Chapter 283 - A Girl (1/2)

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.