Between the Lines and Lies

The Mark of LOOVE

(In the hospital wing the next day, Harry and Emma are lying in beds. Harry's arm is bandaged. He awakens, puts on his glasses, and sits up. Emma groans awake, noticing that she has a bandage on her face.There are cards and candy all over. Dumbledore approaches them.)

Dumbledore: Good afternoon, Harry, Emma. Ah. Tokens from your admirers. 

Emma: Admirers? 

"Oh! Are you guys finally famous?"

Everyone in the Great Hall stares incredualously at James. 

Dumbledore: What happened down in the dungeons between you two and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows. (They smile.) Ah, I see your friend Ronald has saved you the trouble of opening your Chocolate Frogs.

Harry: Ron was here? Is he alright? What about Hermione? 

Dumbledore: Fine. They're both just fine. 

Emma: But what happened to the Stone? 

Dumbledore: Relax, dear girl. The Stone has been destroyed. My friend Nicholas and I had a little chat and agreed it was best all around.

Harry: But then, Flamel, he'll die, won't he?

Dumbledore: (sits on Harry's bed) He has enough Elixir to set his affairs in order. But yes, he will die.

Harry: How is it I got the Stone, sir? One minute I was staring in the mirror, and the next...

Dumbledore: Ah. You see, only a person who wanted to find the Stone, find it, but not use it, would be able to get it. That is one of my more brilliant ideas. And between you two and me that is saying something.

Emma: Does that mean, with the Stone gone, that is, that Voldemort can never come back?

Dumbledore: Ah, I'm afraid there are ways in which he can return. Harry, Emma, do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have you touch him? (The two shake their heads.) It was because of your mother. She sacrificed herself for you. And that kind of act leaves a mark. (Harry and Emma both touch their scars.) No, no, this kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin.

Harry: What is it?

Dumbledore: Love, Harry. Love. (Pats Harry's head gently and stands up.) Ah. Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. I was most unfortunate in my youth to come across a vomit-flavoured one. And since then, I'm afraid I've lost my liking for them. But I think I could be safe with a nice toffee. (takes brown bean and eats it.) Mm. Alas! Earwax. (Emma smirks)

"Aww, you got a cute little smirk, Bambi," James coos, mussing her hair. 

"Come on, Dad," Emma whines, trying to fix her hair and failing. 

(Harry and Emma enter a corridor, Harry's arm still bandaged and Emma's face uncovered with a small scar on it. Hermione and Ron are talking to each other on top a set of stairs. They stop when they see Harry and Emma and lean over the railing.)

Harry: All right there, Ron?

Ron: Alright. How 'bout you two?

Emma: (shrugs) Meh. Hermione?

Hermione: (smiling) Never better.

(We see the Great Hall full of students eating and talking with each other. There are green and silver banners with the Slytherin symbol above their heads, already indicating the house with the most points. Dumbledore gives a slight nod to Professor McGonagall, who then clinks her spoon to her glass to ask attention from the students. The crowd falls silent. Dumbledore stands up and speaks with his magically magnified voice.)