Rating:
PG-13
House:
Schnoogle
Characters:
Sirius Black
Genres:
General Action
Era:
Multiple Eras
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Order of the Phoenix
Stats:
Published: 09/29/2005
Updated: 10/20/2006
Words: 47,099
Chapters: 14
Hits: 17,198

Harry Potter and the Curse of Ages

quintaped

Story Summary:
Harry and his allies have won the war against Voldemort (read HP and the Goblin Rebellion and The War of Shades). Now it is time to get on with living, but Harry finds it more murky and conflicted than he is prepared for. In his search for a solution he encounters a greater danger than he had ever met before.

Chapter 06

Chapter Summary:
Harry's summer is planned for him, with training , pro quidditch tryouts, and a world tour to promote his Famous Wizard cards.
Posted:
10/22/2005
Hits:
979


Chapter 6 Holiday Plans

According to the schedule, Harry would have his weekend free. Then on June 30 he was scheduled at 8:00 a.m. to take the master exams at the Ministry to become a licensed Apparation Instructor. Unfortunately, there was no proper way to test unsplinching and uncrunkling without an actual witch or wizard as a subject, so the junior member of the Licensing Bureau had to deliberately splinch and crunkle himself or herself. The merciful aspect was that since there were only two private apparition schools in addition to the Hogwarts apparation program, a new instructor license had only been issued once in the previous twenty years, when Madam Hooch became an instructor. Harry wondered if he would know the poor wizard who would have to be the test subject.

For the following week after the licensing exam, the schedule included sessions every day with Dumbledore, except on Thursday. After Harry's return from Apparation Instructor examinations at the Ministry on Monday, the schedule called for two days of 'wandering - castle,' followed by a day of 'wandering - grounds + Hagrid.' Dumbledore explained that there were so many things to learn about the castle and the grounds that rather than trying to outline everything, it would be more productive and thorough to simply walk through all of Hogwarts - or as much as they came to - and talk about everything of note, whether magical, legends, or history, as well as showing Harry how to perform any magic required by various charmed objects or structures. Thursday was already set aside for flying to Voldemort's headquarters with Snape and McGonagall; there was a notation for Dobby to come along as well and to bring a picnic lunch for them all. On Friday, Dumbledore and Harry were to spend the day in Dumbledore's office showing Harry about all the magical objects there.

Harry noticed that the schedule seemed rather crowded toward the early part of summer. In fact, there was nothing after the first week of July. When asked, Dumbledore just shrugged it off with a suggestion that Harry might need a holiday. Then he changed the subject to Harry's duties as a resident school instructor regarding discipline and security.

They had just finished eating and were about to discuss the uses of the pensieve when a flurry of owls started arriving. They presented themselves to Harry rather than Dumbledore. Dumbledore stood aside, beaming.

"You know anything about this, Albus?" Harry said with a bemused suspicion.

"Ah, well, I may have an inkling, although I only have a direct role in one of them. Why don't you have a look?"

Dumbledore gave each of the owls a treat and sent them up to the owlery for a rest before Harry replied to the letters they had carried. Of course, each owl would know which message was intended for its owner when the time came.

"Well, let's see what we have here," said Harry. He opened letter after letter, saving out two in particular for last. All of those in the first group opened were from professional quidditch teams, asking Harry to try out. They were all for the first full week of July and were all in the same location, a small, uninhabitable island in the Irish Sea which, the letters explained, had been charmed to keep muggles off of it and to make any wizard or witch on a broom appear to be a sea bird to any muggle who sailed by. All the teams had a joint rookie camp there so they could more easily evaluate prospects and negotiate contracts.

Harry smiled. "How thick do you think I'd have to be to not to see through this!?"

Dumbledore laughed. "Actually, Professor McGonagall takes care of informing the teams of quidditch-playing students of hers that are leaving the school. I'm not sure she is entirely altruistic in that - she loves getting complementary tickets for choice seats. I just made sure I had advance notice of the tryouts so that your sessions here would not cause you to miss tryouts or - anything else which might be coming up."

"Hmm - 'anything else'? Well, I suppose that will be explained in due time. So is there any reason to prefer or reject any particular team that has invited me?"

"Not that I know of, not beyond their historical performance and locations, and I know you have read up on that. They hold tryouts all together to best compare players, so you'll have a chance to talk with all of them that are interested in you. Then you can discuss the potential opportunities with all those who might be affected."

"Of course," said Harry. "Ron will certainly be getting tryout invitations as well. And Ginny, Hermione and our other friends would want to attend at least some of the games we would play in."

"Are you planning on being on the same team with Mr. Weasley?"

"We've discussed it. It's good to be with friends, but I'm sure the training for seekers is very different from that for the rest of the team."

"Perhaps. But you've never seen professional quidditch. At school and in the World Cup Tournament, the focus is entirely on winning as soon as possible, so the seeker is more focused on the snitch. Professional teams still want to win, but not too fast, so they don't rush catching the snitch. As Mr. Weasley showed you, the seeker can disrupt players in other parts of the game to affect scoring. Professionals do much more of that."

"Why would they do that?"

"Let's just say that it makes for a more exciting game to watch. I have my suspicions as to further reasons."

"Still, I enjoyed working on those plays rather than just snitch-seeking." Harry rubbed his chin as he thought how the game would be different with him participating in even more playmaking.

Dumbledore smiled as Harry thought through some of the possibilities. "Well, whether you choose to be on the same team as Mr. Weasley or not, my recommendation, Harry, would be to seize the opportunities which will give you the most joy. You've earned it, and, I might add, you will in the future. As I discovered long ago, when a person has once overcome great challenges, he is repeatedly called upon to do so."

"And you think I would accept such challenges?"

"Wouldn't you?"

Harry shrugged. "Probably. Almost certainly. I would really like to have a choice in the matter. Up until now, I haven't really had a chance to say no. Maybe I should more often be willing to let others take care of their own problems."

Dumbledore smiled. "That you should. It is easy to be overwhelmed. But I think there is a middle ground. I have long worked to anticipate and prevent crises. I have networks of friends and allies and I keep an eye on all sorts of developments. I will continue to do so for quite some time, but I would like to work with a protégé, a much younger person with the power and talent, and most especially the sense of right needed to take over gradually."

"You're asking me?"

"Can you think of anyone better?"

"Hermione is smarter, Ron is a better strategist, Luna sees a broader and unique perspective on all things, Ginny is very powerful and passionate, erm, ... about, you know, protection and erm, doing the right things."

Dumbledore chuckled. "And I'm certain that's not the only way. What you say is true, and yet, you also know that all of these, and the rest of those you have trained are doggedly loyal to you and take direction from you. Even when they were deceiving you, they were being loyal to you and following a plan they knew you would embrace, if you had only had the opportunity. You will, as I have done, call on many people who have talents which in relevant regards exceed yours. Still, you inspire the loyalty and you have the courage and vision and tenacity."

"It's unnatural for me to acknowledge that, but I have to. I'm honored to be asked. I'd be a fool to refuse."

"And that is because ...?"

"Well, of course, there is the immense amount I can learn from you, and I had better, since to me, it's not really an option to turn my back on people in need, so I'd do better to be engaged in keeping little problems from becoming big ones, than by hiding away and dealing with things only after disaster is impending."

"Excellent, Harry. I was hoping you would see the big picture."

Harry then picked up the next envelope: it had a return address marked Longbottom Manor. It was written by Neville's grandmother and was an invitation to a party to be held at Longbottom Manor July 30. It was said to be for, "in no particular order, the return of peace to the wizarding world, the return of Frank and Alice Longbottom to health, the celebration of all those who contributed to both of these, and the 18th birthday of our dear Neville." There was a postscript directed to Harry as well "Put on your thickest skin, dear Harry - we couldn't hold such a celebration without embarrassing you with accolades."

"She sounds quite giddy," observed Harry.

"She certainly has good cause. She has had a most difficult situation for some 15 years. All the burdens have been lifted. They still have to reestablish the relationships and working of family life, but at least they are now able to do so. I only hope that in her exuberance she is not pushing Frank and Alice into a public event too quickly."

"You mean because they aren't up-to-date on events?"

"Partly that, and partly because they have not maintained either the personal relationships or the behaviours necessary to such relationships in over fifteen years. You will be going, won't you?"

"There's no graceful way to avoid it, is there?"

"No, Harry. You'll just have to accept that there are plenty of people who are still not tired of singing your praises. The Longbottoms in particular may never tire of it."

Harry nodded. "Well, one can never have too many loyal friends, can one?"

Dumbledore tilted his head and winked. "I know I have been very grateful when loyalty to me has been displayed."

Then Harry turned to the last envelope. It was held shut by what appeared to be a brown wax seal in the shape of a frog. When Harry tried to pull it open, it woke and pulled back on the flap.

"Allow me," said Dumbledore, taking the envelope and holding it up to Fawkes, who immediately pecked the frog off the envelope and swallowed it. "Fawkes loves those." He handed the envelope back with a self-pleased smile.

Harry pulled the letter out of the envelope and read it. "Well, this could be a lot of fun. 'Dear Mr. Potter, as part of your agreement with the company, we are making arrangements for a promotional tour at our expense to promote the new Harry Potter Famous Wizard cards. The kickoff will be at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley, London on July 12. After that, there are appearances scheduled in Europe and Africa for two and a half weeks, then a two-day break we are told you will need, resuming with Asia and Australia for two weeks, and finally North and South America for ten days. Please see the detailed itinerary enclosed. We have tried to coordinate this with your other commitments as they have been related to us. We are also asking Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger to participate in the promotional tour. If you would care to bring a guest, please feel free. We have also taken the liberty of scheduling some entertainments and diversions in the various locales. Expenses will be taken care of. Please respond promptly so that reservations can be made and promotional appearances advertised."

"Hmm. This leaves me only about a week after the tour before school starts again. You've been busy planning my life, Professor."

"Not all of it, just arranging a few things this summer. You aren't accustomed yet to living a reasonably normal life. As for going on a working holiday, I've already said the whole wizarding world owes you far more than you can be paid. And this is what the muggles call a win-win situation. You have earned and need a proper holiday and the Chocolate Frog company benefits by your appearances. I also like the idea of you putting a human face to the legends which are even now being shaped about you around the globe. Trust me: you do not want to be perceived as larger than life, particularly at such a young age."

"I've already been The Boy Who Lived - I know what a burden that can be."

"But don't forget, it is also an opportunity. You will meet with many people and will be the symbol of what a wizard should be."

"So I have to play the hero?"

"Not the way that Gilderoy Lockhart did. We don't need poseurs. And don't try to impress with your power. Show your genuine self - that will be enough. It is your character more than anything else which carried you this far. Stick with your strengths. And in that regard, I would suggest that you invite Miss Weasley to accompany you - I have noticed that she has quite the ability to, as they say, take the micky out of you."

Harry laughed. "How very true. She sees right through me when I start to get too full of myself and brings me back to earth."

"That's an invaluable quality, I hope you know."

"Sort of: I've barely had a chance to reflect on such things."

"I indeed hope you will now have the opportunity to observe and think on the whole nature of life and living. In a way, your life has been fairly simple up until now - not easy, but simple: you could focus on nothing more than dealing with an enemy. Now all the complications of human life must be dealt with, and in that, we are often our own worst enemy."

"Okay, Albus, I'll keep that in mind. So will I be seeing you during the tour."

"If you use your mirror. Otherwise, I am afraid I remain rather busy."

"Really? I rather thought with the war over, you'd be able to take a break as well."

"Maybe someday, Harry, although I must say that as I have gotten older the need to take holidays has much decreased. I take my interludes as needed, but I have learned to accept, and even in most respects enjoy, my responsibilities."

"What parts don't you enjoy?"

"Sometimes I see people headed the wrong way and I cannot stop them."

"Like Fudge?"

"Mm - yes, that's an example."

"Others?"

"After Voldemort returned, and I had failed to tell you all you should have known, I could see the dangerous level of frustration and anger, but I could not at that time intervene without causing much bigger problems."

"That was a hard time for me."

"Of course, it was. I just hope you know it pained me greatly to see all the difficulties you dealt with - but it was also a great joy to see how well you coped with them."

"That was handling things well?"

"Given what you were dealing with, yes."

"As I look back, and see how it all played out, I sort of see what you are saying."

"That's it, Harry - look at the big picture."

"But I hope I never have to go through anything as horrid as that again."

"That's always the goal, isn't it? That is why we must keep focused on the big picture - no one should have to go through Harry Potter's journey."

"Still, I can't say I would trade it for anyone else's life."

"Excellent, Harry. You are the product of all your experiences and your heritage; as hard as it has been, it is best that you affirm what you are, and move forward without regrets."

"That's what forgiveness is all about - to see the mistakes for what they were, admit them, correct them to the extent possible, and move on."

Dumbledore smiled broadly.

Later, as Harry walked through the corridors, studying the itinerary for the tour, both appearances and recreations, he ran into Firenze.

"Hello, Firenze, how are you?"

"It is an interesting time to look for signs - so much is undetermined."

"Do any of them show you being able to return to the forest?"

"Perhaps - the herd appreciated the way your army fought and the respect shown for its ways. Your healing of Bane could not but be valued. Hagrid has been tireless helping the wounded and displaced creatures of the Forest: certainly the herd admires that, so he is already accepted as a friend again. Members of the herd were watching the replanting: they hate to see a centaur working with humans, but in a task like restoring the damaged portions of the forest, even my kind can understand a role for cooperation. They would not speak to me directly yet, but they did not run me off. It's a start."

"Wonderful. I hope that all intelligent creatures can now find a way to respect each other and find common ground."

Firenze smiled. "It does not take a soothsayer to know you mean that. I also believe the Ministry will be much better in that regard under its new leadership."

Harry smiled. "Well, time will tell."

"Spoken like a centaur," laughed Firenze, who in his years in the castle seemed to have acquired the very human trait of a sense of humour.

Then Firenze changed the subject to ask Harry about his plans. "So, Harry Potter: you have trained and led an army to destroy the Dark Forces; you have healed countless injured fighters, friend and foe alike; you have faced the Dark Lord and vanquished his wrath and power - What are you going to do now?"

Harry glanced down at his itinerary and began to laugh. "I'm going to Disneyland!"


Author notes: After this chapter, we start to have truly new material, rather than a re-work of the epilogue of The War of Shades.