Chapter 3: All That Is Lost…Or Is It?

"Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives."-A. Sachs

"You are the American Dragon?" Ron exclaimed with surprise. He had been expecting a younger teenager, but he had also expected someone who was bulkier and taller than this kid. Hermione smacked him in the back of the head.

"Yeah, but I still don't know who are." Jake replied a bit sourly, with hurt pride.

Hermione responded quickly. "I am Hermione Granger. The one with the big mouth is Ron Weasley, and that is Harry Potter."

"Who did you say sent you here?" Jake asked Hermione.

"Our…former Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore." She said a bit sadly.

Jake thought for a moment, and then started heading toward the backroom. "It doesn't ring a bell, but I'll ask G. He knows everyone in the magical world." He yelled back to them. A few minutes later, Jake returned, followed by an old, short Chinese man, with white hair and moustache, who was wearing a navy Chinese robe. The old man looked at Harry, Ron, and Hermione imperiously, then smiled.

"Hello, young ones. I am sure you have plenty of questions, but first, introductions must be made. I see you have already met my grandson, Jake. I am Lao Shi, the former Chinese Dragon, and Jake's Dragon Master. Now let me see, you must be Hermione Granger, and…Ronald Weasley…and, Harry Potter. I guess I am better with names than Albus thought." The old man said.

"How do you know Dumbledore?" Harry asked quickly. Lao Shi looked at him.

"We are…were, old friends. I was very upset to hear of his passing." Lao answered.

"Harry! Don't interrupt, its rude." Hermione hissed.

Lao chuckled. "He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever." The three looked puzzled at the old man's wisdom.

Jake saw their surprised looks and said, "Get used to it. Gramp's is into the whole 'Chinese Proverb' thing. He means ask as much as you want."

"Yes, now, I am open for questioning," Lao replied with a Chinese accent.

"Why did Dumbledore want us to find you two?" Harry spoke up. Lao quickly walked over to the shop's door, and turned the OPEN sign so it read CLOSED.

"Let us go to the backroom." Lao Shi said, and led the way. The backroom was neater than the store, with bookshelves lining the walls. But books weren't the only things on these shelves. There were potions, ingredients, spell books, and several odd-looking objects. Lao sat in one of the many stools in the room, but Jake remained standing. The three wizards sat, and Lao began to speak.

"Albus and my last meeting was three months ago, at Magus Bizarre. He explained to me about Harry's situation, and how you two would go to search for one of Voldemort's horcruxes. He also informed me that he would most likely not return. I understood his situation, and when he asked me if I would help you when he passed, I agreed. He will soon inform me of what to do now." Lao said simply.

"What do you mean, 'he will soon inform me'? He's dead." Ron said confusedly. "Do you mean he's a-a ghost?" He looked frightened.

Lao Shi's eyes sparkled with the same wisdom Dumbledore's had, and Lao smiled. "Ah, you see, I have a surprise for you." He looked up at the clock. "He should have arrived by now." With that, he searched one of the drawers in a large desk, and pulled out a picture frame. "I am surprised that you three forgot all about this. When a Hogwart's Headmaster dies, where does he go?" Lao asked.

"The ground?" Ron guessed. Lao chuckled.

"No, no, no. They live on in a frame, in the new Headmaster or Headmistress' office. They live there, so they can advise and counsel. Well, it just so happens that this is that very frame, and Dumbledore is here to tell us what to do next." Lao walked back to his seat, and leaned the frame against a wall on a table. "Are you here, Albus?"

All of a sudden, the blank photo started to swirl, and then Albus Dumbledore appeared in the picture. He looked at the five through his glass enclosure, and smiled. "Yes, Lao. I am here." He spoke in his majestic voice. "And there is a lot of explaining to do."

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Jake's eyes goggled. Jake jumped when Dumbledore spoke, and said, "Yo! That Polaroid just talked! How messed up is that?"

"Jake, in the magical world, photos move, though this is a very special talking one." Lao explained. "I know you know very little of the Wizarding World, besides Pandarous."

"Yes, you must explain to him about Voldemort" –Ron flinched- "but that will have to be later. I can only stay for a short period of time, so I will be brief. Harry, Ron and Hermione are three very exceptional wizards. They have gone through more in six years than most wizards face in their lifetimes. I wanted your help Lao, because I know you are wise, and will be able to help them with their mission. I also request Jake's help, since as you very well know Lao, he and Harry are in extremely similar situations at the moment." To this, Lao nodded sadly, while Jake looked confused. "I have a meeting with the Ministry of Magic at the moment, so I trust you will explain, Lao. I shall return soon." And Dumbledore stepped out of the photograph and into others scattered around the room, until he was out of sight.