Someday I'll write something this good and actually own it. Today is not that day. Don't sue me.

The next day, Harry's research led him to Summoning Charms activated by blood magic. The book he was reading was old and full of unfamiliar words, and he was easily confused by it's content. Eventually, he decided to go for a walk and clear his head – and found himself walking by Professor McGonagall's office.

The door was open.

Automatically, Harry climbed onto the moving staircase and rode to the top. Without thinking, he entered the office.

McGonagall wasn't there. But, sleeping with all the other headmasters and headmistresses on the walls was Albus Dumbledore.

Once again, Harry saw Dumbledore fall from the tower to the ground. And, finally, he was able to ask the question, "Why?"

Dumbldore was looking at him.

It was not the same stare that Harry remembered. It didn't seem to look through him, or seep into his soul. But it did remind him of Dumbledore. Vaguely.

"How are you, Harry?"

Harry didn't know what to say. He had never talked to the dead, except in brief moments. This was different. "Fine," he finally muttered.

"I hope," said Dumbledore, "that you were able to destroy it."

"Yes, sir," said Harry. He didn't go into more detail. "But there are still three more."

"You will find them," said Dumbledore. "I have faith in you."

"Why?" asked Harry. "How can you have faith in me? I'm just..." he didn't know how to finish that thought.

"You are stronger than you know," replied Dumbledore.

"Tell me how to end it," said Harry, "and I will."

"I don't know," replied Dumbledore, "but you do. You will know."

"How do I figure it out?"

"How did you destroy the diary?"

"I just knew."

"You will just know."

"Professor," Harry asked after a moment, "can I ask you something?"

"You may ask me one more thing," said Dumbledore.

"What did 'Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak' mean?"

"Ah," said Dumbledore, "that was something my own Headmaster said at my first Hogwarts feast. It...seemed appropriate."

The portrait smiled, and Harry found himself grinning too.

That night, after the D.A. Meeting, Luna stayed behind.

"Harry," she asked, "Voldemort's done it, hasn't he?"

"Probably," Harry replied, not having a clue what Luna was talking about.

"He's using some kind of Dark Magic to enchant objects to keep himself alive. That 's why you need those things you keep asking about – you're trying to un-enchant them so you can kill him. That's why you keep spending so much time in the library. To destroy the objects you'll have to use powerful magic. Magic you don't know."

For a glorified conspiracy theorist, Luna was spot on sometimes. "How did you...?"

"I'm not in Ravenclaw for nothing," Luna replied primly. Correctly guessing his next question, she added, "I won't tell."

Harry nodded.

Luna walked to him and kissed his cheek. "You're very brave, Harry," she said solemnly, before turing and wandering out the door, whistling "Weasley is our King" to herself.