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 45: Mind Break
Dumbledore shouted and fell from his chair as Harry broke through his mental defenses.
At this point, he was only reading superficial thoughts. However, this was enough to make the Headmaster feel a great deal of fear, as well as confusion, as he could never have expected him to have the necessary skills to invade his mind.
'The secret that I seek is much further. I must delve deeper.' Harry jumped over the desk and landed right next to the old wizard.
He then extended his hand, and his wand appeared.
"Legilimency!" Harry tapped his wand directly onto Dumbledore's forehead. "Show me your secret."
The last defenses were finally torn apart, and all of the Headmaster's secrets were now exposed to him.
He saw glimpses of the past war with Voldemort. Secret meetings of a group called the Order of the Phoenix.
And finally, he saw what he was looking for. A prophecy being revealed by a diviner.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...."
Her words resounded in his mind and became engraved in his memory.
But then something happened…there was a man spying on them. One of the Dark Lord's followers had heard the prophecy, but only the first half.
This led to a hunt for the only two boys who fit the description of the prophecy, Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom.
In the end, the Dark Lord made his choice and fulfilled his part of the prophecy by attacking the Potter household and killing James and Lily Potter.
Harry released the spell on the Headmaster and took a step back as he processed all this information.
This explained how his parents died and how he ended up in that awful house.
It was all a ploy of the man in front of him, who took it upon himself to keep Harry away from the magical world for as long as possible, so the Dark Lord would not learn of his whereabouts.
"All of this for a prophecy?..." Harry muttered.
"Urgg." Dumbledore rolled on the floor and grasped his head. "What did you… what did you do?!" He glared at Harry as he slowly rose from the ground.
"You didn't leave me much of a choice, Mister Dumbledore. You would never have revealed those things to me willingly, wouldn't you?."
"O-Of course not! If that information were to land in the wrong hands… the consequences would be catastrophic! The contents of the prophecy had to be protected." Dumbledore said.
"Yes, I can now understand your actions much better." Harry had been considering whether this person was his enemy, someone plotting to end his life. But now he realized the truth. "I can see now that you are not my enemy. Just a foolish old wizard who thinks he knows better than anyone else."
"Harry… I dont know who has been teaching you magic, but you cannot trust them! I am the only one wh—"
"You know nothing, Mister Dumbledore. You have been too focused on this trifling feud with another wizard to realize the real dangers the magical world is facing." Harry spoke in a calm tone.
"What are you… what are you talking about? You must be confused." Dumbledore said.
"No, you are the one who is confused. Here, let me help you back onto your chair." Harry approached the old Headmaster, and he took a step back while reaching for his wand.
"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you." Harry tried to calm him down. "Look." He pointed at the phoenix.
Dumbledore glanced at Fawkes.
"Your phoenix friend never even moved from that perch. He understands that my intentions are not evil." Harry said.
"You used Legilimency on me!" Dumbledore shouted.
"Yes, well… you obliviated me and forced me into a soul contract. Let's call it even."
Dumbledore still hesitated to let him get closer.
"Come on. I have been told you were the most brilliant wizard since…" Harry shook his head. "I was told you were brilliant. Let me see some of that. Why dont we start again and talk properly?."
"Very well…" Dumbledore was still wary of him, but agreed to the request.
"Good." Harry went back to the other side of the desk. "Now, Mister Dumbledore, I have come to understand the nature of your actions against me over the years."
"I was trying to protect you!" Dumbledore exclaimed.
"Well… you failed at that." The memories and trauma he suffered in his early years as Harry Potter were something that would remain with him forever.
Regaining his old persona would not change that.
Dumbledore lowered his head, as he knew perfectly what Harry was talking about. "Im sorry, Harry. But that house was the safest place for you. Anywhere else, you could have been found by Voldemort or his men, and then… your fate would have been much worse."
"That's why I said that I understood the nature of your actions. But I dont have to like it. Also, dont expect me to forgive you for that any time soon."
"I… very well, Harry."
"Good. Perhaps now we talk like civilized gentlemen."
"Are you going to tell me where you have been for the past four years?." Dumbledore asked.
"I was in a safe place. Just like you wanted me to be. Away from all prying eyes… even yours." Harry responded.
"And who is the person th—"
"I won't tell you that either." Harry interrupted him.
"I am on your side!"
"All I have determined so far is that you are not my enemy, Mister Dumbledore." Harry's eyes grew colder. "Otherwise, you would be dead by now."
Dumbledore looked shocked. "W-what happened to you?."
"Forget about me," said Harry. "Tell me about this Voldemort…"
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