Harry Potter and the Year that Changed Everything

Harry Potter and the Year that Changed Everything (17)

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Chapter Seventeen: A Declaration of Servitude

The train ride back to Hogwarts after the Christmas holiday was a subdued affair for the seventh years. None of them were overly anxious to return to their schoolwork, but there was more to it than that. This train ride would be the last return trip they would likely ever experience aboard the Hogwarts Express. The next time they boarded would be after graduation. Many of them stared out the windows to try and memorize the now familiar scenery in their minds.

Ron was so caught up in his emotion that he actually hugged the old witch that pushed the snack trolley. He only managed to avoid openly weeping when the rest of the group reminded him that he would indeed see her once more.

To distract themselves from thoughts of returning to classes, the group discussed the remainder of the Quidditch season. Well, most of them did. Luna spent the time reading the latest edition of The Quibbler, while Hermione attempted to comb and detangle a less than cooperative Crookshanks.

Gryffindor has won its first two matches against Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, which put them into first place. Hufflepuff has lost their season opener against Gryffindor, but had come back the next game to upset the heavily favored Slytherin team. Ravenclaw had won its season opener against Slytherin before being beaten by Ron and company. This meant that Slytherin was winless leading up to their regular season finale with Gryffindor. If Gryffindor could win and Hufflepuff beat Ravenclaw by at least 110 points, the two houses would meet in the House Cup match for the first time since Amos Diggory led his Badger team against the Arthur Weasley led Lions. It had been Gryffindor versus Slytherin for so many years now that, since it was held directly after their season finale game with one another, the contest was often referred to as "the rematch."

Dinner the first night back from the Christmas holidays was usually as subdued as the train ride had been. Although the food at the school was as superior as ever, nothing compared to the home cooking that the students had become reacquainted with over the time away.

At least it started off that way.

As most of the staff chose from the wine pairings for their meal and the students mashed their potatoes and other root vegetables into a uniform mush, one redheaded student suddenly stood upon the Gryffindor house table and called for the entire schools attention.

Many potatoes were therefore left unmashed.

"Right, then. As you all probably know, my name is Ron Weasley. Um, yeah, well, I'm being forced to...OW!"

Ron swore to himself as he rubbed the spots on both calves where his girlfriend and sister had stabbed him with their forks. He was just grateful for being tall.

"I wanted to apologize to all female students for...OW!"

Ron swore again and rubbed the spots on his ankles where Neville and Harry had jabbed him with their own forks.

"Fine! I want to deeply apologize to all female students AND staff for being a chauvinist, unthinking, cretin. I promise to be more sensitive and not act like a Grandmaster prat. Oh, yeah, and I promise to work harder on my studies, too. Thank you for you... OW! Luna! What the hell?"

Luna looked up at Ron blankly with her fork still pointed at his ankle.

"What? I thought we were all doing it."

Ron's louder string of profanity was drowned out by the standing ovation from nearly all of the female students, as well as a few of the female staff. Professor McGonagall made a mental note to give Hermione an extra ten points to Gryffindor during their next class.

The group spent the rest of their first evening back doing last minute preparations for the next day's classes. Ginny, Harry, and Hermione spent the time reviewing, while Neville and Ron fought to get caught up. Neville had a proposal to complete for his Herbology product, while Ron had about half a scroll worth of his Transfiguration essay to complete. Ron had planned to complete it during the time between Christmas and New Year's, but with the twins at home, he hadn't given it a single thought. Neither boy would get much sleep that night.

The next day at breakfast found Ron and Neville bleary eyed and yawning. Hermione, of course, had very little sympathy for them. Especially Ron.

"If you two would have taken care of things like the rest of us, you wouldn't have had to stay up all night. Harry says he slept like a baby, and I know I did. Well, I'd better get going. Harry and I want to talk with Professor Dumbledore before class to discuss the next Advanced Defense meeting. You two be careful you don't fall asleep and drown in your oatmeal."

Hermione gave both boys a self-satisfied grin and caught up with Harry to go and talk with Dumbledore. Ginny and Luna left shortly afterwards to go to Transfiguration. Ron and Neville remained sitting in their sleep-deprived stupor. Ron frowned at his bright orange pumpkin juice.

"When did Harry become one of the girls? He and I used to be the last to finish anything, and now he's ahead on everything! I'm telling you, he's whipped."

Ron then did the motion and sound of a whip cracking to emphasize his point. Neville, who would normally be a voice of reason, agreed with Ron. Fatigue was even more effective than magic at corrupting the mind.

"Hell, yeah. He used to be worse than me. He'd be out flying on his broom and I'd be working my ass off at the library or greenhouses. You know what it really is? It's the fact that he's with Luna. Before her, he was a master at Defense, but average in most everything else. Now, with her, he's gone all swotty on us."

Ron nodded as he yawned.

"Yeah, he's Mr. Intellectual now. Hermione was bad enough on her own, but now there are three of them. We need to keep Ginny away from their little think tank sessions. I'm sure it was their influence that brought up the whole 'proposal' thing at Christmas."

Neville now looked a bit skeptical.

"I don't know, Ron. That sounds like something Ginny would think up. I don't know about you, but I know that I didn't get my usual goodnight snog from her that night after I ran off like I did. Like we all did, for that matter."

Ron groaned.

"Neville, I haven't slept, I'm still behind on homework, and I'm pretty sure one of those kippers was off. I don't need to add on the image of you and my sister making out to make me miserable. And what do you mean we all ran off? I went over to help mum. You and Harry were the two that went all mental over it. Besides, I bet they were just having us on. We're still in school, mate! Marriage is for old people, like, in their thirties."

"I think they were serious, Ron. I know Ginny and I have talked about it. Not until she's out of school, of course, but not too far into the future."

Ron narrowed his eyes at Neville. Since they weren't open very far to begin with, there was little difference.

"What's the rush, Nevy? Trying to get a ring on my sister's finger so that you can get your own in her pants?"

Neville, stupidly, chose now to become outspoken. He would later blame it on eating from the same jugged kippers as Ron.

"Bit late for that, Ronnie."

Even in his lethargic state, Ron's hand clasped Neville's throat faster than the now choking boy could blink.

"Neville, listen very carefully to me. If you have taken my sister's... if you've stolen her... if you've done... that... with her, I will kill you. Your life will end here and now. I've got my wand, and we both know I can do it if I put the emotion into it I have right now. So, Neville, have you had sex with my sister? You're a terrible liar, so I'll know if you are."

Neville had started to turn purple now.

"I...haven't...we...haven't... gone all the way...yet."

Ron released his vice grip on Neville's throat and put his wand down. Neville gasped for air and rubbed his reddened neck.

"It better stay that way, Neville. Once you're married, that's up to you. Before that, you'd better keep your wand in its holster."

Neville coughed a few times and glared back at Ron.

"What about you? How dare you talk to me about morality when you're constantly pawing at Hermione like a cat in heat? Do you honestly think she'll consent to having sex with you before marriage? If you really do think that, you're even dumber than I thought you were."

Ron continued to look murderous.

That's none of your business, Longbottom! Ginny is my sister, so I look out for her. Hermione isn't your sister, is she?"

Neville smirked.

"No, Hermione isn't my sister. She's Harry's. How do you think he'd react if he knew you were trying to force her into doing something she doesn't want to do? I'm sure he'd just be looking out for her by coming to look for you."

Ron's anger lessened as the realization that Neville was right hit him. He knew that he would feel justified by ripping apart Neville for hurting his sister, and Harry was just as close to Hermione. He had gotten carried away again and he knew it. At least no one had been there to witness it.

"Potter and Granger are brother and sister? Are you serious?"

Ron swore loudly.

"What are you doing sneaking up on us, Malfoy?"

Draco sneered.

"Well, originally, I was coming over here to help you choke Longbottom. By the time you let go of him I was close enough to hear you say something about Potter and Granger being brother and sister. And don't try to lie, Weasley. Longbottom may be bad at it, but you're hopeless. So, how long have you known they were siblings?"

Ron continued to look daggers at Draco and picked up his books.

"You've got your facts wrong as usual, Malfoy. I said that the two of them were 'like' brother and sister. If you'd pick your ears instead of your ass you would have heard me right."

Draco remained motionless in Ron's path. Even with the redhead standing a full head taller, he made Draco made no indication of backing down. The two boys stared at one another with sheer loathing and contempt in their eyes. The stalemate was only broken when Neville spoke up from behind them.

"They found out on Harry's birthday. Well, both of their birthdays."

Ron turned and stared open mouthed at Neville. The anger he had felt towards him before was nothing compared to what he felt now.

"Shut it, Longbottom! How dare you tell anything to this scum?"

Ron continued to stare in disbelief at Neville until a look of realization crossed his face.

"Wait, I get it. I should have seen this coming. It's the same thing that happened with the Marauders, isn't it? The weakest link of the chain is the easiest to break. How long have you been Draco's little spy, eh? I knew you were still a dirty little ferret, Malfoy, and now you've got a little rat friend with you. I thought you were a good guy, Neville. I really did. Harry trusted you, both of you, and this is what you do in return. Well, it's over now. Once I talk to Harry and Hermione, the two of you won't be able to scratch your nuts without someone watching you."

Neville looked to be in shock, while Draco's sneer hadn't altered in the slightest.

"Are you going to be watching me scratch my nuts, Weasley? Maybe you should consider coming out of the closet, too."

Ron went for his wand but was stopped by Neville.

"Ron, stop! I haven't been telling Draco anything. Harry already told him. He and Hermione decided that, since he's on our side now, Draco had the right to know. If you don't believe me, ask Luna."

Ron suddenly noticed that Luna was now standing next to himself and Draco. She looked between the two of them with the expression of someone watching a rather unremarkable tennis match. Despite his still boiling Weasley temper, he was to himself enough to know that Luna could speak only the truth.

"Luna, is this true? Did Harry tell Draco about him and Hermione being related?"

Luna looked up to Ron with her multi-colored eyes twinkling.

"Yes, he did. Although, come to think of it, he never did say when they found out. It was just after you got up and did your little speech. He saw that Draco was depressed after the holidays and talked with him about the importance of family. Draco told him that all he had left now was his mother and that he didn't know how Harry dealt with having nothing. That's when Harry told Draco that he had more than just his mother. He reconfirmed that he trusted Draco, and that he and Hermione were actually brother and sister. Harry also said that Harry considers all of us his family. Including Draco. And that's all he told him."

Ron was still angry, but it was now overshadowed by embarrassment.

"Fine, Harry did tell you, Malfoy. Why did you make it seem like he didn't?"

Draco gave an exasperated sigh.

"To wind you up, of course. It really is far too easy to do. I really am on your side, Weas... Ron. I know you don't like me, and that's fine. I don't like you, either. However, we do need to work together. Harry really does see us as his family. I originally thought he was stupid to believe that, but now I have to agree with him. You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family, can you?"

Ron had to agree with that.

"No, I guess you can't. I know I wouldn't have picked Percy. You're right, I don't like you, and I still don't trust you any further than I could throw you. However, if Harry trusts you, that's good enough for me. I...um...apologize."

Ron had spoken the last few words very softly. Draco, who had heard them perfectly fine the first time, cupped a hand to his ear.

"What's that? I'm sorry; I've been picking my ass too much to catch that last bit. Maybe if you got back up on the table..."

Ron's face flushed as he spoke up.

"I apologize for what I said, even if you were taking the piss."

Ron then turned and looked ashamedly at Neville.

"Neville, I really am sorry. I'm sorry about threatening you about Ginny, and for calling you the weakest link. You're not. I am. I let my emotions take over too much. I'm going to take Harry up on his offer to teach me Occlumency. It's supposed to not only block out any dangerous external thoughts, but also clear the mind of the internal ones. I've got a problem, and I need to get help for it. I'm so sorry."

Neville was still hurt by the things Ron had said to him, but he also recognized the true sentiment in what he was saying.

"Apology accepted, Ron. You do have a problem, and I'm glad you're going to get help for it. Harry's right, we are a family now. We'll all have our disagreements and falling outs, but we still need to stick together. Our lives depend on it."

Ron nodded and was surprised to notice a stray tear falling down his cheek. He'd gone through more emotions in the last few minutes than he often did in days.

"Thanks, guys. I couldn't ask for better mates than the ones I've got."

Ron then did something he had never done before. Something he hade never dreamed of doing. He held out his hand to Draco Malfoy.

"Truce, Draco?"

Draco looked at Ron's hand as if expecting it to bite him. After a moment's hesitation, he took it.

"Truce, Ron."

Despite the now smiling faces standing together in the middle of the great hall, there were two at a distance who were not. Ignoring their own upcoming classes, Crabbe and Goyle made their way back to the Slytherin common room to report what they had seen.

The next Advanced Defense meeting was two weeks after their confrontation, and it found Ron and Draco sticking to their truce. None of them had mentioned anything to Hermione about what had happened which made Ron gain a greater appreciation for all of them. The meetings had been drawing more and more people each time they met and all those gathered for this one was in for a very unique experience. Professor Dumbledore began the proceedings as he did at each meeting.

"Thank you all for coming. Tonight, we will be having a presentation of sorts. For the first time in over 300 years, the use of dark magic will not just be discussed, but shown."

Nearly everyone gathered in the hall gasped. With the exception of Durmstrang and a handful of non-sanctioned magic schools, the use of dark magic in a curriculum was strictly banned. Dumbledore, being the accomplished public speaker he was, gave a pause in his monologue for the crowds reaction.

"I realize that the use of dark magic in a classroom has been banned in most of the magical world for many years. The usage of it by a student is also seen as an offense worthy of immediate expulsion and arrest. That being said, we are not in a classroom. This meeting is an elective, and anyone not wishing to participate is free to leave at any time. Secondly, the Ministry has been informed of what we are doing and have, grudgingly, given their consent for its use only in this controlled environment. With the threat of Voldemort at the level that it is, they have agreed we all need to know more about the methods being used against us."

As expected, not a single soul left the meeting. After another pause, Dumbledore continued.

"Now, as your Defense professor, I will be involved in the presentation. Along with Mr. Potter, I will be showing you the proper way to defend against dark magic. For instruction on the actual usage of dark magic, I turn the floor over to Mr. Malfoy."

Another gasp rushed through the hall as Draco walked to the front so that he could face them all.

"Right, then. As I'm sure you all know, my father is a high ranking follower of Voldemort."

No gasp followed this statement. Instead, there was only silence. Draco was right in his assumption that everyone present knew about his father, but they were still stunned by the fact that he would admit so in such a public forum.

"Despite what you might think of me, I am not my father. I have done many things in my life that I regret, but I am trying to right some of those wrongs. Growing up as I have around so many Death Eaters and being privy to many dark aspects of magic, I have learned a great deal on the subject. Most of this knowledge is not something that can be found in any textbook here at Hogwarts. The 'unforgivables' we do learn about here are merely the most well known. Tonight, you will learn more of them, and you will hopefully learn what to do if you are forced to face them. Some of you already know, of course. For those of you who do not, I hope for your own sake that this will be the only time you will ever see them."

Draco ended his speech and moved over to stand in the middle of the hall. Dumbledore took up a position some distance to his left, while Harry took up a position of equal distance to his right. With a nod of readiness from Draco, the presentation began.

None of those watching seemed to need to blink. All of them knew that what they were watching was something that had never been seen before outside of a real battlefield situation. The way Draco was using his wand was unlike anything they had ever seen before. His motions were both fluid and intricate, while the sound of his voice and the effects it caused were otherworldly. Dumbledore and Harry were able to defend themselves from his onslaught, but only just. All of those watching could well understand why its use was so largely forbidden. Such power, as was now clearly evident, was far too dangerous to be attempted by anyone not a master of the art.

After nearly an hour, the presentation ended. All three participants fell into conjured armchairs and needed several minutes to recover themselves. A deafening round of applause was started up and only ended when Draco rose unsteadily from his chair.

"Those were but a few of the curses invented and practiced by Voldemort and his followers. I do not have the strength or time to show you more tonight. However, you will be shown how to do your own simplified and non-lethal versions of a few of them. Our focus will be on incapacitation, not torture and death. If you will all line up, the three of us will help you."

The students were so impressed by Draco's show of power that they quickly did as they were told. Draco, Harry, and Dumbledore moved behind the line to aid them in the unfamiliar wand movements the curses required. Somewhat surprisingly, Neville, and even more surprisingly, Ron, picked it up fairly quickly and joined in helping the others. Harry was occupied with helping a slightly nervous Hannah Abbott, while Draco was aiding a frustrated Ginny, who was attempting to cast a version of the bludgeoning hex that left no external marks or traces. To the casual observer, their movements together could have been construed as being sexual. One of his arms gripped her waist firmly, while the other was entwined with her own.

To the biased observer, the scene looked nothing less than erotic.

Pansy had decided to keep an eye on Draco herself tonight. Crabbe and Goyle had reported to her that Draco had been in an argument with the male Weasley and she had been watching Draco closely since then to find out why. Now she knew. Not only was Draco cooperating with the enemy, but it also appeared he was doing much more than that.

Draco had never held her like that. He had never pressed his body against hers except in her late night fantasies. He barely touched her, and here he was clinging to the Weasel slut. She had been through Potter and Fatbottom, and now she was after Draco. This must have been what he and Ron had been arguing about. How far had they gone? Had she bedded him? Pansy had never been allowed to do more than orally or manually pleasure him, and even then he had insisted on keeping his eyes firmly closed. His eyes were certainly open now. He was obviously comfortable with her, and she seemed perfectly comfortable with him.

As the tears began to pool in her eyes, Pansy ran unnoticed all the way back to her dorm room. She had been matched with Draco for an arranged wedding before she had ever met him. She had fallen in love with him soon after she had. With him, she would have love, power, and money. Northing would prevent her from having that. Not even Draco himself. He would just need to be reminded of where his true loyalties belonged.

The next Advanced Defense meeting found everyone eager to learn more about defending themselves against the dark magic they had seen at the previous meeting. It was the first time any of them had actually looked forward to seeing Draco Malfoy. There was just one small problem.

Draco wasn't there.

Ron, not surprisingly, was unworried. He may have not openly loathed Draco anymore, but he still wasn't on his Christmas card list. While the others voiced their concerns, he reminded them all that he and Neville were now nearly as accomplished in the hexes they had learned as Draco was. After ten minutes of waiting, Dumbledore sent Hermione and Luna to investigate. Ten minutes after that, a frightened looking Gryffindor first year ran into the great hall shouting.

"Professor! The Head Girl sent me to get you. She and Lovegood are outside the Gryffindor common room. It's about Malfoy. She says it's urgent that you come, and that the usual group should come to. I don't know what she meant by that."

Dumbledore did know very well what she meant and had run past the young boy without a second glance. The rest of the "usual group" was right behind him. The crowd of other frightened looking younger students and the shouting of the Fat Lady confirmed the urgency of the situation. Seeing Dumbledore arrive caused those assembled to part so that he could get past them. The scene that greeted Dumbledore and the rest of the group caused the breath to catch in their chests.

The amount of blood present reminded Harry and Ron of the warning Tom Riddle had made Ginny write out their second year. That had been done in chicken blood, however. This blood was human. The dark crimson color of it made a stark contrast with the alabaster whiteness of the skin it flowed from.

It appeared that Draco had been hit with a variety of curses; some meant to torture, others meant to cause lingering pain. Harry and Dumbledore immediately recognized that a few of them were the very same curses that they had covered in their previous Advanced Defense meeting. With only the two of them being able to sufficiently cast the curses, apart from Draco himself, they knew it had to be someone not at the meeting, or, more likely, more than one person. Ron and Neville could manage the casting, but they were not strong enough to achieve this kind of result. These curses were part of those created by Voldemort and his followers. These were curses that, like in the case of Draco, could only be known by Death Eaters and their families. This narrowed the suspects down to one house.

Hermione told them that she and Luna had found Draco lying outside the Gryffindor common room when they had gone back there to get Harry's map. Hermione had checked for a pulse immediately while Luna set about casting a series of diagnostic spells to assess the damage. If she had been given the opportunity to better pay attention to anything else but Draco's condition, Hermione would have been amazed by Luna's ability with healing charms. Or, more accurately, what she would have believed to be healing charms. Despite her own formidable skills, Draco would have bled out if it had not been for Luna's presence.

Between the two of them they had Draco stable enough to be transported to the Infirmary. The boy's life still hung in the balance, but at least he would have the chance to fight. Seeing that the last of the open wounds had been mended as best it could under the circumstances, Hermione allowed herself to get up off the floor only to slump against the cold stone wall behind her.

"This is how we found him. He had a very faint and erratic pulse and was bleeding freely from numerous severe lacerations. Luna is the one who saved him, I alerted the students that were coming back from Astronomy to go get help. Nobody claims to have seen anything, but I don't think it's much of a mystery as to who could have done this. The question is, why?"

The rest of the students stood in stunned silence while Dumbledore looked past them at something on the darkened wall Hermione was leaning against. Illuminating his and, he cast it's light to alleviate the gloom.

"I think they have left us the answer to that question."

Turning to look at what their professor was talking about, Hermione recoiled from the wall as if it had burned her. There was blood dripping down the back of her robes where she had leaned against it. There, on the wall, written in blood, was a single word.

TRAITOR

Harry immediately cast a wandless cleansing spell on the wall and on Hermione that removed all traces of blood from both. Hermione, however, still felt as if it was all over her. Ron stepped forward and embraced her as she broke down in his arms. Neville did the same with the now sobbing Ginny. Dumbledore knew he must take control of the situation before shock could completely set in.

"Mr. Weasley, please take Miss Granger to her Head dorm. You are to stay with her until Mr. Potter returns there. If you require anything, call out for Dobby. Mr. Longbottom, Mrs. Weasley, please take Mr. Malfoy to see Madame Pomfrey. Tell her that I will come there as soon as I can. Mr. Potter, Miss Lovegood, please come with me."

Without a moment's hesitation they all set about their assigned duties. It was a credit to Harry's training with all of them that caused them to function instinctively as a unit. Once the rest of them and the other students were gone, Dumbledore turned to Luna and Harry. His attention immediately focused on the pale blonde girl.

"Are you able to continue, Miss Lovegood?"

Harry thought this was an unusual question to ask until he noticed that Luna herself appeared to have been injured. Only his taking her in his arms kept her from collapsing.

"Luna! Are you all right? What's wrong? What's happening?"

Luna's breathing was very erratic and her usual creamy white skin now looked more grey and sickly in color. Harry had never seen anyone look so small and fragile in his life. Before he could say more, a glow began to emanate from himself and Dumbledore and enveloped the quickly fading girl. After what seemed to be an eternity to Harry, Luna took a deep gasping breath and her eyes flew open as if she had been doused by a bucket of ice water. When she had awoken, the glow dispersed and it was Harry's turn to as if he had been reawakened. Even Dumbledore appeared to have been staggered by whatever had happened. Harry made to steady the aged wizard but was stopped by a hand on the arm from him.

"There is no time for questions, Harry. Come, we must alert Professor Snape and the rest of the staff about what has happened."

Within the next half-hour, all the members of the staff had been informed of what had taken place. Professor Snape, who had been in his office when they found him, took the news hard. He had known Draco the whole of the boy's life and was also his godfather. After being assured by Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey that Draco would survive, although she attributed it to a miracle, the shaken professor conducted a thorough search and interrogation of his entire Slytherin house. More than an hour later, Snape returned from the dungeons and approached Dumbledore in the Infirmary. His skin color was even more pallid than usual, and there was a look of anger tinged with fear in his eyes.

"It is worst than I had feared, Headmaster. Parkinson, Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini are gone, along with all of their possessions. I was able to release Miss Bulstrode from an Incarcerous hex that she claims was put on her by Miss Parkinson. It seems that the five of them had planned this to show their loyalty to the Dark Lord. Miss Bulstrode stated that she had gone along with their plans at first, but had a change of heart at the last moment. They then threatened her that they would come back to deal with her after dealing with Draco, but had decided to flee instead. She did receive some injuries by struggling, but nothing that I was unable to attend to myself. From what she said, they had this planned for weeks, and that everything went as they had planned it."

Dumbledore bowed his head as he tried to think of something positive.

"Ah, but it didn't. Draco's life was not taken. Tom will be disappointed in that, at least."

Snape shook his head.

"They did not intend to kill him, Headmaster. This was meant as nothing more than a warning and a declaration of their own true loyalties. They were under strict orders to leave Draco alive, if only just. His killer will not allow anyone else the chance."

Dumbledore's face fell again. All of this had happened inside Hogwarts itself. Despite his efforts, he could not protect him.

"If they wished to send a harsh message, why not kill him? I am more grateful than I can say that they did not, but they certainly could have done so."

Snape felt as if he might throw up.

"Lucius Malfoy himself ordered that the attack on his son be non-lethal. Not out of love, but so that he may be able to do the job himself."