"Minerva, as I was just saying, if you wouldn't mind taking Mr. Malfoy to the Hospital Wing. Come along, Harry, let's go have a chat in my office."
Harry hoisted Humphrey onto his shoulder and followed Dumbledore out of the Trophy Room.
As they reached the sixth floor, hurried footsteps echoed up the staircase.
A figure rushed towards Harry and wrapped him in a tight hug – it was Hermione.
"Harry! Fred and George said you were fighting with Snape! I was so worried about you!"
Dumbledore reached out and took Humphrey, then peered down at its markings, as if it were a rare specimen.
Harry hugged Hermione back, patting her on the back and murmuring reassurances.
"Phew, sorry, Professor Dumbledore, she ran so fast I really couldn't keep up."
Percy, panting, trailed behind them. He was on prefect duty tonight, patrolling the corridors. He looked quite surprised at the scene before him: Hermione and Harry embracing, and Dumbledore carrying a three-headed snake.
"Mr. Weasley, you've arrived just in time. If you wouldn't mind heading to the Trophy Room on the fourth floor and finding Professor McGonagall, she'll need your assistance."
Percy immediately puffed out his chest and strutted off downstairs with an air of importance.
The moment Percy spoke, Hermione tried to pull away from Harry, but his grip was too strong; she couldn't break free.
"Harry, Miss Granger is about to be squeezed to death; her face is quite red," Dumbledore chuckled playfully. Then he turned to Hermione and added, "Miss Granger, may I call you Hermione? Perhaps you'd care to join Harry in my office?"
Inside the Headmaster's office, all three were now seated. Dumbledore tapped the table, and three steaming cups of hot tea appeared.
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said, taking a sip of her tea.
Harry, however, didn't reach for his tea. Instead, he watched Dumbledore warily.
"Don't worry, it's just ordinary tea," Dumbledore said with a sigh.
Hermione, a moment later, put down her tea, her eyes wide as she looked at Dumbledore.
"I trust you..." Harry suddenly picked up his tea and took a sip, then continued, "I looked up some things in the library. Great wizards like yourself usually know Legilimency, so I trust you."
"I appreciate your trust immensely, but I recall that books on Legilimency are generally found in the Restricted Section?"
Harry remained silent, instead examining a stone on the bookshelf.
"Harry! You said you only went to the library with Hagrid this afternoon to look up information on Norwegian Ridgebacks! You made Hagrid take you into the Restricted Section?!" Hermione turned, glaring furiously.
Harry, however, gave her an exasperated look, and Hermione suddenly realized what she'd just said.
"Oh no, Professor Dumbledore, I wasn't talking about a dragon egg, it was D-egg—"
"It seems Hagrid has acquired a Norwegian Ridgeback egg, but that's not what we're here to discuss."
Hermione fell silent, and Harry began to explain. "Strictly speaking, I didn't go in voluntarily. Hagrid couldn't find the information, and Madam Pince happened to be in the loo, so I just went in to help."
"Professor, you wouldn't punish Harry for this, would you?" Hermione suddenly interjected.
"If Harry only looked at Legilimency, then no, I won't punish him."
Hermione let out a sigh of relief.
"I will be checking the Restricted Section to confirm which books Harry consulted," Dumbledore added.
Hermione's breath hitched again.
Hermione was about to argue for Harry once more, but she was quickly captivated by the conversation that followed.
"Harry, are you willing to tell me what happened tonight now?"
"..."
After Dumbledore understood the full story, he asked again, somewhat disbelievingly. "So, you and Snape got into a fight for that reason? And you burned down the Trophy Room?"
Harry nodded.
"Harry, I need you to promise me you won't seek personal vengeance in such a way again. Hermione, would you mind keeping an eye on Harry for me?"
"Professor Dumbledore, are you saying it's alright to take revenge openly, then?"
"Professor, don't listen to Harry's nonsense, I'll keep him in line!" Hermione quickly assured him.
Feeling a painful twist in his side, Harry was forced to nod in agreement.
Dumbledore felt a wave of weariness wash over him.
Suddenly, Humphrey on the floor stirred.
"Uh, am I not dead?"
"Is this hell? It feels so warm."
"Two idiots."
Dumbledore turned to Harry and said, "I nearly forgot about this Runespoor."
"Harry, I must say, you're incredibly daring. Runespoors are 4X-rated creatures; the Ministry of Magic strictly forbids private ownership."
Harry had to explain to Dumbledore how he'd acquired Humphrey.
"You went to Knockturn Alley yourself?"
Dumbledore couldn't believe Harry would be so reckless; he'd assumed Hagrid had bought it for him.
"Those people couldn't beat me. None of them were as good as Snape."
"And do your dormmates know there's a Runespoor in the dormitory?"
"Professor, you know about my special circumstances. Humphrey won't bite anyone." Harry said nonchalantly, but quickly, a hand found his waist, and his expression twisted.
"Professor Dumbledore, Harry keeps it in his suitcase, and only lets it out when we go to the Forbidden Forest!" Hermione interjected quickly.
"If parents found out there was a Runespoor in the school, they'd be writing complaint letters like mad," Dumbledore sighed.
"But you're here, aren't you? You're the greatest wizard of the century, you can handle the parents'—" Hermione clapped a hand over Harry's mouth.
Dumbledore, too tired to speak further, waved his hand, dismissing them to go to bed.
At 4 AM, Dumbledore sat wearily in his office.
Click, the Headmaster's office door opened, and Snape strode in.
"Ah, Severus, I've been expecting you."
Dumbledore offered him a cup of tea, but Snape merely looked at it with distaste.
"Dumbledore, to be brief, Potter's magic is abnormal. It's stronger than many seventh-year students'!"
"Don't rush, Severus, take your time," Dumbledore said, slowly sipping his tea.
"And he can speak Parseltongue!"
Dumbledore pulled out a box of Cockroach Clusters and began eating them.
"Draco used Serpensortia in front of him once, and he learned it immediately!"
Fawkes was stirred awake, and Dumbledore gently stroked his head to soothe him.
"Bang! Draco has been practicing Serpensortia for ages, and he's still affected by dark magic, but Potter mastered the spell in one go!" Snape exclaimed, agitated, pounding the table with each word.
Dumbledore sighed, finally looking up at Snape.
"Dumbledore, Potter can speak Parseltongue, has immense power, and easily controls dark magic. You know this reminds me of—"
"Harry is not Tom," Dumbledore said calmly.
"What exactly happened that night in Godric's Hollow?!"
"It's not time for you to know yet."
"Albus Dumbledore!!"
Harry's Diary, Part One: Lily's Love
July 26, 2025, 4:19:09 AM - By Sunset Confession
June 1986
June 8, 1986, Cloudy
Oh, it was just my luck today. Those Gallagher brothers were at it again, picking on me. They really gave me a shiner, and I stumbled home crying, but Aunt Petunia just didn't seem to care.
June 12, 1986, Cloudy
I think they really did a number on my eyes, actually. I'm starting to notice that things are getting blurry. I tried to tell Aunt Petunia, but she just scoffed and said kids can't get poor eyesight.
June 18, 1986, Sunny
Well, I managed to knock over a frying pan again today, which landed me in my cupboard prison thanks to Aunt Petunia. But I'm not really all that sad, because she finally bought me some spectacles! They're second-hand, of course, but I'm still chuffed to have them.
June 23, 1986, Cloudy
It's Dudley's birthday today. And, wouldn't you know it, Aunt Petunia locked me in the cupboard again. I can hear them laughing and playing outside, and I just wish I could join in. I even had a present for Dudley...
July 1, 1986, Cloudy
Dudley hit me again today. His excuse was he was "bored," but I know the real reason. He's just jealous that I have these nice green eyes that make lots of girls want to play with me.
July 3, 1986, Cloudy
Dudley brought his mates along to beat me up today, all because I wouldn't grow my hair long to hide my face.
July 10, 1986, Cloudy
It's been ages since I've had a proper meal. Dudley pretty much hoovers up 60% of the food at the table. Aunt Petunia doesn't seem to grasp that I'm growing too; she's still giving me portions meant for a baby. I've tried to tell her, but she just acts like she can't hear a word I say.
July 26, 1986, Cloudy
I was washing dishes in the kitchen when this awful pain shot through my head. It was so bad I dropped a bowl, and Uncle Vernon promptly gave me a smack.
July 29, 1986, Cloudy
My head's just getting worse and worse. I'm pretty sure Dudley and those Gallagher brothers have knocked something loose in there.
July 30, 1986, Cloudy
Tomorrow's my birthday, and no one cares, not even me. Oh, and good news: my head doesn't ache anymore, now it's just my scar that's throbbing.
July 31, 1986, Sunny
Woke up this morning, and my scar doesn't hurt! Maybe this is the universe's birthday present to me! Today, those Gallagher brothers were chasing me again, but then I suddenly... no, I actually apparated across the river! Got away from them for good!
August 2, 1986, Sunny
I'm starting to think I've awakened some kind of mind power, like those superheroes in Jessica's comic books. But I'm definitely not a superhero, because I used my "mind power" to sneak some of Mrs. Figg's cat food. And for the first time in ages, I'm finally full.