The Girl Who Remembers

Chapter 42

Dahlia's POV

I was stood outside the Burrow looking up at the stars, a rush of wind came making me turn slightly to see Dumbledore stood there,

"What brings you here, Professor?" I asked as he approached me,

"I'm in need of a favour" He replied, I raised an eyebrow and faced him,

"And this favour, what does it include?" I asked,

"Joining myself to meet an old friend" He informed,

"Let's go" I sighed, he put his hand out and I took it and we apparated to a train platform, "I thought we were going to see your friend" I commented,

"We will. Harry's going to be joining us" He retorted as Harry approached us, he gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek, "You've been reckless this summer" Dumbledore noted,

"I like riding on trains" Harry commented making me roll my eyes and noticed Dumbledore's blackening hand,

"Rather unpleasant to behold, isn't it? The tale is thrilling, if I say so myself. But now is not the time to tell it. Take my arm" He demanded, we both did so and apparated again, we arrived in a small village

"We just apparated, didn't we?" Harry asked, I gave him a deadpan look,

"Indeed. Quite successfully too, I might add most people vomit the first time" Dumbledore replied,

"Can't imagine why" I chuckled as I followed him.

"Welcome to the charming village of Budleigh Babberton, I assume right about now, you're wondering why I brought you here. Am I right?" Dumbledore asked as we stopped at the gate of a house,

"If I'm honest sir, I just sort of go with it" Harry replied making me sigh as I lead the way into the house to find it bombarded, I pulled out my wand and wandered around the room,

"Horace?" Dumbledore whispered, I noticed an armchair that was untouched from the destruction, I raised an eyebrow and touched it with the tip of my wand and a fairly old man popped out the top,

"I believe I found your friend, Professor!" I announced making him and Harry appear next to me.

"There was no need to disfigure me" Horace said, I raised an eyebrow,

"You do make a convincing armchair. Introduction; Harry, Dahlia, I'd like you to meet an old friend and colleague of mine, Horace Slughorn. Horace, well, you know" Dumbledore introduced,

"Harry Potter and Dahlia Black" Slughorn chuckled as Dumbledore fixed up the room,

"Do you mind if I use the loo?" Dumbledore asked,

"No, of course" Slughorn replied, Dumbledore left and an awkward silence filled the room, Slughorn cleared his throat

"You're very much like your Father, Harry. As you are too, Dahlia but your Mother. Except for the eyes. You have you're-"

"Mother's eyes" Harry commented,

"Father's eyes" I asserted as we cut him off,

"Lily. She was exceedingly bright. Even more impressive when one considers she was a Muggle-born" He commented,

"Our best friend is Muggle-born. She's the brightest witch in our year" I growled,

"Please don't think I'm prejudiced. No, no. Lily was my absolute favourite, look there she is. Right at the front" He said pointing a photo frame, I noticed Aunt Lily and Mum smiling making my mouth twitch upwards, "All mine, each and everyone of them. Ex-students, I mean. Regulus Black. You no doubt know of his older brother, Sirius. Died a few weeks ago. I taught the whole Black family, except Sirius. It's a shame. Talented boy" He commented.

"I don't need reminding of my Father's death. I was there...I know" I growled, Harry took my hand, squeezing it gaining my attention,

"Calm down" he whispered,

"Horace? Do you mind if I take this?" Dumbledore asked making me turn to face him holding up a magazine,

"Yes, of course. But you're not leaving?" Slughorn answered, I sighed walking over to the door

"I think I know a lost cause when I see one. Regrettable, I would have considered it a personal triumph had you consented to return to Hogwarts. Oh, well. You're like my friends here; one of a kind. Well, bye-bye Horace" Dumbledore commented as he left the house,

"Goodbye" I sighed as I waved before following Harry out, we got to the end of the garden when Slughorn came out after us,

"Alright. I'll do it. But I want Professor Merrythought's old office, not the water closet I had before. And I expect a raise. These are mad times we live in. Mad!" He demanded before returning back into the house,

"Not asking for much then" I commented, we apparated back to the Burrow and walked towards it when Harry stopped momentarily looking at me, "What?" I asked stopping and turning to him,

"You're beautiful..." he trailed off making my eyes widened as I turned my face from him and heat rose to my cheeks, "Dahlia, look at me" he demanded, I turned to him and came face-to-face with him, "Be my girlfriend again. I know I messed up big time last year with Cho, but I love you and I don't want to waste another second" he asserted, I sighed running a hand over my face,

"I love you too but-" He cut me off my pulling me close by the hips and kissing me, my hands went behind his neck pulling him closer to me, we broke apart and smiled at each other "Fine I'll be your girlfriend Potter" I chuckled shoving him lightly, he nudged me back before taking my hand,

"Come on before they get worried about where you disappeared to" he smiled escorting me back to the Burrow,

"Hey! Guess who I've found!" I called up the stairs, Molly, Ron, Hermione and Ginny came down the stairs

"Harry!" Molly smiled, Ginny hugged him, followed by Hermione and then Ron, "What a lovely surprise" Molly greeted giving him a hug herself, Ron went to wipe toothpaste off Hermione's mouth but stopped when she gave him a questionable looked making me smirk to myself.