John Constantine and The Useless Magic Rock

Recovery

Harry peeled back heavy eyelids, his fuzzy vision taking in the surroundings.

He blinked at the revelation.
He was in the infirmary?

He also noted that he was the room's sol patient.

Where were his friends?!
Were they alright?!

Harry pushed down the covers to move, wanting to search for his missing companions.

"Ah, you are awake I see."

The ebony haired boy looked up, the familiar face of his headmaster walking towards his bed.

"Hmm,"
He smiled,
"Tokens from your admirers?"

The student titled his head, looking around more closely to finally realize that he had gifts.

Candy, cards and bags filling up the dressers and tables at his disposal.

Wow.....

"A-admirers?"

"What happened between you, Mr. Constantine and Professor Quirrell, had been decided to be a secret....so naturally the whole school knows."

Harry giggled at the backwards logic.

Dumbledore picked one of the boxes up, examining the small package softly.

"I see that, Mr. Weasley, has saved you the trouble of opening your Chocolate Covered Frog."
He fidgeted with the open lid.

"Ron was here? What about Hermione?!-and John?!-"

"-fine, fine. They're all perfectly fine Harry."

Harry let his head sag with a sigh of relief.
His friends were ok.

Harry startled,
"But what about the stone?!-"

"-relax my dear boy! The stone has been taken care of it. My friend Nicholas and I, had been discussing the stone's fate thoroughly. He thought, that for the best, that it be destroyed."

"But....but I thought...without the stone, he'll die won't he?"

The headmaster took on a sober expression, taking a place on the bed beside his student.

"He has enough elixir, to set his affairs in order."

Harry saddened, his professor was going to loose one of his closest friends.

Then he frowned.
"Professor....how...did I get the stone? One moment I saw looking in the mirror and then the next...."

His smile came back with a touch of humor.
"Ah, you see, only a person who wished to find the stone, not use it, would be able to get it."
He leaned in,
"One of my more brilliant ideas."

Harry titled his head, slightly confused.

"Does that mean.....with the stone gone, Voldemort can never come back?"

Dumbledore wore a more blank expression.
If one looked closer, one would determine it somewhere between sad and grim.
"Ah. I'm afraid....that there are other ways in which he could indeed return....without the use of the stone."

Harry looked to his bandaged hands.
So was that all for nothing?

"Do you know why the Professor couldn't bare to have you touch him?"

Harry shook his head, looking up slightly.
No......he didn't.

"It was because of your mother Harry. She sacrificed her life to save yours; and that kind of act leaves a mark on someone..."