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batsutousaiTitle: Abandon
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
batsutousai
Beta:magickmaker17
Pairings: Harry/Tom(Voldemort), Seamus/Blaise, Ginevra/Theodore, post-Ron/Hermione, Salazar/Godric
Warnings: This will have slash(Guys on guys, ppl.) , Dumbledore bashing, Ron bashing
Key:
Mind-speak
:Parseltongue:
’Written thoughts’
Chapter 41, Part 1
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Chapter 41, Part 2
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-~/\~-
Harry was muttering about idiots when he entered the common room Wednesday morning. He’d finally got the chance to talk to Ula Thorald and Ronan Rockwell the night before, due to their having detention Monday night with Filch. He paused when he saw Hermione and Parvati, who were dressed for court, since Dumbledore had told them they’d be leaving directly after breakfast, and they looked lovely.
Hermione’s hair was straightened and done up in a tight bun to keep it out of the way. Her robes were light blue and swept around her form elegantly, hiding the pregnancy in a way that her school robes and muggle clothing never could. She’d gone with dark blue eye shadow and a light shade of pink for her lips. The dark purple cloak from the Malfoys was slung over her shoulders, since it was still a bit nippy, despite being mid-March.
Parvati was wearing her dark hair braided around her head in a sort of crown. Her robes were sophisticated and in a dark mauve, almost purple. A floral pattern in maroon embroidery thread trailed around the neckline and cuffs. Her eye shadow was in dark shades of violet and her lips were a dark red, almost purple. A dark red and gold cloak was slung about her shoulders to ward off the chill. Her Dark Mark pendant was nowhere in sight.
“You both look beautiful,” Harry sighed, smiling. “You’ll end up charming the court, no problem.”
“And you look drop-dead gorgeous,” Parvati declared.
Harry had dressed in his dark green robes with silver serpents twining around the cuffs. The serpents actually moved, which tended to be distracting, so Harry had stunned the things earlier. He’d grown his hair out with a potion so it would behave itself and it was pulled away from his face in a black leather clasp, though a few locks fell about his face. His scar stood out sharply on his forehead, as always. He’d put his glasses away for his clear contacts. His Dark Mark pendant had been securely put away in the money pouch tied to his belt and he’d found a necklace with a flying phoenix to put in its place. He, too, wore his cloak from the Malfoys.
“Thanks, Parvati.” His hand brushed the necklace at his throat. “I’m going to try my little test on this, so let me know if it disappears or not.”
“What if we’re not called in together?” Hermione asked in concern as they joined the other Gryffindors heading for breakfast. All three ignored the strange looks they were receiving.
Harry shrugged. “I dunno. We’ll figure something out.” He dropped his hand from the pendant. “Your bracelets are secured?”
“Yes, Master,” they intoned. Harry grinned.
‘You three look AMAZING!’ Gin cried she caught sight of them. She, Seamus, Blaise, Draco, Pansy, Theodore, and Padma were all waiting at the bottom of the stairs in the entrance hall for them.
“Gee, thanks, Gin,” Harry replied, attempting to be bashful.
Gin swatted his arm. ‘You’re such a bastard at times.’
“Look at this, Draco. Baby Harry’s all grown up. He didn’t need our help getting dressed this time,” Pansy said with a sniffle.
“Ha-ha, Pan. Funny,” Harry muttered, glaring at her.
“Wow!” called a voice from above the group of seventh years and Gin. They all glanced up at where Enid stood, gaping down at them.
Harry waved her down. “Come now, what’s that look for?”
“I’m jealous,” the young Gryffindor announced. “I could never look that good.”
“Oh, don’t you worry,” Harry assured her. “We’ll hand you over to Pan and she’ll have you attracting guys in no time. Worked for me.” He jumped out of the way quickly as Pansy attempted to smack him.
“I know you can’t run very fast in those robes of yours, Potter, so I’ll give you a five second head start,” the young woman called darkly.
“Make it five minutes and I might allow it,” a voice said dangerously from behind Pansy.
“Marcus! You nearly gave me a heart attack!” the Slytherin exclaimed, turning and seeing the professor.
“That was the point,” the Dark Lord replied coldly.
“He’s grumpy ‘cause I don’t get to cause trouble in his class today,” Harry offered brightly, setting a hand on Pansy’s shoulder reassuringly. “Morning, Marcus.”
Tom reached forward and pulled Harry against his chest before kissing him thoroughly. The kiss was followed by the exclamation: “This isn’t fair! I wanted to have my wild sex fantasies during class!”
Harry buried his face in Tom’s chest, laughing helplessly while the group behind him cracked up. You are such a bastard, Tom!
And you love me anyway. Pity.
“Marcus, that’s not something you normally shout at the top of your lungs in the middle of the entrance hall before breakfast,” Blaise told the man, trying to regain his breath.
“I wanted to make my displeasure known,” the Dark Lord replied with a whine.
“Well, you’ve done it with style, Marcus. Please never do it again,” Harry suggested wearily, leaning back to get a good look at the Dark Lord. He really didn’t look pleased about Harry having to go to the trial.
Tom’s eyes glinted and he opened his mouth, obviously intending to shout his embarrassing proclamation at the top of his lungs once again. Harry tugged his head down and kissed him, instead. Hey!
It’s the fastest way to shut you up, prat, Harry shot back, pulling away to glare at his lover. “I don’t care how displeased you are, please don’t do that again.”
“Oh. Fine…” Tom sighed and hugged Harry tightly. Remember that you have every right to not answer a question, k?
Tom, what do you know that I don’t?
I know a lot, but I have suspicions about this trial. You don’t have to answer everything. Remember that, Tom replied, worry seeping through their connection.
Alright, love. Harry sighed, pulling away. “It’ll be fine, Marcus. You can still have your fantasies without me there, you just won’t have anyone to stare at while you’re doing it, right?”
“ ‘S not the same.” The Dark Lord shook his head sadly. “Here, Harry, wait.” He pulled something out of a pocket and set it in Harry’s palm, closing the teen’s hand around it. “Don’t you dare lose that, hear me?”
“Yes.” Harry nodded seriously.
Tom kissed his scar. “Behave at that trial, Mr Potter. I mean it.”
“I was planning to. Don’t worry.”
A sad smile stole across Tom’s face for a brief moment. “But I do worry, you imp. It’s what I’m here for,” he said softly before walking past his lover and the teen’s friends and going into the Great Hall.
Harry opened his hand and gaped at the ring in it. “Oh, Merlin…”
The Juniors and Hermione closed in. “Harry, is that what I think it is?” Draco hissed.
Harry slid the ring on his ring finger with a smile. “It’s his family crest.”
“That’s gorgeous,” Parvati murmured.
“I’ve never seen him wear it before.” Hermione glanced up at Harry. “Has he?”
Harry shook his head and stared at the ring for a long moment before a bright smile lit up his face. “Come on, you lot. I’m starved!” he said rather loudly, then proceeded to lead the way into the Great Hall.
The others traded looks and shrugs before following him in and splitting for their own House Tables. Parvati and Hermione took their seats on either side of Harry with bright smiles.
Gin sat down across from her brother and declared in bold lettering ‘You two DO look damn sexy together.’
Harry cocked an eyebrow at the girl. “Thank you, Gin.”
‘Oh, and Colin finally got a picture of you two kissing.’
“Colin Creevey!” Harry turned on the unfortunate sixth year with an angry gaze. “You will be giving me a copy.”
It took almost a full minute before the Gryffindors caught on to what Harry had actually said and they exploded into laughter while Colin nodded. “Sure thing, Harry!”
Harry turned back to his breakfast while the others around the table declared orders for a copy of the picture. Thank you.
It’s the only one I have, so I really don’t want you to lose it, okay?
Of course. I’ll treasure it dearly.
I know you will. Use it for your little experiment, if you want.
Ooh, goodie.
It’s also a portkey to Slytherin Manor, in case you ever need it.
Your family has a manor?
Of course we do. I’ll take you there this summer, how about?
Sure! Harry smiled to himself. Does the portkey have a password?
Yes, and it has to be spoken in Parseltongue to activate, as a precaution.
And the password is...
‘Voldie’, actually.
You owe me ten Galleons, you know.
I do, do I?
Yup! You said Voldie!
I believe, dearest imp, that the deal was that I had to refer to myself as Voldie for me to have to hand over the change.
Oh, damn. I’ll get you yet, Riddle!
Tom chuckled in their minds. I have no doubt of that. Now, eat your food.
-~/\~-
Dumbledore came to collect the three Gryffindors at the end of breakfast with a solemn air about him. “We will be taking a portkey which is up in my office. Please follow me.” Without a word, the three students fell into line behind the Headmaster. Harry followed directly behind the man, Hermione next, Parvati last.
“Sir, where are we portkeying to? The Atrium?” Harry inquired calmly.
Dumbledore glanced back at him. “Yes.” His eyes caught on the pendant about Harry’s throat and he frowned. “Where’d you get that necklace, Harry?”
“Hm?” Harry let his fingers brush over the phoenix gently. “It was in my family vault. Why?”
Dumbledore nodded. “It’s an old Order pendant, that’s all. We don’t use them anymore.”
“Oh…” Harry glanced back at Hermione and Parvati with an amused look. He was the second in command of the Dark Order and he was wearing an old pendant from the Order of the Phoenix. How weird could one get? You knew, he accused his lover.
Of course. It’s a good cover, though. It’s hard to question a person with a Order pendant, even if their Dark Mark is staring up at you from their arm. I know Severus has one that he keeps under an Invisibility Charm. Everyone recognizes them, if they were alive during the first war, Tom agreed.
“Sugar Quills,” Dumbledore murmured and his gargoyle doorkeeper jumped aside. He led the way up the staircase.
Maybe I should continue to wear it, then.
Not to full meetings.
No. Never to full meetings. Or, if I do, I’ll throw an Invisibility Charm up over it.
Tom shrugged mentally. Do you think Dumbles will ever induct you?
Do you think he’ll live that long?
Regrettably, yes. The man is nothing, if not crafty. He’ll survive nearly anything. In time, though, I’ll find his weak spot. Until then, play along.
I always play along.
“Here.” Dumbledore held out the old boot. “Take a hold, please.” Harry and Parvati stood on either side of Hermione, a steadying hand under each of her elbows. She shot them both glares, but didn’t complain aloud. “One…two…three.” There was a tugging sensation at their navels and the office disappeared in a whirl of colours.
They reappeared in the middle of the busy Atrium. Dumbledore tossed the boot into a bin and led them up to the security desk. “We’re here for the Weasley trial,” he told the wizard at the desk. “We’ll need badges, as well.”
The man let out a long-suffering sigh and got up to pull a box of badges down from a shelf. He quickly ran them all through the system of security (gold rod passed over front and back, wand read, badge made), stopping only once to stare at Harry for a long moment. Harry had glared back at him and the older wizard had quickly returned to making the badge. Once done, he sent them all on their way.
Dumbledore led them to the hall of lifts and grabbed them one going down. Harry caught sight of Rita Skeeter and another woman who looked like a reporter getting into the lift with them and hid himself behind the Headmaster, much to Dumbledore’s amusement.
Once the lift stopped, the Headmaster allowed the reporters to go first before leading his students behind them. As they went, he spoke again, “I forgot to tell you at school, and I apologize for this, but Invisibility Charms, glamours, and other spells that hide things are not effective inside the courtroom. If you have anything under such a charm that you wish to keep hidden, you’d best put it away now.” He glanced back at them and seemed surprised when no one quickly hid anything. He raises an eyebrow at them curiously.
“I read about the spells on the courtrooms in a book,” Hermione answered the unasked question in her know-it-all voice. “I told Harry and Parvati about it on Monday.”
“I...see...” Dumbledore turned back around. Harry held a hand back and Hermione gave him a quiet low-five, much to Parvati’s confusion. They spent the rest of the walk with Harry and Hermione trying to explain high-fives and low-fives to the witch, which appeared to amuse Dumbledore to no end, again.
Dumbledore led them into the room, glancing back at them all curiously. When no odd pendant appeared on any of them, he sighed and led them up to four seats that had been reserved for them in the benches. The courtroom was just as Harry remembered it being from his fifth year and he shuddered.
“Cold?” Hermione whispered.
Harry shook his head. “Memories. This was where my trial was held in fifth year.”
Hermione’s eyes widened in realization. “Oh.”
Harry glanced down at his hand and couldn’t stop the grin that took over his face. It worked!
Hm? Did you get past the Ministry’s security, love?
Yup!
Oh, good. Tom chuckled. Always good to know.
And Dumbles seems stumped that none of our pendants appeared. I think he really wanted to see them.
Yeah, right. Like we’d be so careless as to risk you or Parvati being found out. Doesn’t he wish?
I’m sure he does. Oh, wait they’re calling for silence. Don’t hex anyone, love.
Damn.
Harry smiled as he closed his end of the connection so he could concentrate on the trial.
As Harry had thought, not long after Fudge called for silence, the door in the corner opened and Ron was led in by two aurors. Harry was quite amused to note that it was Kingsley Shacklebolt, from the Order, and Cassidy Hayes, their single Death Eater auror. The two forced Ron to sit in the chair, then stood by him. The chains on the chair didn’t activate, probably because the aurors remained within reach. Harry nodded discretely to Cassidy when the man sought out his eyes.
Hermione elbowed Harry’s side and leaned over. “I know Kingsley, who’s the other, do you know?”
“Cassidy Hayes,” Harry replied in a murmur. “I remember him from my case during fifth year, too. When Arthur brought me in, we went upstairs first and he was dictating a letter or something. At any rate, I saw his name on his desk.”
“Oh...” Hermione nodded thoughtfully and turned to explain things to Parvati, who must have been the one to ask in the first place. Once again, Harry had proven he knew just about everything.
The teen glanced over at Dumbledore and found he wasn’t the least bit surprised to see an Order pendant about the old man’s neck. “Old pendants, sir?” he asked in a slightly teasing tone.
Dumbledore spared him a quick smile. “We used them in the first war. People still remember them and the members are still known to wear them, but they’re not really in style, I suppose you’d say. Some of us do still wear them, of course...” He sighed. “After this trial, I’d like a word with you in my office.”
“Of course, sir.” Harry nodded, then he let his eyes roam over the crowd. A few reporters were writing already and many people were talking to their neighbours. Harry frowned. “Why haven’t we begun?”
“Madam Bones isn’t here, yet,” the answer came from Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody, who settled into a seat behind Harry. “She got held up in her office about something.”
“Must have been because she wasn’t watching out, eh?” Harry glanced back at the retired auror and, once again, was met with the sight of the openly worn, but hidden, Order pendant. “Hullo, Mad-Eye.”
“Potter.” Mad-Eye nodded. “You’re well, I should hope.”
“Oh, as well as one can be with insane wizards and ex-best mates out to get you.” Harry shrugged. “You?”
Mad-Eye smiled thinly. “Still kickin’.”
“It’s a start.” Harry shrugged. “What brings you here?”
“Albus.” Mad-Eye shrugged.
“Oh.” Harry nodded in understanding. “That explains everything.” He grinned. “Mad-Eye, I believe you remember Hermione Granger and Parvati Patil? Herm, Parvati, this is Mad-Eye Moody. And trust me when I say he can get awfully moody.” Hermione and Parvati giggled softly.
Mad-Eye snorted. “The joke was old the first time you told it, Potter.”
“Probably. But, you see, Mad-Eye, it still gets laughs, so it’s not dead yet.”
Mad-Eye humphed, then, suddenly, reached forward. Harry slid backwards, out of his reach, eyes curious. “Good reflexes. Much better,” Mad-Eye commented. “May I look at the necklace? I keep forgetting how skittish you are.”
Harry scowled, but let Mad-Eye look. “I’m not skittish, Alastor. I’m just used to you reaching for me to smack me upside the head because I screwed something else up.”
The ex-auror flashed him a smile. “This looks like it was Lily’s.”
“You can tell the difference?” Harry inquired curiously, eyes wide.
“Details,” Mad-Eye replied, tapping his head. “You must remember the details. James’ phoenix had a chip in the tail. Lily’s didn’t.”
“Well, fine. I didn’t know there was a difference. Stop harping on me.”
“It’s my job to harp on you.”
“In that case, it’s my job to make your job difficult for you.”
“See, Albus. This is why I hated training this one. He’s a pain in the arse, like you’ve never seen before,” Mad-Eye complained to the smiling Headmaster.
“Better you than me,” Dumbledore replied.
“Ah, the Headmaster gets me all school year. You get me for until Madam Bones arrives. I’m sure you can handle me, unless you’ve gotten too old. Are you too old Mad-Eye? Is that the problem?” Harry teased, fully enjoying himself. The old auror was always a great companion, especially when you were stressed out. Tom’s bad feelings had the bad habit of turning out to be correct, and Harry couldn’t help but stress over it. He could tell that Tom had left his end of their connection open, too, just in case. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to be grateful, or annoyed.
“Out of curiosity, are you two mates or something?” Parvati asked.
“Mad-Eye and I got a bit close last year.” Harry nodded. “I wouldn’t say mates, really, since Mad-Eye doesn’t do mates, but we’re acquaintances.”
“I wouldn’t say I was mates with you, Potter, even if you paid me.”
“You don’t need the money, anyway,” Harry shot back.
“Ah, and here’s Madam Bones,” Dumbledore announced.
Harry turned back around. “I’ve got my eyes on you, Mad-Eye, so don’t try any funny stuff.”
Mad-Eye smirked and signed something with his hands behind Harry’s head. Harry signed back and the ex-auror shook his head with a smile.
One last person slid into the seat next to Mad-Eye while Fudge attempted to bring the courtroom to order again. Harry grinned at Arthur Weasley. “Here for the show, Arthur?” he teased.
“Or something. You still alive?”
“Almost a goner,” Harry replied in a dramatic stage-whisper. “If help had come any later–“
“Harry, stop being melodramatic,” Hermione hissed. “Arthur, the prat was fine. His charm bracelet blocked the poison.”
“Thank Merlin for the small things,” Arthur breathed while Harry elbowed Hermione gently.
“Please, your silence!” Fudge shouted once again. When it still didn’t seem to do any good, he glanced pleadingly at Dumbledore.
“We could have Mad-Eye sing. That’d get their attention,” Harry joked as Dumbledore stood. The teen ducked the hand aimed at his head easily and grinned at the ex-auror. “It’s true.”
“SILENCE!” Dumbledore shouted. The room fell into complete silence almost immediately and the Headmaster nodded to Fudge before sitting back down.
“I wish I could do that,” Harry muttered darkly. Dumbledore smiled at him.
The Minister nodded his thanks and returned to the room at large. “Ronald Bilius Weasley, you have come before the court accused of attempting to murder a good wizard without reason. How do you plead?"
Ron, who had searched out Harry while they were waiting from Madam Bones, was glaring at the green-eyed wizard hatefully. “I plead not guilty, sir, with the defence that I did what any law-abiding citizen would do.”
“And what might that have been, Mr Weasley?” Madam Bones inquired.
“I was trying to stop the threat of You-Know-Who,” Ron spat. “Because Harry Potter has gone Dark!”
Harry’s eyes narrowed at his one-time best friend as the courtroom flooded with noise. Silently and wandlessly, he strengthened the Secrecy Spell on the redhead while he could.
“Order! Order, I say!” Fudge shouted. Once again, he looked to Dumbledore for help. Dumbledore shot a quick look at Harry and the Minister nodded with a sigh.
The Headmaster nudged Harry. “Try calling them to order, Harry.”
Harry frowned at Dumbledore, then stood slowly, considering a nasty idea. Hermione, however, seemed to know how his mind worked and she smacked his arm warningly. He shrugged. “Order!” he called out calmly. And, despite how quiet he’d been, the room silenced rather quickly, all eyes on him. He nodded to the Minister, then sat back down, suddenly glad for Hermione’s hand on his arm.
Minister Fudge nodded his thanks and glared down at Ron, who was too busy glaring at Harry to notice. “The court would like to call Harry James Potter to the floor.”
“You’re fine,” Hermione whispered encouragingly as Harry stood.
Harry nodded dumbly and started his way down to the floor slowly. He twisted the ring on his finger and immediately felt better. Tom... he remembered. Right! I am Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived! One of the two main figure-heads for the Light. Ron’s just a dumb-arse, he told himself as he stepped out onto the floor. He nodded to Cassidy, who had conjured him a straight-backed, padded chair, and sat, eyes focussed on Minister Fudge and Madam Bones.
“Mr Potter, you have been accused, by Mr Weasley, of being a Dark wizard. How do you plead?” Madam Bones inquired.
“Not guilty,” Harry replied firmly. “Ronald Weasley is obviously delusional.” He noted that Madam Bones’ gaze was stuck on the Order necklace he’d worn and he cheered silently.
“Delusional?” Fudge inquired.
“Ronald was receiving regular letters from his elder brother, Percy Weasley, up until Percy’s death. Percy had obviously been spouting off his nonsense to Ronald about my being a Death Eater for months. Minister, I’m sure you will recall Ronald calling me a Death Eater before Christmas when you visited the Malfoy residence?” Harry said in an even voice, refusing to look at Ron.
The Minister’s eyes widened. He, obviously, did recall that incident. He nodded. “We of the court ask the jury to raise their hands if they find Mr Potter guilty of the accused accusation.”
No one’s hand rose.
Fudge nodded. “Mr Potter, you are cleared of all charges. Could you remain for a moment, though?”
“Of course, Minister,” Harry agreed. His eyes flickered up to where his friends sat. Hermione looked extremely relieved.
“Mr Potter, did Mr Ronald Weasley attack you on Friday, March thirteenth, nineteen ninety-eight with the intent to kill you?” Madam Bones enquired.
“I wouldn’t call it attacked, madam. He threw his Prefect pin at me, which had been dipped in poison,” Harry replied mildly.
“Is it true that this pin pierced your skin?”
“Yes, madam.” Harry nodded.
“How is it that you came to no harm, Mr Potter? That was never made clear in the report.”
“I have a charm bracelet, given to me by a friend for Christmas, with a charm that managed to protect me.”
“May the court see this bracelet, Mr Potter?” Madam Bones asked, eyes eager.
“The court may not see my bracelet, madam,” Harry replied firmly. This got people talking again.
“Order!” Fudge shouted. This time, they listened to him. “Mr Potter, why is it you deny the court a look at this bracelet?” the Minister asked with a furious look.
“If the court will forgive me, I have a madman after my blood. I hardly think showing off a bracelet that has already saved my life is a good idea. My best defence is a secret, after all,” Harry said without any regret. He saw Mad-Eye beam at him out of the corner of his eye. Of course the old auror would like him quoting his constant warnings. It showed him that they’d finally been drilled firmly into Harry’s head.
Madam Bones whispered something to Fudge before the man could yell again. “Acceptable,” he finally said, albeit grudgingly. “Mr Potter, you may return to your seat.”
“I thank you, Minister,” Harry said politely, standing. He nodded his thanks to Cassidy as the man got rid of the chair, then he trekked back up to his seat. Once there, he flopped down into it and covered his eyes with one hand. “Never again,” he muttered darkly. “Mad-Eye, what nasty concoction have you got in that flask of yours this time?”
The retired auror passed the flask forward. “Good job.”
Harry pinched his nose shut and took a quick swallow. He made a face before passing the flask back. “Thanks. I needed that.”
Hermione frowned at Harry. “What’s in there?”
“Super Secret Special Madness Formula for the Deranged,” Harry replied with a shrug. “At least, that’s what I call it. He mixes different alcoholic drinks together in a rather random order each morning and spells the flask to keep it full all day. I’ve decided he has no taste buds.”
“I’ve decided someone should have washed your mouth out with soap when you were younger,” Mad-Eye grumbled, taking a swig from his flask.
“Harry, aren’t you the one who always goes on about people not getting drunk?” Parvati hissed around Hermione.
“This boy doesn’t get drunk. He’s immune,” Mad-Eye informed them.
Harry shrugged. “Hush. I wanna see Ron’s sentence.”
“Thirty in Azkaban.”
“I refuse to bet with you over this, Mad-Eye. This is my first time in court,” Harry shot back, eyes on Ron. The redheaded wizard was back to glaring at him and Harry offered him a smirk, which he masked with a quick glamour for the rest of the court. Harry rather liked that he wasn’t restricted in the courtroom. He twisted his ring and smiled peacefully.
Ron got, as Mad-Eye had predicted, thirty years in Azkaban. The old auror had to explain to the ladies that he didn’t get life because he hadn’t actually killed anyone. Neither witch got it, even after he explained it twice on the way out, and Harry just told him to give up.
“So, Mad-Eye, any reason why you’re following us?” Harry inquired as they got off the lift at the Atrium.
“Alastor is coming back to the school with us,” Dumbledore said by way of explanation.
“That’s what I thought.” Harry nodded. Tom, love, Mad-Eye’s coming for dinner.
Lovely. This school can just be full of psychos!
Chipper, aren’t you? Harry teased lightly, taking hold of the portkey Dumbledore was holding out.
I have my seventh years, currently, and no Harry Potter.
I’m sorry, love. I’m coming back now. Perhaps I’ll pop in after Dumbledore’s had his meeting with me.
Meeting? What meeting? Tom asked suspiciously as the portkey activated.
Harry waited until they were all steady again before answering, The one he decided he needed to have with me. Hush.
“Miss Granger, Madam Pomfrey asked me to send you down to her as soon as we returned so she could make sure that the portkey didn’t do anything odd. Miss Patil, why don’t you take her? Harry, have a seat,” Dumbledore suggested, taking the seat behind his desk as Mad-Eye settled in a chair he’d made for himself.
Harry took the chair Dumbledore conjured up for him as the two witches left. He turned down both sherbet lemons and tea, as did Mad-Eye. “Sir, if we could please make this as quick as possible? I promised Marcus I’d drop in when we got back to stop him from pulling out too much hair,” the teen asked as Dumbledore poured his tea.
“Ah, and have his fantasies?” Dumbledore enquired teasingly.
“Truly, sir, that’s on his agenda, not mine. It doesn’t affect me if he’s sitting there in class daydreaming or sitting there in class actually grading papers.” Harry shrugged.
Dumbledore chuckled, shaking his head. “I should hope not.”
“Albus,” Mad-Eye growled warningly.
Harry’s gaze shot over to the ex-auror as the Headmaster sobered. “Why am I here?” the teen asked carefully, glancing between the two elder wizards. “And why do I think I won’t like it?”
Dumbledore sighed. “Because you probably won’t.” His gaze was grave. “I enquired after the Auror Training Program as to your school record. They have a habit of refusing to accept students who have been suspended in the past. Professor McGonagall and I were hoping they’d still take you, but they have refused.”
Harry blinked a few times slowly. “I...see...”
“You know Marcus is planning on leaving us next year, and you are safest here at Hogwarts...” Dumbledore continued.
Harry closed his eyes and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “You want me to take over as the Defence Against the Dark Arts position next year, don’t you?” he muttered.
“Yes,” Dumbledore agreed.
Harry glanced up at him wearily. “I will have had only what I’ve learned as a student here with teachers of fluctuating credibility to teach other students, sir. We both know I will never behave myself so long as I live. Why ask me?”
“You know more than most of your past teachers knew, Potter,” Mad-Eye berated him. “Not only that, but you have teaching experience. Albus is right, anyway. You will be safer at Hogwarts.”
“And the Order is based here, Harry,” Dumbledore added.
Harry twitched. “The Order? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Oh, come now. You’ve been on us all since your fifth year to join the Order.”
“Remus said you could only join if you were overage,” Harry replied suspiciously. “I’m not eighteen yet.”
“Yet,” Dumbledore agreed.
“The vote has been called anyway,” Moody argued. “Everyone seems to agree that you should be inducted before school is over. You are being targeted for attacks in some of the most random of places and by some of the most random of people.”
“You will be in the public eye more than ever now, Harry. With Percy’s call on your loyalties and then Ron’s, the papers will be dying for a story. If you are inducted into the Order they will not have that story. The Order will protect you from the press,” Dumbledore added, leaning forward.
Harry stood slowly. “I need to think,” he muttered. “If you don’t mind?”
“Of course,” the Headmaster agreed, smiling. “But, Harry, I know you care for Marcus, but there are some things, Order things, that you just cannot tell him about.”
Harry gave the old man a cold look. “I know the meaning of a secret, Headmaster, and I am capable of keeping one.” He turned and walked towards the door. “I will see you both at dinner, and I will give you my answer then.” He let the door slam shut behind him.
-~/\~-
Tom didn’t bother to glance up when the green-eyed teen stepped into his first year Slytherin and Gryffindor class. However, the little snaps of conversation had stopped once the students started to realize who was standing in the doorway. The Dark Lord let out a quiet sigh. “Can I help you, Mr Potter?” he enquired, still not glancing up from the papers he was grading. He could feel Harry’s turmoil and it was slowly driving him insane.
“I was wondering if I could hide out in your office until your class is over, Professor,” the young wizard replied in a cold tone.
Tom glanced up and met the confused gaze. “Very well. Don’t break anything.”
“Yes, sir,” Harry agreed before slipping around the room and into the connecting office. He tossed himself into Tom’s favourite chair in the sitting room and closed his eyes with a groan. My life has gone to hell.
Your life has been hell since Hallowe’en of 1981, Tom replied gently. This class will be over in about ten minutes, love. I’ll come in then, okay?
Yes. Okay...
Did you put your necklace back on yet?
What? Oh, no... I should do that... Harry trailed off as he slipped his Dark Mark from his money purse and put it back on. He spent the next ten minutes fiddling with his two necklaces and trying not to think.
Tom came in once his classroom had cleared of brats. “You knew they were going to want you to join the Order, you imp,” he pointed out, standing before Harry’s chair with an odd look.
“I’m not eighteen, Tom. It’s bothering me that they’d bend the rules for me again.”
“They’re always going to bend rules for you, love.” Tom sighed, kneeling in front of the chair and taking Harry’s hands in his own. “Look at me.” Harry looked up into the fake teal eyes. “I know you hate being special, Harry. I know you’d rather dig yourself a little hole and hide in it sometimes... Well, consider Hogwarts your hole and the Order the rock covering it.”
“I’d rather you be the rock, thanks,” Harry muttered darkly.
Tom smiled and kissed Harry’s hands. “I can’t be, though. Not really. Not publicly. The Dark Order will always protect you, you know this, but you are the child of the Light, my love, and they will hold you there firmly.”
“You’re telling me to take the position and join the Order,” Harry sighed, looking away.
“Yes. We need more people in Hogwarts, and you want to keep an eye on Gin. We need someone who’s trusted fully by Dumbles in both the Order and Hogwarts. Severus is only trusted so far, and Arthur, Molly, Fred, and George aren’t inside Hogwarts, nor is your godfather. You will always have the Order’s trust on some level and the students and staff at Hogwarts adore you. I’m not telling you to pull away from us, I’m just asking you to help me get the information we need.”
“I know, I know…” Harry pulled his hands free from Tom and leaned forward to hug him, burying his face in the older wizard’s robe. It’s just all so sudden, that’s all. One thing on top of another, as the saying goes. Those damned first years yesterday night and then the court trial and now this.
“Hush…” Tom tugged Harry into his arms and settled himself into the chair under the teen so that Harry was in his lap. “You’re exhausted. Get some sleep.”
“Your next class–“
“I will handle that when it starts. Sleep, imp.”
Harry chuckled weakly and burrowed into the warm embrace, closing his eyes. “Bastard…”
Tom just kissed the top of Harry’s head with a smile.
-~/\~-
“Harry!” Hermione hugged the teen tightly as soon as he appeared at her elbow in the entrance hall, yawning. “Where have you been?!”
Harry blinked around at his friends owlishly. Hermione and Parvati had both changed back into their school uniforms. He had remained in his court robes, though his cloak had been given to Dobby to put away. “I took a nap in Marcus’ office.”
‘A NAP?!’ Gin exclaimed. ‘Why just a nap?’
“Exhausted,” Harry replied with a shrug, fighting back another yawn and resting his head on Hermione’s shoulder. “I never knew trials could be so tiring.”
“You have no clue,” a voice said from behind the group. Everyone but Harry jumped and Draco paled as Mad-Eye stepped into their line of sight.
Harry yawned again. “Stop scaring my friends, Mad-Eye.”
The ex-auror glared around at the group of four Slytherins, seven Gryffindors, and two Ravenclaws. “Potter, Albus asked me to come get you,” he said finally, glancing at Harry while the other students twitched nervously.
Harry shrugged and let go of Hermione. “Oh, okay. See everyone later.” He waved at them all with a dazed look on his face and followed Mad-Eye out of their sight.
“Are you really that tired?” Mad-Eye inquired gently.
Harry shrugged. “Yes.” Mad-Eye gave him a searching look and the Prefect winked wickedly before floating back into his dazed look. “If I didn’t have somewhere to be, I’d have gone to bed early, really.”
Mad-Eye let out a bark of laughter. “Sure you would, Potter. Sure you would. Sugar Quills.” The gargoyle moved out of their way and Mad-Eye led the way up and into the circular office where Dumbledore greeted them with a smile.
“You look a bit tired, Harry,” Dumbledore mentioned, motioning for the two wizards to sit around the small table in the centre of the room.
“Just a bit,” Harry agreed, sitting in his seat. “I’ve thought about your offers, at any rate.”
“And?” Dumbledore glanced at him as he sat himself.
“Yes, I will join the Order now.” Harry nodded wearily. “And, yes, I will teach here next year, but I have conditions.”
“As do I. We shall get to those in a moment.” The Headmaster nodded seriously. “As for joining the Order, we have a meeting set for this Sunday at Grimmauld Place. If you can make that, we’ll induct you then. Otherwise, we shall have to wait another month. Are you free for the weekend?”
Harry scratched the back of his neck thoughtfully. “Yes. We didn’t really have anything planned. I’ll need an excuse, though, that my friends will buy. And, sir, you must remember that half of my friends are Slytherins, so it’d best be a legitimate one.”
“I’ll have Remus owl you tomorrow about a lunch date, hm?” the Headmaster said thoughtfully.
“Out of the blue?” Mad-Eye frowned at Dumbledore for a moment before glancing at Harry. “What do you say to a lunch date with me this weekend? Catch up, since I didn’t really get a good chance to chat with you.”
Harry snorted. “Ravenclaws.” He shook his head, fighting back a yawn. “Sure. Much nicer when I’m not yawning my head off, I suppose. Sunday in London?”
“Sunday in London.” Mad-Eye nodded seriously.
“That’s settled, then!” Dumbledore said happily, clapping his hands.
“Brilliant,” Harry agreed in a bored voice. He and Mad-Eye traded a look that agreed on Dumbledore’s madness.
“Now, you said you have conditions to teaching here next year?” Dumbledore continued in his overly-happy voice.
Harry frowned thoughtfully, fork held in a loose grip over his plate. “Yes. First, I want Herm to be allowed to stay on school grounds next year.”
“Do you have a valid reason?”
“I have a few, actually. For one, she, like myself, is safest at Hogwarts. She is my best friend and if Voldemort wants to lure me out, he’ll probably use her. Next, her child will be safest at Hogwarts. Both the godparents will be here and the father is in Azkaban. I don’t revel the idea of sending her home to her parents,” Harry said firmly, all show of exhaustion gone in the blink of an eye.
“Understandable. I shall offer her a room at the end of the year.”
“Not now?”
“No. In fact, I’d rather you not tell anyone that you’ll be teaching here next year just yet.”
“I’m telling Marcus,” Harry argued.
Dumbledore fixed him with a stern look. “Valid reason.”
“He is the wizard I will be taking this position from. If I know exactly what he’s teaching and has taught this year, I can build up a better lesson plan now and tweak it later. I’d like to see how he runs his classes and get his notes on the students before he dubs them useless and tosses them in the fire,” Harry responded.
The Headmaster paused to think this over before nodding with a sigh. “Very well. You may tell Marcus, but no one else.”
“Agreed.”
“You have more conditions?”
“Yes.” Harry set his fork down. “Marcus, assuming our relationship lasts, of course, should be allowed to visit me or me to visit him at any given time without questions as long as it is reasonable.”
Dumbledore pursed his lips. “Please define reasonable.”
“Not during class periods. If I have another obligation, say an Order meeting or a detention, that obligation comes first. Work before fun, if you will.”
Dumbledore considered this and nodded. “That’s acceptable. I would prefer, however, that you, at the least, remain in the castle overnight.”
“Of course.” Harry nodded. “You have conditions?”
“Not telling anyone, was one of them. The other is this pranking habit of yours.” Dumbledore fixed the Boy-Who-Lived with a sharp look. “I don’t want to see it.”
“I get free reign in my classroom,” Harry shot back. “I may prank them in there if it is pertaining to the subject. I will not prank the school as a whole without both a good reason and running it by yourself first.”
Dumbledore nodded. “As long as your pranks are only in effect inside your classroom, unless it is a school-wide prank I have agreed to.”
“Agreeable,” Harry decided. He smirked suddenly. “Headmaster, I do believe this is the first productive conversation I have had with you in a long time.”
Dumbledore smiled. “Indeed. I’m sure you know where the staff room is?”
“The one on the fourth floor? Across from that lovely picture of a wooded glen?” Harry inquired easily.
The old man’s blue eyes twinkled madly. “That would be the one. We have a staff meeting set for every Saturday morning at four. I’m sure you’ll find a way to get the password.”
“No doubt. You want me to attend?”
“If you can get up that early.” Dumbledore nodded. “If not, that is fine. I will announce your employment the first time you can make it.”
Harry nodded. “Very well.” He suddenly appeared very tired and rose slowly. “Headmaster, Mad-Eye, if it's acceptable, I think I shall head for bed.”
“Of course,” Dumbledore agreed as Mad-Eye nodded. “But, Harry, are you really tired?” the Headmaster wanted to know.
Harry blinked at Dumbledore slowly. “Of course, sir. Exhausted. Good night.”
“Good night,” Mad-Eye agreed with a wide grin. Once the door had closed behind Harry, he turned to the Headmaster. “A good pick, Albus. He’ll give you a run for your money, no problem.”
“You trained him. Was he really tired?” Dumbledore asked in an exasperated tone.
“Yup. Exhausted, but he plays it down well. I’ve seen him take on two fully trained and rested aurors after being awake for forty-eight hours straight and dead on his feet.”
Dumbledore let out a sound somewhere between a snort and a groan. “He doesn’t need to go through Auror Training.”
“Told you. What he didn’t learn from me he learned during his time on his own in London or during his suspension. We could probably get him an auror license, if he really wants one.”
“Mention it during your lunch date,” the Headmaster replied in annoyance. “You said he doesn’t get drunk, earlier?”
“Never seen him drunk,” Mad-Eye agreed. “And he’s had his fair share of my flask. He’s either immune, or has an amazing tolerance level. As I recall, James couldn’t hold his liquor. What about Lily?”
“No idea. I never saw her drunk, but nor did I ever see her have alcohol.” Dumbledore sighed, rubbing his chin. “It’s possible that she could just hold her liquor amazingly well and passed the ability on to Harry, I suppose.”
“Possibly. Although, now, he has that charm against getting drunk...”
Dumbledore perked up. “You can see through the Invisibility Charm on that?”
“I can see through a lot of Invisibility Charms, Albus, you know that.”
“What other charms are on there, Alastor?”
Mad-Eye gave the Headmaster a curious little smile as he stood to leave. “The best defence is a secret, Albus. Good night.”
The Headmaster scowled as the auror left his office. Those two are impossible!
-~/\~-
-~/\~-
Abandon & Reclaim Series:
Abandon the Prequel: Sixth Year
Abandon Chapters:
01 || 02 || 03 || 04 || 05 || 06 || 07 || 08 || 09 || 10
11 || 12 || 13 || 14 || 15 || 16 || 17 || 18 || 19 || 20
21 || 22 || 23 || 24 || 25 || 26 || 27 || 28 || 29 || 30
31 || 32 || 33 || 34 || 35 || 36 || 37 || 38 || 39 || 40
41 || 42 || 43 || 44 || 45 || 46 || 47
Reclaim Chapters:
One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten
Eleven || Twelve || Thirteen || Fourteen || Fifteen
Epilogue
Side Stories:
Ginevra Weasley & Theodore Nott
Minerva McGonagall || Minerva McGonagall (again)
Author:
batsutousaiBeta:
magickmaker17Pairings: Harry/Tom(Voldemort), Seamus/Blaise, Ginevra/Theodore, post-Ron/Hermione, Salazar/Godric
Warnings: This will have slash(Guys on guys, ppl.) , Dumbledore bashing, Ron bashing
Key:
Mind-speak
:Parseltongue:
’Written thoughts’
Chapter 41, Part 1
Chapter 41, Part 2
----------------------------------------
Harry was muttering about idiots when he entered the common room Wednesday morning. He’d finally got the chance to talk to Ula Thorald and Ronan Rockwell the night before, due to their having detention Monday night with Filch. He paused when he saw Hermione and Parvati, who were dressed for court, since Dumbledore had told them they’d be leaving directly after breakfast, and they looked lovely.
Hermione’s hair was straightened and done up in a tight bun to keep it out of the way. Her robes were light blue and swept around her form elegantly, hiding the pregnancy in a way that her school robes and muggle clothing never could. She’d gone with dark blue eye shadow and a light shade of pink for her lips. The dark purple cloak from the Malfoys was slung over her shoulders, since it was still a bit nippy, despite being mid-March.
Parvati was wearing her dark hair braided around her head in a sort of crown. Her robes were sophisticated and in a dark mauve, almost purple. A floral pattern in maroon embroidery thread trailed around the neckline and cuffs. Her eye shadow was in dark shades of violet and her lips were a dark red, almost purple. A dark red and gold cloak was slung about her shoulders to ward off the chill. Her Dark Mark pendant was nowhere in sight.
“You both look beautiful,” Harry sighed, smiling. “You’ll end up charming the court, no problem.”
“And you look drop-dead gorgeous,” Parvati declared.
Harry had dressed in his dark green robes with silver serpents twining around the cuffs. The serpents actually moved, which tended to be distracting, so Harry had stunned the things earlier. He’d grown his hair out with a potion so it would behave itself and it was pulled away from his face in a black leather clasp, though a few locks fell about his face. His scar stood out sharply on his forehead, as always. He’d put his glasses away for his clear contacts. His Dark Mark pendant had been securely put away in the money pouch tied to his belt and he’d found a necklace with a flying phoenix to put in its place. He, too, wore his cloak from the Malfoys.
“Thanks, Parvati.” His hand brushed the necklace at his throat. “I’m going to try my little test on this, so let me know if it disappears or not.”
“What if we’re not called in together?” Hermione asked in concern as they joined the other Gryffindors heading for breakfast. All three ignored the strange looks they were receiving.
Harry shrugged. “I dunno. We’ll figure something out.” He dropped his hand from the pendant. “Your bracelets are secured?”
“Yes, Master,” they intoned. Harry grinned.
‘You three look AMAZING!’ Gin cried she caught sight of them. She, Seamus, Blaise, Draco, Pansy, Theodore, and Padma were all waiting at the bottom of the stairs in the entrance hall for them.
“Gee, thanks, Gin,” Harry replied, attempting to be bashful.
Gin swatted his arm. ‘You’re such a bastard at times.’
“Look at this, Draco. Baby Harry’s all grown up. He didn’t need our help getting dressed this time,” Pansy said with a sniffle.
“Ha-ha, Pan. Funny,” Harry muttered, glaring at her.
“Wow!” called a voice from above the group of seventh years and Gin. They all glanced up at where Enid stood, gaping down at them.
Harry waved her down. “Come now, what’s that look for?”
“I’m jealous,” the young Gryffindor announced. “I could never look that good.”
“Oh, don’t you worry,” Harry assured her. “We’ll hand you over to Pan and she’ll have you attracting guys in no time. Worked for me.” He jumped out of the way quickly as Pansy attempted to smack him.
“I know you can’t run very fast in those robes of yours, Potter, so I’ll give you a five second head start,” the young woman called darkly.
“Make it five minutes and I might allow it,” a voice said dangerously from behind Pansy.
“Marcus! You nearly gave me a heart attack!” the Slytherin exclaimed, turning and seeing the professor.
“That was the point,” the Dark Lord replied coldly.
“He’s grumpy ‘cause I don’t get to cause trouble in his class today,” Harry offered brightly, setting a hand on Pansy’s shoulder reassuringly. “Morning, Marcus.”
Tom reached forward and pulled Harry against his chest before kissing him thoroughly. The kiss was followed by the exclamation: “This isn’t fair! I wanted to have my wild sex fantasies during class!”
Harry buried his face in Tom’s chest, laughing helplessly while the group behind him cracked up. You are such a bastard, Tom!
And you love me anyway. Pity.
“Marcus, that’s not something you normally shout at the top of your lungs in the middle of the entrance hall before breakfast,” Blaise told the man, trying to regain his breath.
“I wanted to make my displeasure known,” the Dark Lord replied with a whine.
“Well, you’ve done it with style, Marcus. Please never do it again,” Harry suggested wearily, leaning back to get a good look at the Dark Lord. He really didn’t look pleased about Harry having to go to the trial.
Tom’s eyes glinted and he opened his mouth, obviously intending to shout his embarrassing proclamation at the top of his lungs once again. Harry tugged his head down and kissed him, instead. Hey!
It’s the fastest way to shut you up, prat, Harry shot back, pulling away to glare at his lover. “I don’t care how displeased you are, please don’t do that again.”
“Oh. Fine…” Tom sighed and hugged Harry tightly. Remember that you have every right to not answer a question, k?
Tom, what do you know that I don’t?
I know a lot, but I have suspicions about this trial. You don’t have to answer everything. Remember that, Tom replied, worry seeping through their connection.
Alright, love. Harry sighed, pulling away. “It’ll be fine, Marcus. You can still have your fantasies without me there, you just won’t have anyone to stare at while you’re doing it, right?”
“ ‘S not the same.” The Dark Lord shook his head sadly. “Here, Harry, wait.” He pulled something out of a pocket and set it in Harry’s palm, closing the teen’s hand around it. “Don’t you dare lose that, hear me?”
“Yes.” Harry nodded seriously.
Tom kissed his scar. “Behave at that trial, Mr Potter. I mean it.”
“I was planning to. Don’t worry.”
A sad smile stole across Tom’s face for a brief moment. “But I do worry, you imp. It’s what I’m here for,” he said softly before walking past his lover and the teen’s friends and going into the Great Hall.
Harry opened his hand and gaped at the ring in it. “Oh, Merlin…”
The Juniors and Hermione closed in. “Harry, is that what I think it is?” Draco hissed.
Harry slid the ring on his ring finger with a smile. “It’s his family crest.”
“That’s gorgeous,” Parvati murmured.
“I’ve never seen him wear it before.” Hermione glanced up at Harry. “Has he?”
Harry shook his head and stared at the ring for a long moment before a bright smile lit up his face. “Come on, you lot. I’m starved!” he said rather loudly, then proceeded to lead the way into the Great Hall.
The others traded looks and shrugs before following him in and splitting for their own House Tables. Parvati and Hermione took their seats on either side of Harry with bright smiles.
Gin sat down across from her brother and declared in bold lettering ‘You two DO look damn sexy together.’
Harry cocked an eyebrow at the girl. “Thank you, Gin.”
‘Oh, and Colin finally got a picture of you two kissing.’
“Colin Creevey!” Harry turned on the unfortunate sixth year with an angry gaze. “You will be giving me a copy.”
It took almost a full minute before the Gryffindors caught on to what Harry had actually said and they exploded into laughter while Colin nodded. “Sure thing, Harry!”
Harry turned back to his breakfast while the others around the table declared orders for a copy of the picture. Thank you.
It’s the only one I have, so I really don’t want you to lose it, okay?
Of course. I’ll treasure it dearly.
I know you will. Use it for your little experiment, if you want.
Ooh, goodie.
It’s also a portkey to Slytherin Manor, in case you ever need it.
Your family has a manor?
Of course we do. I’ll take you there this summer, how about?
Sure! Harry smiled to himself. Does the portkey have a password?
Yes, and it has to be spoken in Parseltongue to activate, as a precaution.
And the password is...
‘Voldie’, actually.
You owe me ten Galleons, you know.
I do, do I?
Yup! You said Voldie!
I believe, dearest imp, that the deal was that I had to refer to myself as Voldie for me to have to hand over the change.
Oh, damn. I’ll get you yet, Riddle!
Tom chuckled in their minds. I have no doubt of that. Now, eat your food.
Dumbledore came to collect the three Gryffindors at the end of breakfast with a solemn air about him. “We will be taking a portkey which is up in my office. Please follow me.” Without a word, the three students fell into line behind the Headmaster. Harry followed directly behind the man, Hermione next, Parvati last.
“Sir, where are we portkeying to? The Atrium?” Harry inquired calmly.
Dumbledore glanced back at him. “Yes.” His eyes caught on the pendant about Harry’s throat and he frowned. “Where’d you get that necklace, Harry?”
“Hm?” Harry let his fingers brush over the phoenix gently. “It was in my family vault. Why?”
Dumbledore nodded. “It’s an old Order pendant, that’s all. We don’t use them anymore.”
“Oh…” Harry glanced back at Hermione and Parvati with an amused look. He was the second in command of the Dark Order and he was wearing an old pendant from the Order of the Phoenix. How weird could one get? You knew, he accused his lover.
Of course. It’s a good cover, though. It’s hard to question a person with a Order pendant, even if their Dark Mark is staring up at you from their arm. I know Severus has one that he keeps under an Invisibility Charm. Everyone recognizes them, if they were alive during the first war, Tom agreed.
“Sugar Quills,” Dumbledore murmured and his gargoyle doorkeeper jumped aside. He led the way up the staircase.
Maybe I should continue to wear it, then.
Not to full meetings.
No. Never to full meetings. Or, if I do, I’ll throw an Invisibility Charm up over it.
Tom shrugged mentally. Do you think Dumbles will ever induct you?
Do you think he’ll live that long?
Regrettably, yes. The man is nothing, if not crafty. He’ll survive nearly anything. In time, though, I’ll find his weak spot. Until then, play along.
I always play along.
“Here.” Dumbledore held out the old boot. “Take a hold, please.” Harry and Parvati stood on either side of Hermione, a steadying hand under each of her elbows. She shot them both glares, but didn’t complain aloud. “One…two…three.” There was a tugging sensation at their navels and the office disappeared in a whirl of colours.
They reappeared in the middle of the busy Atrium. Dumbledore tossed the boot into a bin and led them up to the security desk. “We’re here for the Weasley trial,” he told the wizard at the desk. “We’ll need badges, as well.”
The man let out a long-suffering sigh and got up to pull a box of badges down from a shelf. He quickly ran them all through the system of security (gold rod passed over front and back, wand read, badge made), stopping only once to stare at Harry for a long moment. Harry had glared back at him and the older wizard had quickly returned to making the badge. Once done, he sent them all on their way.
Dumbledore led them to the hall of lifts and grabbed them one going down. Harry caught sight of Rita Skeeter and another woman who looked like a reporter getting into the lift with them and hid himself behind the Headmaster, much to Dumbledore’s amusement.
Once the lift stopped, the Headmaster allowed the reporters to go first before leading his students behind them. As they went, he spoke again, “I forgot to tell you at school, and I apologize for this, but Invisibility Charms, glamours, and other spells that hide things are not effective inside the courtroom. If you have anything under such a charm that you wish to keep hidden, you’d best put it away now.” He glanced back at them and seemed surprised when no one quickly hid anything. He raises an eyebrow at them curiously.
“I read about the spells on the courtrooms in a book,” Hermione answered the unasked question in her know-it-all voice. “I told Harry and Parvati about it on Monday.”
“I...see...” Dumbledore turned back around. Harry held a hand back and Hermione gave him a quiet low-five, much to Parvati’s confusion. They spent the rest of the walk with Harry and Hermione trying to explain high-fives and low-fives to the witch, which appeared to amuse Dumbledore to no end, again.
Dumbledore led them into the room, glancing back at them all curiously. When no odd pendant appeared on any of them, he sighed and led them up to four seats that had been reserved for them in the benches. The courtroom was just as Harry remembered it being from his fifth year and he shuddered.
“Cold?” Hermione whispered.
Harry shook his head. “Memories. This was where my trial was held in fifth year.”
Hermione’s eyes widened in realization. “Oh.”
Harry glanced down at his hand and couldn’t stop the grin that took over his face. It worked!
Hm? Did you get past the Ministry’s security, love?
Yup!
Oh, good. Tom chuckled. Always good to know.
And Dumbles seems stumped that none of our pendants appeared. I think he really wanted to see them.
Yeah, right. Like we’d be so careless as to risk you or Parvati being found out. Doesn’t he wish?
I’m sure he does. Oh, wait they’re calling for silence. Don’t hex anyone, love.
Damn.
Harry smiled as he closed his end of the connection so he could concentrate on the trial.
As Harry had thought, not long after Fudge called for silence, the door in the corner opened and Ron was led in by two aurors. Harry was quite amused to note that it was Kingsley Shacklebolt, from the Order, and Cassidy Hayes, their single Death Eater auror. The two forced Ron to sit in the chair, then stood by him. The chains on the chair didn’t activate, probably because the aurors remained within reach. Harry nodded discretely to Cassidy when the man sought out his eyes.
Hermione elbowed Harry’s side and leaned over. “I know Kingsley, who’s the other, do you know?”
“Cassidy Hayes,” Harry replied in a murmur. “I remember him from my case during fifth year, too. When Arthur brought me in, we went upstairs first and he was dictating a letter or something. At any rate, I saw his name on his desk.”
“Oh...” Hermione nodded thoughtfully and turned to explain things to Parvati, who must have been the one to ask in the first place. Once again, Harry had proven he knew just about everything.
The teen glanced over at Dumbledore and found he wasn’t the least bit surprised to see an Order pendant about the old man’s neck. “Old pendants, sir?” he asked in a slightly teasing tone.
Dumbledore spared him a quick smile. “We used them in the first war. People still remember them and the members are still known to wear them, but they’re not really in style, I suppose you’d say. Some of us do still wear them, of course...” He sighed. “After this trial, I’d like a word with you in my office.”
“Of course, sir.” Harry nodded, then he let his eyes roam over the crowd. A few reporters were writing already and many people were talking to their neighbours. Harry frowned. “Why haven’t we begun?”
“Madam Bones isn’t here, yet,” the answer came from Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody, who settled into a seat behind Harry. “She got held up in her office about something.”
“Must have been because she wasn’t watching out, eh?” Harry glanced back at the retired auror and, once again, was met with the sight of the openly worn, but hidden, Order pendant. “Hullo, Mad-Eye.”
“Potter.” Mad-Eye nodded. “You’re well, I should hope.”
“Oh, as well as one can be with insane wizards and ex-best mates out to get you.” Harry shrugged. “You?”
Mad-Eye smiled thinly. “Still kickin’.”
“It’s a start.” Harry shrugged. “What brings you here?”
“Albus.” Mad-Eye shrugged.
“Oh.” Harry nodded in understanding. “That explains everything.” He grinned. “Mad-Eye, I believe you remember Hermione Granger and Parvati Patil? Herm, Parvati, this is Mad-Eye Moody. And trust me when I say he can get awfully moody.” Hermione and Parvati giggled softly.
Mad-Eye snorted. “The joke was old the first time you told it, Potter.”
“Probably. But, you see, Mad-Eye, it still gets laughs, so it’s not dead yet.”
Mad-Eye humphed, then, suddenly, reached forward. Harry slid backwards, out of his reach, eyes curious. “Good reflexes. Much better,” Mad-Eye commented. “May I look at the necklace? I keep forgetting how skittish you are.”
Harry scowled, but let Mad-Eye look. “I’m not skittish, Alastor. I’m just used to you reaching for me to smack me upside the head because I screwed something else up.”
The ex-auror flashed him a smile. “This looks like it was Lily’s.”
“You can tell the difference?” Harry inquired curiously, eyes wide.
“Details,” Mad-Eye replied, tapping his head. “You must remember the details. James’ phoenix had a chip in the tail. Lily’s didn’t.”
“Well, fine. I didn’t know there was a difference. Stop harping on me.”
“It’s my job to harp on you.”
“In that case, it’s my job to make your job difficult for you.”
“See, Albus. This is why I hated training this one. He’s a pain in the arse, like you’ve never seen before,” Mad-Eye complained to the smiling Headmaster.
“Better you than me,” Dumbledore replied.
“Ah, the Headmaster gets me all school year. You get me for until Madam Bones arrives. I’m sure you can handle me, unless you’ve gotten too old. Are you too old Mad-Eye? Is that the problem?” Harry teased, fully enjoying himself. The old auror was always a great companion, especially when you were stressed out. Tom’s bad feelings had the bad habit of turning out to be correct, and Harry couldn’t help but stress over it. He could tell that Tom had left his end of their connection open, too, just in case. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to be grateful, or annoyed.
“Out of curiosity, are you two mates or something?” Parvati asked.
“Mad-Eye and I got a bit close last year.” Harry nodded. “I wouldn’t say mates, really, since Mad-Eye doesn’t do mates, but we’re acquaintances.”
“I wouldn’t say I was mates with you, Potter, even if you paid me.”
“You don’t need the money, anyway,” Harry shot back.
“Ah, and here’s Madam Bones,” Dumbledore announced.
Harry turned back around. “I’ve got my eyes on you, Mad-Eye, so don’t try any funny stuff.”
Mad-Eye smirked and signed something with his hands behind Harry’s head. Harry signed back and the ex-auror shook his head with a smile.
One last person slid into the seat next to Mad-Eye while Fudge attempted to bring the courtroom to order again. Harry grinned at Arthur Weasley. “Here for the show, Arthur?” he teased.
“Or something. You still alive?”
“Almost a goner,” Harry replied in a dramatic stage-whisper. “If help had come any later–“
“Harry, stop being melodramatic,” Hermione hissed. “Arthur, the prat was fine. His charm bracelet blocked the poison.”
“Thank Merlin for the small things,” Arthur breathed while Harry elbowed Hermione gently.
“Please, your silence!” Fudge shouted once again. When it still didn’t seem to do any good, he glanced pleadingly at Dumbledore.
“We could have Mad-Eye sing. That’d get their attention,” Harry joked as Dumbledore stood. The teen ducked the hand aimed at his head easily and grinned at the ex-auror. “It’s true.”
“SILENCE!” Dumbledore shouted. The room fell into complete silence almost immediately and the Headmaster nodded to Fudge before sitting back down.
“I wish I could do that,” Harry muttered darkly. Dumbledore smiled at him.
The Minister nodded his thanks and returned to the room at large. “Ronald Bilius Weasley, you have come before the court accused of attempting to murder a good wizard without reason. How do you plead?"
Ron, who had searched out Harry while they were waiting from Madam Bones, was glaring at the green-eyed wizard hatefully. “I plead not guilty, sir, with the defence that I did what any law-abiding citizen would do.”
“And what might that have been, Mr Weasley?” Madam Bones inquired.
“I was trying to stop the threat of You-Know-Who,” Ron spat. “Because Harry Potter has gone Dark!”
Harry’s eyes narrowed at his one-time best friend as the courtroom flooded with noise. Silently and wandlessly, he strengthened the Secrecy Spell on the redhead while he could.
“Order! Order, I say!” Fudge shouted. Once again, he looked to Dumbledore for help. Dumbledore shot a quick look at Harry and the Minister nodded with a sigh.
The Headmaster nudged Harry. “Try calling them to order, Harry.”
Harry frowned at Dumbledore, then stood slowly, considering a nasty idea. Hermione, however, seemed to know how his mind worked and she smacked his arm warningly. He shrugged. “Order!” he called out calmly. And, despite how quiet he’d been, the room silenced rather quickly, all eyes on him. He nodded to the Minister, then sat back down, suddenly glad for Hermione’s hand on his arm.
Minister Fudge nodded his thanks and glared down at Ron, who was too busy glaring at Harry to notice. “The court would like to call Harry James Potter to the floor.”
“You’re fine,” Hermione whispered encouragingly as Harry stood.
Harry nodded dumbly and started his way down to the floor slowly. He twisted the ring on his finger and immediately felt better. Tom... he remembered. Right! I am Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived! One of the two main figure-heads for the Light. Ron’s just a dumb-arse, he told himself as he stepped out onto the floor. He nodded to Cassidy, who had conjured him a straight-backed, padded chair, and sat, eyes focussed on Minister Fudge and Madam Bones.
“Mr Potter, you have been accused, by Mr Weasley, of being a Dark wizard. How do you plead?” Madam Bones inquired.
“Not guilty,” Harry replied firmly. “Ronald Weasley is obviously delusional.” He noted that Madam Bones’ gaze was stuck on the Order necklace he’d worn and he cheered silently.
“Delusional?” Fudge inquired.
“Ronald was receiving regular letters from his elder brother, Percy Weasley, up until Percy’s death. Percy had obviously been spouting off his nonsense to Ronald about my being a Death Eater for months. Minister, I’m sure you will recall Ronald calling me a Death Eater before Christmas when you visited the Malfoy residence?” Harry said in an even voice, refusing to look at Ron.
The Minister’s eyes widened. He, obviously, did recall that incident. He nodded. “We of the court ask the jury to raise their hands if they find Mr Potter guilty of the accused accusation.”
No one’s hand rose.
Fudge nodded. “Mr Potter, you are cleared of all charges. Could you remain for a moment, though?”
“Of course, Minister,” Harry agreed. His eyes flickered up to where his friends sat. Hermione looked extremely relieved.
“Mr Potter, did Mr Ronald Weasley attack you on Friday, March thirteenth, nineteen ninety-eight with the intent to kill you?” Madam Bones enquired.
“I wouldn’t call it attacked, madam. He threw his Prefect pin at me, which had been dipped in poison,” Harry replied mildly.
“Is it true that this pin pierced your skin?”
“Yes, madam.” Harry nodded.
“How is it that you came to no harm, Mr Potter? That was never made clear in the report.”
“I have a charm bracelet, given to me by a friend for Christmas, with a charm that managed to protect me.”
“May the court see this bracelet, Mr Potter?” Madam Bones asked, eyes eager.
“The court may not see my bracelet, madam,” Harry replied firmly. This got people talking again.
“Order!” Fudge shouted. This time, they listened to him. “Mr Potter, why is it you deny the court a look at this bracelet?” the Minister asked with a furious look.
“If the court will forgive me, I have a madman after my blood. I hardly think showing off a bracelet that has already saved my life is a good idea. My best defence is a secret, after all,” Harry said without any regret. He saw Mad-Eye beam at him out of the corner of his eye. Of course the old auror would like him quoting his constant warnings. It showed him that they’d finally been drilled firmly into Harry’s head.
Madam Bones whispered something to Fudge before the man could yell again. “Acceptable,” he finally said, albeit grudgingly. “Mr Potter, you may return to your seat.”
“I thank you, Minister,” Harry said politely, standing. He nodded his thanks to Cassidy as the man got rid of the chair, then he trekked back up to his seat. Once there, he flopped down into it and covered his eyes with one hand. “Never again,” he muttered darkly. “Mad-Eye, what nasty concoction have you got in that flask of yours this time?”
The retired auror passed the flask forward. “Good job.”
Harry pinched his nose shut and took a quick swallow. He made a face before passing the flask back. “Thanks. I needed that.”
Hermione frowned at Harry. “What’s in there?”
“Super Secret Special Madness Formula for the Deranged,” Harry replied with a shrug. “At least, that’s what I call it. He mixes different alcoholic drinks together in a rather random order each morning and spells the flask to keep it full all day. I’ve decided he has no taste buds.”
“I’ve decided someone should have washed your mouth out with soap when you were younger,” Mad-Eye grumbled, taking a swig from his flask.
“Harry, aren’t you the one who always goes on about people not getting drunk?” Parvati hissed around Hermione.
“This boy doesn’t get drunk. He’s immune,” Mad-Eye informed them.
Harry shrugged. “Hush. I wanna see Ron’s sentence.”
“Thirty in Azkaban.”
“I refuse to bet with you over this, Mad-Eye. This is my first time in court,” Harry shot back, eyes on Ron. The redheaded wizard was back to glaring at him and Harry offered him a smirk, which he masked with a quick glamour for the rest of the court. Harry rather liked that he wasn’t restricted in the courtroom. He twisted his ring and smiled peacefully.
Ron got, as Mad-Eye had predicted, thirty years in Azkaban. The old auror had to explain to the ladies that he didn’t get life because he hadn’t actually killed anyone. Neither witch got it, even after he explained it twice on the way out, and Harry just told him to give up.
“So, Mad-Eye, any reason why you’re following us?” Harry inquired as they got off the lift at the Atrium.
“Alastor is coming back to the school with us,” Dumbledore said by way of explanation.
“That’s what I thought.” Harry nodded. Tom, love, Mad-Eye’s coming for dinner.
Lovely. This school can just be full of psychos!
Chipper, aren’t you? Harry teased lightly, taking hold of the portkey Dumbledore was holding out.
I have my seventh years, currently, and no Harry Potter.
I’m sorry, love. I’m coming back now. Perhaps I’ll pop in after Dumbledore’s had his meeting with me.
Meeting? What meeting? Tom asked suspiciously as the portkey activated.
Harry waited until they were all steady again before answering, The one he decided he needed to have with me. Hush.
“Miss Granger, Madam Pomfrey asked me to send you down to her as soon as we returned so she could make sure that the portkey didn’t do anything odd. Miss Patil, why don’t you take her? Harry, have a seat,” Dumbledore suggested, taking the seat behind his desk as Mad-Eye settled in a chair he’d made for himself.
Harry took the chair Dumbledore conjured up for him as the two witches left. He turned down both sherbet lemons and tea, as did Mad-Eye. “Sir, if we could please make this as quick as possible? I promised Marcus I’d drop in when we got back to stop him from pulling out too much hair,” the teen asked as Dumbledore poured his tea.
“Ah, and have his fantasies?” Dumbledore enquired teasingly.
“Truly, sir, that’s on his agenda, not mine. It doesn’t affect me if he’s sitting there in class daydreaming or sitting there in class actually grading papers.” Harry shrugged.
Dumbledore chuckled, shaking his head. “I should hope not.”
“Albus,” Mad-Eye growled warningly.
Harry’s gaze shot over to the ex-auror as the Headmaster sobered. “Why am I here?” the teen asked carefully, glancing between the two elder wizards. “And why do I think I won’t like it?”
Dumbledore sighed. “Because you probably won’t.” His gaze was grave. “I enquired after the Auror Training Program as to your school record. They have a habit of refusing to accept students who have been suspended in the past. Professor McGonagall and I were hoping they’d still take you, but they have refused.”
Harry blinked a few times slowly. “I...see...”
“You know Marcus is planning on leaving us next year, and you are safest here at Hogwarts...” Dumbledore continued.
Harry closed his eyes and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “You want me to take over as the Defence Against the Dark Arts position next year, don’t you?” he muttered.
“Yes,” Dumbledore agreed.
Harry glanced up at him wearily. “I will have had only what I’ve learned as a student here with teachers of fluctuating credibility to teach other students, sir. We both know I will never behave myself so long as I live. Why ask me?”
“You know more than most of your past teachers knew, Potter,” Mad-Eye berated him. “Not only that, but you have teaching experience. Albus is right, anyway. You will be safer at Hogwarts.”
“And the Order is based here, Harry,” Dumbledore added.
Harry twitched. “The Order? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Oh, come now. You’ve been on us all since your fifth year to join the Order.”
“Remus said you could only join if you were overage,” Harry replied suspiciously. “I’m not eighteen yet.”
“Yet,” Dumbledore agreed.
“The vote has been called anyway,” Moody argued. “Everyone seems to agree that you should be inducted before school is over. You are being targeted for attacks in some of the most random of places and by some of the most random of people.”
“You will be in the public eye more than ever now, Harry. With Percy’s call on your loyalties and then Ron’s, the papers will be dying for a story. If you are inducted into the Order they will not have that story. The Order will protect you from the press,” Dumbledore added, leaning forward.
Harry stood slowly. “I need to think,” he muttered. “If you don’t mind?”
“Of course,” the Headmaster agreed, smiling. “But, Harry, I know you care for Marcus, but there are some things, Order things, that you just cannot tell him about.”
Harry gave the old man a cold look. “I know the meaning of a secret, Headmaster, and I am capable of keeping one.” He turned and walked towards the door. “I will see you both at dinner, and I will give you my answer then.” He let the door slam shut behind him.
Tom didn’t bother to glance up when the green-eyed teen stepped into his first year Slytherin and Gryffindor class. However, the little snaps of conversation had stopped once the students started to realize who was standing in the doorway. The Dark Lord let out a quiet sigh. “Can I help you, Mr Potter?” he enquired, still not glancing up from the papers he was grading. He could feel Harry’s turmoil and it was slowly driving him insane.
“I was wondering if I could hide out in your office until your class is over, Professor,” the young wizard replied in a cold tone.
Tom glanced up and met the confused gaze. “Very well. Don’t break anything.”
“Yes, sir,” Harry agreed before slipping around the room and into the connecting office. He tossed himself into Tom’s favourite chair in the sitting room and closed his eyes with a groan. My life has gone to hell.
Your life has been hell since Hallowe’en of 1981, Tom replied gently. This class will be over in about ten minutes, love. I’ll come in then, okay?
Yes. Okay...
Did you put your necklace back on yet?
What? Oh, no... I should do that... Harry trailed off as he slipped his Dark Mark from his money purse and put it back on. He spent the next ten minutes fiddling with his two necklaces and trying not to think.
Tom came in once his classroom had cleared of brats. “You knew they were going to want you to join the Order, you imp,” he pointed out, standing before Harry’s chair with an odd look.
“I’m not eighteen, Tom. It’s bothering me that they’d bend the rules for me again.”
“They’re always going to bend rules for you, love.” Tom sighed, kneeling in front of the chair and taking Harry’s hands in his own. “Look at me.” Harry looked up into the fake teal eyes. “I know you hate being special, Harry. I know you’d rather dig yourself a little hole and hide in it sometimes... Well, consider Hogwarts your hole and the Order the rock covering it.”
“I’d rather you be the rock, thanks,” Harry muttered darkly.
Tom smiled and kissed Harry’s hands. “I can’t be, though. Not really. Not publicly. The Dark Order will always protect you, you know this, but you are the child of the Light, my love, and they will hold you there firmly.”
“You’re telling me to take the position and join the Order,” Harry sighed, looking away.
“Yes. We need more people in Hogwarts, and you want to keep an eye on Gin. We need someone who’s trusted fully by Dumbles in both the Order and Hogwarts. Severus is only trusted so far, and Arthur, Molly, Fred, and George aren’t inside Hogwarts, nor is your godfather. You will always have the Order’s trust on some level and the students and staff at Hogwarts adore you. I’m not telling you to pull away from us, I’m just asking you to help me get the information we need.”
“I know, I know…” Harry pulled his hands free from Tom and leaned forward to hug him, burying his face in the older wizard’s robe. It’s just all so sudden, that’s all. One thing on top of another, as the saying goes. Those damned first years yesterday night and then the court trial and now this.
“Hush…” Tom tugged Harry into his arms and settled himself into the chair under the teen so that Harry was in his lap. “You’re exhausted. Get some sleep.”
“Your next class–“
“I will handle that when it starts. Sleep, imp.”
Harry chuckled weakly and burrowed into the warm embrace, closing his eyes. “Bastard…”
Tom just kissed the top of Harry’s head with a smile.
“Harry!” Hermione hugged the teen tightly as soon as he appeared at her elbow in the entrance hall, yawning. “Where have you been?!”
Harry blinked around at his friends owlishly. Hermione and Parvati had both changed back into their school uniforms. He had remained in his court robes, though his cloak had been given to Dobby to put away. “I took a nap in Marcus’ office.”
‘A NAP?!’ Gin exclaimed. ‘Why just a nap?’
“Exhausted,” Harry replied with a shrug, fighting back another yawn and resting his head on Hermione’s shoulder. “I never knew trials could be so tiring.”
“You have no clue,” a voice said from behind the group. Everyone but Harry jumped and Draco paled as Mad-Eye stepped into their line of sight.
Harry yawned again. “Stop scaring my friends, Mad-Eye.”
The ex-auror glared around at the group of four Slytherins, seven Gryffindors, and two Ravenclaws. “Potter, Albus asked me to come get you,” he said finally, glancing at Harry while the other students twitched nervously.
Harry shrugged and let go of Hermione. “Oh, okay. See everyone later.” He waved at them all with a dazed look on his face and followed Mad-Eye out of their sight.
“Are you really that tired?” Mad-Eye inquired gently.
Harry shrugged. “Yes.” Mad-Eye gave him a searching look and the Prefect winked wickedly before floating back into his dazed look. “If I didn’t have somewhere to be, I’d have gone to bed early, really.”
Mad-Eye let out a bark of laughter. “Sure you would, Potter. Sure you would. Sugar Quills.” The gargoyle moved out of their way and Mad-Eye led the way up and into the circular office where Dumbledore greeted them with a smile.
“You look a bit tired, Harry,” Dumbledore mentioned, motioning for the two wizards to sit around the small table in the centre of the room.
“Just a bit,” Harry agreed, sitting in his seat. “I’ve thought about your offers, at any rate.”
“And?” Dumbledore glanced at him as he sat himself.
“Yes, I will join the Order now.” Harry nodded wearily. “And, yes, I will teach here next year, but I have conditions.”
“As do I. We shall get to those in a moment.” The Headmaster nodded seriously. “As for joining the Order, we have a meeting set for this Sunday at Grimmauld Place. If you can make that, we’ll induct you then. Otherwise, we shall have to wait another month. Are you free for the weekend?”
Harry scratched the back of his neck thoughtfully. “Yes. We didn’t really have anything planned. I’ll need an excuse, though, that my friends will buy. And, sir, you must remember that half of my friends are Slytherins, so it’d best be a legitimate one.”
“I’ll have Remus owl you tomorrow about a lunch date, hm?” the Headmaster said thoughtfully.
“Out of the blue?” Mad-Eye frowned at Dumbledore for a moment before glancing at Harry. “What do you say to a lunch date with me this weekend? Catch up, since I didn’t really get a good chance to chat with you.”
Harry snorted. “Ravenclaws.” He shook his head, fighting back a yawn. “Sure. Much nicer when I’m not yawning my head off, I suppose. Sunday in London?”
“Sunday in London.” Mad-Eye nodded seriously.
“That’s settled, then!” Dumbledore said happily, clapping his hands.
“Brilliant,” Harry agreed in a bored voice. He and Mad-Eye traded a look that agreed on Dumbledore’s madness.
“Now, you said you have conditions to teaching here next year?” Dumbledore continued in his overly-happy voice.
Harry frowned thoughtfully, fork held in a loose grip over his plate. “Yes. First, I want Herm to be allowed to stay on school grounds next year.”
“Do you have a valid reason?”
“I have a few, actually. For one, she, like myself, is safest at Hogwarts. She is my best friend and if Voldemort wants to lure me out, he’ll probably use her. Next, her child will be safest at Hogwarts. Both the godparents will be here and the father is in Azkaban. I don’t revel the idea of sending her home to her parents,” Harry said firmly, all show of exhaustion gone in the blink of an eye.
“Understandable. I shall offer her a room at the end of the year.”
“Not now?”
“No. In fact, I’d rather you not tell anyone that you’ll be teaching here next year just yet.”
“I’m telling Marcus,” Harry argued.
Dumbledore fixed him with a stern look. “Valid reason.”
“He is the wizard I will be taking this position from. If I know exactly what he’s teaching and has taught this year, I can build up a better lesson plan now and tweak it later. I’d like to see how he runs his classes and get his notes on the students before he dubs them useless and tosses them in the fire,” Harry responded.
The Headmaster paused to think this over before nodding with a sigh. “Very well. You may tell Marcus, but no one else.”
“Agreed.”
“You have more conditions?”
“Yes.” Harry set his fork down. “Marcus, assuming our relationship lasts, of course, should be allowed to visit me or me to visit him at any given time without questions as long as it is reasonable.”
Dumbledore pursed his lips. “Please define reasonable.”
“Not during class periods. If I have another obligation, say an Order meeting or a detention, that obligation comes first. Work before fun, if you will.”
Dumbledore considered this and nodded. “That’s acceptable. I would prefer, however, that you, at the least, remain in the castle overnight.”
“Of course.” Harry nodded. “You have conditions?”
“Not telling anyone, was one of them. The other is this pranking habit of yours.” Dumbledore fixed the Boy-Who-Lived with a sharp look. “I don’t want to see it.”
“I get free reign in my classroom,” Harry shot back. “I may prank them in there if it is pertaining to the subject. I will not prank the school as a whole without both a good reason and running it by yourself first.”
Dumbledore nodded. “As long as your pranks are only in effect inside your classroom, unless it is a school-wide prank I have agreed to.”
“Agreeable,” Harry decided. He smirked suddenly. “Headmaster, I do believe this is the first productive conversation I have had with you in a long time.”
Dumbledore smiled. “Indeed. I’m sure you know where the staff room is?”
“The one on the fourth floor? Across from that lovely picture of a wooded glen?” Harry inquired easily.
The old man’s blue eyes twinkled madly. “That would be the one. We have a staff meeting set for every Saturday morning at four. I’m sure you’ll find a way to get the password.”
“No doubt. You want me to attend?”
“If you can get up that early.” Dumbledore nodded. “If not, that is fine. I will announce your employment the first time you can make it.”
Harry nodded. “Very well.” He suddenly appeared very tired and rose slowly. “Headmaster, Mad-Eye, if it's acceptable, I think I shall head for bed.”
“Of course,” Dumbledore agreed as Mad-Eye nodded. “But, Harry, are you really tired?” the Headmaster wanted to know.
Harry blinked at Dumbledore slowly. “Of course, sir. Exhausted. Good night.”
“Good night,” Mad-Eye agreed with a wide grin. Once the door had closed behind Harry, he turned to the Headmaster. “A good pick, Albus. He’ll give you a run for your money, no problem.”
“You trained him. Was he really tired?” Dumbledore asked in an exasperated tone.
“Yup. Exhausted, but he plays it down well. I’ve seen him take on two fully trained and rested aurors after being awake for forty-eight hours straight and dead on his feet.”
Dumbledore let out a sound somewhere between a snort and a groan. “He doesn’t need to go through Auror Training.”
“Told you. What he didn’t learn from me he learned during his time on his own in London or during his suspension. We could probably get him an auror license, if he really wants one.”
“Mention it during your lunch date,” the Headmaster replied in annoyance. “You said he doesn’t get drunk, earlier?”
“Never seen him drunk,” Mad-Eye agreed. “And he’s had his fair share of my flask. He’s either immune, or has an amazing tolerance level. As I recall, James couldn’t hold his liquor. What about Lily?”
“No idea. I never saw her drunk, but nor did I ever see her have alcohol.” Dumbledore sighed, rubbing his chin. “It’s possible that she could just hold her liquor amazingly well and passed the ability on to Harry, I suppose.”
“Possibly. Although, now, he has that charm against getting drunk...”
Dumbledore perked up. “You can see through the Invisibility Charm on that?”
“I can see through a lot of Invisibility Charms, Albus, you know that.”
“What other charms are on there, Alastor?”
Mad-Eye gave the Headmaster a curious little smile as he stood to leave. “The best defence is a secret, Albus. Good night.”
The Headmaster scowled as the auror left his office. Those two are impossible!
Abandon the Prequel: Sixth Year
Abandon Chapters:
01 || 02 || 03 || 04 || 05 || 06 || 07 || 08 || 09 || 10
11 || 12 || 13 || 14 || 15 || 16 || 17 || 18 || 19 || 20
21 || 22 || 23 || 24 || 25 || 26 || 27 || 28 || 29 || 30
31 || 32 || 33 || 34 || 35 || 36 || 37 || 38 || 39 || 40
Reclaim Chapters:
One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten
Eleven || Twelve || Thirteen || Fourteen || Fifteen
Epilogue
Side Stories:
Ginevra Weasley & Theodore Nott
Minerva McGonagall || Minerva McGonagall (again)
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no subject
Date: 12/4/15 15:56 (UTC)