They meet again! Let me know what you think(after you read it).(That means review it)(please)

Chapter 18

"Professor Dumbledore!" said Harry in amazement. Sitting calmly in a gold frame, wearing light purple robes and half-moon spectacles, was Dumbledore. Harry could not believe that he was seeing his old headmaster again. Ever since that day on top of the astronomy tower, Harry had been trying to come to the realization that he would never see Dumbledore again. Yet here he was, smiling as brightly as ever, looking down at Harry from his long, crooked nose.

"I can't believe I'm speaking to you again," Harry said.

"I am glad that I am still able to help you in any way I can," he said, in his usual calm tone.

"I think you can help me," said Harry, realizing that he still clutched his letter to the minister tightly in his hand.

"Although I do not have all of the knowledge and memories that I did when I was among the living, I will try to aid you as best I can," he said.

"Why haven't you got all your memories?" Harry asked.

"I am merely a painting, Harry; I am not the Dumbledore, the wizard."

"I don't understand, you are Professor Dumbledore," said Harry, confused.

"What was it that you thought I might be able to help you with?" Dumbledore asked. Harry could tell that he had avoided explaining himself in further detail. He was no longer smiling; he was looking at Harry with an almost sorrowful expression.

"Do you know why Sirius' brother was killed by the Death Eaters?" Harry asked.

"Why do you ask, Harry?" asked Dumbledore.

"Well, the locket that we got er," started Harry, trying not to think, the night you died, "last spring, it was a fake. There was a note to Voldemort inside, and it was signed with R.A.B."

"You believe that this R.A.B. is Regulus Black," it wasn't a question, more an interested comment.

"Well, while we were at the headquarters, we found a box of Regulus' notes," said Harry, "and its all about Voldemort's horcruxes."

"Was the locket there?" asked Dumbledore, although it seemed he already knew the answer.

"No, we searched the entire house," said Harry, "but the letter did say that he was intending on destroying it."

"Was there any clues in the notes he left?"

"Yeah," said Harry, looking at the letter in his hand, "he's traced out my family tree, and Godric Gryffindor's. But neither of them are complete, they both end around the same time."

"Perhaps Regulus was trying to connect the two lineages," said Dumbledore.

"But why?" asked Harry, "I'm not Gryffindor's heir am I?"

"As you said, the lines are incomplete, so your guess is as good as mine," said Dumbledore, "as to why Regulus would want to know, I don't know. Either I cant remember anymore or I never knew. I don't believe that I ever knew that Regulus was looking for the horcruxes, else I would have told you about it."

"Then do you know who Bowman Wright is?" Harry asked.

"Bowman Wright," repeated Dumbledore, apparently in deep thought, "ah yes. He was the last known heir of Gryffindor; your grandfather spent years trying to link him with your oldest known ancestors, the Blooms."

"Lupin told me that he tried to link my family to Gryffindor," said Harry, "he could never link us with Wright?"

"I don't believe so," said Dumbledore, "very little was ever known about Wright."

"Scrimgeour has got Wright's documents, about how he created the snitch," said Harry.

"Does he now," said Dumbledore, he did not smile, but the twinkle seemed to return to his eyes.

"I've written him a letter," said Harry, "I can tell you what the documents say once I've had a chance to read them."

"I'm sorry Harry but I'm afraid that wont be possible," said Dumbledore, the sorrowful expression back on his face.

"What?" asked Harry, taken aback, "why not."

"Harry, you cant think of this painting as a way to reach the real Dumbledore," he said, "you must understand I am merely an imprint left behind."

"I do understand, but I'd still like to talk to you again," said Harry, the joy of seeing his headmaster draining slowly.

"Remember the Mirror of Erised, Harry," said Dumbledore, "I am no realer than your parents were in that mirror. This painting may be a break from reality just like the mirror, but both only have the power to deteriorate the true reality around you."

"Then why have they even made paintings of all the headmasters?" asked Harry.

"It is now my job, just like my predecessors, to provide guidance to the current Headmistress of Hogwarts," said Dumbledore, looking at Professor McGonagall. Harry had nearly forgotten that she was still in the room, sitting at her desk, listening intently.

"I need your guidance too," said Harry, "I can't find the horcruxes on my own."

"Yet you were well on your way before you entered your Headmistress' office," said Dumbledore, nodding at the note in Harry's hand, "I have given you all the guidance you will need from me. Trust your instincts, follow what you feel."

"I, I just can't think that I'll never get to talk to you again," said Harry, surprised at the words that were coming out of his mouth.

"You must understand, Harry, you haven't been talking to me," said Dumbledore, "I know that this is a difficult task for anyone to expect you to accomplish on your own. You must remember that you are not alone, you have your friends, who will all play a part before the end. My part in your life has ended, you must accept that; but you still have many who stand beside you. And never, ever forget that your single greatest strength lives inside of you, and all those who care about you. The journey through Voldemort's soul will be a dark one, you must remember never to lose the light that burns so brightly within you, for it represents the love of all those that you have lost and all those that still fight beside you."