Lucy Riddle and the Boy Who Lived

The Articles About Albus Dumbledore

Chapter Thirty-Two

Everyone was dreading this day. No one wanted to believe that Dumbledore was six feet under. The funeral made it official. There was no way around his death — he was truly and utterly gone.

People from all over came to Hogwarts to pay their respects. Hogsmeade was so crowded that it was hard to find a floor to sleep on. All the students were sitting on one side, and the adults on the other. Dumbledore's body laid in a marble tomb in the centre of the crowd.

A priest was standing at the head of the body, praying with his hands just below his chest. Everyone followed suit as he praised the former headmaster. Most of the students weren't paying attention. They were thinking about the times when Dumbledore was still alive. Lucy was one of those people.

The merpeople rose from their home in the lake and sang a beautiful song for him. It was said that Dumbledore was the only one who was capable of speaking Mermish. As the merpeople sang, tears bubbled up in all the wizards' and witches' eyes.

Once their song was over, they sank back into the depths of the lake, but still letting the merpeople's grieving be heard on land. The centaurs were on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest, shooting arrows in the dark-blue sky.

Someone tucked Dumbledore's wand in his bony, lifeless hands.

And then the tomb was closed.

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Lucy was still seated in her chair. Everyone had already left the procession, wiping their tears with the backs of their hands or with handkerchiefs. She wasn't able to move. Fred tried to persuade her into coming inside Hogwarts, but she wouldn't budge. Her friends let her be, grieving themselves.

A stray newspaper tickled her ankles. She picked it up, staring at the articles. Lucy noticed there were some about Dumbledore, but one particular one sparked her interest.

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE . . . A LIAR?

As you've all heard, Albus Dumbledore is, as devastating as it sounds, deceased. He was killed by a Death-Eater's hand as he left Molly and Arthur Weasley's home. The Weasleys' home was a bad omen. Especially since the only person whom You-Know-Who fears is gone. He could've saved us from the one we fear most . . . but would he?

    From my sources, — though I won't tell who it is — I've learned quite a lot about Dumbledore's past. He's not exactly the person we thought he was. The goody-too-shoes we know today? Wouldn't have recognized him back then.

    When he was only seventeen, fresh out of Hogwarts, he was given the responsibility of caring for her sister, Ariana Dumbledore. She had been ill for years, barely gong outside. No one knows what really happened to her, but don't you find it suspicious that she died just days after her mother's own death? Even bigger question: why had only a few number of people known the existence of Ariana Dumbledore? Some say she'd been locked inside the house because she was a Squib. Her family was embarrassed of her.

    But, there's also the battle between Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald. I had interviewed Bathilda Bagshot, a close friend of the Dumbledores and author of A History of Magic. She told me, "Gellert Grindelwald was my nephew. He was staying with me for the summer, something his mum suggested to me. She thought it would be great for him since Gellert didn't have many friends. He strayed away from them and didn't seem to fancy the idea of friendship. So when he became friends with my next-door neighbor, I couldn't help but feel ecstasy! He finally made a friend!

    "But what I didn't know was that the two best friends were plotting a way for the Muggle population to bow down to all wizards and witches. Their motto was 'For the greater good.' They made . . . tons of plans. They would send Owls to each other every second of the day, even if they had just left their houses. Their plans were very well written, might I add."

    Bathilda had provided me with one of their most recent letter. This was before Grindelwald vanished, cutting contact with Dumbledore, and before the Great Duel. For more information, stay in tune with me, and I will search for more facts about the mystery that is Albus Dumbledore's past.

Rita Skeeter

Anger rushed through her veins. That Rita Skeeter, always causing mayhem! Lucy spotted another article about Dumbledore, but it was the opposite of Skeeter's nasty writing.

The Fantastic Albus Dumbledore

For those who read the nonsense Rita Skeeter writes — don't believe in that rubbish. She loves to write horrible things about other people to receive more money. Rita Skeeter lies to make sure her profits grow higher and higher, but I'm not writing this for money or to accuse Rita of something. No, I'm writing to tell you the truth about the Albus Dumbledore who now lays in a tomb on Hogwarts's grounds.

    I was a good friends of Albus's. We had met at his death place, Hogwarts. He had helped me pick up my textbooks to which I had dropped. I was tripped by Slytherin classmates. He stood up for the nerdy student who couldn't balance on his own two feet.

    After that day, we were together almost every chance we had. We were to travel around the world, looking for cures when the death of his mother happened. I understood why he wasn't able to come along to Austria with me and, as a close friend of his, knew to give Albus some space. Albus was grieving for months on end. His only family now was his brother and sister, whom he loved dearly. Though Ariana died not too long after.

    To those who believe that he is heartless — that he doesn't love anyone — believe this: Albus loved and cared for everyone. He stood up for those he knew were right. Albus was there for Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, when he shouted off the rooftops that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was back. Everyone didn't believe the poor boy, but one person did. Albus Dumbledore spoke on behalf of Harry Potter and was discriminated. Albus lost his rightful titles for the young boy.

    If that doesn't show people that Albus loved Harry Potter, then nothing will. He really cared for the boy. I have just recently found out that it was Albus who placed Harry on the doorsteps of his aunt and uncle's home. It was Albus who made sure Harry was safe.

    It was Albus Dumbledore who gave us the Chosen One, the one who was to save the Wizarding world.

Elphias Doge