June 29th- Hogwarts
"What is it, sir? Did you find something?" Harry asked as he barged into the headmaster's office.
"I've located one of the horcruxes-" Dumbledore said.
"Good. When do we leave?"
"Harry, this will be a dangerous journey. ONe that I cannot force you or even encourage you to come on. I have, although, promised that I would allow you to accompany me if you follow one, simple condition."
"Anything sir!" Harry responded.
"I need you to obey my every command with no questioning."
"But-"
"No Harry. I need to know that you will follow everything I say. If I tell you to cast a defensive spell, what will you do."
"Cast the spell sir."
"If I ask you to run or hide what will you do?"
"Sir-"
"Harry!" Dumbledore yelled.
"I'll run and hide sir," Harry replied quietly.
"And what if I ask you to turn back and leave me? If I ask you to come back here and not to tell anyone where I am or what we were doing?"
"Sir..."
"I'm not asking a lot of you Harry. I need to know that you will obey or else you can stay here. Now, what would you do?"
"I would come back here and wouldn't say a word to anyone," Harry whispered.
"Good. And Harry, no one can know what we've been talking about are we clear? Not even Order members and that includes your parents. Only Ron and Hermione may know and I'm only permitting that because I can see them helping you in the future with that knowledge."
"Yes sir."
"Good boy Harry. Now, meet me in the front hall in 15 minutes. Make sure you have your cloak but nothing else."
"Yes sir but sir I needed to tell you that I think Draco and Snape are up to something. I heard them-" Harry said.
"No Harry. I've had enough of this. They are not a threat to us. Now I will be leaving in 15 minutes whether you're there or not so I think it would be n your best interest to go get your cloak."
"Yes sir." Harry said and then he walked out of the room.
Harry almost sprinted down the corridors and almost ran right into the fat lady.
"Dear me Mr. Potter! Slow down!" She reprimanded lightly.
"Sorry! Ummmm Jinglehops!" Harry said as he dove into the common room.
He ran in and Hermione was sitting by the fireplace reading a book with Ron by her side. Ginny was dancing next to some of the younger kids in the other corner. Harry ran over to Ginny and grabbed her arm.
"Hey! Harry what's that for?" Ginny said as she was pulled away from the music.
Harry said nothing as he pulled her towards Ron and Hermione. Instead, he smoothly pulled her in for a quick kiss and then continued over.
"Guys get up I need to talk to you." Harry said urgently once he was closer to Ron and Hermione.
"Ok well give me a min-" Hermione started.
"No. Now." Harry said firmly.
Hermione shut her book once she saw Harry's face. The trio and Ginny sped through the common room and into a small closet that was hidden near the boys dormitory. Ginny sat on Harry's lap and Ron made a face but he was quickly shut up by an elbow in the ribs courtesy of Hermione.
"Dumbledore found one you guys. I need to leave in less than 10 minutes but I had to come and give you guys some stuff." Harry said as he pulled the Felix felicis out of his pocket. "You guys are going to need this tonight."
Ginny and Hermione opened their mouth to say something but Harry cut them off.
"Yes Hermione I was supposed to give this away and I'm about to explain in a moment Ginny." Harry smiled at Ginny. "Me and Dumbledore will be leaving for the night which means the school is unprotected. This is what the death eaters have been waiting for! They just needed an opening without Dumbledore noticing and now they will have the chance. I need you guys to round up the DA, use the coins. It might be nothing but I just have this weird feeling that shit's going down tonight."
Hermione raised her eyebrows. Ron scrunched his.
"Look, you guys don't believe me and that's fine-"
"We'll keep the school safe Harry." Hermione said sincerely.
"Thank you! Ok now I need you guys to take this ok?" Harry said.
"Harry... is that the Felix felicis I gave you this morning?"
"Yeah, Sorry about that Hermione." Harry replied sheepishly.
"Did you even try to give it to Dumbledore?" Hermione asked.
"Ummm no. But that's not the point right now. I need you guys to take this and drink it if something happens."
"What do you think is going to happen Harry? Death eaters invade the school?" Ron said sarcastically but then trailed off when he saw the look on Harry's face.
"Harry you can't be serious." Ron exclaimed.
"I told you what I think about Draco and Snape. I think that they've been trying to come into the school and attack. I heard them recently talking about how they just need the right time and I think that this could be it. Dumbledore will be distracted and they can do whatever they want."
"But Harry how will they get into the school there are TONS of wards to protect us." Hermione pointed out.
"Look. I don't have time for this. I just need you guys to be on your guard. And please take the potion!" Harry said as he stood up from his seat on the closet floor.
"We'll handle it Harry. Now are you sure you want to go with Dumbledore?" Ginny whispered to him.
"I'm sure. Thank you Gin." Harry said as he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
Then Harry ran out of the common room and to the front gate.
Harry was sitting under his cloak on a rock near the main road that leads to Hogsmeade. Dumbledore had left a few minutes ago and walked in the direction of the Three Broomsticks where he told Harry that he had to let a friend know where they were going. He had told Harry to sit and wait for him under the cloak and while Harry would have rather gone with him, he knew better than to disobey orders. A few minutes later, Dumbledore showed up with a twinkle in his eye.
"Ready to go sir?" Harry asked.
"Yes my dear boy. Rosemerta has given me her word that she will be on the lookout for any suspicious activity tonight." Dumbledore replied.
He linked arms with Harry and gave a little turn to apparate out of the familiar town and into the start of a treacherous mission to bring down the dark lord once and for all.
The pair landed on a cliff in the middle of a sea that seemed to be plagued by enormous waves. Harry could see a cave across the waters that looked strangely familiar as well as a winding pathway up to the top of a mountain. The stench of salt water and fish overwhelmed him as he stood atop the cliff with Dumbledore and he couldn't hear anything over the roar of the waves.
"Do you recognize this place Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"Sort of sir." Harry replied.
"This is the cliff where Tom used to come and torture fellow orphans."
"Oh."
The pair stood silently for a moment looking around and examining their surroundings. There seemed to be no animals or plant life. In fact, it looked like something had come and swept the area with an eraser to cleanse the land of any unwanted life forms.
"Sir?" Harry started. "How will we get to the cave?"
"Well Harry how do you normally get through water?"
"I swim sir."
"Well then I guess we shall swim."
And with that, Dumbledore dove into the waves. Harry ran to the edge and looked over only to find that he couldn't see the professor.
"Sir?" Harry called. "Sir I'm coming in!"
Harry jumped into the water and was quickly emerged into the freezing cold temperatures. He felt seaweed and fish brush against his feet as he floated in the water trying to reach the surface and take a breath. He finally broke the surface of the waves and immediately tried to suck in all the water he could. He looked around and noted that the waves had already pushed him a fair amount away from the cliff where he had started. He started swimming a quick freestyle and was still frantically looking around for Dumbledore. He had almost made it to shore when Dumbledore appeared right next to him.
"There you are sir!" Harry exclaimed.
"Here I am." Dumbledore replied calmly.
They stepped out onto the rocky base of the cave and took a quick glance around. Harry was shivering while holding his wand very tightly. Dumbledore confidently examined every little nook and cranny and Harry had to notice how his clothes looked perfectly dry.
"S-Sir?" Harry asked. "I d-don't suppose you know t-the drying spell?"
"Oh dear! I'm sorry my boy. Evanseco water!" Dumbledore said.
"Thank you, sir." Harry said as his clothes suddenly rid themselves of the water.
Dumbledore didn't reply but instead moved hurriedly towards a crack in the wall. He ran his frail, blackened fingers over it and sighed.
"I can sense the dark magic that is present here. The wall wants a blood donation." Dumbledore said.
"I'll do it sir!" Harry volunteered.
He stepped forward but Dumbledore held his hand out.
"I'll do it my boy. Your blood is much more valuable than mine."
"But sir-"
"What did I say about listening to me Harry?"
Harry pursed his lips but nodded and watched as the headmaster pulled a pocket knife out of his robes. He shakily raised his blackened hand and cut a thin stroke in his other hand. Blood slowly poured out of the cut and Dumbledore raised his hand to meet the stone wall of the cave. The cave seemed to shake and fizzle for a moment before the crack in the wall got bigger. Dumbledore signaled for Harry to follow him as he walked through the opening. Both of their wands were lit at the tip and they both walked with caution.
The area they were in had a large body of still water that appeared to have a slight film over it. There was a single wooden boat that was tied to shore with a rope that looked like it was about to break at any second and in the middle of the water, there was a small island. The island only looked like it could fit 4 people on it at most and it was covered in rocky footing and what looked like slippery stones.
"What do you think Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"Oh! Errrrr... well we could try to accio the locket?" Harry said.
"Go ahead and try."
"Accio horcrux!" Harry said while pointing his wand at the waters.
He thought he saw something move.
"Well it was worth a try my boy. Sometimes the simplest of magic can bring great success."
"Sir? I thought I saw something move under the water."
"Nothing to worry about Harry. As long as we stay dry, they should not harm us. Anywho, shall we try the boat?"
"Yes sir." Harry said eagerly stepping closer.
The murky water seemed to beckon him closer as Harry went towards the boat but at the same time, there was a pull, a force that made him want to turn back around and leave.
"Now be careful Harry. I'm going to get in first to test the waters."
"Yes sir."
"And Harry?"
"Yes sir?"
"Remember my rule."
"Yes sir."
The old professor climbed down into the boat with surprising ease. The boat tilted and shook a bit but after Dumbledore was seated, the boat had calmed down.
"Ok Harry. Come on and get in."
"Yes sir." Harry responded.
He carefully put one leg down and then slowly allowed his weight to transfer into the small boat. The boat creaked under the pressure but stayed above water and didn't tilt.
Slowly, the pair started to drift towards the rocky chunk of land. They stepped out onto the dirty surface and walked to the peak of the rocks where there was a pedestal with a bowl filled with liquid on top of it. A shiny golden shell sat next to the bowl and when Harry looked in, he could see the shimmer of the locket.
"Move aside Harry, I believe I must drink this potion to retrieve our prize." Dumbledore said.
"No sir! I'll drink it. You already cut your hand to get us in here. Do you know what kind of potion it is?"
"You will not drink this Harry. I doubt Miss Sophronia would allow me to bring her brother back with a poison in his system."
"Sir?"
"I believe this potion is most likely something to weaken us Harry. Tom wouldn't want to kill us because he would want to know who figured out his secret but, he would want us weak enough that we couldn't leave."
"Sir what if it does kill you?" Harry asked quietly while Dumbledore picked up the shell.
"Well then I have lived my best life and I order you to leave me here and return to Hogwarts."
"Sir-"
"Harry." Dumbledore said.
"Yes sir."
"If I try to push away the cup I need you to promise that you'll force me to keep drinking it."
"Sir!"
"Harry. Promise me."
"Are you-"
"I'm sure Harry."
"I promise sir." Harry said quietly.
"Thank you Harry."
Dumbledore scooped up the first bit of potion and downed it in one gulp. As he scooped more and more cups he slowly sank closer and closer to the floor. About halfway through he was kneeling beside the podium and breathing heavily.
"Look sir! You only have a few more scoops left! You're almost there." Harry encouraged the older man.
"I don't want anymore." Dumbledore said. "Make it stop please."
"I'm sorry sir, you have to finish this."
"No! Stop I don't want anymore. I want to go back home!"
"I'm sorry sir." Harry said as he handed Dumbledore another cup of the poison.
"STOP! I know it's my fault!" Dumbledore was know
The older man now looked at Harry with those crystal blue eyes. Tears gushed down his cheeks.
"Sir please!" Harry said. "Only a couple more cups I promise."
He tilted the professors head back and poured the cup in.
"I can't do it. Stop please don't make me. Make it stop!" Dumbledore cried.
"I'm sorry sir. You made me promise."
Harry tilted the cup back, pouring the searing liquid into his mentor's throat. Dumbledore was now rocking back on forth on the cold stone and Harry was refilling the cup while trying to comfort him.
"I'm sorry sir. Just think of when we go home! We'll be one step closer to killing him."
"I can never go home." Dumbledore said looking Harry directly in the eye. "Kill me."
Harry stood frozen for a moment watching as his strong mentor broke down in front of him. Then, with tears now threatening to spill out of his eyes, Harry filled up the cup one more time and tilted it ever so slightly so that the liquid filled Dumbledore's throat. Then Harry pinched his nose which forced Dumbledore to swallow.
"Look sir! It's all done!"
Dumbledore didn't stir from his place on the floor.
"Sir?" Harry asked, bending down to check on the older man.
"Water." He croaked.
Harry hurriedly tried to fill the cup with water from his wand but every time he got close to Dumbledore, the water disappeared.
"I'm trying sir! Augamenti!" Harry said.
Then, Harry looked out onto the dark sea. He could see something moving beneath the surface but he knew that it might be the only source of water.
A/N- Hi guys! I'm so sorry this took so long to get up but I really hope the longer chapter makes up for it. I also just wanted to let you guys know that I may be changing my username to something different just for a little change. And yes I know that this chapter doesn't seem finished but I'll have a part two up in no time and then this story is done! It'll be done before the new year I swear. Ok thank you guys again for being so patient with me.
-xoMadHatterox-
