Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore has never forgotten a face in his life. He recalled former students who went on to become wonderful men and women, ministers, auroras, and healers. He also remembered the awful students who had despised him and who he had despised in equal measure. He recalled the insignificant, ordinary Hogwarts witches and wizards who considered themselves grateful to him for simply being permitted to attend Hogwarts.
Who was he to tell them they were wrong?
As Thomas Marvalo Slytherin, Voldermort. Oh, he knew the man was Voldermort sitting at the Slytherin table laughing and enjoying his time back at Hogwarts. Even if the ministry didn't believe him at the time, he knew the man was Voldemort. After all, Dumbledore was the supreme sorcerer, the greatest wizard of his century, and he was confident that he was right and the Ministry would come around as they usually did.
He looked around the table across from where the Dark Lord sat and in the hall, sighing with satisfaction when he saw Charles at the Gryffindor table. After all, he needed the boy, and it wouldn't do for him to die too soon.
Dumbledore crept into Charles's mind subtly, the boy having no defenses to speak off, and he wondered what kind of heir James was rearing. He realized his compulsion had triggered again today; these occurrences were becoming too frequent; perhaps he should call the boy back into his office for a conversation again.
Yes, Dumbledore would undoubtedly persuade him that everything had to be done. Of course, it was all for the greater good.
They were in the room of requirement, often recognized as the come and go room. Marvalo had heard about it and had brought them here to talk. He and Marvalo sat across from Luna, who sat in a blue armchair, on an antique love seat.
There was an empty coffee table in front of them, which looked identical to Marvalo's office at home. Harry took a few steps back and took a glance around the room. There were bookshelves, and there were lamps, of course.
There were fifteen lamps of various sizes and shapes strewn over the room. That in itself was strange, but to each his own, he decided. According to Marvalo, the room seemed to conjure up whatever you wanted.
That was a fascinating bit of magic. Could it be possible to duplicate it? Harry wondered if this was because Hogwarts was intelligent enough to construct this room on its own, or if it had been built by the founders, like to Slytherin's infamous chamber. Which Marvalo was presumably aware of the location as well.
The man seems to have all the answers. As a result, he looked around the room while Luna and Marvalo stared each other down, attempting to intimidate each other. Luna was just glancing around, not blinking much, whereas Marvalo was the one who was glaring. Luna appeared to be amused by his efforts.
"Soo," Harry said hesitantly, hoping to break the uneasy tension in the room.
"Yes, my lord, I was informed you had some questions," Luna responded gently as she looked at Marvalo.
Marvalo nodded decisively.
"Lady Lovegood, tell me about this ritual and its benefits."
"On Samhain last year, Mother Magic appeared to me in a dream. She forewarned me about occurrences she didn't want to happen, such as the annihilation of all things magical, and she advised me how to prevent them," Luna remarked, her voice unusually solemn.
"Interesting, but not the information I seek, Lovegood," Marvalo grumbled.
"Isn't he impatient?" Luna nodded sympathetically in Harry's direction, "He's lucky he's good in bed."
Harry coughed and became scarlet around the ears before laughing softly.
"Tell him about the ritual, Luna darling," Harry grumbled.
"My lords, I propose a soul restoration ritual beforehand, as the ritual I have to undertake may demand more soul than you currently possess," Luna replied politely.
"What does that mean?" Harry inquired suspiciously calmly "What does she mean by less soul"
"Horcruxes," Marvalo quickly added.
Harry asked, his voice high-pitched, "Horcruxes as in multiple?"
"Yes," Marvalo replied quickly.
"Luna, inform him about the ritual, and then please leave so that my- Lord Slytherin and I can have a much-needed discussion," Harry said as he withdrew from the conversation, turning away from Marvalo's stares.
The information whirled around in his head. He couldn't believe it when he heard several Horcruxes. He wouldn't have it. The man's soul, his own being, everything that made him Marvalo had been fractured. And he hadn't thought it necessary to inform Harry.
Harry couldn't decide which hurt more: the fact that he had slowly fallen in love with an incomplete piece of soul and wondered if he would have done so sooner if Marvalo had a full one, or the fact that he hadn't told Harry after everything they had done together.
He ignored the voice in his mind that told him he hadn't told Marvalo all that much either.
He put the idea out of his mind. He was now enraged with the man. And then he'd get back to the love part. Even as his thoughts shouted LOVE over and over again.
"— After that, we'll cleanse your magic and mind of black magic influence and wash away any residual insanity; depending on your dark magic usage, we should only have to perform this once or twice a year," Luna remarked, as Marvalo was nodding and scribbling notes.
What had he procured that diary?
That appeared to be the end of the conversation, as Luna bowed to both of them before exiting the room and closing the door behind her.
"Why didn't you undertake a soul restoration ritual before?" Harry asked, his voice calm.
"Light magic has never been healthy for my core, and I felt I was beyond requiring any help," Marvalo responded unflinchingly.
At the very least, he hadn't lied to Harry; he told him the truth, no matter how ridiculous it may have sounded, and Harry respected him for it.
"You foolish prideful man," Harry said fiercely.
"I'm sorry darling," Marvalo apologized as he looked down.
"I- when did you intend to tell me, Marvalo?" "Or were you planning on telling me anything at all?" Harry asked enraged. His cheeks were flushed with rage.
"Of course, I was you, you conceited brat." Is this, however, relevant to you in any way? It is my soul that I have shattered. "Not yours," Marvalo retorted.
The thunderous snap of Harry slapping Marvalo seemed to reverberate throughout the room. Marvalo rubbed his cheek and glanced at Harry with a mixture of surprise and horror on his face.
"How can you believe I don't care about you?" Harry screamed angrily. "How dare you assume to believe it is none of my concern?".
"Has this whole courtship been nothing but a game to you? Did you think my health isn't important to you, you foolish, idiotic man?" Harry was enraged as he proceeded.
"Of course, Harry, your health is a source of concern for me. I've grown to care for you-" Marvalo's tirade came to a halt.
"Please, Harry," Marvalo said, pleading.
"You will fix it then?" Harry says, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, yes I will please forgive me-."
"Marvalo, you will tell me everything you've done, no matter how trivial, and so so help Merlin and Arthur and all their knights, you will tell me all. If I discover something important you've kept hidden from me, I'll skin you and sell your body parts as potion ingredients in Kiterurnberry Alley "Harry's voice cracked as he threatened.
Marvalo hurriedly nodded and walked over to Harry, meeting him with outstretched arms.
As Marvalo whispered words of remorse, Harry lurched forward and cried into his chest. As Harry's cries faded to sporadic hiccups, he sat them both back down on the loveseat and hugged them.
"I mean it, Marvalo, never again do I want to hear something you should have told me from another's mouth," Harry said.
"I promise, darling."