Second chance

Having secured the support of his best friend, Harry decided to turn to his teacher and mentor, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. The latter was quite an intelligent wizard, so the Gryffindor was sure that he would have no trouble explaining the situation to the old man. The boy didn't know the current password to the Headmaster's office, so he decided to find him at dinner. Luckily, it was already getting dark, which meant that the meal was close at hand. And after only an hour, Harry was sitting at the huge rectangular table, staring at the professor unabashedly. He had asked Ron to position himself closer to the teacher's table so that Dumbledore would pay attention to him. Harry didn't even take a bite of his food, he waited patiently for the moment when the Headmaster would cast a fleeting glance at him and fix his attention on his student. Potter only took his eyes off his class for a second and glanced at Snape. He looked rather strange, the reason for this was probably due to their conversation this morning. The Potter still looked a little confused, but also scared, but Harry found an explanation for that too. One of the memories he had shown the professor was of his own death, and it was by no means a pleasant sight. Who would enjoy watching a huge snake kill you and you lying on a cold floor in the dark, bleeding to death. Not many people could survive such a thing, but Potter knew of the professor's willpower and character, so he was sure he would come round soon. The Gryffindor continued to watch the professor. In his usual manner, he was condescendingly looking around at the small group of students who hadn't left for the winter holidays, but as if he hadn't met Harry's gaze on purpose. And that irritated the latter greatly. Why didn't the Headmaster pay attention to him just when he was needed so badly? Apparently, he had voiced the thought accidentally, and Ron shrugged silently. He, too, had not yet fully accepted the future and their plan of action and was also somewhat confused. Finally, when Dumbledore finished his meal and rose leisurely from the table, Harry jumped up abruptly and walked briskly towards the teacher's table. The professors, with the exception of the Dean of Slytherin, gave the boy a surprised look, but Potter didn't even pay attention. He really didn't care. Over his long life, he had learnt to go for his goal and ignore the obstacles. The Headmaster froze in surprise and waited for the brunet to approach him. ‘Did you want something, Harry?’ the older man asked in a soft voice. ‘Professor, I need to talk to you,’ trying to sound polite, the boy asked. ‘Well, of course,’ Dumbledore immediately agreed, ’Why don't we go into my office?’ ‘Without saying a word, Harry motioned in the right direction. Despite the large number of years that had passed, he remembered well the way to the office he had visited many times since his second year. Dumbledore was obviously surprised by this, though he tried not to show it. ‘Canary Fudge,’ the old man called out the password, and a few moments later a winding staircase appeared before them, and in another minute Harry was standing in the professor's office looking around, feeling a rush of nostalgia. How many things had happened in this office! It was here that he had first seen Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix. It was here that he had been rewarded after his battle with the Basilisk and convinced that he belonged in Gryffindor. It was here that he had first dipped into the Pool of Memory and learnt about the events of long ago. It was here that the Professor had told him about Horcruxes. And it was here, during the bloody battle for Hogwarts, that he learnt that he was destined to fight Voldemort and die at his hands. ‘Professor, please listen to me very carefully,’ Harry asked, and then without waiting for agreement began his monologue. ‘Today I woke up in my body with memories of my now adult self. I have seen many deaths. You yourself will die at the hands of Professor Snape to allow him to gain Voldemort's full trust and put your plan into action. For the next year, the magical community will live in fear for its existence. Dark times are coming. But now I know all of this and I want to prevent the coming events. I know that you are the one Voldemort has always feared and you are the one who will be able to give me the help I need,’ ‘Well, my dear boy, what you have told me deserves my undivided attention,’ Dumbledore began incredibly calmly, even a little frighteningly calm. ‘I believe you, but what you have planned will be very difficult to bring to fruition. I understand the responsibility you have and how much you want to save those close to you, but do you have the strength to turn your plan into real action? Only you have truly lived through all this horror, and only you can handle it. I'll do my best to help you, but no matter whose support you enlist, you'll have to go most of the way alone.’ ‘Professor, do you believe me?’ was the first thing that came out of the Gryffindor's mouth, but then he pulled himself together. ‘I realise all the risks I'm taking. But to save the whole world, I am willing to risk everything I have. Thank you for believing me Professor. It really means a lot to me.’ The professor's words gave Potter food for thought. The man was right. Only Harry knew what was going to happen and had felt it first hand. Only he had experienced that pain of loss and hopelessness. Perhaps this was a path he would really have to walk alone.