CHAPTER 8

DUMBLEDORE'S ANSWERS

After supper, the trio went back to the Common Room, looking at their new schedules for the year.

"No!" Ron exclaimed, "We have Potions with Snape! Again!"

Harry groaned, "Blimey, Snape? 5 years in a row? You've got to be kidding me!"

Hermione watched both amused and annoyed, "Oh, please, you two. Potions is not that difficult. If you apply yourself a bit harder- "

"Snape will still hate us!" Ron interrupted. Harry nodded.

"It's true Hermione!" Harry said, "No matter how much we 'apply ourselves' Snape will despise us forever." Hermione rolled her eyes. Just then, Fred and George Weasley came through the doors.

"Hello, children." George said.

"How do you do?" Fred asked.

Ron rolled his eyes, "What do you want?"

"It's our Common Room too, little Ronniekins." George said.

As they sat down, Fred mused, "Oh, Hermione, hi." Fred looked towards Ron's way and smiled mischievously. Ron tensed. "So Hermione," Fred continued, "How are you? How is Ron?"

"Ron?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, Ron," George chimed in, ignoring his younger sibling's reaction. "How is he?"

"Well, you should know, you're his brother." Hermione stated.

"True, true. But, you think he's a fine fellow, right? A likeable chap, a loveable chap, a kissable chap?" Fred asked.

Hermione blinked, "Uhh…"

"ALRIGHT!" Ron turned bright red (almost as red as his hair), he glared at the twins. "Let's talk about something else."

"Touchy," George said, and Fred nodded. "Fine, fine, we'll change the subject."

Hermione, still confused, said, "Ok then, well, did you hear we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

"Another one?" Ron questioned, "I don't get it, we get a new professor every year, don't they get the job is jinxed? What kind of freak is our professor this year?"

"Actually," Fred said, "He isn't a weirdo. He's pretty… normal."

"Really?" Harry said, "You saw him?"

George nodded, "We saw him walking in the halls, he seemed kind of cool, really."

"Cool?"

"Yeah, a decent fellow. Not a lunatic at all." Fred said.

The next hour, the twins headed out.

At 10, Harry yawned, "Well, I think I'll be going to bed now, goodnight." Harry walked up to the Fat Lady and said the password, "Farthywontons."

But before Harry could go to his dorm, Hermione called, "Not so fast, Harry."

Harry turned around, "What?"

"You promised you'd visit Dumbledore after dinner, remember?"

"Oh, come on, Hermione! It's late! I bet Dumbledore's even tired-"

"Harry," Hermione warned, "you promised."

Harry sighed, "Look, Hermione, even if I do go talk to Dumbledore, what is he gonna say? 'I'm very sorry your scar hurts, do want me to kiss it better?'"

"Please, Harry. You never know, he might have some answers." She pleaded.

"I think Hermione might have a point there, mate." Ron said. "He might know something."

Harry thought they may be right. The only reason he didn't want to see Dumbledore is because he didn't want to know what it means. He didn't want to be more frightened than he already was. But, maybe finding answers is better than just sitting doing nothing.

"Fine," he sighed, "I'll go talk to him, you're right, he will know something."

"Good, we'll go with you." Hermione said.

"What? I can go by myself."

"How do we know if you're really going to go talk to him? "

Harry raised an eyebrow, "You don't trust me?"

"Nope." Hermione said, not hesitating.

Harry sighed, knowing Hermione, he knew how stubborn and persistent she was. There was no use fighting with her.

"Fine, you two can come."

"Great, let's go." Ron said.

Xxxxx

Hallways in the night at Hogwarts were very dark and mysterious. There wasn't a sound except the paintings arguing with each other.

As Harry, Ron, and Hermione were making their way up to Dumbledore's office, Harry stopped abruptly, leaving the other two to stumble.

"What is it now, Harry?" Hermione asked, annoyed.

"Yeah, come on, mate. Let's go." Ron said.

Harry gulped, "Wh-what if Dumbledore's asleep or-"

"Harry," Hermione spoke, "what's the real reason you don't want to go see him?"

"What doya mean?" Harry said, not making eye contact.

She sighed, "Please, you've been avoiding this all day."

"That's true," Ron perked in, "What the worst that could happen?"

Harry didn't want to tell them the real truth, but, they were his best friends, they would understand, "Alright, the real reason is… that I don't want to know the truth, it's only going to scare me more, so what the point?"

The both of them stayed quiet.

Harry took a deep breath, "Look, I've been thinking about this a lot. And I think that Hermione may be right about Voldemort wanting this Crystal for something more. And I think he's near." He added with a whispered.

It was a while before the silence was broken by Hermione, "Well, that would explain the scar then, right?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah. But I don't know where he is or what he's doing. And that dream I had a few weeks ago, that was the only dream I had since then. I've been trying to… connect with him, but it's not working. But my scar hurts more and more every day."

Again, it was silent.

"Let's just… go talk to Dumbledore, okay? He will know something." Ron said, still shook up.

They all agreed and headed up to the Headmaster's office.

Xxxxx

Harry took a deep break before knocking on Dumbledore's door, but he froze, yet a again.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Oh, man up, Harry, would you? Get on with it."

Harry knocked on the door. It took a few seconds, but they finally heard footsteps on the other side. The door opened and there, stood an elderly man with a white beard and friendly eyes. Albus Dumbledore in the flesh. He was wearing what looked like wizarding pajamas. It was very similar to his usually worn robes, except the pajamas were sky blue and silky.

Dumbledore smiled, "Ah, hello, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger. So nice to see you, again. Though it is rather late. To what do I owe this pleasure to? " But after seeing the worried faces of the 3 friends, Dumbledore said, "Why don't you come in?"

They nodded. Harry had only been in the Headmaster's office once or twice before, but every time, he finds something new and unusual. This room was very large. There were many pictures and art pieces hung on the wall. So many magical items everywhere. He saw a crystal ball, potions, and spell books. And for some reason, the office smelled like pumpkin pie.

"Please, have a seat." Dumbledore said, gesturing to the few chairs by the fireplace. The trio obeyed and sat down.

"Would you like a sugar cube?" He offered.

"Uh, no thank you, Professor." Harry declined.

"Alright, well more for me!" Dumbledore hummed while popping a sugar cube in his mouth.

"Um, ok."

"Now," Dumbledore said, getting serious, "I suppose you 3 didn't come here to humor me. What is the problem?"

"Uhh…" Harry stuttered, but Hermione kicked him in the shins. Hard. Harry squealed, but continued, "Well, sir, my scar has been… hurting a lot frequently lately and I don't exactly know why. "

"Exactly?" Dumbledore question. Harry nodded.

Dumbledore stroked his long, snowy beard. Thinking hard. "Well, Harry, I'm not really sure what to tell you. When has this started?"

"Middle of the summer holidays." Harry answered.

"Hmmm," Dumbledore said, "Have you been having any dreams, Harry?"

Harry gulped. He looked at Ron and Hermione for support. They were pushing Harry to tell him. "Well, actually, I did have one, sir." He said.

"And what was it about?"

Harry took a deep breath and spilled everything out. Every detail of that dream. Every word.

"… And then he said something about getting a, a Crystal of Light or like that."

Dumbledore suddenly jerked up, his eyes quickly alerted. "Crystal of Light?" he asked.

Harry nodded. "What is it, Professor? Obviously Vol- You Know Who wants it. What is it?"

It was Dumbledore's turn to look away, muttering, "It's a dangerous thing, Harry, a dangerous, powerful weapon."

"Sir?" Hermione said, "We know it's something dangerous and powerful, we just don't know what is the purpose."

"Sometimes not knowing is a weapon itself," Dumbledore smiled, "But, of course in your case Miss Granger, it's not an option." Hermione blushed.

"Sir?" Harry tried, "What is it? Please." He knew Dumbledore knows something, he had to.

"I-I really don't think this information is for you to here, Harry." He looked down.

This was it for Harry. He stood up and said, "Dumbledore, PLEASE! I have every right to know! It was my dream, my scar, my battle with Voldemort. You have to tell me."

Dumbledore knew Harry, he knew he was going to find out one way or another. But, he was right, he deserved to know.

At last, Dumbledore sighed, defeated, "Alright, Harry. You do have the right to know. I'm sorry."

Harry sat down, calmer than before.

"Ok," Dumbledore continued, "The Crystal of Light is the most powerful and significant weapon in, literally, the whole universe. The smartest and the most cleverest wizards have used the Crystal in the past. It hasn't been found in a long time. It could do so much more than any of you could imagine. "

He paused, "And you are right, Harry, Voldemort does want it. Desperately. "

Harry took a risk and asked, "But for what, sir?"

Dumbledore took a deep breath, "Harry, honestly, I don't know. It is the most powerful magical item. You have to understand that Voldemort could use the Crystal for anything and anywhere."

"So, if he finds it…" Harry started.

The Headmaster slowly nodded, "He could do the unthinkable."

It was quiet for what seemed like minutes. The 3 were soaking up what they just learned.

Finally, Dumbledore said, "Well, I think that's enough for one night, don't you think?"

Just before Dumbledore got up, Harry said, "Wait! Professor! One more thing. In my dream, Voldemort said that he thinks I know where the Crystal of Light is. Why? "

Dumbledore smiled slightly, "I was hoping you would ask that."

"Huh?"

His eyes twinkled, "The Crystal of Light hasn't been found or used in decades. Do you know who had it last, Harry?"

"No idea." Harry said.

"The last wizard to use the Crystal was your father, Harry."

He gasped, "M-my father?"

Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, James had to use the Crystal to… destroy something."

"What?"

"Oh, Harry, that's another story for another time." He said, getting up. "Now, if that's all-"

"Actually, sir. There's one more thing." Hermione jumped in.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Well, you still haven't answered why Harry's scar hurts so badly, sir."

"Oh, right, yes." Dumbledore began, "Well, if Mr. Potter's scar hurts, it is probably because of the dream he had. Voldemort connected with him and that scar is the source of the connection."

"Um, actually, sir," Harry said, shakily, "I did see something today, I'm not sure what it was, but as soon as I saw the figure my scar pained." He confessed.

Hermione gasped, "Figure?"

"You didn't tell us anything about a figure, Harry!" Ron exclaimed.

"I know, I know. I just didn't want to worry you guys." Harry said.

"Worry us?" Hermione repeated, flabbergasted, "Harry, how could you leave that out!"

"Well, I-"

But Dumbledore interrupted, "What was the figure, Harry?" he asked suddenly.

"What?"

"What did he look like, Harry?"

"I-I don't know, really," Harry said, "It was a hooded figure behind the bushes. One minute he was there and the next he was gone. I honestly don't know if I was imagining things or not."

Dumbledore sighed, "Ok, well don't worry yet, alright? There is no way anyone could get in Hogwarts uninvited. Maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong. But, Harry, for now, for your own safety, I need you to stay under the radar and never go anywhere alone. I have a bad feeling, but I'm not sure if I should trust it."

Harry nodded, "Thank you, sir."

Dumbledore smiled kindly, "It is no problem. Now, you 3 should go back to your dorm. It's getting very late. Run along."

Hermione and Ron obeyed, and headed out the door. Harry was about to follow when Dumbledore tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around.

"Harry, I have to tell you this before you do anything rash: don't worry. I don't want you to overreact or stress yourself." He said, wisely.

Harry so wanted to tell the Headmaster, 'yes, of course' but he couldn't. "I can't promise that, sir."

Dumbledore just smiled, which surprised Harry, "You remind me so much of your father, Harry. It's unbelievable."

Harry just stood there, unsure of what to say. Luckily, he didn't have to, he kept going.

"You both have the same fierce determination. Your both are so stubbornly persistent. You both have so much perseverance, never giving up. He would so proud of you."

When Harry final found his voice, he said, "Stubborn?"

Dumbledore laughed, "Yes, Harry. Now like I said, you should be going to sleep. It's rather late. Goodnight."