Harry potter and the Time of Retirement
Everything related to Harry Potter belongs to JKR
Chapter 70 – Year 4
"No, this won't be too much of a problem, don't worry. I expected you to drop out of our deals eventually" said the apothecary, jovially.
"That's mighty nice of you, pal" said Harry, transfigured in his older disguise, as he pocketed a small pouch of galleons he had just received from the sale of his previously brewed potions. "Anyway, this is only temporary. I plan to go back to brewing, in the future."
"Sure you will" confirmed the apothecary, his smile now turning predatory. "And when you do, we are restarting our deal from the start. Especially the prices."
"What the…" complained Harry, surprised. "You know my potions are good, don't you? I expect the full price we agreed on!"
"I can't switch suppliers willy-nilly, pal. It's not good for businesses, and I am at the bottom of the priority list for some of my standard suppliers now" countered the apothecary, amused. "We can recreate our deal, sure. But I'll need to cover my side."
Harry, irritated, was about to protest… before he sighed and gave up. "Nevermind" he started. "We will deal with this once I come back. It might take months anyway."
"Of course, of course" said the apothecary. "For now, let me say my standard farewell. Thank you, please come again."
Rolling his eyes, Harry nodded in greetings and left the shop. Knockturn Alley was, as usual, scarcely populated but he still searched for some dark corner before turning himself into his real, sort of, age. Soon, he was walking out of the alley altogether, heading straight up for Fortesque's.
"Done, Harry? That took a while" said Sirius, who was sitting down at one of the table. In front of him, two dishes carrying crepes covered in melted chocolate and cookie crumbs. Next to him, several bags filled with merchandise and a brand new cage for owls.
"Sorry, sorry" said Harry, sitting down. "I tried to be fast, and I am done. Only thing I had to do by myself, around here."
"The temptation to follow you was real, kid" quipped Sirius, before pushing one of the dishes towards Harry "but it couldn't beat the allure of these treats. Take yours."
"I hope you weren't stealing some of my chocolate, while I wasn't looking" said Harry, smiling, as he took a bite.
"I am an auror, remember? I would never steal. Not even some crumbs. Not even from these deliiiicious crepes. Not even if I was the one paying for them both anyway" said Sirius, smiling and eating. "You believe me, of course, right?"
"Do I have to answer?" quipped Harry, and for a minute they just focused on the food. At the end of its share, satisfied, Harry nodded in appreciation. "Not bad, for real."
Sirius remained silent, scraping crumbs and chocolate from the dish, so Harry looked around himself. "I'll miss this. Hogsmeade might be nice, but not being able to come to the alley is a bit weird."
"Better load up on all you need this time, then" said Sirius, before yawning. "Sorry. I am a bit sleepy. What else are we missing, Harry?"
"I got this year's books and supplies" said Harry, again checking out the shops around them. "Hedwige is set up, too. I might need some robes, mine got all burned down… OK, why are so many people checking me out today?"
"Boy who lived and all that?" answered Sirius, casually.
"No, it's more than the usual. Or the fact that I am not in school" said Harry. "I swear I am getting many more stares than I normally did."
"Right, you stayed in my house all day yesterday" said Sirius, scratching his head. "The assault on Godric's Hollow was front page on the Prophet, of course."
"Oh, that stupid rag" complained Harry. "Couldn't Bones keep that story under wrap?"
"How?" said Sirius, immediately. "We don't have that power. At the office we might wish to throw Skeeter in Azkaban, sometimes, but we can't stop them from publishing a story."
"Whatever" said Harry. "So, what did they write?"
"It was mostly about some gang of dark wizards beating down the Abbotts" said Sirius, with a sad smile. "We managed to keep your involvement to a minimum. Bones made your house being burned down appear like an unwanted consequence of the assault."
"I doubt Skeeter just swallowed that" said Harry.
"Right you are. She wrote at length on how you might have been murdered in the assault. Or being part of the criminal team. It wasn't really clear" commented Sirius, amused.
"That woman is scum" said Harry. "By the way, I have some dirt on her if needed. Enough to give her major problems."
"You do? Share, share" insisted Sirius, happily.
"Not to an auror, not yet. Just remember this, in case she becomes worse than a big annoyance" said Harry, smugly.
"More than she is already?" complained Sirius, unsatisfied.
"Anyway, we can make a visit to madame Malkin but otherwise I am done" said Harry. "How is this supposed to work, should I just apparate at Hogsmeade?"
"Dear old Dumbledore knows you are coming, but he wrote back nothing about the details as far as I know. Nor did Remus, either" said Sirius, before showing a large grin. "I can escort you there if you want, maybe keep your hand too. Don't be shy, my poor little Harry, you'll be fine."
"Bugger off" countered Harry, rolling his eyes. "It's going to be embarrassing enough already. I guess I'll just show up and head directly for the headmaster's office."
"Still, seriously, you'll be fine. And try to stay on guard, eh?" said Sirius, grimacing. "Chances are troubles will follow you there."
"I am counting on that, actually" said Harry with a shrug. "Be the same guys from Godric's Hollow, or their kids, I expect someone to try and lure me away form the castle. Or bump me in the head and take me away."
"You have the mi-you know what, you have it on you right?" asked Sirius, and Harry immediately nodded. "Good, and keep it there at all times."
"I am not that easy to surprise, anyway" stated Harry "and I'll make a point of trying not to stay alone."
"Good" said Sirius, before abandoning his fork atop his empty dish. Checking out that Harry had finished his crepe too, he stood up. "Let's go to buy you some clothes, then. After that, you are going straight to Hogwarts."
"Wait, wait, what about my firewhiskey?" asked Harry, faking some surprise, while standing up himself.
"Oh, that. I will send a bottle to you by owl, pinky promise" said Sirius, a teasing smile on his face.
"Yeah, right" said Harry, sighing. "What have I done to deserve this? And don't answer!" he complained immediately, when he noticed Sirius was about to reply. The man remained silent, but still grinning, and on they went back into Diagon Alley.
Later that afternoon, Sirius did drop Harry in Hogsmeade.
"I am still in time to escort you to Hogwarts, kid" said Sirius, before starting to snigger at the sight of Harry's expression. "OK, OK, of course not. Beside" he continued, before interrupting himself with a huge yawn "beside, I really need some rest. My next shift is coming fast."
"Go and sleep, Sirius. I'll manage" said Harry, calmly, while shifting his backpack containing his magical items – and a shrunk down chest filled by the rest – on his shoulder.
"Maybe I should really take you at least halfway to the castle" mused Sirius. "Make sure to be wary of anyone, and keep your mirror on you at all time. By the way…".
"Oh, good heaven" complained Harry. "Yes, I do have it on me. And no one is setting up an ambush here, no one knows we were coming. I didn't know it!"
"Good point" said Sirius, nodding. "I'll be going then. Keep me updated" he said, before showing a small smirk. "Make sure to torment Snape for me. Now, I know you don't like pranks…"
"I don't" said Harry, smiling.
"But, just in case, ask me or Remus for ideas" he continued. "You might come to like them."
"I am more likely to curse the man than prank him, Sirius. Go to sleep" said Harry.
"Have a nice return, kid. Say hi to your pretty non girlfriend from me" said Sirius, before apparating away. With a sad sigh of resignation, Harry turned around and started walking towards the castle.
The sun was already going down, and atop the Quidditch stadium no fliers could be seen. Worried by the chance that he could arrive right during supper time, in a packed Great Hall, Harry stopped by the lake and sat down, watching the water turning dark and letting time pass by.
'Bloody Riddle' he thought eventually. 'And all those that follow him. How do they think it's going to end anyway?'
A stray thought about some of the worse Death Eaters passed through his mind. 'That Bellatrix was the worse. Crouch junior was another piece of work, but they were clearly unstable. Why would a… a Malfoy bet his life on a clear madman?'
"Someone will pay for my house. And all this wasted time" he grumbled, grinding down on his teeth. "And I'll blow that damn cup off if I ever see a hint of a fourth piece of parchment coming out of it" he concluded, frowning. By then, the sky was really getting dark so he stood up. Backpack again on his shoulder, he walked on.
Even from a distance he could tell the main gate was closed, so he moved on to one of the many side entrances close to the courtyard. Slipping in, he went straight to the headmaster's office. On the way, he caught plenty of stares from the students rolling out of the hall. Sighing, Harry thought that he should have probably wore his school robes already, to blend in better.
Nevertheless, he stopped in front of the Gargoyle blocking the way and waited there, arms folded. No more than 10 minutes later, be it as a coincidence or more likely because the wards of the castle had warned them, Dumbledore and professor Sprout approached him.
"Mr. Potter" said Sprout, immediately enveloping him in a tight hug. "I knew this day would come, I never doubted it! Welcome back, dear" she went on, while letting him go. "All your classmates are going to be so happy, I am sure."
"Good afternoon, professor" answered Harry, smiling, while rubbing his now hurting arms. "I am glad to see you, too. I look forward to learn from you again."
"If you worked on all the parchments I sent you so far, you should have no problems catching up" countered the professor, looking more stern for a second, before turning happy again. "There will be time for that, and I would be happy to give you some remedial lesson too, of course."
"Hopefully that won't be needed" butted in Dumbledore. "What I do hope for, is some genuine good will and effort in your school work, Mr. Potter. Hogwarts is graciously welcoming you back, after all, you should reciprocate."
"….and good afternoon to you too, headmaster" answered Harry, a bit more stiffly. "Mr. Black didn't really share any details of what you three might have organized. Could we talk for a minute?"
"We can" said Dumbledore. "Pomona, I will send young Harry to you in a couple minutes. Could you wait here, please?"
"Oh, Albus, I insist on being present" said professor Sprout. "He is one of my badgers!"
Harry and Dumbledore froze for a second, before both of them showed – quite coincidentally – an awkward expression. It was Dumbledore that spoke, though. "Give our prodigal student here some space, Pomona. You know how no one likes to be scolded in front of others, especially boys."
"Of course, of course!" said professor Sprout, immediately, looking at Harry with an apologetic look. Harry, a frown on his face, seemed almost ready to speak up. Almost. As the gargoyle moved aside, Harry silently followed the headmaster into his office.
His vast office was not different from usual. Fawkes was on his perch, only looking much healthier than the last time he saw it. Books, various trinkets and trappings filled the shelves surrounding the large desk placed at the center of the room while several animated paintings watched down at them with only partial interest.
"I am listening" said Dumbledore, quite simply, as he sat down on his chair. He waved at the chair on Harry's side on the desk, but Harry didn't sit down.
"And I'll be brief" started Harry. "I admit that the school is welcoming me back in my time of need, and I don't plan to start any problems. I'll see what I can do with class work, too."
"As you should" commented Dumbledore, one eyebrow rose in sarcasm. "How come I fear there is a big but coming my way?"
"But" said Harry, frowning again "I also hope all our previous discussions about professor Snape have stuck. I think my patience with that man is as close to exhaustion as yours is towards me."
"An apt comparison" commented Dumbledore, smiling – if bitterly - for the first time. "Do not worry. As I promised long ago, I will have a long discussion with your professor. His newfound professional behavior must be reciprocated, of course. Anything else?"
"Maybe one thing" said Harry. "The whole point of me here is not just to shelter me, but to spot in advance any attempt to capture me. Can you help with that in any way?"
"Hhhmmmm" mumbled Dumbledore, considering the request. "The castle's wards are not really set for individual protection. Especially now, with all our foreign guests that require constant access to the school's grounds. The best I can do is to ask, subtly, the school's paintings to keep an eye on you. Maybe I could grant you the power to summon our house elves, if you promise to use this power only in emergency situations."
"That could come in handy" said Harry, nodding. "I have nothing else to add, for now. Let's try to cooperate for the time being."
"I would like to add my piece too, Mr. Potter" said Dumbledore, icily. "You just promised to follow our rules, and that's wonderful. As I am fully aware now of what you are capable of, let me stress that point. This is a school, my school, and I will not tolerate in the slightest more rule breaking or disruptive behavior coming from you. For any extra-curricula necessity, you will refer directly to me before acting on them. No more initiatives."
Harry remained silent for a couple seconds. Dumbledore's clearly hostile statement irked him, but he found little he could counter it with. "Fine" he eventually conceded, and silence came back into the room immediately.
Once it was clear Harry wasn't planning to add anything else, Dumbledore waved at the door. "That's all, then. Welcome back, Mr. Potter. Professor Sprout will take care of the rest."
"Farewell" said Harry, walking out of the room.
Walking on the way to Hufflepuff's common room a slightly moody Harry was being updated on all latest, harmless, school gossip by a still joyous professor Sprout.
"The plants in the greenhouse are growing well, and this year we have more volunteers taking care of them. But I keep receiving complaints about the removal of the Quidditch tournament" she added, a bit apologetically.
"Thoseare not unjustified. Why can't we have both Quidditch and that Triwizard thing?" asked Harry, irritated from his talk with the headmaster. Professor Sprout sighed at this line.
"Not you too, Mr. Potter. The school is trying to revive a long dead tradition, we need to give it all the help we can and the Stadium is essential. Beside it is only the tournament to be off, you students can still play all you want on the school grounds" said Sprout, as they arrived at the large barrel that marked the entrance to their common room.
"That's something" commented Harry, as professor Sprout opened the way with her wand. "I don't mind playing a little whenever the Triwizard events are not on. Which means most of the time, for what I have heard."
"There is more than the contests, Mr. Potter. Half the reason for the tournament is a chance to interact with our foreign guests, and all professors are preparing something to help with that. For example I…" she stopped, as they were passing by a table full of familiar faces.
"Harry?" asked Megan, her surprise clearly showing. Immediately after a cacophony of voices drowned everything around them. Harry was busy trying to answer their greetings, while watching apologetically to his professor.
"Nevermind" she said eventually, with a smile, while silencing her fourth years with her raised hand. "I was planning to show you the new dormitory for your year, but I imagine your friends can do the same. Just make sure to ask them for a copy of your classes' schedule, OK?"
"Sure will, professor. Thank you" answered Harry, as professor Sprout left with a smile. Shrugging, Harry pulled a chair and sat down together with his now no longer former classmates.
"Surprise?" he asked, hesitantly.
"Welcome back, Harry!" started again Susan, while Hannah just waved lightly her hand.
"The class is full again" added Ernie with satisfaction.
"You should have told us you were coming back" added Sally, almost accusatory, before relaxing and smiling. "This is certainly a surprise!"
"Indeed" said Zacharias, an half smile on his face. "And you were so confident it was over, too. Awkward" He seemed he was about to go on, too, but a rolled up piece of parchment hit his forehead. Thrown by Justin. "Always an ass, Zach" he snorted and ducked as Zacharias had swiftly threw it back.
"There must be some story behind your return, I am sure" said Wayne.
"But you are still welcome back, Harry" added Ernie. "But you have to tell us, is it for good?"
"No idea, Ernie" answered Harry, sighing. "Could be five minutes, could be years. There is a reason, true" he continued, nodding towards Wayne "but not one I can share. So long as I don't end up staying until the N.e.w.t."
"A secret backstory" commented Megan, giggling. "Is it related to the Triwizard Tournament? Are you trying to participate? Wow, I got that right?" concluded Megan, as she – and everyone else – noticed the obvious wince that crossed Harry's face.
"You are out of luck then. Apparently we are all too young" spoke in Justin, immediately. "A lot of guys from our year wanted to participate, true. Too bad" added Ernie. A couple of other heads nodded – unsurprisingly, those of the same that had tried to join the Quidditch team the previous years.
"The prize money is fabulous" said Megan, excited. "One thousand galleons, imagine them!"
"Even my aunt said it's a huge sum. I barely have some galleons" commented Susan, bitterly, before shrugging. "But it's not only money, not for all of us. Justin, you are rich already."
"We are moderately well off, sure" said Justin, adjusting the tie on his neck with a deep expression of importance. "I would still like to have that kind of pocket money, mind you."
"You don't have that problem, right Harry? Not after the Quidditch world cup" added Hannah, giggling.
"Oh, right, she told us about your bet" said Sally. "That was very risky, Harry. I can't believe you won, talk about luck!"
"Care to share some gold, my dearest old friend?" asked Wayne, grinning widely.
"Maybe I have some leprechaun gold left somewhere, if it has not turned into leaves already" answered Harry, smiling.
"No thanks" said Susan.
"Nevermind the prize. Have you heard about…" started Megan, once again. And, for easily an hour more, the group just went on gossiping about all and everything: the Triwizard tournament, the school, the new couples, the new professor. It was, as Harry thought much later into the night while already in bed, as good as a return he could hope for. And the thought consoled him a little as he sighed unhappily at being, once again, inside Hogwarts.