#bad dumbledore

Tom.

Holly's fingers dug into the floor beneath her. Tom, he was her only friend. He was the only one who listened when she told him she was abused, and he never judged just because she was a parseltongue. Tom hadn't turned on her when her name had spawned from the goblet. Nor ignored her when Umbridge came into the picture. Tom was her only real ally. Her only friend. Tom was the one she loved, the other half of her soul. They were connected, and Holly wasn't letting either of them die here.

Dumbledore stepped forward, and the stern expression on Tom's face melted away to one of more concern, a mask like all the rest Holly instantly knew. "Once the ritual is complete, Tom's connection to Holly will be severed. All thoughts to the positive, we should see immediate recovery, and she should return to her original personality."

A mouse. Dumbledore was talking about when Holly had been eleven and desperate for anyone to look at her. When she'd tanked her grades for approval, skived her studies because Ron asked her too. When Holly couldn't handle the Dursley's. When she was nothing but a follower. Dumbledore was talking about Holly's personality before the diary dropped into her lap and showed her what she could be.

Holly clenched her fists, moved them despite the runes tying her down. She… she was the strongest witch in an age, and she would not allow a few runes stop her. Forcing herself to shift, to gain any sort of motion, Holly managed to smudge the rune closest to her and felt her thoughts moving a touch faster. Holly swiftly scanned the area, environment. Tom had always enforced the need to be aware of it; she spotted Snape off to the side with a blank expression, then turned back to Tom. From the side, Holly could see he was positively snarling at Dumbledore, an uncharacteristic amount of anger was on his face. Holly knew the expression was an act, yet she still found the idea he was that moved by her imprisonment flattering. Even Dumbledore seemed slightly taken aback because Tom was usually far more eloquent and manipulative. This emotional version was a surprise to them all. But as Dumbledore assumed and Holly knew, it was an act to distract Dumbledore so Holly could escape.

"Let her go! Take me instead!"

That wasn't a surprise either, not considering what Holly housed. She was the key to Tom's revival but… but not the one she preferred. Holly was the key to Voldemort's soul, not Tom. Because Tom was nothing but a revived Horcrux. He was the diary brought into physical existence through Holly's magic, a Muggle sacrifice, and years of planning. Tom was also considered Holly's teacher and guard, just as she was supposed to be his. They'd both failed today… Voldemort would be furious.

Tom would be killed if she didn't do something, and the Horcrux within her would be ripped away. Then Holly would be reduced to a shell, and she would not expect Voldemort to help her; he wouldn't. The only one who would was… Tom.

Holly snapped her eyes to the floor again and tried to move her hands again. Every shift was hard-won, but each shift smudged another poorly drawn rune. It was intelligent work, Hermione's probably, but the attention to the big picture was missing. Tom was like that too. He was beyond smart, but he didn't miss the obvious; he'd never have drawn the runes for the critical ritual in chalk. Holly moved again, Tom was distracted the group entirely all but for Snape. This was quite the test for the spy. To speak out or not, his choice could doom her. She had to act regardless. Holly shifted her foot, scuffed a rune there. She wiggled her body while Tom completely 'lost it.' She rubbed her head on the ground, got chalk in her hair and- could move.

Tom was intelligent; he was the smartest person Holly knew. He knew obscure magic that Dumbledore couldn't even dream of. Tom knew how to revive the dead, prevent death, and craft a body using ritual sacrifice without ever needed to harm Holly. He was smart, and that was where the danger came from. Tom was a genius with a level of control over his magic that was unheard of. This was the reason Voldemort had been so terrifying before his original defeat. This was also why, while still insane, Voldemort had been a tenth of a threat. Because Voldemort was madness and wild magic, he had been uncontrolled and had none of Tom's strengths.

Holly wasn't smart like Tom was. She didn't have the extreme control he could pull off. Holly could cast wandlessly, on occasion without effort, because Holly knew spells just that intimately. But what Holly lacked for in control and genius-level intelligence, she more than made up for in power. Holly was brute strength, the kind that allowed her to knock out a dragon with a stupefy. The type that froze entire lakes with a flick of the wand. That could force a whole hoard of Dementors back with one Patronus.

She was power.

Holly shoved her hands on the ground, hurled herself into a crouch and tossed her palms outward. Dumbledore hadn't even realized she was free yet, not like Snape, who'd never taken his eyes from her. Dumbledore only noticed when Tom finally smiled. That insane expression, a manic look that made Tom resemble Voldemort. The sign that the creation of the first Horcrux hadn't entirely left his soul unaffected- and then Dumbledore was flying across the room. He and the order cracked against the walls under the sheer force of Holly's magic. One moment of distraction that Tom earned her, and they were defeated.

Tom's smile grew until it was all teeth. Nothing charming was left in its wake, but oh how Holly loved it when he smiled like that. Tom was real like this.

"Well done, Holly."

Her magic swirled around her like a whirlwind. Holly scarcely noticed Hermione begging her to let them help her. Didn't acknowledge Remus telling her she was being possessed, controlled. Or Arthur and Molly yelling that she would end up like Ginny… Tom was proud of her- Holly smiled a little bit crazed. They didn't get it. They thought the diary was controlling her; they thought she had no control over her actions. That she was blank, had large gaps of memory loss, that Tom was utterly in control, and Holly needed to be saved.

They had no idea.

No idea that Tom had never once taken over her body. He'd simply offered her the acceptance that Dumbledore had designed her to crave freely. He'd built up her loyalty over years. Had been a willing ear, a patient but firm teacher. Holly hadn't been wrong in her assumption that she and Tom were soulmates, for she was well aware that she held a part of his soul. He understood her in a supernatural way. Perhaps it was because Tom knew from the Horcrux within her. Maybe he'd cheated and had read her mind. But Holly was long past caring.

Holly looked to Snape, the only one who hadn't been thrown back and watched him kneel as she scuffed the runic work tying Tom down with her trainers. Holly stepped into the runic circle herself and plucked the diary, that sentimental empty Horcrux, from the ring's center and held it close. She then freed Tom from the chains while her former friends wailed and pleaded. Tom stepped free as Dumbledore tried to escape, to ordered Severus to do something. Tom stalked the room, debating their next step.

Eventually, Tom approached Snape and snatched hold of his arm. Snape smothered a flinch even as he kept his head low in deference. "I am uncertain what to do with you Severus, you didn't warn of this… but nor did you interference with Holly's escape." Tom grabbed Severus' face and forced it up, "It seems time to truly discover where your loyalties lie."

Holly knew Tom would plunder Snape's mind for any information he deemed necessary. Such a thing could take days, hours, or minutes. She suspected the latter though, they weren't exactly safe, and he wouldn't allow himself to remain unfocused for too long. Not with Dumbledore so close, not while the man was actively attempting to escape. To prevent any… mistakes, Holly flicked her hand to disarm the group and palmed Dumbledore's wand for future casting.

"Select one within the group, they will be the final ingredient for your Horcrux."

Holly glanced at Tom, he was still looking at Snape, but he'd spoken his order in her head. And it was an order, so Holly got to work. She turned toward the small group, still pinned to the wall debating. Remus was dismissed; the werewolf aspect could cause issues, and despite everything, Holly still held some measure for Remus through her parents; that and Sirius probably would disapprove. Molly, Minerva, and Hermione were likewise dismissed out of sheer disinterest; they didn't feel right. This left Kingsley, Arthur, Ron, and Dumbledore.

That would be poetic.

“Harry?” 

He groaned and then winced. His head hurt. He reached up to rub his temple not that it seemed to relieve any of the pain. 

“Harry? My boy are you alright?” 

“What happened?” He asked, his head was a mess. It was like his thoughts were cloudy and when he tried to remember what happened, everything was just fuzzy. 

“You fainted.” The headmaster said, sticking his hand out to help Harry up. He fainted? why didn’t that sound right? And where was Madam Pomfrey? Shouldn’t she be here if he fainted? He shook his head, trying to clear the doubt. Why would the headmaster lie? 

It took him two attempts to find his feet and when he did he grabbed for his wand. Which made him feel silly. Again he shook his head, though he didn’t put it back in his pocket. 

When he looked at the headmaster, he noticed the man watching him carefully. His blue eyes on Harry’s wand.

“Are you alright, Harry?” Dumbledore asked and Harry nodded. His head felt like it had been kicked in but other than that he felt okay. 

“Then perhaps you should put that away?” The headmaster smiled when he said it but something about the tight smile and pointed look was off. The hairs on the back of Harry’s neck stood on end.

“What am I doing in your office Professor?” Harry asked, the wand still held tight in his hand. Dumbledore frowned and Harry felt sweat start to build on the base of his neck. Why couldn’t he shake the unsafe feeling? 

“I asked you here to talk about you’re classes this year, you don’t remember?” Harry shook his head no and winced at the pain that vibrated through his skull. 

“You wanted to drop divination, I believe?” The headmaster asked. Harry thought about it. He had been thinking about dropping that class this year. It was pointless and he was sick of listening to crap predictions about his death. 

“Yeah?” He said, still not really sure. He moved to sit in one of the large chairs before him. His legs shook and he ended up leaning against the back, not quite able to make it all the way. He tried not to notice the way the headmaster tensed when he moved, or the fact that Dumbledore's wand was in his hand resting in the old man’s lap. 

“Well do you know what you wished to take instead, my boy?” Dumbledore asked. And Harry was stuck with the oddity of it all. The way the headmaster was sitting on the edge of his desk, the way they both held their wands, and the cautious look the man kept giving him. Not to mention the nagging voice in the back of his mind that kept reminding him he would have gone to Professor Mcgonagall if he wanted to change up is classes. 

“Runes.” Harry blurted out. It wasn’t a class he had any real interest in but it was the first thing that came to his mind. Right now he didn’t care about what class he would be stuck in, he wanted out of the headmasters office. 

I see.” The headmaster said tilting his head to the side. “That is a complicated class Harry, are you sure?” 

Frustration filled him and Harry pushed away from the chair, “Ye--” His head exploded and he grabbed it crying out. 

He fell to his knees all the while clutching his head. 

“Harry?” He heard the headmaster say through the ringing in his ears. An image of said headmaster pointing his wand at him crept through his mind, followed by the man shouting a spell at him. Harry gasped and fell forwards, hands going to the floor to keep him from falling face first into the carpet. 

Fuck, he cursed inward, remembering what had happened. He moved his right hand trying to subtly feel for his wand on the floor. He had dropped it, because of the pain a second ago and he needed it. Only he couldn’t find it. 

“Harry, what happened?” He heard Dumbledore get off his desk and tried not to tense. 

“My…head?” he stuttered out. “I think I need to see Madam Pomfrey.” 

“Stand up, Harry.” Gone was the caring gentle tone. Harry cringed, and looked up at the man he once trusted. Once again he found the headmaster’s wand pointed at his face though this time the man holding it seemed just as shocked as Harry. 

“How?” The headmaster muttered, as he looked Harry over. Then something sparked in his eye and the old man sneered, “Tom.” 

“Tom?” Harry asked confused, his right hand still searching the damned floor for his wand. 

“Doesn’t matter.” Dumbledore told him, “Now stand up!” The order was harsh, something akin to Harry’s uncle’s tone when he was pissed and wanted to take his anger out on Harry. Only this time Harry didn’t think he would be able to run away until the anger faded away. 

Carefully he stood up. He tried not to show the old man how scared he was, after all he had stood against Voldemort, he could stand against Dumbledore. 

“What are you going to do?” He asked, “You can’t obliviate me, clearly.” He was a little surprised by his own mockery.

The Headmaster’s gaze narrowed, “no, it seems I can not.” With a swish of his wand Harry found himself tossed into the chair he had been leaning against before, ropes appearing to hold him down. 

“You bas--” He tried to shout but another wave of Dumbledore's wand and he couldn’t make a sound. 

The man moved behind his desk, Harry watched as he searched the shelves for something. 

“You must know Harry, this is not what I planned. You seemed to have a habit, my boy, for ruining my best laid plans.” The man shot Harry a cold look before he turned away to look at a shelf full of small glass bottles. 

Potion bottles, Harry’s mind supplied and his heart started to race. The headmaster was going to kill him. He could feel it in his bones. It didn’t matter what the wizarding world would think, Harry had a feeling the ‘leader of the light’ would twist it around to make him look like he died a hero, then use it for his own means. It made him sick to his stomach, how had he not seen it before, Dumbledore was using him. And now that Harry knew, he couldn’t be allowed to leave. 

He swallowed around the lump in his throat. He wanted to beg and plead, but even if he wasn’t silenced he wouldn’t have. He had never begged for his life from the Dark Lord he wouldn’t do it now. 

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and hope filled Harry, before Dumbledore could call them to enter or tell them to get lost the door opened and Herminore stuck her head in. Her eyes widened when she saw Harry and he tried to call out to her for help. 

“Professor?” She asked, entering the man’s office. The door closing behind her. 

The headmaster turned to look at her, he gave her a grim smile, “A small hitch in my plans, my dear, nothing that can’t be handled.” Harry’s blood ran cold as his best friend just nodded her head in acceptance.

“Well, his disappearance from the common room wasn’t missed, Sir, that’s why I am here. Some of the others are starting to ask where he is.” Harry cursed and shouted, though it was all muted because of the headmaster’s spell. 

“Tell them he is in detention. I believe he has been serving a number of them with Professor Umbridge.” 

Hermione nodded, “I’m sure Ron can come up with a good enough lie to convince the other.” She said and turned around and headed for the door. “Goodnight, headmaster.” She said and then she was gone. 

Harry stared at her completely lost. How could she betray him? She was supposed to be his friend. He could feel tears falling down his cheeks. First the headmaster and now Hermione, possibly Ron as well. Was it all a lie? Were all his friends lying and betraying him? And why? That was the biggest question rattling around in his brain, why? 

“Ah, here it is.” The headmaster said suddenly breaking Harry out of his heartbroken thoughts. 

He watched as the man crossed the room and only stopping before Harry, a small purple bottle* in his hands. 

“Drink this!” The man demanded and Harry couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows because seriously? No way in hell was he going to just drink something the headmaster wanted him too. What the hell was the man thinking?

“You know, Harry, there is a very efficient spell, that medwiches use to feed potions to unconscious or uncooperative patients.” The headmaster waved his wand over the bottle muttering something before pointing his wand at Harry’s stomach and then Harry could feel it, the sudden weight of something filling his stomach. He tried to struggle against the ropes holding him but it did no good. 

“Now.” The headmaster leaned down and grinned into Harry’s face. “Mutatio Interiorem Bestia.”