Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe. It belongs to J.K Rowling.
Chapter 4: Dealing With Devils- Part II
With utmost conviction, Alfred addressed the Dursleys, "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, your son is a wizard."
The very moment these words escaped Alfred's lips, a resounding thud echoed through the room. Petunia's heart skipped a beat as she witnessed her husband collapsing onto the floor. Fear gripped her, wondering how Vernon would react to this revelation. Would she be cast out of her own home with two infants in tow? How would she manage all the challenges that lay ahead? Where would she find shelter? And what about Vernon? Would he consider divorcing her now that her son shared the same magical blood as her sister and nephew? Was fate toying with her, bringing her back to a past she had tried to distance herself from? As a child, she had yearned to attend the same school as Lily, but now, the consequences of that shared destiny weighed heavily upon her.
A thousand questions swirled in Petunia's mind, clouding her thoughts. However, her contemplation was abruptly interrupted by the cries of Dudley. She desperately sought answers and turned to Dumbledore, hoping he held the key to clarity.
"Mrs. Dursley, there is no need for worry concerning your son. I shall do my best to explain everything to you and your husband," Dumbledore assured her.
"If you would permit Alfred to examine Dudley's health, just as we did for Harry, it would be most beneficial," Petunia nodded in agreement, her fears momentarily put at ease.
Alfred proceeded towards the newfound young wizard, observing his overall health. The boy appeared to be in good physical condition, with his blond locks and a peculiar feature that caught Alfred's attention—his eyes. They displayed a fascinating peculiarity, possessing different hues of blue. In the muggle world, this condition was known as heterochromia iridium. However, Alfred had never encountered such an occurrence within the magical realm. He couldn't help but fixate on the child's mesmerising eyes.
Dumbledore grew curious as to why Alfred was so captivated by Dudley. Approaching the young wizard, he decided to investigate for himself. As he examined the child, a momentary shock flickered across Dumbledore's face. He had glimpsed those very eyes before, buried within his memories from the past. Reluctantly, he entertained the doubts that swirled within his mind, although he found them difficult to accept. There were various means to confirm his suspicions.
"Tell me, Alfred," Dumbledore inquired, his eyes sparkling with curiosity, "have you ever come across eyes like these in our enchanting world? Although they are rather commonplace among muggles, their presence within our ranks is a rare sight indeed."
Alfred, choosing his words with care, replied, his voice filled with a hint of wonder, "Indeed, such eyes are a rarity among witches and wizards, but they have been known to appear. They possess a certain mystique, wouldn't you say?"
Dumbledore nodded, his expression a mix of fascination and understanding. He then turned to Petunia, his tone gentle yet assuring, "Fear not, Mrs. Dursley. Your son is in robust health, and his magical core radiates with immense strength."
Meanwhile, Alfred approached Harry, his wand poised with precision as he began his intricate scans. However, what he discovered sent a shiver down his spine. There, nestled within the lightning bolt scar on Harry's forehead, lurked unmistakable darkness. At first, he suspected it to be a mere remnant of the killing curse, but this scar exuded an eerie energy all its own. It pulsated as if possessing a mind or perhaps even a soul. Alfred delved deep into his knowledge of dark curse detection, desperate to uncover the cause behind this haunting shadow.
Time seemed to stretch in the room, a tense and electric atmosphere permeating the air. Fifteen minutes had passed since Dudley's newfound wizarding revelation, and Vernon, now roused from his unconscious state, began to regain his senses. All eyes turned to him, anticipation brimming, awaiting his reaction to this extraordinary turn of events.
The room fell silent as Vernon's outburst echoed through the air. His face turned a furious shade of purple, veins pulsating with anger. He clenched his fists, ready to deliver a blow to the old coot who dared to insult his son. But before he could act, Dumbledore, with a solemn expression, approached him, his voice carrying the weight of his words.
"Could you kindly elucidate the origins of your son's distinct eye colours? I implore you not to offer the feeble excuse of muggle genetic mutations. You may be surprised to learn that, despite my age, I have maintained connections with muggle science through some of my former students. And I have indeed encountered a pair of eyes akin to these. Thus, I beseech you to answer my inquiries truthfully. Rest assured, I possess my means of uncovering the truth, but I would prefer to hear it from you directly."
Vernon, caught off guard by Dumbledore's insight and authority, was momentarily taken aback. In the heat of the moment, his anger surged, and he yelled in defiance, "You may employ your legilimency upon me if you so desire!
The words exchanged in the room had varying effects on each of the adults present. Petunia stood there, her brows furrowed in confusion, as she had no inkling of what Vernon was referring to. Alfred, on the other hand, was taken aback, his wand slipping from his grasp, his mouth agape with astonishment. How could a mere muggle possess knowledge of such obscure magical branches?
Dumbledore, however, wore a knowing smile on his face. He was aware of the Dursleys' connection, but the how of it intrigued him even more.
"Alfred, do you happen to have a calming draught?" Dumbledore inquired, turning to the stunned Alfred. With a swift wave of his wand, he summoned a glass and poured a portion of the draught into it, then approached Vernon.
"Please drink this. Your recent statement has already answered one of my questions regarding your knowledge of the wizarding world, beyond what your wife has divulged. Your willingness to undergo legilimency suggests that you possess information few are privy to. Now, you only need to answer three more questions," Dumbledore stated, his voice resonating with authority.
Vernon nodded dumbly, his mind still reeling from the revelation unfolding before him.
"Firstly, how are you related to him? Secondly, are you a wizard yourself? And lastly, who was his wife or mistress?" Dumbledore queried, his words clear and commanding.
"Grandson, I am a squib, and the presence of certain company prevents me from revealing more," came Vernon's curt reply, his gaze shifting towards Alfred. The revelation left Petunia shocked and bewildered, struggling to comprehend her husband's connection to the magical world.
"Pet, I will explain everything," Vernon assured his wife, his voice tinged with a mix of resolve and uncertainty.
Alfred, caught off guard by Vernon's comment directed at him, was momentarily taken aback, his thoughts racing to comprehend the intricacies of the situation.
Alfred was taken aback by Vernon's comment directed at him, his surprise evident on his face.
Dumbledore, his expression grave, responded, "There are many things we shall discuss in the future, but for now, we must obtain Harry's health report from Alfred."
"Dumbledore, there is something amiss with the scar. It's infused with dark magic and resists all healing spells. It seems to possess a consciousness or a soul of its own," Alfred explained.
Dumbledore's face turned pale upon hearing these words. He asked, "Are you certain it resists and behaves as if it has a consciousness or a soul?" Alfred nodded once again, reaffirming his earlier statement.
"I will investigate further," Dumbledore stated, his voice tinged with concern. "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, we shall take our leave for now. I will send the necessary funds later today, delivered by my trusted familiar."
With that, Dumbledore called forth his loyal phoenix and departed the Dursleys' residence, accompanied by Alfred. Later that day, £700 was delivered to Petunia along with a note instructing her to use the money wisely and keep track of all expenses.
A month had passed since Alfred had informed Dumbledore about the peculiar nature of the scar. Dumbledore had delved deep into research, consulting various sources, including his mentor Nicolas Flamel. Although Flamel provided insights into the creation and destruction of Horcruxes, he did not know how to remove one from a living being without killing the host. He explained that only three families had delved deeply into the realm of soul magic and dark arts like Horcruxes—the Blacks, the Slytherins, and the Peverells. However, Dumbledore knew that the knowledge of the latter two families had been lost, with no heirs or Lords remaining and their books and tomes destroyed or concealed. His only option was the Blacks, but he had no close ties with them.
An idea sparked in Dumbledore's mind. There were murmurs in the wizarding world about Lord Black's desire to meet his grandson, which had been rejected by the Ministry. The Black family held significant influence, but the current circumstances were not in their favour. Dumbledore saw an opportunity to use this to his advantage. He retrieved a parchment and penned a request for an audience with Lord Black, presenting it as a mutually beneficial proposition. Instead of sending Fawkes, his trusted phoenix, which would imply a sense of superiority on Lord Black's part, Dumbledore opted to send the request by owl. The reply arrived swiftly, indicating that Lord Black would meet him in two days at his other property in Blackpool.
Raven's Nest Blackpool :
Arcturus Black, with his disdain for muggles, awaited the arrival of the old fool Dumbledore for their meeting. He knew that Dumbledore was seeking a favor—permission to visit Azkaban. But what exactly Dumbledore wanted in return remained a mystery. There came a knock on the door, and Arcturus opened it, greeting Dumbledore and gesturing for him to enter.
"Dumbledore, please have a seat. Let's get down to business swiftly. I haven't got much time," Arcturus stated, his face stern and his attitude no-nonsense.
"I will grant you the visit to Sirius, using my authority as Chief Warlock. However, in return, I demand information about Horcruxes," Dumbledore stated without hesitation.
Arcturus was shocked to hear the word "Horcrux." Even his own family had shunned such dark practices. The fact that Dumbledore knew about it was both surprising and unsettling.
"You were once an apprentice of Flamel. Ask him for the elixir from the Philosopher's Stone. Creating a Horcrux is an act of evil. Taking the lives of others to create such abominations is considered taboo even among the Blacks," Lord Black declared.
"I am aware of the process of creating a Horcrux. What I seek is the knowledge of how to extract the soul without destroying the vessel. In my case, the vessel is a living being," Dumbledore replied, massaging his temples with his fingers. He was careful not to reveal too much about Harry.
Arcturus Black, being an intelligent man, connected the dots. He recalled his friend Abraxas boasting about the immortality of the Dark Lord, claiming that darkness could never be vanquished.
"The information you seek is within the Black family's possession. However, the price you are offering is too low. I require you to make an Unbreakable Vow—never to raise your wand against the Black family or its descendants, and to never influence or contact them without official business," Arcturus proposed. He wanted to ensure the safety of his heir when attending Hogwarts.
Dumbledore was well aware of the Black family's belief in blood purity. While they didn't resort to killing other purebloods, they wielded their political power to undermine those who supported muggle-borns or half-bloods. He pondered for a moment, knowing that his vow was crucial for the future safety of the Blacks.
"I agree, but let us set some conditions. You have every right to protect your family. I, in turn, request that neither the Black family nor any of its descendants raise a hand against the Dumbledore family or its descendants. If anyone from the Black family or their associates were to violate this condition, the vow would become void. Additionally, I would like you to maintain neutrality concerning Voldemort, sealed with an Unbreakable Vow. If you agree to these terms, we may proceed. However, should you choose to leak this information, I would like to remind you that Phineas Black, then Lord Black, vowed never to raise his wand against the Potters, as he was once saved by Edward Potter from certain enemies of yours. Your grandson and your cousin's daughter have broken that vow. While it may not hold any magical consequences, being a vow breaker and failing to honor a life debt would certainly put the Blacks on par with blood-traitor Weasleys," Dumbledore explained.
Arcturus was taken aback by Dumbledore's knowledge of the debt. He feared the consequences it could bring upon the Black family. Dumbledore held the upper hand, but Arcturus was determined to keep this debt a secret.
"I agree, but you must promise not to share this information with Potter or any other wizard. This condition is non-negotiable, just like the rest," Arcturus replied firmly.
An agreement was reached, and after the necessary vows were taken, Lord Black informed Dumbledore that he would provide the tomes and books on Horcruxes once Dumbledore's permission for the Azkaban visit was granted.