Re:HP-A New Life

I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.

https://www.patréon.com/emperordragon

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Chapter 59: A Plan in Motion

Dumbledore's office was dimly lit, the flickering light from the enchanted candles casting long shadows over ancient tomes and whirring contraptions. The headmaster sat behind his grand oak desk, his blue eyes sharp and curious as they settled on Harry, who stood calmly before him.

"You couldn't find the diary," Dumbledore stated softly, not as a question but as a conclusion he had already anticipated.

Harry inclined his head. "It wasn't where I expected it to be."

The faintest furrow appeared on Dumbledore's brow, though his expression remained serene. "That is troubling. Lucius Malfoy was entrusted with it, was he not?"

"Yes," Harry confirmed. "I searched his study at the manor, but the diary was gone. Either he moved it recently or someone else has taken it."

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin. "A dangerous development," he murmured. "If Tom's diary is loose in the world, it may already be sowing chaos."

Harry nodded grimly. "I'll find it," he assured the headmaster. "But in the meantime, there's something else we need to discuss—the ritual."

Dumbledore's eyes gleamed with interest. "Ah, yes. You mentioned this ritual during our last conversation. I confess I am most curious, Harry. What precisely do you have in mind?"

Harry took a steadying breath. "It's a soul-trapping ritual," he began.

Dumbledore's expression shifted to one of mild skepticism. "Soul-trapping? I must tell you, Harry, that no magic—dark or otherwise—can truly trap a soul. After death, the soul moves beyond the veil, beyond any wizard's reach. Even the Dementor's Kiss does not trap the soul; it merely severs it from the body."

Harry met Dumbledore's gaze steadily. "That's true for a whole soul," he agreed. "But Horcruxes don't contain whole souls, just fragments. And fragments of a soul can be bound."

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed slightly, his mind clearly racing through possibilities. "Go on," he prompted.

"We'll start by destroying one Horcrux," Harry explained. "When the soul fragment is released, we'll use the ritual to trap it inside a containment gem. Once we have it trapped, we can use that gem to draw the fragments out of the other Horcruxes without destroying the artifacts themselves."

Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts. The only sound was the soft ticking of a brass orrery on Dumbledore's desk.

The headmaster's fingers tapped lightly against the wood as he considered Harry's words. "Fascinating," he finally murmured. "To isolate a fragment of soul and use it as a sort of… lodestone to cleanse the others."

Harry watched as Dumbledore's expression shifted from skepticism to admiration, the brilliance of the plan dawning on him. The subtle tightening of his lips and the faint sparkle in his eyes were all the confirmation Harry needed.

"It is… ingenious," Dumbledore admitted quietly. "A method both elegant and efficient. And, perhaps most importantly, it preserves the artifacts themselves, most of which hold historical and cultural significance."

Harry's lips twitched into a faint smile. "I thought you might appreciate that."

Dumbledore's gaze sharpened. "This ritual, Harry—where did you learn of it?"

Harry hesitated for a fraction of a second. "It's something I pieced together from various sources. Old texts, magical theory… and a bit of intuition."

Dumbledore regarded him thoughtfully. "A dangerous path you tread, Harry. But one that may yet lead us to salvation."

Harry nodded. "I'll handle the ritual. All I need is your help sourcing the containment gem and reinforcing the ritual circle."

Dumbledore inclined his head. "Consider it done. There are few materials suitable for such delicate work, but I believe I can procure what we need."

The headmaster's gaze softened. "You continue to surprise me, Harry. Your understanding of magic—both its intricacies and its potential—is far beyond what one would expect of someone your age. And yet, I find myself grateful for it."

Harry's expression turned serious. "We don't have the luxury of time, Professor. Voldemort is weaker now, but that won't last. We need to dismantle his Horcruxes before he regains his full strength."

Dumbledore's eyes gleamed with resolve. "Then we shall waste no time."

As Harry rose from his seat, Dumbledore's voice stopped him.

"Harry," he said gently, "thank you for trusting me with this."

Harry met his gaze, a flicker of warmth in his eyes. "You earned it," he said simply.

With that, he turned and left the office, leaving Dumbledore to contemplate the bold and brilliant plan they had just set into motion. The headmaster's fingers brushed against his wand as he stared into the flickering flames of the hearth, his mind already working through the complexities of the ritual ahead.

Perhaps, just perhaps, victory was within their grasp.