Taking a lemon drop out of the chard silver bowl resting on his desk, he was careful to avoid the ones laced with a calming draught and a weak dose of truth serum, since they were intended for the students brought to his office... as well as any politicians that had a sweet tooth.
So people would question the ethics of drugging the offered sweets, but their primary purpose was to help relax panicking students that had been brought to his office. And ultimately help him get to the root of the issue faster, after all, he was important man and couldn't afford to waste his ti, which could be better spent elsewhere.
After all, he had to manage three different full-ti positions, as well keep the Ministry running effectively behind the scenes. Of course, his various assistants managed most of the day-to-day paperwork, allowing him to focus on the bigger issues, and they made such excellent scapegoats if a policy backfired.
Of course, there was an even faster way to get to the bottom of the problem. He could simply use his skills in Legilincy to solve the issue, but first that was illegal and could lead to more problems in the future.
And on a more personal note, he'd rather avoid looking into his students' minds at all; even his master-level legilincy would not allow only getting the specific information he sought after, a student's mind was disorganised, unfocused, and chaotic at the very best of tis, driven entirely too much by hormones for his liking.
He almost always got various rumours, daydreams and fancies the students had as well. How many fancies had he seen of Professor Vector since he'd hired her? He shook his head at the number of sexually charged teenage fantasies he'd seen; it wasn't just the boys either!
So now he was waiting for Molly's youngest son to arrive; he was sure the boy would agree to assist him in keeping his friend safe. After all, what more honourable thing could an individual be asked to do than to help protect a friend from themselves, as well as help guide his friend into the future. Besides he was AlbusDumbledore, the next rlin in the eyes of the magical world, particularly in Britain, how could the boy refuse him? He had worked tirelessly over the years to create that image, that of a wise-old mage.
Truthfully, it was far easier to get people to work with you if they were in awe of your prowess and ability. It was probably one of his best choices he had made in all his years; how many battles had he won simply by his presence, his na, his legend? How many bills had he blocked due to that very legend and personally denouncing it? How many people had willingly bound themselves to his cause? Honestly, he didn't know, there had been so many over the years.
Detecting a faint pulse of magic announcing the boy's arrival, he quickly looked over his shoulder to see his beloved phoenix sitting proudly on his perch, blazing bright in its full elental glory, as if looking down ready to pass judgent on all who ca before it. Fawkes truly looked amazing on days like these, truly grand and imposing. Making sure the whole office was the way he wanted, he straightened his robes, before stating firmly, "Co in Mr Weasley" lacing his words with voice magic.
Watching as the first year boy entered his office, the boy suddenly froze just past the entrance, his jaw dropping in wonder.
He internally chuckled at the familiar sight; with how many tis he had seen that particular look of amazent, of awe over the years, it never got old. He decided to go with his kind, grandfather persona for this eting, since he often visited the boy's mother Molly, one of his most loyal supporters. Molly was a bit extre in her views, but it was never in doubt that she loved her children dearly, and reminded him a bit of his sister.
He also knew that Ron had most likely inherited his mother's views on light and dark magics, making him an ideal candidate for the task at hand, considering his close friendship with Neville.
He decided to use the boy's shorter na since he knew the boy hated his longer na, as his mother only used it when she was in 'banshee' mode and was punishing the lad; and he didn't want the boy to think of this as a punishnt. "Please sit down Ron," he said magnanimously, while gesturing to the cosy seats.
Soon as they were settled down and comfortable he asked kindly, "Lemon drop?" holding the bowl forward, allowing the boy to take a couple.
Smiling kindly, he made eye contact, allowing him to feel the boy's surface emotions as the calming potions took effect. "Now Ron, I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you to join in my office, first let say that you're not in trouble," raising his hand to emphasize the point and stall any backtalk.
"I know it was the twins who pranked Professor Snape," he offered with a kind-hearted smile, before continuing. "However, I have an important task that you are ideally suited for," seeing the boy's chest puff out in importance as he took another lemon drop.
"Now Ron, I'm sure you understand that your friend Neville is often a target for misguided people, who wish him harm, such as bewitching his broom," linking the idea to the recent Quidditch match... "Or want to use him for their own malevolent goals," his tone going low and serious, deciding to play up the danger.
"What I need you to do Ron is to keep your friend away from the dark families. After all, it wouldn't do for the Boy-Who-Lived to beco a dark wizard, now would it?"
Ron just nodded; a bit speechless as his mind processed the statent. He saw that the child's mind had suspicions that Professor Snape was behind the bewitching of Neville's broom. Making a snap decision, he decided to fail to ntion that Professor Snape had been chanting a counter curse under the headmaster's orders.
Severus would play the role of the villain, ensuring that Neville would continue in the belief that the potions master was behind the attack for so ti, widening the bridge between the Gryffindors and the Slytherins... ensuring the boy didn't interact with his social equals within Slytherin... and continued to stay where he could be moulded and distracted to the Headmaster's liking.
"Neville could never be a dark wizard; he killed You-Know-Who!" Ron finally burst out, as his mind finally caught up with he had said.
He continued to use his grandfatherly tone, but spoke soberly, "Everyone can fall to the darkness Ron, that's why we need to keep Neville firmly in the light," he chided, before deciding to throw in an example, as he saw the image of Draco Malfoy popping into the child's mind.
"It wouldn't do for the boy to start hanging around with young Mr. Malfoy; who knows what dark magic he could learn then," seeing the boy's face go red, he felt fear and jealously coming from the lad as he faked a shudder for good asure.
He already knew that Arthur and Molly despised the Malfoy family, and would have spread that belief to their children, but Ron was actually jealous and envious of Draco due to his wealth? 'Interesting,' he ntally noted, before pushing deeper into the boy's mind, searching for the necessary mories to explain it, before pulling out as quickly as he entered.
A ntal note was made that he could use that jealousy to always separate Neville from Ron if need be in the future, the boy already growing envious of Neville's fa and wealth...
Continuing on to prevent another outburst, he used his aura to help keep the boy quiet, "All I want you to do, is make sure Neville only makes friends with light-side families, and inform if he starts wandering away from the light, or starts practicing dangerous magic. This is so I can guide him back, before it's too late" he warned, while shifting his features to a wise and concerned elder.
Watching patiently as the boy nodded in understanding, he decided to add a carrot to ensure the boy would leap to the task, "Of course, you will be rewarded for your efforts, it wouldn't be fair on you to do it for free," seeing the boy's face light up at prospect of an unnad reward.
"That said, I couldn't give it to you directly, I would have to give it to you through your parents, since you're still not of age, but if you help out with this task, I will help you out the best I can without making it too obvious.
The Quidditch World Cup is in a couple of years ti...Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could go with all of your family," planting a hint, whilst the young Gryffindor smiled at the thought of his reward.
"Now, I need you to make a quick vow of silence, to ensure that you don't speak of this." He summoned his wand wandlessly to his hand, once again leaving the boy speechless from the display of his magical prowess.
Naturally, he was reluctant to require a magical vow from a child; but it just wouldn't do for the boy to speak about what he'd just been tasked with, as he studiously ignored the silent stares of the previous headmasters and mistresses watching him intensely from their portraits, 'Good thing their magic forces them to obey the current head of the school, otherwise they'd be shouting their heads off,' he ntally admitted.
It was all for the greater good, it wouldn't do for another dark lord to rise on his watch, one was bad enough, Magical Britain would never survive two dark lords back-to-back in such a short span of ti. He instructed Ronald in the wording of the Vow.
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