Stave 5
-oOo-
December 25, 1994
Hogwarts, Scotland
As the day broke on the grounds of Hogwarts castle, snow fell in thick clumps. The world was turning into a white wonderland that would soon call to the children to come play and enjoy themselves. In the meantime, happy, laughing voices filled many dorms and common rooms as the students, most of them from fourth year and up, woke to the joys of Christmas morning.
Even those that celebrated the old pagan holidays were pleased to find presents and happy greetings as the mundane Muggle hols permeated the castle.
It was to this general feeling of happiness that an old white whispered and hair man slowly stirred. His cheeks were wet. His body ached with age. The sun streaming in from the few windows was almost blinding.
As he sat up, he didn't miss that the crystal goblet was empty, but the decanter was still mostly full. Taking that in, he frantically looked around and reached for his wand. A sharp sting got his fingertips as he grabbed the wand. He hissed in pain and let it go. The wand fell out of his sleeve and settled onto the carpet below his chair. He looked with wide eyes at the wand. In almost fifty years, it had never rejected him.
The clock over the mantle started to chime. He whipped his head to it. Eight AM. It was now eight AM. The hours of nightmares he had endured were over. He slumped back into his chair, contemplating the nightmares. The more he thought about it, and the way the Elder Wand had rejected him, the more he was starting to think last night may not have been as much dream as he was fearing.
He knew the history of the Elder Wand. In the last fifty years, three students had passed through these halls that could have claimed it. One was dead. The other a wraith. The last a boy he had never wanted to have power.
'You are not a god,' echoed in his head.
Cautiously he reached down for the Elder Wand. The magic of the wand didn't sting him this time, but he knew the power of it would never respond to his call again.
What was he going to do?
-oOo-
A little while later…
Hogwarts, Scotland
"Dobby," a small fourteen-year-old boy called out.
A small house elf popped into existence a moment later. It was hopping from foot to foot. "The Great Harry Potter call for Dobby? How can Dobby help the Great Harry Potter?"
Harry put a hand to his lips and looked around the abandoned classroom he was in. "Shhhhh," he tried to calm the elf. As though getting the seriousness of the situation, the small elf calmed. "Dobby, can you help me?"
Dobby nodded his head emphatically. "Dobby can do."
Harry smiled. It was a smile that lit up his face in a way few ever saw. He took a small package out of his jumper. "Can you find Sirius Black? He's in a cave outside of Hogsmeade," he told the elf.
"Dobby can find the bad Black, but why?" Dobby asked dubiously.
Harry smiled again. "He isn't bad, Dobby. He's my godfather. Can you bring this too him?"
Dobby looked at the small bundle. Confusedly he asked, "Why is Harry Potter sendings small thing of food?"
"I don't know if he has anything to eat and I know what it's like to be hungry," he explained.
Albus had decided to follow Harry out of the Great Hall after he had seen the boy wrap two bacon sandwiches in a cloth. As he had thought about it, he had seen Harry do something similar often in the past. It was not a normal behaviour. He frowned at the boy's comment.
"Dobby can be doing, but Dobby could bring food from kitchens, if the Great Harry wants," Dobby said.
The smile was radiant on the boy. "Please do, Dobby. Bring him all you can. Tell him Happy Christmas for me."
Dobby nodded his head before disappearing, leaving the cloth of sandwiches in the boy's hand. The boys stomach grumbled. Harry looked longingly at the cloth wrapped sandwiches, then put them back under his jumper. It was like he was saving them for some reason. The fact the boy didn't eat while obviously hungry was troubling.
He watched the boy walk away.
Curious what he would do, he followed him.
"Hey, Scarhead. I heard you had a great night last night," Draco Malfoy said from behind Harry. Disillusioned, he watched the exchange. The happy expression on Harry's face turned sour.
"Go away, Malfoy," Harry said angrily.
The young Malfoy smiled maliciously as the two boys that always followed him stayed close to the blond. "What? Disappointed your mudblood went with Krum and that your date dropped you?"
Harry balled his fists. "Shut it, Malfoy."
Draco's smile grew as he obviously knew he was getting under Harry's skin. "I heard Patil kissed that bloke, what's his name, Crabbe? Corner, was it?"
Harry rolled his eyes and turned to walk away.
"Don't walk away from me, Potter!"
"You aren't worth my time, ferret," Harry retorted.
Draco's face contorted in rage. Albus frowned. This was not the normal interaction he had expected. "Then who is? Your mudblood? Perhaps Granger would like to spend time in a broom closet with me instead of that foreign slag she was with last night…"
Harry had turned and his wand was out almost as fast as any duelling master Albus had seen. "Densaugeo! Petrificus Totalus! Petrificus Totalus!"
Harry had cast the teeth growing spell and the two petrifying spells before any of the three Slytherin boys could react. The teeth growing spell hit Draco. The other two boys snapped their hands and feet together before falling over. Draco cried out in pain before grabbing at his mouth. Albus watched in wide eyed fear as Harry stormed over and grabbed the wand out of Draco's hand as he finally managed to get it out his robes. Harry threw it down the hallway. "You leave Hermione alone. I swear, you do anything else to hurt her and I'll do worse than just pay you back for what you did to her earlier this year."
The anger on Harry's face was troubling. He had just gone from a great act of altruism to a troubling act of terror. Draco tried to say something, but his front teeth were already to the bottom of his chin. Harry gave a dark laugh. "What's the matter, Draco? Can't go complain to daddy? Go tell Snape. I don't think he'll see any difference."
Draco was in tears as he ran off towards the hospital wing. Harry looked down at the two other boys. "If you touch Hermione, just remember what I did to the dragon."
Yes, Harry's fight against the dragon, for it could have been nothing else, had been impressive. He had not known ice or muggle explosives could be so devastating to such a large beast.
As Harry turned to walk away, he kicked Draco's wand under a suit of armour. Albus was so surprised, he didn't know what to say. Had his inactions really started to turn him dark?
-oOo-
December 29, 1994
Hogwarts, Scotland
Albus had silently watched the school the last few days. What he saw was troubling. There were bullies, fights and disagreements. He had watched Minerva chastise Harry and others when they got into another fight. The Slytherins had started it but had gotten off while three Gryffindors had been given detention and point losses. He could see the resentment in the students.
Another time Snape had waited around a corner and when Draco had tried to curse Granger, he came out and gave her detention.
A group of Ravenclaw girls shut out a third year from the common room after making her shoes and cloak disappear.
The more he looked, the more he was troubled with what was going on.
The most troubling was his old friend, Alastor. He had invited the man up for a nightcap to ask him about what he had seen in the castle. That man missed nothing and had been reported by Minerva for retaliating against a few students that were bothering others. One incident that was particularly troublesome was Draco Malfoy being turned into a ferret, which seemed out of character. He would never harm an innocent child. Was the man just getting old or was there something else?
"What is this about, Albus," the old grizzled Auror asked as he sat in the chair across from him.
"I wanted to have a chat. We haven't had an opportunity to just sit and talk in a few months," Albus had said.
Alastor grunted. "Well, I'm busy," the man said, his leg tapping. His eye was swirling around slower than normal and kept stopping, as though stuck.
"We all are, but we should all take time to reconnect when we can," Albus replied.
In typical Alastor fashion, the man said, "What is this about, Albus. You know I don't like to beat around the bush."
Albus smiled and poured a bit of a blue alcohol for each of them. "I wanted to know how you find teaching and if you have made any progress into investigating who put Harry's name into the cup."
Alastor looked at the blue liquid dubiously. "What is that?"
Albus felt confused for a moment. "It's elven mulberry bourbon. The same I got you for Christmas and you always say you keep in your flask."
Alastor's leg was starting to move faster. That was an odd new tick. It was like the man was nervous. "Oh, right. I use something different now."
"Really?" he asked interested. For more than twenty years that was the only alcohol he knew Alastor to drink because it resisted any type of enchanting and would change colour if any contaminates were added, like a potion or poison. He didn't know any other alcohol that did that. "What do you drink now?"
"Is that really that important? You want to know how I like teaching? I can't stand the snot nose brats. Most of them can't tell a wand handle from the tip and those that are even partially confident are worse than anything I've ever seen. What have you been doing with them the last few years?" the man asked.
Albus really felt wrong footed now. Alastor was a very competent teacher that had always talked about how to train and bring people up to the right level when in private, not insult them. The gears in his head were starting to whirl. "I'm sure they are not all that bad. And what of the Goblet of Fire?"
"Bah, that thing is useless. Anything that was done it can't be tracked. I'm starting to think Potter put his own name in," Alastor said. The man's leg was bouncing enough to shake his body.
"Are you alright, Alastor? Is your leg bothering you?"
Alastor shot up. "It's fine. I need to go grade or something," his old friend groused.
Albus felt something was wrong. "You told me you already had all your grading done for the fall term. All grades were do just before Christmas."
The twitch the man gave had Albus pulling his wand. It wasn't the Elder Wand, but his old wand was still a powerful tool. It was up and casting a shield breaker and then a stunner. Alastor had his own wand up just as fast. The shield he had cast shattered, tinkling like glass. There was a brief look of surprise before his old friend fell to the floor.
Albus frowned. That seemed too easy. Following his old friend's mantra of 'Constant Vigilance', he summoned any wands, portkeys or other enchanted items off the man. When three normal wands flew into his hand, he summoned for them again. Alastor always had a small single use wand or two on him. When none came, Albus knew something was off.
When he managed to get the hip flask, Albus opened in and sniffed. The alarms that were already going off turned into anger.
The man was laying on a conjured cot, tied with ropes, when the polyjuice wore off about twenty minutes later. He sucked in a breath. "Barty Crouch Junior," he whispered.
He now understood who had put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire and had his suspicions of why. Now he had to prove them before he called Amelia. This had to be handled the right way. He didn't trust Cornelius and he now knew he had to do better by Harry and others.
A silvery phoenix burst from the tip of his wand. "Severus. Please report to my office right away. Bring a fresh vile of veritaserum."
When it flew through his door, he conjured another one. "Minerva, please get Poppy and Pomona. I think Alastor is trapped somewhere in his office and will need medical attention immediately."
When the second Patronus disappeared, Albus leaned against his desk to look at the man. "What secrets do you have, my boy?"
-oOo-
December 30, 1994
Hogwarts, Scotland
Harry was reluctantly making his way to the headmaster's office. He was agitated at Ron for the way he was treating Hermione. He was agitated with himself for not seeing the beautiful girl she was becoming and that he let Ron influence him to not ask her to the ball. He was also just agitated with everything.
Things had been different since the first task. People weren't being mean to him like they were after Halloween, but many were still keeping a wide berth of him. The way he had subdued the Horntail in the first task had not endeared him to many. What did it matter if he used Parseltongue? They already thought him dark. To Harry, it was just a part of him. Letters and meeting Sirius in Hogsmeade had helped to realize it. At least Hermione was still treating him like normal, she was just upset at Ron, and he felt like she was taking it out on him at the moment.
At the gargoyle he said, "Whizzy Fizzy Gum."
Harry hated that stuff. It makes a strange crackling sensation in your mouth and, if someone didn't know you were eating it, it makes you look like you were madly frothing. At least it had a pleasant strawberry taste.
At the top of the stairs, he could hear a few voices from the partially open door. "Come in, Harry," Dumbledore said before he could make out what they were saying or knock.
Inside the room he found five people. Bagman, Dumbledore, Headmistress Maxime, Headmaster Karkaroff and a woman with greying red hair and a monocle over her right eye. "Harry, please come in and sit. We have something to talk about today."
Harry looked at the gathered crowd. "Am I in trouble, professor?" he asked towards Dumbledore.
"On the contrary, Harry. Before we get started, I would like you to meet Madam Amelia Bones, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I believe you know everyone else," Dumbledore said in a pleasant tone.
Harry nodded at everyone. He felt apprehensive at the group. He had never really had a pleasant experience when in a room of adults like this.
"What is this about?" enquired Harry.
Bagman shifted uncomfortably. "It would appear, Harry, that you did not enter your name into the tournament."
Harry was able to keep his eyes from rolling, but he did snort. "You are just figuring that out now?"
"Harry, please just remain calm. What Ludo is trying to say is that the person responsible for putting your name in the Goblet of Fire has been apprehended," Dumbledore said.
Harry looked at him and blinked a few times. "Who?"
"We are not releasing those details at this time," Madam Bones said.
Harry looked at each adult. Madam Maxime looked apologetic. Karkaroff looked disturbed. Ludo displeased. "If you aren't going to tell me who, why did you call me here?"
Dumbledore looked a little disappointed. "Harry, please don't be so confrontational. We have called you here to stand before the judges of the Triwizard Tournament."
Harry really felt apprehensive now. "Why? Where is Mister Crouch? He's a judge."
"Mister Crouch has been arrested. I will be standing in for him for the rest of the tournament, Mister Potter," Madam Bones said.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No, Harry. Do you still maintain that you did not enter yourself?" Dumbledore asked.
"You just said that you found who put my name in," Harry petulantly replied.
"That still does not mean you didn't ask someone," Karkaroff countered.
"I didn't enter," Harry snapped at the man.
"Do you wish to continue competing?" Madam Bones asked.
"No," said Harry.
"The boy should continue. He's in first," Bagman said.
"I maintain that it is unfair for Hogwarts to have two champions," Maxime commented.
"I don't want to be in the tournament," Harry snapped back at her.
"Then you aren't," Dumbledore said.
Harry shook his head. Confusedly he asked, "What?"
"You did not enter your name. We know who has. By tournament rules, you competed as a proxy, and a proxy can step out at any point," Madam Bones said.
"But I was told this was an unbreakable contract and I would lose my magic if I didn't compete," Harry stated, glaring at Dumbledore. The man looked a little guilty.
"I had my lawyers study the contract and the Unspeakables inspect the goblet. You are not required to compete. You can, if you want, or you can walk away right now," Madam Bones told him.
He looked at everyone that had forced him into this. "But you said I had to compete!" he said angrily.
"I was mistaken, Harry. I will announce your withdrawal and the fact that you never willingly entered your name, or ask anyone else too, in the great hall tonight. I cannot say anything about who is responsible at this time," Dumbledore said.
Harry wearily regarded Dumbledore. Then the others. It was the stern look of Madam Bones at Dumbledore that had him believing. "So, I really don't have to compete?"
"You do not, Mister Potter," Madam Bones said.
"I will keep my magic?"
"You will keep your magic."
"Do you want the egg back?"
"You can keep it," Madam Bones said.
"Amelia, you can't be serious? That cost almost two-thousand galleons," Bagman complained.
"I think the ministry can afford it. Mister Potter retrieved that egg the way he was supposed to. He was also forced into this against his will. The least the tournament organizers can do is pay some reparation," Madam Bones declared.
"Thank you," Harry said, still processing that that egg was almost two-thousand galleons. Perhaps he could sell it? Harry didn't want to keep any of it.
"Unless you have any questions, I think you can go, Harry," Dumbledore indicated.
"No, sir," Harry replied. He got up, not sure if he was truly done. When he moved towards the door without anyone stopping him, he kept going. He didn't let out the breath he was holding until he was at the bottom of the stairs. It wasn't until he was almost to Gryffindor tower that he was smiling.
Hermione was on him as soon as she saw him walk into the common room. "Harry! What happened? Why did Dumbledore want to see you? Why are you smiling?"
Harry grinned like a loon. "I'm out of the tournament. They found who put me in."
Hermione's eyes went wide. "Really? That's fantastic Harry!" Hermione jumped on him and hugged him. Harry found himself wrapping his arms around her.
When she pulled back, she was smiling before she became serious again. "Who put your name in?"
"No clue. They wouldn't tell me. I get to keep the egg though," he told her.
"So, you don't need to take Cedric's clue about taking a bath?" she asked.
"Not really," he told her.
"Oh. I thought I could come with you to the prefect's bathroom. I hear its huge," she told him.
Harry rose his brow at her. "You were going to come with me?"
She flushed a little. "I have my swimming costume."
"Oh," he said, his face flushing a little this time.
They didn't notice the picture that was watching them with the plaque of a former headmaster on it. The painting smiled at the young teenage display of courting.
-oOo-
January 5, 1995
Hogwarts, Scotland
"Miss Granger kissed Mister Potter on the cheek the other day," Headmaster Micheal Potter said.
Albus gave a small smile. Since being withdrawn from the tournament, he had noticed that Harry was smiling more and people around the castle where being nicer. "And how are his house mates treating him?"
"I saw him with those redhead twins that are always causing issues. He was laughing with them, so I assume it was something good. The other redhead, the one that he used to hang out with, has tried to approach him and Miss Granger a few times, but always turns away before he says anything."
Albus sighed. Ronald Weasley and Harry used to be good friends. He thought their relationship had gone back to being good friends after the first task, but something happened at Christmas that seemed to break that friendship again.
A knock came at his door. "Thank you, Micheal. Please continue monitoring your great-great-great grandson for me."
"I will, headmaster."
"Come in," Albus called out as the older gentleman stepped out of his portrait. "Good evening, Severus."
"Headmaster," the dower man greeted. "You asked to see me?"
"I did. I see you gave Mister Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle detentions? Any reason I should know about?" he asked.
Severus looked disgruntled. "I am only following your orders. You told us it is unacceptable to have any bullying now. I caught them bothering Potter and stopped it before wands could be drawn."
"Thank you, Severus. That is all I ask."
"Is that all you called me here for?" Severus enquired.
Albus let out a sigh. "No. I must ask, how is the mark on your arm?"
Severus frowned. "It grows faint again. Why do you ask?"
"Please, have a seat. I have many things to tell you and ask for your help. You still seek to destroy the man that marked you?" Albus queried.
"You know I do," Severus said with a severe tone.
Albus nodded. "Good. I have a request from the Unspeakables. As you know, we found that someone was impersonating Alastor."
"I do. Are you going to tell me who?"
"Barty Crouch Junior," Albus said, watching Severus for his reaction.
There was a quick flicker of surprise. "Impossible. He died."
"I'm afraid not. There is a long story but suffice it to say that his father rescued him, and he eventually broke free from the imprisonment that his father had him under. Bartemius Junior was the one working to resurrect Voldemort," Albus told him.
Severus paled. "So, this was just all a ploy to bring back the Dark Lord?"
"Bartemius Junior was going to kidnap Harry for a ritual. If it worked, then I am afraid Voldemort would have returned to power."
"And now?" Severus inquired.
Albus leaned forward to regard the man. "Do you know what a horcrux is?"
Severus hissed in anger. "You are not serious?"
"Very, I am afraid."
"Then how can we get rid of him? Do you know what it is?" Severus demanded.
"I know a few of what they are," Albus said. Severus paled. "I am working with the Unspeakables after the DMLE was able to get a confession from Bartemius Junior. We have located three, besides the one Harry destroyed in his second year."
"The diary? The one possessing the Weasley chit?"
Albus frowned. "Yes. The diary that Ginevra Weasley found."
"What can I do to help? I want Him gone, Albus," Severus said. The man really did have a Gryffindor streak in him when roused.
Albus picked up a letter and handed it to him. "The Unspeakables are looking for a potion master to brew a few potions that are very technical and difficult to brew. As well as the development of a new, very crucial potion. I have offered your services, if you want. The department is offering to pay you triple your salary while you complete the project. Horace Slughorn will take your classes for the winter term."
Severus gave him a level look for a while. "You said you would keep me away from the ministry. I won't go to Azkaban."
"This is nothing like that. I made sure that Croaker and Amelia know what you did, and you should find a contract in this letter that says you will not be arrested for past sins," Albus told him.
Tentatively Severus reached out a hand. "When would this start?"
"Tomorrow. This is very crucial to destroy Voldemort and save Lily's son," Albus said.
Severus snarled. "What does Potter have to do with this?"
"I am afraid everything. I have spent too many years following solutions that are… untenable. This is a solution that will save the son of Lily, free you and allow me to rest easily when it is complete," Albus told him.
Severus looked rather dubious. "Will you stop calling him Lily's son."
"But he is, Severus. You may not see it, but Harry is more like Lily than James. I wish you luck," Albus said.
"You act as though I am going to do this," Severus commented.
"I have all the confidence that you will. I will be cancelling your classes for tomorrow and Horace will start lessons on Monday," Albus told him.
-oOo-
February 12, 1995
It was a Sunday. Harry liked Sundays, especially since he had been taken out of the tournament. Since then, he didn't find himself so angry all the time. People weren't calling in a cheat, liar or looking at him like he was the next coming of Voldemort. His defeat of the Horntail was thought to be more a severe act of accidental magic, caused by the stress and the fact he was a fourth year trying to compete against seventh years. Harry didn't quite like that line, knowing he had intentionally learned how to conjure black gunpowder and banish a small cask of it towards the dragon's head. Only a few Muggleborn had understood what he had done and why the dragon's head had exploded when it tried to torch the barrel. He hadn't wanted to do that, but the ice and snow wasn't slowing it fast enough and he had just missed being in impaled by its tail. He also didn't know the gunpowder would kill the dragon like that. He felt though, that if he hadn't, then Harry would have died, and he was determined to get through the task and live.
What Harry had come to enjoy about Sundays since Christmas was what he was doing right now.
Hermione had calmed significantly.
She wasn't making new lists every week to figure out a way to keep him alive.
She wasn't spending every waking moment, like him, in the library, finding abandoned classrooms to practice new spells or fending off the bullies of Hogwarts.
Actually, since Christmas, Draco and others had significantly dropped their bullying. He wasn't sure why, but since Harry had gotten into that last fight at Christmas, he hadn't had to pull his wand once on the snot.
Anyways, why he loved Sundays, he thought to himself.
It was this.
He was sitting on the couch by the fireplace in the common room. He had slept in late… and after a month of getting on her case, Hermione was sleeping in late as well. At close to ten, he was watching the stairs, waiting for his best friend to come down. He wasn't disappointed either as she came down the stairs in a pink jumper, slightly tight jeans and her hair less wild than it used to be. Since the Yule Ball, when Harry's eyes had been opened to how much his best friend was turning into a woman, her hair had turned from a frizzy mess most of the time to a curly mass. He liked her both ways, but her cuteness shown more with the curls.
And his favourite part, like most days, was the funny butterflies he got to see her smile.
"You're down a little early today," she said as greeting.
Harry shrugged. "I just got up early."
"Are you ready?"
His stomach grumbled in response. Hermione laughed at him. "I have been for a bit," he replied.
He got up and they walked out of the portrait.
As much as he loved Sundays because they just took it easy, he loved Sundays the most because Hermione would spend most of the day with him without doing any work or pushing him to do any work or really harp on him at all. The fact that neither of them felt stressed about the year now, he was able to act more like their classmates, just a normal boy of fourteen that had a crush on his best friend…
"What do you want to do today?" Hermione asked. It was his week to decide.
Harry looked out the window at the raging snowstorm. "I was originally thinking of going outside, but I don't think we'd survive long."
She looked out the window and clucked her tongue. "We do have magic, you know. It wouldn't be hard to cast a few warming charms, an imperturbable charm and maybe a shield or something over our heads."
Harry grinned at her. "We could do that… or I have a puzzle."
Her brow rose. "A puzzle? I thought you hated puzzles?"
"I like puzzles," he said. "Enough," he added to her incredulous look as they walked down the stairs. To clarify he added, "I like muggle puzzles."
"And where would you get a muggle puzzle? I've never seen one at Hogwarts," she told him.
Harry grinned, the butterflies going even more. Was he feeling sweaty? "Well, I might have written to your parents and had then send me one."
"When did you start writing to my parents?" she asked surprised.
"A few weeks ago," he said cryptically.
"Why would you write to my parents?"
Harry shrugged. After a moment of her intense look, he squirmed a little. "I wanted to know what you do for fun when you aren't studying or trying to keep me alive."
"Really, Harry, it's not that big of a bother," she said affectionately.
"It is," he said. They continued their trek to the great hall in silence for a moment.
"What did my parents say?"
"You like puzzles. You liked to read, which I already knew. You like to swim." They had snuck into the prefect's bathroom a few times now to swim. Harry liked those Sundays and the swim costume she had. One of these days he would be brave enough to ask her out. Hopefully today? "You like movies and going to plays and musicals and music. Your mum says you have a good singing voice," he said, enjoying the way her cheeks flushed.
"I do not," she said.
"Maybe if you sing for me, I can let you know," he suggested .
"I'm not going to sing," she said embarrassingly.
"Pity. Your dad also said you like the clarinet and are good at it," he replied.
"I haven't played since coming to Hogwarts," she told him, sounding a little sad about it.
"They sent me your clarinet, if you want."
She stopped and her head snapped to him. "You did what?"
Harry felt nervous at the look she was giving him. "Uhm, well, I thought we could find a classroom somewhere… and, uhm… I have your clarinet."
She looked speechless for a moment before she suddenly darted forward, kissed his cheek and backed away. He was sure his face was as red as hers. "I, uhm… I… we should go eat breakfast."
She took off towards the great hall. Harry felt stunned, not having told her the best part yet…
They didn't see the old man with a long white beard that had been following them since they had left the common room as he was disillusioned and silenced. A grin broke his face to see Harry and Miss Granger carefree for once. He had a feeling that a budding relationship was starting, and it could be as great as the one his parents had shared.
-oOo-
March 23, 1995
London, England
In a potions lab deep below the streets and underground of London, there were many chalk boards full of notes, arithmantic calculations and potion formulae. Shelves held glass jars and boxes of all sizes labelled with both rare and common ingredients. Some were thought to have gone extinct, but there was more in this room than potentially anywhere else in the world.
At six benches with stone tops, cauldrons of assorted sizes and makes sat next to neatly lain out tools, ingredients and instructions written in a small, handsome script. Two figures in grey robes were walking around or working at the cauldrons.
Many years ago, Severus had dreamed of doing serious potion research, making potions that no one had before an would make him famous and rich. Those dreams had been buried the first time he had gone to a meeting and met Voldemort. Albus had ensured those dreams were truly gone and buried when he had been bound to that master as well, forcing him to teach the dregs of their world.
Now, Severus spent his days in a lab. He wasn't smiling, but he wasn't scowling either. Instead of feeling resentful and angry all the time, he dare say he felt contented.
"Senior Alchemist, I don't like the way this is looking," the other man in a grey cloak said.
Severus walked over to the man. As an Unspeakable, he had spent his first month proving he was the master potion master he had always claimed and now had a proper apprentice who already knew enough to be a potion master in his own right.
Leaning over the cauldron, Severus studied the thick concoction as it lazily bubbled. The colour was just slightly off what he expected, but any new potion could be that way. "Why do you say its off?"
"When I added the goat liver it didn't change colour like we predicted."
"Hmm," he said, studying the way the swirls on the surface turned and the hue of the bubbles. Taking his wand out, he ran a detection charm over it. Yes. Brewing did not require wands. Determining effects of unknown potions, that was a different story. After a few minutes, he took a small amount out and tested it with other potions and instruments.
"I think it's just what we need. I don't know why it didn't change colour, but the magic is what I expected," Snape told him.
"So, you think it will be ready by the new moon?"
"I think so."
Yes, Severus was content. If things worked out, he would soon be free of all his masters. He wasn't sure if he might stay on with the Unspeakables or not, but once he freed Potter of the Darkness that was in him and banished the Darkness in the baby thing in the next room, he would be free.
-oOo-
April 8, 1995
Hogwarts, Scotland
Albus was watching smiling and joking students as they made their way towards the carriages that would take them to the train station and then London for the two-week Easter hols. Almost everyone not in fifth or seventh years were going home. He smiled to see Harry holding Miss Granger's hand as they laughed with Mister Longbottom, Thomas and Finnigan. A sulking Ronald Weasley was walking behind them. He felt sorry that that friendship had seemed to end, but from what he had heard, Mister Weasley had done his best to ruin it.
"They remind me of Lily and James seventh year," Minerva said, obviously looking towards the young couple he had just been watching.
"A bit more innocent, I think, than when those two finally started to court," Albus replied.
The normally stern woman chuckled. "Yes. I will never forget the time I found them in that broom closet."
He smiled. "I remember you saying you didn't know he still wore quidditch shorts."
She shook her head. "Yes, that is an image I could do without ever remembering."
He smiled at her. "I am going to be gone most of the holiday. Will you be good?"
"I think I can handle less than a hundred students in the school," she told him. "Are you going anywhere nice, or do you have to go to the ICW?"
"I will be hunting for something. If you need me, contact the Unspeakables or Amelia Bones," he told her.
Her brow rose. "I never knew you to work so closely with the ministry as you have in the last few months."
"Yes, well, let's say I have been shown the errors of my ways. If you would, check in on Mister Potter at Miss Granger's over the break. He may need you, and if things work out, you may get a summons to a trial that I would ask you escort Mister Potter too," Albus requested. "If that happens, you will need to contact a house elf named Dobby and have him take Snuffles with you."
"A trial? Snuffles?" She sounded suspicious.
"Yes. I have been working for a few months now to clear a man that was unfairly imprisoned, and I fear I may have an influence on it. Just please do this without questioning. I promise to tell you everything when this is all done," he told her.
Her brow went up. "Alright, Albus, I'll trust you for now."
"Thank you, Minerva."
His eyes followed the carriage that had Harry and his friends. He was determined to make the boy's life better and end a threat he should have been more proactive in ending many years ago. The weight of how many lives he had ruined were weighing on him heavier each day since Christmas.
-oOo-
April 19, 1995
London, England
Albus was standing next to Croaker as the seven-point ritual circle and star was being prepared. At each point, one of the abominations would be placed. Four figures in grey cloaks were bringing out lead lined boxes. A fifth had the ruined remains of a diary, while a sixth was levitating a large magic cage with a terribly upset snake the size of which Albus had never seen before. Albus felt no pity for any of the pieces that represented the foolishness of a man that had corrupted himself beyond redemption.
The one that worried him was the young boy in white robes. Harry was standing tall and looked unafraid, but Albus could tell. He was being helped by the now free Sirius to the top of the seven-point star ritual circle.
A man came to him in grey robes. In his hands was a tray with ten vials. "I see that you solved the issue, Severus?"
"It is Brewmaster, headmaster," the indistinguishable voice told him.
"Ah, yes. My mistake, Brewmaster."
"Thank you, Brewmaster," Croaker said. The grey cloak's hood dipped as though he was nodding and then the Unspeakable backed up. "We will be ready to start in a few minutes. Would you like to take this to Mister Potter?"
Croaker was holding out a thick, copper coloured potion. "I would."
Albus took the potion to Harry. Sirius was looking over Harry in a guarded manner. Sirius still showed the signs of years of confinement on Azkaban Island and then more than a year and a half on the run, but he was now clean, in nice robes, his hair was cut, and beard trimmed in a neat fashion.
"Harry, this is for you to drink when instructed," Albus said as he handed the potion to him.
Harry looked at it. "It looks better than polyjuice," the boy commented.
"Polyjuice? When did you have polyjuice?" Sirius questioned.
Harry looked a little sheepish. "Some point."
Albus chuckled. "Severus said stores went missing your second year. I assume that was you?"
Harry didn't look at him. "It wasn't me." The boy sounded guilty though.
Sirius chuckled. "You are telling me about it later."
"Uhm, sure," Harry agreed.
"All those not in the ritual, you will have to stand in the warded circle now," Croaker called out.
Harry was looking nervous now. Sirius put a hand on his shoulder. "You'll do fine, pup."
"If not, would you tell Hermione…"
Sirius stopped him. "You'll do fine, pup. You can tell Hermione anything you want when you see her again tomorrow."
Harry swallowed a hard lump and nodded.
They had to leave him in the circle that was designated for him as they went to stand in the warded observation circle. Brewmaster was there, as was one other Unspeakable that Albus didn't know. Croaker was overlooking one last Unspeakable that was carrying the barely alive homunculus that was holding Voldemort's spirit. The thing was feebly trying to get away as it kept up a steady stream of curses, insults and threats.
"Albus, you are sure this will work?" Sirius worriedly asked.
"Croaker has assured me this is not the first time such a ritual has been held. They have had success in the past and have a high confidence it will succeed this time," Albus assured them.
"A high confidence?" Sirius questioned with some trepidation.
"I assure you, my boy, that the Unspeakables would not be doing this if they did not believe Harry would be alright," Albus said.
"This better work, Albus. If not, I will not rest until you are in the same condition as my godson," Sirius said.
"Harry will live and thrive when this is done."
"He better."
Albus had the same concerns but knew Croaker wouldn't needlessly endanger the boy and he had faith that Severus would have done all he could to save Harry as well.
He watched with some interest as Croaker began to chant when the horribly malformed childlike homunculus was placed in the centre of the ritual circle. It was an old language that Albus didn't recognize but suspected it was old Egyptian since they were the first ones to make the horrible things. As he chanted, he walked to each point. As he did, he opened the lead lined boxes. He took the horcruxes out. When he placed each in the centre of the circle they were in, he poured a potion over them. They radiated a dark auror that filled the room. He could swear they were writhing in pain and angry like the ugly child thing in the centre. Harry was on his knees, his hands clutching at his forehead. Sirius moved as though he was going to go to Harry. Albus put a hand on his arm to stop him.
As the chanting grew more forceful, the buildup of magic in the room was starting to feel oppressive. When he made it to Harry, Croaker had to kneel and help Harry put the potion vial to his mouth. The boy started to scream and fell to the floor. Sirius moved to break out of his grasp. Albus was forced to stun the man as he watched Harry thrashing in pain and clawing at his forehead. Blood was running down his face. When Croaker moved to the snake last, it had a remarkably similar reaction to Harry. It hissed and screamed like only a snake could.
As the chanting reached its crescendo, Albus felt as though something was wrong.
Croaker had explained the ritual works by rejoining all the soul shards, and then they can banish the soul to the next world. Croaker said he had been ninety percent confident that this would work with one of the soul shards already sent on. If not, then they would have to destroy the containers, including Harry. Albus did not want that to happen. He had made Harry suffer too much already.
Croaker looked to be straining.
"Something is wrong," the unidentified Unspeakable said.
Croaker took a silver knife from his robes.
A shot of fear went through him. Looking around, seeing Harry's face and hands covered in blood as he still screamed in pain and Croaker looked as though he had death on his mind, Albus made his decision.
He took the Elder Wand out of his robes. "This is Harry's as being the last of the line of the Peverells," he told the Unspeakables, so they knew not to touch it.
"Albus, what are you doing?" Severus questioned as he lowered his hood.
"What I must, Severus. Please tell Minerva to take diligent care of Hogwarts," Albus told him.
"You can't leave this circle," the other Unspeakable demanded.
"Alas, there are times we must do what is needed," Albus told him before stepping towards the ward line. They went to stop him, but he was over the line before they could stun him or grab him. Croaker was plunging the dagger into Helga Hufflepuff's cup. A black mist escaped. It screamed as though in the deepest agony before it crept towards the homunculus. The childlike thing screamed as the black soul shard flowed into its mouth and nose.
Albus took one of the extra doses of the potion and stepped into the circle that contained the diary. Croaker was still chanting and didn't notice Albus until the magic of the room, which was feeling wild, dangerous and unhinged, suddenly steadied. It was the way the ritual was supposed to go. Albus had just drunk the potion. He felt the pull on his soul as the potion started to dissociate his magic and body. Croaker looked up just before he had plunged the dagger into Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem.
As the magic stabilized, he didn't miss how black mist started to seep out of the remaining horcruxes. Harry was starting to scream himself hoarse. Albus felt his own soul start to disperse. It was an odd feeling. Unlike the black morass of the other parts, his soul was grey with wisps of white. He knew his soul wasn't clean, but it had been more corrupted than he had thought. Arianna and the others had been right.
Croaker kept up his chanting, looking at Albus with pitying and understanding eyes.
Harry stopped screaming. He was panting hard. He started to whimper as his hands clutched at his forehead. Albus watched as the other pieces came screaming from the containers they were in. His own soul left his body. It was strange to see his body collapse to the floor of the ritual chamber. He floated towards the horrible thing in the centre. He didn't fight the pull, but something did. The other five misty soul bits entered the homunculus, which was screaming worse than anything he had ever heard, before the force that was pushing him away suddenly relented and he accepted his fate…
-oOo-
In a timeless place…
Albus stood in a white space that held nothing. It wasn't cold, nor was it warm. Light came from everywhere, but he couldn't make out any source. He turned to look around and make out anything.
All he saw was a white expanse of nothing.
"I never thought you could be so selfless," a deep voice said from behind him.
Albus spun around. His reaction was to reach for his wand, only to find his forearm bare. He realized he was completely bare.
There was a baritone chuckle. Looking up, he saw a man that looked worse for wear, his features sharp, his skin sallow, his eyes sunken and a quality to him as though he wasn't all there. "Age isn't always the most kind to everyone, is it?"
Albus looked up. "I'm afraid that I find myself unprepared for this situation. It would be nice to at least have some clothes."
"Think it and you shall have it," the man said.
Albus looked down to see deep purple robes with gold stars, planets and other designs. "This is an exquisite set of robes. I assume I have passed to the next great adventure?"
The sickly-looking man nodded as Albus looked back to him. "That is a good assumption."
"And you are? Death?" Albus queried.
"Hardly. You are not nearly important enough to earn a direct visit, headmaster. No, I am your largest failure," the man said.
Albus shut his eyes and bowed his head. "Tom, I never meant for everything that happened."
"I know. It is not all your fault. I was a fool for what I sought in my childish fantasies. I will have many eternities to pay for my folly," the man said. Albus could see this man would have had handsome features like his father if he hadn't corrupted his soul.
"Are you here to take me to my payment?"
"That is yet to be decided."
Albus nodded. "I know a few months does not make amends for the years of misfortune I caused. Can I say goodbye to my sister and mother?"
The man regarded Albus. "You would willingly give up the possibility of an eternity with your loved ones to take responsibility for your actions?"
"Is there any other way?"
As though impressed, Tom nodded. "You are not the same man that condemned me to long summers at the orphanage or condemned so many others."
"It was never my intention. I only ever meant to save the most I could. I naively believed that everyone could be saved, but instead condemned those most deserving to be saved," Dumbledore said.
"I think you finally understand," the man said. "I know I never did."
As the man talked, chains started to materialize around him. Bodies, his horcruxes and other trinkets were attached to the chains. "I must bear my burdens. You are being offered an opportunity."
"An opportunity? Do I not deserve my own chains and my own spot in the underworld?" Albus queried.
"You do and you don't. Death and those above can be forgiving. Do you wish to accept this opportunity?" Tom enquired.
"What is the opportunity?"
"There are still a few families left touched by your vile machinations. You can finish your path to reconciliation by acting their guardian angel and being a ferryman for their souls for the next millennia. If you do this, and you do this in the proper way, you will be judged at that time. If you refuse, you will be judged now," Tom told him. The chains, bodies and trinkets were quite solid now and Tom slumped under the weight of them.
Albus blinked a time or two. "Am I to be trusted with the fate of these families? I think it is proven I am not one to be given power and responsibility without abusing it, even if I have good intentions."
Tom shrugged, which was a muted motion as his burdens weighed on him. "This is your only offer, headmaster."
He started to feel something on his wrists. Looking down he could see the shape of heavy cast-iron manacles forming. "Will I get to see Arianna and my mother?"
"Only if you redeem yourself," Tom told him.
Looking at the manacles, he knew he didn't deserve this chance, but he yearned to see Arianna again. No chains had formed yet, but the manacles were heavy. He felt that his burdens would be as much as Tom or Gellert, perhaps more. With a sigh, he did his last act of selfishness. "How do I act guardian angel for the families I can and to ferry souls to their next destination?"
Tom nodded with respect. Albus didn't feel like he deserved it. "You listen for calls of help. You answer when a blessing is requested and do what you can to guide fate and luck. When a member of the family dies, you greet them. Depending on how they are judged, you send them on or give them the choices they have. It won't be easy, and you will feel the years."
Albus sighed. "I deserve much more than a millennia of this."
"Perhaps, but in your last act of selflessness, you have earned your chance for redemption. What you make of it is your own. This is the last time we will ever see each other, headmaster," Tom said as he started to turn insubstantial.
"I am sorry I failed you, Tom," Albus said.
"I am responsible for most of my depravities. I must pay for them now," the man said.
Albus watched as he faded. Just before he was totally gone, fear crossed over the man's face and his head went back as though screaming in horror…
That vision would haunt him as the white world around him started to materialise into something substantial. Looking around, he recognized it as Platform nine-and-three-quarters. His brow rose. "This is not what I expected," he said to himself, always thinking the ferryman used a boat to move people from one side to the other.
As he looked around at the white building, benches and rails, there was a ringing from nearby. He searched in confusion for a moment until he noticed a red booth with a muggle telephone. It was the only thing of colour around.
Intrigued, he stepped towards the telephone. Stepping into the booth, the telephone was still ringing. Picking up the black receiver, he put it to his ear, realized it was backwards, then turned it the right way.
"…we ask for the blessing of these two in the name of magic and earth mother. May they be eternally bound in happiness, love, fidelity and fertility. If you would repeat after me," a woman was saying.
Albus smiled to realized it was a handfasting he was listening too.
When the next voice came, he felt a small tear come to his eyes. "I, Harry James Potter, do accept the bond and pledge of this woman and will offer my bond and pledge to honour, love, protect, provide for and give her a life as full of as much happiness as I can."
Albus wasn't sure how long he had been here, but he would gladly give his blessing to this.
The woman that replied made his heart much lighter.
"I, Hermione Jane Granger, do accept the bond and pledge of the man and will offer my bond and pledge to honour, love, protect, provide and give him children and the life we both want."
"If magic accepts your bond and pledge, you shall hereby be known as Harry and Hermione Potter," the bonder said.
"I give my blessing," Albus whispered.
He felt the magic of something far greater than him channel through him and into the pair. He heard the gasp from Hermione.
"Magic has blessed this union. You may kiss your bride," the bonder said.
He heard cheering and clapping. A moment later, the sounds stopped. He was left holding the receiver to his ear as he wanted to know more. It was a long few minutes before he hung up the telephone. Tears came to his eyes. His sacrifice had been worth something.
"Please, let those I hurt have all the blessings I can give."
-oOo-
C'est Fin.
Thank you for coming along on this little Christmas Miracle for the 2023 season. Hope to see you on future endeavors. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas (or Happy Christmas for those not in the States.)
WolfgangNH, 25 December, 2023