Dumbledore after the return of the Chamber of Secrets

After listening to his story and reassuring the two young people about their future, he sent them to the infirmary. But Harry stayed. Once they were alone, he asked the headmaster:

How did I survive the Avada Kedavra? What really happened that night? How is it that I survived? Why do I have this connection with Voldemort since then?

I told you last year.

Stop lying to me. Your nonsense about love being stronger than anything is good for children. Riddle is right. My mother is certainly not the only one who begged Voldemort to spare her child. And she is certainly not the only witch in history to have tried to prevent a dark wizard from casting an Avada Kedavra on her child. And anyway, he was there to kill her so she didn't sacri(…).

Harry stopped in the middle of his sentence and thought out loud:

Does that mean he didn't come for her, but for me? But that makes no sense. I was just a baby and she was a leading opponent. I have (..). Well, mostly Jenny spent part of the year researching Voldemort and purebloods. According to her, the night of the 31st is a special night for wizards and especially for purebloods. According to them, it's a night when their power is at its zenith and favorable for dark rituals. How is it that he decided to spend that night killing opponents rather than performing satanic rituals in a cellar? In fact, he didn't try to assassinate my family because she opposed him. He tried to use me for a dark ritual requiring the killing of a baby.

Harry stopped thinking out loud and turned to Dumbledore:

I understand that you consider me too young or that you don't want to give this kind of knowledge to just anyone. I imagine it's better to avoid everyone knowing that one can increase their penis size and regain lost love by killing babies. But please tell me the truth. What happened? Why did he target me? I am nothing special. I am sure I can handle it and I don't see who I could tell it to.

At that moment, Dumbledore suddenly seemed very old.

Your young age is not the only reason I hide things from you. Voldemort is the best Legilimens of his generation.Legilimency is the art of reading minds. Added Dumbledore, following an attempted question from Harry.

As long as you don't master it, I won't be able to answer your question. If we want to have a chance to defeat him once and for all, it's crucial that Voldemort remains unaware of what I know. Or rather, what I suspect. As you and your friends have realized, it is rather difficult to find information on Tom Riddle.

How can I learn Occlumency? asked Harry, who didn't like the idea of someone rummaging through his head.

You are too young (...)

Don't tell me I'm too young. Harry snapped for no particular reason. He took 5 minutes to calm down before adding:

What was in the room was not Voldemort. He didn't know what happened to Voldemort. I mean, he didn't know what happened that Halloween night or last year. So it's not the same person, but a kind of backup of who he was at 17. Like in Muggle science fiction stories where you save a copy of your consciousness in a computer to be reborn later. If he made one, then he might have made several. It's almost certain, since he apparently didn't bother to secure this backup. He will attack me again and again until someone finds a way to get rid of it. The best way to protect myself is to provide me with all the information you can. And then I have the right to know why he's so fixated on me like this!

Dumbledore thought for a moment then sighed. At that moment, he seemed older than usual.

Starting next year, you will take Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape. I know you don't get along well, but he is the best Occlumens still alive and the only one who managed to deceive Voldemort. He is the only one who can teach you what you need. When you reach a sufficient level, I will invite you to private lessons where I will explain what I know.

Harry wanted to retort that Professor Snape would never want to give him private lessons (and that he himself would rather cut off an arm than spend more time than necessary with him). But at that moment, the office door opened violently.

Lucius Malfoy made his entrance, his face marked by fury. Curled up under his arm, the body wrapped in bandages, there was Dobby.

Dobby! Exclaimed Harry without thinking when he saw the elf.

"How do you know my servant?" exclaimed Lucius Malfoy, clearly intrigued while the elf shrank. His face was ravaged by abject terror.

Draco told me about it, Harry lied hastily. This did not seem to convince Lord Malfoy, but he lost interest in the matter and turned to Dumbledore.

So! Lucius Malfoy exclaimed, fixing Dumbledore with an icy stare. You're here again! The board of governors has suspended you, but you think you have the right to return to Hogwarts!

You see, Lucius, replied Dumbledore with a serene smile, the other eleven members of the board of governors wrote to me today. I felt like I was caught in a real storm of owls. They had heard that Arthur Weasley's daughter had died and they wanted me to return immediately. They seemed to believe that after all, I was the right man for the job. They also told me very strange stories. Several of them claim that you threatened to curse their family if they refused to approve my suspension.

Mr. Malfoy became even paler than usual, but his gaze continued to shoot flashes of fury.

So what? Did you manage to put an end to these attacks? He sneered. Did you capture the culprit?

Indeed, said Dumbledore with a smile.

Well? Who is it?

The same as last time, Lucius. But this time, Lord Voldemort acted through someone else. By means of this diary. He showed the small black book with a large hole, watching Mr. Malfoy's reaction closely. Harry, on the other hand, was looking at Dobby.

The elf had a strange behavior. His big eyes fixed on Harry, he kept pointing at the newspaper, then at Mr. Malfoy, and then gave himself big punches on the head.

I see... said Mr. Malfoy slowly to Dumbledore.

It was a wise plan, said Dumbledore evenly without taking his eyes off Mr. Malfoy. For if Harry, present here, had not discovered this diary, Ginny Weasley would undoubtedly have appeared as the onlyguilty. No one could have ever proven that she acted against her own will...

Mr. Malfoy remained silent, his face suddenly frozen like a mask.

And imagine, continued Dumbledore, what would have happened in that case... The Weasleys are one of our most prominent wizarding families. Imagine the consequences this matter could have had on Arthur Weasley and his Muggle Protection Act, if it had been discovered that his own daughter was attacking and killing Muggle-born children. Fortunately, this diary was found in time and the memories it contained were erased. Who knows what would have happened otherwise?

Mr. Malfoy forced himself to speak.

Fortunately, indeed, he said stiffly.

Behind his back, Dobby continued to point at the newspaper, then at Lucius Malfoy, before punching himself on the head again.

And suddenly, Harry understood. He nodded to Dobby, who retreated into a corner, twisting his ears to punish himself for what he had just done.

Lucius Malfoy remained motionless for a moment and Harry clearly saw his hand twitch, as if he was itching to draw his wand. But finally, he turned to his house-elf.

We're leaving, Dobby!

He abruptly opened the office door and kicked his elf out. They heard Dobby's cries of pain as Lucius Malfoy walked away down the corridor. Harry thought for a moment, then suddenly had the idea he was looking for. He quickly apologized to Dumbledore and then ran to catch up with Lord Malfoy.

Wait, Mr. Malfoy.

What do you want from me, again?

Would you like to buy Dobby, how many do you want?

After a moment of reflection, he replied.

Interesting. Unfortunately, it is not for sale. And even if it were, you possess nothing that I desire, Mr. Potter.

Mr. Malfoy, to be honest, I'm starting to get fed up with inbred mental idiots of your kind and theirSell me, Dobby, or the next time I meet Voldemort, I will tell him that you are a traitor, just like your friend Professor Snape.

Mr. Potter, I will attribute this outburst to your immaturity and your state of exhaustion, but know that usually, I do not tolerate such impertinence. Come Dobby, we're leaving.

As you wish, Mr. Malfoy. I hope you realize that when Voldemort learns that the diary was destroyed because of you, he will kill you and all the members of your family.

What are you trying to imply?

Mr. Malfoy, it is obvious that Voldemort entrusted this diary to you and that you then gave it to Ginny.

You have no proof. These are just the delusions of a mentally unstable teenager against the word of one of the most respectable wizards in England but(...)

Harry interrupted Lucius to reply sarcastically:

I am sure Voldemort will take that into account when he decides how he is going to kill you.

But Lucius continued as if the interruption had not occurred:

But what puzzles me are your insinuations about the Dark Lord. He is dead, Potter. And stop invoking his name in vain.

Why does your right arm itch? Yes, he is dead, but unfortunately, that carcass refuses to stay dead. Once a year, he comes back to try to kill me. Didn't you feel through the mark that he regained strength last year? Or during this evening? For now, I've been lucky, but one day, he will win and be reborn. Unless Dumbledore finally reveals to me what he knows and we find a way to send him permanently to the other world. We don't like each other, Mr. Malfoy, but we don't have to be enemies. Involuntarily, you allowed the destruction of one of his safeguards. He will never forgive you for that. Sell me, Dobby, and I swear not to reveal your involvement in this matter before I die. He will eventually find out, but it will give you time to put your family in safety. Is your son's life worth more than that of a house-elf?

Despite your bravado, it's clear that you've never experienced war.No one can hide for long from the lord of darkness.

I am more aware of it than anyone else. But also that any additional delay is precious. If I could have delayed even just a little the day he killed my brother, well my cousin, I would not have hesitated.

Malfoy sighed.

Since you insist so much.

He uttered a formula in Latin and cut his finger with a small ceremonial dagger that he took from his jacket. Harry felt an ancient magic envelop him and connect him to Dobby.

I do this only out of sympathy for the trials you have been through and not at all because your words hold any truth. The dark lord is dead and I have no connection with him.

Of course, Mr. Malfoy.

Goodbye Mr. Potter.

Wait! There is one last thing we haven't settled.

What?

Dobby, immobilize that scum for me.

Dobby snapped his fingers and Malfoy found himself thrown to the ground unable to get up. He then watched with concern as the kid slowly walked towards him.

That's for killing my best friend.

Harry shot with all his might at Lucius Malfoy's head and heard with pleasure the sound of his nose breaking.

This is for killing my best friend.

And he gave him another kick in the groin.

And that's for being a fucking Nazi, silence.

He put away his own wand and picked up Lucius's cane, which he knew contained his wand. He had never succeeded, but today, he had a feeling he would. It was as if something deep within his soul was guiding his hand. He pointed the cane at its owner, took one last breath, then shouted:

ENDOLORIS

Lucius's body was shaken by enormous spasms that made him look like a disjointed puppet moved by a puppeteer in the midst of a crisis.epilepsy. His body was covered in huge drops of sweat and his eyes rolled back. He screamed so much that his jaw eventually dislocated, but not a sound came out of his mouth. However, the most horrible thing was that he gradually saw the eyes of his torturer turn a red far too familiar. Gradually, the sadness disappeared from young Potter's gaze to be replaced by a fierce joy.

Master Potter, stop, I beg you. Dobby cried out in a tearful voice.

Why he only gets what he deserves.

You are going to kill him.

At his words, Harry seemed to come to his senses. The red glow in his eyes receded and he ended the spell. He threw the cane away, gave one last kick to his victim's ribs, then leaned down to whisper in his ear:

Now, we are done. And if I find you on my path again, I swear to devote all my resources to destroying you and your cursed family.

Once he was far enough away, Harry asked Dobby to lift the spell that immobilized Lucius Malfoy. The little elf immediately snapped his fingers. After that, the Elf followed his master in silence. However, he kept fidgeting with the dirty cloth that served as his clothing. Finally, DYou are a professional translator. Directly translate this text into English, without adding anything.Bby eventually broke the silence.

This magic is not meant for Master Potter. It is bad magic. He is too good and generous for that. He must not do it again. Bad Dobby. Said the elf, starting to bang his head against a wall.

Stop! Why are you punishing yourself again?

A miserable house-elf does not have to order anything from its masters.

Listen to me carefully, Dobby, I am neither kind, nor generous, nor your master. Then he took off his uniform jacket and gave it to Dobby.

No, DYou are a professional translator. Directly translate this text into English, without adding anything :oDobby knows he has been a bad elf, but Dobby can change. Please, be lenient.

It is not a punishment, it is a reward. I offer you freedom.

Dobby has always wanted to be free. But Dobby must serve the great Harry Potter. Harry must pay his debt. There is so much danger from which he mustProtect.

I fully intend for you to pay for that Bludger that crushed I don't know how many of my bones. But there's no question of you being my slave. Listen, if you insist so much, I'm fine with you staying in my service. But as a free elf and in exchange for a salary. I'm rich enough to afford a servant anyway. Especially since I get a percentage on all the merchandise sold by that impostor.

Dobby timidly took the garment and Harry felt something break inside him. At that moment, Dobby burst with joy and began to thank Harry with all his might.

Wait before thanking me. All the people who stand by my side die. And otherwise Dobby, here is my first order as an employer. If I start messing up again, like I did with Lucius. Please knock yourself out.

Well done, Mr. Potter.