Harriet Potter

The complete darkness surrounded and wound me tightly. I couldn't move, panicked, and there was nothing but suffocation in my senses.And then it all ended abruptly before the cries for help or screams overflowed, and I immediately opened my eyes and gasped, like I'd just woken up from a nightmare that never stopped.

That's why, despite only doing it twice, I'm pretty sure I'm going to hate Apparition.

After I was able to breathe smoothly, I noticed that the wind flowing around me had taken on a rural atmosphere, and the moonlight piercing through the clouds dimly outlined the silhouettes of buildings not far away that were so distinct that they couldn't be mistaken.For a moment I was almost amazed - my heart beat in such a jubilant way after everything just because of seeing The Burrow.

A tugging sensation came to my side, and I realized that I had already taken a step in the direction of the Burrow, and hadn't let go of Dumbledore's arm.He responded with a smile of understanding to my urgency and embarrassment, and took the lead in walking towards the strangely crooked three-story building.Even though our height gap is no longer as great as it used to be, he is still very tall to me, and the halo refracted by the long silver-white hair seems to emanate from his body.I followed behind him, and I didn't know how many times I had the illusion that I was watching a god.

But that only lasted for a moment, and this time it wasn't because of a well-timed smile and one-liner—he's really good at dispelling distance—but because an image from half a month ago flashed through my mind.

Dumbledore sat at the other end of the table, fingertips together, a tear running down his cheek and into his long silver whisker.

It's not that Dumbledore isn't normally human, I've seen him tell me about love magic before with sadness and sympathy, a hearty laugh at my stupidity, and rage in his eyes while protecting his students Burn, I actually probably know more about Dumbledore than all the students in school.But those outpourings of emotion never left as deep a mark in my heart as that teardrop.

"If you have no objection, Harriet," began Dumbledore as we passed through the Burrow gates, "I wanted to say something to you before we parted that I didn't want anyone else to hear. Maybe it's in there?"

I snapped back to my senses and nodded, following him into the dilapidated broom shed outside the house, hoping without much expectation that he didn't see my guilt.

As soon as he entered the small space covered with spiders, the atmosphere changed like the smell in the air.I've experienced enough to know it's "must talk with Dumbledore" time without having to meet his eyes, and feel tempted to sigh or run away because of it.But Dumbledore always has a way of getting what he wants, and I'm tired of being pulled into something, whether it's a conversation or a fight or something.

"Harriet, I hope you'll forgive me for bringing up the subject, but you seem to have been doing well after what has happened at the Ministry. I'm very happy about it, and a little proud of it. Allow me to say, I Think Sirius would be proud of you, too."

Oh sure, he had to mention that in the first place.I swallowed, feeling as if the voice had abandoned me.

"It's cruel," said Dumbledore mildly. "You and Sirius were only together for such a short time. You were supposed to have many happy times together, and it's a sad ending."

I'm staring at a fat spider crawling up his hat, I can't talk about that.

I should just rush out and knock on the Burrow door and dive right in behind Mrs. Weasley, and then I can sleep with the peace of mind that maybe there will be no nightmares in my cozy little bed, and she'll make all those damned horrific, absurd The talk was all packed and kicked down the hill.Yet this broom shed, not much bigger than a closet, had witnessed yet another triumph of the great Albus Dumbledore, and there was something about him that made me even believe he could see me for the previous two weeks— Lying on the Dursleys' bed almost from morning to night, neither eating nor drinking, staring at the misty windows, filled with the hollowness and chill left by a dementor.

Sometimes I wonder if Dumbledore can emit spores or smells that make people feel understood and comforted like some plants introduced by Professor Sprout, so no one can refuse him.

"It's hard to believe he's never writing to me again." That was the only truth I could admit, so I continued before he offered any more excruciating reassurance, "But I'm At home, I knew I couldn't shut myself up, and I couldn't—I couldn't give up on myself. Surely Sirius wouldn't like that, would he? And life is too short... Look at Mrs. Burns, look at Emmeline Wan Si... the next one might be me, right? If it is really my turn," I looked directly at Dumbledore's blue eyes that gleamed in the light of the wand, and heard the sound of blood rushing to the eardrums, "I Definitely kill as many Death Eaters as possible. If possible, with Voldemort."

"Well said, as expected of your parents' daughter, Sirius' goddaughter!" Dumbledore may have paused briefly before speaking, and he patted me on the back approvingly. "I'm going to take my hat off to you - I'd love to, but I'm afraid I'll get you covered in spiders."

After entering Hogwarts, I had to chat alone with Dumbledore several times a year, but it was the first time to discuss plans for the new school year.In any case, the impassioned speech just now made the following conversation a lot easier.We then talked about that prophecy again, and I was rather surprised and unhappy when Dumbledore said he wanted me to tell Ron and Hermione about it, but I'll try to do so tomorrow or whatever.Plus the news that he will be teaching me alone this year somehow makes my heart seem to sink back into the right place, where I hadn't even noticed it was levitating until now.

It wasn't until it became apparent that Dumbledore wasn't going to reveal any more information that I realized I had to get out that thought I'd been hammering away for a fortnight.

"If I take lessons with you, there's no need to... I mean, you'll teach me Occlumency, won't you?"

Dumbledore's jaw clenched, and the light reflected on the half-moon glasses slid with it.

"No," said he, "I'm afraid I don't have the time and energy to do so, Harriet."

It wasn't the answer I was expecting: "I thought you said shutting down my brain was the most important thing."

"That was only at the time. Now, I have every reason to believe that he won't invade your brain again. Remember what I said at the end of the semester? You..."

"Love protected me." I cut him off abruptly, "cuteness didn't stop anyone else from dying, neither my parents nor..." I swallowed back the lump in my throat, "...Sirius. "

There was a moment's silence in the broom shed.

"I have to shut down my brain," I said, "I trust your judgment, sir. But that doesn't mean there won't be some... emergencies that lead to Voldemort deciding to invade my brain again and take control of me. To It may be too late to prepare by then."

Dumbledore's piercing blue eyes surveyed me from above their lenses, giving me the illusion, as always, that I was being X-rayed.

"It seems you've made up your mind," he said, "but as I said before..."

"If it can't be you, Professor Snape… can continue his course - I mean, if he has the time." I said quickly, because just thinking about it left me empty Stomach twisted into a ball. "I will cooperate with his teaching and complete the tasks assigned by him. I promise."

Whether it was my words or my repeated interruptions, Dumbledore looked rather surprised, and did not answer immediately after the moment had passed.

Questions immediately popped up in my mind.Was Snape going to be on some special mission that he couldn't tell me directly?Had Dumbledore stopped trusting me so he didn't want to risk my access to Snape's brain?Still... I remembered the previous topic, maybe Dumbledore was going to tell me something.

Then the train of thought went in the usual direction so quickly that I didn't have time to stop it - maybe Snape was showing signs of being unreliable, so Dumbledore didn't want him to know what I was about to learn.

"I'll ask Professor Snape's opinion." Just when I was about to forget about the proposal just now, Dumbledore seemed to have made the final decision. "I'm glad you tried to trust him, Harriet. I know it's not easy for you."

"It can't be any worse." I muttered, not sure if that was what I wanted.

Dumbledore smiled indulgently.

"I'm sure you'll find you're going to have a very busy school year, Harriet. Well, there are two more things to do before we part. First, I hope that from now on you'll keep your invisibility cloak on you at all times, Even at Hogwarts. Just in case, understand?"

I nodded.

"Furthermore, while you lived here, the Burrow was protected by the tightest security the Ministry of Magic could provide. These measures caused a degree of inconvenience to Arthur and Molly - for example, all their mail had to be It can only be delivered after being inspected by the Ministry. But they don't mind at all, they only care about your safety. But if you risk doing something wrong while living with them, you will be very sorry for them."

His tone became a little stern, and I straightened up all of a sudden and hastened to say that I fully understood.

"That's good," Dumbledore finished, pushing open the door of the broom shed and going out into the yard. "I saw the lights in the kitchen. Let's give Molly a quick chance to lament how thin you are."