Don’t Leave Me Out of This!

7 Advanced chapters on Patreon: Fiction Haven

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After what happened in the Room of Requirement, the trio headed to Dumbledore's office. Harry deduced that the headmaster was going to talk about the Horcrux. Dumbledore wouldn't have been specific about whom he would discuss otherwise. Before long, they reached the headmaster's office.

"Acid pops," Lily said to the Gargoyle, causing the door to open.

Harry had never been to the headmaster's office before. He had never caused any trouble and was never noteworthy to be called upon. He had also forgotten the password that he once knew in his past life. Naturally, he didn't know the password. However, knowing that Dumbledore's obsession with sweets was still the same made him chuckle a little.

As they entered the office, Dumbledore's twinkling eyes lay upon Harry. "Please, have a seat, everyone." Only Harry sat. Bella and Lily preferred to stand. "Sherbet lemon, Harry, Lily, Bellatrix?"

Harry quirked an eyebrow before receiving the candy. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled upon seeing it. When Harry pooped it into his mouth, his face contorted. A gagging sound escaped his mouth as he clutched his neck a moment later.

"Harry!" Lily checked on Harry in panic.

"Dumbledore! What have you done to Harry?" Bella screamed at the old headmaster's face, pointing her wand at him.

Dumbledore's eyes widened in confusion and fear, but then a chuckle came out of his mouth. Bella became even more furious and began casting a curse.

"Calm down, sweetheart. I was just joking with old Dumbledore," Harry's soothing voice rang out.

Bella instantly calmed down and turned to Harry with a serene smile. She cast a jinx at Harry, causing him to shed tears profusely. Harry chuckled while Bella wondered why he didn't make an ugly face—he was crying for Merlin's sake. With a wave of his wand, the jinx disappeared along with the tears he had shed.

"Come on, it was funny." Bella glared. "At least, until I worried you. All right, that was not funny," Harry acquiesced with a sigh. As Bella returned to his side with crossed arms, Harry turned to Dumbledore. His expression became solemn. "So, what is this about, Dumbledore? Are you finally going to tell us about the Horcrux?"

Dumbledore's eyes widened slightly in genuine surprise. "You knew…" he muttered. "I won't ask how. But since you already know, I am going straight to the point." Dumbledore put his hand on the desk and unwrapped the fabric covering it. "My time is close, young Harry. We need as much help as possible."

Before everyone's eyes, Dumbledore revealed his blackened hand. Lily and Bella gasped in shock before bombarding him with questions. Dumbledore ignored them and focused on Harry. Harry's expression didn't change, but his eyes sank coldly. His gaze was firmly perched on the ring nestled around Dumbledore's ring finger.

"You got cursed," Harry concluded. "I wonder what the world will think if words get out that the Supreme Mugwump got cursed by a ring because of his carelessness. You would think an old person has a lot of experience."

"You look amused more than you are upset, Harry," Dumbledore observed. "I guess little old me matters little to you," he joked.

"Thanks to the bloody prophecy that you believe in, I lived an empty and lonesome life. At one point, I even thought that the Patronus Charm was impossible to learn because I couldn't muster a single happy moment. It took me a long time to recover. You shouldn't be surprised if I hate you. Good news for you; I don't hate you. However, anything about you matters little to me."

The room descended into silence. Dumbledore looked at Harry silently with a stoic face and guilt dancing in his eyes. Lily and Bella didn't dare say anything. While Lily had been foolish enough to worship the prophecy once, Bella hadn't cared enough about Harry until he was reintroduced to the Magical world. The room was filled with people who had disappointed him.

"That is fine with me. Your presence here means you are to be even better than Gellert and Tom but not descend into madness like they did. I am already thankful for that." Dumbledore bowed deeply. "I am not asking you to forgive me, but I dearly implore you to help us. As the one who has defeated him thrice, you are the only hope this world has once I am gone."

"What…?" Lily exclaimed under her breath.

"So you knew," Harry casually remarked, popping another sherbet lemon into his mouth.

"That you are the Boy Who Lived—yes. Your Magic caused the Killing Curse to rebound, thus killing Tom. I also know about his soul that resided in your scar," Dumbledore supplied.

"Ah, you know I have managed to remove it."

"Yes, although I don't know how. Do you mind enlightening me on that part?"

"I died."

The three people in the room looked at Harry in stunned silence. Lily and Bella still couldn't quite catch up to the facts that had just been revealed. Harry was the Boy Who Lived. They had thought it was Charlus. Why did they even think so? Dumbledore told them about it. Then, why did Dumbledore lie?

"Why did you separate me from my family, Dumbledore?" Harry voiced their question calmly.

"To throw Tom off. I figured he wouldn't remember quite well who caused his curse to rebound. So, I pronounced Charlus the Boy Who Lived and told your family to estrange you. That way, you would be safe from Tom and his followers. If things go south and Tom manages to kill Charlus, he will think he is invincible. That will be the moment when you strike," Dumbledore answered surely.

"What would you do with the Horcrux on me?" Harry asked curiously.

"I have been looking for a way to remove that without killing you. Given enough time, I should be able to do it. Considering my condition, however, the only way I can think of is to kill you. Luckily, we don't have to do that as you have removed it."

As Harry chuckled at Dumbledore's remorseless explanation, Lily roared, "Dumbledore! It was you! It was you who ruined our family. Because of you, Harry had suffered! Because of you, Harry had to spend the majority of his life all by himself. And what about that plan? Are you planning to sacrifice both of my sons!?"

"This is madness. You have gone senile, Dumbledore," Bella muttered calmly with intense killing intent.

"If you have lived as long as me, seen as many things, and experienced as much sorrow; you would understand why I think it is a fair trade, Lily. The hardest decision requires the strongest man and James is a strong one."

"That dickhead knew?"

Harry winced at Lily's spiteful remark. He looked at Dumbledore and wondered why the senile coot blabbered everything. Maybe, his incoming death unbottled his buried anxiety. Dumbledore, though hurt, looked relieved. Keeping everything to himself must have taken a lot out of him.

"Has your end goal always been killing me, Albus?" Harry asked calmly, stopping Lily's tirade of threats and curses.

"In a way, yes. But I do have the tool to revive you." Dumbledore glanced at the stone perched on the ring. "But after using it myself, I realized I am unfit to use it. Still, I can think of a way to resurrect you using it."

"The Philosopher Stone, better known as the Resurrection Stone can only summon the souls of the dead. Those who have long lost their body can never return unless you provide them with one. But that is assuming the dead even want to return. But I appreciate your thought, Albus. If everything went according to your plan, the Potters would have at least one breathing son."

Harry tried to sound neutral, but sarcasm still dripped into his words. He chuckled mirthlessly meanwhile Dumbledore smiled bitterly.

"Thanks to your independent research, the Deathly Hallows are now complete. The Potter has the invisibility cloak and you have the Resurrection Stone and the Elder Wand," Harry stated, causing Dumbledore's eyes to widen. "But I don't want them yet. I will take them when the time to kill you comes. What I want is your full cooperation in the Horcrux hunt. Don't leave me out of it, so a fiasco like this won't happen again."

For the very first time in the last half-century, Albus Percival Wulfric Dumbledore didn't know what to say. The young man before him had surprised him time and time again.

"Ah, I also want that sword. I don't need it to destroy the Horcruxes, but I think it would make me look cool."

The nonchalance on his face and the hint of mischief in his eyes showed exuberant reliability instead of immaturity. Harry Potter was the embodiment of confidence. He had the expression of a man who knew he would win and was just enjoying the journey. The power he possessed confirmed Dumbledore's observation.

Maybe, he is truly the second coming of Merlin.

Albus Dumbledore was relieved.