Meeting Of Swords and Wands

Chapter 3: I meet my mini-me!

"Please, sit. Dumbledore said as he sat down in his massive chair behind his equally big desk, "Can I get you anything to eat or drink?"

"Some water would be nice." I replied as I sat down.

"Same for me." Nico echoed.

*Pop*

The weirdest creature I've ever seen appeared out of nowhere. It looked like a small, grey child with ears the looked like Yoda's and the biggest eyes that I ever saw. Overall, the creature looked cute except that it had a basic dress made from a satchel bag. It set a tray of water glasses and a bowl of yellow candy down, bowed, then disappeared with another pop.

"House elf." Dumbledore explained, taking in Nico and my expressions, "Quite useful fellows they are, but they have such sad fates."

"What do you mean?" I asked as I took a drink of my water.

"House elves have a bred-in need to serve others. Service of others is in their biology." Dumbledore explained, "While there are some who treat their house elves with great respect, there are those who treat theirs like slaves." I nearly choked on my water as Nico's eyes bugged out.

"You mean these elves are slaves!?!" Nico exclaimed, "Are you aware of what my father thinks of slavery?" He finished, twisting the skull ring on his finger around his finger. Dumbledore smiled.

"I dear say that the case is very easily made." Dumbledore said, "The comparison to the American institution is stark. The current situation does allow for those to take advantage of these poor creatures for their own benefit. There are elves who are better off as free individuals, but house elves are on the same boat as dogs or dairy cows. They were genetically engineered to have the need to serve." Dumbledore looked at Nico with blue eyes that seemed to pierce straight into his soul. "There are those who will want to change the situation so that house elves get the recognition they deserve, but they need to have the right nudges at the right time."

Nico stopped fiddling with his ring and seemed to understand what Dumbledore meant.

"Now then!" Dumbledore said happily, "I understand the nature of your mission has changed?" I then spoke up.

"The Fates have ordained Nico and my mission to take out 'the Son of Slytherin' and bring the traitor to justice." I remarked, settling into a well-practiced command tone, "But, they have added to it."

"Oh?" Dumbldore asked, as he sucked on a yellow candy.

"We are to vindicate the innocent and save a life, and guide the 'one who death passed over' and save his equal from a dark path." I finished. Dumbledore leaned forward, intertwining his fingers. He turned his piercing blue gaze towards me. I felt like the old wizard was picking through my soul. I hoped he didn't pick too deep. He may not like what he found. But, he seemed satisfied with his searching as he smiled.

"Well, you weren't kidding when you said that the nature of your mission has changed." He said, thinking, "I can actually help with directing you towards the right people." Nico and I sighed. Usually, we have to figure those things out for ourselves. But this time, the answers would be given to us. "The 'Son of Slytherin' is a wizard that goes by the name of Lord Voldemort. He was a student of mine who was at the time known as Tom Riddle. He took up dark magic in a bid to become immortal. He is the first person offered to Lord Hades as payment. The Traitor is Peter Pettigrew. He was a friend to three close people and one night, he sold out his best friend, his best friend's wife, and their year old son and had his other best friend take the blame." Nico scowled. A traitor who sells out his friends and blames another and a mortal seeking immortality by mutilating his soul are two of his least favourite people and I wholeheartedly agree. Dumbledore continued: