Shared Sadness

Shared Sadness Chapter Two

Albus Dumbledore's Point-of-view

Remus had forewarned us that the young man would be visiting soon. He had informed me of the man's loss and the complexity of the situation. Of course, I had heard of Nicholas before. Remus had chosen to arm me with this knowledge, even though neither of us expected that I would be able to rendezvous with young Nicholas.

I had never expected for Merlin and the fates to be smiling down on me in such a manner!

Minerva and I had taken to watching Harry as his made his daily visit to the plaque, watching unseen from behind the heavy glass as the boy endlessly grieved. This was a penance for us as much as it was a journey for Harry. And even though we were behind the heavy doors that led outside, we both felt as if Harry was comforted by our mere presence.

Minerva and I were silent as we studied Harry. Our hearts went out to him as he coped with the sudden and irrevocable loss of Sirius. Ever since Hagrid had interred the plaque of remembrance, Harry spent more and more time here. Often, a snippet of conversation reached us as the boy continued to communicate with his godfather.

She and I always felt the heavy mantle of responsibility toward Harry. The loss of Cedric had served to nurture his bitterness, but when Sirius died, his heart truly seemed broken. He had shunned his schoolwork, his friends and his life and seemed to live in a world of darkness.

Minerva broke into my ruminations as she tugged my hand gently. "There, look Albus. Is that the young man coming to pay his respects?"

My eyes focused on the figure as it stood watching Harry. The weight of his sadness and responsibility clung to him like a fur mantle. Minerva and I had seen him before many years ago, but the laughing baby that we had secreted away for his own good bore little resemblance to the young man before us.

"I think it is, my dear." Even though my voice was hushed, it echoed through the currently empty corridors.

"He looks so mature." Minerva's words were spoken in sadness. No child should have had to grow up the way Nicholas had. No child should have had to face the responsibilities and the grief that Harry had.

"He does," I agreed softly. My hand tightened in Minerva's as young Nicholas began to approach Harry. He plodded closer until his features became clear in the still air.

"I say," Minerva began in an awed voice, "he looks just like his father, doesn't he, Albus? It is downright unsettling." She shivered delicately.

My arm slipped comfortably around her waist as I encouraged her to lean her weight against me without words. Our companionship had been nurtured over many years as friends and colleagues. Though we had tried to be discreet in the early days, our relationship and public friendship had matured into a comfortable and loving companionship. Our colleagues certainly never questioned it, nor were they likely to at such a time as this.

Comforted by her mere presence against me, I began to study the young man approaching Harry. He had the dark hair and piercing eyes of his father, but also possessed an ethereal look about him that bespoke of his mother.

The boy shook his head slightly, his lips tightening in a look that so thoroughly mirrored his deceased father.

"He has much of Sirius in him, my dear." I remarked quietly.

As he approached Harry, I sensed Minerva pulling out her wand. With a few soft words, the glass before us disappeared and Harry's angry tones drifted inward and assailed our ears.

A shiver ran through Minerva. "He is so angry, so brittle."

"With good reason," I replied softly. "He is coming to terms with many things in his life. The road for Harry would be hard even without..." I trailed off as the scene before us got more heartrending.

Nicholas had such a broken sound in his voice as he told Harry that he wanted to pay tribute to Sirius. When Harry jumped up and waved his wand at those words, Minerva jumped. I held her even more securely to my side.

"Harry won't hurt Nicholas." I fervently hoped that my assurances rang true to Minerva, because to my ears they sounded like the hopeful sounds of an old fool.

"You have boundless faith in him." Her admiration for me shone in her eyes and I responded by dropping a none-too-chaste kiss upon her lips.

"I have boundless faith in those who inspire such an emotion. Now hush..."

Nicholas seemed at a loss for words as he began his tribute to Sirius. I watched Harry's face instead, unable to bear the pain that I knew would be shining in your Mr. Black's eyes. Contemplation and confusion warred with emotion and protectiveness as Harry gave the other boy a few quiet moments. "A Gryffindor to the core," I commented quietly. "Even in death, Harry protects Sirius."

"But surely he must know," Minerva added. "Surely he must see so much of Sirius in Nicholas. It is blatantly obvious that he is a relation."

I sighed deeply. "Perhaps he does not wish to see that now, Minerva. It is much easier to hate than it is to understand." My words took on added emphasis as Harry again spewed forth his anger and pain.

"And because he does not wish to see, he will never know the truth." Nicholas turned and began to walk away.

"Perhaps they will surprise you." Minerva's hopeful voice brought a smile to my lips.

And indeed they did as Nicholas announced himself, looked at Harry for a few long moments and slowly began to trudge away.

"And so they did," I remarked as Minerva shimmered the glass into its former consistency.

She pulled away from me and stood tapping her foot in annoyance. She opened her mouth as if to speak then shook his fist at me.

"Do you wish to say something, my dear?"

"Yes." She rounded on me and paced back and forth in front of me. "We must do something about this, Albus. We simply must! Both of those young men are hurting so much and we have the maturity and the care to help heal their heartache."

I placed my hands gently on her shoulders and motioned through the window where Harry was now jogging toward Nicholas. "They are men now, Minerva. They will work out their difficulties and, I hope, become as close as their fathers were so many years ago." I paused for a moment. letting her watch as the two dark haired figures began speaking calmly.

"Now come along and give them some privacy. They will show us the men that they have become. They will honor their fathers. Good luck Nicholas and Harry."