request, which was unusual when the children were all home from school. He said that he knew they were all concerned with Black's escape and that he had a solution to several problem he wished to talk to them about, so they had all arrived.
Dumbledore waited until the kitchen was sealed from the children before he began, "Sirius Black is a concern, of course, we must prepare for him to attempt to breach the school. It is believed he is intending to come for Harry Potter. There is also the matter of Harry's schooling. Mr. Elric has informed us of his intention to withdraw Harry from Hogwarts."
"Ron said that when he came home." Molly agreed with a nod. "He said that Yuery's dad was sending him back to the school he was attending before he came here last year."
"Ah, you are already somewhat aware of the situation then. That will make this conversation simpler." Dumbledore said with a smile. "I propose that we transfer a couple of students to this Xerxes Academy for the year. Not only for their safety but also to ensure the education Harry is receiving is appropriate. You would be able to correctly gauge this Molly, Arthur. That is if you would be willing to consider sending Ron to Xerxes."
"Can we have a bit to think about it?" Molly frowned. "It was my understanding the barrier prevented his attendance but also I would worry with him being so far from home."
"The barrier prevents anyone with ill intent from entering is my understanding of the spell that was cast." Moody grumbled, "Lupin and Snape described it awhile ago when I spoke with them. They wouldn't give any particulars on it though."
"Other European students have been accepted into Xerxes Academy." McGonagall added. "Not often, but very few know about Xerxes. Aside from the Order and some members of the Ministry it is entirely possible the only ones who know about have relatives there."
"I believe for the most part that is correct." Dumbledore nodded. "Molly, I assure you, should you agree, we will ensure that Ron can be reached as easily as he can be from Hogwarts."
"If Black is after Harry, it may be safer for Ron to attend Xerxes. The Gryffindor second years would be his primary target. Please tell me you are increasing security around the school." Arthur said as he patted his wife's shoulder.
"Nothing has to be decided tonight. We have a few weeks before term begins." McGonagall assured them. "Severus Snape will not be returning to Hogwarts next year. Lucius Malfoy is set to be released next week, so it is unlikely that Draco Malfoy will be returning next year either."
"Neville will be going to Xerxes. We already applied and were accepted." Added Mrs. Longbottom. "I do not want him anywhere near You Know Who's followers."
"Well, I certainly hope not to lose too many students, however, we do need to assure the safety and education of Xerxes." Dumbledore nodded.
The meeting broke up shortly after that, with everyone agreeing they needed to be on high alert because of Black's escape. Molly and Arthur agreed to give Dumbledore an answer in the next few days, and he was hopeful they would agree. He had been aware that their son had become good friends with Harry over the last year.
Minerva seemed annoyed as they made their way back up to the castle, and Albus decided to confront her on it since she had been very cold since the incident with the Stone a few weeks ago. "Are you all right Minerva? You have seemed upset lately."
"No, Albus. I am not. Severus told me some very unsettling information before he left." Minerva sighed. "I wish I could say that I believed him to be mistaken, however given the evidence I myself have witnessed…"
"What is it he said to you?" Albus asked with concern.
"Do you intend to allow the child to die? Has that been your intent all of this time?" Minerva asked bluntly.
"I do not wish any child to die. I have no control over fate, nor do you Minerva." Albus sighed suddenly feeling incredibly old. "It was never my intention to allow harm to befall anyone, however there are bigger forces involved than we can control."
"I see." She stopped walking altogether. "Have you been drinking again?"
"No. Not since the year began, you know that. I never drink on the grounds." Albus frowned.
"How are you handling Elric's revelation?" she asked quietly. "I know who you mourn, most of the staff does even if you will not speak of it."
"I wanted to deny it, to call him a liar." Albus sighed. "I do not understand how I missed it before. Once he told me, it fell into place. His hatred for me, his appearance at the beginning all of this…he does look like Nicolas now that I take the time to compare them."
"You believe he what, has taken the child and hidden him away all of this time as an act of revenge against you?" Minerva asked with a frown.
"It does make sense. I should have put it together sooner. Of course, he disliked me, I was the one his father cared for, when he betrayed his wife for me it must have upset his son a great deal." Albus sadly smiled. "It truly was unfortunate that he met her first, and that she was so unstable that he felt no choice but to remain with her to ensure she did not go astray."
"Are you certain you are alright?" Minerva asked.
"I will be." Albus assured. "It is not often I miscalculate something, but now that I have all of the information, I feel I will be able to find the answers."
Minerva nodded as they reached the castle. She parted ways with the headmaster in the upper hallway and headed to her room. She had been considering the situation for weeks, for months now. She had spent time speaking to Edward Elric while he was here, but possibly more importantly, she had spoken to those that followed. Ling Yao, Chen Li, and Alex Armstrong all shared stories of both Edward's bravery and his love for his children.
Chen Li in particular, who admitted that her own relationship with Edward Elric was not overly friendly, had nothing truly negative to say about the man. The description of the man was vastly different than Dumbledore's theory that he was being motivated by petty revenge against the headmaster. Though she didn't doubt Elric hated Dumbledore, she sensed that from their first encounter, she had also never sensed he was anything but loving and protective of the child.
There was also the matter of Dumbledore's depression, which had grown steadily worse the closer to the return of the child. Though his drinking habit had improved his mood had not. She had a great deal to think about, but one thing she had decided already was that it was for the best for all parties involved that Elric had decided his son would not be returning to Hogwarts.
The Burrow
The twins waited until everyone had left, and their parents had began cleaning the kitchen before they returned upstairs. Fred had volunteered to listen in to the meeting and George had agreed. Ron and Ginny were happy to let them since they were the best at sneaking around. Percy had pretended not to hear any of it so that he could plead innocent went they got caught, at least according to him, but he was waiting along with the younger two when the twins arrived in Ron's room.
"Did you find out anything?" Ginny asked as soon as the door closed.
"Yeah, Professor Dumbledore wants to have Ron transfer to Xerxes next year." Fred said.
"Dad seems to be alright with the idea, but Mom needs convincing." George added.
"Why would they want to do that?" Ginny frowned.
"Yuery isn't returning next year. He probably wants me there to make sure Yuery's alright." Ron shrugged.
"Pretty much. They are also worried about the safety of the Gryffindor boys in your year since Black escaped to come after Yuery." Fred added, before noticing the horrified expression on their sister's face.
"No worries, Ginny, even if Ron returns to Hogwarts nothing will happen to him." Percy assured her with a hug.
"Yeah, it's not like a dark wizard can get into the castle two years in a row." George added with an eyeroll. "Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if when Mom agrees she decides to send Ginny off to Xerxes as well."
"Would Mom do that? Wait do you even want to go there Ron?" Ginny asked.
"Well… from what Draco and Yuery told me it sounds like an interesting school. Did you know it doesn't just teach magic?" Ron said as he stared up at the ceiling. "There are muggle students and magic students both at the same time. Everyone in school knows about magic."
"How is that possible?" Percy wondered. "Oh, maybe they have classes for Squibs?"
"No, or rather, maybe, but no they are for muggle students. Amestris knows about magic, like the whole country. It isn't secret." Ron said.
"Yes, I remember hearing about that because the entire continent is covered under the statue of secrecy, they have both muggles and wizards living out in the open together." Percy said with a nod. "Though how they managed it I don't know it wasn't covered in the lesson and it was only spoken of once during the History of Magic when that one guest, Princess Chen taught a lesson. Apparently, she's one of the professors at Xerxes."
They had some interesting people visit us over the last year." Fred nodded.
"I think they were probably around to keep an eye on Yuery as much as considering an exchange program." George shrugged.
"Will they be back this year?" Ginny wondered. She had been upset the year before to be the only one of them left at home. She had been interested in their guests too as soon as Ron had written her about them.
"I don't think so Ginny, they were only to be here for the one year as far as I understood it." Ron said as Ginny pouted. "Plus, since Yuery isn't coming back I don't think they will."
"Considering Yuery's father is in charge over there, I don't think they would be back after the way he stormed out of the castle with Yuery at the end of the year." George said.
"Not that you can blame him given Yuery being injured and all." Fred added.
"We don't know for sure; he may have overreacted. After all Ron was injured too and our parents didn't drag him home early." Percy frowned.
"I don't think his Dad was entirely happy about him attending in the first place, judging on the few conversations I heard and the way Yuery talked." Ron frowned. "He agreed to let Yuery give it a chance, but he also doesn't trust European Wizards or at least English ones."
"I think it was he didn't trust Dumbledore." Fred said as George nodded.
"Yeah, from what we overheard he and Dumbledore do not like each other at all." George added.
"At any rate, I wonder if they'll let me attend Xerxes even if Mom and Dad agree. I mean their borders are supposed to be really hard to cross." Ron wondered as he looked at the clock by his bed. "You should all go before mom and Dad notice you aren't in your rooms.