Reaper's Heir (Book 1)

Chapter 14

I felt someone picking me up and carrying me, felt the air change and heard the flap of the wings on the keys again. I lapsed in and out of consciousness, having no idea how long I was out each time. It felt like an eternity stuck between a void and the lingering pain of being attacked by Voldemort.

"You assured me she'd be safe Dumbledore!" An oddly familiar voice snarled, dragging me back to the brink of consciousness.

"All her injuries are healed. She merely needs to rest." Professor Dumbledore replied, "All of them did the school a great service."

"I warned you he wasn't truly dead. I entrusted her to you on the condition that she would be kept out of this mess involving him. Had I known you were just going to send her off to that house and abandon her there, I would've found another way."

"What's done is done." Professor Dumbledore said firmly, "I cannot change what has happened, despite what you may wish of me. Ultimately, it was her decision to join Harry and the others in this endeavor.'

"Do not antagonize me, Albus." The voice growled and there was a thud. "I know how you are. You leave clues and hints and allow children to do your dirty work. Keep my daughter out of whatever plans you're laying out or I will take you, here and now." There was no reply and I heard what sounded like doors closing. A hand brushed my hair off my forehead. My head spun and I felt the world around me fading again. "Maeve, my darling girl, you must-" The voice started, but everything went black, cutting off the mystery person.

I don't know how long I was out, but the next time I woke up, sunlight streamed in through the windows. I looked around, seeing piles of candy around me. Another tower surrounded the bed across from me, which Harry sat up in, putting his glasses on. We shared wide-eyed smiles before Professor Dumbledore came in.

"Good afternoon, you two." He said, coming to our beds. His eyes fell on the candy and sweets around us. "Ah. Tokens from your admirers?"

"Admirers?" Harry and I asked at the same time.

"What happened down in the dungeons between you two and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows." He smiled and picked up an opened box from Harry's pile "Ah, I see your friend Ronald has saved you the trouble of opening your Chocolate Frogs."

Harry immediately sat up, his eyes wide. "Ron was here? Is he all right? What about Hermione?"

"Fine. They're both just fine." Dumbledore said soothingly.

"But, what happened to the Stone?" I asked.

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

"But Flamel, he'll die, won't he?" I asked, suddenly feeling agitated.

"He has enough Elixir to set his affairs in order. But yes, he will die."

"How is it I got the Stone, sir?" Harry asked. "One minute I was staring in the mirror, and the next..." He trailed off uncertaintly.

"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 and me thats saying something." Dumbledore said, hushing us.

"Does that mean, with the Stone gone, I mean, that Voldemort can never come back?" Harry asked.

"Ah, I'm afraid there are ways in which he can return. Harry, do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have you touch him? It was because of your mother. She sacrificed herself for you, and that kind of act leaves a mark." Harry touched his scar. "No, no, this kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin."