Harry Potter and the Secrets of Dumbledore

Harry Potter and the Secrets of Dumbledore

Chapter 2

Revelations

In an instant Harry was in his bedroom. He put the paperweight on his night table and changed his cloths. He went into the guest house addition to make sure all the furniture had arrived unharmed. Satisfied that everything had arrived safely he walked outside to peruse the way the addition matched the design of the original house.

Harry had purchased a house in Hogsmeade. It was built into the side of a hill with a fantastic view of the village in one direction and Hogwarts on the hill in the opposite direction. It was a fairly large house, though not showy, so that guests would have a place to stay without having to make arrangements at one of the inns in the village. The guest house was added to give the new tenant their own sense of privacy with a hallway, full of customized features, that seamlessly connected the two structures into one.

He sat down enjoying the view of the sun playing with the peaks of the distant hills when he heard a "pop" behind him. He turned around to be greeted by Ron and Hermione. Hugs all around !

"So, where are my godsons?" asked Harry looking around.

"Who?" Ron replied dryly.

"You know, three boys...chestnut hair...look alike...nine years old. They usually answer to the names of James, Arthur, and Douglas. Call me Uncle Harry. Ring any bells?"

"Oh, we dumped them. We were getting cross eyed trying to keep track of them!"

Hermione couldn't stand it any more. "We thought it best to leave them home where they wouldn't get in the way. We'd probably get nothing done with them around. Anyway, Molly found something for them to do."

Ron rolled his eyes and said, "Yeah, they'll have a great time. They get to de-gnome the garden again!

"Anyone want something to drink before we get started?" Harry asked.

"Why don't we get everything organized first and then we can sit down, eat and converse," said Hermione sounding every bit the authority figure she was at work.

Harry and Ron glanced at each other and in unison said, "yes, Minister."

"You two will never change. Where should we start Harry?"

Harry thought for a minute and said, "Well, everything was delivered earlier today, but it looks like a war zone. Guess the best place to start would be with the furniture. Lets' each take a room and see what happens."

All the boxes were moved into the kitchen and bathroom so there would not be too much stuff in the way. Harry took the living room, Ron the smaller bedroom leaving Hermione with the large bedroom. Suddenly furniture was floating all over the house. An occasional "oops" or "shit" was heard during the mayhem, along with "maybe over there would be better." Finally, everyone agreed on the furniture arrangement in each room.

"Now for the boxes." Harry paused for a minute and said, "Leave the boxes that have a red 'x' on them alone as they will be taken care of later. As for the rest, hopefully we'll be able to figure out what goes where. So, have at it!"

Within a matter of minutes, lamps were flying about, soon joined by knick knacks of all shapes and sizes. Pots, pans, plates, and silverware all headed for the kitchen and dining room. A box opened, but was resealed by Ron when he noticed the 'x' on it.

Of course he had peeked inside first. "Surely those aren't going to be put on display?" Ron said with a rather sour look on his face.

Harry looked at the box for a moment. "I suppose they probably will be. Loads of people display pictures and the like."

"But..." Ron was stopped before he could get another word out, when he heard, "Ronald, drop it. It's not our concern."

After fifteen years of marriage, Ron knew it to be wise to just shut up.

Harry looked around and said, "Looks pretty good. How about some dinner?"

"Wait!" said Hermione. She pointed her wand at each vase, and one by one they filled with flowers. "Now that's much better."

Feeling rather pleased with themselves, they walked down into the village to have dinner at the Three Broomsticks.

They realized that they were much hungrier than they had thought. They ate a huge meal, with butterbeer, for old times sake. The conversation was minimal and light. They just sat for awhile watching the other patrons. Finally, Harry suggested that they go back to the house for drinks and a little privacy.

As they walked up the path to the house, Harry stopped and looked at the property. "Each of you stand at my sides, put one hand on my shoulder and allow your powers to join mine." They looked at each other with puzzled expressions, but had learned not to question Harry, and did as he asked. He then raised his arms, palms facing the house, closed his eyes, and quietly whispered the words of the incantation. A deep blue light extended from his hands to encircle the property. It hovered for a moment and then faded out.

Harry lowered his arms and opened his eyes, "Okay, that's done. Let's go inside."

Hermione stopped him. "Wait a minute. What did you just do? And why did you need us?"

"I just put a guardian charm on the house and property. It will prevent anyone from entering if they have any thoughts, feelings, or intentions of harming those within the perimeter. I added your combined powers to my own to give it extra strength," Harry explained. "Let's go inside."

Once comfortably seated with their drinks in hand, Ron asked, "What's with the extra security precautions?"

"Well, as I told Hagrid earlier today, I feel some new type of evil is out there...waiting. Plus, my guest is a bit apprehensive about moving in here with me."

Hermione's curiosity got the best of her and she just had to ask. "Harry, where did you learn about that guardian charm?"

He sat and stared at the ceiling for a few moments, sipping his firewhiskey. "This is not for public information, but seeing as it is the two of you. Albus called me to his office a few days before he died. He told me that he had talked to the ministry officials and to the commissioners of Hogwarts and told them that I should follow him as the next headmaster. I started to protest, but he stopped me right quick."

"Harry, you are very well aware that you are a very powerful wizard. It is also something I have known all your life. Many years ago when you rid the world of the dementors, I started to speculate and did a great deal of research. The undeniable conclusion is simply that not only are you a very powerful wizard...you are THE most powerful wizard that has ever lived!"

Both Ron and Hermione's jaws dropped to the floor. Harry looked at them and said, "Yeah, that's pretty close to my reaction. He did go on to explain that I wasn't born with all these powers. Granted a great deal started with my parents who were both very powerful, the fact that through my dad's family I am related to Godric Gryffindor, and add the powers I got from Voldemort when I was a baby. Well, you get the picture."

Ron interrupted at this point to ask, "Well, you've had all that almost all your life. When and or how did it increase?"

"Seems it had to grow and mature as I did. It matured a bit faster than I did and then melded together."

"Harry, that's absolutely amazing!" said Hermione, with her eyes as big as saucers. "I'm almost afraid to ask if there is any more to all this...but?"

"There was always more when Albus Dumbledore was involved," Harry sighed and then continued. "There was a candle holder on his desk directly between us, with seven small narrow candles lit and lined up. He raised my chair about three feet into the air, told me to sit still and look directly into his eyes and not to move no matter what. I did as I was told. He said an incantation in Latin as he held his hands out toward me. The candles started to grow at an angle the one on his end stayed short and each one got taller until the one on my end was even with my scar. Both the size of the flames and the width of the candles started to pulse from his end to mine. He was whispering constantly, as the pulse kept adding speed. My scar started to ache and soon became very painful, but I knew I had better not move. Finally, there was a huge burst of light and everything was back to normal."

Hermione was almost in shock. "Hold on a minute, I need to refill my drink. How about you Ron?"

"Er...yeah, to say the least," his breathing being rather fast and hard.

"Don't bother, I'll do it," said Harry. With a tiny movement of one finger, all their glasses had been refilled.

Ron just sat there, still breathing hard. Hermione was shaking slightly and said very softly, "Harry, you're starting to scare me."

"If you think you're scared, think how I felt experiencing all this first hand! Let me finish. At that moment Albus looked older than I had ever seen him look before. He just smiled with that twinkle in his eyes and said, 'How do you feel?' I told him I felt exhausted and asked what had just happened."

"He lowered my chair to the floor and the candles and their holder disappeared. He sat back in his chair looking ever so proud of himself. Finally, he peered over the top of his glasses and said, 'Harry that was the crowning moment of my entire career as a wizard. I just increased your powers with mine and added whatever I had that you didn't already posses.' I just sat there in shock!"

"I only had one question...Why?"

"Harry, I am going to die in a few days and have made you my successor. We have had twenty two years of peace, but soon, I am sorry to say, you will have to lead a new fight. I wanted to give you all the powers and advantages that I possibly could. I will explain your new powers tomorrow, especially a very rare communication ability that I have found very useful over the years. Come back at the same time and we will finish."

Harry looked at his two friends who were hanging on every word, never seeming to leave their shocked states.

"I'm almost afraid to ask," said Ron. "What communication ability, and what else was there to finish?"

"I think it best to stop at this point. We can talk about the rest after you two absorb what I've told you so far. Anyway, there are other things to catch up on. So, somebody else say something!"

A tense silence hung in the air for a few minutes.

"So," Hermione tried to lighten things up, "are you ready for the new school year? Have you figured out what you're going to say at the welcoming feast?"

"As much as I can be at this point. Minerva has told me she'd help guide me through this year. I'll need all the help I can get let me tell you! As far as the speech goes, I just hope something comes to me and that I don't make a complete arse of myself.

"So, Ron, how's your mum doing?"

"Actually she's doing better than I had expected since dad died. Of course, keeping herself busy with the boys helps a lot. I also think that Hermione succeeding dad as Minister of Magic hasn't hurt either. I think she's going to be just fine."

Harry bit his lower lip and slowly asked the next question. "Has there been any news about Percy?"

To Harry's surprise, Ron was rather calm and said, "Nobody has heard anything from or about that git in several years. Ever since he went to teach at Durmstrang's, we only hear bits and pieces every now and then. The little bit we do get is usually from Charlie, thanks to his network of contacts in that area."

"There was a rumor that Lucius Malfoy was at Durmstrang's too, but there is no way to confirm that." Ron started to smile when he continued, "we do know for sure that dear old Draco is still in Azkaban! Supposedly he's trying to organize something. Guess we'll have to watch that one."

Hermione added, "He always talked big and had an evil mind, but he was a wimp. He always had to have his goon friends do everything for him. If someone confronted him when he was alone, he turned to jelly. I don't think he really did much in that pathetic attack he 'led' against the Ministry of Magic during the war. All reports showed that he just barked out orders while hiding behind statues and the like. The only time he actually got involved in anything was in the torture and killing of powerless muggles."

Not wanting to get into what he was thinking at the moment, Harry changed the subject. "So, Ron, how are things going with international muggle relations?"

"It's fascinating," said Ron, now that his normal color had returned. "It's a slow process trying to figure out which muggles to make contact with, convince them that witches and wizards really do exist and then to convince them that we mean them no harm and want to live in harmony. After that line is crossed, we have to explain and convince them not to spread the word all over the place. I think we are making good progress though."

"If Albus was right about a new fight breaking out, your organization will probably play a very important part in the near future." Harry replied.

Before Ron could respond to that last statement, Harry turned to Hermione and asked, "So, have you settled in to your new position, Minister?"

"It has been interesting, to say the least. It took a bit for people to get over that suddenly the new minister was not only the youngest ever, but the first woman to hold the position. Things have calmed down and it seems to be running smoothly now."

Suddenly, one of the school owls flew in, dropped a note in Harry's lap, and flew back out again.

Harry glanced at the note and smiled. "Seems Dobby is finished with his work in the castle and wants to make his nightly visit to tidy up around here."

Hermione cocked her head with her eyes opened wide and stared at Harry.

"Hold it right there," Harry said. "We've been through this a million times before...and, if memory serves, I believe it is your signature, Minister, on the agreement with house elves as to the current status of our relationship with them. You remember, they will continue to work for the wizarding community, but will be paid and have time off, the amount of each being determined by each individual elf. Plus, don't forget that they have very powerful magic of their own. That may be useful sometime in the future."

Hermione shook her head in agreement. "I am really trying to keep in mind that there are many opinions and preferences that don't always fall into my personal vision of things. I just want everybody to have the chance to live the kind of life that makes them happiest."

Ron yawned and looked at his watch. "Well, if you don't need any more help, I think we better had better get going. I know Hermione has a full schedule tomorrow and I have to apparate to Rome for what promises to be a long meeting. You know how emotional those Italians are, not to mention their tempers! I've been researching them for months, just for this meeting."

Harry broke into a big smile. "Relax! I've been to Italy many times and the Italians are wonderful people. Don't stereotype them before you give them a chance. I think you'll find them very receptive and easy to work with. Just don't get uptight!"

As they stood up, Harry said, "Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it."

Ron shrugged his shoulders and said, "Anytime mate!"

Harry gave Hermione a kiss goodbye and a hug for Ron. With a "pop" they were gone.

The sound of the "pop" had barely faded when another one was heard. Suddenly Dobby was standing in front of Harry.

As usual, Dobby stood there with his big eyes glued on Harry. "Hello Harry Potter, sir. Dobby is ready to clean your house as usual."

Harry smiled at him and said, "Sit down Dobby, we need to have a little talk. Don't worry about cleaning tonight because we beat you to it."

Dobby looked around the living room and saw that everything was clean and in place, not that there was usually much to do anyway. Dobby's expression changed and he asked, "Is Harry Potter not pleased with Dobby's work any more?"

"No, no, no...it's nothing like that that," Harry quickly replied. "It's just that someone else is moving in tomorrow and we are going to need a period of adjustment.

So, I don't want you to worry about the house for awhile. I'll see you at the castle almost everyday and we'll see how things go around here."

"I understands, Harry Potter, sir. Don't worry about Dobby. I needs to get started on my knitting for Christmas presents anyway. I will go now. Good night Harry Potter, sir."

"Good night, Dobby."

With a "pop" Dobby was gone and Harry went to bed.