Present Mixed in the Past

Chapter 36| The Beginning's of Dumbledore

Harry was called into the Headmaster's office, which confused him greatly. He had made sure to be on his best behavior- not that was hard- and to do mediocre in his classes. He didn't want the attention of a 'genius', or prodigy would give him. Besides, he wanted as normal of a life as possible. So, he was confused on why the Albus had summoned him.

"Ah, Harry my boy."

The young teen felt his nose twitch at the overly condescending-grandfatherly voice. He had once looked up to that man and hung on every one of his words... Now his voice was beginning to grate on his ears.

"Hello, Sir." He lowered his eyes to the man's desk, not wanting to look into those twinkling eyes. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Not at all my boy," Albus's lips twitched at how vulnerable the boy seemed when he was alone. It reminded him that his plan would work. "I have just noticed a few things. Please sit. Lemon drop?"

The man offered the bowl of candy to the child, who quietly shook his head. The two were silent for a moment, letting the air of trouble weigh on the physically youngest of them. Even after all that time, he couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to please the man in front of him. The first person he had believed he could trust and hoped would care for him... Why did he have to betray him?

"What do you want to talk about, Sir?" Harry broke under the pressure, biting the inside of his lip. Why was he feeling so weak when he knew the truth? When he knew how to win this twisted came of chess?

"I have noticed that you're beginning to formulate study groups with the other Houses. I commend you for doing such, showing your Gryffindor courage for trying to include the Dark Slytherin," Harry felt his nose twitch again, "But I have noticed that you're excluding Ronald Weasley. Has something happened between the two of you, my boy? I only ask because I've been hearing that he's being bullied at your call."

"At my call?" Harry looked up, looking straight into the man's twinkling eyes.

Instantly, he felt a discomforting wave of compulsion shoved onto him. If he was younger or weaker, he probably wouldn't have felt it, but he was neither.

"Yes. A few students claimed that you gave them the orders."

A confused look flashed on the boy's face before he shook it.

"No, I didn't, Sir. I wouldn't have someone bullied. I wouldn't say that's okay! Not after..." He paused, looking down once more. He never ordered or gave permission to anyone to bully Ron. The guy needed good attention and care, like Ginny. They were children after all!

Dumbledore felt sadistic pride swell in his chest as he saw how weakened and confused the boy looked. He was a powerful man that deserved the world. Only he knew what the world needed; it all will be for the greater good. They'll all see it.

"I'm afraid so. I haven't told Mrs. Weasley about this, I don't want it to affect your relationship with the Weasley Twins."

Harry couldn't stop the wince from showing as he heard that. Even after all that woman had done, he still loved her as a mother. She was the only mother he ever had at the time. He knew how'd she react. He'd banned him, probably claiming that him hanging out with the other Houses was corrupting his mind and would corrupt them too.

"I really haven't... T-The only thing I ever said that could even be close to be interpret that way, is when I told them to defend themselves." He sighed heavily.

The greyed man raised an eyebrow.

"Defend themselves? From what, my boy? Is bullying a problem you often see?"

Harry stared into the man's twinkling eyes and nodded.

"I saw it, Sir. Slytherin couldn't go anywhere without another, always in groups of three or more because of the other Houses. The Slytherins would gang up when they could and belittle. It's better, much better, but Sir... I don't think you're running this school properly if the older years are looking at us younger years like we're bugs to be squished."

A small twitch of the man's eye showed that Potter had struck a nerve, even as he pretended to have hesitated in saying his piece. He then stood up; no long feeling comfortable.

"I need to leave." He muttered.

"Harry, my boy." Said teen stopped and gave the man a lidded look. "I want you to come and help me in the evenings. I am growing older, and I believe that it would help you learn a thing or two."

Harry paused before giving a silent nod.

"I'll talk it over with my Head and Mr. Lupin... I don't want him to worry..."

The old man gave a nod, letting the boy finally leave. He smirked more proudly when the door clicked closed. With boy near him, he could more easily fill his ears with his words and everything for the greater good. Though, he should find a way to get rid of Black and Lupin. Possibly even take the boy from Petunia's custody. She should've made the boy weaker, not stronger! Damn motherly woman.

He took a deep breath and grabbed a Lemon drop, sucking on it gently. He had time. He had plenty of time to make his lamb.

Harry shuddered as he left that office, hurrying to Draco for some form of comfort and grabbing onto the taller boy the moment he could. The blond furrowed his brow in worry, bringing the other closer before he narrowed his eyes.

"Lemon?"

"Lemon."

"Connard. C'est un connard. Un gros connard stupide." He growled lowly. (FRENCH- Motherfucker. He's an asshole. A big, stupid, asshole.)

The old soul smiled into the other's chest, giggling at how silly the furious Pureblood sounded. He raised his head after a minute of giggling and nodded.

"Sí. Es el mago más estúpido que existe." (SPANISH- Yup. He's the most stupid wizard there is.)

The two calmed down and giggled together. Harry then pouted and tightened his hold the moment the bell began to ring. He didn't want to go back to his tower yet. He didn't want to be the clutches of Ron. He would alone that night.

"You have to." Draco didn't sound like he wanted Potter to let go of him.

"But he's..." He paused before sighing and releasing his new best friend.

Draco gave the smaller male a tight hug before disappearing to the dungeons and Harry to the tower.

"Hey, Mate. Can you help me with homework?" The youngest male Weasley didn't wait for an answer and plopped next to the ravenet.

The Common Room seemed to have grown tense with the students of their year narrowing their eyes on them. It seemed true that Ron was being bullied, or at least openly disliked. Not like it was Harry's fault, Ron just had that type of attitude.

"Sure." He hummed, scotting just an inch closer to see what the other had. It wasn't much.

Taking a deep breath, the shorter teen began the long hour of trying to help Ron with schoolwork. Because he was his best friend in his previous life, he knew what to say and what references to make to help the work stick. That didn't mean Ron stayed still or listening to him the whole time. Not that he wasn't used to it.

"Do you like guys?" Ron suddenly asked, making Harry tilt his head.

The boy had lowered his voice as to not draw attention to themselves, but the question still caught the other off guard.

"I don't... Understand what you mean?"

Ron's face twisted a little, as if he was trying to find the right words. He probably was.

"You keep refusing every girls' advances... And you seem a little too close with Malfoy." There was a bite to the Pureblood's name that Harry chose to ignore.

He hummed and gave a nod.

"I do."

That was all he said before he packed his own things and left. He didn't understand why knowing his sexuality was suddenly an interest of Ron's, but he didn't want to know at the moment. He wanted sleep, the day had suddenly became long.