A/N. From here onwards the story has not been fully Beta-read. However a family bereavement means I won't be able to work on this in great detail in the near future. Add to this the upcoming publication of 'Deathly Hallows' and you'll hopefully understand why I'm posting this in its slightly raw state. (If you would like to beta for me, or have just spotted some errors, please send me an email)
Chapter 7 : Albus and Aberforth
Harry came down for breakfast the following morning to find the others already seated, avidly reading multiple copies of the Daily Prophet. He picked up a spare copy and saw a huge picture of himself staring back at him from the front cover. His image gesticulated vividly apparently in mid speech. 'THE CHOSEN ONE DECLARES WAR ON YOU-KNOW-WHO announced the headline.
At a press conference yesterday, Harry Potter spoke for the first time about his life as the Chosen One, the one destined to face He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Young Harry, 17, overshadowed the Minister of Magic with a rousing speech, reminiscent of the late Albus Dumbledore. Mr Potter's speech culminated in an announcement of his own immortality against You-Know-Who's attacks. For a full transcript of his speech see pages 2 and 3.
Harry groaned and deliberately skipped those pages. Instead, he opened the paper at page four and glanced at the headline. I'M IMMORTAL, DECLARES THE CHOSEN ONE. Our experts investigate Harry Potter's claims …
Harry stopped reading and, with some trepidation, flicked through the rest of the paper. It seemed like the entire publication was devoted to his speech. Pages six and seven were devoted to HOUSE ELVES : What do we really know about house elves and goblins? Could they help our cause?
Page eight was even worse, there was an 'owl – in' Reader Polldiscussing whether Harry was the new Albus Dumbledore, and whether he could defeat You-Know-Who. Harry made a mental note not to check the results in the next edition and instead, moved on topage nine, There was a large photo of him and Hermione holding hands, Ron was nowhere in sight. As he watched, the photograph Hermione let go of Harry's hand and pinched him. THE BOY WHO LOVED declared the headline. With a sinking feeling Harry read on. Despite denying he is involved with anyone, Harry Potter is clearly smitten with pretty brunette, Hermione Granger, 17. This development shouldn't come as a surprise for avid Prophet readers, as we first broke this story nearly three years ago. The paper then reprinted selective quotes from the article it published during the Triwizard Tournament.
While Harry was reading, Ron had been attacking a fried egg, with a vindictiveness that he usually reserved for Snape. Finally he turned to Hermione, "What was all that about?"
"I'm sorry Ron, it was to protect Ginny. You and I made ourselves big enough targets by standing with Harry yesterday." She blushed and glanced at the floor mumbling, "I don't think of Harry like that."
There was an awkward pause in which Harry desperately looked around for an opportunity to change the subject, before he spotted the Hogwarts letters on the table unopened. "School letters?" he asked in a relieved voice.
"You didn't get one mate," replied Ron in aggrieved tone, while wiping fried egg off his shirt.
"I already told Professor McGonagall that I wouldn't be coming back, I tried to tell her you two weren't returning either. I really did mate, but she wouldn't believe it," Harry admitted.
Ron and Hermione reached across and opened their respective letters. Ron's eyes shone briefly as two badges fell out of the folded piece of parchment. 'Head Boy' and 'Quidditch Captain'. He turned to look at Hermione who was clutching a similar badge which spelled 'Head Girl'. Without a word they nodded to each other and ceremoniously threw both the badges and letters into the fire. Ron looked at Harry, who was about to speak, "Don't even think about it, we're with you all the way. Although do you remember the first year, the Mirror?"
Harry nodded, and then after seeing Hermione and Neville's bewildered looks he elaborated. "When I looked into the Mirror of Erised, it showed my deepest desire, my wish to be with my parents. When Ron looked into it, it showed him as Head Boy and Quidditch captain, lifting the House Cup."
"Oh Ron," squeaked Hermione. She moved over, put her arms round his neck and leaned in, when the fire suddenly started to glow brightly and Professor McGonagall stepped out.
"I was just about to leave for the reading of Albus's will when I noticed that your names had been erased from the Hogwarts book." She turned to Hermione with a disappointed look, "Is that right? You two had withdrawn from school and turned down my offer as head students?" Lowering her eyes once more, Hermione nodded,
"Very well Miss Granger, I understand, especially after Mr Potter's speech yesterday. But I want you to know that all of you are welcome at Hogwarts at anytime, and if we can be of any help to you, just ask. I very much hope that when this is over, you will return to the school to finish your studies." Ron and Hermione nodded in unison as Professor McGonagall turned to Neville. "Now, Mr Longbottom, can I offer you the Gryffindor prefectship?"
Neville looked at the others, before handing back his Hogwarts letter to Professor McGonagall, who pursed her lips before nodding understandingly. "Right, we need to go and hear the will, Harry?"
"Just me, Professor. The others are going to Hermione's parent's funeral."
"Of course. Miss Granger, my sincerest condolences."
Professor McGonagall and Harry apparated outside the Hogs Head Pub and walked in through the grimy doorway. Harry was disappointed to find the pub was nearly deserted, he had half-hoped that he may have come across Mundungus Fletcher. However, the only occupants were the tall barman and a short goblin. The ageing barman was rubbing at a filthy old glass with an even filthier old rag, whereas the goblin was hunched over a table holding a tall glass which contained a misty, foaming substance.
Harry approached the bar and ordered a bottle of Butterbeer while Professor McGonagall requested a small Gillywater; which she changed to a Butterbeer when the barman started to pour the Gillywater into the grimy glass. When they were each holding a dusty bottle, the Goblin looked up, and Harry noticed it was Axeblade.
"Good, we are all here," Axeblade said casting a spell to lock and ward the door. He then prodded his drink, and a ghostly image of Albus Dumbledore rose from it.
"Thank you," the silvery Dumbledore said nodding to Axeblade. "I've requested your company here today, because I've moved onto my next great adventure. It is time for me to hand over those possessions which I can not take on my next journey. Don't be too sad, for I've had a very enjoyable life, achieving much of what I wanted to do. In short, I have no regrets and nor should you regarding my untimely death.
Now, let us get started on the tiresome business of my will. Firstly, to Harry, I would like you to have my collection of socks. Harry, as I once told you, one can never have enough socks. Also you shall receive my pensieve. Unfortunately it won't contain my memories as they will leave this earth with me, but it will help you keep a well ordered mind. It should prove an invaluable tool throughout your life, as it did during mine." The silvery image nodded to Harry, who was in shock at the prospect of receiving his beloved mentor's belongings. It somehow made it all seem so final.
The ghostly Dumbledore had by now continued speaking, "Next, Minerva; I would like to leave you all the remaining possessions within my office, with the exception of Fawkes's perch. This you will have to pass on to his new owner. The texts and instruments I kept in my office will prove invaluable in your day-to-day running of Hogwarts. You will now know all that goes on within the castles walls." Harry glanced at Professor McGonagall and noticed her eyes, usually devoid of expression, were misting over.
"Finally, I leave the remainder of my possessions to my brother, Aberforth. Please allow the Order full use of anything that they may need, including my Gringotts vault. Tell them not to be disheartened, Fawkes will find a new companion, whom he will determine as a worthy leader for the Order. One who will bring renewed hope to this battle." With this the wispy Dumbledore sank back into the glass and Harry looked around, where was Aberforth Dumbledore?
Axeblade stood, preparing to leave. "Ms McGonagall, I understand as Headmistress that you have access to the late Albus Dumbledore's office?" She sniffed and nodded as the goblin continued, "Can I ask that you pass on his pensieve and phoenix perch as per his wishes?" She nodded again.
"Mr Dumbledore, here is your new Gringott's key." Axeblade passed a gold key over to the barman, "Can I ask that you accede to his wishes for using the contents of the vault?" The barman nodded and with a jolt, Harry realised he must be Dumbledore's brother. Axeblade bade them all good day, unlocked the door and left.
Harry stared at Aberforth, as he mentally cursed himself for not putting two and two together and figuring out his identity. On his first visit to the pub, to organise the DA, Harry had thought the tall, grey-haired barman had looked familiar. Then there was the strange goat smell in the air. Dumbledore had once told Harry that his brother had been prosecuted for performing an inappropriate charm on a goat. His thoughts were broken, as he became aware that McGonagall was talking to him.
"Harry, would you accompany me back to the school? Albus's portrait has woken up and wants to talk with you." Harry hesitantly agreed to join her later. He wanted to talk with Aberforth first to see if he knew anything about the locket.
After the Headmistress had left for Hogwarts, Aberforth turned to Harry. "Surprised, to find out that I'm Albus's brother?" Harry nodded, "He was definitely the white sheep of the family, and not just by name. Our parents and generations before them were simple goat farmers. Myself, I'm not clever like Albus was; I just wanted the simple life too. But there's not much money in goat farming these days, so Albus bought me this pub. Mind you, I still keep a few precious goats round the back, want to meet them?"
Before Harry could reply, Aberforth had locked the door once more and was heading out the back. "Despite his fame, Albus regularly found time to come and see me. At least once a month he would come round for a quiet drink; liked to catch up on the gossip I'd overheard, he did."
Harry privately thought that learning information from the criminal underworld was probably the main reason why Albus had bought his brother a pub.
"This is Molly and Tiddles," announced Aberforth as they reached an outhouse behind the pub that had been converted into several stables. Two goats ambled over to the doorway to meet them. "Darlings, this is the famous Harry Potter, I've been telling you about." The goats jumped up against the door and nuzzled Aberforth's hand, eating some snacks which suddenly appeared there. Harry was also introduced to Polly, Biggy, Skippy, Daisy and Billy.
After what seemed like hours of petting and feeding treats to his goats, Aberforth seemed to remember Harry and turned back to him. Harry used this as an opportunity to ask about the locket.
"I dunno, I buy quite a few things from Dung every time he's skint. I didn't realise any of it was yours or I'd have passed it onto Albus, you know." The old wizard smiled fondly as he entered the back room, which was as far as Harry could see completely empty. "Now, just wait here a second would you, Harry. Albus set up a few security spells for me in case, well you know, can't be too careful."
Aberforth shut the door and all Harry could hear was a few muttered incantations. The door reopened slowly and Harry saw a giant chest had materialised in the middle of the floor, Aberforth beckoned him over. "Now it was gold this locket, right?" Harry nodded. "Precious metals!" commanded Aberforth at the chest, before opening it. The entire of the chest was full to the brim of gold and silver items. Harry could see some grotesque trophies, replacement limbs, masses of jewellery, the Black family candlesticks and in the far corner a small heavy gold locket. Harry's heart missed a beat; trying to remember how to breathe, he reached in and grasped the locket. As he pulled it out, he asked Aberforth, "Did Dumbledore, I mean Albus, look through here at all?"
"He used to, quite regularly. Really enjoyed poking about in here, he did. But it must have been a fair few months since he last looked. He was so busy with this Voldemort business. Mind you he asked me to let him know if I got hold of certain items. You've found what you were looking for?" finished Aberforth, glancing around anxiously.
Harry examined the locket and turned it over in his hand. The reverse side was completely blank, no markings at all. Yet in all other ways it was identical to the locket he'd seen in the pensieve. Just how many fake copies of Slythrein's locket was he going to have to track down before he found the real one? Harry tried to open the locket, but it remained resolutely shut, even when he slammed it down in frustration.
As he stared dejectedly at it, a memory floated into his head of Mundungus and Sirius at the dinner table discussing the candlesticks.
"Finest sixteenth century goblin wrought silver and embossed with the Black family crest."
"It would come off though".
So what if Mundungus had removed the mark of Slytherin from the locket? But why would he do that? It would turn a priceless relic into something worthless. The vast majority of its value would be because of Slytherin's mark. But on the other hand, if you could disguise the mark and hide it, intending to buy it back later...
Harry raised his wand at the locket and muttered, "Finite incantatem." Very slowly an engraving of a serpent was uncovered. Harry turned back to Aberforth and nodded, "I've found it."
"Merlin's beard! That's Slytherin's" exclaimed Aberforth. They were both silent for a few seconds as the reality of it sank in. "How could I have missed it? Albus asked specifically for any relics of the Hogwarts founders."
Harry asked if he could buy it. "Take it lad, I can tell it's important. Albus didn't want this for the school trophy cabinet did he?" Harry shook his head and thanked the old barman and headed towards Hogwarts.
Not for the first time in his life, Harry found himself stood by the gargoyle, which controlled access to the Head's office in the castle, without the foggiest idea of the password. "Lemon drops … chocolate frogs .. Sugar quills … every flavour beans … cauldron cakes." Harry eventually gave up and swore at the gargoyle in a fit of petulance.
To his complete and utter amazement the Gargoyle responded to his foul outburst and moved aside allowing him to ascend to the Head's suite. He knocked on the door and was let in by a surprised Professor McGonagall.
"You guessed the password?" she asked.
"Err ... yeah" said Harry, looking everywhere but at her. His eyes caught sight of the portrait of Professor Dumbledore who was sat in a chintzy, purple armchair. The former Head was peering over a copy of the Daily Prophet at Harry, his eyes twinkling as usual.
"I'm sure you and Albus have a lot to discuss, so I'll leave you for a while. Come and find me in my old office when you're ready," and with that she turned and left.
"How could you have trusted him? The … the murdering … bastard killed you."
"That's Professor Snape to you, Harry," replied Dumbledore smiling. "I'm afraid it will have to remain enough that I trusted him and still do. Now I would like you to fill me in, on the unfortunate events that day. My portrait is only aware of what I knew at the time of painting, plus any subsequent information it has been told. While I was alive, I made sure I updated myself every night. It was somewhat like keeping a diary, even if Sybil caught me talking to myself the one evening and accused me of stealing her sherry. Anyway I digress."
Harry explained about the Horcrux hunt and, with tears streaming down his cheeks, he explained how first Draco had betrayed him and then how Snape had murdered him in cold blood.
"And I pleaded with Severus?" asked Dumbledore.
"Yes, and despite all you've done for him he still killed you, Avada Kedavra'd you, just like that in cold blood. How could you have trusted him?"
Dumbledore started to say that he still trusted him, but Harry cut him off in a rage. "Well I don't. I can never forgive him for killing you, Sirius and my parents. As far as I'm concerned he's as evil as Voldemort himself, and then next time we meet I WILL KILL HIM." Harry was shouting by the end of this and his green eyes glinted with a rage that Dumbledore had never seen before.
"Very well, Harry, I will explain my reasoning to you. Severus Snape came to me shortly after he had told Voldemort of the prophecy. Voldemort had commanded the murder your parents, and Severus was rather fond of your mother. He remembered her as a student, one who had always stood up for him. I believe that Severus couldn't bear to be responsible for the death of someone he had known; someone who he had memories and possibly feelings for.
Harry shuddered, "It was a lie. Snape made it up to save his own pitiful yellow skin. Can't you see he double-crossed you? He was a Master Occlumens for Merlin's sake. How could you have been so stupid?"
"Severus has provided me with much information over the years, and I have no evidence he has ever done anything to betray me. But it is true I doubted his integrity to start with. Unfortunately, Severus's legilimency skills meant he was aware that I didn't fully trust him, so to guarantee his loyalty, Severus insisted on swearing an unbreakable vow that he would be my loyal servant."
At Harry's surprised look, Dumbledore elaborated, "As you well know, an unbreakable vow is the most powerful allegiance known to wizard-kind. If the oath is broken the swearer will die. It is therefore, a highly dangerous piece of magic; one that should not be entered into lightly as it invariably leads to life or death decisions. However, Severus was young, foolish and desperate to prove his loyalty to me.
Unfortunately, his carefree attitude to these unbreakable vows didn't end there. Last year Severus swore an Oath to Narcissa Malfoy to carry out whatever task Voldemort had set for young Mr Malfoy, in the event he failed to carry it out. As we now know, but Severus didn't at the time, Draco Malfoy was given the task to kill me. On the Astronomy Tower, Professor Snape had no choice. If he failed to kill me, he would die, and if he did kill me he would betray me and die. However, by all accounts I was near to death anyway. My arm was weakened last summer, my body weakened badly from that poison." Harry swallowed and shuddered at the memory while Albus continued. "So I pleaded with Severus to kill me, thus allowing him a way to survive. If I am right, Severus Snape will now be the most trusted Death Eater in Voldemort's inner circle, with his loyalty indisputable. You and the order will need to exploit that."
"I can't trust him, how can his life be more valuable than yours?"
"Harry, you must put your prejudices aside and trust in Severus, for he alone will get you close to Voldemort when the time comes. I also believe that young Mr Malfoy can still be saved, he may prove useful."
"I don't", replied Harry with apathy, before he explained about the Broom chase. Bit by bit Harry relayed all that had happened since Dumbledore's death. The old wizard was very impressed that Hermione had figured out that Harry was the Heir of Godric Gryffindor. "Don't tell Minerva, but that is how you are able to get into this office. The gargoyle will recognise the current Head, as well as any descendants of the original founders."
Harry blushed deeply as Dumbledore continued, "All you have to do is ask it open, there is no need to swear at it. Although, I do remember your father having immense fun one day, at my expense when he was charged with escorting the then chairman of the governors up to my office. But that's a story for another time."
Dumbledore was also in agreement with Hermione's theory about the orphanage Horcrux, and was impressed by the trail which had led them to Slytherin's locket.
Harry proudly displayed both lockets to the painting, before asking how to kill the Horcrux.
"Very simple, Harry, it is part of his soul. So you must kill it in the same way you would kill anything else. Mind you, I found that a simple Avada Kedavra was easier than using Basilisk venom."
Harry blanched visibly as the thought of using the killing curse. Noticing this, Dumbledore's portrait continued, "I'm very heartened to see that this idea causes you problems. It is this very thing which makes you different from the Death Eaters. However, sometimes we have no choice, and for the greater good, we must commit an act of unspeakable evil. If you can do it yourself, it would be for the best. If you are unable, I suggest you approach Alastor."
"You are sure that the killing curse will work? Won't it just bounce off solid objects?" queried Harry, his reluctance to have to use an unforgivable curse apparent.
"That's correct, Harry. Avada Kedavra destroys the soul, and an inanimate object has no soul. Hence moving something in the way of that curse is the only way of stopping it, as I've demonstrated to Tom several times. However, a Horcrux contains a soul, and so can be destroyed by the killing curse."
"So, why didn't the part of Voldemort's soul just die when his killing curse rebounded on him?" questioned Harry hesitantly.
"That is the very crux of Horcruxes, Harry. The original part of the soul can not be destroyed while any Horcrux exists.
"So, in that case, why did his body die when he killed … killed my mum?"
"As you have seen, sometimes the killing curse will destroy a solid object, it causes it to explode. I believe that the curse damaged Voldemort's body so much, that it could not sustain life, and his soul was expelled from it." Harry's eyes lit up at the thought.
"I must caution you, Harry, that the magic Voldemort used to return himself to his body, was unspeakably evil. He has returned in a body which is no longer human. It is my belief that not even the killing curse will destroy it this time. It is for this reason that you must ensure that you destroy every Horcrux before you attempt to kill Tom Riddle."
As Dumbledore was starting to look tired, Harry prepared to leave. "Don't forget the pensieve, Harry. In your short life, you have gained more dreadful memories than anyone and this will be invaluable for you. A pensieve is probably the most powerful, yet equally most dangerous tool a wizard can own. You can store away the most painful of memories, keeping only a vague recollection in your mind. You can revisit early or vague memories with absolute clarity, and lastly it can be immense fun at parties.
However I must caution you, like the Mirror of Erised, it is not wise to spend too long dwelling on the past. Similarly we learn from bad experiences, so to be able to remove all regret from your mind would make one act without a conscience.
Now, on a lighter note, please take a chocolate before you go. Harry looked down and saw a pile of chocolate frogs on the edge of the desk, so he reached and grabbed one, intending to put it in his pocket for later.
"I suggest you eat it now, otherwise it will melt." Harry shrugged and unwrapped the sweet, just managing to catch it as it hopped out of the packing. Instinctively he turned the card over to see which famous wizard he'd got. 'Albus Dumbledore'.
Harry looked up to the painting, whose eyes were twinkling. "The picture on my chocolate frog card can't talk to you, but that doesn't mean it can't help you. It can visit my main portrait here, and can carry messages. As you well know there are a lot of connected portraits in this office, so if you ever need help…"
Harry acknowledged his mentor and carefully pocketed the card before he headed back to see Professor McGonagall and use her old office to floo back to Grimmauld Place. The first thing he saw was Hermione, who was curled up on the sofa crying. As Harry had suspected the funeral service had hammered home to her, that she would never see her parents again. But despite it all, she managed to smile weakly at him as he fell over the hearth rug and the pensieve landed on top of him.
"Scourgify", she called, between sobs, removing the soot which Harry was attempting to rub from his robes. The crash as he fell, had alerted Ron and Neville, who appeared with wands drawn from the hallway. Seeing there was no danger, Neville used his wand to levitate a plate of sandwiches from the kitchen. Ron grabbed three as the plate floated past him. So that's where he honed his keeper skills, thought Harry wryly looking at his best friend, who was now attempting to stuff all three sandwiches in his mouth at the same time. Hermione shook her head as the plate landed near her.
"Go on, love, you've got to eat," spluttered Ron, spraying sandwich everywhere. As Hermione removed a piece of pickle from her hair and drew her wand at Ron, Harry gave a quick Umbridge cough and pulled the real locket from his pocket. This captured the others attention and he retold all he had heard from Aberforth and Dumbledore's portrait. When Neville asked him if he had destroyed the Horcrux yet, Harry stalled, saying he was going to work up to it overnight.
Neville nodded, but their attention was diverted by a green flash which sailed past them and hit the locket dead centre. It burst open with a dreadful, ear-splitting scream and a thin, black mist rose from it. Harry turned in shock to see Hermione pointing her wand at the locket. Quickly he focused back on the mist while warning the others to keep back.
"Its part of Voldemort's soul. Although it's probably now dead, I don't want to run the risk of it entering any of our bodies." As they backed away, Harry cast a quick Reducto on the window, which shattered and the mist slowly dissipated into the air outside. Casting Reparo to fix the window, Harry turned to Hermione, but she cut him off before he could speak.
"Someone had to do it, Harry. Now, Ron, how about that sandwich?"