Chapter 15
A Parley and Plotting
Author's Note: I love all the speculation about what Dumbledore wants. Some are hilarious! Like him trying to get Hermione to go to the Ball with Krum instead? Ha! That's funny! I may have added something about this, just to appease those of you who thought about that. I don't think anyone actually figured out what he really wants to talk to them about!
I hope you love this chapter as much as I loved writing it. (Which is a lot!)
Warning: Dumbledore and Molly Weasley Bashing; Manipulative!Dumbledore plotting!
(Sunday, December 13th, 1994)
Harry and Hermione followed Professor McGonagall as they made their way through the third floor corridor toward the Headmaster's office. They had left the Lion's Den ten minutes ago, deciding to keep Harry's Honor Chest, the Gringotts documents and the two Sex Ed books – which Professor McGonagall had delivered to them after giving her message about the Headmaster's request – in the Private Common Room, as they would return to the same room after their unplanned meeting with the Headmaster.
Before they left the Lion's Den, Professor McGonagall spoke to the couple.
"I do not know what the Headmaster wishes to speak to the two of you about," she said, "so expect the unexpected. He did not look angry with me, nor the two of you, but that might have been to throw me off. As he does not know about your unbound Occlumency talents, do not look in his eyes. Look over his head, behind him if you must appear looking in his direction. Do not lose your tempers, because it could lead to him being able to get something out of you unintentionally.
"Unfortunately I cannot give you a quick lesson on how to control your Occlumency talents, or I would teach you how the skill can help you control your emotions. If he says something to anger or offend you, count down from ten, and you'll find you'll calm down easier. He will attempt to dismiss me, but I am prepared for that. Just remain calm and answer as honest as you can without revealing anything too important, and I believe we'll come out of this unharmed. Understand?"
"Yes, ma'am," Harry and Hermione said, in unison.
"I do not believe he knows you left the premises, or Mallory would have told me," McGonagall said, "So this might not be about our adventures today. Let's get going then."
That was ten minutes ago. Since then, Harry and Hermione were doing their best to practice keeping calm. Both were familiar with the term 'poker face', and they were trying to achieve such an expression. They were so focused on this, that they almost didn't notice the Gargoyle stepping aside from his post in front of the stairs that led to the Headmaster's Office, after McGonagall gave the password.
They followed the Lioness of Gryffindor up the stairs. As soon as they arrived, the door to the Headmaster's Office opened on its own. Focusing on keeping themselves cool, calm and collected, Harry and Hermione followed McGonagall inside.
Albus Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, smiling up at his three guests as they entered. Fawkes, the Phoenix, gave them a greeting in song, and on its shelf above a trophy case where the Sword of Gryffindor lay, the Sorting Hat looked at the scene curiously. Many of the former Headmasters and Headmistresses, who were sleeping or staring off into space with a bored look, suddenly awoke and become interested in the events.
"Harry, Miss Granger!" Dumbledore greeted them, "Come, sit down! I hope you are having a wonderful afternoon on your free day off! Thank you, Minerva. You're excused."
"As the Head of Gryffindor, I think I better stay, Headmaster," McGonagall replied. "I believe Miss Granger's parents would hamstring me if I left her alone with a geriatric old man."
Dumbledore blinked in surprise. "Really, Minerva!"
"I am here in my duties as the Head of Gryffindor, Albus," McGonagall said, subtly showing her disapproval of his use of her first name, "I am trying to improve my behavior in said role. My message to my Lions a few days ago would be dismissed by most of Gryffindor House if I left two of its students unchaperoned during a meeting. Chaperoning a meeting like this is one of my duties, of course."
Dumbledore let out a put-upon sigh. "As you wish, Professor."
He waved his wand, and three cushy chairs appeared on the nearest side of his mahogany desk. He motioned to it, and the three guests sat down in the same way they had sat down together in the previous two meetings that day – Harry in the middle and McGonagall and Hermione on either side of him.
"Headmaster, may I ask a question?" Harry asked.
"Of course, Harry," Dumbledore said, "You may ask me anything, and I will do my best to answer. That is part of my job, after all."
"Why do you – and other Professors – address me as Harry?" Harry asked, "When you address all the other students by their surnames? Professor McGonagall addresses me as 'Mr. Potter', but others – and yourself – seem to use my first name on occasion. Snape – sorry, Professor Snape – simply addresses me as 'Potter!'"
Dumbledore blinked and frowned. "My apologies, Mr. Potter, for being so casual with you. I wish you would have come to me about this over the past three years. I would have realized my mistake, and given you the same answer I will give you today."
He pointed his wand to a bookshelf and summoned what appeared to be a portrait. He caught the portrait in his empty hand then set it up on the desk. Harry frowned as he looked at the picture. It was a picture of the Headmaster standing in between his parents, when they appeared to be seventh years, perhaps. The Headmaster, James Potter and Lily Evans were all switching back from grinning or laughing as camera flashes appeared off-picture. His parents had 'HB' and 'HG' badges attached to their school robes. Harry recognized the first badge when Percy Weasley wore it the previous year.
"You may not know this, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore continued, "but I – and several other members of my staff – were very close to your parents during the last few years of their life. They were two of our most popular Head Students we've ever had. They even began the tradition of Head Students taking part in some Staff Meetings during the school year – those in which we discuss various students and their behavior and performance. Your parents made the suggestion, and I very much approved of it.
"Due to the close, personal time my fellow staff and I spent with your parents, we become good friends with the two of them. We were very close to them. Enough that they allowed to call us by their first names a couple months into their final year as students. We were all delighted when they became a couple, and it was the staff and I who were the first to applaud after your father asked your mother to marry him – in which she accepted his proposal - at their final Leaving Feast.
"A few of my staff, and I, were lucky to be invited to the wedding in August that summer. It was a big event with many guests. The event of the summer, I believe the general gossip would refer to it as in the days, weeks and months afterward. There was a lot of security surrounding the wedding and reception, because of the threat of Voldemort and his followers, but we were all very fortunate they decided not to interfere with the lovely day. That fortune did not follow us in the months and years after, unfortunately. Those were sad times.
"But, I am happy to say, there was several occasions of light to overcome the many moments of darkness. Love flourished, couples formed and married, babies were born – all of those students in your year, and a couple years above you, all born during those dark times. As for you, Mr. Potter…
"When we heard Lily was pregnant, my staff and I all celebrated with firewhiskey during the following staff meeting, toasting to your mother's good health, wishes for a good, healthy pregnancy, and toasting the newest Potter that would come forth into our world. Whether they would have a son or daughter was unknown at the time, so there was good-natured betting about whether you would be a boy or girl. I won enough Galleons to afford a good five years of lemon drops when I bet you would be a boy!
"When you were born, I led a party of staff members to St. Mungo's so that we could meet you. We felt very close to you, Mr. Potter and - I believe it goes without saying now - your parents. I'm sure you heard this dozens of times – especially from my staff – but you look so much like your father. And those eyes – my goodness, I remember your mother looking at me with the same eyes.
"I believe I speak for the rest of my staff – those who speak casually to you – when I say that you remind us of better times when your parents graced this castle. We were casual with them, and it has spread to you. But if you wish for us to be formal with you, then I will acquiesce to your request and will also pass the message along to my staff. I apologize again for this mistake."
"Thank you, Headmaster," Harry said.
"You are most welcome," Dumbledore said, "Let's begin with the first reason you are here. Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, I feel I need to clarify my reasons for why I stopped your – ahem – public display of affection on Thursday evening during dinner in the Great Hall. It was an understandable error on your part, of course. In your time here as students, such an event like that display hasn't happened before. So, perhaps, you didn't know it was rule-breaking.
"Before I continue, I will say, however, it was a ingenious way of letting everyone in the castle know about this new upgrade in your relationship. But, perhaps it was a little bit too much. I believe I told you at the end of your first year, Mr. Potter, that any secrets inside Hogwarts tend to get around the castle at an impressive speed. If you had decided to have a show of affection in the Gryffindor Common Room to announce your new – ahem – romantic relationship, instead of the Great Hall, I am quite sure the news would have reached everyone by the time the next mealtime came around. As I am sure you know, public displays of affection are quite common inside the Common Rooms, and therefore we do not punish such a thing.
"If you had done this, you could have avoided the detention Professor McGonagall gave you. That is why I had to put a stop to your display in the Great Hall. I needed to send a message to the student body that such a display wasn't acceptable in the Great Hall, and unfortunately, you two were in the crossfire. I didn't want to make you believe I was against such a thing, which is why I did not take points from you. New love is such a wonderful thing, especially in such dark times as your unfortunate participation in the Triwizard Tournament. I would dare not wish you to believe I am like a few particular students around the castle, who are rather – shall we say – vocal against your new romantic relationship. I am quite supportive of it, let me assure you of that."
Harry had enough of this blatant lying. He raised his hand, hoping to change the subject.
"You have a question, Har - Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, Headmaster," Harry said. "About my 'unfortunate participation' in the Triwizard Tournament. Have you made any progress into figuring out who put my name in the Goblet of Fire?"
Dumbledore sighed and shook his head. "Very little progress, unfortunately. It is a most difficult investigation. Let's just say it seems this was a premeditated plot. Whoever Confound the Goblet seems to have done so before the Goblet came here to Hogwarts. You may not know this, but the Goblet was on display in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic for the entire months of August and September, so the public could see it for themselves. Good publicity, as Ludo Bagman said when he suggested such a thing. Perhaps I should have suggested that only the Triwizard Cup be in view for the public. It would have achieved the same publicity. My mistake. You know what they say about hindsight, though!
"I am working on the possibility that the paper that had your name on it was placed in there through a Switching Spell. An ingenious plan. Someone as far as the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade could have used a Switching Spell on a piece of parchment between the hours of the Goblet being lit, to the Choosing Ceremony, switching a blank piece of parchment already inside the Goblet with the parchment that had your name on it."
"But I thought it was my name from one of my assignments?" Harry asked.
"I had assumed it was," Dumbledore said, "Now I wonder if it could have been from a letter you wrote to somebody. Did you write to anybody in the weeks before the Choosing Ceremony?"
That conniving bastard! Harry mused, He's trying to get me to blame this on Padfoot! He is trying to make me suspicious of him, trying to make me lose trust in my godfather! That… well, that is a smart tactic, I'll give him that.
"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," Harry said, deciding to turn Dumbledore's idea against him. "I was trying to get my Gringotts Key back. I gave it to Mrs. Weasley, so she could do my booklist shopping for me while I was at the Quidditch World Cup. She still hasn't given me that Key back, you know. I need it, so I can get money for Christmas shopping."
He made a stricken expression. "Do you… do you think Mrs. Weasley cut my name from the letter and used it with a Switching Spell? What do you think, Hermione?"
He glanced toward Hermione, who was doing her best not to burst out laughing. Obviously she knew what he was doing.
Dumbledore frowned. "I do not think someone as good as Mrs. Weasley would do that to you, Mr. Potter. You're sure there isn't anyone else you've been writing to?"
"I wrote to you during the summer, Headmaster," Harry said, "I'm sure you remember. About my nightmare, and my scar?"
Dumbledore blinked, then cleared his throat. "I remember, Mr. Potter. I assure you, it was not me who put your name in the Goblet. Any other possibilities?"
Harry shook his head. I wrote to Sirius, Hermione and Ron. I'm not going to accuse any of them, old man! But only because Ron is too dumb to have done this!
Dumbledore sighed. "Well, there goes that theory then. Thank you for helping me in closing one theory, among many that are still possible. I will get to the bottom of this. I assure you. If you have any theories, I'd love to hear them."
"What about Professor Moody?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore's eyebrows raised. "Your reasoning behind this accusation?"
"Quirrel tried to steal the Stone and kill me," Harry said, "And let's not forget Voldemort on the back of his head. Lockhart tried to Obliviate me and stop me from saving Ginny. Professor Lupin, bless his heart, tried to either eat me, turn me into a werewolf, or kill me. I don't have the best history with Defense Professors, Headmaster. Don't get me wrong, Professor Lupin was an excellent teacher, as is Professor Moody. But… well, I am sure you can see my point."
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Your reasoning is sound. I can see why you are suspicious of the Defense Professor this year. I can only apologize for my Defense Professors in the past, Mr. Potter. But I assure you, Alastor Moody is one of my dearest friends, and I trust him with my life. He has nothing to do with any of this."
"I hope you won't be offended if I continue to keep Constant Vigilance on him, Headmaster," Harry said.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "I believe Alastor would be most ashamed if you did not continue to suspect him, Mr. Potter, giving your past history with Defense Professors! He would probably fail you for the entire year if you did not! Simply because that is part of what he is teaching you, Mr. Potter. To be suspicious of everything. I do not tend to follow his beliefs and paranoia, of course, but he isn't the oldest living Auror for nothing! He might not be guilty of putting your name in the Goblet, Mr. Potter. But he might plan to attack you by the end of the year, just to see if you learned anything from his class."
He winked. "But that goes for all of his students, Mr. Potter. Not just you. I'm sure you're not the only person he intends to attack as an example of his teaching."
Harry snorted. "I'm not that lucky, Headmaster."
"Let us hope that is not true," Dumbledore said, "Given your current situation. Speaking of that! Have you made any progress with that beautiful Golden Egg of yours."
Harry sighed. How should I go about this? Lie to him? Give him a white lie?
"I have, sir," Harry said, "I've figured out what that horrid screaming was, and listened to the Mermaid's clue. Now I am just trying to figure out what the Mermaids are going to steal from me. My Firebolt, maybe? It does say 'what' you'll sorely miss. Not 'who'. So I'm not about to accuse you and the other Tournament officials of making me save a person, sir!"
McGonagall cleared her throat. "I am certain I would complain if that was true, Mr. Potter. As you can see, I have not reacted so badly to your suggestion. So I do not think they've considered doing something as serious as that."
Dumbledore sighed. "Your Firebolt does seem like the right kind of hostage for you, doesn't it, Mr. Potter."
"It does," Harry agreed. "After all, I wouldn't have survived the First Task without it. Now I just need to figure out how to survive under water for an hour. I'm sure that will come to me."
"If I may make a suggestion," Dumbledore said, "Ask your friends and fellow students, Mr. Potter. You never know whether or not they might have a suggestion for you."
"Luna Lovegood and Padma Patil did promise to help me with it," Harry said; he smiled at his girlfriend, "As did Hermione."
"And what of your fellow Gryffindors?" Dumbledore asked. "Aside from Miss Granger, of course."
"Aside from a few individuals," Harry said, "I'm not sure if I can trust them to give me good advice. They did, after all, tell me I should have summoned a white flag and surrender for the First Task, Headmaster. They would probably only make a similar suggestion if I asked for their help."
"You never know, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said, "While we are on that subject. I hope I can try and change your minds, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger. Perhaps not about moving back to your dormitories. Not so soon anyway. But you should think about visiting the Gryffindor Common Room from time to time. If anything, it might give you an upper hand at the Second Task, having the moral support of your fellow Lions, as they cheer for you. They might not have been very supportive outside of the First Task, but they did cheer for you during the Task."
"Were they cheering for me, or for the Dragon, sir?" Harry asked, with a deadpan tone. "In my opinion, most were cheering for the Dragon. But that is my opinion."
"I have a question, Headmaster," Hermione said, raising her hand.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" Dumbledore replied.
"It sounds like Harry and the other Champions are going to be under the lake, and at the bottom of the lake during the Second Task," Hermione said. "As a spectator of the event, I must ask. Where are the spectators going to be during the Event? Are we only going to see the Champions until they dive into the lake and after they resurface? Or are we going to be able to see them while they are under the surface of the lake?"
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "That is currently being discussed, Miss Granger. I am sure we'll figure out a way for you to view the Champions when they are under the water."
"Yes," McGonagall said, "Isn't Minister Fudge discussing attending the event? Along with a few other important Ministry individuals? And perhaps some French and Bulgarians as well! Wouldn't want them staring at the lake with nothing to see until the Champions reemerge. Good Merlin, we would be the laughingstock of the wizarding world in general, Headmaster! Can you imagine the bad publicity that would get for Magical Britain and Hogwarts in general? So much for International Cooperation, eh, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore frowned. "Yes. That would be most… embarrassing. It will be discussed amongst the proper individuals between now and the Second Task, I assure you. Well, I believe I am finished here. Is there anything you wish to tell me, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger? Any more questions on your mind?"
Several, old man, Harry mused, but those can wait until we're prepared to ask them.
"No, sir," Harry said.
"Nothing, sir," Hermione said.
"Very well," Dumbledore said. "I suppose I have one last thing. While I do support you being in these Private Quarters you've been generously assigned to, I do not want you to overextend such a welcome, and spend so much time confined to those Quarters. I am sure your friends and the rest of the students missed speaking to you, or seeing such a wonderful, new couple walking around the castle and grounds."
"More like they missed the gossip, Headmaster," McGonagall said.
"Quite," Dumbledore chuckled, his eyes twinkling.
"If I may, Headmaster," Hermione said, "The reason for our.. confinement, is because we were preparing for our end-of-term exams this week. I am sure you can agree with me when I say how important they are."
"Of course, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, "I hope I didn't sound so accusatory. It was merely a suggestion. You're excused, so you can get back to those studies. Thank you for taking time out of your planned day of privacy and studies to come meet with me. If you need anything of me, in the future, please come see me. If you need the password for my guardian, ask Professor McGonagall. She should have the available password for that time period."
Harry and Hermione merely nodded, and stood with Professor McGonagall. She led her students out of the office, and none of them dared say a thing as they walked back toward the Lion's Den. The Lioness of Gryffindor did check for any Trackers on the three of them, when they reached the Grand Staircase. She huffed in annoyance when she found them. Like earlier that day, she transferred them to random objects and had Mallory send them back to the Lion's Den, which made them inert.
(Ten minutes after Harry, Hermione and McGonagall left the Headmaster's Office)
Albus Dumbledore sighed as he emerged from the Pensieve in his office. He had watched the memory of his meeting with Minerva, Mr. Potter and Miss Granger to see if he had missed anything crucial. He had picked up a few things he had missed. Like the fact that Mr. Potter and Miss Granger never made eye contact with him. They almost always looked at the wall above his head and behind his desk – aside from the moment the pair looked at the photo of James Potter and Lily Evans when the pair were seventh years.
This meant that they knew – or at least suspected – that he had a habit of using Legilimency on students. Was this act of deliberately avoiding his eyesight because they had something to hide from him, or was it just a fear of him using Legilimency on them? Something he needed to ponder. He also needed to speak to Severus about their future behavior toward the Potions Master, so he could discover whether or not they would deliberately avoided his eyesight.
He had also reviewed the questions Mr. Potter and Miss Granger asked, thinking about the reasons behind them. In addition, he also reviewed the answers the new couple had give him to his own questions. It was interesting listening to what they were saying a second time. Or rather, what they weren't saying.
The most worrying part about the entire conversation was that Mr. Potter was worried about his Gringotts Key. He needed to convince Molly Weasley to deliver the key back to Mr. Potter, or things could boil over with that issue quite quickly. He couldn't afford Mr. Potter attempting to go to Gringotts to get a new copy of the Key, so the old key could be defaulted. That would quickly point the boy to his Account Manager, something Albus had been trying to avoid since Mr. Potter's eleventh birthday!
The fact that Mr. Potter's mind had gone to Molly so quickly when Albus tried to lead him on, on trying to find a scapegoat to blame for putting his name in the Goblet of Fire. That was particularly worrying. If Mr. Potter didn't trust Molly, that would create a lot of problems for Albus when it came to him controlling Mr. Potter's future romance with Miss Weasley.
Albus had attempted to get Mr. Potter to believe Sirius Black had something to do with putting his name in the Goblet. He had hoped to get the boy to lose trust in his godfather, because now Black was back in the boy's life, and that was something Albus couldn't have. But Mr. Potter wasn't having any of it. He was deliberately doing everything not to mention Black's name! Possibly because Minerva was there, and she knew nothing about Harry's close connection to Black? Or did he just not want to imply that he blamed Sirius for anything?! Either way, this was a problem.
Albus had tried everything to get Black out of the boy's life. Having Mr. Potter and Miss Granger rescue Black had backfired on Albus. He had wanted Black to escape, so he could still be a fugitive. He wanted Black to escape Great Britain and go far, far away, out of Mr. Potter's life, and especially his influence. But Black had remained on the isles.
When he realized Black was still in Great Britain. Albus had hoped to lure Black back to Hogwarts after Mr. Potter's name came out of the Goblet. He wanted to suggest to Black that he be nearby in case his godson needed him, or got in trouble. It would have given Black another opportunity to get caught and – if not killed or Kissed – sent back to Azkaban at the very least. But Black was hiding behind a Fidelius Charm, possibly recuperating from his time in Azkaban. So Albus couldn't convince the man to come to Hogsmeade! How infuriating!
Albus snorted as he realized he was constantly calling Harry 'Mr. Potter' in his thoughts now! His mind went to that particular part of the conversation.
Mr. Potter's question to him about why he, Albus, referred to the young man by his first name was unexpected. But Albus had not become what he was today without being able to prepare for anything, and expect the unexpected. He had planned for the day Mr. Potter decided he was tired of his Headmaster and Professors calling him by his first name. The story he had told Mr. Potter about his parents was entirely true. He couldn't risk lying what with Minerva in the room. After all, she had been one of the 'staff' Albus had alluded to during the entire story.
Minerva's demand to stay in the office during the meeting was annoying, but predictable. This new change in her – this new persona as the Lioness of Gryffindor – was going to become problematic before very long. But he had not been able to stop it before it started. The Gryffindor House-wide meeting in the Great Hall had been a thing of genius on Minerva's part. All the Gryffindor students – and likely the rest of those in the castle – now expected her to be the Lioness of Gryffindor. There was nothing he could not do about convincing her to cease this new mission she had toward Gryffindor House, not without harming his own reputation. So, unfortunately, he could not deny her wish to remain during this most recent meeting.
And he was still annoyed by her 'geriatric old man' comment.
"Really, Minerva?! In front of the students!" Albus huffed, with a frown.
So thanks to Minerva's presence during the meeting, Albus had to be very careful with what he asked and explained to Mr. Potter and Miss Granger. He wanted them to believe he was on their side, and that he was supportive of their new relationship. Thank goodness they seemed to accept his reasoning for interrupting their display in the Great Hall on Thursday evening. He didn't need them doubting his view of their relationship. Not now, not when he had a plan for Miss Granger during the Second Task.
Harry's progress with the Golden Egg and the clue was rather surprising, and quite a quandary as well. Albus had hoped Mr. Potter wouldn't figure out the clue until mid-February so he would be scrambling and panicking for answers on how to complete the second task. He would be so distracted, he wouldn't even consider that 'what you'll sorely miss,' actually meant 'who you'll sorely miss'. But now… Albus had listened closely, inside the Pensieve during that tidbit. Was he merely joking about the 'who' part, or had he really figured out the true message inside the Golden Egg? His suggestion to use the Firebolt, followed by his statement that he didn't want to accuse him and the other Tournament officials that they would kidnap people for the task. It was rather worrying. Minerva's follow up statement that she would complain if it was true, but she didn't believe they'd do anything so serious was also worrying. He would have to ponder over this more.
Then there was Miss Granger's question about the Second Task, asking about how the spectators were going to view the Task, if the Champions would be underwater for the most part. Albus didn't need Minerva's lecture about how much bad publicity it would be if spectators were only looking at the surface of the lake for much of the task. He had known about these problems for several weeks now. Madame Maxime and Ludo Bagman had also voiced their opinions and worries about this very thing. That idiot Bagman brought up about how boring it would be if he couldn't comment about the Task if he couldn't see the Champions underwater.
Now that Miss Granger and Minerva – and likely Mr. Potter! - were all concerned about the spectators being able to see the whole task, Albus was quite sure these concerns would reach the whole of Hogwarts – as well as the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students – by dinner! The backlash would be quite vocal! But what he could he do? If the entire task was spectated by the audience, it would be most difficult to pull off Miss Granger's 'accidental' assassination!
His expression brightened. "Unless I could make it look like one of the Champions – either the Veela or Krum – had a part in it. But which one? The Veela? She would already have enough problems with the Merpeople due to their heated long-term vendetta with the Veela population. Maybe he could play off the chaos of Delacour trying to get her hostage, and in the confusion, make it appear she was responsible for Miss Granger's tragic 'accident.' Maybe if he could confound whatever the viewer was seeing. Hmm…
And then there was Viktor Krum. Aside from his education in the Dark Arts, which could already cause him to be blamed for such an accident, there was another situation brewing that might make him seem guilty of Miss Granger's demise.
He had heard the rumors about Viktor Krum's persistent quest to take Miss Granger to the Yule Ball. How Krum believed the Boy-Who-Lived didn't deserve Miss Granger. Yes, there was a rivalry – and a possible love triangle – boiling into creation. There were already rumors of Mr. Potter's fierce protection toward his girlfriend when it came to Viktor Krum.
When he heard first heard about this, he had a passing thought about trying to convince Mr. Potter to allow Krum to take Miss Granger to the Ball, but did away with that, after he realized just how popular the news around the castle of Mr. Potter and Miss Granger's new romantic relationship had become. The young Lions would be the stars of the Yule Ball, the talk of the night. He needed that to happen so he could put Miss Granger at the bottom of the lake as Mr. Potter's hostage.
When he had considered trying to get Miss Granger as Krum's date, he had also considered having her as the Bulgarian's hostage, and placing Ron Weasley as Mr. Potter's hostage – if only so it could possibly repair Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley's broken friendship. But he had quickly realized nobody would believe Miss Granger could possibly qualify as Krum's hostage instead of Mr. Potter's. He had done away with both ideas almost as quickly as he had thought of them. He could figure another way to repair the friendship between Mr. Potter and the Weasleys.
"If I could blame it on Krum, the backlash between him and Mr. Potter would become quite chaotic," Albus pondered. "It might even spark a duel between the two. Then I could see what Mr. Potter's skill range was at the moment, especially against someone like Krum, who studied the Dark Arts Durmstrang loves to boast about. It would also make sure that Mr. Potter's views on the Dark Arts were anything but good. Which would help make sure that he would do anything to not go down such a path, if the Horcrux in his scar tried to influence him."
He was amazed how well things were going with his plans, all thanks to Mr. Potter and Miss Granger becoming a couple. The new couple could have their fun until the Second Task. Because after the Task, it would be Albus Dumbledore who would be enjoying himself!
(Meanwhile…)
While Albus Dumbledore was plotting the Second Task, with no clue how his plans concerning said Task would soon become quite difficult to accomplish, Harry, Hermione and Professor McGonagall were sitting in the Private Common Room, going over the meeting they had just finished.
"You both did very well in the Headmaster's office," McGonagall said. "I am quite proud of both of you. Mr. Potter, your idea to implicate Molly Weasley as the one to put your name in the Goblet of Fire, when the Headmaster was obviously trying to get you to blame your godfather, was inspiring. Miss Granger, your question about the audience being able to spectate the Second Task was masterful. Both of these very valid points caused the Headmaster problems without actually creating any backlash toward the two of you.
"It is going to be sending him into tailspins, especially your question, Miss Granger. It will only add onto the Headmaster's problems once Miss Skeeter's article comes out tomorrow morning. Mr. Potter, I think the Headmaster is going to tell Molly Weasley to give you back your Gringotts Key as soon as possible. Can you tell me why?"
"Because if I didn't get it back by the time I want to do Christmas shopping," Harry said, "I'd have to go to Gringotts, the very place Dumbledore doesn't want me to be, especially without a chaperone he can trust to escort me exactly where he wants me to be, and to bring the details of my visit back to him."
"Precisely, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said, in an approving tone. "I also believe he wants Molly to give you back your Key, because he doesn't want you to lose your trust in her. You can't be the future boyfriend of Molly's daughter if your relationship with the mother isn't very good, now can you?"
Harry snorted. "Thank heavens that isn't going to actually happen."
"Agreed," Hermione muttered.
"Indeed," McGonagall said, "Now, I believe we should discuss other events of this day aside from the unplanned meeting with the 'Leader of the Sheep', as you so quaintly coined him, Mr. Potter."
Harry smiled, while Hermione giggled at the reminder of her boyfriend's use of the title.
"Since the Headmaster is already on our minds, regrettably so," McGonagall said, "Let's begin with a question that has been on my mind ever since the topic of the question took place. You made a request to Keeper Ragnok, Mr. Potter, to delay the letter to the Headmaster that would inform him of his crimes against the Potter Vaults, and the news that he was banned from Gringotts."
"When Dumbledore receives that letter," Harry said, "he is going to run out of Hogwarts and into Gringotts like the Hungarian Horntail was on his coattails. That will give us a few hours to do whatever we want without him being here to intrude. For example, that hopefully soon-to-happen meeting between Ron and Ginny in which they reveal their plots and secrets while Hermione and I eavesdrop. When this happens, we would meet with you to discuss what we discover. You could confront the Weasleys the following day. The evening before you confront them, I would give Ragnok the request to send Dumbledore the letter the following morning."
"Giving me a free run on the Weasleys without the Headmaster's interference," McGonagall said, nodding.
"We would discover, through them, what Dumbledore's part in the plans are," Harry said. "That will give us the opportunity to make our next move. Whether it be contact the DMLE, or whatever we decide."
"I don't know how much time we would have with Dumbledore out of the castle," Hermione said, "But I must believe that Harry's accounts at Gringotts is quite a big deal to Dumbledore. Especially given how much we discovered today. Dumbledore must know exactly what you might discover, Harry. Everything from your Inheritance, to the Will, to all the Blocks and Bindings. I think he's going to be at Gringotts on that day for quite a while."
"Unless he decides he's not going to accomplish anything," Harry said.
"If that happens, he's going to go to the Ministry, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said, "He would try to get a Ministry Order to make Keeper Ragnok give him exactly what he wants. Yes, I truly think he would be very busy that day."
"We already know he is likely going to be headed to the Ministry after he discovers the contents of the next two headlines in the Daily Prophet. If we could add him going to Gringotts on top of either of those – maybe the Emancipation one? - that would get him out of Hogwarts even longer."
"No plan survives contact with the enemy, Hermione," Harry echoed her statement from earlier that day. "I don't think we're going to be lucky enough to add the Gringotts visit on top of the articles. But perhaps we shouldn't count on that. Having him out of Hogwarts at least three days this week. It would cause problems for him."
"It will certainly make him flustered," McGonagall agreed. "He would also miss out on any gossip or other events taking place inside Hogwarts. He hates not knowing what is going on inside Hogwarts. But he won't be able to avoid that if he wants to do damage control toward these articles over the next two days. Yes, it is going to be a very busy week for one Albus Dumbledore. We can be sure of that."
"Well, then," Harry said, grinning, "We'll have to figure out exactly how to take advantage of that!"
Harry, Hermione and McGonagall discussed a lot more than what was shown, but I didn't want to include everything, because it would give up plots I am looking forward to in the future. Just know that they were basically having a war meeting, discussing events of the day and planning their next moves.
So what did you think of the meeting with Dumbledore? Did you really think I was going to have Dumbledore discover ANYTHING about what happened that day – at least this early? Nope. It would ruin a lot of my very fun plans for Dumbledore.
Next Chapter: The Article about the hostages in the Second Task arrives during breakfast. Dumbledore's about to have his first of several chaotic days in the near future! Then, if I can fit it into the chapter, the Viktor Krum library prank! (I've actually had the scene written for a few days now!)