A new chapter approaches

Thank you to all of my readers, I am so happy that you are enjoying this work, and I will continue to make sure that the parts get published.

This chapter, I've decided to do a bit on Merlot's work with Dumbledore. I think it will help balance out the combination chapters I've been publishing.

I also want to work a bit more on alchemy. Merlot has to practice it in order to successfully make the elixir of life, and there are a few key things she has to learn before getting to that level.

So let's go!

—0—

Merlot slowly walked up the stairs to the headmasters office, her bag of materials in hand. She knew that Dumbledore would be awake, his schedule often had him sleep in the late morning to early afternoon. It was why her lessons with him were never during those times.

"Ah, Miss Scortwit. Unable to sleep?"

Merlot smiled gently as she sat down upon the plush armchair in the man's office. "I have a lot of ideas. I figured it would be better to see you than to keep my roommate awake with my work."

"Ever the loyal hufflepuff. You may stay as long as you like, tomorrow is Saturday, after all."

"Thank you professor."

Merlot pulled out a small gemstone from her bag and drew her wand.

"Aquamarine?" Dumbledore questioned, catching a glimpse of the gem.

"Yes. I have found that gemstones are perfect for my latest area of study."

"Which is?"

Merlot smiled and pulled out a paper, handing it to the elderly man as she began to facet the gem.

"Ah, a core rune, what an interesting concept…" Dumbledore nodded.

"I believe that making arrays that consist of core runes may lead towards a more efficient way of layering runic arrays." Merlot said softly, gently carving away the jagged edge of the aquamarine.

"Creating a singular array with branches of separate, smaller arrays… quite ingenious." Dumbledore nodded.

"And working with gemstones from the dragon preserve has shown me more about the storage of magical energy."

"Magical energy?"

"Indeed. After I complete my work with layered arrays, I am hoping to delve into that topic of study." Merlot smiled, canceling out the buffering charm she was using on the aquamarine and blowing a few final specks of sanded dust from the finished facet.

"I would enjoy hearing more about your study." Dumbledore nodded, setting the paper down and taking a sip from a mug of tea. "The force of magic is quite well known, but it is often thought of as a higher power, something to be revered."

Merlot smiled as she began her next facet. "Why can both not be true? Magic itself is sentient, that much we can gather, by the creatures it inhabits, the functions it takes. We can all draw that conclusion by simply looking into the magical world."

"I am sensing there is something else, of course." Dumbledore chuckled.

"Isn't it odd, how such a divine power could be twisted to do so much harm? If magic is sentient, than why is it chaotic? Malevolent? A little good here, a little bad there. Light magic, dark magic. In the end, all simply is, and we just direct its power. And in order for a reaction to occur, there must first be energy."

Albus stroked his beard. "You are, of course, correct. Many great wizards and witches alike have theorized as much. However, to that end, what makes it so only we can direct this power?"

Merlot smiled. "Why must we focus on differences. In the end, magical or muggle, we are still human. Why are some creatures magical, and others mundane? Perhaps we shouldn't look to define magic through ourselves, because we are not the power at play in this instance."

Dumbledore chuckled. He always found himself astounded by the mind of the girl before him. "It is a wonder how you are not a Ravenclaw."

"Perhaps." Merlot smiled, finishing another facet. "Would you wish for me to tell you more?"

"Perhaps another night." Albus took another sip of his tea. "I hear rumors that you have begun experimenting with transmutation."

"I have." Merlot smiled. "I find the study to be quite rewarding, don't you?"

Albus nodded. "It has been quite some time since I have met a fledgeling alchemist. I believe the last one was Le Comte Saint Germain… he, of course, was a student of Nicholas Flamel, much like myself. I believe he currently resides in our master's old home in Paris, still making his music."

"Wasn't he a member of the french court in seventeen forty four?" Merlot raised an eyebrow. "That would make him older than you."

"Indeed. However, if you saw him, you would understand that he has not aged a day past forty… one of the rare few to discover the secrets of immortality."

"Truly, immortality cannot exist." Merlot smiled, starting on her sixth facet. "It tips the balance, makes the world turn cold."

Alnus smiled. "A reason that I never pursued such avenues in my youth. I find that I have accomplished much, and the faintness of it all makes my life that much more precious as I live it."

Merlot nodded. "What of you, professor? Have you had anything interesting to study lately?"

The elderly wizard chuckled. "Not really. Of course, your research always amazes me. I find it much more prudent to watch new minds at work."

The young witch nodded as she carved away chips of her gemstone, her eyes delicately roaming the surface as she cleared away the imperfections.

"So, do tell. How does one store magical energy?"

"For now, inside a gemstone." Merlot smiled. "I have yet to truly look into the study of magical energy within the bodies of wizards and witches, but as I stated before, I will eventually make my way to it."

"And how exactly does a gem hold the energy within it?"

"The structure of crystals is made to reflect energies. When you put light through a diamond prism, it refracts outward in a rainbow. When you put magic through a gemstone, you can likewise, refract the spells to have a range of effects. However, you can also cause the energy to refract infinitely, over and over, until it needs to be used."

"Do runes not disrupt the clarity of gems? Would it not cause you to lose space within the crystal?" Dumbledore smiled. He was enjoying this conversation.

"That, I do not know. Perhaps it could, although runes themselves are pools for magic, which direct it in a circuit." Merlot nodded, finishing on the ninth facet of the aquamarine. "These in turn, generate an effect. Perhaps certain runes could expand how much magic a gem could hold, but I cannot yet say for certain."

"Simply astounding. Perhaps I will have to crack open my old armoire and retrieve my experiment robes." Albus chuckled, finishing his mug of tea. "Oh my… I am all out of chamomile. Would you care for a mug of earl gray, miss Scortwit?"

Merlot nodded as the man conjured an extra mug and a steel kettle. She chuckled a bit as he nestled the cookware in a brazier of coals, which held an empty perch.

"Fawkes is out flying tonight. He usually doesn't mind." Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Shall I have Blinky deliver us some biscuits?"

"That sounds delightful." Merlot nodded, setting the gemstone down. "That's the top done, now for the other side."

"From your paper on the core rune theory, I see that you are attempting a three dimensional array which contains two cores." Albus nodded. "Do you think that the two core runes would affect each other?"

"I do, but I must attempt to make the array before determining that for certain." Merlot nodded, before turning to him. "Was the paper okay? Did I have any spelling errors this time?"

"Only thirty six." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "But they were easy to discern. You are getting better with your writing."

Merlot sighed. "Given that I only learned two years ago…"

Albus chuckled. "You make great progress. To tell the truth, there are many students in the castle who are illiterate. It is why the professors don't dock points for grammatical errors, nor spelling errors."

Merlot nodded. "Indeed… Well, let me know when the tea and biscuits are ready. I think after these next ten facets, I'll be ready to polish and carve."

Albus nodded and stepped over to a small cabinet as Merlot picked up the aquamarine and began to work at its surface.

A few minutes later, the two sat at the small table in Albus's office. A few of Merlot's papers were splayed across the surface, with the aquamarine sat atop them, along with two plates of chocolate biscuits, sugar, cream, and some spoons for stirring. Merlot chuckled as she took a sip from her own beverage.

"And it really blew up again? Wow… I don't feel nearly as bad for what I put Hannah through."

Albus chuckled, taking a bite of a biscuit. "Of course, I was only a novice at the time. But yes, transmutation circles are incredibly important."

"I wasn't even trying to transmute anything. I thought that the alchemical rune would imbue the four objects I had gathered with the aspect of fire." Merlot nodded. "Hm… pass the cream?"

"Of course." Albus smiled, passing the small pitcher of cream to Merlot, who poured a bit into her mug before stirring. "It would be wise to assume that any alchemical rune would immediately cause a runic array to function through transmutation."

"I have already been making those assumptions, ever since Hermione sent me to the hospital wing, worrying that I had somehow poisoned myself with radiation."

Albus chuckled. "What that girl lacks in knowledge of magic, she makes up for with knowledge of muggle science. They are much alike, yet so different."

"She is wise."

"She is, yet she pales in comparison to you." Dumbledore smiled softly. "You are beyond gifted, Miss Scortwit."

"You say that." Merlot smiled softly, sipping her tea and looking at her work. "Yet Hermione Granger creates spells, I only carve symbols upon wood and pretty rocks."

"You work with the old magic." Albus took a sip of his tea. "It is a powerful… powerful force. Hermione Granger has recreated muggle appliances through simple spells, yes, however, in less than a year you have already redefined an entire area of magical study. Do not sell yourself short, my dear."

Merlot nodded and took another sip of her tea, before setting down her mug and picking up the aquamarine. "So you truly think using a double core array that focuses around Wynn and Daeg?"

"Joy and Day." Albus nodded. "Perhaps they would compliment each other."

"Perhaps…" Merlot pondered, absentmindedly picking up a biscuit from the plate and taking a small bite. "I was pondering Ur and Wynn, denoting strength and joy."

"Do with it what you will. It is your project after all." Albus smiled. "Do you simply carve the runes?"

"I fill each rune with a precious metal. "Merlot nodded, pulling back her sleeve and drawing her wand. "Because this is my first time attempting a dual core, I am going to continue to use bronze, silver, and gold."

"Ah, I see. Dedicating separate metals to distinguish the importance of each rune." Albus nodded.

"And they flow together more freely." Merlot supplied. "Magic will always flow upwards, preferring stronger magical metals."

"Ah, and Bronze, being an alloy instead of a pure metal, would channel magic into pure silver, while still looking nice."

Merlot nodded. "Somewhat. While it is true that bronze will look better than copper, it will also last longer. Upsetting though it may be, I can limit a creations output while making sure that it lasts longer than a year when exposed to the elements."

Albus nodded as he stroked his beard, watching as Merlot brought her wand to the surface of the aquamarine. With a low mutter, a purple glow emitted from the tip of the girl's wand, and she began to etch the rune within the surface of the Gem.

"You use the etching charm?" Albus raised an eyebrow as Merlot finished the first rune. He watched as she slowly rubbed the back of her hand, before continuing.

"I do. I find it is most effective."

Albus nodded. "Yet rather painful, is it not?"

Merlot shrugged. "You do the charm often enough, and you begin building a sort of tolerance for it."

Albus nodded. "It is interesting that you would use that charm. There are others that do not take a price of pain, but they do not imbue the runes with your magic, of course."

Merlot blinked at the headmaster. "Professor Quirrell told me that it was simple and effective. A far more delicate approach to what I had been using before."

Albus nodded. "Quirinus's knowledge extends well into the darker sides of magic. There is nothing wrong with that, of course. He just tends to go at things with a different approach…"

"So there is a different charm that I can use?"

"There are a near infinite number of spells in our world, Miss Scortwit. I believe that Quirinus simply set you on the path of most reward. You will find that the etching charm you use has an additional effect on your projects, in time that is."

Merlot nodded. "I know that using my blood to carve the runes also- to some effect that is- binds them to my magic. What that means for their effects, I do not know."

"Perhaps a mystery to be solved another day." Albus nodded. "For now, continue with your gemstone. I will prepare us some more tea."

Merlot nodded and continued to use the etching charm on the aquamarine. She was halfway through the first array when an ethereal silver cat bounded through the window of the headmasters office and began speaking in the voice of Professor McGonagall.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, please gather Poppy and meet me at the gamekeepers cabin. There has been an incident."

"Oh dear." Albus set the kettle down. "Well, it seems as though we must cut this evening meeting short-"

"It's Ron and Draco, isn't it?" Merlot stood up. "They told me about the detention. Let me come with you, please."

Albus looked at the girl and sighed. "Very well. They are your friends, and it won't help your restlessness if you are worried about them. Come, let us get Poppy."

The two made their way to the hospital wing, quickly explaining the situation to the mediwitch and heading for Hagrid's hut.

"I do not understand why miss Scortwit is joining us." Pomfrey frowned. "Should she not be in bed?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I was running over some of my theories on runes with the Headmaster while we had tea." Merlot answered. "I insisted I come along to check on my friends."

"I see. Well, I can't successfully argue with Albus even on the best of days. I had better let the topic rest for now."

The three made their way out of the castle in step, and eventually found themselves at the door of Hagrid's hut.

"Professor McGonagall? Are you in there?"

"Come in Albus, Quickly!"

The three hurried into the hut to find Minerva tending to the swollen and bandaged face of Hagrid, who was unconscious in his armchair. Ron Weasley sat beside Draco Malfoy, sponging the boy's forehead with a wet cloth as he tossed and turned, his eyes closed.

"Dear me. Whatever happened?"

Minerva stood. "We found it Albus. It's a wizard."

The headmasters eyes widened. "A wizard?"

"What else could have hit Hagrid with his own arrow and subjected the poor man to the cruciatus? Somehow, Mr. Malfoy fended the thing off… Mr. Weasley helped me to stabilize Mr. hagrids wound, but I need a practiced hand at medicine!"

Madam Pomfrey drew her wand and made her way over to Hagrid. "These bandages are quite unusual… silk?"

"The spiders-" Minerva began.

"Now now Minerva, sit down. You have had quite a fright." Albus sat the woman in an open chair and summoned a cup from Hagrids cupboards. "Aguamenti. Drink. You must steel yourself."

The woman shakily took a sip from the cup before letting out a deep breath. "It was horrible Albus… the arrow was lodged in his face, and I couldn't vanish it…"

"Now now Minerva, it's quite alright. Tell me, were you injured at all?"

"No. I'm okay. The boys are okay. But Hagrid-"

"Poppy will tend to Hagrid. Focus on me." The elderly man drew his wand and cast a complex charm that caused their words to become silent to Merlot and the surrounding individuals. Merlot walked over to Ron and Draco.

"Is he alright?"

"McGonagall says he's okay, but he hasn't woken up…" Ron said quietly. "I saw him collapse Merlot… I saw that thing touch him…"

Draco turned, his cheeks flushing as he groaned. Ron quickly wetted the cloth again and began dabbing at Draco's forehead.

"The thing… did you get a good look at it?"

Ron shook his head. "I was too far away. It was dressed in a shadowy cloth… pitch black. It's voice… high pitched, slithery like a monster from the depths of the black lake…"

Merlot shuddered as Ron continued, a flash of green playing out behind her eyes.

"And when it spoke, it was as if the darkness itself heard and obeyed…" The redhead shook his head. "But he resisted it… somehow he drove it away with a bright light…"

Merlot nodded, looking down upon the unconscious boy as he tossed and turned. She caught a glimpse of a chain around his neck, holding onto an emerald pendant, a pendant which seemed… almost dull.

"A time of need…"

"What was that?" Ron asked quietly.

"Nothing." Merlot shook her head. "Hold him for a moment, if you please."

Ron nodded and took a hold of Draco's shoulder. Merlot reached forward and plucked the emerald pendant from Draco's neck, her eyes widening as the silver chain it was threaded upon withered away.

"How intriguing…"

'Oh how FUN!'

Merlot gasped and clutched at her head. Ron quickly turned. "Merlot? Merlot?"

The young witch clutched at her head and squeezed her eyes shut as pain assaulted her. "No… I've kept you out…"

'I'm here… I'm really truly here!'

Merlot fell forward as Ron leapt up. Albus ran from his place beside Minerva as the elderly witch quickly stood up.

'I'm here I'm here! We must find me! We must find the real me!'

Merlot tried her hardest to open her eyes as she felt a hand on her shoulder. A pair of frail yet strong arms hoisted her up and she saw the face of Albus Dumbledore.

"Miss Scortwit…wit…wit…wit…"

"Merlot!-oh-oh-oh…"

Ron Weasleys face swam before her, and as he blinked, his eyes turned red.

'Such an easy mind to torment…' the horcrux giggled within Merlot's mind. Rons face became the face of Harry Potter with Red eyes. Merlot shook her head as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"No… stay away!"

"Miss Scortwit!"

Merlot's vision swam as Dumbledore grabbed her shoulders. His expression was hard as he stared into her eyes. "I'm sorry for this."

Merlot felt a pressure in her mind and the horcrux screamed in rage.

'YOU!'

Dumbledores eyes glowed with white power as his voice filled Merlot's head.

'Sleep now, thing of shadows!'

And everything went quiet. Merlot breathed raggedly as the room was silent, the emerald pendant crumbled to dust in her hands. Dumbledore stumbled, but caught himself on the doorframe behind Merlot.

"Albus!" Minerva cried quickly, but was silenced as the man raised a hand. "I am fine Minerva. Sit please. Rest."

Merlot watched as the man wiped a hand under his nose, smearing blood along the back of it.

"Sir…"

"I am fine… are you alright? That was a potent curse."

Merlot nodded. "I'm okay… It was in Draco's mind sir… I made the pendant for him. It must have-"

"Had it been direct, that curse would have killed young Malfoy, as well as yourself." Dumbledore nodded. "Your creation saved his life tonight, Miss Scortwit."

Merlot nodded as Dumbledore straightened and drew his wand. "Madam Pomfrey, I recommend transporting Hagrid to the hospital wing, along with Mr Malfoy. Minerva, if you would walk Mr. Weasley, as well as Miss Scortwit back to their dormitories. We all deserve a bit of rest after the events of tonight."

The surrounding individuals nodded and gathered their things. Albus opened the door to Hagrids hut and began walking back to the castle.

"Fawkes…" The man spoke hoarsely when he was out of sight. "Assist me…"

The phoenix appeared in a bright flash of fire and grabbed a hold of Dumbledores shoulder, before both flashed away, into his office, where he slumped in his chair. Fawkes trilled sadly as Ablus coughed, a bit of blood running down his lip.

'Phoenix tears cannot hold me forever, Albus… they cannot keep you alive.'

Albus smiled. The being was still focused on control, not what they had just witnessed. Harry Potter was alive.

"Perhaps, old friend. But they will last long enough."

Albus drew his wand and pointed it at himself. "Fawkes, once this spell is done, continue healing me please."

The phoenix gave another sad trill as Albus smiled. "I'm sorry too."

"Obliviate."

—0—

And there's the next chapter. Sorry if it was quick. Next we have Fred and George's Project. I am very excited to write the chapter, even if there is a timeskip of a few days involved.

I always have to put a note in when I write about Dumbledore. It isn't bragging, I'm just exceptionally proud of how I am writing him. I have somehow managed to keep the same image of the man that I always had throughout reading the books. Now that I am older, I realize that he was somewhat misguided, and he could have done things a bit differently. But the fact is that Dumbledore didn't know the future, he wasn't all knowing and all powerful. He was old, and yet for all of his age and mistakes, he made many many good choices that helped the multitude.

When I was younger, reading through the books, Dumbledore was what a wizard aspired to be. Even in some twisted way, Voldemort aspired to be like Dumbledore. Tom feared Albus for a reason. He was wise, Powerful, and while we never understood his full power in magical combat, we can understand that his own mind went beyond that. In the movies, the duel between Voldemort and Albus displays the headmaster using advanced alchemy to transmute glass into snow. He fights Voldemort to stalemate while holding back so that he can not only protect Harry, but also attempt to reach Tom. Because Dumbledore never goes for the kill, he simply tries to get Tom to give up, and repent for his crimes.

The man is known as the modern merlin for a reason. His knowledge was so vast that it even allowed him to orchestrate and plan his own death, hoping that the elder wand would be rendered useless, and in turn, rob Voldemort of his final weapon. In a way, he succeeded. Some may not catch on, but in the end, Dumbledore touched Draco Malfoy's heart. He knew that the wand's loyalties had transferred to the boy. Had it been anyone else, any other death eater, they would have been quickly defeated yet again. But he was dying, he knew. He had already made the plan for Snape to kill him.

I try to capture what I originally saw Dumbledore as, and mix it together with the opposite, the villain that everyone eventually came to see him as. In the end, it worked perfectly with the overarching plot, the war of Light and Dark. Albus Dumbledore, for all of his shortcomings, has always been a powerful wizard, a brave gryffindor, and the most noble and calculating hero. He is a hero who has lived, and thus has learned. And now, in this story, you will not only see the rise of a new Hero, the end of an endless war, the mending of broken minds, but also, the end of one story as it fixes it all. In the end, nothing is left completely intact.

Albus Dumbledore, the real Albus Dumbledore, will spend his decline as he spent the war with Grindelwald, as a hero.

As always, leave a review, and until next time.

Adios.