kbinnz - Harry's New Home

Unconsciously, his hand went to his still-tingling rear and gave it a careful rub. Umbridge's eye followed the movement, and her face lit up in a satisfied smile. She glanced rather dismissively at Dumbledore. "Well, whatever your opinion may be, Headmaster, it's obvious there are other professors in the school who feel as I do." She beamed at Snape before turning a nasty smile on Harry. "Mr Potter, I can see that you have been appropriately punished for your actions. A good swishing perhaps?"

Harry had no idea what she was talking about, but he wasn't about to argue with a faculty member in front of the headmaster. He ducked his head and mumbled something which Umbridge blithely took as agreement. "I am so happy to find like-minded members of the faculty, Professor Snape," she simpered, heading for the door. "I'm sure that between us we can enforce standards of proper behavior here."

Snape managed not to cast an Unforgiveable as she fluttered her eyelashes at him then exited the room. He turned back to where Harry was still studying the floor and rubbing his backside while Albus watched him sadly.

"While I am sure you did not in fact use a cane," Albus said to the Potion Master, his voice heavy with disappointment, "I'm nevertheless dismayed that you found it necessary to punish Harry in such a fashion. It is true that cheating is a despicable offense, but young boys often do foolish things."

Harry's heart sped up. Did the headmaster just say that he was upset that his da didn't use a cane on him? He edged closer to Snape, just in case the headmaster decided to hex him the way Remus said some Wizarding parents did.

Snape noticed Harry's movement and sighed. Obviously his earlier words hadn't been enough to convince the brat. "Headmaster, Potter was not punished for cheating, because despite what that bтАУ" he remembered the boy's presence in the nick of time " тАУ witch may have told you, he did not cheat."

Harry moved closer still. Ooooh, here it came. The headmaster wasn't going to like being told he was wrong. He sneaked a look. Yup. The headmaster was frowning.

"But if that is true, Severus, then why is it apparent that Harry isтАж uncomfortable?"

"He was not punished for the erroneous charge of cheating, Headmaster, but he did receive a smacking for intending to risk his life with a disobedient and foolish plan to run away, first to camp in the Forbidden Forest and then to live rough on the streets of London."

Harry colored. Okay, it sounded really stupid if you phrased it like that.

Albus opened and closed his mouth a few times before he managed to ask, "To live in тАУ and then to go to тАУ but why? Why would Harry want to do such a thing?" Abruptly his eyebrows drew together in a fearsome frown. "Was he that frightened of your reaction, Severus?"

Snape took a deep breath. This was not going to be pleasant: Albus was going to be devastated. "No, Headmaster. He was that frightened of your reaction. Professor Umbridge convinced him that you would expel him based on those ludicrous charges, and he feared that once you had done that, you would return him to the Dursleys. He preferred to face acromantulas and pederasts than to return to that household."

And now Snape saw what he had never even imagined. The great and wise and all-knowing Albus Dumbledore was absolutely gobsmacked. "Harry feared ME?" he demanded, his hands disbelievingly coming up to point at his own chest.

In response, Severus just glanced down at the boy who was now more or less hiding behind him. Harry's body languge spoke volumes.

Albus' gaze darted wildly around the room, from the dishes of lemon drops to his shelves of fascinating gizmos to Fawkes regarding him sadly from his perch. It was as if he were trying to reassure himself that he, Albus Dumbledore, acclaimed wizard and well-known doting old coot, could not possibly be thought of as a scary and cruel tyrant. Didn't students come to him to avoid punishment and scoldings? How could Harry Potter, the child he most loved and worried about, possibly fear him?

"But why would he?" he finally managed to make his voice work. "Did you say something to тАУ" Dumbledore broke off and flushed. "I apologize. That was uncalled for."

Snape inclined his head, silently accepting the apology. "Headmaster, the boy is not a dunce. He is well aware that you were responsible for his placement after his parents were killed, and that hardly gave him reason to trust your judgment. Hearing how the Wizengamot, under your leadership, declined to become involved when his godfather was unjustly accused of mass murder further eroded any confidence in your beneficence." He put one hand on the boy's shoulder and gently drew him forward. "Professor Umbridge built upon that fear by promising that you would expel him for cheating. Not unreasonably, he assumed this meant that you would return him to his pre-Hogwarts home тАУ the home you had chosen for him and left him in for all those years."

Harry had resisted his da's pull at first, but Snape would not be denied, and he was unwillingly guided from his place of refuge to stand in front of the Headmaster. He kept his eyes on the floor, the way Uncle Vernon always preferred, though he didn't realize he had ducked his head and hunched his shoulders as if expecting a blow. The stance wasn't lost on the two men, however, and Albus felt his heart splinter in pain. If he needed any further evidence that he had totally and horribly erred that fateful day in Godric's Hollow, this was it.

"Harry." Despite all his efforts, his voice broke.

Startled, Harry glanced up and was thunderstruck by what he saw. The Headmaster was crying! Big fat tears were rolling down his cheeks, and his eyes were the saddest Harry had ever seen. His whole expression was one of utter desolation and guilt.

Unconsciously, Harry straightened up and moved closer, transfixed by the sight. He'd never seen an adult weep before тАУ certainly not over him. The Headmaster didn't try to hide his tears, either. He just sat there and let the tears flow.

"Pr'fessor?" he asked wonderingly, taking a step nearer the desk. "Are you all right?"

Albus' voice cracked as he replied. "No, Harry. I have only now realized how grievously my foolish decisions have harmed you. I am so very, very sorry."

Harry squirmed a bit. He didn't want to cause anyone such distress. "It's okay," he offered, moving around the desk and tentatively patting the elderly wizard's shoulder. "I'm all right now."

Dumbledore closed his eyes in pain. "You show me a kindness I do not deserve, Harry. I have caused you such suffering over the years тАУ all because in my arrogance, I was convinced I knew better than anyone else. I was so certain I was right, I never bothered to check. I had decided what would be best for you, and I would not let anyone tell me otherwise." He opened his eyes and directed a pleading look at Harry. "I do not expect you to forgive me, child, now or ever, but can you please try to believe me when I tell you that I truly thought I was doing the right thing? That I was giving you the best, most happy home I possibly could?"

The naked anguish on the man's face was impossible to miss, as was his patent sincerity. Harry swallowed hard against the lump in his throat and nodded.

"Harry, your parents loved you so muchтАж I loved you so much. I wanted you to stay the happy baby I knew. I thought that there could be no better place for you than with family. You were such a beautiful, friendly baby тАУ I never imagined that everyone else wouldn't love you as much as I didтАжI was such a fool, Harry. Such an old fool. Only seeing what I wanted to see." Albus finally broke down and sobbed, burying his face in his hands.

"Pr'fessor, don't cry," Harry begged, patting Dumbledore on the back. "Please don't cry! I'm okay, honest!" He sent a frantic glance over to his da, and Snape тАУ desperately wishing he were anywhere else, even Umbridge's bathtub тАУ came forward to help.