Planning for a Better Future
Chapter Nine
Destruction of the Horcrux
Isolated Location
Roy and Severus arranged a bowl like the one Edward had created during their experiment. Severus had insisted upon helping because he did not want Roy to overtax himself and when they had tried this before he had seemed very tired afterward.
Albus had simply stood back, trying to think of a way to subtly take claim of the stone after they had finished…or perhaps before. He wasn't certain the stone would survive the fire and it was too important to destroy. He wished already that he had said nothing because the way Mustang was watching him it was clear it would be near impossible to snatch the stone without notice.
Once everything was set, and the stone was placed in the center of the bowl, they all stood back as Severus cast the spell to Albus' dismay. A second later Roy took control of the flames to keep them inside the crater and working on the ring. Albus watched on in fascination.
The fire flared briefly as Roy shifted slightly before returning to forcing the fire into a concentrated ball of energy. Albus was willing to admit to himself the man was intimidating. It should be impossible to control the fire. Once cast it should burn wildly until it ran out of things to burn. Even then sometimes it didn't stop.
This time, under the alchemist's direction it concentrated into the center of the bowl, flaring brightly around the ring in a white fire as blue and red flames danced around the edges. Albus and Severus were forced to look away, the flames flared and receded repeatedly as Roy manipulated the flames and fought the spell before he felt the soul rush past and dimmed the flames. A few minutes later he had wrestled them into embers, exhausted at the effort it had taken to counter the spell. Finally, the embers faded as well.
As the fire winked out a pale Roy settled into sitting on the small boulder that was closer than the car. Severus made his way over to the crater to grab whatever remained. He returned with a slightly scorched stone, the ring itself had been turned to dust.
"Are you certain that it worked? The stone appears intact." Severus asked quietly as he handed the stone to Roy.
"It no longer contains a soul." Roy said. "It does still resonate an unknown power. Perhaps one it contained before it was used as a horcrux, perhaps altered because of the soul it once contained. I will have it investigated."
"There is no need. Now that it is safe, I shall take it to place in safekeeping." Albus suggested as he held out a hand fully expecting that they would hand over the stone.
Roy frowned at him as he slipped the item into a pocket before standing and turned to the blackened crater. "We need to restore this to prevent civilians from stumbling across it."
"Agreed. It won't take me long." Severus replied. He then took out his wand once more to wave across the space as the crater filled itself back in. He put his wand away and finally turned to the headmaster. "The Hallows are a myth sir…and if they are real, they are dangerous. This stone will be taken care of properly."
"The dead remain beyond the Gate, they cannot return." Roy said far more calmly than he felt. "I have seen the harm chasing the dead can cause…and considering what I read in the journals, so have you."
Albus nodded along, he knew who possessed the stone now. It was simply a matter of bidding his time. He gave up on the idea of uniting the pieces himself long ago. Though admittedly the Stone was the greatest temptation of all for him. Had he found the ring himself, he likely would have done something foolish such as try to use it and end up cursed thanks to the Horcrux.
Now though it was a Hallow again. Just a Hallow if Mustang as to believed. Dumbledore would regain the stone eventually, for now he was attempting to regain the trust of the Amestrians not drive them further away. With this in mind he gave Severus a slip of paper with the second location. Argument about the Hallows aside, the alchemist's experiment had worked to destroy the soul contained inside of it. Preventing Voldemort's return was unrealistic, however limiting his power when it happened would be ideal.
Severus nodded to him before he took Roy's arm and disappeared, returning him to the room he had rented. They would go after the next piece in a couple of days once they had recovered from the combined efforts. Albus nodded to himself that he seemed to have defused the concern and returned himself to the area just outside of the castle to think over everything he learned so far.
He had twice now viewed Mustang's flames. He had seen the man control a fire that had never been tamed to his knowledge. Truthfully, he knew he couldn't afford to have this man, or his sons, as enemies. He had seen them now. Now he understood why Nicolas had told him to send for them, they could possibly null the prophesy. The boy, should he be trained by them, might survive his fight with Voldemort after all.
For the first time, Albus had real tangible hope that the child might survive. Had the others been able to see his thoughts, they would finally understand he only wanted to save everyone. They simply did not understand that. He never wanted the boy dead. He had accepted that it was the only way, and was now relieved to find perhaps there was a slight chance… was it possible they really had eliminated the horcrux inside the boy already as they claimed?
He hadn't believed it before, he wasn't sure he believed it now. If they had, it would have had to have been a different method. Nothing living could have survived what they had just done to the ring. He couldn't imagine the Boy, who was obsessively overprotective, would do anything that could possibly hurt the child. No, if they wanted to eliminate all the Horcruxes someone would have to do so with the child too, because claims aside, there was simply no way that they had taken it out of him. Perhaps, he thought as he studied his wand, perhaps there was another way.
Rented Room
Roy felt like sleeping for a week. He was starving as well, though he wasn't sure how long he would be able to force himself to stay awake. Severus dropped him off on the bed and said something about food before disappearing.
Roy shook his head, laughing at himself over how often he had admonished Edward for overdoing it, and here he was on the brink of collapse. Before he could drift asleep, Severus returned with a large basket full of food he had retrieved from the house elves in the Hogwarts kitchens. He hadn't wanted to take the time to cook or buy take away, so he'd gone to them.
Roy sat up and gratefully began shoveling food into his mouth in a manner similar to his sons. Had they seen him, they would have both laughed and lectured him on his risky behavior. Perhaps they should bring another alchemist to the next one, just in case. Ed would be the obvious choice, provided Ed promised not to attempt the array he had been trying to create.