CHAPTER : 82

The house was absolutely still, the only movement that of some dust particles that were visible in the beam of sunlight coming through one of the windows. This stillness was suddenly broken by a loud noise as three figures suddenly appeared in the middle of the living room. A dark haired young man accompanied by a petite blonde and a small elf. The elf, for some reason was wearing a floppy green hat from which a number of corks were hanging on strings. He was also holding a long wooden stick that was hollow and decorated with painted stripes.

Luna staggered around for a bit before sinking into the sofa with a relieved sigh. "Oh dear," she said. "No matter how many times we do it, I always end up getting so dizzy."

Harry laughed lightly, "Yeah, those international portkeys are a bitch. Still, getting from Melbourne to California in less than a minute more than makes up for the dizziness and nausea. Still, next time let's wait a bit to recover from the portkey before apparating home."

Luna kicked her shoes off, put her feet up and wiggled her toes happily. "Aah yes, that's good," she said. "No matter how much fun Brazil and Australia were, it's so good to be home."

Harry and Dobby started pulling out shrunken packages from their pockets and piling them up on the floor. It would take them a little time to get everything un-shrunk and put away. Luna and Dobby did love picking up souvenirs, after all. "Yeah," he agreed, "Nothing quite like getting back home after a long trip."

He took a deep sniff and looked around. "It feels a bit stuffy in here though. Guess we need to air the place out a bit. Been shut up for too long," he said as he strode across to the windows and pulled back the curtains.

A sudden movement caught his eye and he stared out the window at the trees lining the street. Was that a... There was a sudden flash of light and what he had been staring at disappeared. Well, that certainly removed all doubt.

"Luna, could you be a dear and make yourself scarce for a bit. I think we're about to get some company of the long bearded and senile type," he said.

"Why?" asked Luna plaintively. "I just got comfortable."

"There was a phoenix sitting in the tree across the road, and it's just flashed away. No doubt, Dumbledore had Fawkes stationed here looking out for our return. That means, he going to probably show up here pretty soon," explained Harry.

Luna humphed a bit and pouted. "I don't see why you make me hide from him every single time he comes over. It's ridiculously inconvenient."

"Oh come on," cried Harry. "We've discussed this. You know, it's best that he knows as little as possible about me."

"Sooner or later he's going to find out anyway. Well, if he continues to come around, that is," said Luna.

"And later would be better than sooner," said Harry as he gently shooed her out of the room and up to the bedroom where she would be safely out of the way.

Less than ten minutes later, Dumbledore was indeed pressing away at the button on Harry's gate. A few minutes after that, Harry had allowed the man in and plunked a cup of tea in his hands. No matter his personal feelings, there was no need to not at least give him a cup of tea. They were British after all.

"You were gone for quite a long time," said Dumbledore. "I came by several times looking for you. I'd begun to fear that you would never come back and since I no longer have a way of finding you since you took back my tracker..."

Harry shrugged. "I was only away for a couple of months," he said. "I never got to see much of the world as I was growing up. It's nice to be able to travel and see the world now that I can."

Dumbledore shrugged uncomfortably and peered at Harry over the top of his spectacles. Really, did the boy have to keep bringing up his unfortunate childhood? It always made Dumbledore uncomfortably aware of his failings.

"So what did you want, this time?" asked Harry. "You know I'm not going to come and fight old Voldie for you, no matter how nicely you beg."

"Yes, I am quite aware of that fact, Harry. I know only too well that you have chosen not to believe in the prophecy. However, I wanted to ask you to contemplate Pascal's Wager," said Dumbledore.

"Pascal's Wager?" asked Harry in confusion.

"Blaise Pascal was a muggle scientist and philosopher, he put forward the argument that..."

"Wasn't he the guy that units of pressure are named after?" asked Harry.

"Possibly," said Dumbledore. "I have never studied the Muggle sciences in great detail. However Pascal was also a philosopher who made a most interesting argument for why the rational person must believe in the existence of a higher power, namely God."

"Somehow, I never expected you to start talking about religion," said Harry.

"Yes, it is a fact that most Wizards do tend to be more spiritual rather than religious and as for the Christian faith - It is hard to follow a religion that advocates for the extermination of your kind. Although, I was once told that the passages in the Bible that call for Witches to be put to death were actually mistranslations so perhaps... Anyway, that is all very much beside the point," said Dumbledore.

...

....

Join my P*atreon for 100 premium chapters ahead of the public release. 

Link: pa*treon.com/MysticVerse (Remove the *)

Free members also get 2 advanced chapters for free.