The Cupboard Series 5: United We Stand ...

Chapter 19

As the five filed into Dumbledore's office, it was easy to see the look of confusion on the old man's face.

"Good morning, everyone," Dumbledore greeted after they'd taken seats in front of his desk. "May I ask where the final member of our group is?"

Sirius looked at the Headmaster as though he were an idiot.

"Exactly where he's supposed to be Dumbledore, in class," Sirius stated.

Dumbledore sat back in his chair, his hands loosely clasped across his stomach.

"Then it seems that you have wasted your time coming here today, without young Harry here as well, it seems rather pointless to continue," he said.

"The boy's fifteen. He's right where he's supposed to be. Voldemort may have named him, but this is an adults' war, not a place for untrained kids," Moody growled.

"I can easily give him a report on what we learn here if it's important," Sirius added.

"I'm afraid that I must insist," Dumbledore countered. "Harry is a key component of this war; his presence is vital."

"Vital?" Croaker repeated in a tone that shouted his curiosity. "Why would Mister Potter's presence here be 'vital'? What's so special about the boy?"

"That is a subject best left between myself and Mister Potter at this time," Dumbledore replied lightly.

"And that's never going to happen, you and Harry being alone," Sirius stated vehemently.

"Regardless of what you believe, Sirius, there will come a time when it is imperative that I am allowed to speak to Harry alone," Dumbledore countered. "There are matters which he, and he alone, must be made aware of."

"Well, as least we can be sure that whatever this 'vital' thing is, it's got nothing to do with defeating Voldemort," Moody grunted. "Dumbledore knows the consequences of withholding information that would lead to taking the Dark Tosser down."

The Unspeakable wasn't the only one who noticed the slight widening of Dumbledore's eyes at that, however, he suspected that he was the only one who knew of an avenue to investigate. And if his hunch was correct, the outcome of the war could be more in flux than anyone realised.

"It was my understanding, Alastor, Kingsley, that you had discovered the whereabouts of the elusive Horace Slughorn?" Dumbledore asked, deliberately changing the topic, a ploy that everyone in the room saw through.

"Found him. Retrieved him. Got this," Moody affirmed, placing a small vial full of a white cloudy substance on the desk for all to see.

"However, did you manage to get Horace to give this memory to you?" an astonished-sounding Dumbledore asked.

"I asked nicely," Moody replied succinctly.

Amelia opened her mouth but instantly closed it again, deciding that no, no she really didn't want to know.

"Where is he now?" Algeron asked.

"Stashed him somewhere safe and out of the way for the duration of the war," Moody replied.

"Well, if this is the correct memory, then it is the most important part of the puzzle that we need," Dumbledore stated, rising and retrieving his pensieve.

After the memory had been poured in, the six gathered around the large shallow bowl and touched its surface. There they finally witnessed the untampered memory of Horace Slughorn and Tom Riddle discussing, theoretically mind you, the theory of Horcruxes. It was a short memory and within a few minutes, they returned to Dumbledore's office.