Unhappy Endings

149: The Great Revelation

"I know you have questions. I don't have the answers, I'm afraid," Dumbledore furrowed his brow and placed his forehead in his hand. "I'm afraid I must task the boy with a task that I deeply regret. He must see this memory, and know it is false."

"Yes, that is happening often now, isn't it?" Severus' voice had an unusual sharpness towards the Headmaster. Dumbledore responded with sharp eyes, warning Severus not to speak a single word more. There was several more moments of awkward silence before the boy who lived showed up. There was greetings, explanations and time for Harry to see the false memory as well.

Gently, Dumbledore's voice spoke up. "Confused? I would be surprised if you weren't."

"I don't understand-- what happened?"

"This is perhaps the most important memory I've collected. It's also a lie." Dumbledore continues rubbing his forehead. "This memory has been tampered with. In this case by the person whose memory it is, our friend Professor Slughorn."

"But why would he tamper with his own memory?"

"I suspect he is ashamed of it." When Harry asked why, he was met with a non-answer. "Why indeed? I asked you to get to know Professor Slughorn and you've done so. Now, I want you to persuade him to divulge his true memory. Any way you can."

You turned and looked at your husband. As you mouthed the word for the truth potion, Severus held open his hands, miming that he didn't have any. He had been out since Umbridge's time and the Ministry had put a stop on the ingredients in response to her overuse of the potion.

"I don't know him that well, sir–"

"You're the Chosen One, Harry. And Horace is, at heart, a decent man. Provide the proper circumstances and he will confess his sins. This memory is everything, Harry. Without it, we are blind. Without it, we leave the fate of our world to chance. You have no choice. You must not fail." He looked at you and Severus. "No one can." And as soon as the boy had appeared, he had left again.

Severus asked several questions, to which Dumbledore partially answered. The scene played out almost silently in your mind. What was the point? Why were so many things being laid out before them? Why wasn't Dumbledore planning or scheming? The silent movie before your eyes slowed down to a crawl and your eyes went into a thousand-yard stare.

"You're going to die." The words fell out of your mouth.

"We all do eventually, my dear." His eyes were soft, however and the sentiment was known. "After all, to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."

And unfortunately, it would come to set you on your next great adventure as well.