Chapter 5: Meeting at Hogwarts, Part 1
"You really aren't gonna tell me why Hermione has to go with you?"
Harry looked away from his best mate uncomfortably, not answering him right away. Ron had been most curious ever since the owl from Dumbledore had arrived the night before, confirming the Headmaster's meeting with Harry and Hermione the following day. When the Weasleys wondered aloud why he was meeting with the two of them, Harry had explained that Dumbledore (through McGonagall) had asked to meet with him, and he'd insisted that Hermione come along as well. That was as much as he'd said, though. He could tell that Ron was feeling rather hurt at being left out, but Harry couldn't chance it. Not yet. The element of surprise would be perhaps the biggest thing he and Hermione would have going for them today, and he couldn't do anything to risk it. That didn't make him feel any less guilty, though.
"I already explained this to you, Ron," Hermione interjected. "Harry knew that I had some things I wanted to speak with Headmaster Dumbledore about, so he thought this would be a good opportunity for me to do so."
"Right," Ron said, rolling his eyes to show what he thought of thatexplanation. "That's why neither of you will tell me one ruddy thing about the meeting itself, and Harry can't even look at me when he tries to talk to me. The two of you are obviously up to something, but you don't trust me enough to tell me about it. I don't get it. I thought we were a team."
"Ron," Harry spoke up, stepping forward and locking gazes with his best friend, desperate to make him understand. "It's not that we don't trust you. We do. It's just that...well, Hermione and I have been planning this for a little while, and it's really important." Harry could see that Ron was still sceptical, so he continued on. "First thing after we get back, we'll tell you everything. I swear it on my magic."
Ron was silent for a moment, as he and Harry simply stared at each other. Finally, Ron nodded slowly. "Alright, fine," he agreed. "But I'll hold you to that. As soon as you get back, I want to know what's going on."
"You got it, Ron," Harry assured him. "When Hermione and I get back, the three of us will go straight up to your room, and we'll explain everything."
Ron nodded, and gave both of his friends one final, appraising look before he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Harry and Hermione alone.
"Ready to go, Harry?" Hermione immediately asked, determined not to give either Harry or herself any time to worry or start second-guessing themselves. If they were going to do this, they couldn't be hesitant or indecisive. They would need to be ready for anything if they wanted this meeting with the crafty headmaster to go well.
"I'm ready," Harry quietly confirmed. Hermione could see that her friend meant it, too. Even though they were about to confront arguably the most powerful and well-respected man in magical England, Harry didn't look the least bit nervous. He seemed...confident, determined. When Harry was focused like he was in that moment, Hermione believed he could accomplish anything. And she figured Professor Quirrell and the spirit inside Tom Riddle's diary would have had to agree—if they'd been in any condition to do so.
The two of them had thoroughly run through a list of problems that they wanted to confront the Headmaster with, and had discussed the different ways he might try and evade the questions, or the excuses he might offer. They knew it would not be easy to get him to see their point of view. But they had to try. They had to do everything they could to reach a satisfactory conclusion. Because otherwise, both of them would be setting foot in Hogwarts for the very last time. And both teens believed that the war against Voldemort would be worse off for it.
Exhaling a deep breath, Hermione grabbed a handful of floo powder and prepared to depart for perhaps the most important conversation of her life up to that point.
-NMM-
Albus Dumbledore sat patiently at his desk, awaiting the arrival of Harry Potter, as well as one of his closest friends, the brilliant Hermione Granger. Albus had been surprised when Minerva informed him of Harry's request that Hermione be included in today's meeting, but he didn't see the harm in it. She already knew precisely what had happened in the Department of Mysteries, and Albus had no doubt that Harry would share the contents of the prophecy with her, if he had not done so already. She was Harry's most trusted confidant, and whatever Harry's reasons for requesting her presence, Albus did not want to risk upsetting him by turning him down. Harry would be upset enough by the end of this meeting. No reason to give him a head start.
Dumbledore looked up as the door to his quarters opened, and Minerva led both Harry and Hermione in. He smiled pleasantly, doing his best to appear cheerful despite his concern over how Harry was feeling towards him after the events of last term, not to mention how he might react to the news he was about to receive.
"Ah...Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger. Right on time. Please, have a seat," Dumbledore said kindly, indicating a pair of chairs right in front of them. Harry and Hermione did as he asked, while Dumbledore turned his attention to his fellow Hogwarts instructor. "Professor McGonagall, you may join us as well, so long as our two bright young students do not object. Do you?"
After sharing a brief glance, Harry and Hermione both shook their heads, so McGonagall took a seat as well. Dumbledore was pleased that they had agreed to his suggestion. He knew that Harry, and perhaps Hermione as well, would not be pleased with what he was about to tell them. But he hoped that the presence of their Head of House would serve as a calming influence, and soften Harry's reaction to some degree.
"Would anyone care for a lemon drop?" Dumbledore offered. All three shook their heads, so Dumbledore continued. "Very well. I must say, Harry, that I am a bit curious about your insistence that Ms. Granger join us today. Was there something urgent that you needed to speak with me about, Ms. Granger?"
"You could say that, Professor," Hermione agreed, "but it can wait for a few minutes. Please, go ahead and tell Harry why you asked him to come."
"As you wish," Dumbledore said, nodding, before looking back at Harry once again. "Harry, first of all, I want to say once again how sorry I am about what happened to poor Sirius. He was a good man, and he cared for you deeply. Now, he is gone, and to my great regret, I must acknowledge that the majority of the blame lies at my feet. I apologize, Harry. I failed you this past year, and I hope you can find it within yourself to forgive me."
"I hope so too," Harry said, with a bit of an edge to his voice. Hermione placed a calming hand on his arm, while McGonagall stared at her students, one eyebrow raised. For his part, Dumbledore was taken aback at Harry's response, though he effectively schooled his features and hid his surprise from everyone else.
"Yes, well, moving on," Dumbledore said pleasantly, as if nothing was amiss, "there was a particular reason that I asked you here today, Harry. Before we get to that, though, I would like to express the surprise and disappointment I felt upon hearing that you had chosen to decline the position of Quidditch captain. I think you would have made a most excellent captain for Gryffindor."
"I disagree, Professor," Harry said quietly. "If the situation was different, maybe I could've been a good captain. But we're in the middle of a war. I'm in the middle of a war, whether I want to be or not. I need to focus on preparing myself for that. I don't have the time to be a good quidditch captain."
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Harry," Dumbledore said sadly. "I think it is important to stop and enjoy the simple pleasures in life, regardless of whatever other pressures or responsibilities one may have to deal with. Nevertheless, I do find it curious that you decided to accept the prefect position once Mr. Weasley vacated it. Why did you choose to devote your time to that responsibility, rather than that of Quidditch captain?"
"I think being a prefect is a more important responsibility," Harry explained. "Prefects help the school run more smoothly, and when the professors are in a bind and need help in looking after the students, they turn to the prefects. And with Voldemort and his lackeys still out there, you might need all the help you can get."
"You may be right, Harry," Dumbledore began, his eyes twinkling, "but I can't help but wonder if perhaps the thought of spending time alone with Ms. Granger on patrol might have influenced your decision?"
To Dumbledore's amusement, Hermione blushed bright red and looked away, clearly embarrassed about what he had just implied. Harry didn't really react to Dumbledore's remark, however. Dumbledore wasn't sure whether Harry had missed the implication, or if he'd simply chosen to ignore it, but it was obvious that his attempt to lighten Harry's mood with a bit of humour had not had the desired effect. Giving it up as a failed effort, Dumbledore cleared his throat and changed the subject. "I'm sure you'll make a fine prefect, in any event. Now, I suppose we should move on to the purpose of this little chat of ours."
"Please do," Hermione agreed, her face and cheeks back to their normal hue.
"Harry, I asked you to meet with me today because I was hoping you could help me with something. I want to try and talk a retired professor into returning to Hogwarts for the upcoming term, and I believe that I will have better luck if you are with me, Harry," Dumbledore explained. He believed it, too. If Harry went with him, he was confident he would be successful. Convincing Harry to go along with it would be the hard part.
"Me? Why would this professor come back if I go with you when you talk to him?" Harry asked, sounding confused.
"Call it a hunch," Dumbledore said dismissively. He had a very specific reason for making this request of Harry, of course, but he didn't see the need to share it with him at this time. "His name is Horace Slughorn, and he was formerly the Head of Slytherin during Tom Riddle's time here. I believe that Riddle will attempt to recruit Horace into his band of Death Eaters, if he hasn't begun trying already. I'm hoping that returning to Hogwarts will keep Horace safe and out of Voldemort's clutches."
"I guess that makes sense," Harry agreed. "So, if you can talk him into coming back, I'm guessing he'll be this year's Defence teacher?"
"Actually, no. He'll be resuming his old position as Potions master."
"Potions? What about Professor Snape?" Hermione asked. Dumbledore could hear a sense of dread in her voice, and knew she had caught on. Harry wasn't there quite yet, but he'd figure it out soon enough. Deciding that there was no point in delaying the inevitable, Dumbledore explained.
"Professor Snape will be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts," Dumbledore answered. From her seat nearest his, Professor McGonagall muttered under her breath, making no attempt to hide her disgust with this statement. As she had already voiced her displeasure over his choice, the headmaster had little trouble ignoring her reaction.
Ignoring Harry's, though, would prove impossible.
"SNAPE? You're going to let that GIT teach the most important subject in the school?" Harry shouted, outraged. This was exactly the reaction Dumbledore had feared. It seemed that Minerva's presence hadn't restrained Harry one bit. Still, he couldn't say he was surprised. He knew all about the animosity between Harry and Severus. He would just need to make Harry see that this would be the best thing for everyone.
"Professor Snape, Harry," Dumbledore corrected automatically. "And yes, he will be assuming the Defence post. I know that you and Professor Snape haven't always gotten along, but he truly is a very talented wizard," he said, trying to make Harry see the logic of his decision. It was true. Despite his rather harsh treatment of his students, Severus possessed the knowledge and the skills to make an excellent Defence instructor. He would need to have another conversation with him about his classroom behaviour, but he had faith in Severus.
"I don't give a damn how talented he is. The greasy git can't teach!" Harry shouted. "He's a foul, petty tosser who treats any non-Slytherin like absolute rubbish! He doesn't even try to teach us anything—he just insults us! He'll be no better than Umbridge was!"
"He's not wrong, Albus," McGonagall said firmly. "Severus Snape may be the worst professor Hogwarts has ever known in all my time here—and that's saying something."
"You exaggerate, both of you," Dumbledore insisted. This was not what he had expected. He had assumed that Harry would object to his decision, and thought that Hermione might as well. But he did not anticipate Minerva joining in. He knew that she disapproved of Severus' appointment, but he had not expected her to openly oppose him in front of their students. Knowing that their Head of House agreed with them would only strengthen their opposition to Severus becoming the new Defence teacher. It seemed that inviting her to sit in on the meeting might have been an error, but it was too late to do anything about that now. All he could do now was attempt to bring all three of them around to his line of thinking. "Pardon me, but I believe you may be letting your personal feelings for Professor Snape interfere with your judgement. I acknowledge that he is not the most personable or friendly instructor in the school, but Severus Snape is highly qualified to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. He knows the subject extremely well. Indeed, I would argue that he may be the most qualified instructor that subject has seen in many years. Surely you can't believe he's less qualified than Gilderoy Lockhart, who knew nothing about the subject he was supposed to teach? Or Dolores Umbridge, who used her post to push Minister Fudge's agenda?"
"Professor Lockhart might have been clueless, but at least he didn't threaten us or insult us on a regular basis," Hermione interjected. "As for Umbridge, I agree that she was an abomination. But at least we could understand that—she was here because your hands were tied by Fudge. But Snape? You hired him. You have kept him on all these years, even though you surely know how ghastly he treats anyone who isn't in Slytherin. And now you want to allow him to teach Defence? In the middle of a war? A proper Defence class is more important now than ever, and if Professor Snape is put in charge, we won't learn how to defend ourselves." Dumbledore prepared to respond in defence of Severus, but Harry spoke first.
"You're wasting your breath, Hermione," Harry said bitterly. "Dumbledore hasn't made any effort to make sure I'm properly prepared, and he's known for years that it would fall to me to finish Voldemort off! If he won't see to a genuine education for 'the Chosen One', why should anyone else be any different?"
"What do you mean, it's up to you to finish him off, Potter?" McGonagall asked.
"Harry, don't-" Dumbledore began in alarm, but Harry spoke over him.
"No, Headmaster. It's my decision who gets to know, and I'm going to tell her. I trust her—well, more than I trust you, at least. She has just as much right to know as you do. Hopefully she'll have a better understanding of where I'm coming from once she hears it," Harry said.
"What? What don't I know?" McGonagall asked, looking at Dumbledore suspiciously. The Headmaster did not respond to her, though. All of his attention was squarely on Harry. He desperately wanted to prevent Harry from giving the contents of the prophecy to Minerva. In Dumbledore's mind, the fewer who knew what the prophecy said, the better. But there was something...different about the young man seated across from him. Dumbledore's intuition was telling him that he needed to tread very carefully with Harry at the moment. He was far angrier than Dumbledore had expected. He'd given Harry a wide berth for over a month, yet his anger towards him had only seemed to grow. Even more alarming, it was not the blind, emotional anger he'd shown when they had talked in this very office at the end of last term. It was...calculated. Harry was cross with him over more than just the events of last term, or what he'd just learned about Dumbledore's plans for the DADA post. Dumbledore would need to be very cautious, and do whatever he could to avoid upsetting Harry any further. Thus, since he knew Minerva could be trusted implicitly, he remained silent, leaving the decision up to Harry.
"Do you know about the prophecy?" Harry asked McGonagall.
"The one we protected throughout the past school year? I know only that it exists, and the Dark Lord wanted to hear what it said," McGonagall answered. "That is all Albus told us, despite our protests."
"Of course," Harry said cynically. "He loves keeping things to himself, doesn't he? But he's told it to me, in full. It would've been nice if he'd bothered to tell me a bit earlier, since it does concern me directly, but better late than never, I suppose."
"And what does this prophecy say, Potter?" McGonagall asked him. He didn't reply right away, and for a moment, Dumbledore thought that Harry had changed his mind. Instead, he merely signalled to Hermione, who spoke in his stead.
"It says that either Harry will kill Voldemort, or Voldemort will kill Harry," Hermione said quietly, drawing a gasp from her Head of House.
Dumbledore watched as his Deputy Headmistress turned her head to fix him with a scowl. "And you knew this? You knew what this prophecy said, and never told Harry? How long did you know, exactly?"
"He's known for years, Professor," Hermione answered immediately. "He knew of it before Harry's parents were killed."
"All that time?" McGonagall exclaimed, her scowl deepening. "Albus Dumbledore! How could you keep that to yourself all that time? Didn't Potter deserve to know? And shouldn't you have done more to prepare him, if he's the one that must defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"
"I concede that I should have told Harry about the prophecy much sooner than I did," Dumbledore admitted. "I said as much to him at the end of term. But it was not a decision to be made lightly, nor was the possibility of giving him extra training to better prepare him for the task he must perform. The moment I told Harry about the prophecy, he would be a child no longer. I wanted Harry to have as normal and happy a childhood as possible, given the circumstances."
"A normal childhood? Any chance of that was taken away from me the moment you left me on the Dursleys' doorstep," Harry said flatly.
"I am sorry that the Dursleys didn't show you the love and affection they should have, Harry," Dumbledore insisted. "I truly am. As I explained to you, however, it was, and still is, necessary that you spend at least a portion of your year living under the same roof as Petunia, your mother's sister. However poorly they may treat you, it is still the safest place for you to be when not at Hogwarts. Given who you are, given how badly Lord Voldemort and his followers wish to harm you, I am afraid that your health must trump your happiness in that case. You may resent me for placing you there, but I do not regret the decision I made fifteen years ago. You are alive, after all."
Dumbledore meant it. Of course he regretted that Harry had had to grow up in an unhappy home. But he had been right to worry about Harry's health; all he'd been put through over the past few years was proof of that. It had not been an easy decision, leaving him on the Dursleys' doorstep all those years ago. But he still believed that it had been the correct one.
"I understand that, Headmaster," Harry said honestly. "I understand why you left me there, and I don't blame you for making that decision. But you can't have it both ways. You can't condemn me to a rotten childhood one minute, and then try to preserve that so-called childhood by hiding things from me in the next."
"Was it so wrong to want to shield you from such a heavy burden for as long as possible?" Dumbledore asked. "Your strained relationship with the Dursleys notwithstanding, you did find true companionship with Ms. Granger here, as well as Mr. Weasley. I suppose I was hoping you could make up for lost time by enjoying yourself with your friends here at Hogwarts."
"And what about when I graduate? Am I supposed to go out and kill one of the most powerful wizards of all time with a basic Hogwarts education?" Harry retorted. "You might have kept the prophecy from me because you wanted to protect me, but you can't protect me. It's going to come down to me to kill him. You should have been doing everything you could to help me prepare for that. Because, right now? I have absolutely no chance of beating Voldemort. He'd wipe the floor with me."
"With any luck, it will be many years before you must confront him for the final time," Dumbledore stated, hoping to reassure Harry. Instead, his words only served to rile Harry up even further.
"How can you say that?" Harry snarled. "Even if I were able to avoid Voldemort and his Death Eaters for years—and a fat chance that that'll happen, since I've been fighting them since I was eleven—where would that leave everyone else? The longer this war lasts, the more innocent people Voldemort will kill. If it's going to be up to me to end the war, I should be working my arse off to get ready. And you should be helping me."
"But that's just what I've done, Harry," Dumbledore insisted. "I trust Professor Snape implicitly, and I am confident that he will make a fine Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor. Whether you like him or not, he'll be able to teach you things about the Dark Arts that none of your previous professors could have."
"Things that he learned while he was a member of Voldemort's inner circle, you mean?" Harry said snidely. "I'm sure Snape knows loads about Defence, just like he knows loads about Potions, and Occlumency too. But what good would that do me? Why would Defence classes with him turn out any different from 5 years of Potions, or the Occlumency lessons you forced him to give me? He'd just spend all of the class time insulting me—well, except for the time that he'd use to insult my father, of course. I'm not taking any Defence class taught by that spiteful, greasy git."
"I'm sorry, Harry, but the decision has already been made," Dumbledore said sadly, disappointed that he still hadn't brought Harry around. "I know that you do not think fondly of Professor Snape, but I truly believe that he is the most qualified person available for the job. As soon as I can get Professor Slughorn to agree to come back as the Potions master, I will formally offer the Defence job to Severus." He had hoped to make Harry understand that Severus was deserving of the post, even if they did dislike one another. It didn't look as if it was going to work. He only hoped that he could get back in Harry's good graces once term started.
McGonagall glared at him, irritated that he'd brushed aside Harry and Hermione's complaints against Snape—complaints she herself had been making for years. He refused to look at her, though, so she turned her attention to her two Gryffindors. Dumbledore did the same, observing the two teens in silence.
Harry and Hermione were staring intently at one another, communicating without actually speaking. Finally, after several long moments of silence, both teens nodded, and Harry shifted in his seat, looking back at Dumbledore once again.
"Then I'm pulling out of Hogwarts," Harry said firmly.
Chapter 6: Meeting at Hogwarts, Part 2
McGonagall glared at him, irritated that he'd brushed aside Harry and Hermione's complaints against Snape—complaints she herself had been making for years. He refused to look at her, though, so she turned her attention to her two Gryffindors. Dumbledore did the same, observing the two teens in silence.
Harry and Hermione were staring intently at one another, communicating without actually speaking. Finally, after several long moments of silence, both teens nodded, and Harry shifted in his seat, looking back at Dumbledore once again.
"Then I'm pulling out of Hogwarts," Harry said firmly.
McGonagall gasped, her face turning white, but Dumbledore barely remembered that she was even still in the room. His brain simply couldn't comprehend the words he'd just heard. Surely, Harry didn't say what he thought he'd said? The possibility was unthinkable. Dumbledore stared at Harry blankly, waiting for him to repeat himself so he could find out what he'd actually said. But Harry remained silent, looking back at him with an unwavering stare. Realising that he would need to be the one to move the conversation along, Dumbledore searched for the right words.
"I'm sorry, Harry, I'm afraid I misheard you," Dumbledore finally managed. "Could you please repeat that?"
"If you give Snape the Defence job, I am going to withdraw from Hogwarts immediately," Harry reiterated. "I will not leave it up to that git to teach me how to defend myself."
Dumbledore couldn't pretend to have misunderstood him this time. Harry really had just threatened to leave Hogwarts! Did his hatred of Severus truly run so deep? Dumbledore stared at Harry in absolute shock, but the revelations weren't finished just yet.
"Nor will I," Hermione chimed in. "If you're willing to give an abomination of a teacher like Snape such an important job while we are in the middle of a war, then Hogwarts clearly isn't the best place for me to be."
Now, things were beginning to click into place inside of Dumbledore's mind. Harry was a strong-willed individual who would willingly defy authority if he thought it was necessary. But this was not an impulsive decision; Dumbledore could sense it. Harry wouldn't have blurted something like that out without thinking about it first. He'd come into this meeting today with this thought already in his mind, and so had Hermione. That was why he'd insisted she come along; they'd been planning to confront him. His announcement about Snape just brought it on even more quickly. But why did they think this course of action was necessary?
As Dumbledore was too busy thinking things over, it was his colleague who raised the first objection.
"But—what about your education?" McGonagall asked, stunned. "It would not be easy to transfer to another school, especially so close to the start of term."
"We've looked into that. We know that, depending on the school, we could possibly have to sit out a term if we transfer now. But if it's necessary, both Harry and I are willing to do so," Hermione said matter-of-factly. This confirmed Dumbledore's suspicions: they had walked into his office with this idea already having been formed. Not only that, but they'd taken the time to look into other schools. This was a calculated move on their part, and one they'd taken care to hide from him until this very moment. He had to applaud their dedication, though he wished that it hadn't come to this..
"You certainly seem to have done considerable research on this matter, Ms. Granger," Dumbledore said, his voice much calmer than he felt inside. "Yet, before this meeting began, I doubt you had even the slightest inkling that I was planning to offer Severus the job. I must say that I'm rather curious as to why you seem to have looked into the transfer policies of other magical institutions."
"That shouldn't be too hard to figure out," Harry replied. "We were already thinking about leaving Hogwarts before today. You giving Snape the Defence job only makes our decision easier."
"I understand that you're upset with Albus—and with good reason, in my opinion," McGonagall stated, shooting her superior a dark look, "but I do find it odd that his questionable decision regarding the prophecy upset you to the point that you've been considering a transfer."
"This goes far beyond the prophecy, or Snape," Hermione insisted. "Headmaster Dumbledore has made several questionable decisions over the years. Some of them have affected the quality of education offered, while others have actually put the students in immediate danger. We came here today knowing it might be our very last time inside the castle. And, like Harry said, Snape becoming the new Defence professor made up our minds for us." Dumbledore frowned, but said nothing. He had an idea of some of the events they might be referencing, but it troubled him that they seemed to think he might have been at fault for them. Prior to his little outburst at the end of last term, Harry hadn't seemed to place much blame on him for events that had occurred within Hogwarts, so why now? What had changed?
"I'm sorry to hear that," McGonagall said with a frown, before asking the same question that had been on Dumbledore's mind, "but why did you spring this on us now? Why didn't you come to either Headmaster Dumbledore or myself with these problems before now?"
"Truthfully, I didn't see how many problems there really were," Hermione answered, before stopping to consider. "Or maybe I didn't want to see them. Either way, Harry helped open my eyes this summer. And once he got me started, I began to look back on my 5 years at this school in a very different light."
This was bad, Dumbledore thought to himself. Very bad indeed. He knew that he'd made a few errors in recent times, most notably in regards to how he'd handled Harry since Voldemort's "rebirth" a little over a year earlier. He was not perfect, and held no illusions to the contrary. He made mistakes, just like everyone else. But if this conversation continued down its current path, he was afraid he wouldn't have the opportunity to make amends for those mistakes.
"By all means, Ms. Granger, Mr. Potter, share your grievances with us," Dumbledore said quietly, any hint of his usual jovial demeanour long gone. He fought down his sense of foreboding, and strived not to dismiss what his two students said out of hand. He did not doubt that both students were sincerely considering leaving the school, and knew he must do whatever he could to ensure that that did not happen. It was absolutely imperative that Harry Potter remained at Hogwarts, both for his own good and for the good of the budding war with Voldemort. He needed to hear them out, and do whatever he could to respond to their issues and restore their faith in both Hogwarts, and himself.
"We have problems with some of the Hogwarts faculty, but that's not the biggest issue. The biggest issue is the safety of this school. It's supposedly well-protected, but Harry has found himself in life-threatening situations every single year," Hermione said. Dumbledore couldn't argue with that; Harry and his friends got themselves mixed up in some crisis or another on a regular basis. But he failed to see how this was all his fault.
"That's true, Ms. Granger," McGonagall agreed, "but is the Headmaster really responsible for that? I seem to remember Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and yourself ignoring the warnings of the faculty, and actually seeking out those dangerous situations."
Dumbledore smiled, pleased that his Deputy Headmistress had backed him up. If he'd said those same words in defence of himself, it would not have had the same impact. Hearing them from her would likely carry far more weight for Harry and Hermione.
Or so he thought. But, to his surprise, he noted that neither Harry nor Hermione seemed the least bit swayed. They looked just as determined as before, if not more so. Hermione looked directly at her Head of House, not backing down an inch.
"Like the incident with Professor Quirrell and the Philosopher's Stone, you mean?" Hermione asked. McGonagall nodded, but Hermione appeared unphased. "Yes, we willingly went into that situation, knowing it might threaten our lives. But we did that because we had to. Someone had to prevent Voldemort from getting his hands on the Philosopher's Stone. The Headmaster couldn't do it. He was lured out of the castle by a phony letter from the Ministry." Dumbledore looked and felt sheepish at this rebuke, but Hermione singled out the other adult in the room next. "We tried to come to you and tell you what was happening, Professor McGonagall, but you refused to listen to a word we were saying. That left it up to us. Three first years had to prevent Voldemort from gaining immortality. I don't think that hurts our point at all. I think it helps prove it."
"I think you would have found that the stone would have been safe until I got back to the castle," Dumbledore replied after a moment. "The mirror would not have worked for Voldemort and Quirrell. That's why you were able to catch up to them, Harry, and I am confident that if you three hadn't gotten involved, they would still have been stuck at that stage of their plot when I returned. Your efforts were admirable, but unnecessary."
"You can't say that for sure," Harry fired back. "You think you're so clever, and no one can outsmart you. But Voldemort's done it several times, hasn't he? He just did it a few months ago, and he did it with the goblet in my 4th year, too. Who says he couldn't have done it then, and found a way past the mirror? And besides, there's another problem with this. Why was the stone in Hogwarts to begin with?"
"As I told you, Harry, Nicolas Flamel asked me to relocate it because he feared that Voldemort would attempt to steal it," Dumbledore answered calmly. This was true; it had been his friend Nicolas that approached him about moving the stone out of its vault in Gringotts. Since it hadn't even been his idea to move it, he hardly felt it was fair for Harry to place the blame on him.
As he was about to learn, though, Harry didn't see it quite the same way.
"So you decided that you'd move it to a school?" Harry said hotly. "You put every bloody Hogwarts student in danger by hiding the stone inside the castle! If you hadn't put it here, we wouldn't have had to risk our lives to keep it out of Voldemort's hands in the first place!"
Hermione picked up where Harry had left off. "And how about the Chamber of Secrets in our 2nd year?" she asked. "Several Hogwarts students—myself included—were petrified by that basilisk. That was another example of this school not being near as safe as you claim it is."
"Indeed it was," Dumbledore agreed, "but I don't believe I could have handled that situation any differently. The faculty and I did the best we could to protect the students, but we didn't have enough information to go on. Also, I hope you don't mind my doing so, but I would point out that you, Harry, withheld information from me that might have helped. If you'd told me about the voices you were hearing, perhaps we'd have been able to get to the bottom of that dilemma sooner."
"That's fair. I should have told you what I was hearing," Harry said. "But it still doesn't excuse you from not figuring it out based on what you did know. Hermione, a 2nd year, got to the bottom of it long before anyone else. None of your professors could make the connection between petrified students and basilisks? All the information you needed was right in your own library! But, again, it was up to us. Hermione had to figure out what it was that was attacking the students, and after it petrified her, Ron and I had to find the chamber, deal with the basilisk and save Ginny."
"That's true, Harry," Dumbledore said with a nod, "but I feel I should mention that, being a Parselmouth, you were uniquely suited to handle that particular problem. Even if I had known precisely what lurked in the Chamber of Secrets, and known exactly where the Chamber was, I would have been powerless to do anything to stop it. In the end, only you could have saved Ginny."
"I can see your point, sir," Hermione began, drawing a smile from Dumbledore—a smile that was short-lived. "But we have plenty of other problems we want to bring up, so let's just move on. In our third year, we gradually unravelled the truth behind what happened the night that Harry's parents were killed. We learned that the commonly-held belief was wrong; that it was Peter Pettigrew, and not Sirius Black, that betrayed Harry's parents to Voldemort. I think it's fair to say that just about anyone in the wizarding world would be stunned to hear that, after all these years. But when we told you what we'd learned, you didn't seem surprised at all. You believed our story quite readily. It makes me wonder if maybe you suspected the truth all along."
Dumbledore felt the sting of that accusation. Did they really think so little of him, that they could believe that he would knowingly allow an innocent man to rot in Azkaban? One glance at Harry told him that he felt exactly the same as Hermione. Had Harry's faith in his Headmaster been shattered so completely?
"Before that day, I did not have the slightest inkling of what had really happened," Dumbledore insisted. "Your parents never informed me that they had switched Secret Keepers, so as far as I knew, Sirius was the only one who could have betrayed them to Voldemort. There was simply nothing that suggested any other possibility. As to why I so readily believed what you were telling me? That was simple. If Sirius really had betrayed your parents and joined Voldemort's side, destroying you would've been his top priority upon breaking out of Azkaban. And yet, you came face-to-face with Sirius, and he made no attempt to harm you or abduct you. Once I accepted that as fact, your story became much more plausible."
"But why didn't you push for him to be given a trial?" Harry countered, his voice rising. "With your influence, I bet you could've pulled that off. And even if you thought he was guilty, didn't he at least deserve a chance to defend himself before he got chucked in Azkaban with the bloody Dementors?" Harry's voice was full of so much anger and contempt, it gave Dumbledore pause. He made a concerted effort to phrase his reply carefully, not wanting to anger him any further.
"If I'd pushed for it very strongly, perhaps I would have been able to ensure a proper trial for Sirius," Dumbledore began. "Since I myself presented evidence indicating that Sirius had been the Secret Keeper, though, it would have been very difficult to pull off, even for me. There was sufficient evidence to link Sirius with the crime, and with the public outrage towards him, speaking up on his behalf would have been a very dangerous political move. And since I too believed that he was guilty, I did not see much point in the effort. Truthfully, my chief concern at that time was your safety, Harry."
"You said there was evidence that linked him to betraying the Potters, but he still should have been given a chance to defend himself!" Hermione replied. "He could've been given Veritaserum, or a Pensieve could've been used to view his memories!"
"Neither of those would have been permissible in court," McGonagall stated. "There is an antidote for Veritaserum, and a master Occlumens can also resist its effects. Also, someone under Veritaserum only states what they believe to be the truth, not necessarily what is the truth, meaning the testimony of a defendant whose mental health was in question would be worthless. And as useful as Pensieves are, memories can be tampered with, if the witch or wizard is talented enough to do so."
Dumbledore could see that Harry wasn't entirely satisfied with that answer, but accepted that they were being honest with him. Wanting to move the conversation along, the Headmaster spoke up. "Even if I had managed to procure a trial for Sirius, there would have been no hope of an acquittal—not without evidence. Now, what else would you like to discuss?" he asked.
"There are things from 4th year that we could bring up, but I want to jump to this last year...the one that started to change my opinion of you," Harry said, the contempt in his voice making Dumbledore very uncomfortable. "At the end of term, you explained why you never told me about the prophecy. I'm mad as hell at you for hiding that from me, but you've given me your explanation, and I understand it. But I still don't get why you treated me the way you did during the year. You ignored me, and went out of your way to avoid me. I know that you said you didn't want Voldemort to be able to learn anything important, but that just doesn't make sense to me. All you really did was make me feel even more isolated and alone, which played right into Voldemort's hands. You ignoring me and keeping me in the dark just made me all the more determined to find out what was going on, and Voldemort used that to his advantage. If you'd told me what I needed to know, instead of treating me like a child, maybe I would've known better than to walk into that trap he laid in the Department of Mysteries."
"I readily acknowledge that I made several mistakes where you were concerned, Harry," Dumbledore said with a heavy sigh, "but I feel I have already done my best to explain my reasoning in making those decisions. Ignoring you was a mistake, yes. I'd hoped that doing so would make it less likely for Voldemort to try and influence you through your unique...connection, but I was wrong. I should not have ignored you, and I apologize for that. Should I have told you about the prophecy much sooner than I did? Yes, I should have. At the very least, I should have told you of its existence once I decided that Voldemort would attempt to get it. I did consider doing exactly that, but it was your own personality that led to the discarding of that option."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry asked angrily. "Are you trying to say it's my fault that you hid the prophecy from me?" Dumbledore shook his head quickly, eager to clarify what he'd meant.
"No, Harry, that's not what I am trying to say," Dumbledore insisted. "It was not your fault in the least. It was my decision, and I take full responsibility for it. I am merely trying to explain myself. As you know, I was still not ready to share the contents of the prophecy with you at that time, because I thought it would be too great a burden for you to bear. Over the last year, I did contemplate telling you that there was something Voldemort was after within the Ministry of Magic building, and that only you and he would be able to retrieve it. However, you are a naturally curious person, Harry. It must be in your blood, because your father was exactly the same way." Dumbledore said this last bit with a slight smile on his face, trying to improve Harry's mood to some degree. Harry just continued staring at him frostily, however, so Dumbledore moved on.
"You've shown your extreme curiosity many times in the past, Harry," Dumbledore continued. "If something catches your attention, you will pursue it relentlessly. You did it with the Philosopher's Stone, you did it with the Chamber of Secrets, you did it with Sirius Black. I was afraid that giving you any information about the prophecy would only lead to you trying to get your hands on it yourself, so you could find out what it said. In the end, it happened anyway, but for a very different reason."
"You have a point about Harry's curiosity," Hermione agreed. Dumbledore smiled, relieved that he seemed to have at least brought Hermione around, but the feeling was short-lived. "But you know what the best solution would have been? Actually tellingHarry exactly what he needed to know. He wouldn't have rushed to or been lured to the Department of Mysteries if you'd just told him what that prophecy said...what his parents died for." Dumbledore opened his mouth to try and defend himself, but McGonagall cut him off.
"She's right, Albus. As much as you might have wished to shield him or protect him, you knew how big a role Harry will evidently be forced to play in this war. You should have been doing more to prepare him for it, rather than keeping him in the dark just like the rest of us."
Dumbledore frowned, both surprised and dismayed that his Deputy Headmistress continued to back their students' claims, giving weight to them in the process. If she continued to do so, it would make it even harder for him to appease Harry. He briefly considered attempting to dismiss his colleague from the meeting, but he worried that that act of self-preservation could turn Harry and Hermione even further away from him.
"Do you get it now, Headmaster?" Harry asked. "Do you see that it isn't just about Snape, or about the prophecy, or any one thing? As much as people look up to you, and look to you to lead them, you've made several decisions that have affected me greatly. Whatever your reasons for doing what you've done, I've lost my faith in you. And that, more than anything else, is why Hogwarts doesn't seem like the best place for me to be any more."
Dumbledore removed his half-moon spectacles and rubbed his hand across his face, at a loss for words. Every decision he'd made had been made with the betterment of the world in mind. Many of them had been made specifically to try and protect Harry, even. But he was only now beginning to see things from Harry's point of view. While Dumbledore knew he wasn't perfect, his judgement was usually sound, and his decisions were usually the correct ones. He still believed that many of the things from previous years that the teens had brought up were not truly his fault. Not entirely, at least. But he readily acknowledged that many of his decisions over the past year or so had been poor. In particular, his attempt to shield Harry as best he could by withholding things from him had been a grievous error on his part. If the previous years had taught him anything, it was that Harry Potter and his friends had a knack for getting themselves into danger. With that in mind, he'd kept Harry in the dark over the previous year, hoping that it would keep him out of danger. Instead, it had had the exact opposite effect. If Harry had known what was in the Department of Mysteries, and understood that Voldemort would go to great lengths to acquire it, he may have been less likely to rush off into Voldemort's trap. Or perhaps he still would have gone, in his desperate fear that Sirius was in danger. There was no real way of knowing, nor was there any point in dwelling on it. All that mattered now was winning Harry's trust back.
"As I said, I acknowledge that I have not always made sound judgements where you are concerned, Harry," he said softly. "I do apologize for the mistakes I have made, and the pain they have caused you. I am also sorry that you no longer have faith in me, though I understand why you feel that way. If nothing else, I hope you can accept that I am sincere in my regret?"
After a brief pause, Harry nodded slowly. "I do, sir," he said quietly. "I believe that you were doing what you thought was best. But that isn't enough. Some of your decisions have backfired spectacularly, and no one has paid the price for them more than I have. Well, except Sirius, I guess," Harry finished, an anguished look on his face. McGonagall looked at him in silent sympathy, while Hermione placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Dumbledore felt his pain as well, but as there were no adequate words of comfort he could offer, he tried to help in another way: letting Harry get his troubles off of his chest.
"Your problems with me aside, was there anything else that influenced your decision to look into other institutions?" he asked openly.
Harry and Hermione talked quietly amongst themselves for a moment before answering him. "There is the obvious issue of Defence Against the Dark Arts," Hermione stated. "Harry's said before, and I agree, that it is the most important subject taught at Hogwarts, yet we've had a poor instructor almost every year."
Harry took over from there, as he began naming off the various DADA professors during their time at Hogwarts, along with their respective shortcomings. "Quirrell was too busy stuttering and trembling to actually teach us anything—oh, and he tried to kill me at the end of the year. Lockhart was an incompetent idiot who couldn't have taught us anything if he'd tried—and when Ron and I forced him to go down to the Chamber with us so we could save Ginny, he tried to Obliviate us. The fake Moody was actually a halfway decent teacher, even if he was a Death Eater under Polyjuice. Of course, him setting a trap that took me straight to Voldemort, and then trying to kill me himself when his master failed, sort of wiped out whatever good he did. Umbridge was, of course, a bloody nightmare who was only there to push the Ministry's garbage down everyone's throats. In our five years here, there's only been one Defence teacher I actually liked: Moony."
"And even he threatened our lives at one point, though he wasn't 'himself' at the time," Hermione added with a smirk.
Dumbledore smiled inwardly, pleased at this particular objection. He felt he had sound arguments that absolved him from the blame for most of their complaints about the DADA professors. In the process, he could hopefully begin convincing them that, even if they had their gripes towards him, Hogwarts wasn't such a bad place to be after all.
"I agree that Defence Against the Dark Arts is a most crucial subject for our students to learn," Dumbledore began. "And while I do also agree that the quality of instruction has not always been strong in that particular course, I do believe there are plausible reasons for that. Perhaps the two of you have heard the rumour that the job is cursed?"
"That's rubbish," Hermione responded, scoffing. "It's just a silly superstition, and nothing more. How could someone place a curse on a job?"
"It may well be rubbish," Dumbledore conceded, "though I have my doubts. You likely aren't aware of this, but Tom Riddle himself has applied for the position. Twice, in fact. And after he was rejected for the 2nd time, no one has ever held onto the job for more than a single school year. Whatever we may think of him, there is no denying that Tom Riddle—or Lord Voldemort, as he now prefers to be called—is an extremely powerful wizard. If anyone would be capable of something as odd as cursing a job, it would be him."
"I still don't believe it," Hermione insisted. "How would he be able to do something like that? It's just illogical."
"Even if you are right, Ms. Granger, all that matters is that it has become a widespread belief that the job is cursed. As a result of that notion, it is a nearly impossible position to fill. The longer we go without a single professor lasting more than a year, the harder it becomes to find anyone competent who is willing to take the job. I gave it to Professor Quirrell in your 1st year because he had always been a reliable instructor while teaching Muggle Studies, and with his sudden willingness to take the Defence job, he appeared to be the best candidate. You may remember that, in your 2nd year, Gilderoy Lockhart was the only applicant for the job, so I had little choice but to hire him, whether I believed his stories or not." Hermione nodded slowly, accepting what he'd said thus far. Dumbledore smiled in response, and his voice took on a more cheery tone as he continued.
"It took considerable coaxing on my part to convince Professor Lupin to take the job in your 3rd year, but I am pleased that you felt he did an admirable job. I believe Alastor Moody would also have been a good Defence teacher, had Barty Crouch Jr. not deprived him of the opportunity. And as you have already remarked, I had no say in Dolores being given the position this past year. I would rather have let the subject go untaught than allow that woman to set foot on these grounds, but I had no choice in the matter. I know that Defence hasn't always been well-taught during your time here, and for that I do apologize. However, I hope that you can see that I have done the best that I can under the circumstances, with next to no one wanting to take the job."
"I guess I see your point," Harry remarked, drawing a broad smile from Dumbledore. "But that still doesn't explain why you've never tried to teach me any advanced spells or anything, especially since you knew that some of the Defence teachers were shoddy. If you knew all along that it'd be up to me to get rid of Voldemort once and for all, you should have done more to prepare me for it."
"Perhaps I should have, Harry," Dumbledore said, "but as you've already heard my reasoning for not doing so, I do not think there is anything to be gained by rehashing that topic. Now, is there anything I can do to convince you to remain here at Hogwarts?"
Hermione looked as if she was about to reply, but Harry waved her off.
"Before we came in here today, I hoped that there was. I hoped you could convince me to stay, because honestly, I don't want to leave this place behind yet. It's the closest thing I've ever had to a home, not to mention that having your support—true support, not secrets and manipulation—would be a huge help against Voldemort. But as soon as you said that Snape was going to be the Defence teacher, I knew I couldn't stay."
"You are quite insistent on this, aren't you, Harry?" Dumbledore said quietly. "No matter what else I might offer, you truly will leave Hogwarts if Severus becomes the Defence instructor." Dumbledore's last sentence was more a statement of fact than a question, but Harry answered it anyhow.
"Yes, I will. I'm not sure where I'll go just yet, but I'm not staying here if that petty wanker gets the job."
"I feel exactly the same way. If Harry leaves, I'm leaving with him," Hermione offered, backing her best friend up.
Dumbledore knew that they meant it. If he went through with his plan to give the job to Severus, Harry would leave, and he would take Hermione with him. He simply couldn't allow that to happen. Harry needed to remain at Hogwarts, and Dumbledore would do whatever he had to do, make any concessions he needed to make, to ensure that he stayed.
"Very well," Dumbledore said, resigned. "You two have made your point. If you are that opposed to it, then I will not offer the job to Severus."
"Really?" Harry said, regarding him with scepticism. Dumbledore could see that the boy no longer trusted him as he once did, and resolved to do what he could to regain that trust, if given the opportunity.
"Yes, Harry," Dumbledore affirmed. "I may trust Professor Snape with my life, but I understand that he hasn't given you cause to feel the same way. If Severus becoming the new Defence professor would drive you from Hogwarts, then I will just have to find someone else to take the job. It may be difficult on such short notice, but I will see what I can do."
After staring at Dumbledore silently for several long moments, as well as sharing a look with Hermione, Harry finally replied. "I'm surprised," he said. "I didn't think you'd change your mind. Can't remember you ever doing it before."
Dumbledore regarded him seriously. "I do believe that Severus would have made an excellent Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. However, as you and Ms. Granger have seen fit to point out to me, my decisions have not always been the best, particularly of late. And you are correct that Severus' classroom behaviour is not what it should be. My own feelings towards Severus notwithstanding, I would imagine you two would not be the only students who would have been upset had he been given the position." Hermione snorted at that understatement, but Dumbledore continued as if he hadn't heard her.
"Aside from that, I cannot give him the position if it would lead to you dropping out of Hogwarts. Keeping you here is one of my top priorities, Harry. It will eventually fall to you to defeat Voldemort, and I must do whatever I can to aid you. It would be rather more difficult for me to aid you if you were to leave Hogwarts. Even if you did not bear the weight of such a great burden, though, I believe I would still wish to keep you here at Hogwarts if at all possible. You are quite a remarkable young man, Harry, and I believe in you. I believe that, when the time comes, you will be up to the task."
"And if...if I stay...you'll help me get ready for it?" Harry asked. "You'll teach me things that will help against Voldemort and his Death Eaters?"
"I will do what I can to help you prepare, yes," Dumbledore assured him. "If you want my honest opinion, though, it won't be any intricate curse or special power that will allow you to beat Voldemort in the end. You will beat him because of your selflessness. When innocent lives are threatened—particularly of those that you care for—you become more powerful than Voldemort could ever be. He will never fight to protect the well-being of others, because he cares for nothing and no one but himself. You'll have something meaningful to fight for, and Voldemort will not. In the end, that will be his downfall."
Dumbledore did his best to show Harry that he meant every word that he said—that he did believe in him, and he would do his best to help him prepare for his eventual showdown with Voldemort. Harry looked him in the eyes for what felt like hours, but neither of them spoke. Dumbledore was trying to convince Harry that he was sincere, but he could see that Harry still looked doubtful.
"And will you keep Harry informed about what's going on with the war?" Hermione asked on her friend's behalf. "Will you stop hiding things from him, and stop trying to keep him in the dark?"
Dumbledore looked back and forth between both Hermione and Harry, seeing that this was another crucial point. At that moment, he made a quick decision that would eventually change the entire complexion of the war.
"I will make you a deal, Harry," he began. "I will keep you abreast of everything that happens in the war. When I learn something that is worth knowing, I will share it with you as soon as I have the opportunity. In return, you must promise that if you happen to learn anything important, whether it be through your connection with Voldemort or through some other means, you will come straight to me, or to Professor McGonagall if I am unavailable. You will share it with us, and let us decide the best course of action to take. You, Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley must not rush off into the middle of a conflict all by yourselves, as you have been prone to do in the past."
"That's fair," Harry agreed. Dumbledore smiled, happy that he and Harry seemed to be on the same wavelength once again.
"So, will you two be returning to Hogwarts as scheduled?" Dumbledore asked, as calmly as he could manage under the circumstances. Harry glanced at Hermione briefly before answering.
"Yeah, I guess we will," Harry said. Dumbledore smiled in overwhelming relief, but Harry wasn't done just yet. "That doesn't mean everything's fine between us, though. I'm still angry about a lot of the things you've done, and I don't trust you the way that I used to. I don't know if I ever will again," he finished quietly. Dumbledore nodded solemnly, understanding that he would have to earn Harry's trust back after all that he'd kept hidden from him.
"And it doesn't mean we won't change our minds in the future," Hermione added. "If we think you haven't lived up to your word, transferring is still an option. We'll even do it in the middle of term, if we need to."
"Understood, Ms. Granger," Dumbledore said affably. "You are certainly entitled to pull out of the school at any time, should you find it lacking. I sincerely hope that that will not be necessary." Harry and Hermione both nodded, and Dumbledore gave them both his best grandfatherly smile. "Thank you both for giving me a chance to make amends for past mistakes," he said.
"You're welcome, Headmaster," Hermione said. "And thanks for listening to us. We both know that you can be a big help to Harry. But I hope you realise that this is your last chance. Harry and I are both reluctant to return, in light of everything that's happened, but we're coming back because we know how great a help you could be for Harry. Don't make us regret it."
"I will do my very best to ensure that you don't," Dumbledore said, looking directly into Harry's eyes as he did so. He saw the determination in those emerald orbs, and knew that he would need to do exactly that. Once upon a time, Harry believed in him, had faith in him. But the mistakes he'd made in the past had ruined that, and now, Harry did not trust him to do what was best, or to make the right decisions. He would need to do exactly as he'd promised. He would need to keep Harry informed, and he would need to teach him whatever he could. The two of them had to work past this trust issue and form a united front against Voldemort.
The fate of magical Britain depended on it.