Chapter 36: According to Plan

The next several months seem to slide by with little regard to what Harry and his friends did or how much progress they'd made. To their credit, each of them had risen magnificently to the occasion. Bill had taken Harry and Daphne to meet with the goblin Ragnok, who was Bill's supervisor within Gringotts. The goblin was, as was the case with most of his race, cautious and Harry found that neither his name nor abilities seemed to hold any sway with the creature.

In fact, the goblin was rather dismissive of both himself and Daphne until Bill mentioned Harry's treatment of Dobby. It had caused an immediate interest within the goblin.

"You speak of the house-elf that was once in the employment of the Malfoy family?"

"Yes," said Harry, taken aback by the goblin's sudden interest and quick speech.

"I had heard you were associated with the house-elf in question. What is your relationship with him?"

"He's my friend," said Harry. "He was being mistreated by his family and I helped get him freed. Since then we've been good friends. He's helped me out a lot over the years."

"So you would say you trust this elf?"

Harry examined Ragnok carefully. For some reason, this line of discussion had captured the goblin's interest far more than anything they'd had to say about Voldemort.

"I'd trust him with my life," said Harry, honestly. "He's saved me before… Although I'll admit he can be… well, slightly overenthusiastic from time to time."

"I see," said Ragnok, tapping one long finger against his desk. "Very Mr. Potter, you shall have the assistance of the goblins in this most unusual matter. I trust you will take care to remember this service when the time comes."

"I never forget those who help me, sir," said Harry, nodding. "If the time comes I can help you or the goblin nature in the future, I shall remember your assistance in this matter."

Bill and Daphne seemed slightly disturbed by the idea of the him owing the goblin nation a favor, but as Daphne pointed out, right now it was a better alternative than allowing him to die without trying to fight it.

Hermione and Daphne had found a possible alternative, but Harry disliked it. If someone were willing to repeat the ritual, as Harry's mother had, it was likely it would result in a similar shield as the one that Lily's sacrifice had provided him. However, Harry was throughly against anyone else dying for him. More than enough people had died already and he was naive enough to assume he could stop death, but he couldn't willing cause more good people to die either.

There was another idea as well, but neither Harry nor Daphne much liked the idea of it. Susan had come to them and explained a theory her aunt had come up with. Within the department of mysteries there was a veil that lead to the world of death. The unspeakables had been experimenting with it for ages, although their research wasn't exactly conclusive.

The theory was that if Harry passed through the veil it would kill either himself or the piece of Voldemort's soul, but not both. However, they had no idea which would be more likely to be taken by the veil. Harry and Daphne eventually agreed to hold onto it as a last resort, if the goblins didn't come up anything.

Neville had found a huge list of plants that could help Harry focus his mind and that would supposedly have purifying effects, but in the end it didn't seem like it would really accomplish what they needed. Shockingly the idea of attaching a piece of your soul to another human being just wasn't very common place, and so any way to really reverse the process was more theoretical than practical.

When there was just a month left in the school year, Dumbledore called Harry up to his office again. Harry was hopeful that the headmaster had some plan to see him through this whole problem, although he didn't see how it was possible. The headmaster seemed older and more decrepit than Harry had ever seen him.

"Harry, my boy," said Dumbledore, and his voice croaked as if it had been many years since he'd last used it. "I told you last time we spoke that I had one theory on how you might survive this incident with Voldemort, didn't I?"

"Yes sir."

"Tell me Harry, what do you know of the story of the Deathly Hallows?"

Harry remembered reading the story with Daphne in the Tales of Beetle the Bard, and recounted it easily enough. It had been slightly interesting to him, but he'd never given it any serious thought. Dumbledore explained that the story, while likely a myth, did have some base in reality as far as the hallows were concerned.

"You see, it was said if anyone possessed all three hallows, they would be the master of death, Harry."

"I don't understand sir."

"The master of death Harry. It is nothing to cruel as immortality, but I believe that with these hallows collected you would be likely to survive having Voldemort's soul removed from you."

"Sir," said Harry softly. "We've spent so much time searching for horcruxes and I have war to win against the most evil wizard alive since Grindelwald. I don't have the time to search for a fairy tale that might not even help."

"Nor would I ask you to take such time. However, I believe we have these hallows already. When I was a younger man I spent my time obsessed with the hallows and with the wand in particular Harry. This is the elder wand."

Dumbledore held out his wand and Harry examined, feeling himself get slightly excited despite his own dismissal of the idea of the hallows.

"As for the resurrection stone, you have already held it," Dumbledore held up the ring that they had destroyed, and Harry looked at it closer.

Engraved upon its surface was the symbol of the death hallows.

"So this stone… it can bring back the dead?" he asked, trying not to sound overly excited. "It actually works?"

Dumbledore held up his hands.

"Yes… and no. It would allow you to speak with the dead, Harry. However, they will never truly belong to this world, and it will not bring them back to life. However, for a brief moment, you may speak with them. I leave this with you in the hopes that you will not forget my warning to you in your first year regarding the mirror of erised."

"It does not do to dwell on dreams, and forget to live," Harry recited, remembering the warning all too well. "I remember sir."

Dumbledore slide the ring to Harry, who pocketed it immediately, feeling excitement flood through him. Dreams or not, it left him the chance to speak to Sirius and his parents again. If it really worked, that was.

"Well sir," he said softly. "That covers the ring and the wand, but what about the cloak?"

Yet, as soon as he asked, he knew the answer.

"That has been in your possession since your first year, Harry. Have you never wondered why your cloak does not wear out, nor has it ever been removed from you against your will?"

Harry nodded softly, his head still spinning over the idea that the hallows were more than a children's tale, and they held them.

"There is more, Harry, and I fear you shall not like it."

"Headmaster," said Harry solidly. "I learned that I'm likely going to die, and am attempting to find a new form of magic that no one else has ever considered to prevent it. I doubt there is anything you can tell me that will upset me more than that."

"Very well… As you have discovered and attempted to warn me about, Draco Malfoy is within the employ of Voldemort. It is my understanding that he has accepted the dark mark."

Harry resisted the urge to scream. He had been the one who suggested that in the first place.

"I have known about this since the start of the year," said Dumbledore softly.

"You… you've let a known death eater into your school and around other students… You knew a servant of Voldemort walks through these halls and your reaction to this is to do… nothing?"

"I do nothing, because I know what his task is… and it's one he must succeed in."

"And what is this task that's apparently worth endangering hundreds of students?"

"To kill me," said Dumbledore simply.

Harry stood and thanks in no small part to his occlumency training he kept silent while the headmaster explained that he intended to let Malfoy kill him. Harry found that he didn't even feel dismay, or even anger anymore. Rather he felt very, very tired. It was as if he'd reached the pinnacle of disappointment, and now could only feel exasperation.

"So," he said, rubbing his eyes behind his glasses. "Malfoy kills you, I take these hallows and try not to die. That about the size of it?"

"In so many words, yes," said Dumbledore gently. "That is the plan."

"Headmaster, your plan is horrible. Everything in me screams to stop you. I think I likely could too, you know? Between myself, Daphne and everyone else, I think we could save you, so to speak. However, I've also learned something from our talks these past few years. I am not you, sir. I will not meddle in someone else's life choices without their desire or permission. I don't agree with your choice to accept death, but it is your choice to make, and I will not unmake it for you. I believe Hermione and my fiancé will want to speak with you, if you're willing. We have an idea for a ritual that might work."

"I had a similar thought," said Dumbledore. "I hope you do understand Harry, that for all my failures with you, for all my shortcomings and plain stupidity, I do love you. I admit that does not undo any of my actions. However, it is an honest truth."

"I know, sir," Harry said. "I appreciate it too, but I hope you understand that you manipulated and controlled my life, and while I do not hate you, it will be a while before I can forgive you for that. However, all things considered beyond that, you were like the first parent I can remember having had. I merely understand that part of growing up is learning that parents are far from perfect. Still, I do love you sir, even if I disagree with you on several points."

"And in that, Harry, I believe you are several times more a man than many others, myself included. Now then, if you will send Miss Greengrass and Miss Granger to my office, I believe I have a great many things to discuss with them."

"They won't like this plan of yours either, sir."

"No, no I don't expect they will," said Dumbledore smiling softly. "But as you've pointed out, this is my choice to make, and personally… I am so very tired that heading off to a very long sleep sounds more and more appealing with each passing day. I think the greatest I can do now is to have some meaning left in my death. If in that I can keep you alive and help put a stop to Voldemort… Well, perhaps that will be enough."

"I suppose this is goodbye then, sir?"

"It is, until we should meet again, Harry. However, I do hope that shall not be for a great many years to come."