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Tweak says, "They have matching aprons."

Harry Potter (ab_harry) wrote in hogwarts_dawn,
@ 2021-04-09 11:36:00

Entry tags:

character: albus dumbledore, character: harry potter

RP: Harry/Albus
Who: Harry/Albus
When: morning 9 April
Where: 7th floor
What: they tried to get back to normal but it's not working

Any hope that most people would work was long gone. Luckily the most important things were commerce and treasure and Lucius and Kirley looked relatively untouched by what had happened. Or more accurately they had less people to deal with. Harry was starting to believe that his future self drank so much just because of the sheer number of Potters and Weasleys around. Drinking was probably the only way not to be around people.

There was another person who was a loner: Albus Dumbledore. Harry remembered how people viewed him as friendly and approachable, but the man had always kept everyone at arm's length. It wasn't any different now. Harry had always guessed why, but now he truly knew. Seeing him on the seventh floor, going toward the Wizengamot room, Harry intercepted him. "Care to take a walk with me?" he asked, and waiting for the other man to follow him.

Harry walked toward his office, because a little privacy was best in this situation. "Your older self told me a lot of the things you've experienced, he started as they stepped inside. Harry closed the door and gestured toward one of the chairs. "I never betrayed his secrets and I won't betray yours. I knew about Ariana and Grindelwald. What you didn't tell me, Abe did."

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oddmenttweak
2021-04-09 09:09 pm UTC (link)

Albus had been finding things to keep himself busy. It hadn't been hard; he'd had a little actual work to do, but then he'd killed a few hours burying himself in his own research. But a lot of that needed time to simmer, so he'd made his way up the stairs to the seventh floor, deciding to see if Mr Black needed another set of hands.

He hadn't quite expected to be intercepted by Mr Potter on his way, even if they had mentioned it the day before. Albus hesitated. He certainly didn't lack the confidence to refuse the invitation if he was so inclined, but he knew the conversation needed to be had. So, with a reluctance he hoped he managed to keep under wraps, he followed the other wizard down the hall.

The young professor stepped into the office, taking the offered seat with a nod of thanks. He felt extremely uncomfortable all of a sudden. Albus was a private man - he'd had to be, back home. It was both a habit and a necessity. The idea that this man knew... well, everything, was extremely unsettling. If he was honest, it made the skin on the back of his neck prickle.

"I see," he replied, carefully. He was surprised Aberforth had deigned to speak about him to anyone. Perhaps his brother, and their relationship, had softened over time. As for the rest.... Well, he knew that a lot of that information rested between pages in the library, but there was a different note to it, knowing how Harry had experienced it over the last week.

"Well, thank you for your discretion." He paused, carefully considering his next sentence. "I hope the week hasn't caused too much of a headache for you."

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ab_harry
2021-04-09 09:21 pm UTC (link)

Harry wasn't surprised by the answer. "You know I used to get so upset when I thought about something of the things you kept from people. Through the years, there were details that might have saved a life or made things easier. I keep thinking 'How dare he keep that from us?' I realized just how important it was that you kept those secrets never knowing who could get that information."

He leaned back. "I had seen some of those memories in a pensieve, you had shown them to me, so they were as real as the memories I had. That made it easier."

He took a moment, thinking about what he was going to say next, but decided that he had no time or inclination for diplomacy. "At this point in your life, you know less than me about your own life. You're not the great legilimens, you can become and you're not going around reading minds and if you are, stop. On the other hand, you can still become that person. So whatever you need, whatever help I can give you or if you just want to talk about what happened with your sister- I'm here okay? You don't have to do it alone. It's one of the things you learned watching me and my two friends. Hopefully you don't have to get past a hundred to figure that one out."

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oddmenttweak
2021-04-10 08:51 pm UTC (link)

A part of Albus wondered why he would have shown this man - or boy, as he would have been back then - any of his memories. He supposed there was have been a reason, buried somewhere in that grey old head of his, although he could not think of it. Perhaps that wasn't a bad thing.

"That version of my life," he found himself correcting Harry, his tone quiet but firm. "You know more about that version of myself. My future here is likely to lead me down a different path." It seemed unlikely he would go on to achieve the same things in this society, after all. This world was a very different place to the one he had left behind all those weeks ago.

Still, he supposed he appreciated the sentiment. Even if the mention of his sister caused some distant shutter to come crashing down in the back of his mind. Quickly, before anything too hideous could worm its way to the forefront.

"But thank you for the offer," he continued, carefully. "I'll keep it in mind."

He supposed he could very easily just get up and go, now that Harry had said his piece. Whatever his thoughts on accepting the other man's help, Albus did believe that he would keep his memories to himself. If he was honest, being in the presence of someone who had that experience was still not sitting right with him.

But, he did have questions.

"Did you manage to take a look at my work over the week?"

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ab_harry
2021-04-10 08:57 pm UTC (link)

"That is correct," he said, smiling. "And I do hope that you don't go down the same path, but the world out there will still think that you are the one who made certain discoveries, even though you still haven't. Once we open up, the world will celebrate Dumbledore's return. I might have been famous in this country, but you saved Europe from Grindelwald. You're the one who went against the greatest Dark Wizard they had seen. You'll have all the accolades without any of the sacrifices."

He sighed. "I know how much that scared you. Taking over the world. It was what you wanted. You could probably do it now. They probably would let you," he said, with a snort, because in the end, the best take overs were the ones that people handed you.

"Oh Merlin no. I'm not you and I'm not as brilliant as you are. I had your memories, but not your intelligence or your ability to sit down and do the work. Part of me said that I was supposed to, but after looking at it for five minutes, I gave up," he admitted. "You're lucky. I probably would have screwed it up."

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oddmenttweak
2021-04-11 06:37 am UTC (link)

Albus didn't answer for a moment, instead fixing the younger Wizard with a intent stare and a weak frown. He supposed there might be some truth to that, although the idea of him defeating Gellert still seemed faintly ridiculous. No matter how many times his name cropped up, Albus struggled to picture his old friend as anything but a boy in Godrics Hollow.

Well, a part of him thought. If the world decided to hold him to the older Dumbledore's achievements, he would simply have to outshine him with some all of his own.

But wasn't it that kind of thinking that had caused him trouble in the first place? As much as Albus struggled with the idea of turning into his older self - isolated and alone - any alternative didn't seem much better.

"I'm more than happy teaching," he finally said, shrugging one shoulder gently. "Hogwarts is my home. Any other work I do is simply.. curiosity. And to fill the hours, I suppose."

Albus sent Harry a pleasant smile. "Oh, I doubt that. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes does wonders."

He felt relieved at his answer. At least that area of his life remained his own. It had felt important to know how far the invasion had gone. "It's rather aimless at the moment anyway," he added, casting his mind over to his new study, where several experiments were brewing. "We'll have to see if it goes anywhere. I'm sure you remember."

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ab_harry
2021-04-11 04:35 pm UTC (link)

Harry chuckled. "Everyone would agree that Hogwarts is your home. I think for many you and the school have become synonyms. Hopefully, we'll be able to bring more and more students back here. I know it'll be a struggle, trying to teach multiple subjects at once, but eventually Hogwarts will be back to what it once was. Hopefully without the killings." That little improvement needed to happen.

"Sorry, if you wanted a new set of eyes, you'll have to speak to some of the people we have here. I was the wrong person to get your memories if you wanted any advancement in your work." If Hermione had received his memories, she'd have been brilliant. "I remember your interest and excitement. The actual work? It was weird, because my memories said that I was supposed to know what I was doing, but I still wasn't getting it. I guess that's why I avoided it."

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oddmenttweak
2021-04-13 09:19 am UTC (link)

Albus was much happier talking about the school than any other subject they'd broached so far. His shoulders relaxed a little, and he settled back a bit further in his chair. "I hope it won't be too difficult, at least to start," he smiled. "Although it rather depends on how adept the students are when they arrive... they've been left to their own devices up until now, so it will be interesting to see what they can do."

Albus wondered if he might have used Harry's attempts at his work to gain a little insight into the way the castle had invaded their heads, or at least understand their new minister better. Perhaps it would have been enlightening. Still, it was not meant to be. This was likely the closest to that he would get.

"I'm sure that would have been frustrating." He would have found it so, at any rate. Albus leaned forward in his chair a little, finding himself drawn in by the mystery of the thing. "Forgive me if this isn't something you'd know, but have you heard of this kind of magic in your time? Switching memories and so forth?"

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ab_harry
2021-04-13 08:02 pm UTC (link)

"That's good. I'm sure those Muggleborns will be grateful for the help, especially the older one. I know I got to eleven thinking that there was something wrong with me. I can't even imagine what it must be like to get to nineteen not knowing about magic." He would leave it to Snape and Dumbledore to deal with the logistics.

Harry nodded. "It was, but then I gave up pretty early." He had never been one for the theoretical stuff. The things he had learned were practical examples in class. Those he just picked up, and then that required study- his occlumency lessons said it all. "Nothing to forgive and no there's no such thing. Trust me if there had been, I'd have heard about it, even if I had no clue what to do with it." DoM or not, Harry had a way to learn things, especially since the Ministry was the biggest rumor mill around. "I'm sorry that I can't give you information. I know how much you like to learn. You should speak with Padma. I don't know how much she could tell you but she's very bright and knowledgeable."

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oddmenttweak
2021-04-14 06:41 pm UTC (link)

Albus shook his head, a few auburn strands falling across his forehead. "It's quite alright. I was just curious in case I had missed something, so to speak."

It was mildly annoying, being over a century behind the majority of the people here. Albus was not used to it. As much as he might try and catch up, he supposed he had to accept that he would need to use other people's knowledge if he didn't want to spend half his life in the library. Still, it was a lonely existence, made lonelier by the loss of Cassandra. His stomach lurched unpleasantly.

"I'll get in touch with her, thank you." Albus absently reached up, rubbing the ridge of broken bone in his nose as he turned his thoughts stubbornly away from his old friend, instead choosing to muse out loud. "It just strikes me as odd that the castle is capable of performing magic that requires a level of consideration. Choosing who to bring here, exchanging memories... you'd expect it to be more random."

Shaking his head, he pulled himself back to the room. He was suddenly full of questions and eager to find a quill and parchment. "At any rate, I appreciate your time, Mr Potter. Is there anything else you need from me?"

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ab_harry
2021-04-14 08:58 pm UTC (link)

"Sorry," he said with a shrug, although Dumbledore was lucky that he hadn't put his hands on his work. He probably would have ruined everything.

"I have no idea what the castle can and can't do. Hogwarts has always had a mind of its own. Until now, it used to to reshape the castle, but maybe, it can reshape reality in a way." And wasn't that a scary idea?

He got up. "No, nothing else, but Professor, you don't have to do this alone. Not this time. There are plenty of people who would like to get to know you." And with that, Harry walked Dumbledore out. It was time to deal with the rest of his day.

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