-Chapter One-
The Reading of the WillIt had only been an hour since Professor Dumbledore's funeral and the sky was clear, not a cloud could be seen. Only the golden sun that sat shining over the rolling monotony of grass surrounding the grand castle that was Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.
There was nothing to suggest that a murder had occurred in the top most tower on the North wing of the mossed stone castle, as the stain glass windows shone as the sunrays hit it as it moved across the sky. But there had. That night saw an attack on the school and the murder of its beloved Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore by the hands of the school's Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Severus Snape. The only witness to this crime were three Death Eaters and two students, Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter.
The school stood empty and quiet over the Black Lake, which shimmered in the sunlight, tiny explosions occurring as the Merpeople residing within the vast lake jumped from their watery habitat splashing water as their tails cracked down whipping the water. A white marble tomb stood just a few yards from the Black Lake, which sat in front of a white tent that protected rows of chairs from the sun. The tiny little House-Elves that worked at the school scurried around the tent putting away the chairs that coincidentally were just taller than they were.
But, they weren't the only ones standing there. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley stood in front of marble tomb, solitary and quiet, not speaking. Tears dripped down Hermione's face, her bushy hair sticking to the trails of tears on her face. Ron looked at the tomb his face screwed up as if the sun was in his eyes, his red hair mopping over his eyes. Harry felt a chain between his thin fingers as he clenched his fist staring at the tomb with his green eyes through his round glasses that sat on his hooked nose. He bowed his head as he looked down at the locket in his hand. His thin face reflecting of the golden locket showing a lightning bolt scar sitting underneath a mop of unruly jet-black hair.
This was no ordinary scar. Or no ordinary locket. For you see when Harry was one year old, Lord Voldemort the most feared of all dark wizards came to his home on Halloween. He had come to kill Harry fearing that he was the threat prophesied to kill him. Killing Harry's parents, he was destroyed only when his curse rebounded on him turning into nothing but, vapour thanks to his Horcruxes, an item of which he placed his soul in to protect himself from dying.
This left Harry famous and alone living the next ten years isolated at his Aunt and Uncle's. Getting his letter to Hogwarts Harry faced Voldemort twice before destroying one his Horcruxes during one of these encounters: Tom Riddle's Diary. It was only until his fourth year that Harry watched as Voldemort returned and faced him in duel escaping back to Hogwarts.
It was at Harry's fifth year after witnessing his godfather, Sirius Black die and a wizard duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort; he heard the prophecy that had made Voldemort come after him that night fifteen years ago.
Harry looked up at the white tomb a golden engravement carved into the marble above him saying:
Here Lies
Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
1847 – 1997
Headmaster of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry
1956 – 1997
Harry looked back at everything Dumbledore had taught him and the task he had given him before his death. Harry knew that he must find all of Voldemort's Horcruxes destroying them, leaving Voldemort mortal once again. Harry felt the locket in his hand; this was a reminder of the sacrifice Dumbledore had made by drinking the poison in the basin where Voldemort had hidden his Horcrux weakening himself, returning to be confronted by Draco Malfoy. For a moment, Dumbledore had talked Malfoy out killing him only to be killed by the Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Severus Snape, Harry witnessed this immobilised under his invisibility cloak.
A surge of hate filled Harry as he remembered Snape's betrayal hating the potion master even more, not only had he goaded Sirius into following Harry into the Department of Mysteries he had betrayed Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. Harry hated Snape now almost as much as he did Voldemort and hoped one day they'd meet again so that he could fight him and exact his revenge. Harry's thoughts lingered back to Malfoy hate filling his veins as well, with a touch of pity at Malfoy's present predicament. Harry knew that although Malfoy was good at Occlumency there was no way he'd be able to hide his failure to Voldemort.
Harry looked closely at the Horcrux; unfortunately, this was not a real Horcrux. Someone had already taken it. Who had it Harry didn't know all he knew was that he had to find who this mysterious R.A.B. was and where he hid the Horcrux. Then, Dumbledore's sacrifice would not have been in vain.
"Harry Potter, sir?" A squeaky voice appeared below Harry as he stood transfixed at the tomb.
Harry looked down to see Dobby the House-Elf stood wearing his miss-matched clothes. "Hi, Dobby. What is it?" Harry asked looking down at Dobby's glum saucepan eyes.
"Professor McGonagall, wants to see you and Master Weasley and Mistress Granger. It seemed urgent, Harry Potter, sir," Dobby said.
Harry knew what McGonagall wanted. She wanted to know what he and Professor Dumbledore were up to the night he died. And Harry wasn't going to change his mind he still wasn't going to tell her anything. That was Dumbledore's wishes and he wanted to honour it.
Harry, Ron and Hermione walked slowly up the spiral staircase leading to the Headmaster's staircase, or Headmistress now that McGonagall had taken over. They stopped at the brass knocker, knocking it.
"Come in," came Professor McGonagall's voice.
Harry, Ron and Hermione walked in to see professor McGonagall sitting behind Dumbledore's old desk with Griphook one of the Goblins from Gringotts. She was not alone. Moody was stood against the wall surrounded with all the past headmasters' and headmistress' portraits. Tonks and Lupin sat in their chairs holding each others hand, Tonks looking happier than she'd been all year. Also there, was Mr and Mrs Weasley and Slughorn, Flitwick and Professor Sprout sitting on comfy velvet chairs next to Moody and the barman from the Hog's Head, whom Moody had told Harry was Professor Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth Dumbledore. Hagrid could be seen sitting down on two chairs.
"Good to see you, Potter," McGonagall nodded standing, "now, we can begin."
Harry, Ron and Hermione walked over sitting down as McGonagall conjured three new chairs in front of the desk. "This is the will and testimony of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," Griphook said reading a long roll of parchment. A small twinge fell in Harry's stomach. This was the first will reading he had been to, Sirius' had been read a week before Dumbledore had took him to the Burrow last summer. "Witnesses are Harry James Potter, Ron Bilius Weasley, Hermione Jane Granger, Filius Flitwick, Molly and Arthur Weasley, Alastor Moody, Horace Slughorn, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Aberforth Oswald Herbert William Dumbledore, Professor Sprout, Rubeus Hagrid, Minerva McGonagall."
He cleared his throat, "I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore leave to my brother Aberforth Oswald Herbert William Dumbledore ten thousand Galleons and my collection of vintage oak-matured mead. I leave my summer cottage to my friend Horace Slughorn and my collection of magical creatures encyclopaedias to Rubeus Hagrid," Hagrid whipped a large teardrop from his eye.
"To Pomona Sprout, I leave my prized Sapsomonia plant. To Molly and Arthur Weasley I leave ten thousand galleons to you and your family. To both Remus Lupin and Alastor Moody, I leave ten thousand Galleons and leadership of the Order of the Phoenix. To my friends Filius Flitwick and Minerva McGonagall, I leave you Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry please, take care of the future generation from harm."
"And to Harry Potter, firstly I leave you something from your parents," Harry's head jerked up inquisitively. "When your parents died I purchased their home rebuilding it for you to live in when you come of age. The last two things I leave with you are something that shall help you on the journey that lies ahead. Godric Gryfindor's sword and seven vials of memories that will help you on your quest. I also leave you with these words Harry. This journey will be harsh and treacherous and I am sorry I can not accompany you, but in our hours of desperation and suffering the ones we love make us stronger. Your heart is were your power lies, do not shut out the people close to your heart for only then shall you be weak. Together, we are stronger, Harry. Remember that.
Harry bowed his head as Dumbledore left him with his last words of wisdom. Harry's eyes felt like they were burning as they started to water. He held the fake Horcrux tight in his hand as a reminder.
"And lastly, I leave this letter to Mrs Petunia Dursley," Griphook finished. Harry looked up shocked. Aunt Petunia, Harry thought, why would Dumbledore leave something for Aunt Petunia in his will? Everyone else was thinking the same thing.
"Petunia Dursley?" Professor McGonagall gaped at Griphook.
"Yes, that was what Professor Dumbledore wrote," Griphook replied holding a small envelope. "Which one of you is Harry Potter?"
"I-I-I am," Harry spluttered, holding up his hand.
"Professor Dumbledore, requested that you give this to your Aunt," Griphook said handing him the envelope. Harry looked at it confused and curious as to what was inside. Written on the front was the words:
Petunia Dursley
Number 4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
Harry wondered what it was that Dumbledore wanted to tell Aunt Petunia. What was it? Harry thought, does this have anything to do with the last letter Dumbledore left Aunt Petunia?
These thoughts carried Harry all the way through the train ride. What was it that Aunt Petunia had been hiding from him? Harry had always wondered about how much Aunt Petunia knew about the Wizarding world ever since the night Harry and Dudley were attacked by Dementors.
"No," Hermione snarled at Harry when he suggested opening the letter to find out, "Dumbledore wanted you to give it to your Aunt."
"Come on, Hermione," Ron replied, "a quick look wouldn't do any harm."
"Dumbledore wanted Harry's Aunt to read it," she snarled tears welling in her eyes, "and you want to disrespect his wishes."
She was right. Harry couldn't betray Dumbledore's wishes after everything he'd done for him. For the past six years Dumbledore had taught Harry so much, he couldn't betray him like that. It would a mockery of Dumbledore's memory. Harry placed the letter in his jeans pocket, looking out of the compartment window looking at the horizon. A feeling of foreboding in the pit of his stomach.