If I ever see you again

When Albus Dumbledore closed the door of Harry's bedroom behind him, he didn't walk away immediately. Harry was holding on to his secret. He had said nothing about his visits in the Chamber or why he left Hogwarts so abruptly. He hadn't let anything slip about his whereabout near the frontier and had tried to hide his silver piece of jewelry around his left forearm. Dumbledore had seen it while he was bandaging his former student and had recognised the snake immediately. This jewel was Slytherin Heritage. It had been crafted by the founder himself and the legend was adamant about the fact that he had kept it through death. It had never been found. So how did it end up on Harry's forearm?

He sighed and retreated in his own apartments. So many decisions that had gone wrong. He couldn't change the past, and for the second time in his life, he had almost no idea about how he would proceed concerning the future. At least the last time, he had been immediately challenged in a tragic three-way duel that had resulted in his sister's death. But now he had to wait, and it was maddening. Could he really have made a better choice concerning Harry? Should he have let Hogwarts down to go after the boy?

So many questions and not a single clue.


The burn was now an excruciating pain piercing through Harry's forehead. It was like his head was being sliced in two parts. He tried to block the scream frozen in his throat. He felt anger and fear flowing through his veins like never before. He couldn't think rationally. It was too much, and he couldn't hold it in anymore.

However, he forced himself to remain calm. As he was shaking on the ground, he focused on the pain. What was beyond it?

Fear, anger… a weird feeling of emergency… There was this overwhelming sensation of powerlessness. Like something precious had been taken from him and that angered him. But there was also something far more precious that was being destroyed unbeknownst to him. And that scared him.

Harry's eyes widened. While fleeing the Death Eaters, he had abandoned his camp behind him. The tent, but also the Cup of Hufflepuff. That meant He must have found it, and now he knew. Harry had been found in Broceliande, therefore it wasn't too difficult to deduce he had been the one using Bellatrix to get to her vault where the Cup was hidden before obliviating her.

Harry then focused on his breath. He had gathered the information he needed, now it was time to gain his self-control back. In and out, in and out.

He got back on his feet and staggered to one of the red armchairs. It took him a few minutes to calm himself down completely and clear his head up. Now he had to reflect on what he had learned.

Voldemort had finally discovered Harry was after his Horcruxes. And it caused him to panic. He had never expected Harry would retaliate. But Voldemort was not the kind of person who would let himself be pushed around. Harry had felt he was about to do something rash. Something people might even call stupid. And Harry had foreseen it. He smiled at the irony.

A Gryffindor had managed to patiently wait for his time to strike, making it accurate and devastating. A Slytherin had been taken by surprise and was about to fight back without assessing the situation first and taking the time to plan.

A world upside-down.

Harry could have rejoiced if all of this didn't mean that Hogwarts was in danger. Voldemort was gathering all his forces and triggering all his alliances to march on Hogwarts. Based on what Hagrid had told him in December, Harry wasn't sure the Order had managed to be as successful in this area.

A jolt of panic ran through his body. He was the only one aware of Voldemort's plan and he had to warn Dumbledore. But if he did, the Headmaster of Hogwarts would rightfully want to know why his school was attacked. And Harry would have to confess everything he knew. He couldn't predict what Dumbledore would do then.

But what he was sure of, is that saving Tom would be then impossible. And saving Tom, saving Voldemort, was Harry's only chance of survival.

He let out an exclamation while burying his head in his hand.

So much to do and so little time!

Ok, first things first. Nagini. He had to kill Nagini.

'Professor Dumbledore,' he said out loud.

The little noise behind him indicated the Headmaster of Hogwarts had answered his call.

Dumbledore Apparated in his living room. He had felt so relieved to hear the boy call for him. When he had left Harry's bedroom, he had thought he wouldn't see him again. Harry was sitting in one of his armchairs and the little head movement the boy made when he arrived confirmed it had been noticed. He approached the second armchair and sat in it, without a word. He had been in enough meetings during his life to know that what he was about to hear required to be seated.

'You're right,' started Harry. 'I have been hiding something from you. And I can assume you already know the nature of this secret.'

He glanced toward the older wizard who nodded, patiently. The blue electric gaze wasn't inquisitive or piercing. It reflected attention and patience. Harry went on.

'Before Christmas I found the reason why Voldemort survived fifteen years ago. I don't want to lie to you, Sir, and to be honest I am sure I wouldn't be very successful at it. Therefore, I will ask you to not question me about the source of my information.'

Dumbledore smiled briefly and nodded again. Still silent. Still listening. Harry took a deep breath.

'Horcruxes.'

Dumbledore didn't react at all, but Harry could feel how heavy the atmosphere had become. The Headmaster's eyes were now very grave.

'This is what you've been doing since January, isn't it?' Asked Dumbledore very focused.

'Yes, Sir,' answered Harry. 'I had already started while being at Hogwarts but for the remaining ones, I needed to leave.'

'You must have had your reason to not tell me,' continued Dumbledore. 'I'd be grateful if you could enlighten me about them.'

'When Voldemort possessed me,' sighed Harry. 'You told me that from now on you would stand besides me, no matter the consequences…'

'You didn't believe me,' whispered Dumbledore with a hint of sadness in his voice.

'On the contrary I did… And I still do. This is why I hid this secret from you. I knew that sooner or later, Voldemort would pick up on what I was doing and then, he would try to find me. If I had told you about the Horcruxes, Hogwarts would have been defenseless as I am sure you would have insisted on coming with me.'

'And I suspect that if you tell this to me today, it is because he has come to understand what you have done. Am I wrong?'

Harry shook his head, withstanding the blue eyes of his Headmaster.

'How long do we have?' Asked Dumbledore calmly.

'I don't know for sure. He just found out,' replied Harry. 'You're more up to date than me on the state of his forces.' He finished with a hint of bitterness in his voice.

Dumbledore looked at the glowing embers for a few seconds.

'Herriott?' He finally asked out loud.

'Hmmmm yes?' A small portrait hung above one of the bookcases was waking up. 'Yes Headmaster, what can I do for you?'

'He is coming to Hogwarts, you know what to do.'

'Of course, Headmaster,' replied the portrait with a serious voice. He opened a door that was painted behind him and disappeared.

Once he was gone, Dumbledore looked at Harry again.

'How many were destroyed and how many are left?'

'I destroyed five of them,' he said, withstanding Dumbledore's eyes. 'I have one left, then I will be able to take care of him.'

It wasn't a lie. It was just part of the truth presented in such a way Dumbledore wouldn't stop him. The old wizard couldn't know Harry would try to save Tom before fighting him. Neither could he know that, should Harry fail to reason with Him, he would have to die.

But then… Then would only remain Voldemort and once Dumbledore would have taken him down, the Wizarding World would be free. If he failed, Harry would never know this world, but the people he loved would. And that was good enough for him.

'I wish you hadn't been alone on this journey,' said Dumbledore, breaking the silence. 'But I can make sure you won't be at the end of it.'

Harry didn't reply. He hadn't been alone, but Dumbledore couldn't know about this. And yes, Harry wished the old wizard would have come with him. He would have liked not to be the one who made all the decisions of the past months. And he didn't want to make the ones to come.

'I wish I never had to go on this journey,' replied Harry with a sad smile. He stood up and headed towards the staircases. Before he crossed the door, he turned towards the red armchair in which the Headmaster was still seated. 'I wanted to thank you, Sir, for having kept the Prophecy hidden so long. I thank you for letting me taste life before I had to face Him.'

'You sound like you are not going to make it,' said Dumbledore, turning his head towards Harry. He had never seen eyes so old in a boy so young.

'I have to consider every outcome,' replied Harry with a tired voice. 'I just want you to know that, in the end, you're not as wrong as you think you were. And I forgive you.'

'Let me help you then,' said Dumbledore while standing up.

'No,' the tone was firm.

The Headmaster considered Harry a few seconds and finally, he asked the question he wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer to.

'Harry, do you trust me?'

Green eyes locked on the blue.

'I used to, and I still want to,' replied Harry calmly. 'I would have liked to be a normal child who looks up to his Headmaster and professors, but… Here we are.' He smiled and for a moment, Dumbledore saw the small but spirited young boy who had just been sent to Gryffindor. 'I hope that one day I will be able to sit in your office in front of your desk and tell you about everything that has happened, like I have done every year since I have arrived at Hogwarts.' The idea of this promising day floated in Harry's head and his smile became dreamy. But soon his eyes hardened again. 'And I hope you'll return the favour.'