Prompt 24 - Hungry
@jegulus-microfic February 24 Word count 888
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James had returned to Hogwarts a few times since he left after his final year. He loved the old castle. He had so many good memories there. But this time, when he looked up at the castle. The castle that he’d loved for so many years, all he felt was dread.
Professor McGonagall met him at the entrance and escorted him to the headmaster’s office.
“How are things, Mr Potter?” She’d asked after confirming his identity. He ran a hand through his hair as he forced a smile on his face.
“Oh, you know, could be better.” They hadn’t said more after that. What else could they say? Everything was so secret at the moment that it was hard to converse without letting something accidentally slip.
He waited for the staircase to appear behind the stone gargoyle and climbed to Dumbledore’s office. McGonagall had stayed at the bottom to escort him out once he was done.
The office was just the same as he remembered it. He’d been fascinated by all the things Dumbledore had on display when he was younger, but they’d always made him tense as they looked so delicate, and while James tried his hardest not to walk into the spindly tables, he always knocked at least one and had to watch with bated breath as it wobbled precariously the silver items on it almost rolling onto the ground.
Tonight was no different. In his haste to get past them and to Dumbledore’s desk, he tripped and took out three tables with a colossal bang. The tiny glass instruments on top of one of the tables shattered when they hit the floor, and a pile of books landed on him. Whatever had been on the third seemed to be stuck to the tabletop.
A door to the side opened, and Albus Dumbledore strode into his office.
“Hmmm,” He said as he took in the destruction. “I had forgotten how badly you and my office got along, Mr Potter. Had I remembered, I would have cleared a path for you before your arrival.” He waved his wand, and the room put itself to rights as James clambered to his feet. “Tea?” Dumbledore asked as James went to sit in the chair by Dumbledore’s desk.
“No, thank you. I don’t have long. I need to get back to Sirius.”
“Ah, yes. I hear he is not doing too well after the attack.” James shook his head.
“No, but we’ve had word that Remus is alive and has been accepted by the werewolves and Voldemort.” He hadn’t actually told anyone this. He should probably have said something to Mad-Eye, but he didn’t.
“Good, good. It’s going exactly as we planned then.” Dumbledore looked thoughtful.
“There’s more,” James told him, thinking about everything Regulus had shown him in his notebook. His hand automatically went to the inside pocket of his robes where the copies were hidden. He handed over the less important pages first, holding onto the ones he could use to give Regulus what he wanted.
Dumbledore poured over the neat handwriting, a small smile twitching his lips at one part or furrowing his brow at another. Once he was done with what he had, he looked over at James’s hands, where a few more pages were still held, with an almost hungry expression on his face.
“And what are those, Mr Potter?” James brushed his thumb across the top of the parchment.
“Before I give you these. I need to ask again that Regulus has immunity.”
“Yes, Mr Potter, that had already been discussed and agreed to.” James squirmed. He’d only had to ask that so he could ask what he actually wanted to.
“And Rosier and Crouch?” Dumbledore’s eyes turned icy.
“Again, Mr Potter, we have discussed what I would do on that matter.”
“You said you’d vouch for them at their trials, but that’s not good enough. They’re the ones who gathered most of this information and—and what I’ve got to show you next if it’s true. It could be a turning point for our side. They need immunity if they’re going to keep helping.” His hands rustled the papers again. Dumbledore watched him closely, his blue eyes never leaving his face.
“I shall read what this vital information is and then decide.” He said cooly. James handed over the papers.
Dumbledore read through them quickly. His eyes widening with each pass. He looked up, his mouth slightly agape.
“Merlin’s beard, they’re right.” He stood and began pacing behind his desk, muttering to himself. “How did I not see this myself? How could I have missed this?” He looked at James.
“They have immunity.” James sighed with relief. “But only if they continue to work with us to stop Voldemort. We need all the people we can get.” James nodded. The real fight was about to begin. He could feel it.
“Sir, there’s one more thing.” Dumbledore paused in his pacing to listen to what James had to say. “There’s a spy in the Order.” The tiny glass instruments on the tables burst into millions of pieces one after the other. The air shimmered as the glass dust settled to the ground.
James wasn’t entirely sure what had just happened, but he was almost certain that Dumbledore had just lost control of his magic.
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F-whump-ruary 24
How to participate:
Chose to do either:
all three weeks
two weeks
one week
or one of the star marked days.
You can switch out any promote with the star marked.
All types of media are welcome. Tag with #F-whump-ruary24 and which promote used.
Week A
Compassion
Tears
Sleep
Hurt/Comfort
Coping Method
Embarrassed
Cure
Week B
Injection
Spoons
Fever
Overwhelmed
Scar
Blind
Medicine
Week C
Heat-Stroke
Nightmare
Blood loss
Hallucination
Anxiety
Imprisoned
Betrayal
Star marked:
Sensory Overload
Hyperthermia
Migraine
Fear
Suppression
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