Harry Potter The King of Elves

Albus almost felt like dancing as he made his way toProfessor McGonagall's office. Indeed he would have, but sadly that particularskill was one he lacked any real talent in. When the jolly old man arrived atthe Deputy Headmistress's office he found the door open and a kindly lightshining forth.

He peeked in to see stacks of envelopes all around herdesk as she shifted one envelope after another from pile to pile after a lighttap of her wand. The warm glow in his chest grew with the knowledge that hehadn't missed the Mailing. Aside from the Welcoming Feast, it was his favoritetime of the year.

"Ah, Professor McGonagall, everything going well Isee," he said to his hard-on-the-outside-yet-creamy-in-the-center Head ofGryffindor House. Albus made the mental note to refresh his candy stores forthe upcoming year sometime soon. It wouldn't do to run low on Lemon Drops,someone might actually want one this year.

"I trust everything worked out for the best in myabsence?" he asked.

"Sadly no," she said wiping a tear from hereye.

"There, there, Minerva," Albus said comingaround to put a comforting arm around his Deputy. "Whatever could be thematter?"

"It's the children, Albus. The Hopefuls,"Minerva sniffed into a tartan handkerchief. "I fear Hogwarts must breakits word to them. I didn't know whether to write them or visit them in personto explain but - just the thought of those poor children's faces when theylearn they won't be able to attend-."

The soft old Scot blew her nose in almost comedicfashion, and new tears made her eyes reflect the candlelight that lit the room,much like her feline animagus form did when on the prowl.

"Fear not," Albus said kindly. "I'll seewhat I can do."

'Surely the money from Gringotts would have arrived bynow,' Albus thought. Perhaps it was something as simple asforgetting to sign one of the transfer orders. 'Even Ican make mistakes after all .' He almost chuckled at the thoughtbut knew it would do nothing to cheer his longtime work acquaintance. He wouldhave to remember to have a good chuckle later.

If such an unlikely event were to happen though it'd justbe a matter of moments before the funds started flowing again. 'As fast as a Fawkesian flash,'he thought.

"I do hope you have better luck than I did,"McGonagall said. "I did what I could to fill your shoes when you were gonebut could only scrounge up enough in donations to cover a year of tuition for asingle student, and that's without providing any means of support for thesupplies themselves."

"I don't suppose any mail came for me while I wasgone?" he asked with a knowing smile.

"Just the normal Ministry owls," she said asshe returned to her work.

A small tendril of worry started to burrow into hisheart, leaching away the life and warmth within as his face showed concern forthe first time. Could something be wrong at Gringotts? Not even the havoccaused by Tom's reign of terror had ever caused this kind of disruption in themissuing their monthly account statements. Perhaps he would have to pay them avisit, just to make sure.

With tap after tap of McGonagall's wand bright green inkappeared on envelope after envelope showing the name and current location ofeach recipient. Albus picked up one of the completed stacks and started leafingthrough them.

"Unless they decide to spend the night somewherethey weren't fifteen minutes ago those will still be right," she said asif wondering why he was still there.

"Of that I have no doubt," he said jovially."Merely looking so I can recall their smiling faces."

"Their faces won't be smiling when Halloween rollsaround and the Feast has to be cut," the Scotswoman said, back in hernormally clipped tone. "And the teachers won't be smiling when salariesare slashed. Gilderoy Lockhart may try to quit if that happens, contract orno," she finished derisively.

His deputy never saw the Greater Good at work. How couldit not be in everyone's interest to expose the man for the fraud he is? Andwhat better way to do it then to place him in a position of power and authorityover children eager to learn? That those children must first buy copies ofevery one of his books as reading material and sacrifice a year of theirDefense education to give the incompetent man this chance to hang himself wassimply the price that must be paid. Albus could not abide frauds.

At last Albus saw the name he sought amidst the group ofSecond Years and smiled as he saw the address. This had to be the Greater Goodat work. Where there was a problem, the Greater Good always provided. Ifsomething was wrong at Gringotts, then Harry was the answer. How lucky it washe was at the home of the Weasleys.

"You have the letters to the Hopefuls handy?"the kind old man asked, placing the Second Year Mailings back on the desk.

"Yes, they're right here," McGonagall said,handing him three thin envelopes. "I think I should visit them myselfinstead. It's the right thing to do," she said sadly.

"Give me a couple of days to see to them," hesaid softly as he pocketed the envelopes. "I'm sure something can be done.A few days may see a world of difference."

"Of course," Minerva said. "If you thinkit's best."

The kindly old grandfather of the wizarding world bid hergoodnight and made his way up to his room, making sure to stop off by theOwlery along the way.

...

The fluttering sound of hundreds of wings filled thenight sky as the massive stream of owls left Hogwarts for parts unknown.Tomorrow people the width and breadth of the country would wake up to theirmuch anticipated Mailings. It would be like Christmas to them.

Up in his tower, Albus smiled. He had always loved thesight of all those owls winging their way off to all points beyond but it hadbeen years since he had directly contributed to the yearly event. He had sohated to change things last year but it had been necessary; today though it wasdifferent. Giving the owl on his arm one last stroke on the head he sent it offinto the night with a thin letter of its own to deliver.

Where there was a need, the Greater Good provided, andeverything worked itself out the way it was meant to be.

.....

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