Dumbledore's Horcrux
Chapter 4:The Memories
The trio set out for Hogwarts early the following morning. They were to be given the whole day to explore Dumbledore’s old office, and to move into their own rooms.
“Where do we start?” asked Hermione. The office was as Harry remembered it. Nothing seemed to have changed. The pictures of the former Headmasters and Headmistresses still hung on the wall, the old books on the wooden bookcases remained with a few spider webs adding to décor.
“I say we start with the pensive” replied Harry. He had no desire to move or alter anything in the room.
“Where is it?” inquired Ron”
“Over in that wooden cupboard.” Said Harry, remembering too well the day he had first entered the pensive on accident.
The three walked over and carefully moved the pensive onto Professor Dumbledore’s desk. They could see the silver memories moving inside.
“Don’t you feel kind of awkward, looking into someone’s memories?” asked Ron. “It’s like going into someone’s diary or journal without permission.”
“This is different.” responded Harry. “Dumbledore would have wanted me to use anything I could to help with the hunt for the horcruxes.”
Just then they heard a low mournful sound. They turned and saw Fawkes flying towards them. He landed on the edge of the pensive.
“It’s strange to think that that is Professor Dumbledore sitting there” spoke Hermione.
“I know. It will take awhile to get used to the feeling” replied Harry.
They watched Fawkes, and he seemed to be searching the memories for the right one. After a few moments, he let out a sharp chirp. He used his beak to point to a particular memory, floating on the opposite side of the pensive. Using his wand, Harry guided it towards them.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Yes” replied Hermione and Ron in unison. They leaned forward and entered the memory.
The memory took place in Professor Dumbledore’s office. He was seated behind his desk, but he was not alone. Professor Snape sat in a chair on the opposite side of the desk.
“You wished to meet with me,” said Dumbledore.
“Yes, sir.” replied Snape. “It was urgent that I meet with you at once”
“What do you wish to tell me?”
“Well, as you know, I have been staying at Spinner’s End, as the Dark Lord had ordered me. It was on my fourth week that I was visited by Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange. Bellatrix seemed less happy to see me. Narcissa had come to speak to me about Draco’s situation. She seemed to know what he had been ordered to do, and asked me to assist him in anyway I can. I told her I would look out for him. But, then she asked me to take the Unbreakable Vow, sir.”
“Let me guess, Severus, the Vow said that if Draco was unable to complete his task, you would do it for him”
“Yes, sir, it was that. Well, I was afraid that if I refused, my cover would be blown. So, I agreed.”
“What you are telling me, is that if Draco is unable to kill me, which is sure to happen, you will have to kill me instead”
“Yes, sir”
“I see. Well, as we know, if the unbreakable Vow is broken, you life will be taken”
“Yes, Albus”
“Well, it looks as though you will have to do as you vowed”
“But, sir, I couldn’t.” started Snape. “You are my mentor, my friend, and I couldn’t forgive myself. I would rather my life be taken.”
“No, as you know, I’m getting old. My reflexes aren’t what they were. You will be more useful in the downfall of Lord Voldemort than I will."
“But, sir…..”
“No Serverus, it has been decided” interrupted Dumbledore.
The memory ended, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione re-entered Dumbledore’s office. For a moment, there was an uncomfortable silence.
“Wow” said Ron, breaking the silence.
“I guess Dumbledore was right about Snape” added Hermione.
“Yeah, I guess” said Harry.
“Do we want to look at another one?” asked Ron.
“I don’t know. Let’s ask Fawkes. Harry turned to the phoenix. Fawkes slowly nodded his head, and pointed with hi beak to another memory. This one was smaller. Once again, Harry guided the memory toward them.
“Let’s go” he said, and the three entered the second memory.
The memory took place in the living room of a large, brick house, and Professor Dumbledore was seated in a brown comfy chair. Across from him sat Lily and James Potter.
“Thank you for coming, sir” said James.
“We have news on your theory about the horcruxes” added Lily.
“How wonderful” said Professor Dumbledore, leaning towards them.
“We were able to discover that Voldemort did indeed split his soul.” Started James. “We spoke to one of the Death Eaters locked in Azkaban. We gave him Veritaserum and he admitted to hearing Voldemort speak of his soul being in multiple pieces. We will investigate the matter further.
“Thank you for you help, James and Lily. Let me know if you discover anything more. The search for the horcruxes must begin."
The second memory ended, and the three once again found themselves in Dumbledore’s office.
“My parents helped Dumbledore look for the horcruxes?” said Harry in disbelief.
“It looks like it” replied Hermione. “C’mon, we’ll look at the rest of the office tomorrow.”
They started to leave.
“Bye Fawkes” said Harry to the phoenix. The bird nodded in return.
“Thanks for your help” added Hermione.
“Yeah” said Ron.
The three left the office, and headed for the burrow.
To Be Continued