Adam
June 16th 1997

The day had finally come. Today was the day that Adam would be going with Professor Dumbledore to find a Horcrux. Today was the day he would actually get to do something to stop Voldemort. Maybe they could even stop this stupid war before it even began.

Adam was in his room with Ginny, getting ready to leave. As instructed he had brought only the cloak and his wand. He had been careful to ensure that the door was locked so that they were not disturbed.

Adam held the Portkey in his hand, they had only minutes before it was time for it to activate.

"You be careful now!" Ginny cautioned in a slightly shaky voice. "Don't do anything stupid!"

"I'll be careful, Ginny... I promise, and I won't do anything stupid," Adam replied, leaning forward to kiss her. "I'll see you later tonight."

Adam looked down at his watch, it was time. He gripped the Portkey and felt its familiar tug.

"Welcome, Harry," Professor Dumbledore's voice greeted him upon his arrival.

Adam looked around. They were standing in a small lane, surrounded by high overgrown hedgerows.

"Or perhaps I should say, Welcome back to Little Hangleton. Follow me, please," Professor Dumbledore continued.

As they walked down the lane, Adam looked around for anything he could see that was familiar. Soon they reached a wooden sign and with a start Adam realised where they were.

"The Gaunt house!" He exclaimed.

"Exactly," Professor Dumbledore replied. "Is it not interesting that Voldemort chose to hide a Horcrux in a location from his past?"

Adam nodded numbly as they walked. "Do you think he hid any others at similar locations? It might show a pattern."

Professor Dumbledore, stopping, turned and smiled at him. "Very astute, Harry. I have evidence that leads me to believe that he hid at least one other at a location from his past."

"Where?" Adam breathed excitedly.

"You may remember, from our trip into the Pensieve, that the orphanage that Tom grew up in took occasional trips to a seaside village, which I have since learned is named Ramsey Island," Professor Dumbledore paused. "As you will remember, we heard that Tom had found a cave, wherein he, for lack of a better word, terrorised several of the other residents of the orphanage."

"He left a Horcrux there?" Adam exclaimed.

"I believe he did and I intend to validate my theory soon."

"Can I come?" Adam asked eagerly.

"I do not see why not," Professor Dumbledore answered gravely. "As long as you obey the conditions I am going to place on our trip today and prove that you will listen to me, no matter what happens."

"Conditions?" Adam asked apprehensively.

"Please listen very carefully, Harry," Professor Dumbledore said drawing himself up to his full height. "There is only one condition: that you obey any command I might give you at once, and without question."

"Yes," replied Adam.

"Be sure to understand me, Harry. I mean that you must follow even such orders as 'run,' 'hide,' or 'go back.' Do I have your word?"

"Yes, of course."

"If I tell you to hide, you will do so?"

"Yes."

"If I tell you to flee, you will obey?"

"Yes."

"If I tell you to leave me and save yourself, you will do as I tell you?"

"I..." Adam hesitated.

"Harry?"

They looked at each other for a moment.

"Adam..." Professor Dumbledore prompted.

"Yes, sir." Adam replied, feeling distinctly uneasy about the last request.

"Very, well," Professor Dumbledore continued. "Let us continue."

As they continued walking, the lane began to slope down a steep hillside and Adam gazed out at the wide valley that was spread out in front of him.

"Ah, yes," Professor Dumbledore said, pointing across the valley. "The Riddle House."

"Was that were..." Adam began, shuddering involuntarily.

"Yes, I am afraid so. That is where you were imprisoned."

"I didn't recognise it in the Pensieve," Adam replied shakily.

"No, it's amazing how different a house can look when occupied and well tended, plus I did not draw your attention to it at that time. We were understandably focused on Ogden."

They continued walking along the road. Adam kept a sharp look out for the gap in the hedge that would lead to the Gaunt House but he could see no sign of it.

"I think you will find, Harry, that time has taken its toll on the Gaunt house as well," Professor Dumbledore stated.

Professor Dumbledore waved his wand and suddenly, with the sound of snapping twigs and rustling leaves, the bushes in the hedgerow drew back, forming a small gateway. Adam followed Professor Dumbledore through the gateway onto the dirt track that he had walked down earlier that year in the Headmaster's Pensieve.

The track was now hopelessly overgrown with weeds, and Adam had to pick his footing carefully to avoid tripping on the gnarled roots of plants that had taken over the path.

They walked along in silence; eventually they came into sight of the house and Adam shuddered. It was in an even worse state of repair than when Adam had seen it in the Pensieve.

"Stay behind me, Harry," Professor Dumbledore said in a quiet voice as they approached the dingy house.

As they walked beneath the shelter of the trees, the world grew dark with the last of the setting sun now being blocked from view. Soon they approached one of the walls of the house, now completely overgrown with brambles and ivy.

"Ah...here we are!" Professor Dumbledore said and he pointed his wand at a spot in the wall.

Adam jumped back as a ball of flame shot out from the end of Professor Dumbledore's wand. It struck the side of the house, and a large section of the plants growing there were engulfed in flame. Adam watched the dancing shadows caused by the now flaming side of the house, but soon Professor Dumbledore once again waved his wand and the flames vanished.

"And here we are," he murmured.

The flames had burnt away a large amount of greenery to reveal a battered wooden door, set in a now crumbling wall.

Professor Dumbledore approached the doorway. "Ah, locked," he said, sounding surprised.

"Harry, come here," said Professor Dumbledore. "This door has been magically sealed. An unlocking charm will not open it. Tom was always fond of magic such as this, magic that requires a sacrifice."

"A sacrifice?" Adam questioned.

"Yes, in this case blood."

"Do you... do you need my blood?"

"Oh no," Professor Dumbledore said lightly. "In this case mine will suffice, far less valuable than yours, I dare say."

Before Adam could object, Professor Dumbledore withdrew a sharp silver knife. It flashed briefly then a squirt of blood landed on the door. It immediately clicked open.

"Professor!" Adam exclaimed. "I'd have..."

Professor Dumbledore held up his hand and said. "You are very kind, Harry, but I am fine. Now let us go inside and stay behind me."

Professor Dumbledore stepped through the doorway. As Adam watched, he moved his wand as if it was sniffing for scent.

"Harry, could you provide some light," Professor Dumbledore requested.

"Lumos."

Once they had entered the house, they stood in a dingy room that Adam recognised as the living room and kitchen from the Pensieve memory. Broken pieces of furniture were scattered around the room, and Adam could see the collapsed remains of what once would have been an oven.

Professor Dumbledore wandered the room, searching for any sign of the Horcrux that might be hidden here.

Adam was drawn to the fireplace. The mantelpiece set above it contained several cracked photo frames. Adam slowly made his way towards it. I wonder what would constitute a family photograph in the Gaunt house, Adam wondered idly.

"Harry! Stop!" Professor Dumbledore's voice crackled with authority, causing Adam to freeze on the spot. "Carefully now, step backwards!"

Adam carefully stepped back and Professor Dumbledore pushed past him.

"Aha," he exclaimed. "We've found it!"

He waved his wand over a floorboard and with a puff of smoke it dissolved.

Adam crept towards Professor Dumbledore as he rummaged beneath the floor. Adam looked over the Professor's shoulder as he withdrew a small golden box.

"Is that it?" Adam inquired faintly.

"I believe so," Professor Dumbledore. "I will remove it from the box, and then we can destroy it."

"How do we do that?" Adam asked.

"We will need to return to the school," Professor Dumbledore replied. "We will destroy it in the same way you destroyed the Diary."

"A Basilisk fang!" Adam exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have brought one."

"And risk you being caught by Umbridge?" Professor Dumbledore replied incredulously. "She'd have you in Azkaban in no time for possessing Basilisk venom."

"But—"

"Quiet, Harry," Professor Dumbledore said flatly.

He pointed his wand at the box and it clicked open, he put his hand inside the box and withdrew the ring Harry remembered from the Pensieve memory. It looked remarkably ordinary. It was a golden ring with a single dark stone.

Adam stared at the ring as Professor Dumbledore examined it closely.

"Oh my," Professor Dumbledore said suddenly, as he fingers passed over the stone. "I never thought..."

"Professor?" Adam questioned hesitantly.

"After all these years... it is here in my hands," Professor Dumbledore said suddenly, then his voice hitched slightly. "If I could just see them...Ariana..."

Then to Adam's horror Professor Dumbledore started moving the ring towards his finger. Almost as if he intended to put it on. Adam had a very bad feeling about this.

"Professor!" Adam exclaimed, reaching his hand out to try and stop the Headmaster. "I don't think you should!"

"Harry," Professor Dumbledore snapped, turning to face him. "It is mine!"

Professor Dumbledore waved his hand dismissively at Adam, and then, as if a giant fist had punched him in the stomach, Adam found himself flying through the room. He hit the door frame that led into the other rooms of the house and, with a cry of pain, he slid to the floor amongst a spray of splintered wood.

Adam sat there in a stunned stupor for several seconds, until a second cry of pain shook him out of it. It was unlike anything he had ever heard, the closest thing he could compare to it was someone under the Cruciatus curse.

Adam stared in horror. Professor Dumbledore was writhing on the floor, crying out in obvious pain. He had one hand cradled against his chest, while he frantically struck the floor with the other.

Adam shot to his feet and dashed over to the fallen Headmaster.

"Wand! Wand!" Professor Dumbledore managed to gasp between cries.

Adam search frantically for the wand, which had been discarded in the pain the ring was obviously causing the Headmaster. When he found it, he pressed it into Dumbledore's free hand. Immediately, Professor Dumbledore clasped the wand and pointed it at the ring, and both the ring and Dumbledore glowed slightly.

"I..." he gasped. "I have slowed it and... numbed the pain."

"Professor!" Adam gasped frantically. "What happened?"

"Foolish of me," he gasped. "Jeopardised... everything! Now I must think..."

He lay there for nearly a minute seemingly deep in thought, not speaking, nor giving any sign that he knew that Adam was there.

Finally, he spoke. "Harry, I must ask you to help me back to the school... I need... Severus..." He trailed off gasping for breath.

"Snape!" Adam exclaimed.

"He is... he is my only hope now... he has the skill..."

"Surely Madam Pomfrey!" Adam exclaimed in a panic.

"Harry!" Professor Dumbledore gasped. "Severus!"

"Okay!" Adam said, getting himself back under control. "Let me help you get that ring off."

"No!" Professor Dumbledore commanded, in a far stronger voice. "Harry, you must not touch the ring! I need you to help me get back to Hogwarts"

"Can you stand?"

"With your help," Professor Dumbledore answered, his voice weak again.

As Adam helped Professor Dumbledore to his feet, having to take most of the Professor's weight in the process, Adam had his first look at the professor's hand. What he saw made him gasp. Dumbledore's entire third finger and half of the hand, on which the ring was situated, had withered and taken on a blackened hue. As Adam watched with mounting dread, the blackened disease seemed to be spreading, growing further up the hand, like a scab that grew over a cut.

"As it..." Professor Dumbledore gasped. "... as it grows over my skin, so the curse travels inside my body. Get me to Severus, Harry."

"I'll Apparate us," Adam said with more confidence than he felt. He could picture the gates of Hogwarts, he could do this.

"Outside..." Professor Dumbledore gasped. "Can't Apparate in here!"

Adam half carried, half dragged Professor Dumbledore back outside. They continued struggling together until they were several feet away from the house.

Adam clasped Professor Dumbledore tightly around the waist and, putting all his might into it, he Apparated, hoping that he and Professor Dumbledore would arrive safely back at Hogwarts.

With a loud bang, Adam crashed to floor and Professor Dumbledore landed on top of him and lay still. Pulling himself from under the professor Adam struggled to his feet. He looked around and breathed a sight of relief; they had landed only a couple of feet from the main gates to the school, probably the closest position they could have Apparated to.

"Professor!" Adam exclaimed, returning to Professor Dumbledore's side. "We're nearly there."

"Thank you, Harry..." Professor Dumbledore breathed, and Adam realised that he was getting weaker.

Adam again pulled Professor Dumbledore to his feet and supported his weight. Together they stumbled towards the school gates, and, as they reached them, Adam saw Professor Dumbledore stretch out his hand and grip one of the gate posts.

As before, Professor Dumbledore's touch triggered the gates to open and they were able to struggle up the path towards the school.

After an exhaustingly long journey up the long dark path, they eventually reached the main doors to the school and Adam reached forward to open them. As he did so he felt Professor Dumbledore's strength completely fail and they both collapsed to the floor.

Adam struggled back to his feet and quickly examined Professor Dumbledore. His eyes were closed. Adam glanced down at his arm and realised the curse had now travelled as far as his elbow.

"Professor!" Adam cried, frantically shaking him. "Wake up! Wake up!"

Professor Dumbledore's eyes cracked open, and he gasped. "Get a fang... and Severus. Destroy the Horcrux."

"Right!" Adam exclaimed. "Let's get you up then..."

"No!" Professor Dumbledore gasped. "Leave me! Fang... Severus! The curse ... only stopped once Horcrux is destroyed!"

"Professor!" Adam cried.

"Go!" Professor Dumbledore hissed. "Save me..."

"I'll be back!" Adam exclaimed.

Once in the entrance hall, Adam froze for a second. Snape or the Basilisk fang. Snape or the Basilisk fang?

Snape, he's closer!

Adam charged down into the Dungeons until his came to Snape's office. He pushed the door open and dashed inside.

It was empty.

Where was he!?

Adam stood there for a second in a panic; he couldn't find Snape, where was he? Where was he? Then, with a terrible sinking sensation, he realised he didn't even have the Maruader's Map. It was all the way back up in Gryffindor tower.

Okay, calm down, Adam. You can get the fang. Dumbledore said it would stop the curse. That should at least buy you some time to get the map and find Snape!

Adam dashed back up to the Entrance Hall, and up first flight of the marble staircase, hoping against hope that Snape was only out patrolling and, if luck was with him, he might even bump into him.

"Winters!" A high pitched shriek stopped him in his tracks on the first floor landing.

Umbridge stood there in her horrible pink robes, looking very smug and blocking his path up to the second floor.

"I've got you now, boy! Out of bed after curfew! Get here now!"

"Professor, out of my way!" Adam shouted.

"Winters, you are coming with me!" Umbridge announced, in a smug tone.

Adam froze for a second. He had no time for this!

"Stupefy!" He shouted, without really thinking about it.

Umbridge crumpled to the floor and Adam dashed past her up onto the second floor. He made his way rapidly to the girls' bathroom and soon found himself, for the first time in four years, in the Chamber of Secrets.

He opened the Chamber, thankful that after all this time he remembered how to do it. Once underground, he dashed through the Chamber, putting all the memories of his previous visit here out of mind. He had a far more important job to do. He had to save Dumbledore!

When Adam finally reached the remains of the Basilisk, he froze with a strangled gasp. If anything, even though he had grown, it looked far bigger than it had in his first year.

Shaking his head, Adam dashed forward, grabbed a Basilisk fang from amongst a pile of rotted flesh and ran back out of the Chamber.

He ran back down to the Entrance Hall, passing Umbridge's still unconscious body on the way. Leaping down the bottom few steps, Adam barrelled across the hall and out of the front doors.

Then, to his great relief, he saw Professor Snape crouching next to Professor Dumbledore. Adam had never been so glad to see Snape in his entire life.

Adam froze, when he heard them talking.

"Severus... please..." Dumbledore's voice was pleading. "Please... do as I say..."

"Headmaster!" Snape's voice was stern. "There must be—"

"Severus," Dumbledore's voice was very weak and he gave a great hacking cough. "Obey me..." the last word trailed off like a air escaping from a balloon.

Snape spun around and fixed Adam with a glare.

"Potter!" He spat. "You have the fang. You've done something right at least," he paused. "Now listen very carefully. Professor Dumbledore has lost consciousness. I must get further supplies if I am to attempt to save him. You must stab the ring. Before he lost consciousness, Dumbledore was convinced that if the ring is destroyed with basilisk venom then the curse will stop. This should allow me to attempt to repair the damage. However, the ring is still on his finger but until it is destroyed and the curse removed you must not touch it with your skin. Understand?"

"Y-Yes," Adam replied shakily.

"Good," and with that Snape ran, his robes billowing behind him.

Adam knelt by Professor Dumbledore, and feeling sick inside, he noticed how the curse had now reached Dumbledore's shoulder and was now encroaching on his neck. His entire arm was now withered and black. It looked disgusting.

Adam shook him and he murmured slightly but there was no other response.

Adam then clasped the Basilisk fang and held it above the ring. Then, with his arm trembling, he brought the fang down and smashed it into the ring.

The moment the fang impacted the ring it glowed bright green for a second and then a small puff of smoke emerged from it. Professor Dumbledore's eye shot open and he shrieked with pain.

"Harry!" he gasped, his body suddenly beginning to tremble violently. "Sor..."

Adam vainly tried to hold Professor Dumbledore still as he began to thrash about wildly, his limbs jerking and his mouth beginning to foam. Adam could only watch in horror as the corruption that had plagued his arm advanced into his face.

Then, Professor Dumbledore gave one final wracking cough and he lay still, his eyes staring sightlessly up into the sky.

"No!" Adam screamed, shaking him frantically. "No! You can't be gone! Professor!" Adam cried again, shaking him. "Professor!"

"You killed him, Winters," a voice drawled from behind him.

Adam spun around on his haunches and stared at Snape he was standing over him.

"I–" Adam swallowed. "I did what you said," he said in a quiet voice. "I did what you said!" he screamed. "He just died..."

"For once you did obey me," Snape replied silkily. "But you assumed my instructions were for Dumbledore's benefit. Destroying the cursed ring while it was still on his finger undoubtedly killed him."

Adam leapt to his feet and charged forward towards Snape in fury! He'd killed Dumbledore! But before he could reach the traitor an invisible barrier stopped him and Adam felt himself fly backwards several feet and he crash painfully to the ground, causing his glasses to fly off. Adam attempted to get to his feet, but, before he could ropes bound him, tightly.

"What is going on here?" A second, all too unwelcome voice screeched as Adam struggled to free himself from his bindings.

"Murder, Dolores," Snape replied silkily. "I arrived too late to stop him and he attacked me."

"Is that Dumbledore!" Umbridge exclaimed, sounding far to happy for Adam's liking.

"Yes, the Winters boy killed him. Look," he said, gesturing to the fang that had fallen by Adam's side. "There is the weapon."

Adam struggled desperately against the ropes. If only he could reach his wand! He stretched, wriggling slightly on the ground. He was close now, ever so close.

"Call the Aurors! I knew he was up to something. The boy violently assaulted me less than an hour ago."

Adam's hand closed around his wand.

"Finite!"

The ropes fell away, even before the spell had left his lips and, acting purely on instinct, Adam leapt to his feet, grabbed his glasses, and ran.

"Stop him!" Umbridge shrieked. "STOP HIM!"

Adam ran as fast as he could. If he could reach the gates he could escape and find some way to clear his name.

As he ran, Adam glanced over his shoulder. He could see Snape and Umbridge, who was lagging behind, racing after him down the grass and the bright light of a spell hurtling towards him.

Adam dived to the floor, narrowly missing the spell which impacted two feet to his right, causing the ground to billow and explode.

"Protego!"

A second spell crashed against his shield bringing it down.

"Confringo!"

Snape dived backwards avoiding Adam's spell.

"Protego!"

Adam deflected Umbridge's Stunner, his brief fight with Snape having allowed her to catch up.

"Stupefy! Stupefy!"

He then sent two Stunning spells towards Umbridge, the first impacted with a shield she had raised and the second collided with her chest, crumpling her to the ground.

"Stupefy!"

Snape was now back on his feet and Adam sent a Stunner his way. Snape almost casually swatted the spell aside.

"Protego! Expluso!"

Incensed, Adam cast two spells right after each other. His first deflected Snape's next spell, the second which he deliberately aimed at the ground beneath Snape's feet, caused the ground to shudder and massive chunks of rock to explode, sending Snape flying.

"YOU TRAITOR!" Adam screamed. "YOU KILLED HIM! NOT ME! YOU KILLED HIM! CONFRINGO!"

Adam sent another spell at Snape as he attempted to get back to his feet. This one struck right at his feet and sent the man once again crashing to the floor, this time with a howl of pain.

Adam, now barely aware of what he was doing amongst the hatred for Snape surging through him, charged forward.

"Expelliarmus!"

Snape seemed completely unprepared for the disarming spell and, when the spell hit, the wand in his hand went clattering to the ground. He then charged over to the Potions Master, who was still lying on ground, breathing hard.

Adam looked down at him, their eyes meeting briefly, and pointed his wand at the traitor's heart. He noticed that robes around Snape's left leg were rapidly becoming stained with blood. Adam stared at Snape for a second, his wand trembling slightly. He wanted to hurt him. He wanted to make him pay!

But he couldn't. He couldn't just kill him. Then he really would be a murderer. Taking one last look at him, Adam raced away down the path towards the school gates, which were, fortunately, still open.

Slipping out of the gates, Adam pulled the invisibility cloak from his pocket, threw it over himself and began sprinting down the track towards Hogsmeade.

A few hundred metres down the track Adam collapsed, exhausted, against a tree. From under his cloak, he stared up at Hogwarts with tears burning in his eyes. Lights had now begun to come on in various windows throughout the castle. Guess the alarm has been raised, he thought bitterly.

As Adam gazed up at the school he realised that he was on his own now. He was the only one now that could stop Voldemort, and without Dumbledore, he had to do it on his own.