Fate's Request: A Harry Potter FanFiction

Albus Dumbledore sat in his office with an unreadable expression on his face, pondering the end of the school year and Harry Potter. Thinking of young Harry eventually brought his two close friends, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger to his mind. The simple-minded Weasley was a good friend to Harry, bringing joy to his otherwise bleak life, he worried over the potential jealousy he could show towards him but alas only time would truly reveal such things. Thinking of the muggle-born genius brought a smile to his face, she was most definitely an excellent influence on Harry, probably responsible for keeping his grades up, even with the influence from the youngest Weasley boy being detrimental to Harry's learning. The fact that young Ronald had nearly failed out of first year, while Harry passed quite comfortably was at the forefront of Albus' mind, thanks to Miss Granger he was sure.

Thinking about the young Gryffindor girl eventually brought a frown to his face. Her other friend, David Cross… From what his heads of house told him the boy was brilliant, even Severus reluctantly praised the young Ravenclaw. So similar, yet so different to Tom Riddle… both were brilliant and Albus' paranoia drove him to the orphanage to inquire about David Cross' life there. What he found was very different from Tom. Quiet and kept to himself mostly, never stole or frightened the other children.

Following those revelations led Albus to watch the young prodigy more intently, what he saw worried him. He grew bored with Hogwarts as time went on, he approached his lessons with a certain amount of apathy. This, however, did not affect his grades in the slightest. He continued to compete with Miss Granger academically, but he had a certain something that Miss Granger lacked, his dealing with the Troll had been proof of that. What would a muggle-born with such magical prowess, who found the magic taught at Hogwarts boring eventually be turned too?

Was it right for him to be so suspicious of David Cross and yet allow Harry, who, for all intents and purposes also had those similarities to a young Tom… No, he would continue to watch Mr Cross and maybe ask Severus and Minerva to keep an eye on him as well.

In the meantime, he would make sure that the restricted section was clear of such magics as the creation of Horcrux's once more, just to be sure…

---

David smiled as he put down the Daily Prophet and took a sip of the coffee Mel had made for him. Lockhart had been arrested following his announcement of being the next Hogwarts Defence Professor, which meant that he was now in contact with Amelia Bones, that opened all sorts of doors in the years to come as he had proven his knowledge was accurate.

Perhaps other tips in the future? Would it be worth involving her in his plan at getting back at Lucius? He wasn't sure, one tip-off might allow him to avoid suspicion but another tip, against such a well-connected target? David was playing a game he had no real knowledge of, he was getting confused.

David took a deep breath and meditated for a short while, getting his thoughts under control.

Amelia Bones was a witch who had been murdered at the hands of Voldemort himself. That was already a ringing endors.e.m.e.nt if he'd ever heard one. If he could save her from her fate, she would prove to be a very useful ally in organising the muggle-borns he planned on saving form the hands of Snatchers and Death Eaters.

Getting her to trust him would take time, however, and perhaps going after Lucius in spite wouldn't be the best course of action in that regard. It was essentially political suicide. Furthermore, he needed to make sure she had absolutely no way of finding out who was tipping her off. A blunder like that would open a whole can of worms he would rather avoid.

Sighing to himself and realising that he would need to give Amelia Bones a lot more thought and planning, he decided to distract himself and pen a letter to Hermione, another of many he had written to her, about the possibility of meeting up during the coming weekend to spend some time together.

---

"Master, your Transfiguration is coming along nicely," Mel praised.

"Thanks, Mel, unfortunate I can't practice human Transfiguration, too much can go wrong and without a master being around… anyway, livestock will have to suffice," he said with an evil grin.

"Hmm, yes… unfortunate... while I'm glad you are studying so vigorously you do have a date with Miss Granger soon Master, it would be best not to be late," she teased David.

Rolling his eyes at Mel, he replied, "It's not a date and thanks for reminding me. I'll go have a shower and prepare."

"Very well Master, I'll be in the library when you are ready to head off for your date."

---

"David!" he heard a voice excitedly call out to him as he took a sip of butterbeer in the Leaky Cauldron.

"Hermione!" David replied in equal vigour, knowing immediately who had called out his name.

Immediately she enveloped him a warm hug and took a step back.

Looking slightly down at her due to their now apparent height difference he noticed her usual blush had been reduced to just a tinge of pink on her cheeks. He was grateful for this.

"Wow, you look great Hermione, especially your hair, I thought that it couldn't be tamed?" David asked with a grin on his face.

"Magic, David, magic has all the answers. But anyway, turns out there are some magical hair care products that really do allow my hair to become tameable. I doubt I'll use it often, but I thought I'd see what you think," she explained.

"Well, you definitely have my approval… err, not to say there was anything wrong with your hair before…" he blurted out, now hoping he hadn't started the date, no, simple outing with Hermione on the wrong foot.

"Nice save," replied Hermione with a laugh and continued, "my parents have some shopping and business to do in London today, so they've given me permission to spend the day in Diagon Alley. That gives us about 5 hours to hang out and explore!"

"Awesome, you don't mind if we make a stop at Flourish and Botts before we have to finish up do you? I haven't bought the new Defence book."

"Really David? It's me. Of course, we're going to be looking at books," immediately said Hermione while rolling her eyes.

"Right, should have known with all the time you spend in the library… you are most definitely a bookworm Hermione," David teased, ironically.

"Oh? This is coming from the guy that has his own personal library and essentially lives in the school library? Right. I'm the bookworm," she said right back.

"No idea what you're talking about, you must have mistaken me with someone else," said David with a grin as he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the Alley.

---

David and Hermione's not date was coming to an end as they both sat in a small restaurant hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the Alley. Both had dessert and coffee in front of them as they sat in comfortable silence.

Breaking said silence was Hermione who asked about their short-lived Defence Professor.

"Do you think its true? What they've said about Lockhart in the Prophet," she asked, valuing his opinion.

"Yeah, I've read some of his books… and most of his claims are outlandish and the dates for quite a few things don't match up," he explained truthfully, he really had gone through those god-awful books.

"Hmm, I wonder who the headmaster will bring in now…" she mumbled, accepting his reasoning sadly.

"Same, if Lockhart was his answer for Defence Professor… his second choice doesn't exactly inspire hope," David said in worry.

"I'm sure the headmaster will find someone competent," said Hermione while not looking entirely sure of herself.

"No point dwelling on it, and we have Professor Flitwick teaching us duelling! That'll certainly help with Defence," David said, looking forward to those lessons.

Hermione grinned in reply and glanced at her wristwatch, "Oh! We need to get moving David, my parents are probably at the Leaky Cauldron already."

"Okay let's go pay for our food, okay with a split bill?" he asked, going for his money pouch.

"Yup, lets hurry though."

---

Stepping into the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione immediately saw her parents who were waving her over.

"Oh, they're here already, I really wanted to introduce them to you, but they seem to be in a rush," she explained sadly.

"I wanted to meet them too Hermione, we'll figure something out," not too sure he really meant it.

Smiling at his response she almost shouted over the noisy patrons, "I had a really nice time David, don't stop writing to me!"

"Same, and you don't need to worry, I won't stop writing. See you later Hermione," this time meaning it.

Quickly taking a glance at her parents who seemed to be looking away and talking to each other, she quickly gave David a hug and before checking one last time, pulled herself away and gave him a kiss on his cheek and ran off before he could say anything.

Smiling to himself he watched Hermione go to her parents and walk towards the muggle entrance of the Leaky Cauldron.

Before Hermione disappeared, she turned back, caught David's eye and gave him a quick wave before chasing after her parent's.

David quickly disappeared out the door back into the Alley before calling for Mel while hidden from view.

"Ready Master?" Mel asked, appearing with a pop.

"Yup, let's go home."

---

"Unfortunately Master how the trace is placed is a matter of dispute and the only confirmation on the subject that I can give you is that they only monitor the homes and immediate vicinity of muggle-borns. I apologise for failing Master," Mel explained, looking down in shame.

"It's fine Mel, just a slight inconvenience…" David reassured her.

"Are you su-,"

"Mel, it's fine. Let's discuss more important matters," he said, cutting her off.

"Very well Master, the Auror Dawlish is now on our payroll and believes I am the House Elf of a prominent pure-blood family. He's given the vow, and this was all under an altered appearance of course," she replied, with a hint of mischief.

Laughing David quickly replied, "Well technically you are Mel. I wonder what the magical worlds reaction will be to discover that the House of Cross is alive once again."

With a glint in her eyes she informed David, "It will be many years till that day Master, the goblins are very good at keeping the ministry's mouth shut. We have paid them quite well for their services."

"That's good to hear, I really don't want the attention. Back onto Dawlish, any word on Lucius from him?" he asked.

"He explained that paying off the Minster in regard to Lucius and allowing the proper course of justice to occur wouldn't be a very good idea, the minster is in very deep with the Malfoy's," she explained, with a hint of distaste.

"It's amazing how corrupt they are… I mean, the Minister of Magic Mel!" David exclaimed.

Taking a breath, he asked, "He'll make his monthly reports into the running of the Auror department? And give us a detailed report of Ministry politics?"

Seeing Mel nod, David didn't say anything more.

Following which, they both sat in silence and pondered the implications that the Minster and elite law enforcement could be so easily bought.

Sighing in annoyance he turned to Mel and said, "I also want Dawlish digging around about the trace and taboo's, that's all I can think of for now Mel."

Nodding again, Mel went off to meet with their crooked Auror with his new instructions.

"I think I need a haircut," David said out loud as he ran his fingers through his now, slightly overgrown hair.