Chapter 13 – The Meeting ( Part 2 )

Harry nervously walked to the stone gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office. He tapped on the gargoyle uncertainly.

"Ciao, bambino," muttered the gargoyle uncertainly before opening its eyes to be taken aback. There was a whole lot of wizards suddenly wanting to speak to Dumbledore.

The gargoyle stirred. Had he accidentally revealed anything during sleep?

Harry wasn't stupid enough not to take notice that the gargoyle felt uncomfortable, probably that the Italian it spoke before had something to do with the password. Immediately he asked, "What's the password?"

The defiant gargoyle refused to tell him.

"Very well," muttered Harry before he turned around to speak to his comrades. "What do you make of "Ciao, bambino?" ?

Again the gargoyle felt sweat rolling down his back. (Stones don't sweat, so obviously he imagined it.)

This time Artemis, master of puzzles, made a fact clear. "That has something to do with the password."

Harry felt his eyes roll.

"What could it be?"

"Probably an anagram? Maybe On bam biao ci?" suggested Hermione.

Artemis had read enough Dan Brown books to know that this was one of the possible but impossible ideas.

"Something to do with a baby," said Holly.

"Yeah……what could it be?"

Harry's mind stirred. "Did you say a baby?"

"Yeah, bambino means baby in Italian."

"Then probably it has something to do with me."

Harry looked the gargoyle in the eye, and said, "Harry Potter."

It didn't move.

Malfoy spat.

"Maybe Dumbledore isn't that stupid after all."

They got in without much incident, except the embarrassment that Ciao, bambino was the password actually. Dumbledore looked at the unlikely crowd as the newcomers introduced each other, including the fairies.

Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling, was very interested in the fairies. "So, young adventures, what do you seek the knight for?"

"Professor, we need a truth out of you, sir."

Harry then repeated and told Professor Dumbledore the complete purpose of his visit. After that, Dumbledore was quiet for several moments.

"I never expected Tom to be so straightforward about this. He was a clever boy, yes, but…..much too big for his boots, if you get what I mean."

"So…it is true?"

Dumbledore looked at each person in turn. "I have kept a big secret from you for very long. I am going to tell you all about this, only if I have your word that you will not spread it around like mud."

They all promised.

Then he began to speak. "Tom was right. I was a Squib."

Harry flew back from his chair. He could not believe this. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, the great wizard, was a Squib?

"Please let me explain. Yes, I was born a Squib, with hardly any magical talent. I couldn't eve stand a cauldron the right side up." He said this with contempt and bitterness.

"My father was a great follower of Dark Magic. Just that night, I can still remember…."

He prodded his head with his wand, then dipped it in the Penseive. "Here, the memory will make it clearer."

They stuck their hands into the liquid spiraling, and soon they were thrown in.

It was raining that night. I wondered why Father called me up here? To test something on me?

I was freezing cold as I marched up to my father's usual hideout.

The seven of them followed a 10 year old Dumbledore up to his father's hideout.

"Father? Did you call me?"

Sedgewick Dumbledore looked up. Yes, Albus, can you believe it? I can give animals magic too!

I thought about the chilling prospect.

Then suddenly, there was a big splash.

Damn and blast, cursed my father. There was soon another. Some of the liquid landed on me.

Albus, he cried. The liquid was starting to burn, but at the same time I felt an odd sensation, as if strength had been forced into my bones.

As the travelers watched the tragedy unfold, they were shocked. It was nothing like they had seen before.

I felt the odd sensation and I felt strong and looking at my father, I wondered what wonderful liquid that he had created.

"Albus! What have I done!" cried Sedgewick as he rushed to help his son.

Our heroes stood transfixed, as the drama unfolded.

I had not realized it, but I had magic. I was no more a Squib and I was going to make waves!

The chamber swirled…and they appeared back in the room.

"Do you know the truth now?" Dumbledore questioned slowly.

They realized something.

They had made a terrible mistake.

Dumbledore heaved a sigh of relief. It wasn't easy to stop these inquisitive 17- year olds. Indeed, he hadn't told them the truth. But to tell them what happened……..

Sedgewick Dumbledore looked at Albus with spite. "You caused me all my humiliation. I detest you."

I looked away with shame. I had let my father down. I had displayed no magical skills.

Sedgewick looked like a man about to squash a bug, he had Albus in the right place. "Lucky for you, I have an antidote."

Albus looked up, hardly daring to believe it.

" I have the perfect antidote. It will restore your magic to you. Are you ready?"

"Eveready, father."

Sedgewick gave him the potion. He drank it, and the effect sent him spiraling across the room.

Sedgewick stumbled back. "What went wrong?"

Albus Dumbledore stood up. "You hated me. Now you will pay."

Dumbledore looked at Fawkes. Looking so graceful, she was. He felt he should not have lied to them. Harry Potter will know it soon. One day, he will know. By then, he hoped it would not be too late.

Harry spoke slowly.

"Professor Dumbledore had this look in his eyes, I know that he was lying, sure, he might have been convincing, but he lied."

"Sure, and then is there any reason he should lie to you?" Malfoy sniggered.

Harry didn't want to respond. There were just too many thoughts around his mind. Just then they came around the Enlightening Angel.

"It's nice." Ron muttered.