Chapter 1 - The Will of Dorcas Meadowes

September 9, 1981

The news of her death had left an anxious wrinkle on his forehead. Another one added to the traces left on his face by his long existence.

His large office seemed small to him as he paced it for perhaps the thousandth time since it had dawned a few hours earlier.

He had to plan a meeting's Order, gather its members, calm the spirits and fears, act, protect, but he continued to roam his office from side to side.

In fact, Albus Dumbledore was in fright at the immeasurable task ahead of him, a task Dorcas Meadowes had given him a few days before her death.

"The outlines of the future have been drawn professor and it is not in our power to change them," she told him then. "To try it is to burn yourself and the consequences are terrible, devastating. "

Her voice held a funeral tone. She had handed him numerous vials with evanescent contents. On each of them, a date had been handwritten.

"Each vial represents a piece of the future. It is imperative that you follow the instructions exactly."

It had been a long time since all formality had been eliminated between them. He was only a pawn on the chessboard that was given to her that she used wisely.

Albus knew what he had to do, what Dorcas expected of him, but what she asked him was difficult. He had accepted the vials and put them on his desk.

"You are asking me nothing more than to do nothing, knowing that good people will perish, suffer or worse Dorcas. It's not human. "

For the first time since the beginning of their conversation, she had laid eyes on him. Her eyes were weary, worn, timeless. She was not nearly 22 years old. He was almost 100.

"It will be neither the first nor the last time that you will have to act like that Albus. "

On these prophetic words, she had left his office. This was the last time Albus Pervical Wulfric Brian Dumbledore saw Dorcas Tabitha Meadowes alive.

Without noticing it, his steps led him to his Pensieve where there were dozens of flasks with translucent and dancing liquid. He opened the one on which was written "September 9, 1981, 8:51". His gaze turned to his clock and saw that it was time.

He poured the contents of the vial into his Pensieve and plunged into it with the certainty that what he was going to accomplish was for the greater good.

ooOoo