The Fears Of Albus Dumbledore

Chapter 9

The next few days were blissfully normal for Harry. The new normal that is, watching his godfather and honorary uncle bicker good naturedly over breakfast. His aunt gently scolding them and wishing him well for the day ahead. School work was going well and as Harry was trying harder so Ron did as well. Admittedly he would never be to the standard of Percy in his academic life but he no longer whined about the work. At least not so much.

After lessons Harry and his friends spent a lot of time training and both Sirius and Remus were pleased with the progress they all made.

The day before the first article was due to be printed Harry asked a question that had been praying on his mind.

"Aunt Iris?" Harry queried poking his head round her office door. "You busy?"

"It's are you busy Harry." She said looking up from the papers in her hand. "At least learn to speak in proper sentences. And I am never to busy for you. Just going over some contacts and things for the upcoming Black family meeting. Now what can I help you with?."

"I was just-" Harry began. "I mean I wanted to -" He tried again. "How did things go with aunt Petunia and uncle Vernon."

Iris could see the nervous curiosity in his face. She sighed and gestured for him to sit down.

"Well it went just as I expected." She replied slowly. "There were tears, shouting, threats and recriminations. Tuney has always felt left out of the family. With lily and I both having power and she having none. It made her a jealous, bitter, angry person and she took that anger out on the only person she could you.
It wasn't right of fair of her to do so, as you were innocent in all of this. But getting her to see that was always a losing battle. As of right now she has moved from Privet Drive and I have no way to contact her as that was her wish. Try not to dwell on them Harry, they are not worthy of your thoughts or empathy."

"Oh I know that." Harry said smiling. "I was just wondering how many shades of purple uncle Vernon changed to during the conversation?"

"You have you mother's cheek Harry." She said chuckling. "I do have a pensive did you want to see?"

"What is a pensive?" Harry asked screwing his face up in confusion.

"A pensive is a magical devise that allows you to view another's memories or your own." She said rising from her seat and pulling a cabinet open. "A witch or wizard can copy memories and review them. It allows you to see things from a new perspective. For instance you may think that you were calm during a fight, but upon viewing the memory you could have been the instigator or too confrontational to listen to the other person."

As she spoke she brought out a strange looking bowl with runes carved round the edge. Placing it upon the table she then put her wand to her temple and seemed to pull a white mist from it. It gathered at the end of her wand and she flicked it in to the basin.

"To see the memory you must put your face into the bowl." Iris took note of the skeptical look on Harry's face. "I thought we could start with a fond memory of mine. The day your parents got married."

With her kind words Harry eagerly plunged his head into the bowl.

Once the dizzy spinning feeling stopped Harry found himself in a small room. It was decorated with flowers and seemed to be some kind of dressing room. Harry noticed this kind of adsently as he only had eyes for the wonan sat at the dressing table looking in the mirror. She wore a beautiful white lace covered dress with a halo of wild flowers in her hair. His aunt was easily recognisablenext to her in a blush pink dress adding what look like the last touchesof makeup to his mothers face.

"All done." Iris said softly. "Ready to marry the most arrogant prat you have ever met?"

"Oh gods sis, you are never going to let me forget that are you?" Lily replied laughing softly. "And yes I am ready to marry him. Maybe he isn't the most arrogant prat ever. But he comes a close second."