"That's me," I said bitterly. I hated being known as that man's spawn. Why couldn't Dumbledore have said I was Wisteria Hunch's child? My mother was a far better parent and person than the waste of space had ever been. I was fine being known as her son.
"Mr. Hunch, correct?" Dumbledore inquired. "You have a brother… Rudolph? In Slytherin?"
"It's 'Rose,' actually," I said, trying not to sound snippy, but probably failing. "I took my grandmother's name when I moved to the Muggle world. And yes, Rudy's my younger brother."
"I see. Well, Rudolph has been doing well in his classwork, though I do wish he'd try and aim higher in his Charms and Transfiguration lessons. Still, he's settled in well in Slytherin House."
"Oh. Good for him," I said insincerely.
We settled down into a strained silence after that as we tucked into the meal before it got any colder. Small talk continued, and Dumbledore and I chatted with everyone else, but we both didn't bring up Harry after that brief bit at the beginning.
When dinner was done and the last of the dishes were removed (again, by magic), the headmaster wiped his mouth and then looked over at me.
"May I speak with you before I leave?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Sure," I said with a nod. He got up from the table, and I followed him from the dining room into the living room.
He didn't draw his wand, but he didn't have to, as he showed off his mastery of wandless magic when he made a few gestures in the air and I felt the presence of a ward settle around us. Something to keep eavesdroppers out? The fact he'd been able to do so without a foci was incredible, and only made me more wary.
"Mr. Rose, it's very important that Harry Potter stays with his aunt during the summer," Dumbledore told me.
"Why is that?" I asked guilelessly, pretending I didn't know about his crude blood wards.
"Well, it's for his own protection," Dumbledore replied as if it was obvious. "There are people who would want to hurt the poor boy, and the fewer who know of his whereabouts, the better."
"He wouldn't have that problem if you'd arrested all of Voldemort's minions after he bit the dust," I retorted. "Besides, wouldn't a house with magical defenses be a whole lot more protected compared to a Muggle home in the middle of Suburbia?"
"I was under the impression the Dursleys lived in Surrey," Dumbledore mused, amused. "And he is protected. I placed wards around the house and have plenty layers of protection that will keep Young Harry safe."
"If you say so," I replied, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.
"I do. Which is why I must ask that you keep your distance from Harry Potter from now on," Dumbledore continued, as if he hadn't heard me speak.
"Beg pardon? You want me to do what?" I uttered in disbelief, aghast at his audacity.
"Harry Potter needs to be safe. And it's for the best if nobody knows where he lives during the summer. I must ask that you allow me to protect Harry Potter. In fact, if you'd submit to a quick Obliviate…"
"No," I said shortly, glaring at the man. The nerve of him! Asking me to abandon Harry like that! And to threaten me with Obliviation?!
"I must insist," Dumbledore said, and I tamped down the urge to glare up at him, in case I accidentally glanced into his eyes.
"Then take it up with Nicholas Flamel," I retorted, catching Dumbledore on the backfoot. "He didn't seem to have a problem with me being close to Harry."
"He… I beg your pardon?" he uttered, bewildered.
"Mr. Flamel sought out Harry when he learned he was in Paris," I said, unable to hide the tiny smirk that crossed my face. "And he was quite impressed by me. By the both of us, really. He praised how Harry handled the situation with that stupid mirror trap of yours. And boy, was he not impressed by how you handled that situation with your rogue Defense teacher. So forgive me if I don't do as you ask."
"My boy…" Dumbledore began, but I cut him off.
"I will protect Harry Potter if it comes down to it," I told him. "Nobody, not even that bald snake, will touch him."
He stared down at me, and I was tempted to take a peek at his eyes. I wanted to know if they were twinkling like all the stories said they did. To get a glimpse at what kind of emotion danced behind his glasses.
But I kept my gaze focused onto the tip of his nose, not willing to risk my Occlumency against his Legilimancy.
I stood my ground, and the tense silence grew. Eventually Dumbledore broke first, turning away and retreating to the fireplace.
'What a wanker,' I thought to myself once he was gone. I had a feeling denying the old man would come back to bite me somehow.
"I'll just have to prepare for anything," I muttered to myself. I was not going to let Harry fall into Dumbledore's web of manipulation. It was time to ramp up potion production, and put my nose to the grindstone regarding my other plans.
Hero or not, Dumbledore was not going to dictate Harry's life, or mine!
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