Headache.
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore could only describe his condition this way as he sat in his office, his hand resting against his desk. He used that hand to support his head; his eyes were closed as he reflected on what had just happened with Hagrid.
Nothing was going as it should.
All had begun since the Triwizard Tournament. When Harry's name appeared as the extra, as the fourth participant, Dumbledore knew that there was something at play, but due to the rule, he let Harry participate. Then, everything went wrong in the final task, where Harry disappeared, and Cedric was found dead. From Snape's dark mark, Dumbledore was able to confirm the return of Voldemort. At that time, Dumbledore had to deal with Cedric's death, making sure the students were in the right mood while trying to find the culprit behind the event.
Dumbledore was sure that it must have been a loyalist to Voldemort, but Albus did not find any clues. He suspected Karkaroff as the one who ran off immediately after Cedric's body appeared. Till now, his location has been unfound.
Strangely, that night, Alastor Moody also disappeared from Hogwarts. Dumbledore was not surprised due to the latter's paranoid and unbalanced character.
"Now that I think about it, Moody has not appeared since then," thought Dumbledore. Albus took a mental note that he would need to search for any news related to him.
His thoughts once again began replaying all the events that happened. Days after the disappearance of Harry came the news of his arrest, charged with the murder of his aunt and uncle.
This one came as a shock to Dumbledore.
He never expected the boy to lose himself to such darkness. That's why, when his trial happened, Dumbledore knew there was no other choice than to send Harry to Azkaban.
Maybe this is what Harry needed to be capable of facing his destiny, to defeat Voldemort.
He knew that the rest of the Order of Phoenix began to regard him differently after this decision, and after knowing how much Harry suffered at the hands of his Muggle family and that Dumbledore let it happen, but they did not know what he knew.
Waiting for the three months Harry was in Azkaban, Dumbledore had been preparing an agenda to help Harry guide him back on the right track.
Finally, things were going to be how Dumbledore wanted.
He was even preparing the Order of the Phoenix on the release day to prevent any of the Death Eaters from causing any trouble.
But things just had to get messy.
Why did Amelia have to make such a secret plan? He understood her decision, but still.
From Amelia's report, Dumbledore got the clue that Sirius Black was the one responsible for the attack on Azkaban and for causing the Death Eaters to be at large. Albus still could not believe that Sirius would resort to such a decision. On top of that, there was the death of five Aurors, including the death of Kingsley Shacklebolt, one of his insiders in the Ministry of Magic.
As if that was not enough, now Dumbledore was troubled by the death of the student Justin Finch-Fletchley and the arrest of Hagrid due to his bringing his Giant half-brother into the forbidden forest.
How could Dumbledore have predicted that such an event would bring such disaster?
Justin's death and Hagrid's arrest were too much of a coincidence to happen just after the events of Azkaban. Dumbledore became suspicious and decided to investigate on his own, but even after questioning Hannah, Susan, and several other students, he did not find any clue that could prove this to be a preplanned event.
"So many problems, all at the same time; now I don't even know what will happen to Hagrid." Dumbledore felt like his control over the situation was getting loose. With Cornelius Fudge still opposing him, Albus did not know how to help Hagrid with his problem.
Just then, one of the portraits belonging to the previous headmasters informed Dumbledore that there was a student waiting outside his office.
The student entered his office.
Neville Longbottom.
Throughout all the years that Neville was present in Hogwarts, this was the first time he had visited the headmaster's office.
Dumbledore watched Neville with a keen eye as the boy stepped hesitantly into the office. Like everyone who visited the headmaster's office for the first time, the boy looked around at the strange object. Neville's gaze finally landed on the majestic crimson-and-gold phoenix perched nearby. Fawkes tilted its head, watching Neville with a curious look. After staring for a moment at Fawkes, Neville walked up towards Dumbledore until he was standing in front of his desk.
"Hello, Mr. Longbottom," Dumbledore greeted him. "What brings you to my office?"
Neville hesitated, his mouth opening and closing, struggling to find the right words. He glanced down at his hands, then back up at Dumbledore, his expression shifting from uncertainty to one of quiet resolve. "I want to learn how to fight."
Of all the things, Dumbledore never imagined this request.
Dumbledore's eyebrows rose slightly, and he leaned back in his chair, resting his fingers together. "An admirable desire, Neville. May I ask what has prompted this?"
Neville had prepared himself for this question beforehand. "It's… It's everything that's happened. Cedric, Harry, and…" He paused, clenching his fists. "And now Bellatrix Lestrange is free."
For a moment, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore observed Neville silently.
"I understand your sentiment, Neville," Dumbledore said at last. "I really do. But this is a matter for Aurors and other experienced wizards. The Ministry is actively pursuing Bellatrix Lestrange and her fellow escapees. It is not something that should concern a student, no matter how noble their intentions."
Neville's hands tightened into trembling fists, his voice rising as he responded, pushing all his emotions into his words. "And what have they done, Professor? What have the Aurors or the Ministry done to stop her? She's still out there, free to hurt more people! Free to laugh while my parents..." His voice trembled, but he forced himself to continue. "While my parents are still in St. Mungo's, broken because of her! I can't stand by and do nothing. I won't."