Chapter 62: Wedding Crashers

Albus continued to watch over everyone over the next few days as they were grieving over the loss of Alastor Moody. Albus knew what happened to his body… what the Ministry did when they tracked it down… he tried hard not to think about it as he watched them ready young William and Fleur's wedding—glad to celebrate something happy for a change—he personally thought that this was what everyone needed. It brought such joy to him to see, that even in a world that was in the mist of war, it helped to remind him that there were always those falling in love.

Naturally, he kept his watch over Harry more than anyone else. The other Order members were dying to know what it was they were planning on doing, and though most of them backed off when they heard that he had given them this task—Molly was a different story.

He could understand that she was worried, so of course she wanted to know what they were up to… knowing that she just wanted to keep them safe. She once tried to get Harry on his own so that she could try to convince him to go back to school or to at least find out what it was they were planning. It was painful… he knew that Molly loved Harry as much as if he was one of her own and he couldn't tell her anything.

"May I ask why you are abandoning your education?" he watched Molly ask Harry when she finally got him alone.

Harry was looking uncomfortable as he mumbled, "Well, Dumbledore left me… stuff to do. Ron and Hermione know about it, and they want to come too."

Albus shook his head, knowing that Molly wasn't going to like hearing that at all.

"What sort of 'stuff'?" she asked him, trying to sound calm, but he could clearly hear the anxiety underneath it all.

"I'm sorry," Harry said, and he sounded like he truly meant it, "I can't –"

"Well, frankly," Molly said firmly, "I think Arthur and I have a right to know, and I'm sure Mr. And Mrs. Granger would agree!"

Albus stood back but he wished that he could step in and do something to reassure her, but she needed to learn that they weren't children anymore. That she would have to let go sooner or later… they may still be young but they were of age and…

He stopped and shook his head at his feelings. 'I wish I thought to take my own advice when it counted,' he thought.

"Dumbledore didn't want anyone else to know, Mrs. Weasley," Harry told her sadly, "I'm sorry. Ron and Hermione don't have to come, it's their choice –"

Albus smiled. Of course they don't have to go with him, but they were going because they wanted to. And that made all the difference. Molly looked angry and, for the first time, she snapped at him that it was nonsense—that if Dumbledore wanted something done, he'd had the whole Order to do so and that maybe Harry mistook it that he wanted him to do so.

Albus sighed, how he wish that was the case.

"I didn't misunderstand," said Harry flatly. "It's got to be me."

He handed her back the single sock he was supposed to be identifying, which was patterned with golden bulrushes before he left and Albus opened his eyes.

With occasional checks on them all, he continued to greet more old friends and students as they came to this place—more losses from this war. Though he was glad to see them, each person he saw brought a sense of sadness with them. Each one of them was given the choice to stay and wander the mist until they were reunited or move on immediately. Most went on but he could eventually hear the sounds of someone wandering around in a contented way, happily waiting for their loved ones to join up with them so that they could go on together.

But he spent most of his free time with his eyes shut and dreaming of what was going on to the ones left behind. After that little encounter with Harry, Molly was now doing everything in her power to make sure that the three of them were away from each other—as if hoping that if they weren't together, she could prevent them from leaving. Though he understood it was just stopping their planning, not the time that they'll leave… and then they'll be less prepared.

But they caught a break once a few days later when they were able to meet up with each other in Ron's room. Hermione was going through all her books, just deciding to take Spellman's Syllabary for ancient runes when he started to dream. He smiled, glad that she chose to keep it, knowing that would become useful in more ways than they know.

She was then picking up Hogwarts, A History when Harry told them to listen to him, that even though he knew that they said after the funeral that they wanted to go with him but he…

Albus laughed. Who did he think he was kidding? Trying to stop his friends was the same as trying to stop the tides.

"Here he goes," Ron said with a roll of his eyes.

Hermione added sagely, "As we knew he would. You know, I think I will take Hogwarts, A History. Even if we're not going back there, I don't think I'd feel right if I didn't have it with –"

"Listen!" said Harry again more firmly.

"No, Harry, you listen," said Hermione. "We're coming with you. That was decided months ago – years, really."

'It's always good to have friends,' Albus thought to himself, wishing that he had a bond as strong as the one these three shared. They argued for a few moments before they seemed to let the matter drop and Albus felt his heart hurt at Hermione's tearful explanation of what she did to make sure that her parents were safe… it was clever to have them move to Australia and no longer having memories of what was going on here.

Ron also took Harry up to the attic and told him about his plan with his family. The family ghoul would be playing the part as Ron with spattergroit. Which was really ingenious… after all, if Ron weren't to go back to school, it would most certainly be questioned. But if anyone came to check, all they had to do was show them the ghoul… no one would want to get too close to find out.

But it was Harry's expression said it all… the look of how touched and grateful he was to both of his friends… was more than anyone could say.

After a few more minutes of talking, Hermione finally said, "What we really need to decide, is where we're going after we leave here. I know you said you wanted to go to Godric's Hollow first, Harry, and I understand why, but… well… shouldn't we make the Horcruxes our priority?"

No… that wouldn't be wise. Tom would surely be expecting that and be keeping an eye on Godric's Hollow. Regardless of how much Harry wanted to visit, it was probably the last place that they should head to. He was glad when Hermione pointed this out to Harry and he stopped, obviously just realizing this fact as well.

Ron however suddenly asked, "This R.A.B. person," he said. "You know, the one who stole the real locket?"

Ah yes… he wondered about that greatly himself as Harry pulled the fake Horcrux out and read out the message inside, "'I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can.'"

But who? Albus couldn't think of who it could be… after all, it had taken him years to learn about Voldemort's past and discover the Horcruxes, who could have possibly figure it out? It had to be someone who once knew Tom… had to know something of his past…?

"Well, what if he did finish it off?" Ron asked hopefully.

'That would be nice,' Albus thought grimly. However, until they find out the truth, they'd never know for sure. They should make sure it's destroyed completely before they forget all about it. But then when Ron asked the next sudden question, Albus realized for the first time that he never fully explained about how he got rid of the ring.

"And once we get hold of it, how do you destroy a Horcrux?" he asked and Albus grimaced. This was something that they needed to know, he must not have realized it at the time.

"Well," said Hermione, "I've been researching that."

'Really?' Albus thought, before he smiled to himself, glad that he thought ahead.

"How?" asked Harry in great surprise. "I didn't think there were any books on Horcruxes in the library?"

"There weren't," Hermione whispered quietly, "Dumbledore removed them all, but he – he didn't destroy them."

Ron suddenly realized what she was saying and was demanding to know how she got her hands on those books and she quickly explained that she didn't steal them… all she did was use a Summoning Charm and the books zoomed right out of his old study and she took them with her.

He laughed. Now he had planned it like that from the very beginning. He made sure to leave the books out near a window just… just in case.

She swallowed and then said imploringly, as if they could reassure her that she did the right thing. "I can't believe Dumbledore would have been angry, it's not as though we're going to use the information to make a Horcrux, is it?"

"No," Albus whispered. He knew that they were doing this for the good of all and to stop this war. He trusted them enough not to do someone as terrible as to create a Horcrux of their own. Hermione then brought out Secrets of the Darkest Art and told them all about what she read.

"And the more I've read about them," said Hermione, "the more horrible they seem, and the less I can believe that he actually made six. It warns in this book how unstable you make the rest of your soul by ripping it, and that's just by making one Horcrux!"

"I'm afraid so," Albus said. "Tom is more powerful than he has ever been… but it came with a heavy price. I don't think there is any humanity in him any longer. What is he, I don't know… but he must be stopped."

"Isn't there any way of putting yourself back together?" Ron asked curiously.

"Yes," said Hermione with a hollow smile, "but it would be excruciatingly painful."

"Why? How do you do it?" asked Harry at once.

"Remorse," said Hermione and Albus felt a surge of regret inside him as well. He knew all about remorse… he had felt it every single day after Ariana died, and being trapped here in-between, he still felt it. He knew that he'd never fully be at peace until he saw this through until the end. However… Tom would never feel remorse for anything that had done.

"You've got to really feel what you've done," Hermione went on, pointing to the page, "There's a footnote. Apparently the pain of it can destroy you. I can't see Voldemort attempting it somehow, can you?"

Albus shook his head. But there was always a chance for hope wasn't there? He listened as she told them both about how they were gonna destroy them. And Hermione was right, Tom would've made sure that they would be almost impossible to destroy.

"I wonder how Dumbledore destroyed the ring?" said Harry regretfully and Albus felt the usual pang of guilt. "Why didn't I ask him? I never really…"

Albus felt his heart being torn in two once more. Though now that he thought of it, even if he did ask, there was no guarantee that he could answer truthfully. He remembered when the boy was still just a boy and they had that long talk in front of the Mirror of Erised…

Just then, the door banged open and all of them jumped up, knocking things over and falling over as Molly glared at them all, and told them that they still had work to do. Albus opened his eyes and stared sadly off into the distance at the comforting mist.

There wasn't much he could do but kept an eye on the three at the Burrow, as well as the other Order members, his Hogwarts staff, the Ministry, and even old students and their families. Things were getting worse by the day and no one knew what to do—but the thought of a wedding helped to raise everyone's spirits. But what really filled him with joy was when he heard the wonderful news… just before Remus and Dora went to the Burrow to celebrate Harry's seventeenth birthday… they had found out that Dora was going to have a baby.

He burst out laughing happily when he visited their house, filled with joy at the thought of new life in this war. However, he couldn't help but see that there was one person who didn't seem happy about this… Remus. He sighed, knowing how troubled Remus had always been—how afraid how his 'condition' would affect everyone around him. But he had a bad feeling that this was a different kind of fear. Sirius once scold Remus, saying that he was using his 'problem' as an excuse to run away from everything that he really wanted.

How Albus hope that this wasn't really the case.

Hopefully, once it had all sunk it, and he would come to see the joy in it soon. However, there were other things to worry about as well… for Rufus was making a surprise visit and Albus sighed, highly doubting that Rufus was showing up to wish Harry a 'happy birthday' now. He also had a feeling that Rufus might still be a little sore from the two times that he met Harry before… this can't be good.

Once they got the warning, Remus took Dora and quickly left, the Ministry had been very Anti-Werewolf and it wouldn't do any good for them if they saw him there. Not that it makes any difference at this point in time. Rufus came in and rather stiffly asked to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione. He took them inside and naturally tried to separate them, which they refused firmly before they all sat side by side on the couch to see what it was he had to say to them all. And he surprised them all at the fact that he was here because of the will.

Of course… Albus had a sneaking suspicion that the Ministry would to confiscate his will in the hope that they could find something they could use to their advantage. He made sure to set things up so that he was ready should this happen. Hermione, however, was outraged and began to say with a tremble in her voice that they had no right to do so.

It didn't matter, Hermione. Nothing they could've found would've been able to help them.

"I had every right," Rufus answered coldly. "The Decree for Justifiable Confiscation gives the Ministry the power the confiscate the contents of a will-"

"That law was created to stop wizards passing on Dark artifacts," she interrupted, unable to stop herself, "and the Ministry is supposed to have powerful evidence that the deceased's possessions are illegal before seizing them! Are you telling me that you thought Dumbledore was trying to pass us something cursed?"

"Are you planning to follow a career in Magical Law, Miss Granger?" Rufus asked interestedly.

Not that Albus was aware of. But she should, they needed someone like her to keep them in line.

"No, I'm not," retorted Hermione. "I'm hoping to do some good in the world!"

Albus laughed along with Ron as Rufus's eyes narrowed and Harry asked him, "So why have you decided to let us have our things now? Can't think of a pretext to keep them?"

"No, it'll be because thirty-one days are up," Hermione answered him darkly. "They can't keep the objects longer than that unless they can prove they're dangerous. Right?"

And of course Rufus began to ask them questions, trying to get some kind of information that they might be able to use. Ron slipped up a few times, but he felt a surge of pride go through him at how well they dealt with Rufus. In the end, Rufus was forced to hand over his old Deluminator to Ron—Albus gave it to him because he had an idea to what might happen… though he silently hoped that he'd never have to use it. He then gave Hermione his old copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard and she was looked dumbstruck as she stared at the faded cover.

Yes, that was something that he left to her so that she could learn about the tale of the Deathly Hallows.

And finally, he had given Harry the Snitch… the same Snitch that he had hidden the Resurrection Stone.

"I notice that your birthday cake is in the shape of a Snitch," Rufus suddenly asked as he handled the worn-out looking ball, "Why is that?"

Hermione laughed, a little hysterically, as she said in a loud voice, "Oh, it can't be a reference to the fact Harry's a great Seeker, that's way too obvious. There must be a secret message from Dumbledore hidden in the icing!"

Again, they needed more people like her in the world.

"I don't think there's anything hidden in the icing," Rufus said a little jerkily, and Albus knew him long enough to know that his temper was quickly rising, "but a Snitch would be a very good hiding place for a small object. You know why, I'm sure?"

And unsurprisingly, Hermione seemed to just blurt it out. "Because Snitches have flesh memories!"

The boys looked confused until Rufus elaborated—telling them that the Snitch remembers the first person to ever touch it in case of a disputed capture. And he was sure that this Snitch would remember his touch and that Dumbledore must've hide something precious inside it, but also to make sure that only Harry could open it.

Albus was impressed that they were able to come up with all that. It was all true of course, but they were missing a few key pieces to this puzzle of theirs.

Harry was looking nervous, and Albus knew him well enough that he was worried about Rufus being right and taking the Snitch from him. But he needn't worry… there was only one way to open it. He lowered his head… all he needed was to say the magic words… and he still felt disgusted with himself for that.

"You don't say anything," Rufus commented, now looking interested. "Perhaps you already know what the Snitch contains?"

"No," said Harry, before he was left with no choice but to hold out his hand and they watched Rufus slowly put it into Harry's palm. And of course, nothing happened.

"That was dramatic," said Harry coolly and Albus chuckled as Ron and Hermione laughed along with him. Rufus was looking angrier than ever before he informed them that Harry had a second bequest… the sword of Godric Gryffindor.

Now Albus knew that they were never going to pass the sword on… in fact he had counted on it. Which was why he made sure to have a second copy made and switched the real one with the fake a few days before he died and gave instructions to Severus to hide it.

And of course, Rufus had refused to hand the sword over—though he wasn't completely wrong either. The sword itself belongs to Hogwarts and it could only work properly when you prove yourself to be a true Gryffindor, which meant that it wasn't truly Harry's.

Rufus scratched his cheek before he asked, "That does not make it the exclusive property of Mr. Potter, whatever Dumbledore may have decided. Why do you think-?"

"-Dumbledore wanted to give me the sword?" said Harry, and his infamous temper was quickly rising, "Maybe he thought it would look nice on my wall."

"This is not a joke, Potter!" Rufus growled at him. "Was it because Dumbledore believed that only the sword of Godric Gryffindor could defeat the Heir of Slytherin? Did he wish to give you that sword, Potter, because he believed, as do many, that you are the one destined to destroy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

Albus could understand Rufus's desperation to end this war. It couldn't have been easy for him all this time, but this wasn't the way to do it—he should be trying to work with them instead of trying to trick or force them. Not only that, the sword is powerful and it is needed to destroy the Horcruxes… but it wasn't necessarily the only key they had.

"Interesting theory," said Harry scornfully, pretending to think that over. "Has anyone ever tried sticking a sword in Voldemort? Maybe the Ministry should put some people onto that, instead of wasting their time stripping down Deluminators or covering up breakouts from Azkaban.

"I feel sorry for you, Rufus," Albus sighed, knowing that Harry's scorn was something to be feared. The Minister was about to get told off alright. And sure enough…

"So this is what you've been doing, Minister, shut up in your office, trying to break open a Snitch?" he demanded harshly. "People are dying – I was nearly one of them – Voldemort chased me across three countries, he killed Mad-Eye Moody, but there's no word about any of that from the Ministry, has there? And you still expect us to cooperate with you!"

Albus was glad that someone was finally telling Rufus off like this. However, Rufus lost it completely, shouting at him as he jumped up and jabbed him hard with his wand and singed a hole in Harry's shirt.

Albus shook his head at how Rufus lost his temper like a child. Immediately, Ron jumped up and looked ready to fight until Harry held him back, reminding them that they could get arrested if they did try to attack him.

"Remembered you're not at school, have you?" Rufus demanded furiously. "Remembered that I am not Dumbledore, who forgave your insolence and insubordination? You may wear that scar like a crown, Potter, but it is not up to a seventeen-year-old boy to tell me how to do my job! It's time you learned some respect!"

But respect isn't something you demand… you have to…

"It's time you earned it," Harry said, interrupting him and voicing what he was thinking. Albus couldn't have felt any prouder at seeing how well he was dealing with this. Thankfully, before anything else happened, Arthur and Molly both came in quickly, asking what was going on. At the sight of them, Rufus remembered where he was and what was happening.

He looked at the hole he made in Harry's shirt before he moved back. "It – it was nothing," he growled. "I … regret your attitude."

Albus sight at that. The way that he saw it, it was Rufus's attitude that was the problem.

They shared only a few more words, with Harry holding up his fist so that they couldn't hope to miss the scars that the Ministry had forced him to carve there himself, and Albus opened his eyes, unable to watch anymore.

He knew that this was going to be it. This moment would help to decide the war… one way or another, it would end…

The next day he dreamt of visiting the wedding, lamenting the fact that he couldn't be there in person. It was truly a beautiful thing to see… dozens of people were there, laughing and enjoying themselves as they set the ceremony. Fleur's father walked her proudly down the aisle as she looked ready to start sprinting up to Bill, and Albus was sure that no one even noticed the scars on his face as they joined hands at the altar.

He even applauded along with everyone else when the two sealed their vows with a kiss, and the golden balloons over their heads burst so that birds of paradise and golden bells chimed. Soon, the chairs were gone and they were underneath a large canopy supported by golden poles, with a glorious view of the sunlit orchard and surrounding countryside. Next, a pool of molten gold spread from the center of the tent to form a gleaming dance floor; the hovering chairs grouped themselves around small, white-clothed tables, which all floated gracefully back to earth round it, and the golden-jacketed hand trooped toward a podium.

"Beautiful," he sighed as he watched. His eyes soon caught hold of Ron leading Hermione, and a boy with red, curly hair…

He chuckled, knowing that it must've been Harry in disguise. That was probably for the best that the guests don't know that he's not here—and he watched them for a moment as they went to where Luna Lovegood was sitting all alone. He chuckled as she greeted them and he watched the happy newlyweds begin their first dance as husband and wife. He enjoyed moving around and watching everything that was happening, feeling happier than he had in a long time, but that was short lived…

After some time of watching everyone enjoy themselves and looking happier than they had been for the longest time, he eventually spotted his dear old friend Elphias sitting at one of the tables with Harry, still in his disguised form. Suddenly remembering that it was Elphias who wrote his obituary, he went over to them to see what it was they were sure to be talking about.

When he got closer, he could hear Elphias speaking as he filled up a glass with some champagne. "I thought of writing to you," he whispered to Harry, "after Dumbledore… the shock… and for you, I am sure…"

So he knew it was Harry? He supposed that he shouldn't be surprised since he is an Order member.

"I saw the obituary you wrote for the Daily Prophet," Harry answered, and though it wasn't his voice, he could hear traces of Harry speaking through it. "I didn't realize you knew Professor Dumbledore so well."

"As well as anyone," Elphias answered, and Albus was truly touched to see the sad tears in his friend's eye. "Certainly I knew him longest, if you don't count Aberforth – and somehow, people never do seem to count Aberforth."

That was because Aberforth preferred it that way—that no one knew that they were related. One of his many regrets was that he couldn't make things right between them before he died.

"Speaking of the Daily Prophet… I don't know whether you saw, Mr. Doge -?" Harry went on curiously before Elphias insisted that he call him by his first name. "Elphias, I don't know whether you saw the interview Rita Skeeter gave about Dumbledore?"

He had a feeling that was what this was about. That this wasn't going to be a pretty thing to see.

"Oh yes, Harry, I saw it," Elphias answered, "That woman, or vulture might be a more accurate term…" and Albus smiled at that as he went on, "positively pestered me to talk to her, I am ashamed to say that I became rather rude, called her an interfering trout, which resulted, as you may have seen, in aspersions cast upon my sanity."

Turning words around was always something that Rita was always best at.

"Well, in that interview," Harry went on, "Rita Skeeter hinted that Professor Dumbledore was involved in the Dark Arts when he was young."

No… not technically, though what he was planning was far from innocent at the same time.

"Don't believe a word of it!" said Elphias at once. "Not a word, Harry! Let nothing tarnish your memories of Albus Dumbledore!"

Albus smiled a bit sadly at that. He really should've told Harry the truth himself while he had the chance. Harry looked on, and though he couldn't read this face as well as his usual one, Albus could see that he was upset… not that he blamed him. He knew that he must've been hurt and angry with him as well… as well as the tremendous pressure that he was under.

"Harry, Rita Skeeter is a dreadful –" Elphias began but then an elderly woman—Muriel, one of the Weasley's many realities overheard them speaking, and interrupted them with a cackle. "Rita Skeeter? Oh, I love her, always read her!"

She came over to them, a goblet of champagne in her hands, "She's written a book about Dumbledore, you know!"

"With most of it made up and speculation I suppose?" Albus sighed as Elphias welcomed her politely before she barked at someone to give him her chair and she just sat down.

"Hello again, Barry or whatever your name is," she said to Harry, "Now what were you saying about Rita Skeeter, Elphias? You know, she's written a biography of Dumbledore? I can't wait to read it. I must remember to place an order at Flourish and Blotts!"

'Not that it will do much good these days,' Albus thought, upset that his private history was going to be revealed to the world. Especially if most of it was bound to be likes and rumors—but his feelings about the whole thing didn't matter. As she got more champagne, she gave a belch before she went on, "There's no need to look like a pair of stuffed frogs! Before he became so respected and respectable and all that tosh, there were some mighty funny rumors about Albus!"

"Ill-informed sniping," Elphias hissed under his breath, but Muriel heard him clearly.

"You would say that, Elphias," she cackled. "I noticed how you skated over the sticky patches in that obituary of yours!"

"I'm sorry you think so," Elphias said coldly, "I assure you I was writing from the heart."

"Yes, it was far kinder than I deserve, Elphias," Albus answered.

"Oh, we all know you worshipped Dumbledore," she retorted, "I daresay you'll still think he was a saint even if it does turn out that he did away with his Squib sister!"

Albus shivered at that; it was callous and incorrect but there was just enough truth in it that made him feel like he was stabbed in the chest. He was the reason his sister was gone after all, no matter if he cast the spell that actually ended her life or not.

"Muriel!" exclaimed Elphias in shock as Harry's hand tightened on his goblet.

"What do you mean?" he asked Muriel. "Who said his sister was a Squib? I thought she was ill?"

"She was Harry," Albus whispered, "But Muriel isn't completely wrong either."

"Thought wrong, then, didn't you, Barry!" said Muriel, looking delighted at the effect she had produced. "Anyway, how could you expect to know anything about it?! It all happened years and years before you were even thought of, my dear, and the truth is that those of us who were alive then never knew what really happened. That's why I can't wait to find out what Skeeter's unearthed! Dumbledore kept that sister of his quiet for a long time!"

He looked away as Elphias wheezed out that it wasn't true. But then Harry spoke softly to himself, "He never told me his sister was a Squib."

"Because she wasn't, Harry," Albus said softly, his guilt once again feeling like it was crushing him.

"And why on earth would he tell you?" screeched Muriel, swaying a little in her seat as she attempted to focus.

Elphias was far from through though. "The reason Albus never spoke about Ariana is, I should have thought, quite clear. He was so devastated by her death –"

"Why did nobody ever see her, Elphias?" Muriel demanded harshly, "Why did half of us never even know she existed, until they carried the coffin out of the house and held a funeral for her? Where was saintly Albus while Ariana was locked in the cellar? Off being brilliant at Hogwarts, and never mind what was going on in his own house!"

Albus wanted nothing more than to open his eyes and stop dreaming. But he couldn't bring himself to look away, flinching at those words. But she was truly unable to leave the house in her condition… that was what he tried to remind himself.

"What d'you mean, locked in the cellar?" asked Harry. "What is this?"

"Dumbledore's mother was a terrifying woman, simply terrifying," Muriel said and Albus felt anger burning inside him at that. "Muggle-born, though I heard she pretended otherwise-"

His mother may have been a Muggle-born, she was never ashamed of it. And he was glad when Elphias spoke up, "She never pretended anything of the sort! Kendra was a fine woman."

"- proud and very domineering, the sort of witch who would have been mortified to produce a Squib-" Muriel went on and Albus felt the need to put a Silence Charm on her to shut her up. What sense would that make? If she was a Muggle-born, why would she be mortified?!

"Ariana was not a Squib!" wheezed Elphias.

"So you say, Elphias, but explain, then, why she never attended Hogwarts!" Muriel asked him.

Naturally, if she was too fragile to set foot outside, why would she leave and go to school? A lot of student are home-schooled… that doesn't mean that she had to have been a Squib. But Muriel turned back to Harry and said, "In our day, Squibs were often hushed up, though to take it to the extreme of actually imprisoning a little girl in the house and pretending she didn't exist –"

"I tell you, that's not what happened!" Elphias stammered, but she just ignored him, telling Harry that Squibs were usually shipped off to Muggle schools and encouraged to integrate into the Muggle world. And Albus had to agree that was best for them to try to find a place where they would always be looked down on. They argued for some time, and Muriel demanded to know why Ariana was never taken to St. Mungo's or why a Healer had never come to the house.

Of course, that had been because if she was taken to a Healer she would have been taken away from them for good. It was all his mother could do to keep her with them, and she couldn't bear the idea of her daughter being taken away from them.

"Really, Muriel, how can you possibly know whether –?" Elphias asked as she snapped that her cousin worked as a Healer at St. Mungo's at the time and he never seen or even heard that there was a daughter in that household.

Albus was looking at Harry's shocked expression and knew at once what he was thinking off. He was probably sympathizing with his sister—fully realizing just how much the two had in common. After all… he knew better than anyone what it was like to be locked away… kept out of sight…

He looked away from this. Hadn't he always sworn how much the two were alike? Was Harry fully realizing this as well? He supposed that Harry would understand Ariana better than almost anyone what it was like to be kept locked up. But what Muriel was saying wasn't the whole truth either. As distance as he had been from his family in those days, he never would've allowed something like that to happen to his own little sister… she had to be kept inside, but not like a prisoner.

"Now, if Kendra hadn't died first," Muriel resumed, "I'd have said that it was she who finished off Ariana –"

Albus's eyes showed a hint of fury at that before the sadness consumed them again as he thought of what had really happened there. His mother and father gave up everything to care for Ariana… how dare they try to judge them for that?!

"How can you, Muriel!" Elphias said horrified. "A mother kill her own daughter? Think what you're saying!"

Albus wished that he could do something here, but he was forced to do nothing but watch as Muriel said, "If the mother in question was capable of imprisoning her daughter for years on end, why not? But as I say, it doesn't fit, because Kendra died before Ariana – of what, nobody ever seemed sure-"

Albus knew what happened on that awful day. It was just after he left school wand was going on that world tour with Elphias when he got the news. Ariana had always been like a bomb that could go off at any moment—all it took was a few wrong sparks and there was an explosion… to Ariana, she tried desperately to hold her magic inside. But it was like she was trying to hold back a dam with a rushing torrent of water behind it. The harder she tried to hold it back, the more the force behind the wall built up until it just burst…

But what happened that day was just an accident… Ariana didn't mean to do something like that, she didn't even realize what had happened until it was too late. Elphias tried to say scornfully how Ariana might've killed her in a tone that clearly said that he didn't believe a word of it, but Muriel was nodding thoughtfully to that.

"Yes, Ariana might have made a desperate bid for freedom and killed Kendra in the struggle," she said thoughtfully as Elphias shook his head stubbornly. "Shake your head all you like, Elphias. You were at Ariana's funeral, were you not?"

Albus was finding it harder and harder to watch—once more fighting the desperate urge to move on. "Yes I was," Elphias said, "and a more desperately sad occasion I cannot remember. Albus was heartbroken-"

Heartbroken? That was putting his grief mildly.

"His heart wasn't the only thing," Muriel said, "Didn't Aberforth break Albus' nose halfway through the service?"

Albus felt as if his insides were being torn and ripped apart as Elphias seemed too stunned to speak with Harry looking horrified as he watched them both. Elphias croaked out, asking how she could possibly have known about this and she told them happily that she overheard her mother talking about it with Bathilda Bagshot how Aberforth attacked him and broke his nose.

He felt his hands go up and touch the same one. He knew that he could've fixed it long ago, however, he chose to keep it as a permanent reminder.

"And I'll tell you something else," Muriel said, hiccupping slightly as she lowered her goblet. "I think Bathilda has spilled the beans to Rita Skeeter. All those hints in Skeeter's interview about an important source close to the Dumbledore's – goodness knows she was there all through the Ariana business, and it would fit!"

Oh, he knew that she was the 'source'… he saw the whole thing with Rita interviewing her, but it was in an underhanded way.

"Bathilda, would never talk to Rita Skeeter!" Elphias said firmly.

"No, not willingly anyway," Albus sighed.

"Bathilda Bagshot?" Harry suddenly asked in surprise. "The author of A History of Magic?"

"Yes!" Elphias wheezed at once, "A most gifted magical historian and an old friend of Albus's."

"Quite gaga these days, I've heard," Muriel said in a good mood.

Then what good was Rita doing interviewing her? If everyone knew she was gaga, then they shouldn't be taking her seriously.

"If that is so, it is even more dishonorable for Skeeter to have taken advantage of her," Elphias stated at once, voicing his thoughts, "and no reliance can be placed on anything Bathilda may have said!"

"Not that that's ever stopped her before," Albus whispered grimly.

"Oh, there are ways of bringing back memories, and I'm sure Rita Skeeter knows them all," Muriel informed him.

"And most of which are illegal," Albus stated as she went on, "But even if Bathilda's completely cuckoo, I'm sure she'd still have old photographs, maybe even letters. She knew the Dumbledore's for years…. Well worth a trip to Godric's Hollow, I'd have thought…"

Oh no…

He looked quickly to Harry, who was coughing on his drink and Elphias banged him hard on the back as he quickly asked, "Bathilda Bagshot lives in Godric's Hollow?"

"Oh yes, she's been there forever! The Dumbledores moved there after Percival was imprisoned, and she was their neighbor."

"The Dumbledores lived in Godric's Hollows?" he repeated and Albus moved back, as if afraid. The look of shock on his face was worse than a punch in the gut and Albus couldn't bear himself to look at him for the longest time. By the time he was able to, Hermione had come over to sit next to him to rest her feet.

Harry was looking deeply upset at this point, he looked like he was going to say something to her, but at that moment, a silver lynx Patronus appeared out of nowhere and landed in the middle of the dancers. And Albus knew what it meant…

"The Ministry has fallen," Kingsley's voice said with the lynx opened its mouth. "Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."

"No," Albus whispered, not here… not at a wedding…

The warning couldn't have come any sooner. Everyone began to panic and they were sprinting away, trying to leave as soon as possible. They were all leaving in panicking groups, most of them were Disapparating away as soon as they could—the protective charms that protected the Burrow were gone. Harry and Hermione were looking around desperately for Ron as Order members were creating shields around the guests as Hermione was almost crying for their friend.

It was a good thing so many of the Order members were there… they were giving everyone a chance to leave before the Death Eaters came… and just as he could see the forms of black hoods appear, through the crowd, Ron came bursting through and took hold of Hermione's arms before they disappeared together.

Albus's eyes opened up and he left his chair as he paced the room, feeling anxious. He knew that Tom wouldn't come in person unless he was sure that Harry had been captured. He kept a watch over them and was relieved to see that the trio were able to escape to the Muggle World, where they would be safest for the moment. The Order had a slight problem with a couple Death Eaters, but thankfully everyone at the wedding, he was glad to see that the guests had almost all escaped by the time the Death Eaters had come.

Albus sighed as he heard the footsteps coming towards him.

"You caused some trouble haven't you?" Albus asked him.

"I just wanted to do something right," Rufus said to Albus grimly and he slowly turned around so that he could see the former Minister standing there.

"By trying to cover everything up?" Albus asked softly. "I would've thought that you'd know better than that to try and get Harry to join you."

"I meant no harm," Rufus sighed. "I wasn't ready for such a job as Minister…"

"I know that it couldn't have been easy for you," Albus told him sympathetically. "I know that. I blame Cornelius for turning a blind eye more than you. If he had done what needed to be done from the start, then the government wouldn't have been left in such a mess for you. I'm sure that under different circumstances, you would've been a marvelous leader."

"I wish that it was that simple," Rufus sighed. "We'll never know…"

"But you died honorably," Albus answered.

*Flashback.*

The Death Eaters entered the Ministry… Rufus was laying on the floor with his mane-like hair matted and covered with blood. He had been brought to his knees and Voldemort was standing over him, holding his wand high before he kicked Rufus over onto his back.

"I know that it must be painful to talk with a broken jaw," he growled angrily, "But I can make your death painless if you tell me. Tell me where I can find Harry Potter and your death will be quick."

"No…" he croaked out, blood bubbling up between his cracked lips.

In his anger, Voldemort raised his wand and used the torture curse to cause him to scream in agony. It was quick though and Voldemort drew his wand back. "I will not let you leave this place alive, and you are dying right now. But there is still time to make you suffer! Now I will only say this one last time! Tell me where Harry Potter is right now and I will make your death swift! If not, then I will make every second you lay here feel as if eternity has passed!"

"You'll… have to… kill me," he breathed out, not the slightest bit of fear in his face. "Harry… Potter may be… a naïve brat… but even I know… that you're afraid of him."

Voldemort's eyes widen in rage as he raised his wand. Rufus let out a scream of agony, he thrashed on the ground and his shrill, ear-splitting shriek of pain echoed across the room.

"YOU'RE SAYING I'M AFRIAD OF HIM?! A SNIFFLING BOY WHO HIDES BEHIND OTHERS AS THEY PROTECT HIM?!" Voldemort screamed, looking truly mad in those red eyes.

Rufus just smirked. He knew that he was gonna die, but this was a small victory nonetheless. "My duty… is to the people. I'm only… sorry I didn't realize… it till now."

And then his mouth curled slightly as he closed his eyes… and faded away right then and there.

*End of Flashback*

"That was truly a brave thing you did," Albus said as he shut his eyes and spotted them…

"Draco," Tom shrieked at him, "Give Rowle another taste of our displeasure…! Do it, or feel my wrath yourself!"

He opened his eyes at once, unable to watch Draco's terrified face as he was forced to torture Rowle.

'What a terrible thing forcing someone who's barely of age to do, Tom,' Albus thought grimly. He looked to Rufus, and told him gratefully, "And… thank you for protecting Harry."

"Even though I knew that he's probably the only person who has any hope of taking that madman down…" Rufus said as he paced around him, "More than anything, I think I never would've been able to face you again if I sold him out like that."

"Is that so?" Albus asked.

"Come, come now Dumbledore," he smirked. "You'd have to be blind not to see it. You know… it's funny… how much he sounds like you. I swear… when I talked to him it's like I'm looking at you all over again."

"You honor me," Albus sighed, gazing up above him grimly. "But I said this before… he's nothing like me."

"Really?" Rufus chuckled. "He matches you perfectly if you ask me. The way he talks is like you're still there, you know? You may be dead, but it seems as though he inherited your spirit."

Albus closed his eyes. 'I just hope that he doesn't inherit my mistakes with them,' he thought as he bade Rufus farewell.

(How was it? We're getting along and almost to the end at long last. I'm looking forward to finally ending this story. I think the next chapter might be a lot longer, and I hope that you're interested in seeing what I have planned.)