AN: I do not own Harry Potter or the Wizarding World Universe.

Chapter 21

The letter she'd been dreading lay on her desk. Pomona Sprout closed her eyes and wondered what she would tell Harry Potter. Someone blocked her petition to have the Dursleys removed as guardians. Amelia Bones looked into the situation at the behest of her niece without Pomona asking.

A soft chime echoed around the office. She took a deep breath and stood. It was almost time for the part of her day she'd been dreading.

It took her fifteen minutes to make it to the Headmaster's Office. Not because of the walk but because she simply didn't want to see him just then. The invitation to meed, worded closer to a command, wasn't something she could ignore. His office door opened as she approached. Unsurprisingly, they were the only ones there.

"Good evening, I'm sorry for the late call," Albus said as he rose.

"Yes," she said as she sat in the only chair available across from his wide, polished desk. "You wished to discuss something?"

Albus took a moment to answer her. He didn't quite study her face, but she knew when she was being scrutinized.

"You have every right to feel that your House was snubbed during the ceremony to award Longbottom and his friends," he said softly. "However, there was a reason for that."

"Albus, we are both adults. I know you believe what you did was right, but I'm not sure many of the students or even the staff agree with your decision."

"They would be right to question it," the Headmaster said as he steepled his fingers together. "Mr. Potter should have gained some recognition, if not in points, as you already gave them, but in his role in Quirinus' downfall, the protection of the Stone, and the confrontation with Voldemort."

Pomona fought back a shiver. That name brought back too many memories she would rather forget. However, she knew putting her head down and ignoring it would be disastrous. Potter, Severus, and now Dumbledore all said the same thing. You-Know-Who was alive… if barely. To think that… thing… was in the Castle with herself and the students. Could he have somehow influenced them in some way? How had Albus missed this?

"Yes, he should have," she said flatly to avoid voicing her other recriminations. Potter's public image was the least of her quarrels with Albus at the moment.

"Hufflepuff House is the backbone of this school since Helga Hufflepuff set her eyes upon creating something that would last. Godric might have been front and center, and Salazar might have taken much of the blame for the hard decisions, but Helga was the glue, and Rowena was the wand. Four strong personalities that live on through the students today, as the founders intended."

Pomona heard the portraits on the wall around her shift and mutter in their paintings. They were all previous Headmasters, and she privately thought they had more of an active role than most realized. Every single one of those Headmasters had portraits in prominent homes, businesses, and even the Ministry. It wasn't just Albus who knew more than he should for being just a Headmaster; it had been all of them. In some ways, they needed to be in-the-know. Hogwarts was a critical part of the wider Wizarding World. Not just in Great Britain.

"Hufflepuff has always taken care of its own. As I knew you would do no matter what I did at the award ceremony. I looked at two young wizards who are fate-marked. One, who has grown up in the shadow of something he had no ability to be with a caretaker that demanded perfection. The other… in an environment I believed safe, if not altogether comfortable. I hold myself just as responsible as you do of me for Harry's upbringing. There were protections in place, even Memory Charms, to protect him and keep him safe. I have learned that those precautions were not as fool-proof as I believed," Albus admitted.

Pomona stared at him. "You modified his aunt and uncle's memories?" she asked carefully. He hadn't answered her last time when this subject came up.

"Several important Muggles for Vernon Dursley to gain the position and security he currently holds. What I did not expect was that they would hold Harry in contempt and no little bit of hatred for agreeing to take him back in. You see, when Sirius Black took Harry away, he broke a protection bound in blood. He was his true godfather, no matter that he betrayed the Potters. I couldn't take a chance that the protection wouldn't be circumvented again.

When Black was caught, a mutual friend betrayed Black's confidence in an effort to secure Potter's safety. Black had just under a month to plan for any eventuality. He was on the run, as he was the only one who could have betrayed the Potters. After his death, Harry was named a Scion of Black, as there were no more living male heirs. At the same time, Black managed to trick Walburga Black, his mother, into believing Narcissa Malfoy nee Black had an affair with a Muggle. That was a bigger stain on the family than Arcturus Black could ignore, even with Sirius Black having chosen Gryffindor as his House. To gain her confidence, he admitted to supporting Voldemort."

Pomona frowned. She was aware of Harry's dual ties to House Potter and Black. It took her a moment to realize why Black would want his cousin disowned. Lucius Malfoy and his son, Draco, would move to inherit the Black name and fortune. Why would he do that for Harry Potter if he betrayed his parents?

"I see you've spotted the inconsistency," Albus stated in an unusually flat tone. "We didn't know of it at the time. In capturing Black, he was injured. Harry was safe, and I prioritized returning him to his aunt and uncle. They did not want him back. It took several hours and not a small bit of concessions for them to take him in. When I returned to question Black, someone either allowed him to die or killed him themselves. There are only a handful of people who had access to Black, yet all of them are innocent. I verified that myself."

The Headmaster took a moment, and she processed what he'd told her. There had to be a reason for this story.

"If someone could get to Black, someone could get to Harry. His safety was, once more, paramount. More layers of enchantments and protections were set in place - the very best I could devise. However, I am not perfect. Two of those enchantments should have alerted me the moment someone laid a hand on him. Vernon punished Harry for any outburst of accidental magic… it seems that Vernon acted as he did to protect his son, Dudley. It was not done out of hate or even malice for Harry. The fail-safes did not activate. Petunia, who blames him more than her husband, never laid a hand on Harry."

"Then why are you forcing him to return there? You know the dangers of this, Albus. The Boy-Who-Lived, Harry, he could become an Obscurial! If he were to suppress his magic in fear," she argued. "He would become a danger not only to himself but to others! Why would you put him in that situation again? He has come a long, long way from the terrified boy who stepped off that train in September."

"In large part to your own efforts," Albus said softly. "I know you've been working to gently guide more students toward Potter and ensure he feels welcome and safe. That is what I counted on at the award ceremony. Pomona, you are uniquely gifted at understanding others around you. Empathy is not a well-understood school of Magic, yet it has its own heavily guarded room in the Department of Mysteries - just as Love and Hate do.

I return to the motivation behind my decision. First, Harry Potter had every chance to tell his tale, as Longbottom, Weasley, and even Granger have done. There were embellishments, but not as much as there could have been. Mr. Potter stuck to their narrative and did not add more or contradict them. I believe he even helped Longbottom in an attempt to thank him for assisting him and likely saving his life. Neville made a choice, one that I do not think Potter has completely forgiven him for.

So I had to look at the two young wizards and decide what was best, not only for them now but also for the future. Longbottom, I think we'll both agree, needs confidence. Public image is a good way to bolster that, and he did a remarkable job during those trials. Harry's contribution was no less impressive. I think we both know he could be more if he wanted. He did not want to talk about what happened in the dungeons, and yes, my decision to not mention his part or even that he was… forgive me, but lured by someone he trusted. That wasn't something I felt that needed to be brought up before the school.

By doing so, the Hufflepuff House was, indeed, snubbed of the limelight yet again. However, I trusted you to do what you do best. Foster unity. Potter needed that. He needed to feel wanted, feel seen for his own hard-fought trial. It wasn't a gamble so much as a calculated decision to give both young wizards what I felt they needed. One, a confidence boost, and the other… a home."

Pomona shifted in her chair. It was hard to deny the results. Harry was more open and friendly with the other badgers. He smiled and laughed. Something she didn't think had happened much over the term. "It was an awful risk," she said softly.

"Not as much as you might think," Albus said simply. She didn't believe him. "Through your own hard work, Harry had started to open up before the events of the cursed artifact. It took some time, but he opened back up again. What he needed was support from more than just a few people. He would not have gotten that if I reminded the entire school of what happened. Malfoy, for one, would not let such a chance to get back at Harry for his mother's disownment. Even if it wasn't his fault."

Pomona hadn't quite made the mental connection, but it made sense that Draco was fixated on Harry to the point of making a fool of himself and his House. Slytherins were, on average, more cool-headed than Malfoy had been thus far. She felt like Albus steered the conversation away from the real reason for this meeting. While it was important information, he still hadn't answered why Harry had to return to his aunt and uncle.

"You feel Harry will still be safe at the Dursleys? With all his history there? Why would you block my petition for a suitable guardian? The Prophet already printed hints about Harry's life. I would argue that you allowed it, if not actively encouraged it."

Albus shook his head. For a moment, she thought she saw frustration on the Headmaster's face before it vanished. It could just as likely have been a facade. Albus was many things, and as much as he denied it, he was a politician before a Headmaster. "I'm afraid this goes back to Draco and his father… as well as others. While it is possible I could have blocked or at least held off such articles, they would have come out. This is also a strong political move for when Potter eventually reaches his majority. In theory, he has two votes, one for Potter and one for Black. In actuality, his first child will likely be a Potter, while his second will be a Black. Then he will have those votes as a guardianship for Black."

Pomona nodded, more to herself. Albus knew the Ministry and its players well.

"Harry must return to the Dursleys, at least for one more summer. The protections there are the strongest I could make without the Fidelius Charm. His aunt and uncle have been warned of dire consequences… as well as Filius' rather… rash decision to say… put the fear of God into them. They will not lay a hand on Harry ever again."

"Neglect is just as bad, Albus," she said softly.

"Yes, it is. However, I need to bring this before the Minister to move him officially. Harry is still seen as a National Treasure, and frankly, there is the issue with Remus Lupin. He has legal guardianship, and I cannot strip him of it without severe consequences."

"Worse consequences than if Harry turns to anger? You know of Selwyn. He murdered his parents as soon as he got his wand and felt confident enough to take action against them."

"Do you believe he would do that?" Albus asked a little sharply.

Pomona considered the question. No, she didn't think so, however, what would happen if his uncle decided to forgo the warning and attack him now? "Under the right circumstances?" she pressed.

It was impossible to read what Albus was thinking. He sat perfectly still. "No," he said softly. "I do not believe he would turn his wand on them. Harry does not see his aunt and uncle as family, but I do not believe he will attack them intentionally."

Pomona felt like she was a good judge of character. It was Harry, not Neville, who was near Quiriuns' body. She wanted to trust her badger, but he'd already experienced and seen death. Longbottom told Professor McGonagall that it had been Harry, not him, that initially cast the first Fire-Making Spell at or near the downed professor. In a fight for his life? No, Harry would attack to defend himself. She wasn't upset by the knowledge, just wary. Why put him in a situation that could spiral out of control?

"You said you had a plan for him. I have three letters from families who would love to host Harry for all, if not most, of the summer," she revealed.

"I had hoped he would take Longbottom's offer of mutual assistance. Augusta Longbottom would be a good mentor."

Pomona disagreed vehemently. Mrs. Longbottom was not a good fit for Harry; just as Amelia Bones wouldn't be a natural fit for him either. For one, she wasn't home enough to watch him. The Macmillan family might work, but that was a long shot. Sadly, her best option told her that morning that it wouldn't work.

"I will speak with his aunt and uncle," she declared. "While I may not be as… hot-headed as Filius, I will ensure that what you say is right. The tenants of my job may prevent me from taking a ward, but I will find someone by the end of his next term. I do not feel he should be there, Albus. This is an unnecessary risk."

"We will agree to disagree," he said slowly. "I am more than willing to meet you in the middle. There is one more thing I need to ask of you… and it may be more than I have goodwill for."

She eyed him. That was not a great start to asking for a favor, even if it was likely true.

"Harry Potter will have a complex and challenging future. That was revealed from the moment he was born. Further, his wand is a hawthorn… one of contradictions and paradoxes. They find a home with those of a conflicting nature or with a wizard who is passing through a period of turmoil. The wand chooses the wizard," he said softly.

"Admittedly, Mister Potter hasn't shown a strong talent yet. His peers are ahead of most of their age, but that is to be expected. They come from families and houses that provide tutors to their children before Hogwarts. Miss Granger is an exceptional Muggle-born who excels in their first year. Potter will come into his own."

Pomona looked at the desk. Albus didn't know Harry Potter at all. It only reinforced her belief that the Headmaster didn't understand her badger. If anything, the others were holding the boy back. He'd taken to magic and, more importantly, studying when not forced to, as if it were all he did. The only concerning part was that he'd done much of his studying alone until recently.

"What is it that you wish me to do?" she asked carefully.

Albus sat back and took a deep breath before speaking. "I fear he saw me leave with Longbottom, Granger, and Weasley. At the time, they were my priority, and I wasn't fully aware of the situation. I know he holds me… while not in contempt, but as someone not to be trusted. It is very likely that Quirrell, through Voldemort, or the dark being himself, worked to discredit me. Why? I'm not sure. His demeanor in the Hospital Wing was that of someone on guard. In time, I will show him that I am on his side, but I do not feel it wise to approach him now." He trailed off and stared at something over her head. Likely a painting or simply trying to find the words that would most connect with her. Until this term, he wouldn't have had to do that. They both knew it.

"Potter needs training. I am not sure, but he may have been awake during my discussion with Augusta Longbottom. I promised her that both would be trained. It would be a disservice to not attempt to prepare them both for what is to come," Albus said as he locked eyes with her. "Voldemort will return. When? I cannot say. The destruction of the Elixir of Life will close that avenue to him. However, he has other ways to return."

She successfully suppressed her shiver at the name. "If this is to be true… then why are Potter and Longbottom the only ones who will receive extra attention?" she asked, more as a way to buy time to think.

"They will not. I must be very careful. If he should return, then we are all in danger. However, I cannot approach all, only those who will take my word that he is not dead. As you might imagine, no one wants his return."

"I am no duelist, Albus. That is Filius. I am good at what I do and have a deft hand at Charms, Transfiguration, and Herbology. I will not be able to mentor Harry and not show favoritism. That is not how Hufflepuff works. Together, we are strong. It would be a disservice to my other badgers, no matter how… important Harry is."

"Yet you've gone to extraordinary lengths to welcome him into Hufflepuff and have used connections to attempt to secure Harry a safe place to live outside of Hogwarts."

"It is what any decent Head of House would and should do," she argued. There was some truth to what he said, but that wasn't the whole of it either. "You mentioned connections. I am not quite as influential as yourself, and while I do keep in contact with many of my badgers, I would not ask them to mentor Harry."

"Yet, you've already reached out to Andromeda and Ted Tonks?"

Pomona wasn't sure where he learned that. "For a potential guardian, yes," she said carefully. It was a recommendation from Amelia Bones.

"Nymphadora Tonks has a strong chance of apprenticing with Alastor Moody."

Pomona was not amused by his suggestion. Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody was likely the greatest Auror of their age. Minerva, Alastor, and she all went to Hogwarts around the same time, if a few years apart. Alastor was two years younger than she was. They hadn't spoken in over two decades. It had been at his wife and daughter's funeral during the start of the war with You-Know-Who. He became a changed man. Driven by anger and a desire to find those responsible.

"That is a stretch, Albus," she eventually argued.

"Not as much as you might think. Mister Potter has a way of drawing in those around him. Not because of his history but because of who he is. One day, he will come into his own, but you can see glimpses of it."

"To be clear, you wish to make sure he is ready for… what?"

"Likely another war," he answered softly.

Pomona didn't bother to hide her shiver of revulsion. "Is there no way to… prevent this? To stop him once and for all?" she challenged.

"I am following leads that are like breadcrumbs. The fact that he survived and is in the form he's taken is a clue; however, what I need is time. Time I do not know if I have. If he has already acted, then it is a matter of time before another of his servants finds him."

She took a deep breath. This was likely the longest conversation she and Albus had ever had alone about any one student. That did not bode well. "I will do everything in my power to protect my badger from any who seek to harm him," she said levelly.

"I simply wish to give him a fighting chance. Voldemort came after him as a baby. He did so again through Quirrell. Not once, but twice, and possibly one more time that I cannot confirm. Harry will face the storm, and I would rather have him prepared than not."

Pomona sat in her office the next morning and looked at her schedule. It would be a long day, and she had several appointments with her badgers. Harry should arrive any minute now. She wanted to get the hardest conversation out of the way early in the morning, just in case it took a while to explain things. His folder sat on her desk. She kept detailed records that only she had access to.

A knock came at the door a few minutes later. She opened it with a flick of her hand.

Harry James Potter looked around before entering. He hadn't lost his distrust of anywhere he wasn't intimately familiar with. Those places were his dormitory, the Library, and the Kitchens. She strongly suspected that he would live in those three places quite happily for as long as they would let him.

"Good morning, professor," he greeted. His eyes never met hers.

"Good morning, thank you for coming," she belatedly said and motioned for the empty chair. At least he didn't inspect it like he had during the first visit. "I wanted to go over how you feel you did this term and if you feel you are ready for the end-of-term exams."

Harry nodded and looked around the room. He took a deep breath. "I… could have done better," he admitted. She disagreed with his statement. He'd done a fantastic job. What he turned in was another matter. "I think I'm ready for the exams. The others are too. We've been studying a lot."

"You have, and I'm proud of all of you. You know, you and your first-year peers have won almost as many points from answering correct questions in lessons as the Ravenclaws have?"

Harry blinked at her. "We've lost quite a few too," he argued, but she saw his chest swell some.

That was another thing she kept careful track of. A few of her badgers got a potion and tonic regime in their food for the first few months of the term. Harry needed to keep his up for longer until she and Poppy were satisfied he was healthy. Madam Pomfrey never got the students' names, just their general health and recommendations by the house-elf staff. Until a student walked into her Hospital Wing, she was not allowed to use diagnostic magic on them unless it was an emergency.

"No one, and I mean no one, is perfect," she smiled. "Is there a subject you feel most confident in?"

"Charms," he answered immediately.

That was a common answer. Filius was exceptional at his job. While she wished Harry would say Herbology, it wasn't for everyone. His marks in her class were all over the place.

"How about the subject you're most worried about?" she pressed. This was always a harder question. At least, for most, it was.

"Potions."

Severus Snape. She hadn't quite forgiven him for his attack on Harry at the start of term. That was unprofessional, uncalled for, and, most alarmingly, swept under the carpet by Albus. "He is a difficult professor for a reason. One minor slip-up can have disastrous consequences."

Harry grimaced and nodded. "I can see that," he allowed. She wanted to smile. It was clear he didn't believe that Severus was only hard on him and others because of that.

"Is there anything I can do to help prepare you?" she asked. It was her standard question.

Harry took a moment to consider her question. That was a good thing. "No, professor. I just need to read more. I should have joined the practice groups on the board in the Common Room… but…" he said before shrugging.

"Groups and clubs with a chaperon is the way of things. Every subject has inherent dangers that should be taken into consideration. It's for everyone's safety. As you're aware, the only way to get better is through practice. I'm sure there are still spots open if you wish to try a few before the end of term," she encouraged.

Harry nodded and looked to his left. She had a feeling he was practicing alone, likely in his dormitory. Irma would have his wand if he so much as cast a spell in the Library. "I might," he said with a nod.

She knew the next part of the meeting likely wouldn't be as nice for either of them. "I spoke with you about… your living situation," she said as gently as she could. His eyes met hers. The bright green of his eyes reminded her of sparkling, multi-faceted emeralds. "I petitioned to remove you from Vernon and Petunia for good. There are factions within our community who stopped my initial attempt. I have not given up. There are even a few families who would love nothing more than to host you for the entire summer," she revealed.

Harry continued to look at her. Nothing in his face or posture gave away his thoughts. For some reason, she felt like he was relieved.

"Vernon will be at King's Cross on Saturday, June twenty-seventh. You will… unfortunately, need to return with him for the summer. As I said, there are those who would love to host you, but they cannot take… custody of you from the Express. You are unique in our world and are likely to be closely monitored," she continued.

Harry sat back in his chair, his gaze on her but not focused on her. There was a lot going on between his ears, and she desperately wished she knew what it was. "Thank you for trying," he finally said. "I… well… I knew I would have to return. It's only for a couple of months, though," he said with a shrug.

Pomona looked at her badger. The boy had a plan. She'd dealt with young witches and wizards long enough to listen to her intuition. "You are aware you cannot use magic while outside Hogwarts, correct?" she challenged.

Harry looked away. He was definitely up to something. "Yes, professor," he said a little too quickly.

"Promise me that you won't do anything without fully thinking it through. I have been assured that nothing will happen ever again," she said softly.

Harry met her eyes. "I was told the same thing," he stated.

She knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that sending him back to his aunt and uncle was a bad idea. "I want you to promise me. If anything, and I mean anything. Even the threat of anything. You will contact me. Please," she added gently.

Harry frowned as his eyes searched her face and then her body. He looked at her eyes again and then nodded.