Bond of Love

Chapter 5
Never Alone


Albus Dumbledore watched his great grandson morosely. The boy had been through so much in the 17 years of his life. Even more then he had been through and he was over 150. It hurt to know, that in a way, he was responsible for the pain the sweet boy had been through. He had always been amazed at how much Harry cared for others, and the boy was so willing to do anything he could to help others and here he was lying weak and helpless, due to the abuse Albus was sure had lasted his whole life. As he watched the sleeping form, lost in his thoughts, emerald eyes opened slowly. Looking around, he realized that Severus and Remus were gone and Dumbledore was sitting at his side, watching him. Smiling as he realizes the old man has zoned out, Harry claps his hands hard in an attempt to startle his mentor.

Albus jumped at the sudden noise, eyes darting to the bed, only to find a pair of laughing green eyes. Harry gave Albus a smirk worthy of Severus. Seeing the laughter in those eyes, which only last night had been dull and lifeless, lifted Albus’ mood. Smiling he moved to take Harry’s hand.

“Hello my dear boy, how do you feel?”

“I am alright sir. Where has everyone gone?”

“Severus and Remus have gone to get your things, and Poppy and Minerva are off having some tea. Harry, there is something we need to talk about. I know I promised you no more secrets after Sirius died, but I was unsure how to tell you this and I knew at that time it would have made matters worse if I did tell you. Promise me you will listen to what I have to say, and then you can yell at me or break anything you want.”

Harry raised a brow at the somewhat fearful tone Albus was using. He knew he had a temper, and that his temper could scare the hell out of his friends, but he never thought he would hear such an emotion from one of the greatest wizards of the age. Still, he had long since forgiven the man for his contribution to the death of his godfather. Harry smiled at Albus giving him a nod.
“Harry, many years ago, I was married to a wonderful woman.
My wife and I only spent holidays and summers together unless one of us could get the time off to visit. Gwendolyn was a department head in the Ministry, and a very good one at that. Gwen and I had only one child together. She was a beautiful girl. She took after her mother, with her jet-black hair, but she had my eyes.

Eventually Catherine grew up, and got married. She too had only one child. When he began school here, I could not have been happier. He was a smart and intelligent boy, but was very arrogant and was spoiled as many children from the richer pureblood families are. I let him get away, with that I realize, was very horrible.

He finally began to settle down in his seventh year. You see, he had fallen in love with a very beautiful, intelligent and responsible muggle born girl and by the end of the year, they were engaged. He joined the auror program, and a year after he graduated they were married. While they were on their honeymoon, however, Catherine and her husband were murdered. Voldemort had started to kill off the families that he knew would never support them, and as a descendant of Merlin and Godric Gryffindor, Catherine was too much of a threat to him.

I was devastated, but I hid it, and kept working against Voldemort. I poured all my free time and effort into spending time with my grandson. When he and his wife had their first son only two years after leaving Hogwarts, I was right there with his best friends waiting to welcome the new arrival. I was happy for them, but frightened as well. I had only just heard the prophecy, just weeks beforehand, I had told you.

I think you can guess now who my grandson was. James and Lily were so happy when they learned they were going to be parents. Lily and I often spent holidays buying baby things and decorating your room. Minerva helped us as often as she could, she loved your father like her own son from the moment he walked through the doors, in his first year. Your mother though was everyone’s favorite.

My fear, that their child would be the one in the prophecy, though not proven till shortly after your first birthday, was magnified as I sat waiting for you to be born. One minute before midnight, you took your first breath and with it let out an ear-piercing scream. The entire ward was rocked by that scream and anything made of glass shattered. Infants rarely show any magic ability, for one to show what you did was unheard of. I put a bind on your powers that night, until you could be taught how to harness all that power.
You are still not full strength even now. I have been easing the binding slightly, since you arrived for your first year. It was one of the reasons I wanted Severus to teach you Occlumency. You need to have control over your emotions or you could hurt someone without meaning too.

The night your parents were killed, I had to fight to keep from breaking down. I knew that our world looked to me as a leader, and I knew I couldn’t let them down. I never wanted to leave you with Petunia, but believing that Sirius had betrayed us I could not keep you close to me.

I didn’t think I would survive at the time; I was just waiting to be killed by some random death eater looking for revenge. Severus would have gladly taken you, but I couldn’t allow it for 2 reasons. One he was in a healing coma for 3 weeks, after that night and two had he raised you it would have caused problems with the bond. You would have grown to think of him as a father, and then learned you were meant to be lovers.

As for Remus, he wanted to take you, but you know how the Ministry is about werewolves. Remus couldn’t raise a child, but hopefully one day we will make them see that werewolves are not the monsters they make them out to be. I could have left you with the Longbottom's, but I knew Neville was the other possible prophesy child, and I did not believe it would be safe.

You and Neville were the best of friends you know. The two of you used to play a game with your toys. No one knows which of you started it, but you used to try and see which of you could hold the most toys up in the air. It was something that took control no infant should have possessed.

Neville is more powerful then he seems. Having been put under the cruciatus at such a young age, caused most of his problems. It worked as the binding I put on your powers did, only it can’t be released. Not yet at least. Severus has been working on a potion to unblock Neville’s magic. I know this was a lot to take in, but I felt you needed to know. I hope you can forgive an old man, for being such a fool. I honestly believed you would be happy with those horrible people. I am so sorry my boy.”

True to his word, Harry listened in silence, his eyes growing wider when he realized what he was being told. It was strange to him, that he had thought of this man as a Grandfather figure, when he was truly his Great Grandfather. It also now made sense why Hagrid had said his name had been down to go to Hogwarts since he was born. After all, if he did magic with his first breath that was certainly proof that he was a wizard. Somehow he was not even shocked at being descended from Merlin and Gryffindor. It made sense, as did the reasons he was left at his aunt’s. Though he wished he had been told this in first year. At least now he was away from the Dursley’s, and Hogwarts truly was his home.

Looking up at Dumbledore, he smiled letting the man know in that one smile, that everything was all right between them. Albus sat on the bed and for the first time since he was a baby, he held Harry. An hour later, two wizards walked into the wing to be greeted by the site of the headmaster of Hogwarts, asleep in the hospital wing with his great grandson curled up in his arms. Looking at each other, they smiled and took their seats at the side of the bed. Both were thinking the same thought, ‘It’s about time.’