Chapter Seven
Harry was very surprised to feel a gentle hand wake him up a few nights after he'd had dinner with the Weasleys and his strange meeting with Mr Scrimgeour.
Lily looked down at him and handed him his glasses. She looked very tense, grasping at her fingers.
"Mum? What's wrong? It's half twelve!" Harry mumbled, looking at his clock.
"I know." Lily said softly, "I'm sorry to wake you. Dumbledore is here to see you."
"What does he want?" Harry asked, his heart pounding in his chest, "Is it about the lessons?"
Lily dug out some clothes for him and handed them over before sitting on the edge of the bed, her head turned away so he could change in some privacy.
"He needs you to help him." Lily said softly, "He needs Mr Horace Slughorn to come back as a teacher and he thinks you'll be able to help."
"How will I be able to help?" Harry asked, finishing getting dressed and sitting down next to her to pull his shoes on.
Lily laughed, "Horace… he likes to… collect students. He has a little group of favourites that he thinks will be extra helpful in the future. I was one, and Severus."
"I don't understand." Harry said, shaking his head, "Helpful how?" his mind was still filled with sleep and thoughts of his nice warm bed.
Lily wasn't sure how to explain in, "Things like those who will have good jobs, maybe be influential in the end. He's not always right of course, but he's pretty good at guessing correctly I must say."
"And Dumbledore thinks… he's going to want to collect me?" Harry guessed, "And that will make him want to come back to school?"
Lily nodded, "Yes. You don't have to go."
"Is he dangerous?" Harry asked, "Slughorn?"
"No. Not at all, he's… very old fashioned in a lot of ways and plays favourites more than he should but he's a long way from dangerous." Lily assured him.
"Why is it so important that he comes back to Hogwarts this year?" Harry asked, following his mother from the room.
"Dumbledore didn't say, just that it was vital to your education." Lily told him.
"But didn't Slughorn teach Potions?" Harry asked, frowning in confusion.
Lily nodded.
"But I'm not taking Potions… or at least very unlikely to be. And isn't Dad going back to school this year?" Harry mumbled, trudging down the stairs.
"Ah, Harry!" Dumbledore smiled up at him, "So sorry to have woken you so late this evening."
Harry shrugged, "Mum said you needed my help?"
Dumbledore gave a quick nod, "That I do. I was hoping you would come on a little jaunt with me to talk to an old Hogwarts Professor and with any luck, encourage him to come back to teach this year."
Harry nodded, "I… why me?"
"Because Harry, Professor Slughorn has some information which I am most eager is passed down to you." Dumbledore smiled.
"I don't see how I will be able to help." Harry shrugged.
Dumbledore smiled, "We'll just have to see how it goes. I also wanted to ask you, with your mother here, if you would be willing to do a few extra lessons with me this year? I sent you a note about it?"
Harry wasn't sure what to say, he looked questioningly at Lily.
"What sort of lessons would they be?" Lily asked.
Dumbledore waved his left hand dismissively, Harry noticed he was holding his right one tightly behind he back, "A little of everything, to prepare him for what is to come."
"Well… I-" Lily began.
"He will be quite safe, Lily, I promise you that." Dumbledore smiled, "I doubt we will even leave my office."
Lily look to Harry and took a deep breath, "It's up to Harry."
Harry nodded, slowly. He still hadn't forgiven Dumbledore but his curiosity was spiked and he wanted to know what Dumbledore was going to teach him.
"Ok." Harry said, "I… that should be fine."
"Excellent!" Dumbledore beamed. He checked his pocket watch, "Now, I think we'd best be going. I will have Harry back soon, Lily."
"I'll wait up." Lily assured him, giving Harry a quick kiss and a tight hug, "Stay safe."
Harry still wasn't completely sure what was going on when he held Dumbledore's arm and they left Grimmauld Place with a pop.
Harry looked around; they'd landed in a small town square, complete with an old war memorial and damp wooden benches.
"Professor, what's happened to your hand?" Harry asked, seeing the blacked limb for the first time fully, even in the pale light from flickering lamp posts.
Dumbledore smiled, "Nothing important Harry, just an old man's mistake."
"Is it painful?" Harry pressed, feeling that Dumbledore wasn't telling him everything again.
Dumbledore shrugged slightly, "It could always be worse. Now come along Harry, this way."
Dumbledore set off at a brisk pace, Harry struggling slightly to keep up with his long strides. They walked down a tight ally, houses locked up tight on either side of them. There was a damp chill here, as there seemed to be everywhere at the moment, and Harry gripped his wand a little tighter in his pocket.
"Where are we sir?" Harry asked after a few moments.
"We are in the rather charming village of Budkeigh Babberton." Dumbledore said calmly, "I wonder Harry, did you receive the leaflet from the Ministry?"
"The one on protecting yourself? Yeah, I got it." Harry sniffed.
"I presume from your tone that you didn't find it to be of much use?" Dumbledore smiled.
Harry shook his head, "Not really. I figure that any Death Eater with an ounce of sense would have simply tortured whoever it was into giving the information."
Dumbledore let out a little laugh, "Right you are Harry."
"I do think it's helped calm people though. Mrs Weasley uses it so I assume the others do as well, makes them feel a little safer at least." Harry shrugged, remembering what his mother said about feeling safe and being safe being two very different things.
Dumbledore nodded, "Very astute observation Harry, needless to say I think that was likely part of the idea in providing such pamphlets."
They kept walking until the houses thinned out, leaving just a few cottages with their own gardens, detached from any other houses.
Dumbledore marched boldly up to a gate straight in front of them and paused for a moment. The gate was swinging loosely on one of it's hinges, the other broken cleanly.
"Oh dear…" Dumbledore muttered, giving a worried look around, "Wand out Harry, and stay close to me."
Harry did as he was told, following barely half a step behind Dumbledore. The door lay on it's side, half of the paint burned off. Inside the house was a scene of complete destruction. Every bit of furniture was badly ripped, feathers scattered across the once nice sitting room.
An old grandfather clock was laying on its side, it's face smashed in. Blood splattered the walls, still dripping slowly down to pools on the floor. Harry carefully stepped around several scattered piano keys from where it had been smashed.
"Something awful happened here…" Dumbledore muttered.
"There… there must have been a fight. They dragged him off maybe?" Harry suggested, feeling sick at the thoughts swimming in his head of what might of happened.
Dumbledore shook his head, "I don't think so…"
"You think he's still here?" Harry asked in shock, "After all this?"
Dumbledore nodded. He moved carefully around the room before pouncing on a large over turned pink armchair. He jabbed his wand into it and the armchair yelped in pain.
Harry gaped as the armchair quickly turned into a large, older man with little to no hair on his head but a rather large moustache.
"Good evening Horace." Dumbledore smiled, stepping back.
The man stood up and rubbed a spot on his side, "You didn't have to jab me quite so hard with your wand, Dumbledore! It hurt!"
Harry moved a few steps closer, the light from his wand illuminating the strange man. He was wearing a pair of purple silk pyjama bottoms, topped with an expensive looking maroon velvet jacket with highly polished buttons.
Harry almost wanted to laugh at his large, grey walrus moustache moving slightly whenever he breathed.
"Well? What gave me away?" Slughorn asked, looking around the messy room.
"My dear Horace, if Death Eaters had been here, the place would be covered with the Dark Mark." Dumbledore pointed out.
Slughorn smacked himself on the head, "Ah but of course! How could I be so stupid as to forget that? Ah well, I wouldn't of had time anyway, I only just finished when you walked in."
Dumbledore nodded, "Would you like some assistance getting everything tided away?"
"Please." Slughorn smiled.
They stood back to back and waved their wand in a similar pattern while the room righted itself before a final click had the piano back in place.
"Wonderful." Slughorn said with a nod, looking around, "Thank you for the hand."
"What was it you used on the walls?" Dumbledore asked, taking a seat.
"Dragons' blood." Slughorn beamed, "My last bottle! And the prices are sky high right now as well. Still, it's a little dusty but might be reusable." he said, looking over a crystal bottle on the sideboard.
He turned to face Dumbledore again and took a sharp breath, seeing Harry at last.
"Horace this is Harry Potter." Dumbledore said with a twinkling smile, "Harry this is Horace Slughorn, an old colleague, and friend, of mine."
Harry gave the strange looking wizard a small wave. The effect Harry's name had on Slughorn was immediate; he beamed at Harry, looking firmly at Harry's scar and walked over to shake his hand.
Harry reached up to try and flatten his hair over his forehead before remembering he was meant to be encouraging Slughorn and forced himself to brush his fringe to the side.
He shook Slughorn's hand and forced a smile, "It's very nice to meet you Pro… Sir."
Slughorn looked touched before turning to Dumbledore and coughing, "I've told you I'm not coming back Dumbledore! You think that this," he said gesturing to Harry, "will persuade me?"
Dumbledore smiled politely, "But we can still stay for a drink? For old times sake?"
Slughorn glared at Dumbledore for a moment before letting out a sigh, "Fine, one drink."
Dumbledore settled himself on the sofa and gave Harry a telling look towards Slughorn's back.
"Can… can I help you with the drinks Mr Slughorn?" Harry asked, walking slowly over to where Slughorn was opening an ornate glass decanter with several matching glasses.
"No need my boy!" Slughorn beamed at him, his eyes drifting back to Harry's scar once more, "All sorted. Here Dumbledore, your one drink."
Harry took the glass of strong smelling whisky he was offered and sat down opposite Slughorn in a comfy armchair that looked very similar to the one Slughorn had been pretending to be. He wasn't a fan of whisky but thought it would be rude to refuse so sipped it slowly.
He didn't know what to say, he knew that for some reason getting Slughorn to come back to school was very important but he couldn't for the life of him see why that would be.
Dumbledore took a sip of his drink and smiled, "So, Horace, how have things been?"
"Not very well." Slughorn sighed, "Weak chest. Wheezy. Rheumatism too. Can't move like I used to. I suppose that's to be expected, old age and all that."
Dumbledore smiled kindly at him, "Yet you must have moved remarkably quickly to prepare such a… welcome for us, you can't of had more than three minutes notice."
Slughorn looked proud of himself for a moment before remembering his was annoyed at Dumbledore and frowning, "Two, I didn't hear the first alarm go off. I was in the bath you see."
"You… you did very well, it was really convincing." Harry smiled, "Had me really worried."
Slughorn gave Harry a smile and a sharp nod, "Well thank you boy. The fact remains, Dumbledore, that I am an old man! A tired old man who has earned the right to a quiet life and a few creature comforts."
Harry wanted to snap at him, surely after everything Harry had been though he had 'earned the right to a quiet life' as well and yet he was sure the worst was still to come.
"You are not yet as old as me Horace." Dumbledore pointed out.
Slughorn sniffed and pointed to Dumbledore's injured hand, "Maybe you should think about retiring as well Albus! Not as quick as you once were."
Dumbledore nodded, "You are quite correct, I am slower than I once was. However, old age does come with it's rewards." Dumbledore smiled again, spreading his hands on his lap and showing off a large ring. It was messily made, probably very old with a large black stone that was cracked down the middle.
Slughorn looked at the ring for a moment, a small frown forming before he looked quickly away.
"So," Dumbledore said, changing the subject, "all of these precautions against intruders, Horace, are they for the Death Eaters' benefit or mine?"
Slughorn looked outraged, "What would the Death Eaters want with a broken old man like me?!" he demanded.
"I imagine they want to turn your considerable talents to murder and torture and such like." Dumbledore said calmly, "Are you really telling me they haven't come recruiting yet?"
Slughorn glared at Dumbledore for a moment, "I haven't given them the chance." he muttered, "I move around at least every week. I move from muggle place to muggle place. I'll be sad to leave this one; the owners are away in the Canary Islands and it's nice."
"How do you not get caught?" Harry asked, feeling rather uncomfortable sitting in someone else's house.
"It's fairly easy once you know how." Slughorn smiled to him, "Freezing spells on the burglar alarms and then simple unlocking spells. Just have to make sure the neighbours don't see you bringing in the piano!"
"That's very clever." Harry said, still feeling rather odd about it all,
"Harry is correct but it seems a very exhausting existence for someone who wants the quiet life." Dumbledore pointed out, taking another sip of his drink.
"Save it Dumbledore!" Slughorn said, "It would hardly be more peaceful at Hogwarts for me! Dolores Umbridge made sure I couldn't come back last year, her and her ridiculous back ground checks! It completely put me off coming back."
"No one liked Umbridge." Harry snorted a laugh, "But she's gone now. Locked up in Azkaban last I heard."
"It doesn't change my view on the situation." Slughorn said firmly.
"Would you like me to take your glass up Mr Slughorn?" Harry asked with a smile.
Slughorn smiled back at him, "Thank you Harry! Most helpful."
Harry nodded and walked over to the sideboard to put his glass away when he spotted a collection of pictures. It was several groups of students, all with Slughorn in the middle beaming out of the frames.
"This is Mum… and Dad!" Harry said, picking up a picture and showing Dumbledore, "Why have you got a picture of Mum and Dad?"
"I don't think I have a picture of James up there…" Slughorn said a little confused, walking over to Harry.
"No, not James, Severus." Harry explained.
"Ah yes." Slughorn smiled, "You have your mother's eyes you know."
Harry nodded, so everyone always told him.
"You shouldn't have favourites of course, but she was mine." Slughorn said fondly, "I never knew a more talented witch. I went into my office once, and she'd left me a fish bowl with a single lily petal floating on the water. I sat down and watched that lily petal turn into a fish before my eyes… I still have it, going strong. It's in my bedroom. In a bigger tank now of course."
Harry smiled, "That sounds like her." his mother always had been a fan of beautiful magic.
"You're in my house, are you not? Slytherin?" Slughorn asked.
Harry nodded, "Yeah. Mum and James were both in Gryffindor though."
"It doesn't always go in families." Slughorn nodded, "Sirius was of course in Gryffindor when every other Black had been in Slytherin. I got his brother, Regulus, when he came along a few years later but I'd have like to have the set."
Harry felt this was a strange way to phrase it, as though they were nothing but expensive and rare models and he'd been out bid at some point.
"I saw in the papers that Sirius was badly hurt a month or two back, how is he?" Slughorn asked.
Harry felt his mouth grow dry and felt as though a hand was crushing his heart, "No change."
Slughorn nodded sadly, "Such a shame. Although he never had much of a knack for Potions I must say."
Harry shot him a quick angry look that thankfully Slughorn didn't see.
"And he's a pureblood, where as your mother was a muggle born of course. I was so shocked when I found out, I thought she must have been a pureblood she was so talented!" Slughorn said, continuing to be lost in his memories.
"One of my best friends is a muggleborn, she's best in our year." Harry said, trying not to snap.
"Funny how it works out sometimes." Slughorn smiled.
"Not really." Harry sniffed.
"Oh no! You mustn't think I'm prejudiced. No no no, many of my favourites have been muggleborn." Slughorn assured him, "Your mother of course, and then you see here, Dirk Cresswell in the year after Lily, now head of the Goblin Liaison Office…"
Harry listened, nodding and looking impressed at the list of muggleborn students Slughorn had favoured and the benefits they gave him, in truth Harry thought it was all rather slimy but didn't show any sign of his feelings.
"And all these people know how to find you?" Harry said in confusion, "Even while you're on the run from the Death Eaters?"
The smile slid from Slughorn's face, "No Harry, of course not. I've been out of touch with everyone for a year or so now. But I can't come to Hogwarts Harry! Agreeing to teach again would be the same as publicly declaring my self for the Order of the Phoenix!"
Harry shrugged, "I don't think so. I mean, lots of teachers have nothing to do with the Order and Voldemort would never look for a fight while Dumbledore is at the school."
Slughorn gave a shudder at Voldemort's name being said, "Yes well, it's true that he's never looked for a fight with Albus… and I suppose that You-Know-Who wouldn't call me a friend considering I've been avoiding him…"
Harry didn't say anything, letting Slughorn think everything over.
"And I can't deny that what happened to Amelia Bones; her death, it did shake me greatly." Slughorn said worriedly.
"I've finished my drink." Dumbledore said, suddenly, "I think it's time to go Harry. We have trespassed on Slughorn's hospitality long enough."
"You're leaving?" Slughorn asked, looking around.
Dumbledore nodded, "Yes. I know a lost cause when I see one. I am most sorry we have bothered you."
Slughorn rubbed his chin, "Well I…"
"You are welcome to visit any time." Dumbledore continued, "Hogwarts has a lot of increased security this year but we will of course always let you in. You would have been a great addition to the staff. Good night!"
"Good bye." Harry said following Dumbledore to the door.
Dumbledore had just reached the handle when Slughorn let out a loud sigh.
"Fine! All right! I'll do it!" Slughorn sighed again.
Dumbledore smiled, "Wonderful! I will see you on the first of September then."
"Yes… you will…" Slughorn muttered, shutting the door behind them.