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Harry Potter and the Silent Guardian : Ch. 124
🕑 Added 2024-05-12 22:05:52 +0000 UTCChapter 124: "Charles and Dumbledore"
The door to the Headmaster's office burst open, and Charles, followed closely by Ron, hurried into the room.
"Good evening, Charley," Dumbledore greeted them with a warm smile. "What brings you to the Headmaster's office at this hour? And how on earth did you manage to find your way inside my office?"
Charles, catching his breath, replied, "I missed you, Grandpa Dumbledore. Finding your office was quite an adventure. We got lost and had to ask the prefects for directions. The prefect left us at the gargoyle but didn't know the password."
"And how did you manage to get in?" asked Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.
Charles couldn't help but puff up a little with pride as he responded, "We guessed it! Dad once told me that you like to use candy names for passwords. So, Ron and I yelled out every candy name we knew until one finally worked!"
Dumbledore laughed heartily at this. "Well done, indeed! It appears I might need to rethink my password strategy. Here, take some lemon drops as a prize for your ingenuity."
Charles's face lit up with joy as he and Ron each took a lemon drop. Dumbledore also picked one for himself, relishing the sweet moment of connection with the young students.
Dumbledore sensing there was more to the visit asked, "So, Charley, why have you come to visit me this evening? I suspect there's more on your mind than just missing me. Has someone bullied you?"
Charles looked a bit uncomfortable as he replied, "You always see right through me, Grandpa. It's Harry... he's been really mean to Mum and now he's done the same to me. He made Mum cry and he won't say sorry. He even used magic against us in the corridor today, which is surely against the rules. I think he should be punished for that."
Dumbledore was quite surprised by this accusation. His observations of Harry during the boy's time at Hogwarts had always shown him to be well-mannered and calm, never one to stir trouble.
"Really? That's quite serious," Dumbledore said softly. "Please, tell me everything. How exactly did Harry bully Lily and you? I want to understand the whole situation so I can help address it properly."
Charles then detailed the entire sequence of events, starting from the incident at Gringotts to the confrontation that had just occurred in the corridor near the castle exit.
Dumbledore listened carefully, his expression turning more contemplative as Charles spoke.
Dumbledore understood that the rift between Harry and his parents showed no signs of healing. The broken relationship was a direct result of his own decisions or lack thereof, and Dumbledore felt a deep regret about it. Dumbledore also knew that despite the pleas of Lily and James for forgiveness, Harry remained distant and unresponsive.
Dumbledore's own inquiries had revealed that Harry was now part of a happy family and seemingly had no need for the parents who had once left him behind.
Dumbledore didn't know how to help fix the broken relationship in the Potter family. He had always struggled with mending relationships, as seen with the strained ties he had with his own brother.
Reflecting on the recent confrontation between Charles and Harry, Dumbledore found it hard to place blame on either side. Charles was trying to defend his mother's honor, seeking an apology from Harry. Harry, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with the Potters and thus chose to avoid any confrontation.
Yet, what truly caught Dumbledore off-guard was Harry's use of a silent disarming spell.
Dumbledore was well aware of Harry's academic excellence, as his grades and teacher comments had consistently been impressive. However, the ease with which Harry had performed a wandless disarming spell—a skill typically mastered at NEWT level—suggested that his talents were even greater than he had demonstrated at school. It was clear that Arcturus Black had provided Harry with exceptional training.
This newfound understanding deepened Dumbledore's regret over his past decision to leave Harry in the muggle world, severing his ties with his family. Harry could have been a formidable ally for the light side, potentially aiding Charles in future conflicts against Voldemort.
Now, Dumbledore was concerned about Harry's loyalties. Being raised and trained by Lord Black of the Dark-leaning Black family, Dumbledore was sure that Harry had developed a strong resentment towards him and his biological parents, raising fears that he might be drawn towards darker paths.
Determined to rectify the situation if possible, Dumbledore resolved to keep a closer watch on Harry and, if the opportunity arose, to guide him back towards the light.
As Charles looked at Dumbledore, hoping for some help in punishing Harry, Dumbledore spoke with a gentle firmness, "I'm sorry, Charley. You were the first to draw your wand, and Harry only disarmed you in self-defense. It was a harmless action, and I can't punish him for that. If I did, I'd have the Department of Magical Law Enforcement questioning my actions, especially given Harry's connections to Sirius and Amelia."
Charles's face fell, his disappointment clear. Dumbledore felt a pang of sympathy but knew he couldn't act unfairly just to make Charles feel better.
Charles nodded, a bit sullenly, "I understand, Grandpa. I'll find my own way to make Harry understand."
Dumbledore cautioned him gently, "Be careful, Charley. Harry is quite skilled in magic, more than you might expect."
Charles thought out loud, "Maybe I should get some help from the older students. I bet Fred and George would join me in a prank on Harry. That might just push him to write that apology."
Ron chimed in eagerly, "Oh, they'd love that! Four against one, your brother won't stand a chance, Charley!"
Dumbledore felt a wave of concern at their words. Considering Harry's demonstrated skills, he doubted that even the Weasley twins could outmatch him. He worried that any pranks might only worsen the situation.
"No pranks and certainly no violence," Dumbledore advised firmly. "Understanding and patience can often solve problems better than conflict. Remember, violence is never the solution. Talk to Harry, try to see things from each other's perspective. Let love guide your actions."
Charles seemed to ponder this for a moment, then responded, "Dad always said pranks were the best way to make people see your point, but maybe I'll try your way too. Perhaps there's a way to reach him without resorting to tricks."
Disappointed that he couldn't take immediate action against Harry as he had hoped, especially after Ron had suggested they could get Harry in trouble for using magic in the corridors, Charles felt let down.
"Alright, Grandpa, I guess it's goodnight then. I'll head back now. Good night," Charles said, not hiding his disappointment as he prepared to leave Dumbledore's office.
