Renouncing Magic's Child

"I think Harry, it is time ... looking right at him.

"That was weird," Harry said quietly, "seeing two of you."

Albus smiled softly.

"Come," ... the cabinet door was sort of open and -"

"That wasn't an apology," Mrs Weasley said with a small chuckle.

"In fairness, he did apologise to memory me," Albus said, eyes twinkling.

"I quite understand," ... memories crammed into my mind."

"Can't say I've ever felt that way," Ron said.

"Er," ... when they are in this form."

"You can often spot things you missed the first time," Amelia said. "We use them all the time in the DMLE."

"You mean ... stronger and clearer than ever..."

"The dark mark?" young Lucius asked.

"A connection I could have made ... have attracted your attention."

"Perfectly understandable," Albus said reasonable, surprising most people. They wouldn't have been quite so forgiving about having their own memories invaded in such a way. Fortunately, it hadn't been anything particularly personal for the headmaster.

"I'm sorry," ... exercise caution with our curiosity... yes, indeed..."

Sirius smiled. That was how a teacher was supposed to correct behaviour. The headmaster had clearly made a lot of mistakes during Harry's time at Hogwarts, but in moments like this one, he actually did a really good job. It was highly frustrating because Sirius really just wanted to be angry and hate the man for endangering Harry continuously.

Frowning slightly, ... kissing Florence behind the greenhouses last Thursday..."

Sirius blushed. That had been him.

"But why Bertha," ... "That was Bertha as I remember her at school."

"Nosy little..." Sirius muttered, causing Severus to smirk.

The silvery light from the Pensieve ... - er - I fell asleep."

Filius laughed. "Just what every teacher wants to hear."

He hesitated here ... "Quite understandable. Continue."

The teachers all gaped at him in disbelief.

"Well, I had a dream," ... "It woke me up, it hurt so badly."

Albus frowned. That dream wasn't quite what he might have expected, given Harry and Tom's connection. Harry had been an outsider looking in. That was good. At least he hoped it was. Perhaps the connection wasn't that strong. He still hadn't forgiven himself for not considering that the goblins might have been able to help. He should have thought of that. How arrogant he had been!

Dumbledore merely looked at him ... over the summer?" said Harry, astonished.

Everyone gaped at the book. How had he known?

"You are not Sirius's ... safest place for him to stay."

Remus almost growled. Albus had encouraged Sirius to hide out in a cave? Albus himself looked surprised at that. He could think of plenty of places where he could have hidden and been close at hand. And still been able to enjoy a warm meal and a bed.

"Should have sent him to me," Abe said gruffly.

Dumbledore got up ... looked at Harry.

Everyone was waiting eagerly to hear what the headmaster had to say about the dream. Surely, he would say something.

"My apologies," ... Lord Voldemort is near you,

Sirius huffed. Anyone with half a brain could work that out.

and when he is ... surge of hatred."

"It's not just hatred," Harry muttered. "It was any strong emotion."

"But. . . why?"

The others in the chamber wanted to know the same thing.

"It's the horcrux," Rookwood said. "It formed a mental connection between you. Presumably as the Dark Lord became stronger, those feelings became more pronounced and the connection strengthened."

"Because you and he are connected ... did it really happen?"

"That's impossible!" Young Hermione said.

"Not impossible, but highly improbable," Sirius said. "It would take particularly strong magic to forge such a connection. I'm not sure much would do it. Except the horcrux..."

"Or having the gift of sight," Luna murmured.

"It is possible," ... did you see Voldemort?"

Harry blinked at the question. Had Dumbledore worried even then that he might have been Voldemort in the dream?

"No," said Harry ... he hasn't got a body, has he?

Harry looked to the headmaster. "Was your older self worried that..."

"Worried that you were most likely Voldemort in the dream?" Albus asked, a somber look on his face. "Most definitely."

"Did you - did he fear me being possessed?"

"No. Not that. But I imagine that I feared that the closer you got, the further into his mind you strayed, the more likely it would be that Voldemort would notice your presence and try and use it against you."

But... but then ... held the wand?" Harry said slowly.

"Good question," Moody gruffed.

"How indeed?" ... "do you think he's getting stronger?"

Someone let out a panicked little squeal. Harry could only presume it wasn't someone from his own time.

"Voldemort?" ... even Moody's magical eye could not.

Severus wondered if the man was using mind magic, only to remember the number of times he'd felt the exact same way in the man's presence without feeling even a slight probe against his shields.

"Once again ... unlike most of my Ministry friends."

"The man from Harry's first dream!" Theo said suddenly. "That was real too."

Dumbledore looked very seriously ... while waiting outside my office."

Amelia frowned. She wasn't Dumbledore's biggest fan. She'd blamed him for the deaths of her brother and his family. But if he'd come to her with his concerns, she liked to believe that she would have listened. Certainly more so than Fudge ever would.

Harry nodded ... in the Pensieve?"

Mrs Weasley smiled. Harry really was a very polite young man.

"You could," ... Neville's parents?"

Young Neville whimpered slightly.

Dumbledore gave Harry ... by his grandmother?" he said.

Augusta frowned. She remembered when the children had met Frank and Alice at the hospital. She had been disappointed to realise that Neville didn't talk about them. Now, she thought she understood a bit better. Who was he close enough to that he felt safe to share such personal information. She hoped that the prince would become that friend for her grandson. They certainly seemed to be getting closer.

Harry shook his head ... four years of knowing him.

"You didn't ask because you didn't want to talk about your own home life," Albus said with a sigh. "And inevitably, asking about his would lead to questions about your own."

Harry nodded. That sounded right.

"Yes, they were talking ... "So they're dead?" said Harry quietly.

"No. Not dead," Augusta said. "Far worse than that."

"No," said Dumbledore, ... They do not recognize him."

The children all shared horrified looks. They couldn't imagine how awful that must be for Neville.

Harry sat there ... bothered to find out...

"I'm sorry, Neville," Harry said softly. "I should have been a better friend."

Neville shrugged the apology off. Harry was a good friend. They just hadn't been that close.

"The Longbottoms were very popular," ... have been involved?" said Harry slowly.

"I was involved," Barty said. "I was... I was outside, standing guard."

Dumbledore shook his head ... "Mr. Bagman..."

"Idiot of a man!" Molly grumbled.

"...has never been accused ... "No more has Professor Snape," he said.

Severus rolled his eyes.

Harry looked into Dumbledore's ... supporting Voldemort, Professor?"

Severus glanced up at the book, wondering if the headmaster would tell him.

Dumbledore held Harry's gaze ... Professor Snape and myself."

The teachers all huffed their disagreement. After everything that happened in the last two years, they were no longer willing to accept that answer. Especially now that they knew the truth. Harry had shared it with the order after all. 

Harry knew that the interview ... He stood up, and so did Dumbledore.

"You read emotions very well, Mr Potter," Albus said softly. "It will be a good skill to have as prince."

"Harry," .... let people know, when he is ready."

"That's why you never mentioned it?" Neville asked.

Harry nodded. "I thought you'd tell me when you were ready, if you ever did."

"Yes, Professor," ... "Good luck with the third task."

Pomona smiled softly. She was tempted to tell him off for showing favouritism but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Potter would need all the luck he could get. It was as if Lady Fate herself was conspiring against him.

There was a flash of bright light but nobody flinched this time. They were all quite used to Mother Magic's sudden appearances. They were surprised by who she had brought with her, however. Most of the people in the chamber did not know the six people. Some of them had seen them at Kings Cross but never in such close quarters. Most in the chamber knew of them, but had never been able to put a face to what the books had told them about them. Only a small few recognised them immediately and Mother Magic was quick to remind them of the no violence rule.

Harry was shocked. Just what were the Dursleys doing in Mother Magic's realm.

Young Harry looked more than shocked. He looked downright terrified. He rushed to Harry's side, hiding behind his older self.

"Your aunt, uncle and cousin have been reading the books too, my child," Mother Magic said.

But Harry couldn't even look at her. His eyes were trained on his two uncles. They were both purple with anger and Harry had a sneaky suspicion that Mother Magic had put a silencing spell on him.

"Why would you bring them here?" Sirius demanded. He'd love to ring their necks but he couldn't understand why the immortal had done such a thing.

"It is important that they know just who their nephew is," she said. "I want them to know just who they have harmed."

There was a vicious gleam in her eye and Harry knew that even if Madam's Bones abuse case flopped, he'd still get some sort of vengeance. Mother Magic would ensure it. Not that he really thought he wanted vengeance. He mostly just wanted to get as far away from them as possible.

She turned towards the Dursleys. "You ridiculed my chosen child for what will happen next in this book and I want you to understand just what it was that you taunted him about. I want you to know the full depth of your crimes before I hand you over to my brother."

"Y-your brother?" Dudley asked.

Harry wondered if he was the only one that hadn't been silenced. Even his younger self looked like he was trying to scream.

"Lord Death," Mother Magic said, causing Dudley's eyes to widen in fear. She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Although I might show you leniency, Dudley. You certainly seemed to learn the errors of your ways eventually. The same can not be said for your parents and they have already been marked for death. Their souls are his to claim whenever he pleases."

Mother Magic personally hoped that her brother extended the hunt and made sure to torture them with it. A quick death would not provide adequate punishment in her humble opinion.