Chapter 283 - A Girl

Dumbledore stood in front of his desk. The heavy golden Slytherin's locket was lying on the desk. Chris, Harry and the portraits of old Headmasters' and Headmistress' watched him cautiously. Then Dumbledore pulled out the ruby-encrusted Gryffindor sword from a glass case. Nobody made any sound and then all of a sudden, the locket started to twitch. Chris felt her heart pounding in her chest. It could be it: a part of Voldemort's soul within their grasp.

"Harry, now," said Dumbledore standing over, the — now vibrating — locket. Dumbledore's aura radiated power and strength. At that moment he was no old man as he fixed his eyes on the locket.

Chris sideways looked at Harry and saw him staring at the locket then he opened his mouth and made a hissing noise —

The golden doors of the locket swung wide with a little click.

Behind both of the glass windows within blinked a living eye, dark and handsome as Tom Riddle's eyes had been before he turned them scarlet and slit-pupiled.

Dumbledore raised the sword, his magic holding the locket in its place. Then a voice hissed from out of the locket.

"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," said a voice which was not like Riddle's young or old voice.

Dumbledore looked dazed for a moment. He had recognized the voice.

"Albus?" came a young girlish voice.

This time Dumbledore froze.

Out of the locket's two windows, out of the eyes, there bloomed, like a grotesque bubble, a head of a young girl. The people in portrait screamed and yelled. The young girl's figure blossomed out of the locket, first chests, then waists, then legs, until she stood in the locket, swaying over Dumbledore. She looked beautiful and yet terrible.

"Albus? Are you going to do it, again? Repeat your mistake?" asked the girl.

Dumbledore stared at her, transfixed. He looked— haunted.

"Don't do it, Al. You can stop this. You don't have to do it," said the girl. "I can help. You can make me happy. You wanted to see me happy, right? You wanted me to be with you and Ab. We three together laughing and talking. You don't want to hurt me, do you, Al? You loved me, right? Yes?"

Dumbledore looked pained, his hands holding the sword where shaking.

The girl looked tearful now.

"Then why did you do it, Albus? Why did you trust him? Why did you betray us? WHY DID YOU KILL ME?"

"No," Dumbledore gasped. "I didn't, I did not. I —"

Tears were rolling down Dumbledore's blue eyes. His hands were shaking so much that he almost looked like he was going to drop the sword. 

Chris snapped out of her daze and realized what was happening.

"Professor, stab it," screamed Chris. "It is trying to trick you."

Harry looked surprised for a moment then he also understood. 

"Stab it, sir," he yelled.

But Dumbledore hardly heard them. Anxious Chris crossed the desk and stood just behind the locket so Dumbledore can see her.

"Sir, stab it," she shouted. "STAB IT."

Dumbledore suddenly looked at her, and everything came back to him. He looked back at the young girl who was still screaming painfully. Harry joined Chris behind the desk and Dumbledore looked at them then closed his eyes, he slowly lifted the sword, anguish filled his features. He opened his eyes and —

The sword flashed, plunged: Chris and Harry threw themselves out of the way, there was a clang of metal and a long, drawn-out scream. Chris whirled around, wand held ready to defend herself: but there was nothing to fight.

Dumbledore was shaking, his eyes full of tears, he looked so vulnerable, distress and helpless that Chris felt her own eyes burning. The sword fell out of his hand and he swayed, Harry hurriedly went to him and held him before Dumbledore could collapse on the floor. Chris came forward and they helped Dumbledore sit.

The room was in absolute silence. Nobody knew what to say. Dumbledore's eyes were closed, his hands were on his lap and his expression was tormenting. Harry was standing beside Dumbledore, staring at him. The previous Headmasters and Headmistress also seemed too shocked to comment anything. Chris was staring at the broken locket, standing on the other side of Dumbledore. Her mind racing through the things just happened. That part of the Riddle's soul somehow sensed Dumbledore's fear like a Boggart and tortured him to save himself. It was truly horrifying and alarming. 

A long time passed, finally, Chris took a deep breath and spoke.

"You should rest, Professor," she said very quietly. "Do you need to see Professor Snape?"

For a few moments, Dumbledore didn't answer, Chris thought he hadn't heard it then Dumbledore opened his eyes.

"No," murmured Dumbledore. His sound was so faint that Harry suddenly looked worried.

"Sir, maybe Madam Pomfrey —" Harry began.

"Harry, no one should know what had happened here," Dumbledore sighed heavily. Chris still could see tears in his eyes. "As your friends already know, you can tell them about the Horcruxe but not anyone else and I request you to —" Dumbledore's voice shook. He looked tired and defeated. 

"Sir, please," said Chris. "You need to rest."

"Yes, sir," said Harry.

"Perhaps, yes, I need to rest."

Dumbledore got up and Harry quickly supported him and helped him upstairs to his chamber. Chris waited in Dumbledore's office, the old Headmasters and Headmistress started to whisper among themselves. 

"Did he say something?" asked Chris as Harry came back.

"Yes, he asked us to come back tomorrow at eight," said Harry. "Also he wanted us to leave the locket here."

Chris nodded. 

The sky outside was becoming paler and the sun was coming out as Chris and Harry walked through the empty corridors to the Gryffindor tower in complete silence, both thinking the same thing.

"Who was she?" said Harry finally.

"Your guess is good as mine," sighed Chris. "But I have never seen Dumbledore this —"

"Vulnerable?" Harry finished. "Same here. I hate to see him like that."

"But I guess, we destroyed a Horcruxe," said Chris. "You are a step close to winning against Riddle."

"I hope so. I don't want Dumbledore's pain to go in vain," Harry glanced sideways at Chris. "Do you think Dumbledore really killed that girl?"

"I — don't know, Harry," Chris said quietly. "But I'm sure, he still regrets it."

Ginny, Colin, Ron and Hermione were dozing in the common room. They have fallen asleep while waiting for Chris and Harry. Chris didn't wake them up and pulled Harry aside.

"Do you want to sleep for a few hours?" said Chris. 

"Yeah, I — what?" Harry stared at her confused as Chris pulled out the Time-Turner.

"It's a Time-Turner," said Chris throwing the chain around Harry's neck. "Luna got it from the Department of Mysteries."

Chris turned the hourglass over three times.

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To be continued. . .