XI—Love, Defense and Destroy
Harry took a deep breath, for a moment he had no words before, through gritted teeth he asked again, "What do you want me to do?"
He had never seen Minerva look so nervous before, "Hold your tongue Potter."
"This is mad, absolutely mad!"
"The Phoenix thinks—"
"Damn the Phoenix! I am not learning that curse!"
The Head Master sighed, adjusting the glasses on her nose she continued, "It's not only the Phoenix, Dumbledore was talking about teaching you—"
"Don't bring him into this; he would never have wanted me to go into Dark Magic. Dumbledore just wouldn't!" He hesitated before standing strong. His voice was calm, "Have you ever felt the curses? I have, all three of them," he began listing, "I was one year old, a little baby, when I got the Avada Kedavra, remember? Then, in my fourth year, Bartemus Crouch Jr. tried to control me with the Imperius Curse while pretending to be Mad Eye. After Sirius died, I tried to perform the Cruatiatus curse on Bellatrix Lestrange but she performed it on me instead giving me a lesson. I think I've had enough of the Unforgivable Curses in my lifetime thank you very much," he prepared to leave the Head Master's office when somebody else spoke.
"My dear boy, how else do you suppose you are to defeat Lord Voldemort?" It was Dumbledore's portrait. His eyes wide awake with a glimmer of life, when only moments before he slept.
Tears shimmered in Harry's eyes, partly from frustration but also because he had hoped for so long that Dumbledore's portrait would speak and it finally had. He could not count the times he had been in this office since being asked to become a professor. Minerva had invited him up to discuss how his class was coming along, what he was teaching them, his progress on the other classes he took. She had even helped him with Transfiguration in that office. Harry had looked to it with admiration and hope whenever he stepped into the Head Master's office. He longed to hear his kind voice speak words of comfort, telling him that everything was going to be all right.
"But, it's the curse that killed my parents. I don't want to stoop so low as to have to use it. I never want to feel that much hatred for something. I don't want to enjoy killing Voldemort, I just want it done."
Dumbledore's kind smile shone down on Harry, "Minerva, I think he's ready. I think he's proven what kind of wizard he will be. He should learn Amorarmor Annularion." When Dumbledore spoke those words, the room seemed to glow with light and a good feeling erupted in Harry's heart a warm sensation spread through his body. Harry's wish had come true. On that Valentine's night, three weeks ago on a cold, lonely terrace, Harry had wished that Dumbledore would send him a sign, speak words of encouragement, telling him that he could go on.
He did not speak after that though. He slowly left his portrait, perhaps for the other portrait connected with this one that all of the other previous Head Masters had.
He looked to Professor McGonagall, "What is that, the Amoramor amularion?"
"No Harry, it's the Amor-ar-mor An-nul-arion," she corrected him. However, when Professor McGonagall spoke the words, Harry was not filled with the same feeling of love and hope and magic as when Dumbledore had said it. "It is a very difficult charm with a complex wand movement. The words mean Love, Defense, and Destroy. It is a powerful weapon with a long history. Sit down, Harry." When Harry had seated himself in the plush chair in front of the desk, Professor McGonagall continued, "You may have heard at one point about a Dark Wizard named Grindewald?"
Harry searched his memory and indeed remembered that name in conjunction with Dumbledore. "I read somewhere that Dumbledore defeated him, am I right?"
"You read that on the back of a chocolate frog card, yes. However, chocolate frog cards only tell part-truths. You see, Grindewald was a Dark Sorcerer who came to power shortly after the muggle Hitler came to power. He hid his horrible deeds behind those of the muggle Nazis, but skipping past all of the unimportant and rather gruesome facts, Dumbledore searched for a way to destroy him and he did in 1945 with Amorarmor Annularion. You see, Harry, it is a love charm that is older than time and it is the exact opposite of Avada Kedavra. You need feelings of hate and vindictiveness toward your victim when you use Dark Magic, however, when you use powerful White Magic, such as this spell, you need to conjure up feelings of love and happiness and hope."
"Like when you conjure a patronus?"
"Partly, that is a form of White Magic. However I know that you can think of a magic more like the one we speak of."
Harry thought hard then it occurred to him, the entire reason he was alive. He gasped, "My mum died saving me, which put a protection over me. Dumbledore told me that magic is one of the deepest." He began to grow excited. He had been wondering how he would defeat Voldemort, as was his calling, without stooping to his level. His answer had finally come.
Lessons to work the charm would be difficult. Professor McGonagall had mentioned that it was a difficult charm to begin with; in fact, the only Wizard who had managed to achieve excellence in the charm this century was Dumbledore and he had only used it once. Harry felt he could not compare with that great wizard but he would tryat all costs.
He ran to Gryffindor tower, nearly slamming into students in the hallway. The most joyous look plastered upon his face. He uttered the password, the Fat Lady swung open commenting on his lack of manners as he swept passed her, and up to Ron and Hermione, who were closer than usual and very rumpled looking. Harry paid them no heed and started his story right away.
"This is wonderful Harry!" Hermione exclaimed.
"This is cause for celebration," Ron said grinning widely eyeing Hermione.
Hermione rolled her eyes before saying to Harry, "When are you going to start learning it?"
"I start tomorrow evening, after I sort out Friday's lesson."
Ron's happy expression faded at once as the wheels in his head began turning. Hermione looked to him, losing her smile as well, "What is it, Ron?"
It seemed he did not know how to word his concerns; he fussed over his thoughts, not intending to bring down the happy mood. Nevertheless, Ron felt that it must be said, "If this is the spell that will destroy him once and for all, why did Dumbledore not finish him off?"
The question stunned Harry for a moment, and Hermione had not answered either.
"The Horcruxes, Ron," Hermione exclaimed, "Dumbledore couldn't kill him, and neither can you, Harry, until we're sure that all of the Horcruxes have been taken care of!"
Ron felt like an idiot, "Oh, I forgot about those…"
Harry laughed, "Well, it is a lot for a small brain to keep track of, but we don't hold it against you!"
Hermione beamed as Ron's expression became incredulous, "Oh, come on darling, if we didn't have you, what is it we would have to laugh about?"
"Well, I think I know what my next class is going to be focusing on," Harry exclaimed. His contagious wide grin spreading to Ron and Hermione.
A chapter to keep the actual story going lol I hope you're enjoying it! Review please!