The Servant

Harry stared in shock as he gazed upon the benevolent face of the late Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore. He reached for his wand instantly, suspecting that this was another of Voldemort's deceptions. He was disarmed by Severus Snape before he even pulled his wand out.

'You are both injured,' the white-bearded wizard said in concern. He flicked his wand and the blood stains vanished with a quick Cleansing Charm. Another flick, and their wounds were bandaged magically. He drew up three comfortable chairs, settling down in one as he conjured a tea tray. Wordlessly, he poured three cups of steaming tea, and signaled for them to help themselves to the chocolate biscuits. Severus pushed himself up, accepted the tea, and sank into the chair wearily. Harry remained where he was, on the floor.

'Harry, you must be feeling very confused right now. Understandably so -' the shade of Dumbledore began.

'What are you playing at, Voldemort?' Harry croaked.

The wizard beamed over his half-moon spectacles. 'Very good, Harry. Very good. I am glad that you thought I was Voldemort. It is always wiser err on the side of caution. However, I am not Voldemort. I truly am who I appear to be, Harry.'

'Dumbledore is dead,' spat Harry, 'at the hands of that man!' He jerked his head towards the silent Snape. 'I saw him do it myself!'

'It is always best to be precise, Harry. What you saw was Severus uttering the words of the Killing Curse, and me falling through the window,' chided the older man.

Harry glowered. 'So you claim to have survived a Killing Curse and a fall from the Astronomy Tower? How dare you mock him by assuming his identity, Tom?'

Snape made a strangled sound. The others looked at him, and he said faintly, 'You fool, Potter. If that were truly the Dark Lord, you would be dead by now for using that name.' He gave the elderly wizard a watery smile.

His eyes twinkled in response. 'Harry, it is really me,' he said gently. 'Ask me something that only you and I would know the answer to.'

'What did I see in the Mirror of Erised?' asked Harry tonelessly.

'You saw yourself happy, with your family initially. At a later time, you saw yourself finding the Philosopher's Stone in your pocket.' Dumbledore replied.

Harry thought hard. 'When you came to fetch me from my uncle's place last year, why was I not ready?'

Dumbledore smiled a little sadly. 'You did not believe I would come for you.' Harry paled a little at this.

'How did Sirius Black escape the night Snape caught him?' whispered Harry.

'You went back in time with Ms. Granger, saved Buckbeak the Hippogriff from execution and rode on his back to rescue Sirius who escaped on Buckbeak,' said Dumbledore quietly. Snape's head jerked up, but he kept silent.

Harry stared uncertainly at Dumbledore. 'How?' he whispered, 'how is it possible?'

'It was a deception to the public, Harry,' he said. 'Sit down, and have some tea. It is a long story.'