Chapter 3: What Next?
Sorry for the delay. Without further ado, here's the next chapter.
Harry woke up as sunlight splashed on his closed eyes, creating a show of golden colors on the back of his eyelids. He lay there contently, until the memory of the previous night flooded him.
He sat up straight, quickly, blearily noting he was in his dormitory. The curtains of the windows were drawn wide open, and the sun was higher than he would have liked.
'Ron and the others are probably already at breakfast', Harry thought, annoyed. They could have at least wakened him!
Harry got up, stretching. He quickly finished his morning activities and headed downstairs. The Common Room was empty too. Harry frowned. There were always a few stragglers, and a few early risers that had already eaten.
As Harry left the Tower, the Fat Lady called out to him. "The Headmaster wants you to go to his office and wait for him!"
Harry became even more confused. He nodded in thanks. What could Dumbledore want that couldn't wait?
Harry came to a stop near the stone gargoyle. "Acid Pops," he told the gargoyle, praying that the password hadn't been changed. It hadn't been, and Harry was able to enter the Office. It was like it was the night before, as if nothing had changed. The portraits were all empty, which Harry found highly suspicious. Even Fawkes wasn't present.
Where had everyone gone?
Harry settled into a chair and waited. And waited.
The door finally opened and Dumbledore came striding in, looking unusually serious. Fawkes reappeared in a flash of flames on his stand.
"Professor!", Harry stood up, thankful that the wait was over. "Professor, are you OK?"
Dumbledore sat in his usual throne like seat, smiling genially. The twinkles in his eyes were dim, but he seemed content.
"Harry, my boy! Glad you got my message."
Harry eyed the silver arm distastefully. He couldn't help but remember a certain short, pudgy little man.
"Harry, words can't express my gratitude. You saved my life."
Harry blushed in embarrassment. "It was just something U said without thinking," he said. "I didn't actually do anything."
Dumbledore seemed to grow happier when he saw Harry's humility. "I'm sure you have questions, Harry.", he said kindly. "Feel free to ask them."
Harry immediately fired off questions. "Where is everyone? How did I break out of that Petrification?"
Dumbledore's smile faded a bit. "I thought it would be best if I told you this, Harry."
Harry paled. 'Oh no.'
"They are all at the memorial," Dumbledore continued. "Of Colin Creevey, and Cho Chang."
'No no no no no no no no.', Harry thought franticly. 'This was his fault. He called them, and they were dead because of them."
Flashes of memories went through him. An excited photographer, a girl shyly taking his hand, a small boy asking for an autograph and looking at him with such trust, a very wet kiss.
Dumbledore had gotten up, and was somehow beside him, holding his shoulder in comfort. "It's not your fault, Harry. They died a Hero's Death."
Fawkes started singing softly, and the song brought Harry back from the brink. Tears filled his eyes, and he started to cry like he hadn't in a year. He hadn't cried since mourning Sirius, and these deaths almost broke him just as much.
Dumbledore held the weeping boy with no sign of irritation or discomfort.
When the storm had passes, Harry lifted his head slowly. "I'm sorry, Professor."
"Crying is not a sign of weakness, my boy." Dumbledore chided. "Its how you stay sane, and cope with any excess emotion"
Dumbledore sat again, this time in a seat beside Harry, not on the other side of the table.
Harry wiped at his face, determined to avenge Colin and Cho. "Who killed them?", he asked angrily.
Dumbledore's face took on a reproving expression. "Harry…", he warned.
Harry got the message and scowled.
After a few awkward moments, Harry asked, "What about the Petrification?"
Dumbledore became even grimmer. "I still don't have any concrete proof, but I have a hunch that the power is from Voldemort. And my hunches are usually correct."
Harry glared at the floor. Great, now he shared minds and power with that bastard. Just great.
"Harry, listen to me," Dumbledore said, sternly. "Harry, however alike you are with Tom, does not mean you are Dark. You are the Lightest person I have ever seen, and it will be that way, unless you yourself question it."
Harry nodded. His gaze landed on the silver hand again. "Professor, could you change the hand's material?", he asked distastefully.
Dumbledore laughed. "No, my boy. There is a reason why my hand and Peter's hand are silver. You see, silver is the best conductor. The Muggles think it conducts heat and electricity better than any other metal. They are only half correct. Silver is also the best conductor of life energy and magic itself. This allows my own life energy and magic to flow through it, making it my hand for real. This is also why I will be able to cast magic if I hold a Wand in that hand."
Harry nodded, surprised that there was an explanation besides the fact that it looks good. He suddenly remembered last night's excursion.
"Professor! The Horcrux! Did you destroy it?"
Dumbledore's face fell. He silently picked up the locket, which was on the table, and gave it to Harry. It was open, and there was a note inside.
To the Dark Lord,
I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more.
R.A.B.
Harry looked up in outrage and confusion. "So this is not the horcrux?"
Dumbledore shook his head, but smiled. "This tells us that Voldemort has more enemies than either of us know. Its good news. But we must also ensure that the Horcrux is really destroyed."
Harry nodded. Dumbledore got up, eyes twinkling. "Now, my boy, your friends are waiting in the Great Hall, impatient for answers."
Harry got up, recognizing the dismissal. He walked out, and closed the door behind him.
Dumbledore slumped in his seat. Tears threatened to fall out of his eyes. It would be a while before he saw Ariana again and could apologize. But he would not abandon Harry. His initial plan took all of his willpower, and seeing Harry again now, broke any remnants of it.
No, Dumbledore would stay with Harry as long as he was needed. And then, only then, he would embark on his next greatest adventure.
Andddddddd Done. I hope this chapter made sense. It's more of a chapter that acts like a bridge between the last two chapters and the next chapters.
Reviews are appreciated, but not necessary. And no, I did not intentionally make sure that Colin Creevey and Cho Chang sound like a Consonance.