MINISTER OF MAGIC STEPS DOWN
In a surprise announcement this yesterday morning, Cornelius Fudge resigned his post as Minister of Magic. The announcement came after nearly a month of public outcry over Fudge's dismissal of warnings about the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, as well as the appointment of Dolores Umbridge as High Inquisitor inside Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, who allegedly used the torture curse on a student, as well as a fellow teacher.
For nearly a year, Fudge denounced Albus Dumbledore, calling the former Chief Warlock, "mad and delusional", for even thinking that You-Know-Who could possibly return from the dead. Unfortunately for Fudge, Dumbledore and Harry Potter were vindicated when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was spotted inside the Ministry of Magic, having apparently battled with Potter and several other Hogwarts students.
Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, has been named interim Minister until elections can be held later this month. Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Corps, has announced his candidacy for the top job. His opponent is Pius Thicknese from the Wizengamont. When asked if she would be also putting her name into the election ring, Madam Bones declined to comment, saying she had more important things to focus on at the moment.
Indeed this is true, as the trial of Dolores Umbridge begins next week (For more details, page 12)
"Is this for real?" Harry looked up from the paper to Sirius, who nodded. "Fudge really stepped down?"
"The Order got told last night at the meeting." Sirius smiled.
"Why didn't Madam Bones announce her candidacy?" Hermione asked. "I think she'd be a really good Minister."
"Two reasons." Remus said, getting everyone's attentions. "Number one, as the interim Minister, as well as the Leader of the Order, she's going to have a very difficult time. She's now number one on Voldemort's hit list. And we think there are already loads of Death Eaters infiltrating the Ministry. There are very few people that we know we can trust."
"And second?" Neville pressed.
"She believes that the public would be better served if she continued leading the Order. As the Minister, she'd be restricted by laws in dealing with Voldemort." Sirius explained. "The Order is not condoned by the Ministry, and is what the Muggles call a vigilante group. Outside of the law. As such, we aren't restricted by the rules and laws of the government."
"Which means what?" Daphne asked, suspecting she already knew the answer.
"Put simply. We don't have to take prisoners." Sirius shrugged.
"Wait a minute." Hermione said looking horrified. "You're killing Death Eaters? Is that really the answer?"
Everyone looked at the bushy haired witch, all of them wearing similar expressions.
"Hermione, Dumbledore would be most proud of you, but even he knows that we are at war. It's part of the reason he stepped down. He can't condone the violence he knows is coming, and has already happened, and yet, he knows better than anyone that there is no other course of action. People are going to die, and it is almost a certainty that each and everyone of you will take someone else's life."
There was a collective gasp from the youngsters, and both Remus and Sirius looked saddened.
"I'm not saying that they don't deserve it." Hermione whispered, shaking a bit in her seat. Neville reached out and ran a soothing hand up her spine, and Hermione closed her eyes at his touch. "But I don't know if I can…"
Harry looked at his best friend and wondered if he would actually be capable of taking another human's life, even if they were a Death Eater. The image of Ron jumping in front of the curse that had been meant for him appeared in his mind again, and Harry squeezed his eyes closed.
"I won't let it happen again." He said to himself.
"Take someone's life?" Remus asked softly. "No one is asking you to, Hermione. But you may not have that choice. To save anyone of your friends, or you family, or even yourself, there may be no alternative."
"We've told you all dozens of times, and you all know from personal experience how Death Eaters operate. It doesn't matter to them who you are. They will not hesitate to kill you."
Daphne shivered, a cold sinking feeling in her stomach. She absentmindedly ran a hand down her stomach over the scar that was hidden by her jumper. Her eyes distant, she remembered the moment that malevolent purple hex had struck her, and how the pain was so intense that she thought, in that brief moment before unconsciousness had claimed her, that she had just been killed. Everything had changed for her in that moment. A million regrets flashed in her mind as she had fallen to the floor.
"Why don't you all go to the beach for the afternoon. Dumbledore won't be here until tonight, so you may as well relax a bit." Sirius smiled.
The teens had been training hard for the past two weeks, starting every morning at six in the morning. They would run around the small island, with Moody "encouraging" them to go faster. During the second week, he had been popping up to fire stunning spells at them. He wouldn't allow them use magic, so they had to dodge the stunners as best they could. So far, none of them had been hit, but they all knew that Moody was going easy on them.
They had also started learning to fight with their hands, and other weapons, such as knives and swords. Sirius and Remus had been handling that quite well. Sirius was quite handy with edged weapons, explaining to the teens that the Blacks had once been supreme sword fighters, and passed the teachings down the line long after wizards had stopped using them.
During the afternoons, they worked on spell work with Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Professor McGonagall, who had come by only twice. So far it had been somewhat easy, as they were only working on things they already knew, but were learning to cast silently. Professor McGonagall actually complimented Neville, as he was showing markedly vast improvements from what she had seen of him until now. Tonks could not hide the smile she gave to Neville, who looked thoroughly surprised to get a compliment from the normally stern teacher.
Tonight was to be the first visit from Dumbledore since he'd brought Harry and Daphne here two weeks ago. The five tens were very curious what the Headmaster would be teaching them, but welcomed the respite from an afternoon of work.
Tracey was off like a shot, going to her room and changing into one of her new bikinis, grabbing a towel and a book, and heading out to the beach.
"I'm going to get myself a nice tan to go with this new hot body I'm working on. Let's see Blaise resist me now!" She smirked, passing Hermione and Daphne in the hall. Both girls simply stared before Daphne gave a snort, and the two girls burst into laughter.
"Oh, I hope she snogs his brains out when we go back to school." Daphne said, wiping a tear from her eye.
"Actually, I don't think he's going to have a choice." Hermione smiled as she began changing into a swimsuit. "With as much as she's talked about him all summer so far, I think she's going to be hunting him as soon as she gets on the train."
Daphne had to laugh as the image of a primitive looking Tracey, with war paint on her face and a bone in her hair, stalking a rather meek and unsuspecting looking Blaise, before clubbing him on his head and dragging him off into a cave to have her way with him came to her mind's eye.
"Ok, I think that does it." Hermione smiled, looking herself over in the mirror. Daphne's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when she looked up at the normally reserved girl. Hermione had tamed her bushy hair into a ponytail, and had donned a somewhat revealing bikini, which accentuated the girls natural curves. Daphne was shocked to see that Hermione was actually quite blessed with a slim figure, and above average chest.
"Wow." She said as Hermione smiled.
"So I look ok?" Hermione asked, looking momentarily embarrassed. "I want Neville to notice."
"If he doesn't, he's dead." Daphne remarked. "Any special reason you're attempting to cause the boy's brain to shut down?"
"We've been together a long time, and I think we're at a point where it's time to, you know…learn more about each other."
Daphne couldn't help but smile, and Hermione gave her a withering look. "Alright, Ever since we went shopping, and you shared your concerns about Harry and getting …physical, I've been thinking about it. A lot."
"Haven't you and Neville already explored each other?" Daphne asked curiously.
"Well, we've snogged. Quite a bit actually, but he's never tried to do anything else. He's always respected me, which I love, but I … I, that is…" Hermione began to ramble a bit.
"Want him to ravish you with lustful abandon?"
"Oh my gods. Yes!" Hermione sighed. The two girls began to laugh again. Hermione collected a few things into a bag, and Daphne noticed that a book was not one of them. Hermione then slipped a long t-shirt over her bikini, giving a wicked look to Daphne.
"I don't want him to have a stroke right away." She winked, and Daphne laughed again.
"I want to know everything later!" Daphne shouted as Hermione left to meet up with Neville.
Finally alone, Daphne went to her trunk and pulled out one of her own swimsuits. She didn't feel terrible daring at the moment, but Hermione's boldness had felt infectious. She had already told Harry that she wanted to become more intimate with him. Unfortunately, they had been working so hard over the past couple of weeks, that they had been too tired to even try and find time to explore that new avenue of their relationship. Perhaps now was the time.
Slipping into the one piece, Daphne followed Hermione's example and took a long t-shirt that she had stolen from Harry a week ago and slipped it on over her suit. She then collected a towel and some lotion from the girls bathroom before going downstairs to meet with Harry, who was already changed and waiting for her.
They had all decided it would be fun to go to the beach, though they all wanted a bit of time alone. As the island was quite empty except for the people living on it, privacy didn't seem to be an issue. There was plenty of beach for the teens to find quiet spots for themselves.
Harry offered his hand, and he and Daphne slipped out of the house together. As they walked, Daphne found herself becoming increasingly nervous. In truth, she and Harry had never truly been alone, at least not like this. They had found moments at school away from the other students, but they were still at school. Here, it was just the two of them. That frightened and excited her all at the same time.
"What about here?" Harry asked, pointing out a nice spot close to the tree line, but not far from the water. Daphne noticed that they were on the far side of the island, and from there, they would be able to watch the sun set.
"Perfect." She smiled, and Daphne helped Harry lay out the blanket he'd thought to bring. She sat down next to him on the blanket, and kissed him softly. He smiled at her, and then looked towards the water.
"Until now, I'd never been to the beach. It's much nicer than I'd imagined it."
"Don't muggles go there all the time?" Daphne asked. Harry merely shrugged.
"The Dursleys weren't shore people. You saw them, would you want to see that in swimwear?"
Daphne shuddered, and Harry laughed, wrapping an arm around her. She leaned into him, and sighed contentedly as they sat in silence for a bit, just watching the ocean. After a bit, Daphne decided that she should take advantage of the sunshine, and their privacy, and finally took off her t-shirt, which Harry suddenly noticed.
"Is that my shirt?" He asked, a curious expression on his face. He remembered buying it at the shop with the very pushy, and touchy salesgirl the day they'd gone into town. Daphne simple gave him a smile, and slipped it over her head. When she saw his face again, she couldn't help but smile.
She'd seen boys look like that before, though it had never really been at her. Harry was staring openly at her, taking in her every curve. Her swimsuit was black, with some flowery pattern, and it hugged her tightly, showing off her body quite nicely. It rose very high in her hips, and made her legs look incredibly long. The back was quite low, and the front lifted her breasts a bit, giving her cleavage a nice enhancement. She turned around, and blatantly bent over to reach into her bag, giving Harry quite the eyeful of her backside.
She turned and knelt beside him, seeing him trying to pretend that he hadn't just been ogling her.
"Harry, it's ok to look. I want you to look at me." She grinned, taking his face in her hands. "Don't you remember what we talked about?"
Harry smiled softly, and she returned it, giving him a soft kiss.
"Would you mind?" She said handing him a small tube of lotion. "I don't want to burn."
"I didn't know wizards had suntan lotion." Harry remarked taking the tube from her. Daphne lay on her stomach, and smiled to herself.
"Make sure you get everywhere."
She heard him gulp, even over the crash of waves on the shore line, and grinned madly.
"Did you really think we'd come up with potions that could regrow bones, or potions to remove warts, and not come up with something to protect us at the beach?" She asked. She didn't hear his resopnse as she kind of lost herself when she felt his hands touch her exposed back. Harry was very gentle as he rubbed the lotion into her skin, taking great care to get her shoulders and arms. His hands were calloused from riding his broom, but still soft, somehow.
"My legs too, Harry." Daphne reminded him, enjoying his touch intensely. Harry obeyed, starting at her ankles, and working his way back up. Daphne felt herself growing warmer as his hands climbed steadily higher up her legs, and she gave a soft moan of pleasure at his ministrations.
Harry had never in his life felt so nervous. His hands were shaking, and his heart was pounding as he rubbed the lotion into his girlfriend's legs, climbing higher. He gulped audibly as he reached her soft bum, and very slowly and tentatively began to do as she asked, and make sure she was protected from the sun. He was shaking horribly, his heart pounding in his chest, and his mouth going dry. Her skin was so soft, and smooth, and it felt amazing to him. Harry wondered if his girlfriend had any idea what this was doing to him.
Daphne stifled a gasp when she finally felt Harry's hands on her backside. She actually bit her lower lip for a moment while Harry very gently moved his hands along the exposed portions of her rear, and when he stopped, she actually rolled her eyes. in exasperation. She'd never been touched so intimately before, but she knew instantly that she liked it, and she desperately wanted more.
She turned to look at Harry, who was now removing his own shirt, and Daphne felt her heart thundering in her own chest as she got a good look at Harry's torso. He was thin, as she always knew, but there was definition there. Her eyes roved hungrily over Harry's body, stopping at the very obvious point in his swim trunks. She looked away quickly, feeling her face heat up. She heard Harry lay down next to her and smiled stupidly, as Daphne realized that he had definitely enjoyed his exploration of her body.
"Thank you." She smiled, turning back to face him, and kissing his nose.
"My pleasure." He smiled in return, a twinge of pink still on his cheeks, and Daphne thought to herself that it had been her pleasure too. For a first attempt, things had not gone too badly.
Deciding that she should return the favor, and also fearing for Harry's comfort, as he was very pale, Daphne rubbed lotion into his back in return, enjoying how he purred and breathed deeply at her manipulations. Feeling adventurous, Daphne bent low, and playfully nibbled on Harry's ear. The reaction was instant.
Daphne shrieked in surprise as Harry flipped her over, and slowly slid over her, a very wicked grin on his face. What surprised her even more was feeling Harry's excitement pressed against lower abdomen. She thought that she should be embarrassed by it somehow, bot only found it more…exhilarating.
"I think I found a new fun spot." Daphne laughed as Harry stared intensely into her eyes. She pulled Harry down and very softly began to nibble on his earlobe, loving the hissing intake of breath he made.
"I think it's possible." Harry sighed, his eyes a bit glassy. He pulled his ear away from her soft lips, and kissed Daphne very deeply. She slid her arms up around his neck, holding him very close to her, shivering slightly as Harry's hands crept up her sides.
Daphne gripped his hair tightly, deepening the kiss. Her body was heating up as they melted into one another, and Daphne was truly enjoying how it felt. She felt that she was beginning to understand why other girls seem to like this sort of thing, though Daphne could not ever imagine doing this with anyone other than Harry.
"You need to come back to the house."
Harry nearly jumped off of Daphne at the sound of the voice, and Daphne grabbed at the blanket to cover herself, though she was still technically dressed, and both of them looked to see a shining silver dog. It was already heading back towards the house, and they both realized it had been a patronus.
"Great timing." Harry sighed heavily.
"Yeah, things were just getting interesting." Daphne groaned, and Harry chuckled. He pulled her to her feet, and she wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"We'll have other opportunities." He said, rubbing her back soothingly. Daphne pressed her lips to his softly.
"You promise?" She asked with hopeful eyes.
"Cross my heart." Harry nodded, and captured her lips one more time.
"What's going on?" Neville asked as they met with Daphne and Harry on the trail back to the house. Daphne noted that Hermione looked just as upset as Daphne felt about being interrupted. They hadn't been out all that long, and Daphne wondered just how far things would have progressed had they not been disturbed. While she wasn't ready to make that big step, she felt she was ready to be more intimate with Harry.
Harry only shrugged at Neville's query and the two couples entered the house. They were all surprised to find Albus Dumbledore awaiting them in the sitting room.
"My sincerest apologies for interrupting your relaxation time. I know you've all been working very hard these past two weeks. I promise it will be made up to you." He smiled sadly. "Harry, Would you please join me in the study?"
Harry nodded, and with a soft squeeze to Daphne's hand, Harry and the Headmaster left the others.
"I thought he was going to teach all of us." Hermione said, looking very upset now.
"Why don't you all get cleaned up." Remus said as he came into the hall. "We'll have dinner soon."
"What is going on?" Daphne asked, but Remus didn't answer. He simply lowered his eyes and returned to the kitchen. Daphne looked to Hermione, who mirrored her confusion.
"Calm down, I'm sure we'll find out everything later." Neville said looking at the two young women. He then led them back upstairs, both girls following the boy with mounting frustration.
Tracey greeted them, wrapped in a towel. She had obviously just come out of the shower, and was pulling a pair of shorts from her trunk. She gave the other two girls a wicked grin, and plopped onto her bed.
"So, let's hear it." Tracey demanded.
"Oh, we have to find you a man." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Oh come on. I'm the only one here without someone to snog. Let me live vicariously through the two of you, and I swear, I will share all my naughty exploits with you both when I actually have some to share." Tracey said, looking truly pathetic. Daphne couldn't help but laugh as she patted Tracey's head and went into the bathroom.
When she had rinsed off in the shower, and wrapped a towel around herself, she returned to the bedroom just in time to hear Hermione telling Tracey…
"And that's when the patronus showed up."
"Oh gods! I'm so jealous." Tracey, who was now fully dressed frowned. "I'm still in shock that you let Neville get that far."
"I told you, I was the one leading him. He was like a little scared rabbit or something. I was scared too, but it felt sooooo good."
"Okay, I'm officially intrigued." Daphne said, sliding into a pair of shorts. "Spill it."
Hermione shook her head. "Not until I hear what you and Harry got up to." Hermione grinned. She couldn't believe that she was speaking this way. She had always turned up her nose whenever Lavender and Parvati spoke like this. Yet, she couldn't stop herself. It was fun. Maybe it was Tracey and Daphne that made it fun. She wondered if she would be like this with any other girls, and she briefly thought of the way she and Ginny used to talk. They had spoken about boys many, many times, but it was never like this. It had never been so deliciously naughty.
Daphne could not hide the smile that broke out on her face. She then recounted to her friends how she and Harry had walked on the beach, looking for a nice private spot, and how they had chatted for a bit before Daphne had decided to take off her shirt.
"He actually look embarrassed that he was looking me over." Daphne said dreamily. She continued on, telling them how she felt with Harry rubbing sun block on her, and how she was intensely exasperated that Harry had stopped, and then how it felt when she spotted his arousal.
"How big is he?" Tracey asked shamelessly.
"Wait! Stop. I don't think I want to hear anymore." Hermione was blushing furiously. "Every time I see him from now on, I'm going to picture Harry all…excited, and I won't be able to look him in the eyes anymore."
Hermione got up quickly and ran to the shower to rinse herself. Tracey and Daphne couldn't help but laugh at their friend's discomfort, though they both understood. It was very clear that Harry and Hermione had a sibling like affection for one another.
On Hermione was gone, Tracey turned back to her best friend. "Well?"
"I didn't actually see it" Daphne looked affronted. "And even if I did, I'm not about to measure it. Boys are already so sensitive about that kind of thing."
"Ok, fine. What happened next?"
There was a knock at the door, and Daphne got up. She opened it a crack and saw Neville in the hall.
"Remus wanted me to tell you all that supper is ready."
"Ok, thanks. We'll be down in a minute."
Neville nodded and retreated down the hall. Daphne shut the door and finished dressing before going into the bathroom to let Hermione know that dinner was prepared.
"Am I going to get the rest of the story?" Tracey looked desperate.
"N Not much else happened." Daphne smiled wryly. "Things were starting to look like they might get interesting, but then the patronus showed up, and I made him promise that we would find time to see where things might go."
"Argh!" Tracey grimaced. "You guys are so frustrating. I had to practically threaten Hermione to give me some details. She wouldn't ell me everything, but I get the suspicion she and Neville got a little more intimate than she's revealing. And you…I can see that you're not telling me everything."
"What? How do you, I mean, WHY do you think that?"
"Well, for one, you're blushing like mad right now. And second, The dreamy look in your eyes right now."
Tracey smiled brightly as she passed her best friend and headed downstairs for dinner. Daphne, suddenly self conscious ran into the bathroom to look in the mirror. Tracey was right, she was blushing horribly.
Harry sat down across from the headmaster, who looked very tired.
"I had originally planned to ease you into all that I had to tell you, Harry. However, I do not believe that would serve you as well. So I ask that you bear with me. I will not explain everything tonight, as there is a great deal to get through."
Dumbledore folded his hands and set them on the desk. Harry edged forward in his seat, listening intently. He couldn't help feeling he was about to get the answers he'd sought for so long. Dumbledore took a great breathe, and looked at the young man, on whose shoulders, so much rested, though he had no idea just how much depended on him.
"Have you ever heard of a horcrux, Harry?" Dumbledore began. Harry frowned and shook his head.
"I would have been surprised if you had." Dumbledore smiled easily. "It is a very dark magical object, in which a person might hide a part of their soul."
Harry looked confused. "A part of their soul? Is that even possible?"
"I assure you that it is. In fact, it is terribly easy to break apart one's soul. It takes an act of great evil to do it."
"Killing someone?"
"Exactly." Dumbledore smiled at Harry, who looked rather proud he'd guessed correctly. "Killing someone will rip a person's soul in two. Creating a horcrux, is a bit more complicated. It takes a great deal of preparation. The object in which you'd place your soul fragment must be prepared. Once it ready, you can transfer a part of your soul into it, and then you would be, for all intents and purposes be immortal."
"Voldemort made one, didn't he? That's why he didn't die the night he tried to kill me."
"Very perceptive, Harry. He did indeed make a horcrux. Now, extracting a piece of your soul exacts a terrible price Harry. It alters you in many ways, disfiguring you, as you become less and less human. Do you follow me?"
"I think so. The more horcruxes made, the more it…That's why Voldemort looks so …snakelike, isn't it?" Harry asked, now on the edge of his seat.
Dumbledore reached into his robes and extracted a very familiar looking book. There were several ink stained gashes, and Harry recognized it at once.
"Riddle's diary?"
"Yes. Perhaps his first Horcrux. Made, I am sure, while he was still at Hogwarts."
"Voldemort killed someone while he was still a student?" Harry looked disgusted.
"His muggle father, if I am correct. Just before his seventh year. But that isn't important at this moment. What is important is that, thanks to you, this one is destroyed. I have found and destroyed a second, not long after school let out for the summer. A very rare, and important artifact."
Dumbledore again reached into his robes and took out a small gold ring with a large green stone, which had been cracked. Harry took the ring from the headmaster and examined it. Other than the crack in the stone, it didn't look like much. However, just as he was about to hand it back, Harry saw what looked like a letter in faint gold. The letter "S".
"That was the Ring of Salazaar Slytherin." Dumbledore said, leaning back in his seat. "As you know, Lord Voldemort is the final descendent of the founder, and went to a great deal of effort to retrieve that particular ring in order to make another horcrux."
"Sir, how many did he make?" Harry asked, a bit of worry now creeping up into him.
"If I am correct, he made a total of six." Dumbledore sighed. "But there might be seven. You see, on the night that Voldemort tried to kill you, in the very moment that you mother's sacrifice saved you and destroyed his body, a part of his soul sought out the first living person, hoping to find a host. You, Harry."
Harry dropped the ring, and stared in horrified silence as Dumbledore rose from his seat, and came around the desk.
"I had originally thought that you were an unwilling Horcrux, but after I researched the topic, I now believe you are merely playing host to a now weakened fragment of Lord Voldemort's soul. It is this reason that you share some of his abilities, as well as a link into his mind. Once I learned that you were not a horcrux, it became my mission to discover how to rid you of this blight."
"Have you…Have you found a way?" Harry asked, fighting a wave of nausea.
"I believe so, but first, I need to determine exactly how strong this fragment might be. I must ask you to allow me to enter your mind, Harry. I promise you that I am not searching for anything other than this soul fragment, and whatever I glimpse in your mind will never be spoken of."
Harry could only nod, not really hearing what Dumbledore said. Dumbledore sat in a chair next to Harry and stared into the young man's eyes. All at once, Harry felt a soft push at the edge of his Occlumency shields. He had to fight against the urge to fight the Headmaster out of his head, and tried to relax.
Unlike with Snape, Harry wasn't forced to watch flashes of memories. Instead he just saw the headmaster's light blue eyes. He could feel the light probing the headmaster was doing inside his mind. It wasn't unpleasant, but Harry knew that his memories and feelings were laid bare to the old man, and Harry couldn't help feeling embarrassed, especially when his afternoon with Daphne came to the forefront of his thoughts.
Before Harry could clamped those images and feelings down, he felt an intense pain in his skull, and he heard the angry shrieks of something evil. Harry crumpled forward and vomited on the Headmaster's robes.
"I think I found it." Dumbledore smiled softly, vanishing the vomit from his robes. "It is indeed very weak, which makes it all the more dangerous.
"Can you remove it? Harry asked, still panting from being sick.
"I believe that I can, though it will not be easy on you, I am afraid. In fact, it may be intensely painful."
Harry shook his head, trying to clear the pounding throb. He looked up at the ancient headmaster, and sighed.
"I want it out."
"I have no doubt of that, Harry. I wish you to be rid of it as well. Though, I must point out that it's usefulness. With this connection, you have been able to see what Voldemort has done, thus saving the lives of more than a few people."
"But he was able to use it to lure me to him." Harry pointed out.
"Indeed. Tell me, have you had any more dreams, or visions since the night at the Ministry?"
Harry had to think about it for a bit, then realized that he hadn't.
"I thought not. Voldemort learned a very important lesson that night. He can not enter your mind without potentially harming himself in the process. Your feelings give you great strength against him, Harry. While I am willing to remove the fragmented soul from you, I must ask you if you'd be unwilling to carry it a bit longer"
Harry thought hard about what the Headmaster asked. It was true that the connection between Harry and Voldemort had proven useful, it still made Harry shiver to think that a part of that murdering psychopath resided inside of him.
"Sir, could it grow stronger? Could it take me over?" Harry asked, fear in his voice.
"No. It is far to weak to take you over, or it would have long ago, while you were a child, still living with your Aunt and Uncle. It is part of the reason I know it is not a horcrux, but instead a shadow. A wisp of the Dark lord. Your will is much to strong for it to take control of you."
Harry nodded. He still didn't like knowing he had a bit of Voldemort hidden within him. Though Dumbledore had assured him that he was safe, Harry could not help imagining the bit of Voldemort somehow gaining control of him, and making him do things. Hurting people he cared for. Daphne.
"Sir, I want it out." Harry said quickly. "I don't care what it takes, but please get it out of me as soon as possible. Now would be preferable."
Dumbledore smiled softly, and gave Harry's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"Very well. I shall begin the preparations. Tomorrow night, we will rid you of this soul fragment."