A/N: THIS IS NOT MY WORK!
MY BOGGART = J.K. Rowling’s Lawyers
Please Read and Review, I can’t wait to hear your comments.
Okay, well so far I have had unbelievable support from everyone. I am now aiming for the lofty goal of posting once every two or three days, homework or writer’s block notwithstanding. As in reply to Calamur’s review, yes I have read both Bobmin’s and Abraxan’s stories. By far the best fanfics out there and there may be some little plot ideas that I glean from their works but I can assure you that I have a completely different main plot, if I do use one of their plot devices I will be sure to list that in my notes. I hope that my plot idea for how to defeat Voldemort will be as entertaining to you as it is to me.
Enjoy!
Chapter 8: Dumbledore Explains
The rest of the week went by agonizingly slow as Harry awaited Dumbledore’s meeting with the Masseys. He had informed Joy and Emma that the headmaster would be visiting with them that Thursday, and the rest of the week Emma was bouncing off the walls in excitement for her upcoming meeting with another wizard. That didn’t mean that she was bored of Harry in the least bit. In fact, whenever they were alone Emma would ask him to do some magic. He kept it relatively tame; levitating this or that, or catching things spontaneously on fire. Joy was also enthralled by Harry’s abilities; occasionally she would stop what she was doing just to watch Harry show Emma a new little trick.
She had never seen anything like what Harry was doing, she knew now that this wasn’t just some elaborate trick or gag; that raven haired boy really was a wizard. And from what she’d seen so far, a pretty damn good one too.
One morning Harry had come over, he’d explained to her about how Emma could have possibly become a witch. One was that she herself was just a squid, or squib, some word Joy had never heard used before, and that her parents never told her. Another possibility was that Emma’s father, Harold, was a wizard but never told Joy or anyone else. The last one, the one that Joy found easiest to believe was that Emma was a muddle, muffle, muggle, something- born witch, someone who was just magic for some weird reason.
Even if this was the reason for her amazing ability it still left Joy somewhat anxious, how in the world would she tell the school, let alone everyone else that Emma just left for a boarding school for Witches and Wizards. I mean no one would believe he if she did, probably would throw her in the psych ward if she said so. Harry however insisted that she tell no one. Apparently the wizarding world was very secretive, probably why she had never heard of them before the letter.
When Friday came around Joy was so nervous awaiting the Headmaster that she was obsessively cleaning the house. She was panicky about meeting the headmaster of the school that her daughter had been let into; she didn’t want to change his mind about accepting her. Emma however was completely the opposite; Emma had never seen her daughter this happy since her husband had died four years ago. It warmed her heart that her daughter would finally fit in, and have friends.
Harry arrived at around 10:30 that day, having come late because his Uncle had forced him to wash the car before he left. Something about the boy’s relationship with the family seemed odd. Whenever Joy mentioned his Aunt or Uncle he would flinch involuntarily. She always wondered about it, but not being a busybody she didn’t look into it.
Joy, Harry, and Emma spent the thirty minutes before the headmaster’s awaited arrival of 11:00, sitting in the living room chatting mildly about the basic of wizarding etiquette. Harry had told them all about robes, and wands, and even a little bit about owl post. He was now telling them, with quite a lot of enthusiasm about Quidditch. He had just started into the different players on a Quidditch team when the doorbell rang merrily.
Joy jumped as if she’d been electrocuted, and Emma sprinted towards the door to meet her new headmaster. Harry stood up and led Joy to the front door, the mother was obviously nervous and Harry was curious to see how she’d react to Dumbledore’s undoubtedly peculiar fashion sense.
Emma opened the door to reveal, standing in his most luridly purple robes, Dumbledore. He smiled genuinely at Emma, then took on an expression which appeared to be sorrow when he caught sight of Harry.
“Hello little miss, you must be Emmaline Massey?” Dumbledore said to the ecstatic little girl, then turning to Joy he held out his hand, “and you must be Mrs. Joy Massey if I am not mistaken, I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”
Joy was undoubtedly shaken by his initial appearance, but took the wizard’s hand in hers and shook it with great kindness. Although his clothing appeared to be a bit amiss, this Dumbledore character seemed to be perfectly kind.
“While Harry here has undoubtedly told you somewhat about the school that your daughter has been accepted into I am hoping to clarify things, and tell you a little more about the current state of things in the wizarding world, shall we go somewhere a little more comfortable. There is much to tell you, alas not all of it is good.” Dumbledore stepped inside curtly and followed Joy and Emma to the living room. Harry walked beside him but did not say a word to the headmaster. Dumbledore noticed the seemingly icy demeanor Harry had developed and looked over to the boy and smiled sadly.
Once everyone was settled in the living room, Dumbledore, much to Emma and Joy’s surprise, conjured tea and biscuits for them all to nibble on. “Now that we are settled I see no sense in delaying any longer.” Dumbledore smiled, “So Harry, what have you discussed with the Masseys so far?”
Harry listed off that he’d explained the basics about secrecy, wands, magic, how Emma might’ve become a witch, what the school was like, and the basics of Quidditch.
“Ah, well he seems to have done a fine job of explaining the basics. I’ll try to fill in all the blanks, and then tell you about the wizarding world right now.”
Harry flinched at the last part, knowing how mild a euphemism he was using to describe Voldemort’s reign of destruction. Hopefully the revelation of the wizarding world being in such a state of turmoil would not dampen Emma and Joy’s enthusiasm. Harry crossed his fingers and turned his attention towards Dumbledore who was explaining the basics of the school.
The headmaster spent well over an hour explaining all the niceties of the school, even going so far as to describe the “wonderful assortment of hidden pass ways and rooms.” When the topic of the school was finally exhausted the attention turned to the wizarding world itself and what was currently going on. Harry saw the headmaster visibly straighten as he began.
“Now, onto the less pleasant facts of our world I fear,” Dumbledore smiled softly at the little girl who’d been completely enthralled by the discussion so far. “Now this is not intended to discourage you from sending Miss Massey here to Hogwarts, but currently our world is at war with itself.”
This was when Joy piped up, “but didn’t you say that there weren’t that many wizards. I mean it couldn’t be a much of a war when only a few hundred are fighting.”
Dumbledore sighed, “I wish that were true, but I am afraid it isn’t. There is a very evil wizard by the name of Lord Voldemort, who, with is faithful followers the Death Eaters, have been spreading panic and fear within the wizarding community. Now there have been many Dark Wizards over the centuries, but this one is especially so. This is the second time he has been terrorizing people.” He said grimly.
“What do you mean his second time?” Emma asked nervously.
“Well Lord Voldemort was very strong sixteen years ago, and was doing the same things he is doing currently. Only he was defeated and his rule was destroyed.” Dumbledore stated, smiling proudly at Harry.
“How was he defeated, I mean how could someone have defeated someone as powerful as you said he was?” Joy asked, her fear had been piqued by the headmaster’s latest revelation. She was wondering if it was the right idea to send her daughter to school during a war.
Dumbledore turned towards Harry his eyes twinkling mischievously. “He was defeated by a young boy, his parents were unfortunately murdered by Voldemort, but somehow this baby vanquished this dark lord. Although Voldemort tried to kill this him, his spell backfired and all that happened was that the boy received a lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. No one is quite sure why, or what happened but somehow he brought about Voldemort’s end. For well over eleven years Voldemort was thought to be dead, but we were given quite the wakeup call five years ago when Voldemort returned. The same young boy who destroyed him the first time foiled his plans once more, this time at the age of eleven. Over the next four years he continued to fight Voldemort in different settings and ways. He is the only person who has ever survived a fight with Voldemort, let alone four different times. He is actually a current sixth year at Hogwarts right now, and is by far one of the best Quidditch seekers I have ever seen pass through the school, better even, some may say, than his father.”
Harry’s cheeks glowed fiery red under the headmaster’s embarrassing praise.
“What’s his name?” Emma asked quizzically, in complete wonder how a little boy could defeat such an evil person so many times.
Dumbledore turned once again towards Harry, looked deep into his eyes, and then proudly said, “His name, if I’m not mistaken is Harry James Potter.”
