Chapter Nineteen- The Cave

Harry levitated Dumbledore and himself into the antechamber that had been cut into the cliff face by nature. A short time ago, they had been in Hogsmeade, the latter under the Cloak, and passed The Three Broomsticks where Rosmerta had been tossing out some rowdy patrons. The pair, took the side road to The Hog's Head where Harry took Dumbledore's arm and they Apparated to the outside of the cliff. Harry had removed the Cloak and offered to use his fox magic to levitate them to avoid swimming. Now, they stood in what Dumbledore called the antechamber and the elderly wizard was probing the walls with his fingertips. "Oh, yes," he said softly. "This place has known great magic."

"It has?"

"Magic always leaves some trace. Open your senses, Harry."

Harry closed his eyes and allowed his nose, ears, and sixth sense to take in his surroundings. He felt a tingle go through him and he shivered at it. "I think I feel it, sir."

"Very good." Dumbledore had been probing the entire time and was now deeply probing one section of the wall. "Yes, this is it. The entrance. But it requires payment to pass through and a crude one, I fear."

"What kind?" Harry asked as Dumbledore pulled out a silver knife.

"Blood, Harry and yours won't do for magical fox blood may damage the defenses by making it stronger. Has Severus revealed to you that foxes can Apparate like house elves?"

"No, sir."

"Hmm," Dumbledore said as he gashed himself and smeared the blood on the wall. "Perhaps, he did not want to tempt you with you being underage. In any event, should we find ourselves in dire straits, you will Apparate us to safety; that being, Hogsmeade." A section of the wall vanished and they entered a cavern with an underground lake. A green glow in the center hinted of where they needed to go.

A blaze of white light dissipated the Peruvian Darkness Powder and cleared the corridor. Snape turned to Ron and Ginny. "Are you all right?"

Yeah. Thanks, professor," Ron said.

Snape pointed at the corridor's other end. "They went that way. They'll meet up with the Order. Gather Miss Granger and Miss Lovegood from the dungeons and join Longbottom and the Order." The Weasleys ran off and Snape Apparated himself to take up a position on the stairs leading to the Astronomy Tower. He had been at Draco's shoulder, invisible, as the boy muttered the plan to himself as he worked. He knew that a Death Eater was to fire the Dark Mark over the Astronomy Tower as a lure and Draco was to wait behind the door to await Dumbledore's return. The one to set the Mark would leave so Draco could face Dumbledore alone.

Snape planned to erect a barrier to prevent anyone from witnessing the murder. His sharp ears heard footsteps and he turned invisible, pressing himself against the wall. A hooded and masked Death Eater ran past him and several minutes later, he came back down and passed Draco on the way. Snape waited several more minutes before putting up the barrier. Now I wait for Dumbledore and Harry to return, the latter would surely be under his Cloak.

Harry's ears folded back upon hearing Dumbledore's screams as he forced another goblet full of potion into the old man's mouth. Dumbledore had made Harry promise to keep him drinking the potion after saying that it had to be drunk in order to reach the Horcrux and that Harry was more valuable than he himself was. The black and silver fox reluctantly agreed and felt horrible at what he had to do. He had refilled the goblet for the tenth time and felt it scape the bottom of the basin. "We're almost there, sir. Drink this." He forced it down Dumbledore's throat, the man screaming in anguish. Harry gave him two more goblets full before the basin was empty but Harry ignored it as Dumbledore had given a great rattling gasp and rolled onto his face.

Harry rolled him over and shook his shoulder frantically. "Professor, you can't be dead, you said it wasn't poison. Please, sir."

Dumbledore's eyes flickered open and he croaked, "Water."

"Water, right." Harry retrieved the cup, pointed his want at it and said, "Aguamenti!" Water filled it but it vanished when it got near Dumbledore's mouth. Harry tried again and again; even used his fox magic but the cup refused to stay filled. Harry knew there was only one way to fill the cup: The lake water which he realized was how Voldemort planned it. He knew what was in the water and knew what would happen when he touched the water. He saw no choice as he filled the cup with icy water and tipped it clumsily over Dumbledore's face as he felt something cold gripping his wrist.

He looked to see a slimy bony hand holding his wrist and the lake churning with awakened Inferi. Harry, to his credit, didn't lose his cool. He pointed his want and cast the Full Body Bind at the one holding him and it fell back into the water rigid and it had released Harry. He scrambled backwards to crouch before Dumbledore as Inferi rose out of the water and headed toward him.

Fire, Harry thought. Severus said they fear light and warmth. Harry focused on his fox magic and held out a hand, palm facing out. Fire winked in his palm before leaping out and surrounding him and Dumbledore. The Inferi halted and backed away from the fire. Movement made Harry look back and relief filled his heart. Dumbledore was on his feet and he had moved to the basin to scoop out the locket. He went to Harry's side as Harry extinguished the fire, took Dumbledore's arm, and Disapparated from the cave.

Harry opened his eyes to see The Three Broomsticks to his left and smiled. He had done it! He had Apparated using his fox magic. That triumph was quickly overshadowed by another success. "We did it! We got a Horcrux!" He felt Dumbledore stagger against him before sinking to the ground. "Sir! Are you all right!?"

"I've been better," he said weakly. "That potion was no health drink."

"Sir, you need the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey…"

"No, it is Severus I need."

Yes, Harry thought. That potion must contain something Dark that no Healer can counter, but a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher like Severus probably could. He was about to attempt another Apparition when the inn door burst open and Rosmerta came out. "I saw you Apparate upstairs. What's wrong with Albus?"

"He's hurt. Madam Rosmerta, can he come into The Three Broomsticks while I run to the school and get help?"

"You can't go there alone! Don't you realize- haven't you seen-?"

"What's happened? Rosmerta, what's wrong?" Dumbledore asked.

She pointed at the sky and Harry turned to see a horrible sight. There, in the sky above the school, was the Dark Mark! The Mark the Death Eaters used whenever they had murdered!

"When did it appear?" Dumbledore asked as he struggled to his feet.

"Must have been minutes ago."

"We need to get to the castle at once. Rosmerta, we need transport- brooms."

"I have two behind the bar. Shall I-?"

"No, Harry can do it."

Harry raised his wand and used the Summoning Charm to bring the brooms out the door and to him and Dumbledore. "Rosmerta, send a message to the Ministry," Dumbledore said as he and Harry mounted the brooms. "Harry, put on your Cloak."

Harry did so and both kicked off from the ground. "Sir, why couldn't I just Apparate us to the school?" he asked.

"I had put extra protection to our tight security that prevents Apparition from any being into the grounds. Inside Apparition is still possible. I will undo the protection once we're closer."

The sight of the Mark seemed to have galvanized Dumbledore into action. He looked as if he had thrown off the effects of the potion and that bolstered Harry's spirits. Maybe Dumbledore wasn't going to die after all. That confidence lasted until they had dismounted on te Astronomy Tower where the Mark shined above. Dumbledore clutched his chest in pain and sank to the floor.

"Severus," he said feebly. "I need Severus."

"Yes, right." Harry started to head for the door, not bothering to Apparate around to look for his mate.