40. Who Is He To You

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Happy New Year everyone! Here's a brand new year of living, healing, adapting, and manifesting...and not to forget reading and writing! Let's hope 2022 will be a better year for everyone, and we shall conquer it together, as we did so far!

Let's start the new year with a new chapter!

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Dumbledore felt like throwing a tantrum that would have made a toddler proud. Nothing is going as planned!

All because of that damn Skeeter woman!

Curse that reporter for writing all those articles and bringing such prooves and laying it in front of everyone to see, ruining his reputation!

And the worst thing? He can't even locate the woman to stop her, to show her why it is bad news to mess with Albus Dumbledore. He can't even get the Prophet Editor to discharge her from her job, something about not being able to deny when she brings solid proofs, and the holder of the most share of Daily Prophet providing Immunity to anyone who brings any news with proper proof will get their article published and not dismiss!

Albus knew Ministry is the largest shareholder of Prophet, more than 5%, last he heard. But when he went to the Ministry to get those incompetent fools to stop Prophet, his ideas were disregarded because apparently, they need 'all the information they can get'!

Even his words are not enough nowadays! He, the great Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Chief Warlock of Wizengamot, Supreme Mugwump of ICW, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, winner of Order Of Merlin, first-class!

Albus mourns those days when people were in awe of him! Even the unbreakable trust of his Order members has taken hit because of something as mundane as a warning of theft from school funds and his minor mistake as thinking a near squib as a squib, which resulted in disowning the heir of Potter and later his unfortunate and untimely death! As if it had been him who killed the near squib! Why don't they understand that while taking funds from school was regretful, it needed to be done for the Greater Good! And the death of an unfortunate soul is definitely not on his hand. While he may have suggested the young and distressed Potter couple to leave their disowned squib son at her sister's house, Albus didn't know mere Muggles are even capable of killing a child! If Albus didn't read the forensic reports of the Muggle authority, he would never have believed that it was them who killed the child, not a mere unfortunate accident or Death Eater attack! Though he still has doubts, after all, Muggles wouldn't know everything, right? But apparently Lily has some trust in them, and it was not some kind of 'inexplainable condition' which is what they call in case of Magical death, so it was a genuine report!

The old schemer sighed in contemplation.

He really need to find the Skeeter woman first before he could employ the measures to stop her. Even if the latest victim of her current articles is the Late Head of the Department of International Magic Cooperation, Crouch Senior, as proved by this week's articles. Albus didn't know she would fall this low, attacking someone who is unable to defend himself! But by the time her attention was diverted, damage to his reputation has already been done! Dumbledore is surprised that he has still in position, though there might be some issue in ICW, but nothing he can't rebuff, yet! He can't risk any more of her articles, Merlin knows what she will reveal next. While Britain's population may still be in awe of him, which is definitely why they haven't considered taking his positions away, ICW is not easy to fool!

But his Order is already stretched too far thin for him to find out Rita's hiding place. Remus is still trying to find other werewolves packs to ensure their loyalties to the Light side, those from Ministry busy trying to find whatever they can about Lord Slytherin's schemes and plans. Rest are busy guarding the Prophecy Hall. Voldemort would be making his move soon. He will definitely be trying to get the Prophecy, the reason for his downfall.

Albus rubbed his eyes tiredly, before glancing at the grand clock of his office. Looks like Lily's shift is nearing the end, and Arthur will take over soon. Here's to hoping Tom will not use his Lord Slytherin visage to visit the Prophecy Hall. After all, the Lords of Pureblood families are not restricted from Prophecy Hall to check any Prophecy that may involve their family. Though, when he subtly inquired about it to the Unspeakable Professor of Hogwarts, he ensured him Lord Slytherin had never tried to get into the Department of Ministry. Was he trying to get his followers to take the Prophecy? Thankfully it was not possible. Only those involved with it will be able to touch it. Which means either Voldemort himself, or dear Jim.

Albus looked at his trinkets that adjourned his office. The one to track little Jim's location and health is whirling with life. He is now staying with Minnie at Hogwarts, and he was able to keep an eye on the child day and night. The only good thing that came out of this scandal. It makes Albus's scheming easier, having easy access to the boy to study him and learn exactly what special power he has and how it can be weaponized against Tom. He needs to learn if Jim is meant to die at Voldemort's hand, or his secret power is meant to kill him. He needs to train him likewise! 

Albus sighed, pulling his wand out and staring at it thoughtfully. He has too many regrets already, especially of his own teenage days when he had fallen for an obvious budding Dark wizard but was unable to see past being in love. Ariana's death hit it home. He had been horrified, realizing his sister's death is on his ledger. Yes, later Gellert had been regretful of his part of the incident and sent him an apology letter, but it didn't bring his sister back! And it didn't stop what he then proceed to do!

As a result, Albus had become instinctively paranoid of anything and everything related to Dark. Gellert had a beautiful Dark-core, which Albus believes is the reason for his apathy and sadism. Why else would he behave as such?

And then he met Tom Riddle, with Core that practically reeked of darkness, even more than Gellert's at his prime.

The alarms had been shrieking like a banshee inside his head when Albus's mage sight caught the sight of Tom's Core, along with his personality that indicated everything about him is Dark, evil. Gellert had been the same as him, brilliant, easy to temper, dual personality, uncaring yet charming when needed, apathetic to others. And how right he had been, when Lord Voldemort rose in power, killing and destroying everything in His way.

After his defeat at the hand of Jim, Albus had been relieved. Thinking it was finally over. No Dark Lord shall rise and try to fight for the Dark side. He was relieved until he met Lord Slytherin, and quickly realized Tom is not dead. Not yet.

How? How can a dead person come back?

How did Tom ensure his immortality? Is it true that he used Horcrux?

Dumbledore had his guess about it, but now, he is not sure. Mutilating one's soul is bound to alter their personality, sanity, and mental stability. But Lord Slytherin had looked as if he still possesses a full soul, his face has no trace of disfiguration or glamour, his Magic in its optimal health, his sharp intelligence, and cool behavior is nothing like the Lord Voldemort he knew about, who would throw Crucio at the smallest bit of inconvenience! This means he has either absorbed his Horcrux pieces, or used some other means of immortality. It worried Albus, not knowing what he did, how he came back. He has no knowledge of what kind of ritual Voldemort used to gain his body and sanity. He hadn't been able to use mage sight on him to compare his Magical Core with his old shelf, knowing very well that he would catch on if he tries and sue him for 'invading his privacy' and such rot! After all, Tom is not eleven years old with no previous knowledge of Magic anymore!

An alarm rang, breaking Albus from his musing. He had three seconds to compose himself before the Floo activated and a familiar redhead arrived with a green whirl of flame.

"Ah, Lily. Welcome, dear." Albus said, his blue eyes twinkling at the tired witch.

"Albus," Lily nodded curtly, trying not to show the exhaustion she felt. The last few months had been tiring for her soul and body. "Arthur has taken his shift. I will be leaving."

"Of course, of course. Sweets for dear Jim?" 

Lily hummed, gripping the bag full of Jim's favorite sweets tightly, turning around and leaving through the door. His baby boy had taken the news of the death of his elder twin brother really bad, both magically and mentally. Minnie had to take him to therapy to get him used to the now broken bond. Lily had read about the Magical Bonds after Severus supplied her, cursing all the stars for her stupid so-called Pureblood traitor husband and his equally stupid friends for never mentioning something like this. If she knew about them, she would have made sure Harry was truly a squib before disowning him, not trusting Albus's words for the safety of her son.

Fortunately, the therapist was an expert on these kinds of Bonds and he has been the one to inform them that Jim's craving for food and the nightmares is not natural, it was coming from his twin brother through their Bond, and he had no idea why and how he had been feeling that, having no memory of his brother. Which had resulted in his binge eating, the nightmares he always had about a huge man beating him. (Vernon Dursley, Lily gritted her teeth at the reminder. She used to think the said 'huge man' always on his dream was You-Know-Who, but apparently not. Jim had screamed in terror seeing Vernon's photo in the newspaper. She can't believe he scared Jim more than You-Know-Who ever did, and she surely will be hexing Vernon to next month if she ever gets her hands on him for hurting her baby boy. She used to send 500 pounds every month to take care of Harry, despite being disowned, and that's how they look after him?). Though she still doesn't understand why Jim is now going through the bizarre phase, stuck between eating whatever edible available near him ravenously, then suddenly stopping, looking green refusing to take another bite.

According to the therapist, he is mourning for his dead brother who was starved by his relatives, but Lily didn't understand how a child could mourn someone they never met? He is only a child!

Lily grimaced irritatedly and sighed, striding towards Professor McGonagall's office. It is Jim's birthday tomorrow, she still has lots of shopping to do and she is planning to take Jim shopping, if he agrees. Jim used to love all of his birthdays, yet he is refusing to take part in anything this year! Lily doesn't understand what happened to her little hyperactive son and she blames it on their stupid Magical Bond, or whatever it is paining him, making him grieve ridiculously!

The smile slipped from Albus's mouth as soon as Lily stepped out of his office. Not only the return of Lord Voldemort and a war that may be brewing on the horizon, add in the mess with the Ministry and he just found it difficult to keep himself calm and genial.

His two most loyal comrades, James, and Lily Potter are under probation for the charges against them, disownment, and possible death of an Heir of Noble family, Pureblood or not it doesn't matter to them. They even lost the rights over Jim because someone anonymously has tipped off the Wizarding Family Service Community Center that they couldn't be good enough parents for their child savior, if they had disowned their other child. Seriously, just because someone as insignificant as a disowned child had died because of some unfortunate accident, it doesn't give them the right to declare the Potters unworthy of raising children! Look at Jim, such a delightful little chap, a perfect savior for the wizarding world, his powerful light aura protecting him from any darkness. It had been Harry who was touched by the powers of the darkness, the invasive and all-consuming, probably on par with once Tom Riddle's had been. Which is why as soon as Albus noticed his diminished Magical Core, he quickly arranged to cart him off, away from a good and Light Magical family, to make sure his darkness doesn't touch his comrades and little Jim! While he knew dear Jim may suffer the consequences, it was needed to be done for the Greater Good!

Harry would probably never understand his family, being a Darkcored wizard; Jim's fame and the training he will be having to ensure his superiority would have driven him further into the darkness. So Albus is rather grateful that brat had died before he will no doubt grow up to become Tom Riddle 2.0. He doesn't need another budding Dark Lord in a good and loyal Light family, not with so many troubles already has been causing an uproar, though this is the first time a child he shipped off from their true family to a proper household had died instead of being any use of him.

Thinking about Harry brought some of the harsher memories, making Albus wince. The memories of the time the Family Service Community Center demanding an audience from the Potter family and then investigating all of them, and declaring them to be inadequate parents! Even after Albus vouched for them, explaining how they had become parents right after Hogwarts, teen parents without guardians to guide them. They made some mistakes and are capable of correcting them. They've just lost a child, surely Family Services is not so cruel to make them leave the other child? Apparently, they beg to differ, something about 'making sure they don't kill their other child as well' and such rot! As if Lily would let any harm come to her child!

Albus had used his connection to look into some usual questions they asked and taught them what to give as an adequate answer, knowing very well that James may botch it with his usual arrogance that went up to skyline when his son became the savior. What Albus didn't know is that Wizarding Family Service Community Center uses Magical vows before the investigation to make sure only the truth is revealed. The overconfident cretin didn't even oppose it, accepting the vow and then answering their question, too confident in their ability of parenting. As a result, it became clear to the Family Service witches that they're trying to lie or cover something. Further questioning revealed some absurd details like James is an alcoholic (which made another point of them being an inadequate parent, much to Albus's surprise) and the absence of his brain-to-mouth filter had him blurted out about how he had been spending the weekends by hooking up with Muggles in Muggle bars, instead of being with his family. While both James, Sirius, and other Pureblood families (even Albus, although privately) understood that occasional hooking up with Muggles is nothing scandalous, because they're, well, Muggles, but apparently Lily begs to differ, resulting in their marriage being on the point to shatter. Apparently, their wedding had been a non-magical one, which is probably how James had been able to get laid despite the Wedding Vows, it also means they do not have proper Magical Bonding between them and are able to get a divorce without any consequences of magical backlash.

Albus had to step in between their row, to prevent them from killing each other or worse, divorcing. Because first, it will create more scandal and reveal how the Lord of Ancient and Noble family has been shunning Wizarding World Traditional Wedding and following Muggle wedding, solidifying them to be Blood Traitors. Secondly, little Jim needs both of his parents to look after him, and save him from Dark Wizards. They're already being harassed by the Dark wizards and witches congratulating them on finding a 'Slytherin way' to 'handle their family disgrace', which is already stressful for them! Albus himself had to Obliviate those families from the memories of James hexing them to next week so they don't sue the moron, and make it more difficult for Albus to cover up!

Even after pulling every favor, he couldn't influence the witches of Family Service Community and stop them from declaring they are unworthy parents and demanding someone else to raise the savior, while James and Lily can meet with Jim every weekend.

Many families had been interested, and the number of Dark Families applying for Jim's guardianship was alarming. Dumbledore wanted to find out if Tom was behind this, wishing to get his hands on the Boy-Who-Lived.

Molly Weasley usually would have been the best to take care of little Jim, being the mother of so many children. she even agreed to take him, for a price, of course, but then someone point out how their house looks like would fall if the wind is heavy, and how heavily crowded the burrow is, which is not the appropriate place to raise another child. As a result, the Family Service Community had given a surprise visit to the Burrow and immediately deemed them unworthy, with a thinly veiled warning that they would be under their observation, having too many mouths to feed and too little amount to earn. Fortunately, their elder son is already working for Gringotts, and the second elder son is almost of age and looking for a job outside Britain. So they were saved, for now.

His only saving grace at the moment is Minerva has offered to take Jim as her charge for time being, and Family Service Community has granted her, even though Minerva had to go through the evaluation as well!

Albus was ready to rage. How and why did Family Service Community become so proficient and suspicious of everything so suddenly? They weren't like that even a few months before. It will hinder the Greater Good! There are a few students Albus had his eyes on, all from an abusive household, powerful, but meek and obedient as Albus wants them to be, perfect for his Order, loyal to him. But for them to come to him, Albus must be the savior in their eyes, not the witches from Family Service Community! He must disband the stupid department and dismiss their existence before it's too late. They're always getting in the way because of their short-sightedness. Albus needs to see if the members and workers of the Family Services are Dark wizards and witches!

A burst of flame caught his attention, he looked up to find Fawkes has disappeared. Albus frowned at that, lately, Fawkes is going out too much for his comfort. He needs to evaluate their bond and make sure the stupid bird can not deny him. Ignoring the bird, for now, Albus glared at the refusal letter in his hand, the one from Gringotts. Look at the damage the Goblins are doing, causing both monetary and reputational loss, refusing him further entrance to Hogwarts vaults! He knew he shouldn't have let those beasts have any rights! They're nothing but trouble, greedy, stupid little beast with good-for-nothing!

Even Tom's behavior is suspicious, he is not acting remotely close to anything that he knew Voldemort would act like. Investing in Muggle business? Designing for a new Magical area? Forcing everyone to become more proficient at Hogwarts? Upgrading the Hogwarts Library with stupid arts and Muggle science books? What is he playing at? Why is he trying so hard not to be related to Lord Voldemort? He was furious with the too-intelligent-for-his-own-good Slytherin, the damage he was causing, and the fact he had deviated from the warpath that Albus is so used to. And why Tom is suddenly so interested in Muggle healer for his 'son' and starts investing in the Muggle business? Voldemort is a known

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