A Means to an End

A Means

to an End

by

Heather Sinclair

Spoilers: Order of the Phoenix

Pairings: H/Hr

Rating: PG-13 Parents Strongly Cautioned.

This story contains some material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 13 years of age. Parents are strongly urged to exercise greater care in, and are cautioned against letting children under the age of 13 read this story unattended. This story contains one or more of the following: intense violence, intense sexual situations, strong coarse language, or intensely suggestive dialogue.

Disclaimer: This story, and any content relating to the Harry Potter franchise are not authorized by J.K. Rowling, or Scholastic Press.

Fonts: This story is best viewed with the following fonts: "Harry P", "Magik",  "Hagrid2", and "Lumos". They can be found at Mugglenet.com in the downloads section. The story is written in "Garamond".

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          Upon the knock downstairs Harry jumped out of his bed and dashed out the door. With the arrival of Professor McGonagall's owl earlier in the week, he had been waiting for this moment. Harry had been waiting patiently, obeying what he knew to be one of Dumbledore's last wishes, to visit Privet Drive one last time to renew the protection wards that had kept him safe for so long.

          It had been six weeks and he was anxious to continue the search for the remaining pieces of Voldemort's soul. If McGonagall's owl hadn't come when it did he was more than likely going to be on his way with or without approval and consent.

          He took the stairs two at a time until he reached the fifth from the bottom, well away from his Uncle's reach and still able to see the front door without much fanfare.

          "Ruddy people! Have no respect for a hard working family man trying to have his breakfast…" Vernon grumbled as he reached the front door. However as he opened it he found an even more unpleasant surprise than he anticipated.

          Harry could see Vernon's face turn an even deeper shade of puce. "What the bloody hell do your kind want this early in the morning?"

          Harry leaned a little further to get a look at the visitor before he heard the voice he was expecting.

          "Mr. Dursley, do not take that tone with me," the voice of Harry's Transfiguration teacher reprimanded sternly. "Headmaster Dumbledore may have tolerated your abusive language, but I have no compunction about hexing you this very moment if you do not step aside and allow me to retrieve Harry from your home for the last time."   

          His Uncle sputtered as if to return the rebuke but thought better of any additional words.

          "Now if you would be so good as to move…" McGonagall raised her wand.

          Harry's eyes grew wide and his shoulders set in anticipation as if his fondest wish were about to come true, so much so that his voice got away from him. "I'm here, Professor."

          McGonagall glared her way through the front door as Vernon stepped aside to avoid touching her. She approached the stairs with a grim look on her face.

          "Potter, let's retire to your room. We should discuss a few things before we leave."

          Harry nodded in agreement. "Yea, Ma'am."

          McGonagall entered the room soon behind Harry and surveyed around with a deep look of disappointment etched on her face.

          "I wish there would have been a more … pleasant family to place you with sixteen years ago, Harry."

          Harry looked slightly downward and nodded. "I understand why he did it, Professor. It wasn't fun, but I understand why I had to be here."

          Her lips pressed together and it appeared that she was holding something back under the graces of good decorum.

          "Before we leave I have been given the task of delivering a final message from Headmaster Dumbledore."

          Harry blinked a few times and took a tentative step backward. "A message?"

          McGonagall removed a large satchel that was hidden behind her back. "Dumbledore left instructions in his will that I was to deliver this to you upon his death."

          She undid the satchel's clasps and removed what Harry recognized as Dumbledore's Pensive. She set the basin down upon Harry's desk and reached into her pocket, withdrawing a vial of silvery fluid.

          "Is that …" Harry asked with a mix of fear and hopefulness.

          McGonagall unsealed the vial and poured the contents into the pensive. "Yes, Harry. Dumbledore made this specifically for you." She paused a moment before setting her wand into the silvery fluid. "He asked that I be present at the beginning of the memory with your permission only, of course."

          Harry didn't even look back up to his transfiguration teacher. His eyes were focused upon the last memory he would ever see of his protector and mentor.

          "Sure."

          McGonagall raised an eyebrow in response and began to stir. After a moment she withdrew the wand and motioned forward. "After you."

          Harry bent over and dipped his face into the memory and was immediately pulled to the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts. There he was, like so many times before, sitting behind his desk organizing sheets of parchment. A moment later he felt the presence of Professor McGonagall beside him. Dumbledore looked up and almost caught Harry's eye.

          "Ah, Harry, do come in."

          Harry's jaw set firmly at the casual greeting the Headmaster always gave him.

          "And I see that you've brought a guest. Wonderful."

          Harry noticed Dumbledore's burned arm and he drew the conclusion that this memory was made very recently.

"I would offer you a seat, but seeing as this is but a memory of my last wishes I am afraid you would injure a rather sensitive portion of your backsides.. Please forgive me."

          The headmaster stifled a grin and then continued. "The reason I've asked you both here today is that I cannot entrust anyone outside of the two of you with so important of a request."

          He leaned forward and interlaced his fingers. "Harry, since I am no longer with you in any form but spirit, I humbly ask you to look upon Minerva in my place. She is well versed in virtually every aspect of our mission save that which you and I are to take place in tonight. You know of which I speak.

          He turned his head slightly. " Minerva, thank you for coming as well. You know most of my wishes regarding Harry's safety. I will only add that you and the Order respect my and Harry's wishes and privacy regarding his mission. He has a very large responsibility that I have regrettably left on his shoulders."

          Dumbledore's eye touched back to Harry's. " I have never met a more honorable and noble soul in all of my days as Harry. He has proven himself repeatedly in service to Hogwarts and his friends. I am most happy and humbled of his loyalty to myself. Minerva, I recount the times Fawkes has come to Harry's aide without my urging. You realize what kind of magic that entails."

          Harry noticed McGonagall's head nod imperceptivity.

          "In that regard I ask you to support Harry and his friends with a large amount of latitude if chooses to return to Hogwarts."

          Harry was almost shocked to find Dumbledore knew him so well as to deduce his desire to forgo another school year in hopes of continuing his mission.

          He looked up to find Dumbledore staring at him again. "It is at this time that I will give Harry the option of including you, Minerva, the opportunity to participate and use the resources of the Order. If you choose, Harry, Minerva well leave and we will continue, or she can stay. The choice is yours."

          Harry's eyes turned to the side and met McGonagall's.

          "I'll respect the Headmaster's wishes, Harry, whatever your decision."

          Whatever Harry thought of Dumbledore's ability to recognize trustworthy people, Snape in particular, he had no doubt about where McGonagall's loyalties lay.

          "Please stay."

          McGonagall smiled briefly and nodded in appreciation.

          "Then let us begin," Dumbledore responded. "If as I surmised, Harry, you have chosen to allow Minerva to stay. You will update her on what I hope will be a somewhat successful journey tonight in retrieving the item of our quest at your discretion.

          "I have left a few more memories that might lead to the remaining items of which we seek in the care of Minerva. She will see to it that you receive them in due course. Additionally you will have full access virtually all of Hogwarts, to the restricted section of the library as well as my personal library of which you will inherit upon my death.

          "I am sure Miss Granger will be most pleased with the selections. I have marked several passages in certain tombs that will be of most aide to your quest."

          The headmaster looked down and breathed in deep, letting it go slowly.

          "Do not be afraid to use your gifts, Harry. Let your friends help you; they would not be your friends if they did not know the risks they bring upon themselves. I refer to, of course, of those that accompanied you to the Ministry on that faithful night. They honor you with their friendship and loyalty. Do not spurn that precious gift.

          "They are your Order of sorts. People that you trust above all others, that hold to the same ideals as you, and that will never fail you as I am quite sure you will never fail them."

          Dumbledore stood and rounded the desk. "Look me in the eye for this next missive, Harry."

          He did as was asked even though it took some amount of will to face his mentor.

          "I know if what I speak when I say I know what you are feeling and thinking at this point. The weight of the world has been laid on your shoulders and feel unworthy and inadequate. You are not. If I am sure of one thing in this world it is that I am sure of you. When you apply yourself you have accomplished great and wonderful things that no other Wizard would have the heart for. You have a very large capacity to love… as much or possibly more than even your mother, and you are cursed and doubly blessed with exactly how much she loved you. Her love kept you safe for sixteen years, Harry, I can only imagine what you are capable of if you put your heart into whatever you desire."

          Dumbledore leaned back heavily on his desk and caught his breath. "Go now and know that you go with my well wishes and love. Be well, Harry and have a fruitful and happy life. I know that I have, having had you a part of it."

                  

          Harry felt a hand on his shoulder. "It's time to go, Harry."