Chapter 16
"Excuse me?"
"I'm your biological Great-Grandfather."
"YOU'RE MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER! BLOODY HELL!"
"Harry, please calm down." It was too late he knew. He was afraid of just how angry Harry was going to be, but he'd never seen the intensity of anger, hurt, betrayal and hate flashing in Harry's emerald eyes.
"CALM DOWN! YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO TELL ME TO CALM DOWN AFTER WHAT YOU'VE TOLD ME. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I WENT THROUGH GROWING UP THINKING I HAD NO FAMILY OTHER THAN THE DURSLEYS WHO HATE ME? DO YOU?"
"Harry," Dumbledore started calmly. "I know. I've seen how they treat you."
"AND STILL YOU LET ME STAY THERE KNOWING HOW BAD THEY TREATED ME." His nose was flaring now as his breathing became heavy. His whole body was becoming hot and he felt as if something inside of him was ready to burst. His head was becoming numb and his whole body was shaking. He was like a bull that had just seen red.
Dumbledore watched as his great-grandson turned from a mild mannered young man to a very volatile bomb about to blow up. It was a sight. Books, chairs, everything that wasn't nailed down were flying about. Dumbledore cast shielding charms every time something came near to hitting him. Items flew out the windows; all the people disappeared from their portraits. He noticed however, that Harry seemed to be oblivious of the items flying all around them and that they would just bounce off when they came near him. It was as if he was in an invisible bubble.
"Harry, you have to understand. The fear of me losing you physically would have been more than I could bare."
"OH, right so you'd rather have me suffer under the most unloving creatures on earth so that your fears could be put to rest. I need to get out of here." Without out another word he'd popped out of Dumbledore's office. All of the items that were floating or flying about stopped in midair and just dropped on the floor.
Dumbledore hung his head down, put his face to his palms and cried. He knew Harry would be angry, but he didn't count on him hating him. He saw the hatred in his eyes and it was more intense than what he'd seen in his own son's eyes or what he saw in James. But then again, he'd never placed his son or his grandson in a home the likes of the Durselys. He hoped to Merlin he would see his reasons and understand.
The door to his office burst open with Remus, Tonks, and McGonagall standing in the doorway with their wands drawn.
"What are you doing here?" Dumbledore asked as he wiped the tears from his eyes. McGonagall looked at him and she already knew what had happened.
"We saw books and chairs and things flying out of your window," Remus explained.
"Nothing to worry about, I was just practicing some new spells," he lied.
"Okay, we'll get back to work." Dumbledore smiled at them, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. Remus and Tonks left but McGonagall stayed.
"That bad Albus?"
"'Fraid so Minerva. I've never seen him so angry. I've never even seen James that angry. His energy was astounding. He wasn't moving his hands but everything in the room that wasn't nailed down depending on the size was either floating or flying around."
"Oh dear."
"I don't know where he went. That blasted power of leaping kept him from staying in here."
"Oh dear."
"I'll have to contact Merlin and let him know that I need his help. I don't have the right equipment for locating an angry teenager with powers beyond that we haven't even begun to comprehend. Please make sure everyone is okay here, I'll need to go with Merlin and seek out Harry to ask his forgiveness."
She went to him and wrapped him in her arms. She knew no words would assuage his worries or the pain in his heart. Too many times children tend to focus on their hurt and not notice how much the adults hurt as well.
"I don't know if it was such a great idea to tell him while they still had the songs to deal with."
"Albus, you'd never doubted your decisions before, don't start now. If you'd told him later, think of what it would have been like if they were nearing the confrontation. No, it was better that you told him now to give him time to deal with it."
"Maybe, I should have waited until the confrontation was done."
"You know it may be too late Albus. You of all people should know what it's like to lose someone in war and not being able to make peace with them."
"Yes, I know. You know me too well. I love you." He placed a chaste kiss on her lips. "You go on and watch over the children. I'll let you know when I'm back."
With that she left leaving Dumbledore concentrating on calling on Merlin.
Hermione was pacing back and forth in their secret meeting room. She hadn't seen Harry all day and she was growing anxious. She knew he'd had a meeting with Dumbledore, but she was sure the meeting would have been over by now. It was past dinnertime and she didn't see Harry or Dumbledore in the Great Hall.
"Where's Harry?" asked Ron with his mouth full of food as always during dinner. "I haven't seen him all day."
"He had a meeting with Dumbledore this morning, but I hadn't seen him since after breakfast either."
The five of them looked at each other. They were all worried something must have gone wrong, but their necklaces hadn't changed their idle state so they could write off his being in grave danger. But not seeing him or Dumblefore was worrying them a bit. Even Draco was looking at them questioningly from the Slytherin table.
"If you don't stop pacing, Hermione, you'll put a hole on the floor," Lavender told her.
"I can't help it. I just can't shake the feeling that he's in trouble."
"Why don't you read a book or something? It always helped to relax you."
"Sorry, Ron. I don't think I'd be able to concentrate right now." They gasped. They'd never heard Hermione turn down an opportunity to read a book ever.
"Oh, stop. I'm worried about Harry."
"You know he can take care of himself, don't worry so much," Ginny tried to comfort her, but she was worried as well. Harry would have never left without saying anything to any of them.
"I know, Ginny. I just can't help it." Ginny nodded in response. She knew she'd feel the same way if Draco were missing.
Harry had found himself at Fincayra near the river unending. He sat there as he let himself calm down a bit. He knew that if he hadn't left he might have done something to the headmaster, his great-grandfather. He shook his head. He'd never felt so much anger in his life, except maybe the time when Voldemort had seeped into his mind. But it wasn't the same. All the anger was coming from him; he'd actually felt that he could have hurt someone really bad.
He stood up and started to pace, talking to himself.
"Does he hate me so much that he didn't want anything to do with me? Did he think I was better off with the Durselys instead of being with my real family? Bloody Hell!" He stopped and when he looked down he noticed his shadow was still moving around. He froze and watched his shadow pacing back and forth as if venting his frustrations. While his shadow paced he felt the anger seeping out of him little by little.
He was astounded. He remembered Merlin talking about teaching his shadows once, but he never imagined it could happen to him. There he was standing there watching his shadow do something else apart from what he was doing.
"Hey, you can stop now. I'm not that angry anymore." As expected his shadow didn't listen to him. Harry rolled his eyes heavenward. "Figures, my shadow would be as stubborn as me."
His shadow stopped and put his hands on his waist. It was something that Hermione would have done when she was annoyed. He could only imagine the expression on his shadows face because he couldn't really see it. He was a bit amused that his shadow had a personality of its own. He thought back at what Merlin had told him about taming his own shadow. He didn't pay much attention to it since he thought it was just too impossible to happen to him. Now he stood facing his shadows and the humor of it all replaced the anger.
"You know, you may not be my shadow. You act too much like my girlfriend Hermione." His shadow pretended to choke himself as if to tell Harry he was appalled that he would compare him to a girl.
"Well, if you're a part of me, then you'd better pay attention and try to listen when I ask you to do something." His shadow was shaking his head. Harry tried desperately to remember what Merlin told him about his own shadow.
"Okay, what if I asked nicely and said please, would you do what I asked then?" His shadow nodded its head up and down. "Then we understand each other, eh?" His shadow nodded again. Harry smiled. It wasn't hard at all he mused.
"Well, I see you've been keeping yourself company," Merlin spoke to him from behind. Harry was startled. He can't believe he let his defenses down.
"I didn't hear you come up," he spoke but a bit harshly.
"I see, you're still a bit angry, eh?"
"You knew didn't you?" Merlin nodded his head. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It wasn't my place nor was it my choice to tell you Harry."
Harry nodded in understanding. He was no longer angry with Merlin because he knew in his heart that he would never betray someone's confidence. He was never really angry with him to begin with. He knew all his anger was focused on his great-grandfather. Although it's simmered down a bit, he could still feel a bit of anger but a lot of hurt and self-pity. He recognized the self-pity, but he couldn't help it.
He could have grown up with his real family, learned about the wizarding world instead of being ignorant of everything when he started school. He probably wouldn't have been locked up in a broom closet under the stairs. He probably wouldn't have had to suffer all of Dudley's abuse or his aunt's or uncle's for that matter. Maybe he would have been a different person if he'd known love.
"Harry, please don't hate your great-grandfather. He was actually doing what he thought was best for everyone involved."
"Well, to him maybe, but what about me? Was it best for me to not know what was in store for me when I grew up? Was it best for me to not know about my real family? Was it best for me to grow up with a family who hates me and what I am? Was it best for me to think I was a freak because I could do things that no one else who was supposedly normal couldn't do? Do you think that was best?"
"I think I should answer that." Dumbledore called out a few feet away.
Harry turned to run away or leap, but Merlin grabbed his arm. Harry looked at him as if he'd been betrayed.
"Give him a chance to explain his side and then you can decide."
"You can't keep me here." But part of him wanted to know the whole truth. He wanted to find out everything about himself once and for all. He no longer wanted any secrets lingering over his head. He was tired of it all.
"I know, I can't. But I wish you would stay and listen." Dumbledore was already near them. "I'll leave you two alone to talk. I'll just be a shout away." Merlin nodded at Dumbledore, but Harry kept his head down. He was looking at his shadow that was actually doing the same things he was doing. He guessed they'd stand united against Dumledore.
"Why don't we sit down, Harry."
"I'd rather stand, thanks," he answered stubbornly.
"Well, I hope you won't mind if I sit down. These old bones aren't what they used to be." Harry did look at him and noticed that he did look older than before. Harry shrugged his shoulders to show his indifference.
"Harry, I wish I could take everything back that's happened to you, but I can't." Harry just stood looking down at him. He stared at him trying to look at similarities between them. Their eyes were different colors; he'd gotten them from his mum. Their bone structure certainly, but he couldn't tell from all the lines that covered Dumbledore's face. Their noses were different, but he probably inherited a bit of him from his mum enough to drown out too many similarities.
Dumbledore looked up at him a bit amused at the fierce concentration on his face. He knew what he was doing, and couldn't help but be amused at his curious nature. Some things were inherited that weren't physical in nature.
"We don't look very much alike. You take more of your mother's looks, but you did inherit the ever-messy hair although mine was brown like Rhia's. I did get Merlin's mom's blue eyes and the nose from him. I think maybe our chin and lips may be the same, but I could be wrong."
Harry sat anyway. He couldn't help it. The thirst to know about his past and true family was a bigger magnet than his anger and hurt.
"So, I guess I should start in the beginning." He told Harry about his fight with Grindewald, how he lost his wife and made the decision that his son would have been safer with the Potters. He even told him about how his father reacted about the same way when he found out about their connection. Harry smiled a bit knowing that his father wasn't at all immune to the family temper.
"However, no one had ever let everything in the room fly around the way you did." Harry was shocked. He wasn't even aware of what was going on around him. He was only aware of what his feelings were. "You know you have Lily's temper. But I think your powers are beyond what Merlin or I can teach you. We can only teach you how to focus your powers, but the rest is up to you."
He noticed that Harry was still quiet. "Harry, I am sorry for everything; everything that's happened to you since I brought you to the Dursely's and everything since then. I was more afraid of losing you. I've lost enough in my life Harry, I didn't want you to be one of them too." Dumbledore's eyes shone with unshed tears. "Please, Harry. You can look inside me and see that what I am telling you is true. Not being able to raise you or to hold you was every bit as painful for me. But I love you dearly, Harry. You are my blood, my only heir."
Harry did turn on his empath powers and what he felt made his heart break. The pain his great-grandfather had gone through was nowhere compared to what he thought he went through. He felt the love and the pride that his great-grandfather had for him and it made him ashamed to have doubted him.
True he suffered under the Durselys but he was alive. He's been loved from afar though he couldn't feel it then. He knew all the protection that was set up for him at the Durselys stemmed from all the love he felt.
"Why couldn't you bind the spell with your blood instead of Aunt Petunias?" he asked still questioning all the intentions and motives.
"Because, it was your mother that put herself in front of you to shield you from harm. It was her blood that was spilled for your life, so it had to be of her blood to seal the spell." Harry nodded. The anger he'd felt was a mere speck in his heart. He couldn't hate his great-grandfather. It would be foolish of him to do so after finding him.
"Why did you wait so long to tell me?"
"Ah, Harry. Fear has many faces. The same way I was afraid to tell you about the prophecy, I was more afraid to tell you about me. I knew you would be angry the way your father and your grandfather were, but I was more afraid that you would not accept me into your life." Harry looked at him. He'd never thought about that. He was just so used of having Dumbledore part of his life; he couldn't imagine his life without him.
"So where do we go from here?" Harry asked. He knew he wouldn't be able to reject him. He wanted too much to be part of a family to reject someone who was actually of his blood.
"I was hoping you'd accept my apologies and try to start over so to speak."
"Well, we can't really start over, sir. I'm not a child anymore and I've already been used to having you as a part of my life. You may not know this, but I'd always wished you were my grandfather since the first time I talked to you in front of the Mirror of Erised." He hadn't thought about that in a while. He must have pushed it out of his mind when he'd finally had the Weasleys and Hermione as his family.
Dumbledore's heart swelled with pride and love. He must have felt the connection then, but he was too afraid to tell him then. He hoped it wasn't too late. "Well, I am your grandfather, so what do you think of that?" Harry beamed and that time the smile reached his eyes. He'd certainly found what he'd longed for most of his life and he couldn't be more happier.
"I think it will be taking some getting used to, but I will certainly try."
"Why don't you give your old granddad a hug to seal the deal, eh?"
Harry was more that happy. He circled his arms around his grandfather's shoulders, he was surprised at how much taller he was compared to his grandfather. He seemed so much bigger when he was small. He felt another set of arms going around behind him. It was Merlin wrapping both of them around his arms. Harry finally felt the love of a real family and not just an adopted one.
A/N: You probably wanted to lengthen the fight with Dumbledore a bit, but I didn't want to. Hope you liked it anyway. Oh and for those who wanted the shadow in, well there you go. I'd almost forgotten about it.
I also wanted to answer "The Counter": Romance doesn't necessarily have to be about sex all the time. If people want to write about it's only because a lot more people want to read about it. It's called supply and demand and if you were a true counter of numbers then maybe you should start a statistical count on how many times a story category gets read. You will find that a lot of people are drawn to Romance/Action/Adventure combined. People who write the stories do have a life. I might ask about someone who just counts things. That is telling me you need a life. Just because a story has a main category of Romance doesn't mean it's all about the people getting it on, why don't you try reading the whole story before you pass judgment. Haven't you heard of don't judge a book by its cover? Well in this case don't just a fic by the category it is in. Reading and Writing are purely for pleasure, an escape from the real world that tends to forget about romance. It's a way to express oneself in a nonviolent way, but through words and imagination. If you lack that, then get one. Thank you…………..