Part XII
Life had stopped. Time had stopped.
Or at least the beating of her heart had stopped.
Her eyes were still wide. Her body still shook after the repercussion of the curse. But all she really felt was numbness.
The body of her beloved grandfather, the only person that had remained by her side and took care of her after her parents' deaths and the one she trusted above everyone else had passed away. For her; to protect her.
Voldemort let out a low chuckle not long after that, saying something. Something Ten didn't care to listen. Absently, with glazed eyes, she saw Aurors, teachers and Harry approaching. Still, not even seeing him made her come out of her stupor. All she saw was her grandfather lying before her, motionless.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was gone. Had given his life away for her. The last member of her family dead, the one she would always turn to, to always comfort her, had passed away.
And yet, she didn't nor couldn't accept that. If she stopped to think clearly for a while, she might have realised she was going into shock. Yet, that wasn't the case.
Her eyes stared listlessly to Dumbledore's peaceful features, her mind trying to make her notice they would never change again, that it was all over. The young witch suddenly moved, crawling across the floor towards the dead body, eyes swimming in tears, her mouth opened only to let out a small whimper.
Reaching towards the headmaster, she nudged him gently. There was no respond. She shook him gently. Again there was no respond. Desperate, as tears rolled down her pale cheeks, she shook him one last time, only to have her face scrunched up, and choke on her sob. She rest her forehead onto the back of her Grandfather's body, her hands fisting his robes, not letting go as she cried herself into sleep.
-00-
That night, Harry Potter lay down in his bed in his private room he received at the beginning of the year when chosen to be the captain of Gryffidnor Quidditch Team, wide-awake. The war had tired him, yet he couldn't sleep. The battle against Bellatrix was unfinished yet what's the point in going after her when Sirius is now alive? When his fight is with Voldemort? Voldemort was the one he was after; Harry is only fighting to avenge his parents' death as well as for survival.
Death.
So many deaths already happened in this first attack: Many on the Dark Side, but only one on the Light Side. Sure it seems really lucky, but the unlucky soul was Dumbeldore. Albus Dumbledore. Died to save his only living relative: Ten. Tenebrae Dumbledore.
Ten… why does he feel guilty about her, he doesn't know. He knows what it feels like to loose your family, yet he didn't go and comfort her like he should have. Oh no… he was still sore at the fact that Ten likes Malfoy. Not him… Malfoy! The boy let out a sigh. 'This isn't working.'
Pulling back the covers, he walked over to the window and opened it, letting the chilly wind smack his pale face, shivering absently. He was only in his pyjamas. Leaning his arms against the railing of the window, he looked across the grounds to the little-damaged Forest. That was the only thing that was untouched: The Forest. Maybe it was because the Death Eater used it as for a small hideout, maybe not. But it was still the land of the creatures like the centaurs.
He let out another sigh, his breath coming in small clouds in the air. It was that cold. As he rubbed one of his arms, something brushed against his glasses and nose and he frowned. Looking at to what it was, his green orbs looked at the black feather that was beside his arm on the sill. Black feather… a curse… Ten's wings.
FLASHBACK
One by one it fell, grazing over his pale skin, showering him as he looked up, sadness and guilty clearly shown in his eyes as well as tears that looks like crystals against the bright light. It was almost empty, the wings. Just the skeletons that held the feathers together were there. His heart was beating faster and the emptiness was growing faster.
He couldn't believe it. It was all coming true. What she had told him that Christmas night. He scolded himself for not being there for her through and through, making the rest of her life the happiest one.
Five black feathers left.
"I shouldn't have run away,"
Four black feathers left.
"I wasn't thinking right,"
Three black feathers left.
"I'm sorry,"
Two black feathers left.
"I love you."
One black feather left.
"TEN!!!!!!"
END OF FLASHBACK
His green hues snapped back to reality, still staring at the black feather. The colour of it as well as the shape made him remember: she was curse to die young. Letting out a gasp and mentally kicking his ass, he ran out of his dorm towards the office as fast as his legs could.
Aurors and teachers were still awake, patrolling and they all yelled at him as he ran the opposite direction. But he didn't let that slow him down as he continued to run down the final stairs towards the third floor and down the corridor.
The statue of the golden gargoyle wasn't in the cylinder cube as it meant to be. Instead, golden stairs were circled upwards towards the top of the tower. Harry took these steps two at a time, the speed making his feet springy as every time he took a step. Arriving at the top, he banged the office door open where Sirius and Professor McGonagoll was in. The sudden open door banged against the hinges as he took several deep breaths.
"Where is she?" he gasped.
"Harry are you ok?" asked his godfather.
"Where is she?" he repeated.
"Miss Dumbledore? I'm afraid she's sleeping in the room behind us," answered McGonagoll, alarm, her tired eyes shown brightly against her wrinkled face.
Ignoring them both, he advanced to it and opened the door quietly and slowly, almost hesitantly. It was pitch black when he entered and with a wave of his wand he always keep with him, the dark room brightened up, thanks to the torch on every corner lighting up as well as the fireplace.
Sitting on the bed, hugging her pillow tightly and rocking back and forth was Ten. His eyes softened at the sight, guilt rushing through his body like the sea waves crashing against the rocks. From time to time, he could hear a small whimper.
He walked up to her. Slowly at first, then normally, sitting on the bed in front of her.
"Ten?" his voice broke. Said girl glanced up at him; her eyes were red and puffy from her previous crying; wide and scared and swimming with tears. She looked away again, opting to stare at the fireplace. The boy sighed and ran his fingers through his wild hair.
"Ten?" he called, placing a hand on her arm. Skin as cold as ice. He pulled his hand away from her, feeling scared.
"Ten, I'm so sorry." He whispered, looking away, not liking her look on her face. Seconds ticked past, minutes ticked past, everything in silence. Looking back at her, he opted to help her… somehow.
Holding her arms in a gentle grip, he pried it away from clutching the pillow.
"No! Harry, no! Please, no!" she gasped, trying to get her arms into hugging the pillow again. But feeling weak from the shock of her grandfather's death, her arms were placed around his neck, making her fall towards him quickly. He placed an arm around her waist pulling her close; using the other hand he pulled the pillow away from her, closing the distance as he almost crushed their bodies together.
As soon as her head hit his shoulder, she cried again. This time cried into the crook of his neck, her arms tightening its grip, her shoulders shaking with every sob. She felt a movement at her back and whispered words, but she couldn't hear them. Only her sobs.
"He's gone. Everyone's gone!" she sobbed.
"Not everyone is gone. I'm here," he whispered into her ear. Ten pulled back at his respond, shaking her head. She pushed him away from her.
"No. He doesn't love me anymore. He doesn't love me anymore."
The boy-who-lived frown at her reaction, until he caught her words. He is meaning Harry.
"You're wrong. I do love you. I was wrong… I should have trusted you," he whispered, his own orbs swimming with tears.
The girl wasn't convinced. She wrapped her arms around her knees as she brought them up again to her chest, resuming her rocking.
"I'm on my own... there's no one here… On my own…" she kept rambling, in whispered voice. Harry growled at the back of his throat. But then again, part of it was his fault. If he thought that she didn't betray him, she wouldn't be in this situation.
'I had to go and ruin these things for us.' Something warm rolled down his cheek. Touching it, he noticed it was one of his tears. He was crying. Not for himself, but for her. Giving another shot, the raven-haired boy pulled his lover towards him, placing her arms around his neck once more as he did the same to his arms, around her waist and rocked her.
Ten didn't complained. Didn't push him this time. Instead, she just held onto him, never letting go, never wanting to lose someone she loved. The last person she loved. She's not going to let him go. Feeling more calmer, and her tears forgotten, she pulled away just enough to look into his eyes, her own haunted and dull.
Harry looked back, his own tears falling rapidly at the sight of her. 'How could I be so selfish? Thinking only about myself back then. When there was a possibility that she may lose a family like it happened?' he brushed a few strands of hair away from her sticky cheek and took the excuse to run down her hair, feeling her soft tresses. Dazedly, he leaned forward, his lips on hers, lightly and gently, before he felt her lips pressure against his, the grip at the back of his neck tightening.
Ten was responding. Almost desperately, as if he was her healer, as if he was the only one to mend her broken heart, holding him tight and not letting him go.
Feeling her distress, the boy tilted his head to one side to give each other better access, as well as using his weight to push her back onto the bed gently. A sigh escaped her lips, as she ran her hands up and down his arms, one leg bended, the other stretched out beside their bodies.
As she felt her lips wetted by his tongue, the heiress parted her lips invitingly, moaning as their tongue made contact. The hand on his arm tightened at the motion, as he tightened his fist at her hair. The heated kiss was broken from the lack of air as they gazed into each other's eyes; forest green locked with navy blue.
"I need you," the three words were whispered by the heiress and Harry looked at her alarmed.
"Ten, are you sure about this?" he asked uncertain.
Her fingers ran through his wild raven hair. "Please," her voice cracked at the end. "I love you."
"I love you, too," he whispered, his lips over hers as he spoke. Pecking her lips lightly, he started his journey from the top: pecking her forehead, down the side of her temple and each of her eyelids. His lips drag down the bridge of her nose, pecking the tip of it before pecking her cheek and licking her lips, earning a moan.
The hand on his arms travelled upwards towards his neck, snaking an arm around it, pulling his face closer as the kiss deepened. The hands in her hair was released, trailing down her bare arm to her sides, keeping himself balanced as he straddled her thighs.
Breaking the kiss, he dragged his lips across her jaw line and down her neck. Ten tilted her head back giving him better access to her throat as he licked at the spot, earning a moan from her part. Harry's lips went across the collarbone to a spot between her neck and shoulder, sucking on a spot near her nerves to leave a reddish mark. A small, quiet gasped escaped her parted lips.
Both Harry's hand laid on her shoulder, massaging it before running over it, bringing the strap of her tank top down, the skin just above her breast exposed for his caress only as he kissed along it, licking here and there. Ten arched her back at the tingling sensation. Harry's hands went down her arms, entwining their fingers together. Bringing them up, he trapped them above her head as he bent down to kiss her lips harshly, feeling their hips brushing together lightly before breaking it.
Letting out a short gasps, he looked over at her, feeling her muscles relaxed throughout the motions.
"Why did you stop?" she whispered.
"I'm not stopping," smiling, he went down to the hem of her tank top, tugging at it, before lifting it up, slowly. Her navel was exposed first before her small six packs as well as her breast covered in a bra before taking the whole thing off her. Goosebumps appeared on her skin at the lack of warmth from the clothes, soon disappeared by his kisses, started from the edge of the bra, going down. Small giggles escaped the girl's parted lips, feeling ticklish.
"I love you," he murmured against her lips.
"Love you, two," he could hear her whisper, before kissing the skin above her bra. He felt movement underneath him and looked up to see her hands behind her back and a small 'snap' sounding in the quiet room. Feeling the bra loose, he pulled it off her, her breast now completely exposed for his eyes only.
Smiling, he let his forehead rest against hers, smiling down at her before starting all over again. Pecking her forehead and the side of her temple, each of her eyelid and her cheek were pecked and her lips were kissed almost harshly. Small groan vibrated against his lips as his hands travelled down her body, from her shoulders, down her arms to her sides. Up her sides to her breast on her chest and slowly and softly, he began to massage them.
A gasped escaped her, tilting her head back in pleasure, making the kiss broken. The hands on the mattress were fisting, grabbing a handful of the cloth. At the exposed neck, Harry licked at that spot before stopping the motion altogether and restarting at a new point.
His lips from her neck travelled down to her chest, showering one of her breast with kisses, avoiding her nipple, a hand massaging her free breast, the other holding himself balance. A growl escaped her lips, shutting her orbs tightly. He did the same to the other, getting the same reaction.
His hands then rest over her waist and running them up and down her sides as well as her bare back, loving the feeling of her skin against his. Taking several deep breaths, her navy blue orbs opened halfway, enough to know what she was doing; unbuttoning the buttons on his shirt and taking the top off, throwing it somewhere on the floor. Smiling, she also pulled off his vest and throwing it to the floor just as his hands went to her pants, his fingers undoing the button and pulling it down halfway. She kicked the rest off.
Harry sat on her thighs to unbutton his trousers and kicking them before going back to his former position. He kissed each of her nipples before sucking on of them gently at first. After a while and getting a growl from her respond, he did the same to the other nipple, getting the same reaction. Stopping, a whispered was herd within the room.
"I need you,"
Forest orbs locked with navy, shining with uncertainty.
"Are you sure?" he asked, his face an inch above hers.
"Please?" small tears shined in her eyes.
"Don't cry, please," he pecked each of her eyelids. Taking a deep breath, he placed himself between her legs, holding her hands. "Let me know if it hurts."
Leaning forward, he kissed her harshly after her immediate nod as well as entering her slowly at the same time. A small moan was heard from her lips as she kissed back with the same passionate; as he continued to enter her, the kiss made her relax, feeling a slight pain at the back of her mind.
Ten was feeling hot; the heat inside of her was increasing, as she got closer to the climax. Usually women would feel pain at this stage, but thanks to the kiss she's sharing with Harry, she can only taste him. Then she felt something: a small sharp pain at the back of her mind. Breaking the kiss and letting out a small gasp, she breathing heavily, she blinked up at him innocently.
"That's it?" she quirked an eyebrow. "And they all say how painful it was," she smiled softly. The boy on top of her smiled back.
"So everything, ok?"
She nodded but cringed, letting out a small cry, as she got closer to her climax. Harry moaned in respond as he too felt it. He quickened his pace, feeling the sweat on his forehead and all over his back. Suddenly, Ten arched her back, groaning his name, as she tasted a little bit of heaven before relaxing back onto the bed. At the same time, the boy growled her name at her ear, collapsing on top, the energy he felt escaping from him. Both breathing fast and heavily, they moved their position, Harry lying on her side, his arms around her as she snuggled into him, bringing up the covers to cover them.
"I love you," she whispered. Harry grinned.
"Love you, too," he responded as they both fell asleep.
-00-
The battle came and went, slowly passing by, as did the New Years.
In the morning after the ball, a certain someone was sleeping in, completely unaware of all the things that had just happened lately, as well as the sun shining brightly outside. Her dress had been taken off, now resting over the back of a chair nearby.
Under the thick covers and warm blankets, her lover had conjured a loose t-shirt for her to wear, before he himself retired to his own bedroom.
Iris slept peacefully through the night, no nightmares haunting her this time. Not until now.
The prone body moved, twisting and tangling the bed sheets as her eyebrows furrowed. A drop of cold sweat slid down her temple, disappearing in between the strands of her hair. Her eyes closed more tightly.
VISION
Iris couldn't really say where exactly was she. Just that she was in the middle of a war.
The long cloaks and masks belonged to Death Eaters, she was sure of that. And the others were... students… teachers?
"What's going on…?" the black haired girl asked to no one in particular, knowing she would have no answer. Her arms hugged her small self tightly, as she kept walking. She knew most of the students, whether by sight or by her own classes. And the more she walked, the more the uneasy feeling in the pit of her own stomach tightened. Something was off.
As she finally reached to the stairs, which would lead her to the dungeons, she smacked right into some kind of magical wall. In her surprised, she fell to the ground on her back. Getting up, a faint blush covered her cheeks at her stupidity. Just as she was about to think of something to do about the invisible shield, hurried footsteps were heard.
The young witch leaned against the nearest wall, looking back at who was coming. Her heart skipped a beat.
Draco was heading her way, Snape right behind him. They both rolled up their sleeves, both the Dark Marks in each of their arms shined green as they passed through the invisible barrier with no resistance from its part.
Not one minutes passed before the Death Eaters duelling gave up on their opponents, turning away and heading for the stairs also. Doing the same as Snape and Draco had done, each and every one of them passed through the barrier.
Realization slowly dawned on her. If the Death Eaters could pass… And Snape and Draco… And she could not… That meant that, to pass the barrier, you had to have the Dark Mark… But it seemed more like a retreat instead of a chasing.
And that concluded…
Her eyes widened.
Draco had helped them all along. Just like Snape.
ANOTHER VISION
Ten lifted her arm, palm open towards him, a blinding white light heading towards his chest- the tip of his wand. Bright blue eyes widened. It didn't work. All he did was absorb her won magic.
"Avada Kedavra."
END OF VISION
The black haired witch sat up straight on her bed, gasping for air, her wide eyes slowly taking in her surroundings, her familiar belongings, the usual lines and colours of her room.
The ache between her legs brought back vivid memories of what exactly had she done last night. Something that made this dream of hers sound completely ridiculous. He was so gentle. Took his time when he would have just force himself on me and continue on his way. I don't believe that he would do such a thing.
With that in mind, she nodded to herself. Absent-mindedly, her eyes looked over to the clock on her wall, only to look back at it in disbelief. "Eleven o'clock?" I never-! And I lost breakfast!" Her arms crossed over her chest as an unpleasant growl escaped her. "Damn him…" as she got to her feet, her face set in a grimace, "Definitely, I'm going to kill him…"
-00-
Draco Malfoy ran as fast as he could, towards the gate of the school with Snape by his side as well as the other Death Eaters behind him. The job was done: Dumbledore's dead. His mind went to Ten… how she would feel; react at the fact that the Dark Lord had ended the life of his arch-nemesis. Ten would probably cry like mad by now. At the image of it, made tears brim his silver eyes.
Then his mind went to the one he loves. Iris Bridget Koltchak. How she would find out of him. If only… if he had more time… but no, things were going way to fast for his liking.
He felt cold, numb, not a single piece of happiness growing inside of him. The dementors were swooping down the opposite direction, sucking out his happiness of their way. There was no happiness in him now that was obvious. Yet, the creatures were searching his memories. Back in the first year, when the Slytherin won the Quidditch Cup before Wonder Potter started screwing that small content away right in the year he entered the team; fifth year when he was made a Prefect. And… Iris. When he met her. How hard she had been to get, such a… challenge to him. And how she had changed from a simple conquest to something much more valuable. And everything was replaced by his fears. The knowledge of losing both his parents to the war, for being condemned a life sentence in Azkaban for crimes he had done, yet had not any choice in them whatsoever. And what he had almost done just as he was running away from the school.
FLASHBACK
"Good evening, Draco."
Said boy stopped dead in his tracks. Glancing around for a bit, his pale eyes finally settles in a dark blue cloaked figure, the long snowy white beard and half moon specks leaving very little doubts. Stormy grey locked with sapphire blue… similar to Ten's orbs.
"Ingenious, that way of yours, was it not?"
His fingers twirled his wand around almost sheepishly. He knew? And he did nothing at all about it? "How did you find out?"
"It wasn't all that difficult. All year long, you've been on edge. Once Ten told me she had heard you claiming your loyalty to the Light Side I knew there was a little glitch behind it. So I started watching you. Skipping off, barely eating just to go over to the Room of Requirement."
A drop of cold sweat dripped from near his temple to his jaw line, making him shiver lightly. Old fool, my ass… Father doesn't know what exactly is he capable of.
"And do tell, are you just going to run off?" how exactly could he be so calm in a situation like this, was beyond Draco's comprehension.
"I'm not running off. And…" the fingers curled about his wand tightened. He now had a choice. If he went on with the plan, he could escape with the Death Eaters. Alas, he'd choose the Dark Lord's Side, but at least he would stay alive. Or if he didn't, he could keep running and inevitably get caught. The silence grew.
"I don't think you will kill me, Draco. Killing is not nearly as easy as the innocent believe." As if it would be my first killing anyway… "Yet it is your only chance of redemption." Either way, I'll die. "We would help you, Draco. Protect you. Your family."
For the first time in the presence of the Headmaster, fear ebbed in his eyes. Weakly, the teen shook his head, voice lowered to nearly a whisper, "I can't. You'd never make it on time. My mother would be killed by then."
"Then how come you have not killed me yet?"
He almost had the urge to scream at the wizard's intellect. "I…"
"Draco, you're not a killer."
I wish I could believe that. His hold on the wand tightened, his knuckles turning white. His arm was lifted, the hesitance from before gone from his features, "Tell Ten I'm sorry. Corruere." The spell shot from the tip of his wand and hit Dumbledore easily. Just a mere Stunning Spell, stronger than Stupefy, but it only knocked out people for a few minutes. Footsteps were heard behind him. He took a deep breath. Snape. Good enough. At least, he would buy the old man a couple of more minutes.
END OF FLASHBACK
Involuntarily, his arms wrapped around himself as he ran farther and farther away from the school grounds, his fingernails biting down painfully into the tender skin. The air was still thick with tension; the Dark Lord was still alive.
Loneliness and sorrow threatened to overcome him, as his eyesight slowly started to fail him, giving in to the darkness. A seemingly blissful darkness he knew he wouldn't be getting off soon.
"Draco!" Snape's gruff voice brought him back to the current situation. Aurors were still chasing them. And Death Eaters were chasing him. The excuse he killed other followers of the Dark Lord by mistake wouldn't do. And he was still wondering what were the Dementors doing anyway (apart from freaking him out that is); while the Ministry didn't do anything, they were free to do as they pleased, now that their Lord was about to be dead.
The coldness was getting to him. The memories of what he had seen his father doing… of his own sins… his betrayal to both sides. He was as good as dead.
His knees connected harshly to the fluffy grass of Hogwarts grounds, a hundred feet away from the Forest and after it, the gate that would lead him out of the school and into a small sense of freedom. Only to be caught by the remaining Death Eaters.
Draco didn't hear Snape's urgent calls to follow him or even noticed the couple Patronus appearing from the Aurors' wands to ward of the Dementors all around him. His body curled up as memories kept coming cold sweat making his tremble dejectedly, brokenly.
"I'm… sorry… Ten…" he whispered. "…Iris…."
Before anyone was able to take him out of there, he already was unconscious, after those four words.
-00-
It was bright morning the next day, the sunrays shining through the window and hitting the eyes of the heiress. Groaning she opened her orbs slowly, looking around her, noticing she was in the room behind her grandfather's office. She got into a sitting position only to be pulled back down again. Looking to her waist, an arm was wrapped around. She followed the arm and noticed it was attached to Harry, his chest bare. She blushed lightly and noticed hers and his clothing scattered around the room. A small smiled appeared her lips as she snuggled into him, pecking his chest.
At the feeling of her soft lips, the green orbs were opened and gazed down at the heiress, covered in the blankets, with just her head, shoulders and neck exposed. He leaned forward slightly and pecked her temple.
"Morning," he whispered. The girl in his arms looked up at the smiled widen.
"Morning," she pecked his nose.
"How are you feeling?" the back of his hand instinctively and absently caressed her cheek.
"A slight pain is felt between my legs apart from that, I'm ok. Sorry about last night. I kinda… I can't believe that he's gone," she lowered her eyes as she answered.
"It's ok," he whispered. "I know it is when you lose a family member. It happened between me and Sirius." A nod was his respond. At least she was listening.
"Oh and before I forget, thank you for last night." She pecked his lips briefly. "I can't really explain how wonderful it was."
A huge smiled played across his lips. "That's good to know," he nuzzled her neck, earning a giggle near his ear.
"I need to freshen up. I've got a small headache and I need a hot bath," declared Ten and she got out of bed, walking round to the bathroom. Harry had ducked his head under the covers, blushing lightly at her nakedness.
"Come on, Harry," he spoke to himself. "You made love to her. You saw her naked…" he made a face. "Oh God, I can't believe I said that to myself." Getting out of the bed, he put on his boxers just as Ten came out of the bathroom, hair wet and looking fresh.
"That was quick," Harry claimed. Ten could only shrug. "Don't mind if I use your bathroom?" he asked.
"Go right ahead," she gave a small smile. He pecked her lips lightly as he walked passed her, entering the bathroom. Ten let out a sigh and with a wave of her hand, the clothes were all in the laundry, the bed was made and her hair was dried and straightened; her normal routine.
She sat down heavily on her bed, gazing into space.
"What's wrong, child?" a familiar voice spoke. That alone brought back tears.
"Just missing you so much," she whispered.
"I miss you too," Dumbledore smiled softly, as he gazed at his relative through the portrait in the room.
"I was just thinking, what would it be like, if things were different. If HE murdered me instead of you," she spoke, her voice cracking t the end. Dumbledore didn't say anything. Something inside of him told him not to, that she needs to spill it out or else forever bury in her grief.
"I mean, you've been murdered, by the one majority of the people fear of and everything fell into pieces. Ministries are probably trying to question me, Death Eaters are probably partying, etc." she took a deep breath. "But what would have happen, if you DIDN'T save me."
"Now, child, please don't talk about it," Dumbledore spoke softly.
But Ten continued as if she didn't hear him. "No one would be affected except you and Harry and Iris. Hogwarts will be the same because you're the greatest headmaster this school has ever had. I'm just another student here. But you… you're THE greatest wizard in the world, THE greatest headmaster in this world. Without you, everything is just not right. It's as if the light on a torch has blown away and everything is dark once more."
She didn't notice the bathroom door opened and Harry catching the last few words. She brought her knees up to her chest and hugged it tight, tears rolling down her cheek again.
"Child, I may have been the powerful wizard in the world, that I will admit, but I'm not the only one who is the most powerful," sighed Dumbledore. "There are two teenagers in this world that I have known would be the most powerful as soon as they were born. One was born on the last month of winter, the other the second month of summer; February and July."
The heiress turned to her grandfather smiling down at her from the portrait. "What are you saying?" she whispered.
"You, as my granddaughter, have my blood running through your veins; you are the heiress to the Dumbledore fortune; you are the greatest WITCH in this whole world."
"And the wizard?"
The door to the room opened and Sirius stood in the doorframe.
"None other than Harry Potter."
"So you're saying, that with the two of us working together, and fighting in the battle war…?"
"With the two of you alive and working together to save the world, with the power of love, Voldemort will have no chance at all," Dumbledore, claimed.
"Is it possible."
"When I first found out that the two of you were the most powerful, I couldn't believe it, until the two of you stepped into Hogwarts, did I changed my mind. I kept a close eye on the two of you, make sure you were safe and trained properly at least enough to know that you have some special hidden powers; At first I thought it was impossible, but in this wizarding world, nothing is impossible and the two of you proved that to me throughout your teenage years."
Ten nodded and wiped her tears.
"That's a good girl. Don't let my death put you down. I may not be here physically, but I'm always in your heart and in your mind."
"I love you, grandfather," she choked.
"I love you, too," and with that, he exited the portrait and sat down in the other portrait that was place in the head of school's office, above the desk.
"You OK," someone whispered from behind her. The heiress turned around sharply to the sound to see Harry in the doorway of the bathroom.
"I'll be fine," she answered.
"You want a hug?" a nod was his respond and he advanced towards her, wrapping his arms around her small frame tightly as she placed her arms around his neck.
Sirius smiled at the scene, his arms folded across his chest. He cleared his throat, gaining their attention.
"Sorry to interrupt, but someone's here to see you, Tenebrae."
"Please call me Ten, Sirius. You know that." She got out of the embrace and made her way out of the room and down the stairs, entering the Head Teacher's room. As soon as she took the last step of the stairs she cursed under her breath at the sight of the man who wanted to see her: Rufus Scrimgeour.
"Good morning, Miss Dumbledore," he greeted, slightly cheerfully. Ten looked at Professor McGonagoll from the corner of her eyes and noticed how tired she's looking.
"What do you want," she greeted back.
"Firstly, my apologies for the death of your grandfather."
"Get to the point," you can tell she's not liking this one bit.
"Along with me, I have brought a number of Daily reporters and I was wondering-" Ten sent him a glare. " if you can spend a few minutes answering their questions about the death-"
"NO!"
Rufus blinked at her.
"No bloody hell!"
"Miss Dumbledore! Language please!" cried Professor McGonagoll.
"Get used to hearing it from my mouth," the brunette snapped before turning back to the Minister.
"And why not?"
"Because I'm not just something you can question. Just because my grandfather died, doesn't mean it's the end for all of us."
"Of course. We just need-"
"The world doesn't need to know at the moment," the witch interrupted. "If the word of my grandfather's death spread around the world, everything will fall into pieces and everyone will panic, because they were all depending on Dumbledore to save us. Why? Because he was the greatest wizard in the world!"
"I know how you feel-"
"No you don't!" her wand began to sit red lights from her pocket. "No one does and stop trying to! Someone like you doesn't need to know what I'm feeling nor need to understand what I'm feeling."
"OK. But we still need to question you-"
"You haven't even heard a word I said," she rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to answer any question!"
Scrimgeour sighed. He then turned to the new head of School. "I need a decision about what will happen to this school,"
Professor McGonagoll glanced at the girl before speaking. "We might close it."
"WHAT?" hissed the witch. Before she can say anything, McGonagoll sent her a glare that shut her up… for now.
"I don't know. We need the students to be healed before we can send them home."
"NO!" everyone in the room turned to the heiress. "There is no way Hogwarts is closing!"
"And it is not in your place to decide,"
"I'm not the only one! And it's certainly not the head's choice either. It's the students! It's because of us that Hogwarts is alive. Without us students, Hogwarts is just an empty, abandon castle. If you shut down Hogwarts, you shut down our hopes and safety."
"But as you can see, Hogwarts is no longer safe."
"It will always be safe. How else would the majority of the students from first years till sixth years be alive? Because we hid them in secret corridors and rooms that would take the Death Eaters eternity to find them."
Rufus took several deep breath to suppress his anger towards the young whether she was right or wrong.
"She's right," a voice spoke up. Harry Potter's emerald eyes were burning fire. "Without us, Hogwarts just a target."
"Face it, Scrimgeour, you're fighting a losing battle," the brunette sneered.
Staring at the young witch, the minister took out a scroll sealed with a red ribbon with the minister's logo clipped in the middle and passed it to her.
"I'll take my leave then," and with that, he turned and exited the room. Curious, Ten opened the seal and read through the script, only to throw it somewhere on the floor in anger.
"DAMN HIM!" she turned around and kicked a chair in anger, making it fly across the room and beak into pieces when he made contact with the wall.
"Miss Dumbledore!" cried McGonagoll.
"What's wrong?" asked Harry.
But Ten didn't answer. But Harry received his answer from Sirius. He picked up the thrown paper and read the script out loud:
"Dear Miss Dumbledore,
Because of the death of your grandfather, the family fortunes are yours. However you are not of age to claim it. Therefore you do not have the right to use Albus Dumbledore's fortune until you have reached seventeen,"
"Ten, it's only two months away," soothed the animagus.
"But why can't I have it now? Doesn't my experience in life prove that I can claim the fortunes at this age?" she let out a mirth chuckle. "It doesn't matter now does it?"
"What do you mean?" Sirius narrowed his eyes.
"I'm cursed," she answered quietly. "I don't know how long I've got left till I die." And with that she exited the room, leaving a stunned silence behind. And before she could closed the door, Fawkes, the phoenix, flew towards her and sat on her shoulder just as she slammed the door shut.
-00-
Tenebrae Dumbledore walked around the school aimlessly, her mind deep in thought as she tried to sort out her mind while listening to the soothing music coming from Fawkes, the phoenix. She let her legs do the walking and her mind do the thinking as she stared into space. Seconds ticked by; minutes ticked by and what felt like eternity, her legs stopped outside a room. The room was completely white: white walls; white floor; white beds. The only thing that wasn't white was the nurse, Madam Pomfrey, and the people on the beds. Her legs made her go to the Hospital Wing.
Slowly her eyes took in her surroundings as she scanned the room and found the bed she was looking for. As if in a trance, she slowly walked towards the body, sitting on a chair beside it. Her warm hand held his icy-cold and held it tight while letting her tired head rest beside his prone body. Not a single twitch can she feel coming from him and so it had been confirmed: Albus Dumbledore was dead.
Silent tears escaped her haunted grey eyes and she shut her eyes to stop them flowing. How long she had stayed there, she didn't count and instead of getting up to check the time, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She turned to the owner to be locked with tired amber eyes.
"How are you holding up," Remus whispered.
"I don't know," she whispered back, turning to gaze at her grandfather's face. She was still amazed how his silver beard and hair shined against the bright light of the sunrays.
"You want to take a small walk?" he asked gently. She nodded and got up, regretfully releasing her grip on the ex-headmaster's hand. They walked out of the room, down the corridor and out onto the Hogwarts ground, in silence. But it was only a matter of time till that silence was broken.
"I know this may be hard for you, but from what I'm seeing, you're taking this very well," Remus spoke softly, placing an arm around her shoulders. Instinctively, the heiress placed an arm around his waist, walking alongside of him.
"I'm trying to stay strong for him," she said. Remus nodded.
"You do realised we're going to have to… you know,"
"Make a funeral? I know."
"When do you want to do it?" he asked, looking at her haunted face.
"Tonight or tomorrow before lunch," she answered straightaway. "And, Remus. Gather the members of order that had fought in this first attack. I want to thank them personally."
"OK."