AN: Welcome guys!
We have a very exciting chapter ahead of us!
Enjoy!
The recognizable sections belong to JKR
Chapter 96
April 28th, 1997
"You may have discovered the Dark Lord's secret to immortality... but you will not leave this place with it." The former Unspeakable declared with a cold smile and proceeded before either of the teens could stop him. His white fingertip connected with the Dark Mark. Augustus Rookwood whimpered in pain as the tattoo blackened immediately and the snake engraved into the pale skin came alive, almost as if it was crawling under the skin. The Death Eater's wand slashed upwards, and a wall of fire blocked their view on him.
Harry pushed the revelation that Rookwood had known about his Master's Horcruxes to the side. After all, the man had worked on magic's deepest mysteries. Of course, he would know about a branch like that... Instead, he turned to Fleur after dispelling the obstacle with a flick of his wand: "We need to get out of here immediately!"
They caught sight of Rookwood already running away from the room. No doubt, the man realized that he would not stand a chance against the combined power of Harry and his girlfriend. He peered through the door of Voldemort's chamber back into the corridor. There was no sign of Rookwood. However, Harry felt powerful wards rise all around him... Wards only a master in that subject could create and uphold.
He cursed... Now, they were trapped inside a Manor full of Death Eaters, waiting like cattle for their execution, unless they could make it to the meeting point with Narcissa and the secret passageway in time.
The couple ran back into the corridor when Harry suddenly felt his skin and bone structure change. His hair literally grew back into his head and his height increased by a few inches. Next to him, Fleur's eyes changed color until they were her usual dark blue, and her hair turned back to slivery blonde... The polyjuice had finally lost its effects.
Suddenly, Rookwood's magically amplified voice echoed through the entire Manor and probably its surrounding grounds: "Potter and Delacour broke into our Master's quarters. Stop his escape until the Dark Lord arrives!"
"Let's get out of here! What kind of wards are trapping us?" Harry asked Fleur as he watched her murmur under her breath, flicking her wand in small cycles. Luckily, his girlfriend had immediately started analyzing the ward scheme and finding its weak spots. The couple was making its way back to the main staircase of the manor, as Harry cast a quick disillusionment charm on both of them.
"Very similar to the once he used in the Department of Mysteries." Fleur replied without losing her focus as she continued flicking her wand in tiny motions: "Back then, I had enough time to analyze his style. I should be able to get us out of here, but I need time."
"Perhaps we can sneak back down to the dungeon. In any case, I will give you the time you need." Harry stated: "If all goes to shit, you know what I expect of you."
"Fleur was about to snap that she would never leave him behind, but working on taking control over the wards was more important right now. She had a task to focus on instead of arguing. Just then, they heard voices from ahead of them, behind the corner.
"Homunum Revelio!" A man yelled and roared triumphantly a few seconds later: "They are here! We have found them!"
"Fuck!" Harry hissed. The disillusionment charm did not conceal their souls... There was only one option left for them. In one fluent motion, he tucked out his Cloak from underneath his robes and engulfed Fleur and himself with it. The Veela pressed herself against him as tightly as possible. Despite their height and Harry's broad build, they managed to barely conceal both of their entire bodies, just when a group of Death Eater shot around the corner.
"Cast it again!" A blond man Harry did not recognize yelled.
"Homunum Revelio!" The one who had previously cast the spell shouted once more. He was so close, that Harry recognized him as Urquart, former Slytherin Chaser and one of the Slytherins, who got expelled for attacking him and Fleur in the fourth year.
The group looked to him expectantly after he cast the spell. He shook his head in disappointment: "I can't find them anymore. They must have turned around when they heard us!"
"Well, stop standing around and hunt them down!" The former yelled: "And remember, the Dark Lord wants him in one piece! I don't think I need to mention that the Veela whore is more useful in one piece as well!"
His remark was met with cheers and cold laughter as they continued their search, walking right past Harry. He felt the heat radiating off Fleur at their crude remarks, but the Veela was much too concentrated on her task to let their comments bother her. Harry sighed in relief next to her, glad that Fleur kept her emotions in check. It would do them no good to be discovered right now.
Concealed by the cloak, they slowly made their way down to the main drawing-room, passing multiple patrols of death Eaters, who searched the entire Manor for them. Hopefully, from there, they could descend to the dungeon to meet Narcissa and escape before the Dark Lord himself arrived. Harry was not too keen to play peekaboo with the man tonight, already.
When they finally arrived, the drawing-room was in utter chaos. Groups of Death Eater were running from left to right, receiving orders from either Rookwood or Dolohov, who seemed to be the two highest-ranking followers of the Dark Lord currently present.
He and Fleur turned towards the staircase leading down to the dungeons and secret passageway when they almost ran into Wilkes and Travers, who were flanking Narcissa Malfoy. The woman was sporting a bloodied lip and the color around her left eye darkened with every second. If she survived the next hours, she would carry a nasty bruise for many days.
Closely behind them, Corban Yaxley and Serena Flint strode along, each holding the remaining of their snapped wands in their open palms. Both Death Eaters were shooting murderous looks at Narcissa. Harry cursed under his breath. If they found Narcissa, then they most likely also found...
"We know how Potter got in!" Travers yelled, pulling the attention of everyone in the hall: "There is a secret passage in the dungeons... When we discovered and destroyed it, this bitch attacked us... There is no way Potter can esca..."
He was interrupted when Harry felt the presence of the one magical signature he had tried to desperately avoid meeting tonight. With a loud bang, the doors of the main entrance to the drawing-room were burst open and a tall, thin man with snake-like crimson red eyes took in the scene before him.
Everything instantly went silent in the room... not a single whisper could be heard. The temperature seemed to drop by several degrees as Voldemort's cold deadly magic washed over them in waves. It took him but a second to find the one who called for him... Almost instantly, Rookwood was smashed into the wall by an invisible strike and crumbled down.
"You dare call me when I explicitly mention not to be disturbed?" Voldemort hissed and his knuckles tightened around the pale wood in his hand. Rookwood gasped for air while slowly being choked against the wall.
"Explain yourself, Augustus." The Dark Lord spoke in mere a whisper, but it was so quiet that everyone could hear him clearly.
"Po..." The man croaked: "Potter!"
With a wave of his hand, Voldemort allowed the man to take a breath. Rookwood gasped for air before he spoke up: "Potter infiltrated the mansion." He coughed heavily and covered the front of his robes with cloths of blood: "I caught him up in your personal quarters, my Lord."
"Where is he?" Voldemort hissed in outrage, but Harry noticed the unmistakable fear and dread in his high voice. The man had learned that his secret was uncovered, which had been the reason the snake had been protected so heavily: "What did he do?" He whispered as his red eyes bored into Rookwood's.
Augustus gulped heavily. He knew what happened to those who delivered bad news to his Master in recent times. However, if he refused to speak, he would be slain within seconds: "He is still somewhere in the manor. He kil... He killed your familiar, My Lord."
The was a small pause where an incredible fury washed over Voldemort's face. Meanwhile, Harry's thoughts were racing. The Death Eaters had destroyed the secret passageway. With the arrival of their Lord, most of the small patrols now found themselves back in the main drawing-room, watching as the events unfold. Fleur and he were currently trapped inside a room full of them. Now, their only hope was for Fleur to break through the ward scheme. She said she needed time... But how much more would she need?"
Not daring to speak, he slowly trailed the pattern of a question mark on the back of Fleur's hand. The Veela responded with three soft taps, indicating that she will need at least three more minutes. Unfortunately, the cloak flattered ever so slightly after her last tap on his hand. Harry grimaced and focused on the scene ahead of him.
The Dark Lord's wand was drawn backward, however, just before a spell escaped his lips, he paused, and his crimson eyes widened: "Potter!" He hissed.
He spun around and took in the entire room, his eyes searching for something only he had felt: "He is here! Potter is among us, in this very room! I can sense him! Him and the girl..."
The Death Eater gasped and started waving their arms through the air while walking around with their hands outstretched like zombies. Harry cursed under his breath and tightened the cloak around him and Fleur while they dodged anyone approaching them. The Cloak had opened for just a second and probably revealed their magical signature even when everyone had been too distracted by the events in the middle of the room.
"Snape, my Lord!" Rookwood croaked, once more attempting to push himself to his knees: "Snape once mentioned that he has an invisibility cloak, My Lord."
"Accio Invisibility Cloak!" The Dark Lord grinned triumphantly, only for nothing to happen. Harry smirked smugly. The Hallow could not be bypassed by a mere summoning charm, not even from Voldemort... Death's Gifts could not be tricked that easily after all...
"Impossible!" Rookwood's eyes widened: "No cloak could resist your spell, my Lord... Unless..."
He was silenced with a wave of Voldemort's wand. Harry was certainly happy about that. How much did Rookwood know about a very special Cloak... One unlike any other...
"Come out already, Potter!" The Dark Lord whispered while walking around the room, his eyes scanning every corner. He passed Narcissa Malfoy and crimson red bored into dark grey, just before the Malfoy Matriarch screamed in pain and rubbed her temples. Harry recognized the signs of a Legilimency attack immediately. This was not good... Voldemort knew exactly how they had gotten in here now...
"So, you crawled in here like a rat through a secret passageway..." Voldemort sneered in an attempt to provoke him: "What would you Gryffindor parents say about that... Be brave... just like your father, Potter. You cannot hide from me! You cannot hide from death!" The man's eyes flashed crimson.
Harry hid his snort at the irony when he suddenly realized something he had forgotten over the last few minutes. Almost, simultaneously, Fleur looked up to him from underneath the cloak with widened deep blue eyes. Naturally, she had caught on as well... Her lips moved, repeating the last word silently...
Death...
For the first time in over 50 years, ever since a young Tom Riddle murdered his father and grandparents to create his first Horcrux, the Dark Lord was mortal... This was perhaps their chance to strike. Harry gave her a short nod. Anticipation surged through him. This had been exactly the situation he wished to find himself in, ever since he had learned that it was Voldemort who took his parents from him. The grip on his wand tightened as he moved it in between a tiny slit between the cloak.
Voldemort's eyes narrowed once more as he felt Harry's presence again. The man had a very impressive grasp for magic if he could sense even the briefest exposure: "That's it, Harry. Reveal yourself. Face me like a man..."
"Avada Kedavra!"
The bright green flash of light erupted from the tip of Harry's elder wood wand and surged towards the middle of the room, where the Dark Lord stood. With an incredible display of his inhuman reflexes, Voldemort slashed his wand horizontally. He summoned the frail body of Narcissa Malfoy and placed her right in the path of the curse.
Time seemed to stop as her eyes widened. Narcissa's white face was illuminated by a flash of green light and she slummed to the floor.
Before Harry could realize that he had basically just taken an innocent life, Fleur tucked on his arm and forced him to duck, as the Dark Lord's spell fizzled over them. The man continued to cast spells at the spot from where Harry had stood, in an attempt to catch him blindly.
"Such a dark curse, Harry..." Voldemort shook his head mockingly after he stopped casting when none of his spells connected. He walked over to Narcissa Malfoy's corpse and turned over her feet with his feet. His eyes narrowed: "And such a waste of ancient and noble blood."
Fleur tapped his arm once more, indicating that she would need perhaps one more minute. Harry thought frantically for a way to distract such a large amount of Death Eaters, including someone as perceptive as Voldemort. For their plan to work, they would need to expose themselves briefly before apparating away. Ideally, during that moment, neither Voldemort nor his Death Eaters were in a state to act and stop them.
The task seemed so impossible that he nervously played with his ring. Suddenly the answer seemed too obvious and simple: Time to leave the Death Eaters and especially Voldemort speechless... Time to show Voldemort a power he had not.
He carefully took off the ring, evoking a stare of disbelief from Fleur next to him. Then he levitated it above his open palm, spinning it three times and thinking about the once person, he never needed to summon until now, because he was always able to just talk to him... The one person, that would even make Voldemort doubt his understanding of magic.
Harry knew it had worked even before he opened his eyes. Utter chaos erupted in the hall, when the ethereal figure of a man, with an average build, dressed in expensive old robes, appeared at the center of the room, mere meters away from Voldemort.
The Dark Lord's eyes flickered from the man's shoulder-length dark hair, the calculating, yet warm green eyes, and the unmistakably goatee of Salazar Slytherin.
"What are you?" Voldemort hissed dangerously and swirled his wand at the figure, producing no result at all.
"You should all know who I am... The what is a bit more complicated," Slytherin replied and inclined his head ever so slightly
Murmurs and gaps went through the crowd of Death Eaters at the visitor's sudden appearance. Those who recognized him stared at him wide-eyed in disbelief. None of them could even begin to understand this kind of magic... None, apart from Augustus Rookwood, who watched the scene with a hungry curiosity in his calculating eyes.
"I cannot express how disappointed I am." Salazar Slytherin shook his head and looked around the room: "The majority of you were sorted into my house, yet you show blatant disregard for any of the traits I valued in my students. Where is the cunning in following a man who deceives you and blatantly lies to your face about his heritage?"
People stared at him in shock while the Dark Lord's flat nostrils flared: "Lies!"
"Where is the ambition in cheerfully acting as a slave for someone else instead of working for your very own goals?" Slytherin continued.
"Where is the resourcefulness in starting a war to waste magical blood when we are already on the brink of extinction? It is time you finally open your eyes and see how astray you have been led by following this man."
He pointed his finger accusingly at Voldemort. A Black spell surged from the tip of Voldemort's wand, but Harry knew that no spell on earth could harm the mere echo of a soul. He noticed that Rookwood's eyes widened at the display. Salazar remained standing with a smile on his lips: "You cannot just get rid of me, Tom. This is magic you could not even begin to understand."
"Do not use that Name! There is no magic I don't understand!" The Dark Lord roared: "You are but an illusion created by Potter!"
Harry grinned underneath the cloak but was interrupted by Fleur. Over the last three minutes, the Veela had span her wand in tiny circles, taking control of the wards from Rookwood.
"How do you explain an illusion doing this?" Slytherin smiled coldly and started hissing: "The boy is everything you dreamed of becoming."
Yelps and gasped went through the crowd of Death Eaters. A few started shivering at the display of Parseltongue. Fleur used the loud chaos as an opportunity to whisper in Harry's ear: "I took control of the wards. You need to overpower them and then we are free to apparate out of him."
"Keep an eye on Rookwood," Harry whispered back with a non.
"Impossible!" The Dark Lord's eyes narrowed: "What magic is this?!"
"I am so disappointed in you Tom." Salazar's eyes gained a sad expression: "You had the chance to be great and bring honor to my name. Instead, you dealt irreparable damage, not only to the reputation of my House and name, but to the magical community in general."
"You should be thankful!" The Dark Lord hissed enraged: "I brought greatness to your name. I became so powerful that wizards and witches don't even dare say my name. I will be the one to lead them into a future where magic is might and magic rules the world. Jealousy is clouding your judgment. Jealousy that I become more powerful than even you!"
"I never thought I would be ashamed of my own descendants... of my own flesh..." Slytherin sighed as he shook his head: "But you are unworthy of the blood flowing through your veins... Unworthy of the gift I passed down my line. Though Harry will succeed where you failed. I can promise you that."
Meanwhile, Harry received the final sign from Fleur. He prepared himself for quite a feat and dabbed deeply into his magical reserve. He only had one shot at this and he needed to channel all of his magic for the task ahead of him.
The founder continued his speech in the meantime, proving an excellent distraction. By now there was a gleam in his eyes and his voice swelled with pride: "Mark my words, Tom... The boy will be the death of you!"
Over the next three seconds, many things happened simultaneously. Harry's eyes started flashing a bright emerald green, as he allowed the magic to rush through his body. In one fluent motion, Fleur pulled the cloak from them and Harry jabbed his wand up straight into the air. With a loud bang, that had the ears of everyone ringing, he tore right through the impressive ward scheme that Fleur had taken control over and completely overpowered it with his own magic.
The wards around the manor shattered, as a magical shockwave, with Harry as its epicenter burst through the ancestral home of the Malfoy, splintering the glass windows in almost every room within the Manor. The outburst was so strong that it left the occupants of the hall with goosebumps all over their skin while blood trickled out of their ears, as the magic rushed over them in a wave.
Voldemort and Rookwood were the first to recover from the shock and both their eyes flicked from the disappearing figure of Salazar Slytherin to Harry and Fleur who found themselves exposed in the corner of the hall.
Voldemort's crimson red eyes filled with uncontrollable rage as he saw Harry. Rookwood's eyes, however, were firmly set on the large black gemstone, Harry quickly put back on his ring finger while holding his hand out for Fleur to grasp. The man's orbs widened in realization at seeing the shimmering material of the invisible cloak on Fleur's shoulder and the golden ring on Harry's hand.
The Dark Lord's pale yew wand surged forward in a blur. The bright green killing curse was blocked by a single dragonfly, just as a spell of the same color left the Veela's rosewood wand and connected with its target. Before the curses of the surrounding Death eaters could connect with them, Harry and Fleur disappeared in a whirlwind of colors.
A second later, the two landed heavily on the cold stone tiles in the Chamber of Secrets, with Fleur sprawled on top of him. Harry groaned heavily, partly from exhaustion at tearing through the wards and partly because Fleur's knee had hit a very sensitive spot when she landed on him.
"I am so sorry, Harry." Fleur patted his cheek and placed kisses on his jaw.
Harry slowly opened his eyes and saw the Veela beamed down at him. Her cheeks were blushed from all the excitement of the last minutes but her deep blue eyes held a euphoric gleam.
"We did it!" Harry gasped: "We actually did it!"
He wrapped his arms around her back and pressed his lips against hers in a searing kiss. Fleur replied with equal eagerness as she roamed through his hair and shifted to a more comfortable position on top of his lap.
"Perhaps..." Harry spoke between heated kisses: "... we should..." Fleur kisses him again: "... discuss what happened..."
The Veela pouted adorably but reluctantly untangled herself from him and helped him up. Hand in hand, they walked up the stairs to the founder's statue and into Slytherin's quarters.
"You are back!" The man greeted them with more relief in his voice than Harry had ever heard: "I assumed the worst already. How did it go? Where you successful?"
"I suggest you just watch for yourself. You are going to love this." Fleur chuckled and brought the rosewood wand to her temple. She placed the silvery memory into Harry's Pensieve and activated the runes with another tap of her wand.
Roughly an hour later, the eyes of the Founder's portrait started at the spot where his descendants and his girlfriend just escaped from the desperate situation they had found themselves in, after being surrounded by enemies.
"I don't even know where to begin..." He stuttered: "But that was absolutely brilliant."
Harry nodded quietly. Indeed, rewatching the memory had been very valuable for him and Fleur as well. Memorizing the faces of countless Death Eaters, was just one of the main benefits.
"The Snake is dead..." The founder finally spoke up after over a minute of silence.
"He is mortal, now." Fleur nodded with pride after taking a seat in Harry's lap: "Just out of curiosity, could he make another?"
Harry and the founder both frowned at her question. The latter spoke first: "Technically, he could... but after he performed that ritual to gain his body back, splitting his soul once more would practically render him a Squib."
Harry nodded in agreement: "Voldemort already went too far by making Nagini a Horcrux. Originally, he planned on splitting his soul six times, creating six Horcruxes, with the final, seventh piece remaining in his body. However, he exceeded that magically powerful number when he unwillingly and unknowingly turned me into a Horcrux."
"Is that why he acts less rational and became so inhuman?" Fleur asked.
"Exactly." The founder chimed in: "If he stopped after six Horcruxes, he would have been fine. However, with the creation of his seventh Horcrux, he dealt irreparable damage to his mind and physical body. The next Horcrux would demand a sacrifice of his magic in order to be created."
"So, we can be positive that he won't attempt to make another?" Fleur asked.
"He won't dare." Harry said: "Voldemort is nothing without his magical power. It is something he cannot risk."
"Good... That's very good, then." Fleur beamed up: "He is finally mortal then."
A small silence followed again, where all three were deep in thought. Salazar studied Harry and Fleur before he spoke up again with a chuckle: "I made quite the impression on all of them, did I not?"
"I was so confused when Harry pulled off the ring but calling you was a streak of brilliance." A soft peal of laughter escaped Fleur's lips: "Voldemort's face when he first saw you was hilarious."
"As was Rookwood's..." Harry spoke up, but his eyes narrowed: "You were fantastic Fleur. He was one of the best Unspeakables the apartment hired in this century and you managed to snatch the wards from his control right in front of him. The fact that you got him, in the end, is even better. Voldemort lost a Horcrux and his remaining most valuable follower."
"We could not leave without killing him." Fleur bounced her blond head: "He already grew too curious when he mentioned your Cloak resisted the summoning charm. I think he might have already recognized that Salazar was but an echo of his soul. Then, he saw you slipped the Ring back on and the cloak draped over my shoulder. As an Unspeakable, he must have come across references to the Hallows at some point."
Harry fully agreed with her: "He was one of the most brilliant minds this country has ever seen... He also discovered that Voldemort created Horcruxes, but unlike Lucius or Bellatrix he was never given one. Voldemort must have known that any Unspeakable would detect them within seconds."
"It's a shame he fought for the wrong side." Fleur said: "The way he works with wards is phenomenal and I bet there was so much more knowledge, which is simply lost now."
"Whatever knowledge he held..." Salazar said: "It's better buried with him than utilized by Tom. I agree with Harry. You did very well, Fleur."
The Veela beamed up at the compliment and turned to Harry to claim his lips once more. Harry gave her a gentle slap on her behind, making her gasp in surprise: "How about you return to your flat and wait for me to celebrate our small victory properly."
"Why don't you come with me?" Fleur pouted and bit her bottom lip as seductively as possible.
Harry chuckled as he felt her allure roll over him in waves: "Because I will inform the headmaster of what happened tonight."
Harry cast a quick Tempus, showing it was almost 2:00 am in the morning: "If I don't catch him awake, I promise I will be with you shortly."
"I can't believe I am being replaced by an old man with a beard once more." Fleur huffed as she placed one last kiss on Harry's jaw. She purposefully brushed her breast over Harry's face as she got up from his lap.
"You have 30 minutes, Harry James Potter." She shot him a stern look: "A second later and you will spend the night on the cold couch instead of feeling this warm body pressed against yours." She added proudly.
"I will do my utmost to be on time then." Harry chuckled, just as Fleur walked to the desk and activated her Portkey to take her back to her apartment.
"Remember when I told you to go for her back in your third year..." Salazar boomed in laughter after watching the entire scene: "Back then I told you that sex with a Veela is something different. And look at you now... Totally whipped by that girl..."
"Shut up, old man." Harry snorted: "At least I will get some action tonight..." He sat up straight.
"Though, only if I am not late." He added with a glance to his watch and quickly called for Dobby.
"Harry Potter, sir?" The elf answered tiredly.
"Sorry to wake you up, Dobby." Harry grinned: "But could you please take me to the headmaster's office?"
"Of course, Harry Potter Sir, Dobby is happy to help."
A second later, he stood in front of the gargoyle: "Uhm... Acid Pops?" Harry tried after he remembered the last time he had been up here, which must have been over a week ago.
To his surprise, the Gargoyle jumped to the side and granted him excess: "Thank, buddy."
He tentatively knocked on Dumbledore's door.
"Come in." Chimed the amusing voice of the old headmaster shortly after.
The elder wand flicked into Dumbledore's palm and his long nightgown was transfigured into robes of bright purple: "Harry, I must admit off all my students I would have only expected you to visit me at such a late hour."
"I have some exciting news that I wanted to share with you personally, sir," Harry replied with a grin, as he flicked a sherbet lemon and expertly caught it with his mouth.
"You have my curiosity, Harry." Dumbledore smiled over his half-moon glasses as he took a seat opposite him.
"I just returned from a visit to Malfoy Manor..." Harry cocked his head: "I assume you know who currently resides there?"
Dumbledore paled slightly: "According to Severus, Tom has been absent for the last two days."
"He returned tonight, but it was too late to stop us from completing our mission."
"I see that Ms. Delacour has accompanied you once more." The man's eyes twinkled.
"Who says it was not Sirius?" Harry cocked his eyebrow with a smirk: "Perhaps I felt like some godfather - godson time?"
"Because I doubt Sirius would leave lipstick on your jaw, Harry." The headmaster chuckled.
Harry cursed and did his best to rub away whatever was left of Fleur's passionate kisses from a few minutes. He knew his girlfriend had purposefully marked him... Well, he could always pay her back later tonight. A grin appeared on his face...
"Are you still with me, Harry?" Dumbledore asked in amusement.
"Naturally, Headmaster... just momentarily distracted." Harry pulled himself together: "As I said, we completed our mission. The Snake, his last Horcrux, was destroyed tonight."
Dumbledore's blue eyes started twinkling madly: "Then there is only one last obstacle in your path, my boy."
"Only the man himself." Harry inclined his head and regarded Dumbledore with a determined expression.
"It is time then." The headmaster whispered barely audible with a sad expression.
"I am sorry?" Harry said, acting like he did not hear the man.
"Last summer I told you I would share all my secrets with you..." Dumbledore began: "While at that point, there was still something that we both held back, I am about to reveal everything to you, my boy."
Harry felt the euphoria surge throw him and forced himself to remain his neutral facial expression.
"But first..." Dumbledore smiled at him: "How about another practice duel tomorrow... Let us see how much you have progressed with Gellert's help."
Harry's eyes flashed emerald green and he forced himself to smile: "It would be delightful to cross wands with you once more, sir."