Professor Potter

Chapter 56

Chapter 56 

Harry sat in his comfortable chair in the library preparing himself for a trip to that gray place. He had returned home from the cavern late that afternoon with, as had been predicted, many more questions than answers. He was hoping that perhaps Professor Dumbledore and Merlin might be able to help him sort some of it out. He found the idea that he had been communicating with beings across a vast gulf of time to be more than a little disconcerting. The time he had spent sitting in Hagrid's hut while Abagail played with Norbie outside after they had come out of the forest hadn't helped clarify much. 

He settled himself a bit more into the cushions and then willed himself to relax. As his breathing slowed he could feel the warm lassitude wash over him and the darkness behind his eyes lightened until he could see the swirling mist just at the edge of his vision. 

"Professor Dumbledore, Merlin, are you there, sirs?" 

Harry waited a moment and then tried again, 

"Hello, is anyone there? Professor?" 

"Harry, is that you?" came the familiar sound of his mentor's voice. 

"Yes, sir." 

"One moment, my boy." 

It wasn't long before the tall slender figure of Albus Dumbledore parted the mists, followed closely by that of Merlin. The Professor smiled and said, 

"Harry, it is so good to see you. It has been a while since we've met here." 

"Yes, sir, it has. It's good to see the both of you as well." 

"Greetings, young Harry," Merlin added. "Something new is afoot, yes?" 

"Actually, something very, very old it would seem. I came across something very unusual regarding the forest presence and I'd like to get your opinions on it," Harry replied. 

"Of course, Harry. Please, tell us all about it, in your own time," Dumbledore said. 

Harry laid out for the two wizards all that he and the others had discovered since the last time he talked to them about the forest. Neither of them interrupted or changed expression while Harry provided the details. At the mention of the 'conversation' between himself and the robed being, the two did exchange a brief glance at one another. Harry finished with, 

"So, sirs, what do you think?" 

Several questions were asked before any opinions were offered. Dumbledore wanted to make sure of how the conversation began, who initiated it. Merlin was interested in the description of the 'rummaging' Harry thought he felt. Then there was some whispered conversation between the two as Harry waited. Finally Dumbledore looked at Harry, pursing his lips a bit before saying, 

"Once again, my boy, you present us with questions unlike any other. Firstly, I would say that it is highly unlikely that you did in fact make contact with these beings across the actual gulf of time. It is much more likely that you were in contact with some shadow of them that remains within that room you described." 

"I would have to agree, young Harry. The phenomenon is, after all, well documented," Merlin added. 

"Sir?" Harry replied, confused. 

"Think for a moment, Harry," Dumbledore suggested with a slight grin. "You of all people are well acquainted with its manifestations." 

Harry thought for a moment and then in a flash of realization wanted nothing more than to slap his own forehead. He thought of the ghosts at Hogwarts, his own mother walking about the house, all those talking paintings, even the vision that Abagail had of Merlin as she touched the sheets from the Tome.