Chapter 299 - Families (1/2)
”I know, he trusts me a lot now,” said Chris. ”But does he trust me enough to talk about teenager Tom Riddle? I don't know.”
She was sitting in Dumbledore's office next evening. Dumbledore was in his usual seat. His elbows perched on the desk, fingers interlocked and he was staring at them.
”I have tried cautiously to slip the dark arts in some conversation but every time he dodged it,” Chris continued. ”He smoothly changed the topic to some different direction before I could elaborate.”
”Yes, Horace is particularly efficient at avoiding difficult conversation but Christina we need that information at any cost,” Dumbledore said grimly.
”I know Professor and I won't stop trying,” Chris sighed. ”But sir, we're sure Riddle made a Horcruxe, aren't we? I mean the locket.”
”And the diary,” Dumbledore informed.
”Wait, what?” Chris looked surprised.
”The diary, Riddle's diary, the one giving instructions on how to reopen the Chamber of Secrets,” Dumbledore said. ”Which was destroyed by you.”
”It was a Horcruxe? But how did you — I don't understand sir.”
”Well, although I did not see the Riddle who came out of the diary, what Harry described to me was a phenomenon I had never witnessed. A mere memory starting to act and think for itself? A mere memory, sapping the life out of the girl into whose hands it had fallen? No, something much more sinister had lived inside that book . . . a fragment of soul, I was almost sure of it. The diary had been a Horcruxe. But this raised as many questions as it answered. What intrigued and alarmed me most was that that diary had been intended as a weapon as much as a safeguard.”
”Yes, it was,” Chris said staring at an object in Dumbledore's desk as she processed the information. ”It wasn't like the locket which tried to protect the soul at any cost. It was trying to get Riddle back and it was trying to kill people by using Ginny.”
There was a long pause. Dumbledore didn't speak but he stared at Chris.
”So he made more than one Horcruxe, he already destroyed two and we don't know how many more he created?” Chris finished sinking low into the chair. ”God! That's horrible. He just tore his soul apart like cotton candy. Here and there.”
Dumbledore sighed.
”Now, do you understand why we need that memory?” he said.
Chris nodded mutely.
”Christina, if you think you can include Harry,” advised Dumbledore. ”Because time is running out.”
”No,” Chris suddenly muttered and Dumbledore looked at her surprised. ”I mean, I will see what I can do sir. I don't want to include Harry if it isn't necessary.”
”Of course.”
Chris was just thinking about excusing herself when someone knocked at the door. Without waiting, Dumbledore said, ”enter.”
Harry entered and looked surprised to see Chris. Chris scolded herself mentally for not checking the time before coming to meet Dumbledore.
If you want to avoid someone, at least do it properly. Stupid.
”Harry, I hear that you met the Minister of Magic over Christmas?” asked Dumbledore.
”Yes,” said Harry sitting on the next chair to Chris. ”He's not very happy with me.”
”No,” sighed Dumbledore. ”He is not very happy with me either. We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on.”
Harry grinned and even Chris chuckled.
”He wanted me to tell the Wizarding community that the Ministry's doing a wonderful job,” said Harry.
Dumbledore smiled.
”It was Fudge's idea originally, you know. During his last days in office, when he was trying desperately to cling to his post, he sought a meeting with you, hoping that you would give him your support —”
”After everything, Fudge did last year?” said Harry angrily. ”After Umbridge?”
”I told Cornelius there was no chance of it, but the idea did not die when he left office. Within hours of Scrimgeour's appointment, we met and he demanded that I arrange a meeting with you —”
”So that's why you argued!” Chris blurted out. ”It was in the Daily Prophet.”
”The Prophet is bound to report the truth occasionally,” said Dumbledore, ”if only accidentally. Yes, that was why we argued. Well, it appears that Rufus found a way to corner you at last.”
”He accused me of being 'Dumbledore's man through and through.'” said Harry.
”How very rude of him.”
”I told him I was.”
Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again. Behind them, Fawkes the phoenix let out a low, soft, musical cry. Chris smiled but to her surprise, she suddenly realized that Dumbledore's bright blue eyes looked rather watery. When Dumbledore spoke, however, his voice was quite steady.
”I am very touched, Harry.”
”Chris also gave him the same reaction,” Harry said looking at his knees. ”She also warned the Minister to not to bother you.”
”I had no idea,” Dumbledore looked at Chris with same watery eyes.
This time Chris looked embarrassed. She didn't tell Dumbledore or anyone else apart from her friends about this.
”I had to,” she said defensively. ”He was being nosy and accusing Harry of working with you. I have to remind him that we are on the same side, we all want the common people to be safe.”