Albus sat in the headmasters office, frowning as he contemplated the situation.
Harry Potter's name had come out of the Goblet of Fire.
It should've been impossible by all means, he was sure that Harry had not entered his name himself. The defenses he had set up around the Goblet were nigh-impenetrable. It would require a great deal of Magical Prowess and Knowledge too get past the enchantments.
Albus sighed, rubbing his temples. Once again, since Harry Potter had joined Hogwarts, the looming dread of Lord Voldemort hung over his head.
He felt great amounts of pity and sorrow for Harry. He was just a boy that had been thrust into the Magical World and every year had to fight for his life. Despite that fact, he was turning out to be a great man.
From his Observations, Harry was a nice boy, kind to others, always willing to help, and fiercely protective of his friends. Albus was quite proud of the boy, despite all the hardships, Harry had not once been bitter about anything.
However, the latest rumors going around Hogwarts troubled him. Rumors about Harry being ostracized by his House, even his best friends had turned on him. Albus frowned in disappointment, he had expected jealousy and perhaps even anger from the youngest Weasley male, however he had hoped that Ms. Granger would balance them out and have Mr. Weasley see reason.
Harry needed them now more then ever.
He looked up as he heard Fawkes trill. A gentle warmth coated him as he heard it, the weight on his shoulder lessening just a bit. He smiled at the Phoenix, gently stroking his feather, earning him another trill.
"What should i do, My Friend?" He asked the Phoenix. Fawkes let out another trill. Albus nodded wearily.
"Indeed...He needs help now more then ever." He responded. Fawkes trilled again.
"I will try my best to help him of course..." He nodded. Fawkes looked at him suspiciously and trilled again.
"Like i have in the past? What do you mean?"
Fawkes let out an indignant trill.
Dumbledore slightly bowed his head in shame. "The trials of the Stone were needed to draw the Dark Lord out..." He said weakly, looking much like a child that ha been scolded in front of his Parents.
Fawkes trilled again, slightly glaring at him.
Albus slumped slightly. He needed help, he needed advice. Alas was the curse of being Albus Dumbledore. Everyone in Magical Britain, and beyond even that, hailed him as their savior. They looked up to him as the Light Lord. They had put him on a pedestal even he could not hope to realistically reach. He was Human too after all, he made mistakes, he was not always right about things. There were few people that he could go to advice, most of whom had long passed.
Fawkes trilled again, this time with a more gentle tone.
"Consult someone..." He let out a breath. Who could he consult?
Fawkes trilled again.
"Him..?" He questioned the Phoenix. The advice of a Phoenix was not something one should disregard, however he was skeptical of Fawkes suggestion. It had been a long time since he had visited him. Not since Harry had joined school.
"Are you sure?" He asked again. Fawkes just nodded at him. Albus sighed before standing up.
"Then let us go, My Friend." He said, holding his arm out. Fawkes latched onto his arm and flamed him out of his office.
NURMENGARD
For thirty-six years he had been housed within his own prison, and for most of that time, Gellert had wished that Albus had killed him. If there was anything he couldn't stand, it was living a tedious existence.
Still, things had improved since his initial imprisonment.
He was allowed books and even some small birds to keep him company.
Of course, he wasn't allowed a wand, but that was for the best.
Gellert still craved power and keeping his means of obtaining it away from him meant that the world was safe from his more visceral inclinations.
"Did I miss another sleep?" he asked as he heard footsteps approaching his cell.
"No, It is late however.." Albus replied as he reached the cell.
"Hello Albus.." Gellert greeted with a smile at his old friend, "It has been quite a while since you visited me."
Albus gave a guilty nod, letting out a sign. "I apologize, the past few years have been quite hectic." He said, looking all 151 years of age.
"What bothers you?" Gellert asked his friend gently. There was few times he had seen Albus so stressed.
"Harry's name has just been chosen from the Goblet of Fire." He whispered.
"The Potter Boy?" Gellert said with surprise, even Nurmengard had received the new of the Dark Lord's fall at the hand of the Potter Baby. "He is not of age yet, the Goblet shouldn't been able to choose him"
Albus nodded. "I have a strong suspicion that there might have been some tampering with it.."
Gellert looked thoughtful. "Tampering with such a strong artifact would require great Magical Prowess, and even greater knowledge of enchantments."
"Indeed...There are only a handful of Witches and Wizards who could trick the Goblet."
"I see...you fear that this may be some sort of trap for the boy." Gellert stated.
Albus nodded. "I do admit, there is a sense of foreboding hanging over my head."
Gellet nodded in sympathy, he knew the gentle and kind nature of his friend. He did like to see people suffering, even if they were the most evil person on the planet.
"What do you plan to do?" He questioned him
"What can i do?" His shoulder's slumped, "I cannot show any favoritism towards him, as the Headmaster of Hogwarts."
Gellert shook his head. "You must look beyond the scope of your duties, Albus." He chastised, "The boy needs your help, he has been thrust into the tournament against his wills, against contestants much older then him. And if your sense of foreboding is correct, there might be more to it."
Gellert's words and seemed to have an effect on Albus, showing how much he valued the man's advice.
"Tell me more about the boy.." Gellert asked. Albus seemed pleasantly surprised but nodded.
"He is the carbon copy of his Father, but with his Mother's eyes," He began wistfully. "He is quite skilled in DADA, but he has a penchant for Charms as well. He is not as good in theory as he is in practical, thought i do believe his friends may have influence on that. First year, he confronted the Dark Lord, who was possessing a teacher at the time-"
"Excuse me." Albus was cut off by Gellert, disbelief coloring his voice.
"I find it quite hard to believe that the Riddle Boy was in the castle, and you didn't know."
Albus looked abashed. "I wasn't sure of it, i only confirmed it later on in the term and i was not willing to risk a duel in the castle near the children."
Gellert didn't look impressed but nodded. Albus continued his explanation of the events that took place in First Year, Second Year and Third Year. Gellert's expression had just become more and more horrified, a quite odd look on the former Dark Lord. He cleared his throat and regained his bearing.
"It seems you might have gone senile a long time ago, Old Friend." He stated dryly. Albus chuckled in good faith, his eyes twinkling slightly.
"However," Gellert's expression turned grim. "It is quite concerning what you have told me. You have been treating the boy unfairly, Albus." Gellert raised his head when Albus opened his mouth to refute it.
"Albus, that boy has perhaps the biggest target on his back in the Wizarding World. You have not done anything to prepare him, quite the opposite in fact. You have continuously placed the boy in danger, under the guise of testing him. He is a boy because, that's what you have treated him as. You have not brought him up as someone who will face the Dark Lord, but as a mere schoolboy. From what you have told me, asides from being slightly above average in DADA and Charms, he is mediocre in almost all his subjects. I have doubt he has Magical Prowess in spades, considering the boy's lineage, but he needs more then just large stores of Magic to help him. He needs knowledge. He needs to be trained, you owe him that at least." Gellert finished.
Albus's shoulder's slumped, looking down in shame.
"I wanted him to have a normal upbringing.." He said weakly.
Gellert shook his head, "The boy never had a chance of a normal upbringing, Albus. The Dark Lord will come for him, and when he does, he needs to be prepared."
Albus sighed, nodding his head.
"Train him, Albus. He will need your help with the tournament, make sure he has the resources need to survive." Gellert advised him. "From what you have told me, that boy holds the same potential his Grandfather did."
Albus looked up in surprise. "Charlus?"
Gellert nodded. "Though we were enemies, i cannot deny that, besides from you, Charlus Potter was the only person that i would be wary of on the battlefield." He said with a faraway look, "He was powerful. I remember the devastation his spells caused my army.." He raised a hand to his chest, wincing as he rubbed his hand under his collarbone. "I can sometimes still feel the pain of the Cutting Curse he hit me with." He let out a breath, looking at Albus. "I have no doubt that he has the potential of surpassing even him."
Albus felt a shiver go down his spine. Stronger then Charlus Potter...that was not a statement to be taken lightly. Even in his prime, he would be hesitant to cross wands with him. "Then Tom is in for a terrifying surprise.." He whispered, almost feeling bad for the Dark Lord.
The two continued to talk for a bit, until Albus informed Gellert of his discovery of Horcruxes. Gellert was horrified that the man had actually committed such a vile act upon himself, splitting his own soul.
"There is more.." Albus started wearily, "Harry's scar, i believe it might be a Horcrux." Gellert seemed surprised for a bit, pinching his nose in thought before shaking his head.
"That would not be possible. Despite how powerful the Dark Lord may be, his tarnished and broken would not be able to survive being housed in the body of someone with a complete soul, much less do something as posses him." He placated the man's worried. "The Horcrux has probably already started merging with Harry's soul, being absorbed into it."
"What would happen then?" Albus asked, worry shining in his eyes,
"Nothing bad to Harry, if anything, it might be helpful to him." He said, deep in thought. "Harry might gain some of Voldemort's memories.. Don't worry, i doubt most of them will be clear enough for him to remember properly." He added as he saw Albus grow more concerned. "Harry's instinct's when it comes to combat and dueling might improve drastically as his body subconsciously absorbs the Riddle Boy's experience. Finally, i suspect that Harry's aptitude for Magic and his overall capacity for it skyrocket. He will be a powerful wizard indeed,"
Albus nodded, trusting his friend's words. Gellert had delved into soul arts perhaps more then anyone else Albus had come across, and he trusted his judgment. However, something plagued his mind.
"Why're you helping him?" He asked suspiciously. "He is the Grandson of perhaps your greatest enemy."
Gellert let out an amused chuckle. "There is no use dwelling on the past. I may have detested his Grandfather, but he is not his Grandfather. He is but a boy who has been thrusted into a position that he has not asked to be in." Gellert sighed, "I have spent several decades in here. I have had time to reflect on my actions, and i find myself loathing all the decisions i made. I was foolish and headstrong. I repent everyday for all the lives lost because of me. If i can help it, i would like to do some good for once." He finished.
Albus gave his friend a sad smile, leaning his hand through the bars and giving the man a squeeze on his shoulder. "I wish it could of been different." He whispered.
Gellert nodded, putting his hand onto of Albus's and giving it a light squeeze. "As do it...However, there is no use dwelling on the past. We must keep moving forward." He let go of Albus's hand, as he pulled it back out from the cell.
They talked some more, doing some general catching up before it was time for Albus to leave. He gave Gellert one last smile before he existed the castle, flashing back to Hogwarts.
Sleep would not come easy for Gellert that night, he pondered all that he had been told today. His grey eyes shining in his dark cell. Harry Potter, he would do everything he could help to keep him alive. Not only for Albus, but for himself...Perhaps this could be a way for atoning for some of his sins..
How do you like this concept of this fic?
I've always liked Gellert's character, and i love fics that have him in it. So i thought i'd try my hand at it.
Please review and tell me how you like it.