Worthy Of Magic

Part 8 - The Revelation

Seven minutes later it was just Harry walking behind the tall form of Dumbledore.

After he had interrupted the Duel, Harry looked in fascination as threads of magic danced out of Dumbledore's wand, repairing the damage to the Hall with structured finesse and touching the minds of Daphne, Draco and Flint as well. He didn't know what the headmaster had done but it was interesting to see those threads of purple enter their minds through the middle of their forehead. After that, he had given them all detention with Argus Filch; the janitor of Hogwarts and dismissed them.

Harry wanted to see Dumbledore use his magic again. This was a man who was worthy of magic. He knew how to use it, how to command it and bend it to his will. Harry reached into the void and pushed it towards Dumbledore with curious intentions. He was surprised when the void parted before touching the old man and came back to him feeling confused.

"Control yourself Harry," Dumbledore chided. "My magic and will is too strong for you. If you poke, it will poke back. It will not be a pleasant experience."

Harry scowled and retreated into the void, embracing the emptiness, the peace.

He vaguely noticed they were in front of a pair of scary gargoyles who leaped aside as soon as Dumbledore neared them to reveal a spiralling staircase behind them.

"Come," Dumbledore said, his voice reaching Harry like a whisper.

Harry took a step onto the staircase and it starting moving with unbelievable smoothness. Harry stared with wide eyes at the magic powering the stairs. It was like a blue river, flowing steadily, without a ripple in its flow.

He was lead to a single door that looked as old as Dumbledore, except it looked like it had aged well and had a certain beauty about it. A golden doorknocker was in its centre which had the Hogwarts crest engraved into the knocker.

The door opened silently.

Harry walked in, his eyes wandering curiously.

The office was circular with a high dome ceiling that had curious patterns engraved in it. The walls were lined with shelf's that were cluttered with strangely shaped curios and mysterious books. Some were vibrating, others still. Above them were lined, side by side, portraits of men and women. Some were waving in welcome, others looking grumpy and some snoozing. The floor was covered with a thick red carpet and Harry could see the stone floor beneath the carpet in front of a fireplace opposite the door that was spitting fire and crackling merrily, casting a warm glow all over the office.

In the centre was a grand looking polished table that had a neat stack of parchment on one side, a lamp on the other and a crystal bowl containing strange yellow edible items. The headmaster's chair was a high back one with a comfortable cushioning running from the top to bottom. Opposite were three wooden chairs meant for visitors and students.

Harry wondered what the metal structure next to the chair was for. It had two legs, a single steel bar joining the two at the top and below was an oval steel bowl that looked like it had been exposed to too much fire. The bowl radiated magic like a sun rising behind mountains.

"Have a seat Harry."

Harry sat. His green eyes rose and met the calm blue eyes of the headmaster.

Dumbledore, picked the round thing from the crystal bowl and offered it to Harry. "Lemon drop?"

Harry stared.

Dumbledore smiled and popped it into his mouth.

"You were going to kill Mr Malfoy and Mr Flint weren't you?" he said without bothering to sugar coat the incident.