A new Vision

A/N Thank you to those that chose to review.

Chapter Seven

Harry thought briefly of all the implications of this interaction. It was in his and quite possibly his allies best interests to keep the headmaster off of his game, but not crippled. “I don’t know, Headmaster, but I was allowed to meet with you. I had assumed that you wanted to see me. perhaps I was wrong.” Harry made an effort to seem guileless as he turned to leave.

As hoped the Headmaster seemed to think that the castle was following his wishes. “No you are quite correct, my boy. I do need to see you.” He gestured to one of the flowery chairs in front of his desk. “Please take a seat.”

Harry sat, but refused any refreshments. “I would like to know how you came to be here. You are an anomaly to say the least.”

Harry could see this distraction for what it was, and knew that this was a game that for once he could tromp. “I have no idea how I came to be here, however, I am quite sure that you know just how big a threat I am, so perhaps we could speak more as equals. It is after all silly to treat a man, that already knows all about, you as a child.”

He had to suppress the smirk at the blanch. “What is it exactly that you believe that you know?”

Harry smiled. “I am sorry to say that I know everything. I know how you wanted power, I know about your goals with Grindelwald. I know about the cloak” Harry paused for a moment as if considering. “I want that back by the way. I know that you have not always been the bastion of light, and I know that you sent me to Hell, all for the greater good.”

Harry watched carefully as the old man considered his response. He knew that this man could be a powerful ally or a formidable enemy. Seeing the indecision, Harry upped the stakes. “ I also know that most of the people that you have loved paid the ultimate price, and perhaps worse, those that loved you, were thrown away. I will tell you right now that I will not allow that to happen again. It is both unnecessary, and cruel. If you attempt to use Snape, you will find yourself on the opposite side of the war. You do not want that.”

The man paled. “Are you saying that you would support Voldemort?”

Laughter seemed the most appropriate response. “Hardly. I am saying that you are as bad in your way. He will die, and if you aren’t very careful you will as well, but you will have a hard time with your next great adventure. The first time, you may not have known better, but this time you have been warned. I can’t imagine that it will be so easy to live, or not live with.” Harry couldn’t help the small chuckle at his own bad pun. “I have seen the results of you believing that you are some kind of God, and you will not use people like that again, or I will personally take you out. Consider this to be an ultimatum, because it is.”

Sighing heavily he continued. “I trusted and loved you, but in the end, as smart as you are...you judge others by the standards that you understand, just like everyone else. You hurt and destroy other’s lives with the concept of the greater good. It is a step above to understand that every life is precious, and if you can’t see that than there is no greater good. A man may choose to throw away his life to save something important to him. He can rationalize that it is worth it for his family, country, or beliefs. That makes a cosmic sense. I made such a choice. It is far more murky to offer someone else’s life up for any of those reason’s. To ask if others are willing, knowing the risks and what is being asked, is one thing, but to demand or manipulate others to give up their free will is quite another.”

Harry could see that the man was trying hard to come to grips with the changes in the boy he had planned on using. He smiled almost gently. “In my world, you almost killed me repeatedly, with your misguided efforts to make me strong, but prevent me from being dark. You are not all knowing and I think that you need to be aware of the fact that as powerful as you are, you are not the only thing stopping life as we know it from falling apart. If you were then you would have already taken care of Voldemort, and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

The Headmaster of Hogwarts looked his age for a moment while he seemed to actually take in what he had been told. Harry felt bad for causing the man pain, but he knew that he had to prevent this man from causing pain to so many individuals. He could understand the distinction, he was willing to die to save those that he loved. He was not willing to sacrifice anyone else to save the world at large. He wasn’t stupid, he knew that choices had to made, and armies were used in such a manner, but he knew that it should be a personal decision to put yourself in such a role, and then you should be able to trust that you are not being used for no real gain.

“I think we share the goal of getting rid of Voldemort, however, this time it will be done above board, and with no manipulations against your own side. Do you know what a Horcrux is headmaster?” He could see that the man didn’t. That left him to wonder if they had even come to be in this world. Perhaps this would be easier this time. It quickly occurred to him that if there were no Horcrux, than Voldemort wouldn’t be back after his initial defeat. “In this world how did I become the the boy who lived?”

The man quickly regained his equilibrium and answered. “ Your parents were attacked after Pettigrew told Voldemort where you were. There were alarms to alert both the order and Sirius set some himself to alert us if you were discovered. The order showed up in time to save you, but sadly only in time to see Lily die.”

“How did I get the scar on my forehead?” Seeing the man’s confusion, Harry swept his fringe away and display the lightening bolt.

“I don’t know. I am not sure that I have ever noticed it until now.”

Harry didn’t trust the man much, but it seemed like the truth. Harry had a lot to think about as he took his leave.