Winter is Coming
Danysteps off of the ascending stone Eagle lift, following close behind Ned Stark— who was leading both her, and Jon into Dumbledore's office.
Her shivers started to melt away immediately upon entering the fire-lit room, and their shadows glowed golden in the heat as they walked in quietly. The tall book cases and miscellaneous shelves surrounded the two Gryffindors in a half circle, while dark moving portraits narrowed their eyes down at them suspiciously.
Dany's hair was still a mess, and her and Jon were both still in their wrinkled uniforms, wearing them like a proud badge. However their anxious expressions were slowly giving away their fearless facade.
Dumbledore and Professor Seaworth were in the midst of a heavy conversation, as Dany could tell by both their tones when she walked in.
"Yes, but they are just as equal of a part in this, Davos—" Dumbledore says, cutting himself off, now aware of his new, young guests.
"They shouldn't be." Professor Seaworth walks away, mumbling again shortly, "Forgive me Headmaster, but I simply cannot agree with you. It's not right."
He shuffles past Jon, Dany and Ned with a wary look of disapproval, "Good evening, Ned."
Then he stops to soften his clear blue eyes at the children, "Mr. Snow, Ms. Targaryen, you both played an incredible match today, congratulations." He pats their shoulders sweetly.
Jon and Dany both thank him, and then soon after he leaves, Dumbledore and Ned were left waiting for their attention.
"Well, I assume you both may have somewhat of an idea what this is all about," Dumbledore says gravely.
Dany and Jon glance at each other swiftly, "No, Professor." Dany shakes her head, "We haven't the slightest, is it about our exams..."
Jon physically had to stop himself from gawking at her overt dishonesty.
“Because I know we both studied for—"
"No, no, Daenerys," Dumbledore cuts her off softly. Ned folds his arms across his chest, "No. This is a much more serious matter."
"Regarding my son, Brandon.” Ned intervenes, “And the... experience you two shared with him in the forest."
Dany's shoulders fall dropping the act, knowing this was exactly what was coming. "Is he still... not doing any better?"
"We told you that night everything we saw." Jon adds honorably.
"Yes you did. But as of now..." Dumbledore looks to Dany with sympathy, "No, Bran still remains paralyzed. And in all 110 years of his practice, the boy has left Maester Luwin rather stumped."
"Yes. And unfortunately we need to know," Ned speaks lowly, "—more about the things you saw that night in the forest. And... How they compare to your first encounter, Jon."
Jon frowns at Dany, knowing she was thinking about how she was right and he was wrong.
“Yes,” Dumbledore continues, "And we need to know now. As my time, here at Hogwarts is limited." He pauses sadly, the yellow candle light flickering a haunting halo high above the bookshelves above him.
"Jon. What did the creature you saw at Durmstrang look like? And I want you to be as specific as possible."
Jon side glances unsure at Professor Stark, "Uhm, well he was a man... with skin made of ice. And he had long white hair and bright blue eyes."
"And there were two more just like him far away on horseback, but I couldn't make out their faces."
Lacing his long bony fingers together, Dumbledore rests his hands against his bearded chin in puzzled thought. He turns to Ned, "Still. Not the same as your son's description..."
"No. Are you sure he wasn't wearing a... crown," Ned asks Jon hesitantly. "And he didn't have eyes of two different colors?"
"I'm positive, Professor. The one I saw up close I will never forget his face." Then he sighs in question, "But the others far away, I don't know. It's possible it was one of them."
"And... I didn't see anything like the formation the dead centaurs were in like that night either," he adds painfully.
"Wait... Headmaster, why did you say your time here at the school was limited?" Dany interrupts with concern.
After a moment, Dumbledore carefully slides back his chair to stand up. He steps over gently to Fawkes, whom subconsciously Dany hadn't been able to take her eyes off of this entire time. The headmaster nudges its crimson head with his knuckle, earning a cooed caw from the pheonix. "I believe you two may have heard about some rather unfortunate news about me, spread by the unpleasant word of the Prophet."
Dany twists her mouth to the side, looking down. Bracing herself for what she's afraid was coming next.
"Word has spread that the ministry has reacted rather dramatically to my statement about... this long upcoming winter headed our way, and the return of a certain dark wizard. You have heard about this, am I correct?"
Jon and Dany both nod.
"Well, as of today, they have dubbed me unfit to manage this school. They made the decision this afternoon and announced that a more stable employee from the ministry would be now serving as Headmaster... as my replacement."
"—What? They can't do that?" Jon stands up strictly. "You aren't mad though? It’s the truth. They can't do that?"
"No... They can, Jon. It’s happened before. The Ministry has ways of going beyond the law." Dany remarks coolly. "But we can do something about it right?" she exhales hopefully, "Prove to them you're telling the truth? Find a loophole?"
Dumbledore exhales sadly, peering down at her through his half moon spectacles, "I'd like to think that it was that easy, Ms. Targaryen, but unfortunately, it is not. These people are acting out of fear. Not logic. They won't be reasoned with."
"And I am more than confident leaving you under the protection of Professor Stark and the other professors, until things are settled back to normal. But as of now, I am ordering for you both to meet with him at least twice a week... to learn about certain things... that you will need to know for the future."
Dany furrows her brows at Jon hotly, then argues back in denial, "But sir, you- can't go? Who will replace you, no one is greater than you? And if... if he's from the ministry he's certain to be horrible!—"
Ned chuckles softly, his forehead wrinkling in agreement.
Dumbledore smirks, "Thank you, Daenerys, but she is actually a woman. It will hopefully only be for a short period of time." He smiles softly, “Untilwefindthatloophole.”
"She is... Senior undersecretary to the minister. Cersei Baratheon."
What?!
"Joffrey's mother?" Dany squeaks.
"Yes, but the real problem is... that if she does remain titled, as headmaster only for a short period of time, that will only be because the ministry has fatally realized that I was correct."
"Which will be an even worse situation," Ned says, "So we must prepare you both... for what's coming. And winter is coming."
Jon squints his eyes in heavy confusion, "Okay, wait, I'm sorry... But why us? There surely must be other wizards trained for this?" he chuckles lightly, "older, professional aurors?"
"Oh, of course there are, Jon. The Order has been working hard on solution strategies for quite some time now... ever since your attack at Durmstrang." Professor Stark voices strongly. "But it is not them that this winter wants. It is not me... not Professor Dumbledore... not Bran.” He pauses measurably, “...It is you two."
Dany slides her eyes up at Jon suspiciously.
"But... why?"
Dumbledore's calm expression betrays his true emotions for the first time Dany thinks she has ever witnessed up close. Interpreting a now, true heartbreak behind his grey blue eyes.
"Well, I do believe," he let's out a huff of air, "that an old friend of mine has returned..."
He sits back down at his desk, touching over a ripped open letter. "I should have stopped him when I first saw the signs, but many things have changed since then. Including myself..."
Ned eyed him curiously. Like he was surprised he was sharing the information he was about to share with Jon and Dany.
"Gellert Grindelwald has been obsessed with bringing back the Night's King since I knew him as a boy." He stops himself with a cold twitch of his lips. "I thought he was mad. Wanting to restore the world the way it was. Muggle and muggleborn free. But I never fully understood the truth to his words... It all just seemed like a fairytale at the time."
He eyes both Jon and Dany knowingly, "And with a greatportion of the Restricted Section missing, I'm sure you have discovered the truth behind the white walker tales by now."
Dany glints at Jon sheepishly. "Uhm..."
"However though, to the world's disbelief, I think he really has done it... He's brought him back. The King." He places a responsible hand on Jon's shoulder.
"And... together, I believe they both want a similar revenge... A revenge that they didn't quite get their way about the first time around. Some thing they both tried to destroy, but could not—"
Ned motions to Dumbledore hotly. "Alright, Albus. That's enough for now."
"Yes... you're quite right, Ned. It's been a long day. We should all get some rest." He starts walking towards the stoned stairs, as painted eyes look down upon him sadly from their hanging portraits.
"And Jon, Daenerys, no matter what happens to me," he motions to the stairwell and then to Ned, "you are to report to Professor Stark's, do you understand me? And you must tell no one."
"We swear, Professor." Dany nods back dependently, while Jon places a gentle hand behind her back guiding her out, "Goodbye Professor," he says.
"We will talk more tomorrow morning, Ned. My office..." Dumbledore whispers hoarsely, now earning a darkly curious look from Dany.
What else didn't her and Jon know yet that was so important?
And why couldn't they know now?
Ned responds, nodding his head in short approval, following behind the two Gryffindors under the rocked Eagle's protective wings.
And slowly, they then descend back down.
Dany, plotting together new possible ideas each step of the way down.