Albus Dumbledore and the Everlasting Flame

Disclaimer: this is a work of fan fiction based on the worlds created by JK Rowling

"Great is the power of suggestion"

Chapter 22 – The Chamber of the Everlasting Flame

Albus could barely see through the haze of tears in his eyes. Mars and Thomas dragged him into the centre of the seventh chamber, the room that Albus and Mars had been caught exploring on a dark night at the very start of the year. The small chamber, walls and pillars painted with hieroglyphics, had at its centre the fan-like metal bracket with the dark hole in the middle, where the Everlasting Flame should have been. But as it had been at the start of the year, it was extinguished.

'What did that clue say again?' Thomas asked.

'Something about "within the Eye lies the Flame Everlasting",' Mars replied. Thomas looked at the Eye of Horus locket in his hands but could see no sign of the Flame. He tried casting spells on it, but none had any effect.

'Albus, I need your brains,' Thomas said. 'Maybe you can figure out how the Flame is hidden inside this locket.'

'I do not wish to think,' Albus mumbled. He was staring at the floor, feeling as though his soul had been voided from his body. All he could think of was Victoria's body lying in the previous chamber, underneath the protective stance of the Egyptian God, Horus.

'Albus, you have to,' Mars insisted. Albus' green-eyed friend grabbed him by the shoulders, searching his eyes. Mars said, 'we do not have time to mourn Victoria! She was my friend, too, but Admiral Scholtz could be upon us at any moment! In here we would make easy pickings for the Germans. We must help Thomas obtain the Everlasting Flame and then escape from this place.'

Albus was steeled to act, but only by the thought that Grindelwald could get his scabby little hands on the Everlasting Flame. With Jannes Grundelwald dead he needed someone else to blame for Victoria's death, and a swell of hatred filled him against the white-eyed ten year-old.

'Give me the Eye,' Albus said. He took the locket from Thomas with one hand, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his other arm. He approached the fan of metal surrounding the rightful home of the Everlasting Flame, still sniffing loudly. He said, 'In my dream the Everlasting Flame was here. I could feel its warmth and see its light. But it did not light up the walls. It was as though it was here and was not here all at the same time. I am certain that it is here, but how to find it, I cannot know!'

'Perhaps it is concealed,' Thomas suggested. 'I do not know how to cast the Amon-nu spell, so if you could try it, then perhaps it will work.'

'Amon-nu,' Albus chanted, pointing his wand at the dark orifice within the panels of metal. Nothing happened.

'Someone is coming!' cried Mars. He had heard a ruckus sounding through the open door of the chamber. Almost by instinct, Thomas and Albus ran back to the golden doors to have a look. Thomas grabbed the Eye of Horus back to protect himself. To their astonishment, a ferocious wand-waving battle was occurring, and it was moving steadily along the fifth chamber and entering the sixth. Albus caught the swirl of Archaeon's luminescent blue robes as he locked in battle with Phineas Nigellus. The crimson attire of Professor Rolleston could be seen, dueling fiercely with Admiral Scholtz, who, despite dressing like a muggle general, actually could handle a wand quite capably. But even more surprising was the sight of Dr Vladimir Strovsky in battle with Professor Prewett and Anastacia Volkova dueling with Professor Januar Solstice in his white robe. Albus could have sworn he saw Professor Solstice holding a long, thin staff in his left hand. There were also a number of Black Forest School of Magical Arts students and other assorted wizards and witches involved in the battle. Given their number, it was fair to assume that Archaeon had a number of Ministry wizards on his side; otherwise the good would have been entirely overwhelmed. In fact, Albus did catch sight of Minister for Magic Lionel Wilberforce giving some hapless dark wizard a right working over. Albus was not much appeased, but admitted to himself that it was good to see that the Minister had clued on at last to the nature of the Germans.

Jets of green, red, blue and purple light were flashing all over the place. A few spells shot in the direction of Victoria's body, but the Egyptian God Horus flicked them away as though they were mere paper darts. Of the three Gryffindors; only Thomas seemed truly concerned by the way that the battle was moving in their direction.

'I think we should close the golden doors,' Thomas said.

'I do not think it would make a difference,' Albus said mutely, 'seeing as Horus is no longer guarding them. Soon we will either die or the enemy will be defeated. We are mere spectators at this time.'

Professor Solstice appeared before them, breathing heavily. Anastacia's stunned body lay slumped against a wall. Albus looked at his left hand and saw that he was carrying a staff. It was of two snakes inter-twined, and it had at its head a red ruby. It was Imhotep's Staff!

Albus did not have time to question the Professor for bringing such a thing with him, because Professor Solstice pushed the three of them back into the seventh chamber.

'Get behind the doors,' Professor Solstice cried. 'You are in danger of being hit by a spell otherwise! I have to protect you while the others duel the enemy.'

Professor Solstice cast a spell on the golden doors that swung them shut and locked them from the inside. The muffled sound of yelling, crashing and fighting could still be heard through the doors. Professor Solstice turned his dark face upon the three Gryffindors. His eyes were starkly white against his skin.

'What is going on?' Thomas asked. 'Why is the Ministry dueling with the Germans and the Russians while the Tournament is still on? Nobody has obtained the Everlasting Flame yet, I hope?'

'No, the Flame is still at large,' Professor Solstice said, flashing an ivory grin. 'The moment the Germans and Phineas Nigellus used the Avada Kedavra, Archaeon alerted the Ministry. The Russians took this to mean that someone had found the Everlasting Flame and joined in, thinking that they could emerge with the Flame if they were able to defeat both the Ministry and the Germans.'

'That is obscure logic,' Thomas said.

'Indeed it is,' Professor Solstice said, nodding, 'but such is the way of people when it comes to power. The desire to possess the Everlasting Flame robs many people of logic, but not me.'

Albus, Mars and Thomas took a few seconds to digest the unusual nature of Professor Solstice's words.

'I beg your pardon, sir?' Thomas said. 'Did you say you were not robbed of logic by the desire to possess the Flame? You don't mean that, do you?'

'Actually, that is precisely what I mean,' Professor Solstice said. 'While everyone else uses brute magical force to try and overwhelm one another, I have used cunning and subtlety to get into this inner chamber unnoticed, one step away from claiming the Everlasting Flame for myself and my master.'

Before any of the three Gryffindors had a chance to voice their astonishment, Professor Solstice cast a spell on Imhotep's staff, just as he had done in the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class at the start of the year. A black form appeared on the ground, molten, moving and alive. It shimmered and then rose from the ground, taking shape as it did so. Albus' throat dried up. He was about to come face to face with the Dark Lord Imhotep for the second time. Professor Solstice's reasons for not simply destroying the staff that Archaeon must have placed in his possess were now horribly clear: he had always intended to unleash the half-spirit within.

'When I have the Everlasting Flame in my hands,' Professor Solstice cried out triumphantly, 'my master will be able to sample its power and his life will go on forever!'

'But you do not have the Everlasting Flame!' cried Albus. 'Only I know where it is!'

'Ah, but you do not know how to reveal it,' Professor Solstice said, a wicked grin spreading across his once handsome face. It was now twisted by the greed that had poisoned his soul. 'As I said before, while others use magical force to try and obtain the Flame, I have used subtlety. Your father entrusted me and me alone with the secret of how he was hiding the Everlasting Flame for the Triwizard Tournament, such was his trust in me. But he could never have known my secret allegiance to my master!'

'What have you to gain from supporting Imhotep?' Albus demanded, a warm rage spreading across his face. 'He murdered Professor Fudge last year and turned him into an Inferi. What makes you think you will be any different?'

Professor Solstice gave a deep, throaty laugh. Albus was partly distracted by the dark, amorphous mass forming beside him. It was now the height of a human, but only vaguely resembled one. Imhotep's shadow was taking a long time to generate into a physical being.

'I will be different because I was loyal,' Professor Solstice spat. 'My motivation is not power or life everlasting … it is to be the servant of my master for all time!'

It sounded absurd to Albus, particularly coming from a teacher who had been so placid and intelligent all year. There was something untoward about Professor Solstice's behaviour. But Albus had no time to analyze the situation. Imhotep's second re-birth was fast becoming a reality.

'Thomas, the Eye of Horus!' Albus cried.

'Expelliarmus,' Professor Solstice said, before Thomas could hand the locket to Albus. It clattered against the wall and lay still, as did Thomas' wand. Professor Solstice repeated the spells on Albus and Mars, leaving all three unarmed. He advanced on Albus, grabbed him by the arm and pulled him over the Everlasting Flame's bracket. He said, 'the Everlasting Flame is in your head, and has been all year. You need only remove the concealing spell from within your mind and it will appear in its rightful place. If you do not, I will kill your friends.'

The truth washed over Albus' mind like water over a dry river-bed. Everything made sense at last; the strange way that Avada Kedavra spells had been deflected off him like an invisible shield, the dreams he had been having all year … Archaeon Dumbledore had hidden the Everlasting Flame inside his mind's eye! No wonder his father had been so certain that nobody could steal it! But the real revelation was the one going on his thought processes at that very moment. With the Everlasting Flame protecting him, he was invulnerable to anything that either Professor Solstice or Imhotep could do to him. It was his two friends that were in mortal danger.

'Accio wand!' cried Albus, pulling away from Professor Solstice's grasp. His wand flew into his hand by wand-less magic. 'Impedimenta!' he cried. Professor Solstice was successfully stunned, falling backwards and hitting his head against the wall. He did not get up again. 'Accio Eye of Horus!' cried Albus. With his wand in his hand, the spell was much more effect. The locket flew into his hands so fiercely that it stung.

Imhotep had just about come to life again. His skeleton was visible, and flesh was filling it up from the insides. Albus could see his eyes emerge from their sockets. For the briefest of moments Imhotep caught sight of the boy who had thwarted him a year earlier. Imhotep raised a skeletal hand to perform a killing spell, but Albus was supremely unconcerned.

'O Horus, great Egyptian God!' yelled Albus, holding the locket up. 'Destroy Imhotep for all time!'

The hawk-headed God burst through the golden doors, revealing the battle ongoing in the sixth chamber. Albus would have sworn that he saw fear in the eyes of Imhotep as they turned to face Horus. The Egyptian God raised his arms and sent jets of golden light firing from his hands into the skeletal chest of the Dark Lord. Imhotep gave a ghastly scream that shook the foundations of the Temple of Ast, and evaporated in a cloud of dust. His staff fizzled into the sand, leaving a line of grey ash where it lay.

Horus approached Albus, a look of intense satisfaction in his gleaming eagle eyes.

'Great little warrior,' Horus said in a soft voice, 'long may you serve the ways of the righteous.' Without so much as asking, the Egyptian God took the Eye of Horus locket from out of Albus' hand and with it, vanished in a cloud of grey mist.

Albus felt strangely alone in that brief moment, as though the light of the world had temporarily left it.

'Albus, the Everlasting Flame!' cried Thomas, pulling the golden doors shut again so that the battle outside was temporarily barred from spilling over into the seventh chamber. 'Albus, I want to win the Tournament.'

Albus felt tired and weak from the exertions of the day. It was as though the life was sapped from him. He could not have cared less if Phineas Nigellus came and took the Everlasting Flame out of his mind's eye, or if Imhotep had come back to life a third time. He just wanted to be alone and cry his eyes out over what had transpired.

'It is yours to take,' Albus said. 'You can perform the Amon-nu, it would be wrong for me to simply hand it over to you.'

'I do not know how to perform that spell,' Thomas protested.

'Imagine the Everlasting Flame in your hands, in your mind's eye,' Albus said softly, 'and perform the Amon-nu on my mind. Jannes Grundelwald could perform the Amon-nu, I am sure you can too.'

Albus slumped down against the wall and Mars came over to sit beside him, while Thomas concentrated on seeing the Everlasting Flame in his hand. When he was ready, he turned his wand on Albus and said, 'Amon-nu.'

Mars let out a faint gasp. Albus felt something intensely powerful leaving him. If he had been sapped of energy before, he now felt positively empty of everything that had ever been in him. Standing in the middle of the seventh chamber, a look of glowing victory upon his face, was Thomas Jones, victor of the Triwizard Tournament. In his right hand was a silver torch, and issuing from its end was a flame of the most intense white. It was so dazzling that all three had to shield their eyes from it. Every corner of the Chamber of the Everlasting Flame glowed like gold. The chest full of ankhs in the corner, from where Albus and Mars had taken theirs at the start of the year, sparkled like a starry sky.

'I won,' Thomas said ever so softly. 'I won the Tournament.'

The golden doors burst open and Albus half expected Phineas Nigellus to walk in and steal the Everlasting Flame at Thomas' moment of glory. Instead, Minister for Magic Lionel Wilberforce walked in, followed by a party of Ministry wizards bearing scars and bruises, and a haggard looking Professor Prewett. Albus looked about for Archaeon but could not see him, nor could he see Professor Rolleston.

'We have our victor!' Minister Wilberforce said happily, seemingly forgetting the massive battle that had just occurred. 'I hereby declare Thomas Jones the winner of the Triwizard Tournament, and award you with your prize-money of …'

'Excuse me a moment, Minister,' Professor Prewett said, stepping forward with a look of disdain on her face, 'but aren't you foregoing decorum? Is Thomas Jones not worthy of an official ceremony back at Hogwarts, in the presence of an audience?'

Minister Wilberforce gave a few perfunctory coughs and grunts.

'In the … er, circumstances, Athene,' Minister Wilberforce said, 'I think we must forego this pleasure. It would … not look good to have a victory ceremony without our German or Russian guests; and seeing as they will not be joining us …'

'This is outrageous,' Professor Prewett cried, her monocle nearly popping out of its place on her eye. 'Is it Jones' fault that the Germans and Russians chose to turn this Tournament into a farce?'

'Look, Athene,' Minister Wilberforce said, trying to be placating but looking to Albus like a bumbling idiot, 'you are welcome to put on a celebration at Hogwarts in honour of your Champion. But in the light of this disaster of international relations, it is simply inappropriate for the Ministry to have any further involvement in this Tournament. I am going to have enough on my plate, what with Dumbledore sending half of our German and Russian guests to Azkaban and a few of them dying in the process, not to mention Phineas … I mean, the disgrace!'

The Minister ignored Professor Prewett's further protests and turned back to Thomas, who was still staring at the Everlasting Flame with unbridled wonder.

'Thomas Jones,' the Minister said, 'I hereby award you a hundred galleons as reward for winning the Triwizard Tournament. Congratulations.'

The Minister dumped a heavy bag of galleons in one of Thomas' pockets, shook his free hand and then turned to leave the Chamber, his entourage in tow. Professor Prewett stared after him, muttering darkly. By now Albus was quite concerned by the non-appearance of Archaeon. Finding the energy to get to his feet, he ran to the door to look inside the sixth chamber. It was disordered chaos. Great chunks of rock had been taken from the walls by spells. Several dead bodies lay about, including that of Phineas Nigellus, who stared blankly at Albus through those once dark, hateful eyes. In the middle of the room, Professor Rolleston and the Ministry officials were rounding up Admiral Scholtz, Dr Strovsky and a number of their students, using body-binding spells and anti-disapparation jinxes to keep them from escaping. But where was Archaeon Dumbledore?

Then Albus saw him. Lying prostrate on the floor, his blue robes blood-stained, was Archaeon Dumbledore. He was not moving.

For the briefest of seconds Albus was unable to move, to breathe, or to do anything. But then he was running at full tilt towards his father, screaming his lungs off.

'Father, no!' he cried, 'not you too!'

Albus collapsed on his knees beside his father's body and grabbed Archaeon's face with his hands. To his utmost relief, Archaeon's crystal blue eyes looked up at him, and his lips formed words.

'My son,' Archaeon murmured. 'You are alive.'

'No, you are alive,' Albus insisted, the tears coming in happy streams now. 'I thought you were gone! I thought you were dead!'

'Alas, my time has not yet come,' Archaeon said. 'I was overwhelmed when Phineas Nigellus and five of his cronies cornered me. I had earlier suffered a blow to the head from the Gryffin guarding the way in when it was attacked by the Russians. Enraged; it lashed out and, seeing as I had just apparated to the foot of the steps, it turned on me, thinking that I had some part in it. I survived, but taking on six dark wizards was beyond me. I had subjugated four of them when one hit me with a stunning spell and my shield failed to materialize. I was unarmed, and Phineas Nigellus started to perform the killing spell. To my great fortune, Ryan saved my life by killing him and stunning my sixth attacker.'

Albus looked up and across the room at Professor Rolleston, the chubby man with the half-moon glasses and kind disposition. In that moment Albus saw a new hero in his eyes. Professor Rolleston had saved his father's life.

'What of you, my son?' Archaeon asked. 'You are unharmed?'

'Yes, I am unharmed,' Albus said, 'but Professor Solstice tried to take the Everlasting Flame from me and to bring Imhotep back to life with that staff. I managed to stun him and then I got Horus to kill Imhotep.'

'Januar!' cried Archaeon. 'That is simply inconceivable!'

'Yes, I thought so too,' Albus said somberly. 'Perhaps he was enchanted by Imhotep. You could use Veritaserum on him.'

'Perhaps,' Archaeon said with a weary smile. 'It certainly does not sound like Januar to do that. But once again, my son, you have done the world a favour … and this time it seems; you have disposed of Imhotep once and for all.'

'Horus did it,' Albus said modestly. 'He also killed Jannes Grundelwald, but …'

'He killed the German Champion?' said Archaeon, his eyes wide. 'The Egyptian God was not permitted to kill any Triwizard Champion; it was in the rules of the Tournament.'

'I told him to do it,' Albus said, prompting a gasp from Archaeon. 'Well, no, not precisely. I never told Horus to kill him, but I told him to protect us from our attackers after they used Avada Kedavra on us.'

'Well you are not to blame then,' Archaeon said. 'I am not too pleased by Horus' actions, but one could never say that Grundelwald did not have it coming … why, what is the matter, son?'

Albus had burst into tears, because the one thing on his lips that he could not bring himself to say was what had happened to Victoria. When Archaeon sat up and put an arm around him, Albus spilled it all in a great sob into his father's beard.

'I told Horus to attack them because,' Albus began, 'because … Mars and Thomas had protection and so did I, but Victoria didn't! She's dead, father!'

'Victoria?' Archaeon said, allowing Albus to pull back. 'Not the daughter of Hortensius and Mary Moody?'

'Yes, Victoria,' Albus sobbed. 'She did not have any protection!'

'What in the name of Merlin was she doing here …' Archaeon began, but when he saw the immense look of self-reproach on Albus' face, he said no further. Archaeon could read the very surface of Albus' mind and tell that Albus felt incredibly guilty that he had let Victoria come to Egypt with him and Mars, unprotected.

'If I had only known that the Everlasting Flame was protecting me as well,' Albus said, 'then I could have given her the sapphire ankh! It is my fault she is dead!'

'No, it is not your fault,' Archaeon said, pulling Albus into another hug. 'It is more my fault than yours, for I failed to provide you with enough information. I was so satisfied that your capabilities would see you through, and so confident that you were protected, I thought no further. It is a father's weakness, that he only protects the one dearest to him. Alas, I also had my responsibility as organizer of the Tournament to think of … with you being so close to Thomas Jones, I could not tell you too much!'

Albus did not say anything, but he understood. As much as he hurt for Victoria, hurt for him, Albus could not bring himself to point blame at his father, lying there on the floor of an Egyptian temple, bleeding and injured in the pursuit of justice for their enemies. Victoria's death was the fault of Jannes Grundelwald, the fault of Grindelwald also, who had twice tried to kill Albus.

'Ah, I see Thomas has the Everlasting Flame,' Archaeon said. Thomas had emerged from the seventh chamber with Professor Prewett, still glowing with success. He held the brilliant white flame aloft like a trophy, although he had yet to lift the Triwizard Cup itself. Archaeon shifted as though he wanted to get up. Albus helped him to his feet, but thereafter clung to Archaeon's blue robes, feeling morbidly sad. Archaeon approached Professor Prewett.

'Athene, I take it you have heard of the loss of one of your students,' Archaeon said. Professor Prewett nodded, stifling a sob. Her face was also streaked with tears. Mars or Thomas must have informed her of Victoria's death. Archaeon went on, 'I think you ought to take Thomas and Mars back to Hogwarts with the Everlasting Flame. Have Ryan take care of Januar, I will have to question him when I get back. I must take my son home, for he is highly traumatized by this disaster, and I will deliver Victoria's body to her parents. I know Hortensius well, having traveled to Africa with him before.'

Professor Prewett seemed to agree, and shuffled off with Thomas and Mars in pursuit. Mars gave Albus a sad look, but he hardly noticed. His eyes were fixed on Victoria's body, which Archaeon was wrapping up in a cloth he had conjured out of thin air. When that was done, Archaeon tenderly lifted her body into his arms, even though he appeared to be in a great deal of pain. Albus and Archaeon were the last two living people in the sixth chamber, for only bodies remained.

'Come Albus,' Archaeon said heavily, 'it is time Hortensius and Mary learned of their daughter's fate. We must go back to Britain.'

Archaeon and Albus Dumbledore walked slowly through the six chambers of the Temple of Ast, Victoria's body in Archaeon's arms and Albus holding on to his blue robe, tears pouring down his face.

Author's Note – once more, thank you for reading and reviewing. We are now a chapter away from the end of "Albus Dumbledore and the Everlasting Flame". I hope you enjoyed flying with the imagination of the Grandson of Dumbledore, and I also hope you found my perspective on Albus' upbringing believable. I constantly ask myself questions like: is it believable for a second year to be doing wand-less magic? Would the death of Albus' girlfriend at twelve be cause enough for him to be a lonely man for much of the rest of his life? Are the events in this story the foundation for Albus and Grindelwald's future rivalry and war? I hope you have enjoyed every step of the journey that we have taken together. I certainly have! There is just one more chapter to go … your loyal Grandson of Dumbledore.