Chapter 9 - The Talk with Albus

Thanks a lot to my beta-readers, Orodruin and AmyLouise, for correcting my mistakes.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J.K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.

Chapter 9 -- The Talk with Albus

When Harry woke up, it was already late afternoon. The hospital wing was quiet. He didn't want Madam Pomfrey to fuss over him or nag him into eating, so he didn't announce that he was awake. So many thoughts were going through his head. Harry was sad that he couldn't tell his friends about the offer the professors had made to take him in. He would have loved to hear their opinions. But Madam Pomfrey's intervention prevented him from telling them.

Harry sat up in his bed with crossed legs. He was tired of lying down. What could I do? He thought and looked around. Madam Pomfrey won't be happy if I leave the bed, but I don't want her to hold me here longer than necessary.

Harry reached for his pillow and took out the photo he had placed under it when Ron and Hermione had been ushered out by Madam Pomfrey. He looked at it longingly until the door of the infirmary opened and the headmaster came in.

"Good afternoon, Harry. I hope you had a good rest," Professor Dumbledore said cheerfully.

Quickly, Harry shoved the photo under the pillow again. "Morning, Professor," he greeted the old wizard. Harry was torn between curiosity and fear of what the headmaster would tell him about his relatives.

When the professor reached him, he Summoned a chair, Transfigured it into a comfortable armchair, and sat down. "So, how are you, Harry?" he asked again while eyeing his young charge.

"I'm fine. Just bored," Harry answered honestly.

"That's good to hear. You gave us quite a shock, my boy. You should have told us," Albus said gently, but his tone was also a little bit scolding.

Harry looked ashamedly at his hands and replied, "I know, sir, but I didn't want to talk about it." He looked up and added, "And I still don't want to talk about it."

"There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about, Harry, but I will accept your wish not to speak about it with me. But that doesn't change the fact that you have to speak with someone about it, to get it off your chest. The Ministry also demands frequent therapy."

"Therapy?" Harry asked, shocked.

"Harry, what your relatives did to you was very bad. They should have taken care of you, but instead they abused you. No child should experience what you had to go through. They will pay for it. I just came back from the official hearing of your relatives in the Ministry. Do you want to know what the Ministry has decided?"

Harry wasn't sure if he wanted to know. He was scared and couldn't say why, but he also needed to know what would happen with his relatives and what the Ministry had decided for him. "Yes, sir," Harry answered, almost whispering.

"The Ministry had to change quite a few Muggle memories, but your uncle is already moved to a prison camp on a South American island. Your aunt's and cousin's minds have been modified so that they won't remember you. We know that she didn't do anything to prevent your uncle from hurting you, but she was a loving mother to your cousin, and so the Ministry decided that she should have the chance to start a new life with her son. The Ministry will keep a close eye on them from now on."

Albus stopped to observe Harry's reaction. When he realized that Harry was still calm and looked interested, he continued. "I have heard that my nosy daughter couldn't stop herself from already giving you a few details about the changes that will come into your life, correct?" The headmaster cocked an eyebrow.

Harry felt the urge to protect his History professor. "She didn't tell me much, sir. Please don't be mad at her."

"Show me one human being that is capable of being mad at that girl," Albus said, chuckling.

Okay, I wouldn't call her a girl, but at least he isn't angry with her, Harry thought, relieved.

"As she already told you, the Ministry demands that you will be closely observed from now on. That means that even during the school year, you will have to live with a family. It will be easier for them to see if you can cope with the situation, and they can oversee that you regularly eat, sleep and have therapy. I think you want to go to school, and so we had to find a family here at Hogwarts. The Ministry would prefer it if you decided to live with my daughter and Professor Snape, but I convinced them to give you at least one other possibility. Therefore you could also decide to live with Madam Pomfrey and Professor Moody, if you prefer." Albus paused, giving Harry a chance to make a decision.

"Can't I just live in the dormitories?" Harry knew that the answer would be 'no', but he had to at least to try.

"No, Harry. To be honest it was quite a fight for your Head of House and myself to convince the Ministry that you'd be better off staying with people you know than to be treated at St. Mungo's," the headmaster explained sadly.

"St. Mungo's?" Harry asked, in shock.

"What your relatives did to you was very inhumane, Harry. That leaves scars, and I don't mean the visible ones. The Ministry wants to be sure that you will cope with the pain caused by these scars, and that you can make peace with your past. That's why they also insist on therapy. You have to speak with someone about what you had to go through. Repressing the memories and running away from them won't make them go away," Albus said severely.

Harry looked again down at his hands. "Am I still allowed to see my friends?"

Albus laughed, but it was a sad laugh. "Of course you are allowed to see your friends. You will not be a prisoner. You can visit your friends in the Gryffindor tower, and you can invite them to come down to your quarters to visit you."

"And where do I have to go for... therapy?" The word therapy didn't come easily from his lips.

"The healer will come and visit you on a regular basis in your quarters. You don't have to go anywhere. James would like to offer to take this part, but he can refer other possible therapists. He thought that you might prefer to speak with a woman."

"No!" Harry said very quickly. "I don't want to speak with someone else. Can it be James?"

"Of course, Harry. Calm down." Albus stood up when Harry started to get agitated and seated himself again on the edge of the bed. "Have you decided with whom you want to live?"

"I think I would like to live with Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore-Snape, sir," Harry mumbled, not taking his eyes from his hands.

Albus laid a comforting hand on Harry's leg and said, "I think they will be very glad to hear that, but it's only fair to tell you that this also means you will live with your Head of House and me."

Harry looked at his headmaster with confusion. "You all live together?"

"Is that so shocking?" Albus asked with a smile. "We all respect the privacy of the others, and you will have your privacy as well, Harry. But we can explain all of this in more detail when Madam Pomfrey releases you."

This made Harry look up. "Do you know when she will allow me to leave?"

"I have been told that she wants to give you a check-up after supper, and then she will decide if you can be released or have to stay another night. I have to go now. I'm sure your friends will come soon to visit you again, and my daughter said she will come to accompany you while you sup. Do you need anything else?"

"How is Professor Snape, sir?" Harry asked quickly.

"First, you don't have to call me sir all the time now, Harry. In private I'm Albus. Second, Severus is as fine as he can be while being forced to stay in bed with bronchitis. After a day in bed he will feel much better. You don't have to worry. Madam Pomfrey and James are keeping a close eye on him." He stood up and patted Harry's leg one last time. "I'm very glad that you decided to live with us, Harry. Welcome to our family."

Harry smiled shyly back at the headmaster. "Thank you, sir."

Albus cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. "What's my name?"

Harry blushed and uncertainly said, "Albus."

"That's my boy," Albus said while affectionately ruffling Harry's hair.

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