Dumbledore, Snape, Ella and Edward were all in the Astronomy Tower. They were all waiting for Harry to show up for their upcoming trip. Snape knew what the trip entailed and spoke his mind, "Have you ever considered that you ask too much that you take too much for granted? Has it ever crossed your brilliant mind that I don't want to do this anymore?"
"Whether it has or hasn't is irrelevant. I will not negotiate with you, Severus. You gave me your word. Nothing more to discuss" Snape turned briskly and left.
"Harry, you can come out now," Edward announced.
Harry came out of his hiding place as Dumbledore turned to see where Harry was, "Oh, Harry. You need a shave, my friend. You know, at times, I forget how much you've grown. At times, I still see the small boy from the cupboard. Forgive my mawkishness, Harry. I'm an old man."
"You still look the same to me, sir," he said.
"Just like your mother, you're unfailingly kind. A trait people never fail to undervalue, I'm afraid," Dumbledore commented, relishing the quiet moment before continuing, "The place to which we journey tonight is extremely dangerous. The reason I have asked Ella and Edward to escort us is because I fear that vampires may have made their presence known" Dumbledore paused to allow Harry to register this tidbit of information and when he saw that Harry had acknowledged it, he continued "They will be under my command. I promised you could accompany me, and I stand by that promise. But there is one condition: You must obey every command I give you without question."
"Yes, sir," Harry said softly, not fully understanding Dumbledore's last order.
Dumbledore approached him and looked at him in the eye, "Do you understand what I'm saying?" he asked, he sensed that Harry didn't truly comprehend what he was hearing. "Should I tell you to hide, you hide. Should I tell you to run, you run. Should I tell you to abandon me and save yourself, you must do so. Your word, Harry."
"My word," Harry said, finally realizing the severity of the situation.
Dumbledore looked at Ella and Edward, "You know what to do." At that moment, Ella and Edward flew out of the window. Dumbledore looked at Harry, facing the window, held his arm out, "Take my arm."
"But, Sir, I thought you couldn't Apparate within Hogwarts," Harry remarked.
"Well, being me has its privileges," he said and they Apparated to a small rocky island where there was barely any place to stand but he could barely hearing anything except for the roar of the ocean crashing against the rocky island and the mountains. He could see that there was an entrance at the base of the mountains where there was nowhere to stand. He wondered if Ella and Edward have already arrived. Not a moment later, they have Apparated into a dry area inside the mountain. He saw Ella and Edward there, searching for any intruders. Dumbledore was walking around and looking at a wall next to a smaller entrance. He held up his hand next to the entranceway and said, "This is the place. Oh, yes. This place has known magic." He brought out a small knife and cut his hand.
"Sir!" Harry called out.
"In order to gain passage, payment must be made. Payment intended to weaken any intruder," Dumbledore explained.
"You should've let me, sir," he replied.
"No, Harry. Your blood's much more precious than mine. Voldemort will not have made it easy to discover his hiding place. He will have put certain defenses in position," he explained. Once the magical barrier was removed, all four of them walked in until they arrived to the other end. "Careful," Dumbledore said as he led them to one end of the lake. The lake was so vast that Harry couldn't make out the distant banks. He looked up at the cavern which looked so high that the ceiling too was out of sight. A misty greenish light shone far away in what looked like the middle of the lake; it was reflected in the completely still water below. "There it is. The only question is, how do we get there?" The water started bubbling and making strange noises. Slowly but surely a boat was coming out of the water. At one end of the boat, there was a chain tied to it that led to the island but it was no larger than Dumbledore's office. All four of them, got onto the boat and without any encouragement, it began to move towards the island. "If you would, Harry." They all managed to gather around the stone basin. The basin was full of an emerald liquid and emitting that phosphorescent glow. To Harry and Dumbledore, it looked like water but Ella and Edward knew different.
"Professor, what does the liquid look like to you?" Ella asked.
"Like water… what is it that you see and smell?" he immediately asked after he responded to her question.
"Its blood but it smells off like it's been poisoned," Ella described.
Harry took one look at it and asked, "Do you think the Horcrux is in there, sir?"
"Oh, yes. It has to be drunk. All of it has to be drunk," he answered.
"It would be best if I drank it, sir," Ella said.
"No, I will," Edward replied.
"Edward, you can't," she told him.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Smell it again one more time and tell me what you it is," Ella replied.
"It can't be," Edward said, after taking his time smelling it.
"It can't be what?" Harry asked.
"This is something beyond your understanding and Professor Dumbledore's but what we smell is something made for a hybrid like myself. It was made for a half-human, half-vampire," she said. Harry gasped. If Dumbledore was shocked, he didn't show it.
"If that is our only choice, then you must do it," Dumbledore ordered.
"Sir?" Harry questioned.
"Out of the four of us, Ella is the only one qualified to do this, Harry. We have no other choice," he responded. "You remember the conditions on which I brought you with me? This potion might paralyze her. Might make her forget why she's here. Might cause her so much pain that she will beg for relief. You are not to indulge these requests. It's our job, Harry, to make sure that she keeps drinking this potion. Even if we have to force it down her throat. Understood?" Dumbledore asked as he looked into Harry's eyes, to make sure that he comprehended what was going on. Harry nodded. Then Dumbledore grabbed the shell that was sitting next to the stone basin and scooped enough of the potion and handed it to Ella. Ella carefully held onto it and looked at Edward and nodded. Edward knew of the plan but for Harry's sake, acted like he was in pain. Ella drank from the scoop and immediately felt the potion work. Harry grabbed the scoop as Edward grabbed Ella and sat her down. Edward held onto her as Harry brought the shell again. Ella drank it again.
"No!" Ella called out.
Harry came back the third time and said, "You have to keep drinking," his voice betrayed his emotions.
"Stop," she called out as Harry brought it back the 4th time.
"It will stop. It will stop… but only if you keep drinking," Harry said.
"Please, don't make me," she called out. It went against every fiber in Edward's body to not deny this request but to just sit there and do nothing. He continued to hold onto her as Harry kept feeding her the potion. He wanted to be the one who was drinking it but he couldn't, for it would have killed him.
"I'm sorry," Harry called out as he kept feeding her. His vision was becoming blurred and it took him a moment to realize that he had tears in his eyes. He took a moment to dry his eyes before taking yet another scoop and bring it to her.
"Please. Kill me. Kill me!" she begged as she strained against Edward.
"No," Harry said. He had to be strong for her, just like she was strong for him.
"It's my fault. It's all my fault. It's my fault," she expressed.
"Just one more. One more, and then I promise… I promise I'll do whatever you say. I promise," Harry reasoned.
"No. Please," she said and drank the last of the potion. Dumbledore grabbed the necklace after she had drunk it and gave it to Harry to hold. After a moment of silence, Ella screamed so loud, it forced Harry and Dumbledore to cover their ears. Edward covered her mouth as he held onto her tightly. Once she stopped screaming, and with the help of Harry and Dumbledore, he was able to secure the love of his life on his back, Dumbledore simply said, "Go!" Without being asked twice, he immediately ran out of the cave and onto the rocky mountain in time to see Alice and Carlisle waiting on a boat. He landed on the boat safely without rocking it too much. Alice immediately began driving the boat back to their house. With Carlisle's help, Edward got the knots removed and moved out of the way for Carlisle to look over Ella. Harry and Dumbledore landed on the rocky island, just in time to see the boat halfway across the ocean. Harry was out of his mind, worried about Ella.
"Harry, grab my arm," Dumbledore called out. He knew that without a shadow of a doubt that Harry would have done all that he could to follow Ella but Dumbledore needed to take him someplace safe. Once Harry grabbed onto his arm, they Apparated on top of some rocky stairs. Harry looked up and saw Edward carry Ella into their house, but what he didn't see were vampires surrounding the house.
"Harry, Professor, please come inside the house," Esme called out. Harry and Dumbledore immediately climbed down the stairs and hurriedly walked towards their house. Just as they were about to go inside the house, Dumbledore heard a voice call out.
"Hide yourself inside the house, Harry. Don't speak or be seen by anybody without my permission. Whatever happens, it's imperative you stay inside. Harry, do as I say," Dumbledore ordered. Harry was hesitant about leaving him alone in the dark. Dumbledore looked at him again and said, "Trust me. Trust me," he went inside the house, just in time for Esme to close the door behind her. Harry could barely hear what was going on but he could hear what was happening, "Good evening, Draco. What brings you here on this fine spring evening?"
"Who else is here? I heard you talking.
"I often talk aloud to myself. I find it extraordinarily useful. Have you been whispering to yourself, Draco?" he asked. He saw Draco pull out his wand and pointed it at Dumbledore, "Draco, you are no assassin."
"How do you know what I am? I've done things that would shock you," Draco asked, somewhat in shock.
"Like cursing Katie Bell and hoping that in return she'd bear a cursed necklace to me? Replacing a bottle of mead with one laced with poison?" he told him. If anything, it showed that Dumbledore knew what Draco has been trying to do. It showed Draco that nothing went past the Headmaster of Hogwarts. "Forgive me, Draco. I cannot help feeling these actions are so weak, you heart can't really been in them."
"He trusts me. I was chosen," he said.
"Then I shall make it easy for you," he said as he brought out his wand.
"Expelliarmus!" he said and disarmed Dumbledore. Harry was just about to walk out the door but was stopped by Edward. Harry looked at him, questioningly but Edward shook his head, which told Harry to stay put.
"Very good. Very good. You're not alone," he said as he heard other footsteps. "There are others. How?"
"The Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement. I've been mending it," Draco informed him.
"Let me guess. It has a sister. A twin," he said.
"In Borgin and Burkes. They form a passage."
"Ingenious. Draco, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices. Let me help you."
"I don't want your help! Don't you understand? I have to do this. I have to kill you. Or he's gonna kill me," Draco said but his eyes were betraying him. He wanted Dumbledore to help but he knew that the others were listening.
"Well look what we have here. Well done, Draco!" Bellatrix said as she saw Dumbledore standing there alone, unarmed.
"Good evening, Bellatrix. I think introductions are in order," Dumbledore inquired.
"Love to, Albus, but I'm afraid we're on a bit of a tight schedule," she told him. Then looked at Draco and said, "Do it!"
"He doesn't have the stomach, just like his father," Greyback said when Draco did nothing. "Let me finish him in my own way."
"No! The Dark Lord was clear, the boy's to do it. This is your moment. Do it. Go on, Draco. Now!" Bellatrix commanded but Draco still did nothing. He dropped his arm.
"No," a voice called out.
A figure came out and Dumbledore knew what was going to happen, "Severus, please..."
"Avada Kedavra!" Dumbledore flew in the sky a few yards and laid dead as the others were leaving to Hagrid's Hut.
Harry left the house and went after them, "Snape! He trusted you!"
"Go on," Snape ordered the others.
"Incarcerous! Fight back! Fight back, you coward! Fight back!"
Bellatrix was going to blast him but Severus stopped her, "No! He belongs to the Dark Lord!"
"Sectumsempra!" Harry called out but Severus stopped the curse.
"You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? Yes. I'm the Half Blood Prince."
During that time, the Cullens were outside their house, looking at the woods. They knew where to look, for they could hear and see them. The vampires slowly left the woods and left the wizards and witches be. Harry went back to where Dumbledore had fallen back but his body was gone. He looked around and saw that the Cullens were inside the house. He figured that Carlisle would take the body in. He felt hope that Carlisle could revive him. When he got inside, he saw Professor McGonagall and several other teachers there.
"What happened to Professor Dumbledore?" he asked. No one answered him. He went up the stairs to find Carlisle. He found the room and arrived in time to see Carlisle place a white sheet over Dumbledore's face. "No! No! No! You can save him!"
Carlisle placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "I'm sorry but it's too late."
Harry fell to his knees as Ginny wrapped her arms around him. She knew that there was nothing she could say to make Harry feel better. After a few moments, he and Ginny went outside, in time to see the faculty outside, facing the students. Based on what Harry could hear, the students do not believe that Dumbledore is dead. He went outside, looked at the students, Seamus spoke up, "Professor McGonagall just said that Professor Dumbledore is dead. That's not true, is it, mate?"
"I just saw his body and spoke to Dr. Cullen, Professor Dumbledore is dead," he responded. Dr. Cullen, alongside Jasper wheeled the gurney that carried Dumbledore's body. Slowly but surely, the students gasped. McGonagall brought out her wand, which at one tip was already illuminated and pointed to the sky. Those who were there, followed her example. After a few moments of silence, there was a scream emitting from the house. Harry recognized the scream and immediately ran inside the house with Ginny, Hermione and Ron following.
"All of you back to Hogwarts now!" McGonagall called out. The students were going up the stairs and heading back to Hogwarts. No one was really talking because they were all numb over the fact that their beloved Headmaster was dead. Majority of them knew who the Cullens were, and were terrified and curious as to what was going inside the house. All the while, Harry had walked into Carlisle's makeshift office, only to see that all of the Cullen men were holding her down, Esme putting a towel to cover Ella's mouth as Carlisle was prepping a needle.
"What is that you're holding?" Harry asked.
"An antidote," Carlisle responded.
"For what?" he inquired. Carlisle didn't respond because he inserted the needle into arm and pushed the plunger of the syringe, allowing the antidote to enter her body. A few moments later, Ella laid limply on the table. "What's happening?" he asked as he saw Esme remove the towel for a clean one to wipe off the sweat on Ella's brow.
"It takes a while for the antidote to work. Since she's quiet, it seems to be working," Carlisle responded as he threw the syringe in a red box.
"How long will it take?" Harry asked.
"I don't know but it depends on her," he said as he looked at Harry.
Not a moment too soon, she woke up. "Carlisle?"
He adjusted the bed, so that she could sit up somewhat. "How are you feeling?"
"A bit groggy but okay, overall," she answered.
"That's to be expected. Give it time and you'll be on your feet in no time," he replied. "I'll give you some privacy." He left the office but not without closing the door.
"Harry," she said as she held her hand open. Harry immediately grabbed it and held it close to his face. "What happened while I was unconscious?" Harry told her what had happened.
Just as he finished, there was a knock on the door, and Ella called out, "Come in." McGonagall had entered and smiled to see that Ella was doing better.
"Miss Cullen, I have come to see how you were but it appears that you are doing better," she stated.
"Yes, I'm doing better now," she informed her.
"I needed to come and see how you were and to see where Mr. Potter was. As far as I can see, it appears that he will not be leaving your side," she said as she looked at him, who just gave her a sad smile. "Potter, in light of what has happened, if you should have the need to talk to someone… You should know, Professor Dumbledore… you meant a great deal to him." Harry just nodded. With that, she left. After spending another hour at the house, Harry went back to his dormitory and laid in bed, thinking about all that has happened and all that he had learned. He couldn't even begin to comprehend everything that had just conspired. Now that he had lost Dumbledore, almost lost Ella, he felt like he was walking on a thin wire that's about to break. Sleep had lost its way to him but he looked over to his roommates and they were all sleeping soundly. Two days had passed and the halls of Hogwarts were not the same since the loss of its Headmaster, two days had passed and he realized that he had to do something but he feared that it might happened soon. Harry, along with Hermione, Ginny and Ron went back to the Cullen house and he saw the Cullens all in the living room area, sitting and chatting. Something had glittered in his peripheral view. At the doorstep, he saw the sword of Gryffindor and all that he feared had come true. It was time to do what he dreaded since Dumbledore's death.
"What's the sword doing here?" Ron asked.
Hermione looked at Harry and knew something was up, "Harry? What's going on? Why did the Sword of Gryffindor show up here?"
He picked up the sword and knocked on the door. Not a moment too soon, the door was open and he saw a solemn looking Carlisle.
"You know, don't you?" he asked, softly and simply. Carlisle nodded.
"Know what?" Ginny asked. He opened the door and allowed Harry and his friends walk through the door.
"I was wondering when you would be coming back," Ella said. "Glad to see that you have the sword.
"Could someone please tell us what's going on?" Hermione asked.
Ella looked at Hermione and smiled, "I think you know."
"No! This can't be happening," Hermione said as she sat next to her.
"I'm afraid it's time, my dear," she said as she cupped her cheek.
"There must be some other way," she said.
"There isn't. My family has tried to find other solutions and all options have been spent. This is the only way," she explained.
"There has to be something in the library," Hermione refused to give up.
"Hermione, this past year, my family and I have been going back and forth to the library and all other methods and there is nothing," she said firmly. "I learned something during my studies in the States and a woman by the name of Helen Keller says something like this, 'Knowledge is love and light and vision.' Remember that, and your journey will be easier." Hermione started to cry. Ella drew her in and hugged her and whispered something in her ear. Hermione drew back in shock as to what she heard. "You mustn't tell anyone, at least not until it's time."
"How will I know?" she asked.
"You'll know," she said and stood up. She looked up at Harry, approached him and hugged him for one last time. She whispered something in his ear and kissed his cheek. She looked at the faces all around her. Esme, Alice and Rosalie were standing at the furthest wall, she looked at them lovingly and smiled. All three of them were heartbroken but deep in Ella's heart, she knew that they wanted to cry if they could. She looked at Carlisle, Jasper and Emmett and acknowledged them fondly. Last but not least, the love of her existence, who was just standing beside her, looking lost. "Remember me for how I was and live your life. Always remember that I love you for all eternity." She kissed him one last time and heard his soft whispering. She looked at Harry, "I love you, Harry. Thank you for giving me the chance to know what it's like to be a mother." Harry closed his eyes as it was a way to attempt to remove the tears that were in his eyes.
He opened his eyes and looked at her, "I love you and I live my life for you," he said and plunged the sword into her beating heart. Once he pulled out the sword, he dropped it and hugged Ella close to him. Hermione and Ginny immediately ran to them and hugged themselves to Harry and to Ella. It wasn't until the next day, he was able to get Hermione and Ron alone in the Astronomy tower, looking out of the late afternoon sky. They were processing everything that had happened at Hogwarts. Hermione asked, "Do you think he would have done it?"
"Draco?" Hermione nodded. "No. No, he was lowering his wand. In the end, it was Snape. It was always Snape. And I did nothing," he said. He looked down at the necklace that he was holding, "It's fake," he gave it to Hermione who took it, "Open it."
She opened it and saw a piece of parchment, opened it and began to read it, "'To the Dark Lord. I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more. R.A.B' R.A.B."
"Don't know. But whoever they are, they have the real Horcrux. Which means it was all a waste. All of it," he said.
Hermione figured that this would be a good time to change the subject, "Ron's okay with it, you know. You and Ginny. But if I were you, when he's around, I'd keep the snogging to a minimum."
"I'm not coming back, Hermione," he said. "I've got to finish whatever Dumbledore started. And I don't know where that'll lead me but I'll let you and Ron know where I am when I can."
"I've always admired your courage, Harry. But sometimes, you can be really thick. You don't really think you're going to be able to find all those Horcruxes by yourself, do you? You need us, Harry."
"Hermione's right, you know," a voice said. They all turned around to see the source of the voice. Hermione and Ron gasped while Harry stood there in shock.
He couldn't understand what he was seeing in front of him. "This isn't possible."
"But it is, Harry," the voice said.
"But you…" Harry became choked up, "you died. I was there… I… the sword…"
"Yes, Harry, you did kill me but I came back to give you hope..."
"Do you…" he couldn't bring himself to say the words.
"I don't have to die again, Harry. I'm not a Horcrux anymore. I'm alive and well and here to help you," she said.
"Are you human or a vampire?"
"Right now, I'm back as a human but my family is currently in process of setting things up for me to change into a vampire," she answered.
"Why would you want to be a vampire for?" Ron asked.
"It's the only thing I know, Ron. Plus, I don't want to grow older because if I do, I know that Edward will die as well," she said.
Ron didn't understand what she was talking about. "I'll explain it to you later, Ron," Hermione interceded. "But I think that's romantic that both of you are willing to live and die for each other."
Harry had tears welled up in his eyes as he walked up to her. His arm slowly reached out to her. She smiled gently and grabbed his hand and pulled him into a hug. He let out a sob as he felt her in his arms. "Oh, my dear Harry."
"I'm glad you're here, Ella," he said as he pulled away from her.
"So am I," she said. "But I couldn't let you leave without you knowing what's going to happen to me and my family. In a way, the distance will help because of my being a newborn vampire and your blood will tempt me. If everything goes well and I'm able to control my bloodlust, I will do what I can to find you and talk." Harry nodded. In a distance, they heard a cry. They looked outside of the window and saw Fawkes flying in the air. They all huddled towards the other window to watch Fawkes.
"I never realized how beautiful this place was," Harry remarked.