Harry remembered the password to Dumbledore's office this time and walked in to see the large group of professors gathered around Dumbledore's desk, speaking in low voices. As they heard him come in, they stepped back, forming a semi-circle around the back of Dumbledore's desk, with the exception of Flitwick, who was perched on a stool to the left side of the desk. They all looked at him without a smile, but somehow did not seem absent of kindness.
"Hello Harry," said Dumbledore.
"Hello," said Harry.
"Well," said Dumbledore, "I thought we might go around and each professor might report back their findings to you on this situation Harry, and then after that you can question them as you wish. Is that suitable?"
"Yes," said Harry firmly and clearly. While he had been nervous before he came in, now he felt calm and confident. He remembered who he was. He remembered all the problems he had in previous years and how he had always surmounted them. He remembered that he had more than enough money to take care of himself for a long time. And he remembered that his parents had loved him.
"Filius," said Dumbledore with a nod of his head.
"Yes, well. Harry, I'm afraid there is no countercharm to a bonding charm," Flitwick said with a little sigh. "You see, bonding charms are actually quite complicated. They actually involve a sequence of multiple charms, generally completed over several hours, or as much as a day, as well as a linking charm. If anything is awry in the casting or the sequence of the charms, the whole bonding charm is nonfunctional. This is the security of the charm, along with the great concentration it requires. It can only be performed by one deeply committed to it. The wand movements are complex. The sequencing can easily be forgotten. And each individual charm can fail without strong and continuous concentration. But, as I say, if it is completed correctly and in unison with a partner, it cannot be undone. Indeed, that is part of the attraction of the charm. We don't generally teach them here at Hogwarts except on rare occasions to seventh years that are of age that choose to take an independent study with me and wish to learn the charm."
"But how would the life debt trigger it if it usually requires a partner?" Harry queried.
"Yes, that is something of a puzzle. It's not entirely clear, as the cases are so rare and, other than the one in the 19th century, so poorly documented. It is my own considered opinion that the flaw in the spell design involves the fourth spell in the sequence, which involves a charm on both partners very similar to a life debt. It makes sense to me that this could possibly be triggered by an actual life debt being created, in the period after the charm was created. But this is only my theory."
"Ok." Harry took a breath. "Professor Sprout. You have such a wide knowledge of magical plants. Is there nothing that can halt the charm, or reduce Gabrielle's symptoms to a level that they are manageable with other treatments?"
"Well there are of course a number of magical plants that can decrease her symptoms of course. But anything I provide or grow would only act as palliative care. None of them would slow her approach to death, however. I'm terribly sorry, Harry."
Harry grimaced slightly. Then he looked over at Snape. He did not smile but seemed somehow less stern and sardonic than usual.
"Mr. Potter," said Snape, gazing at Harry's green eyes.
Harry glared right back at him. "Professor Snape."
Snape spoke rapidly and crisply. "Yes, well. There is no potion for the charm as Professor Dumbledore has already told you. I am working on a combination of potions that should reduce the girl's symptoms and extend her life. None of these potions are perfect and she will need to take them daily, but it should show a considerable effect. And unlike the "
"You're sure there's nothing that can be done for her to actually remove the danger altogether?"
"Mr. Potter, I don't make mistakes on things that are this important."
"Severus," said Dumbledore in a low voice.
"Mr. Potter," Snape said, in a voice that was a bit less sharp, "I have reviewed numerous obscure works for any possible sign of a reversal potion. I have found none."
Harry nodded silently. He knew now. His hands clenched.
He looked to Professor McGonagall. "Professor, is there nothing, with all your wealth of knowledge on the history of magic – no spell that can reverse this?" Harry said.
"I'm very sorry, Harry," she said with a note of regret in her piercing voice. "I've spent some considerable time in the Library over the last few days. I have found nothing that would constitute a permanent resolution As I know you know, there is some magic that cannot be undone. Some choices cannot be unwound."
Harry pursed his lips and nodded.
McGonagall went on. "Albus and I examined her. We had hoped that the magic might be weak, or there might be a sign of a problem in the charm's sequence, which might allow us to strategize a means of reversing it. We found none. The magic was quite strong. So, I'm very sorry you are being made to choose something here, and that that girl faces the possibility of suffering and death for her foolish mistake. Those your age should not have to make such decisions. And girls her age should not have to suffer and die. I—"
"Well I'm not going to let her die." Harry had not meant to speak. It just came out of him without forethought. There was a palpable reaction among the professors. "I mean, I'm sorry to interrupt Professor, but I'm not going to let her die. I didn't let her die in the lake. How could I now? I've been trying to find some way to get out of making this choice but whatever I have to do to keep her alive, of course I'll do it. I don't know much about love. I certainly can't promise to fall for her. But I certainly can't let her die. I'll spend whatever time I can with her and do whatever I have to in order to keep her from that."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "A noble choice, Harry. And I think you'll find you know more about love than many people."
"So, what do I do next?"
"Oh, I think you're due back in the Gryffindor common room pretty soon, I should think. Perhaps if it's suitable we can go visit the Beauxbatons carriage tomorrow at lunch time."
"Ok."
"Harry, many arrangements will need to be made for all of this. There will be many changes in your life."
"I'm used to that," said Harry.
"I must ask for your continued discretion in the meantime. We don't want the whole school to be buzzing about this right now, especially in these challenging times. At least not until we're all ready."
"Yeah."
"I do think you can tell your friends Ron and Hermione, however. I know they've proven trustworthy in the past. I presume they will now as well."
"Oh, I've already told them. I needed someone to talk through all of this with me."
Dumbledore's face betrayed only a hint of surprise but inwardly he was marveling at a new independence and maturity he saw in Harry. "I see," he said.
"Well, I guess we'll plan to meet at the Great Hall at lunch, then," said Harry.
"Yes," said Dumbledore. "Those of us shall keep this situation and your decision in closest confidence until at least that time. Should you change your mind, as is your right, now one will know."
"Ok," said Harry. "See you tomorrow."
After Harry was gone, the Professors began talking amongst themselves.
"Well, I think he's quite brave for taking this on. I'm not sure he knows what he's getting into," said Flitwick. "He always was brave. Not as great a spellcaster as a few of his peers. But brave and loyal. But do you really think it will last, Albus? Is he up for this kind of commitment?"
"Likely not fully. We can only hope that he grows into the challenge. We'll all have to make arrangements for them for it to have any chance of success for the poor girl."
"Yes, Albus what about in the summer? Gabrielle can hardly go to Harry's relatives. They're the worst sort of muggles. You could never explain to them…"
"Well, I have given it some thought on how to avoid that. There are several options. It will require some assistance from the Ministry, I believe. But let us surmount that peak when we come to it. Right now, we can only hope that Harry gets along with her if and when they meet. That will dictate next steps."
Dumbledore nodded in summation. The professors began to file out. "How could the poor girl have learned how to complete such a complicated charm at her age?" Professor Sprout wondered aloud.
"Well, there are books that go into every detail on the charm, of course," said Professor Flitwick. "I am amazed, however, that she seems to have completed it on her first try, at least according to what Albus told us."
"What amazes me," said McGonagall "is that she completed it at such a level of strength as a witch without any formal training and with a wand that is not her own. She must be very precocious."
"Quite." said Snape with a curl of his lip.
All day Gabrielle had stayed in her room. She had tried to eat. She had tried drinking tea. She had tried fingering herself. She had tried to nap. She had tried reading. Nothing limited the pain and discomfort she had now. It radiated and pulsed from several locations – her back, her forehead, her thighs. But while it ebbed and flowed slightly, it never abated. She had wanted to take a walk up to the castle but her parents wouldn't allow it. Her room was large and the quarters were comfortable but she felt so cooped up.
She didn't know it but Dumbledore had told them to keep her from being out alone, out of concern of what would happen if she ran into Harry.
She reclined on her bed and took out the tiny ball again from her bedside table. She had found it once while taking a walk near a muggle area near their home in France. She tossed it in the air and then used her hand to direct it against the wall and back. It was actually a kind of repelling charm, where she wandlessly used a focused repelling charm on her hand so that she could bounce the ball off the wall without touching it. It kept her busy for about ten minutes at a time before she tired of it. She never showed her parents as they were always upset about her using wandless magic. She had only once shown Fleur.
When she was done this time, she waved the ball into her bedside table drawer and rolled over. She noticed the pain again. It reverberated through her. She turned over but still felt uncomfortable. It felt like every joint was aching.
Then suddenly, it happened again. Warmth spread through her, from her hips outward. Her joints suddenly stopped aching and the pain subsided through her.
Oh, she thought, thank you, thank you, thank you for making whatever this is happen again. I should try to get to sleep now, she thought. When I sleep, the pain is much duller. If I could get to sleep feeling like this, everything might be better. She waved her left hand and the bedside lamp went out. She lay back in the bed and put her head on the pillow. It felt so good just to feel normal, just to lay down without pain. She closed her eyes. I have to sleep fast, she thought, the feeling will go away soon. She suddenly felt stressed about the fact that she wasn't immediately asleep. The feeling will go away in a minute, she thought.
The feeling began ebbing slightly. Gabrielle felt a slight throb in her lower back. Oh no, thought Gabrielle. But unlike the other times, the feeling did not go away. It stayed. Gabrielle turned over. She couldn't believe the comfort of having had her pain so reduced, how lovely it was just to feel close to normal. She wasn't sure what this feeling was. But she was so glad it was back. She wasn't certain, but she felt that since it impacted the pain from the charm, it had to be something to do with that. Her mind drifted a bit to Harry. She wondered what he was doing a mile or so away. She didn't have too much time to consider it, however, as she was soon asleep.