Dumbledore

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height


harry pov

Today had been chaotic to say the least.

After apparating out of Hogwarts with Dumbledore, we went to a hidden cave by the sea to retrieve one of Voldemort's horcruxes.

A locket.

It wasn't bloody easy to get. Voldemort put defences meant to kill any intruders, but we survived, barely.

Dumbledore nearly died from drinking a mystical, maddening potion and I almost burned alive and drowned at the same time. Fun, right?

The main thing is, we got it. We got the locket.

We apparated back to Hogwarts, at the top of the astronomy tower. Dumbledore was worriedly weak, I was holding him up as his arm was over my shoulder.

"We need to get you to the hospital wing sir, to Madam Pomfrey." I said as we moved to the nearest bench and sat him down.

"No." He struggled out. "Severus is who I need. Wake him. Tell him what happened. Speak to no one else."

He needed Snape, of all people? I questioned his request but nodded, and walked to the top of the stairs.

I froze. The sound of a door opening and closing could be heard far below. I turned to Dumbledore. His face formed that of panic. Something was wrong.  Really wrong.

He weakly stood up and looked at me with the utmost seriousness. "Hide yourself below, Harry. Don't speak or be seen by anybody without my permission. Whatever happens, it's imperative you stay below."

I looked at him desperately. Leaving him like this was the last thing I wanted to do.

I could tell he knew what I was thinking.

"Harry, do as I say."

His words were gentle yet fearful at the same time. The door from below opened and closed once more and panic arose in me.

"Trust me." He whispered slowly. "Trust me."

I hesitated before quickly going down the steps to the second level of the astronomy tower.

So that's where I am now. But for the entire time I've been here, I can't stop thinking something bad is about to go down.

Then.........I saw Malfoy, with his wand pointed at Dumbledore. That's when I knew something bad is about to go down.

"Good evening, Draco." Dumbledore greeted. "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."

A quiet rustling shifted my attention away from the two of them. I looked ahead of me and saw.....

Florence.

What the hell is she doing here?

I silently walked up behind her and put my hand over her mouth.

She began panicking and struggling out of my grip until she turned around and realised it was me. She  took quiet breaths to calm down.

"What are you doing here?" I mouthed.

"Watching." She mouthed back.

Why am I not surprised that Florence's curiosity has led her to another potentially dangerous situation?

We both turned back to focus on the two above us.

There was an eeriness in the air. The wind was cold and whistling through the tower, the clouds were black, as black as tar.

"Have you been whispering to yourself, Draco?" Dumbledore asked from above us.

Malfoy didn't reply. He just kept his wand raised towards Dumbledore.

"Draco, you are no assassin."

"How do you know what I am? I've done things that would shock you!" Malfoy snapped shakily.

I could hear a hint of fear and uncertainty in his voice. Whatever he was doing, it was not of his own choice.

"Like cursing Katie Bell, and hoping that in return she'd bear a cursed necklace to me? Like replacing a bottle of mead with one laced with poison?" Dumbledore paused. "Forgive me Draco, but I cannot help feeling these actions are so weak that your heart can't really have been in them."

"He trusts me. I was chosen." Malfoy pulled up his sleeve to reveal the dark mark.

I turned to look at Florence. Her mouth open slightly at the sight, her eyes filled with sorrow at her best friend who fell victim to her father, and a single tear that rolled down her cheek.

I moved closer to her and took her hand. She looked me in the eyes with an expression that broke my heart in two and then looked back up.

I could see it in her eyes. The hurt. I knew how it felt.

Dumbledore, to my surprise, looked momentarily shocked by Malfoy's mark. I don't think he expected even him to go that far.

"Then I shall make it easy for you."

"Expellairmus!" Malfoy yelled.

I instantly raised my wand at Malfoy from the floor below. My hand was shaking. I was shaking.

Florence looked at me with panic but I didn't care. She put her hand on my arm trying to pull it back down, but I shook her off. I won't let Malfoy win. I don't care if he's her best friend.

Dumbledore's wand flew out of his hand and onto the floor far away. "Very good. Very good." He complimented if he was expecting it.

I know he has something else planned. He always does. Malfoy doesn't know what's coming for him.

The sound of a door opening and closing was heard nearby.

"You're not alone. There are others. How?" Dumbledore questioned softly.

"The vanishing cabinet in the Room of Requirement. I've been mending it."

"Let me guess. It has a sister. A twin."

"In Borgin and Burke's. They form a passage."

That explains why him and Mrs Malfoy were there that day in Knockturn Alley. This had been the plan since before we even got back to Hogwarts.

I heard more noises in the distance.

"Ingenious." Dumbledore smiled warmly. "Draco, years ago I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices. Please 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-or else he's gonna kill me." Malfoy's eyes brimmed with tears.

The noises got closer. Malfoy's hand holding his wand began shaking. The Astronomy door creaked open. In walked Greyback, two other deatheaters, and Bellatrix.

They were here. In Hogwarts. Right above us.

"Well, look what we have here. Well done, Draco." Bellatrix hissed into his ear.

"Where's the girl?" Greyback growled, scanning the room.

"Ah yes! Draco dear, where is my beloved daughter?" Bellatrix asked, looking around.

Florence and I made eye contact. He was talking about her.

"I-i couldn't find her." Malfoy stuttered quietly.

Malfoy's lying. He found Florence, that's how she got here in the first place. So then why didn't he just tell them?

"You couldn't find her?" Greyback snarled.

Malfoy looked down at his feet. "No. I tried. She must've left before you came."

Bellatrix looked angry but quickly shook it off. "It's alright, Draco. We'll get her one way or another. She can't hide forever."

"Good evening Bellatrix." Dumbledore calmly welcomed.

"Did you know, Albus?" She smirked menacingly.

"Know what, may I ask?"

"That you have the daughter of the dark lord and myself, parading around your oh so precious halls?"

"Indeed. Miss Riddle is a wonderfully gifted, and unfailingly kind student of mine. Her gifts are beyond wonderful. Her second name makes me see her in no different a way."

"And do the other teachers know, hm? What about old McGonagall?"

"No. It is for their own safety. Surely you could understand why they would be fearful? But I must say, Florence certainly does have more connections with her father than I expected. Don't you think, Miss Lestrange?"

What did he mean similarities?

Bellatrix twitched uncomfortably for a second at this comment, and I couldn't help but wonder why.

I looked over at Florence. She too, looked taken aback by that statement. No one had ever compared her to her father before.

Dumbledore examined the other deatheaters. "I think introductions are in order, don't you?"

"Love to Albus, but I'm afraid we're all on a bit of a tight schedule." Bellatrix turned to Malfoy eagerly. "Do it."

"He doesn't have the stomach, just like his father." Greyback said once moments had passed and Malfoy didn't moved a muscle. "Let me finish him in my own way."

My wand was still raised to Malfoy.

"No! The dark lord was clear, the boy is to do it. Draco, this is your moment. Do it." Bellatrix demanded again.

Florence tapped my shoulder. I turned to face her. She was looking at something, or someone. I followed her gaze to see Snape standing behind us with his wand pointed to us.

I lowered my wand. Was he going to kill us both? Was this it? I'd die at the hands of Severus Snape.

He slowly lifted his hand, I was ready to close my eyes and wait for the curse. But he placed his finger over his mouth, signalling us to stay quiet.

Is this Dumbledore's plan? It must be. Snape's part of the Order. He's here to help, right?

Florence and I looked at each other fearfully as Snape creeped out of the room. It was now that we realised, whatever we think we know, we don't.

"Go on Draco!" Bellatrix yelled impatiently at Draco from above us. "Do it now!"

Snape rushed up the stairs at her words. "No." He said simply as he stepped out onto the tower.

Everyone's heads turned to him. Dumbledore looked unfazed by his arrival. Somewhat relieved.

I watched Dumbledore closely. His eyes landed on me for a quick moment. I saw a flash of reassurance in them. This is his plan. It's got to be. Snape will save him. I don't know how. But he will.

"Severus." Dumbledore's voice filled the empty air. Everything and everyone was silent, waiting for the next move. "Please."

The silence arose again. It seemed to last forever.

Snape slowly raised his wand to Dumbledore. "Avada Kedavra!"

I couldn't process the words that had just come from his mouth. It couldn't be. Not Dumbledore.

It seemed to happen in slow motion. The spell sent Dumbledore falling backward off the top of the tower. Screaming was heard from the courtyard below.

I held it all in, just like Dumbledore had told me to.

Florence's hands covered her mouth in utter disbelief.

I lunged for the stairs, before Florence grabbed me by my shirt and pulled me back down.

"You can't!" She whispered desperately.

I tried to respond, but I couldn't breathe.

Bellatrix screamed menacingly as she raised her wand into the air. Green sparks flew from it, creating the dark mark in the dirty clouds above.

Bellatrix grabbed Malfoy and she, Snape, and the rest of the deatheaters exited the tower, slamming the door shut behind them.

Florence let out a shaky, quiet sob as they left out of sight.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I paced the room frantically for a second until I couldn't take it anymore.

I pulled Florence in for a kiss that I hoped wasn't our last. As we pulled away she looked at me with confusion.

"Harry what-"

"I'm sorry."

I burst through the doors and ran after Snape and the deatheaters.

"Harry!" I heard Florence's horrified, distant scream.

Dumbledore spent his whole life trusting and defending Snape. And Snape killed him without hesitation. The more I thought about that, the faster I ran.

I didn't catch up with the deatheaters until they had reached the steps of Hagrid's hut in front of the school.

"Hagrid!" Bellatrix sang. "Hellooooo?"

"Snape!" I yelled angrily, blood pounding through my veins.

He turned around. A hint of fear and guilt pricked across his face.

"He trusted you!"

Bellatrix sent a spell towards Hagrid's hut. It burst into flames just as the Burrow had two months ago. I prayed that Hagrid and Fang weren't in there.

"Go on." Snape instructed Malfoy as he walked into the woods.

"Incarceous!" I yelled with my wand pointed towards Snape.

He blocked the spell.

"Fight back! You coward, fight back!" I strained through my tears.

From a distance, Bellatrix shot the cruciatus curse at me and I fell to the ground in excruciating pain.

I had only been hit once with it tonight and it was enough to make me completely collapse. And even amongst all the pain, I found myself thinking of Florence. And how she had to through this pain in summer, alone.

"NO! He belongs to the dark lord!" Snape bellowed to her as she ran off. He looked at me once on the ground, then turned around, beginning to walk off.

I gained an ounce of strength, stood up off the ground, and raised my wand once more. "Sectumsempra!"

Snape dodged it and instantly sent a spell back at me. He walked up to me as I lay in pain on the ground. "You dare use my own spells against me, Potter?"

I looked up at him into his dark, cold eyes as I realised what this meant.

"Yes. I am the half blood prince."

He looked at me in disgust and kicked my wand from my hand, before walking off into the forest and disappearing after Bellatrix and Malfoy.

I lay on the ground in agony, unable to move. I looked up to the sky, not a star in sight. Dark, gloomy clouds filled every corner.

And right above my head was the dark mark.

The war had started.

----

florence pov

I looked up and saw my fathers mark in amongst the thick clouds.

I felt like a sitting duck waiting for Harry to come back.

I was stood next to Ginny in the courtyard. The entire school had gathered to mourn our beloved headteacher. There were sounds of gentle sobbing  and sniffing all around me.

I can't believe Snape did it. I can't believe he killed him. I just wish Dumbledore would've seen through him. The only good thing about this all, is that Draco didn't do it.

Harry appeared and the crowd of students made a pathway to Dumbledore for him. Slowly, he walked through us. He knelt down beside his body and pressed a hand to his chest.

He let out a quiet sob as it finally hit him. Dumbledore is gone. Forever.

My lip quivered as I watched him. And I couldn't stay away. I walked over, knelt down and turned to face him.

His head fell onto my chest as he sobbed. My hand
held his neck softly, keeping him close. It was finally my turn to care for him.

My heart broke for the boy I love, who had just lost, once again, someone he cared so deeply for. And even though it was by the hands of Snape, it wasn't really. It was my father. It will always be my father.

We all stood in a sad silence.

Professor McGonagall raised her wand in the air as a tear rolled down her cheek.

One by one, each member of Hogwarts: teacher, student and ghost, slowly raised their wands in the air to mourn our professor.

Professor Albus Dumbledore.

A soft glow emitted from each wand and projected into the sky.

I looked up and I could no longer see the dark mark. The light from our wands had burned a hole through it, and a tiny gap was made.

Hidden behind the clouds, was a beautiful night sky.




~

i'm not a fan of dumbledore, but this hurt.

raise your wands for professor albus percival wulfric brian dumbledore *\


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net