Including the time he was dragged here, this was Harry's second visit to the Headmaster's office. As the saying goes, "Once a stranger, twice a friend," and by now, Harry had practically become a regular. So naturally, while Dumbledore and the others examined the diadem andAdvanced Dark Magic Revealed,Harry wandered off to play with the bird nearby.
As he stroked the magnificentphoenix, Dumbledore's gentle voice sounded from behind him:
"Harry, have you read the book youbrought with you?"
Distracted by the phoenix, Harry didn't notice the unusually solemn expression on Dumbledore's face.
"I have," Harry replied casually, dodging a playful peck from the bird. Just as Dumbledore's pupils contracted slightly, Harry added nonchalantly, "But the magic inAdvanced Dark Magic Revealedis pretty useless. There's not even a resurrection spell—"
At this, Harry heard two sharp intakes of breath behind him.
"—like the kind that brings people back to life. It's not nearly as good as theNecromancy CompendiumGale picked up in Baldur's Gate Library."
"Harry," Dumbledore's voice trembled slightly, "are you saying you know of spells that can bring the dead back to life?"
"Let me think…" Harry paused, scratching his head as he dodged the phoenix again. "There's theRevivifyspell—it's a third-tier spell that works only if the person has been dead for less than a minute. It doesn't work on creatures that died of old age, and it can't restore lost body parts or revive undead. It requires a diamond worth about 300 gold pieces as a material component. Then there'sRaise Dead,a fifth-tier spell. That one works if the person has been dead for up to ten days. It neutralizes poisons and nonmagical diseases, heals lethal injuries, but can't cure magical ailments, curses, or restore missing body parts. If critical body parts are missing, the spell fails. Oh, and it also doesn't work on those who died of old age or on undead. That one needs a diamond worth 500 gold pieces…"
As Harry rambled on, Dumbledore's eyes were filled with hope, and Snape's were a mixture of skepticism and anticipation.
"Right, there's alsoResurrectionandTrue Resurrection," Harry finally exclaimed after a moment of thought, slapping his forehead. "Resurrectionis a seventh-tier spell—it works if the person's been dead for less than a hundred years, as long as they didn't die of old age and weren't undead. It can cure all injuries and even restore lost body parts. It requires a diamond worth 1,000 gold pieces.True Resurrectionis even more amazing! It's a ninth-tier spell. As long as someone's been dead for less than two hundred years and didn't die of old age, it can bring them back to life, fully healed, and even recreate their body if it's completely gone. That one needs a diamond worth 25,000 gold pieces and a bit of holy water."
Harry turned around and noticed Dumbledore's complicated expression. He tilted his head.
"Professor Dumbledore, what's wrong?"
"Harry," Dumbledore began, his voice hesitant, "the seventh-tierResurrectionspell… can you cast it? Or do you know someone who can?"
"That spell's for 13th-level clerics, druids, or bards. Me? I'm just a humble 1st-level sorcerer. There's no way I could manage that kind of magic," Harry said with a shrug. Noticing the disappointment in Dumbledore's eyes, he added, "But it's not entirely impossible. If I can find Gale and he sweet-talks his goddess, not justResurrection,evenTrue Resurrectionwould be a piece of cake!"
Revived with hope, Dumbledore eagerly began discussing ways to locate the world of Faerûn with Harry. Snape listened intently, while Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout looked on with increasing confusion.
"Aren't we supposed to be examining the Horcrux found on the eighth floor?" McGonagall asked, her tone growing sharper. "Dumbledore, why are you talking about crossing dimensions? And Severus, why are you paying such close attention?"
Time ticked on—ten minutes, twenty, thirty. The three men were lost in increasingly fervent discussions when McGonagall finally lost patience. With a light tap of her wand on the table, she pulled them back from their wild speculations.
"Professor Dumbledore, don't forget we have a Horcrux to deal with. And isn't it time Harry went to class?"
The white-bearded wizard blinked, turning his attention to the diadem and the book on the desk. For a moment, he seemed puzzled as to why they were there, but his mind soon cleared. Reluctantly abandoning thoughts of resurrecting his sister, Dumbledore nodded.
"You're right, Minerva. Please escort Harry to his class. Severus, Pomona, and Filius, stay here and help me study this book and diadem."
McGonagall led Harry out of the office, the door closing behind them and silencing Dumbledore's voice. The pair made their way through the moving staircases and the eighth-floor corridor, hurrying toward the Transfiguration classroom.
By the time they arrived, twenty minutes remained before class began. McGonagall instructed Harry to find a seat before heading to her office.
Harry entered the buzzing classroom, found an empty seat in the front corner, and sat down. Moments later, a loudthudstartled him as a copy ofA Beginner's Guide to Transfigurationlanded on the desk beside him. A bushy-haired girl plopped down into the seat.
"Harry, what were you doing with Professor Dumbledore just now?" Hermione asked, her curiosity plain. She leaned closer, eyes gleaming. "And where are the diadem and the book you were holding?"
Hermione was about to unleash a barrage of questions when McGonagall entered, carrying her lesson plan. Sensing the impending lecture, Hermione wiselyshut her mouth.
After placing her book down, McGonagall checked the time and glanced around the room, her brows furrowing slightly.
Noticing Ron's absence, Hermione leaned close to Harry and whispered, "Harry, did you wake Ron up when youcame out?"