Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 44: With The Headmaster
"Please, come in and get comfortable," Dumbledore said after opening the entrance to his office and guiding Harry inside.
Harry paid attention to everything around him, feeling somewhat eager to learn more about this supposed legendary wizard.
"Hmm?. Is that?..." His green eyes were immediately attracted to the red bird resting on a perch.
"Oh, that is Fawkes." Dumbledore said, with some satisfaction at seeing the expression of wonder on Harry's face.
"You have a phoenix in your office." Harry approached. "Fascinating…"
Fawkes lifted up its face and stared back at Harry before letting out a soft cry.
"I believe he likes you." Dumbledore sounded content.
Harry had only seen a phoenix once in his past life, and never this up close, so his fascination with the magical bird was completely sincere.
"I didn't think it was possible to tame such a magnificent magical creature," Harry commented. "Aren't they capable of using their mystical flames as a means of teleportation?."
"That is correct, but I didn't capture Fawkes, if that is what you were thinking… we merely became friends." Dumbledore said to him. "You seem to be very knowledgeable about it."
"I enjoy the study of anything related to magic," Harry responded. "Is this the part where you start asking about my personal life?."
Dumbledore pointed at the chair in front of his desk. "Do you mind if I ask you where you have been for the past four years?."
"I dont mind if you ask, but I may not answer you." Harry took a seat.
"Harry… I am your ally here. You can trust me." Dumbledore insisted.
"On my first encounter with you, I was a defenseless child in a hospital, and you decided to wipe my memory. And the second encounter only occurred because you tied me into a magical contract against my will. But please, tell me again...why should I trust you?"
Harry could feel the discomfort in the Headmaster rising up.
"Very well." Dumbledore sighed. "But you must know one thing… your life is in grave danger, and I am the only one who can help you."
"In danger… you are going to have to be a lot more specific than that."
Dumbledore was taken aback by that response. "Ehm… you see, when you were a baby, your parents fought a very dangerous dark wizard who was terrorizing the country. He—"
"Lord Voldemort. I already know about him and all the stories about how the Boy Who Lived defeated the evil wizard when he was a baby. That is why I'm so famous, right?."
Dumbledore frowned. "Make sure you dont say that name in front of others, but yes, that one. So you also know your story… you are very well informed, Harry. I suppose that will make things easier to explain."
"So this danger that you speak of is related to that dark wizard?." Harry asked.
"Not just related to him, but he is the danger in question." Dumbledore revealed.
"Are you saying that he is not dead?."
"Im afraid so…" Dumbledore said solemnly.
"How can that be?. Did everyone get it wrong?. No one checked if the man was actually dead before breaking the news?." This sounded ridiculous to Harry.
"It is more complicated than that," Dumbledore answered. "Technically speaking, the body of the Dark Lord was indeed destroyed during his attack on your home. However… how do I explain this?. There are certain magical practices that are so evil and forbidden that most dont dare to touch. However…"
"Oh, I see." Harry then realized what this old wizard was getting at. "He used some method to tie down his soul into the mortal realm. What did he use, a phylactery?."
Harry saw the color leaving the face of Dumbledore as he spoke.
"Looks like I am correct," Harry commented.
"How could you possibl—"
"It doesnt matter." Harry interrupted the Headmaster's question, because he had no intention of answering it. "Has he already found a way to return?."
"No, I dont think so, but he did try, almost four years ago. I stopped him back then. But… I have no doubts he will try again. And I have reasons to believe that it will happen this year."
"Mmm, is that so?." Harry muttered.
Dumbledore glanced at him. "I expected you to be more worried about this."
"Why?." Harry asked. "Do you think that if this wizard makes his return to the realm of the living, he will come after me?."
"He certainly will!" Dumbledore explained.
"Because I killed him when I was a baby?. That sounds ridiculous if you ask me…"
However, Dumbledore was serious about it. "It may sound far-fetched to you right now. But I can guarantee you that you will become his target sooner or later. Its only a matter of time before he hears about your return, and then he will—"
"Hold on, my return?." Harry scoffed. "You are the one who forced me to come here. Doesnt that mean that you are the reason that I am in danger right now?. Because apparently, no one knew where I was before all this mess that you caused with the Goblet of Fire."
"I had to!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "I am the only one who can defend you. Voldemort will not stop until you are dead. I have to protect you, Harry."
"Yes, you keep saying that you are the only one who can protect me, but…" Harry's green eyes observed Dumbledore very carefully. "There is something important that you are hiding from me. There is something deeper behind this obsession you have with bringing me back into the light. Isn't that right, Mister Dumbledore?."
"I… I dont know wh—"
"Enough." Harry's magic flared up. "You can't hide things from me." Harry's green eyes shone brightly as he broke into the Headmaster's mind.
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