Colours - h.potter

sacrifices in brown

Dumbledore poured the memory of Horace Slughorn into the pensieve as Lyra readied herself to focus on Harry's mind.

Horcrux. Dark. Splitting the soul. Immortality. Killing. Seven Horcruxes.

Lyra was in shock as she watched Dumbledore sit down. "This is beyond anything I've imagined."

"He succeeded in making the Horcruxes. All seven. It's how he came back. A Horcrux could be anything. The most common object. Tom Riddle's diary was a Horcrux." Lyra answered the questions running through Harry's mind, watching as Dumbledore pulled out the familiar diary and a ring. "The ring belonged to Voldemort's mother. If we find all the Horcruxes, if we destroy them.."

"It would destroy Voldemort." Dumbledore finished, eyeing the girl.

"How do we find them? They could be anywhere." Harry sounded frantic, possibly even more frantic than Lyra and Dumbledore.

"Yes, Harry. But magic, especially dark magic, leaves traces."

"It's where you've been going, isn't it? When you leave. Does Minnie know?"

"Yes, Lyra. I'm not sure if Minerva does know. However, I think I found another one, but this time, I cannot hope to destroy it alone."

"I'll come with you." Harry opened his mouth to object, "Harry, you promised you wouldnt pull that protection crap with me. I'm safer with you than I am away from you."

-----

Lyra and Harry approached Dumbledore on the astronomy tower after bumping into Snape on the way up.

"Lyra. Harry, You need a shave, my friend." Lyra giggled.

"He does, doesn't he, sir?" She pat her boyfriend's cheek, turning back to the older man.

"You know, Lyra, I remember when Professor McGonagall brought you to me for the first time. I couldn't help but think how exotic you were, how wonderful it would be to watch your magic evolve. I forget how much you both have grown. At times, I still see the girl who frowned over her different coloured eyes, and a little boy from the cupboard. Forgive my mawkishness, I'm an old man."

"Still look no older than 30, sir." Lyra giggled, earning a chuckle from Dumbledore.

"Just like your mother, you're unfailingly kind. A trait people never fail to undervalue, I'm afraid. The place to which we journey tonight is extremely dangerous. I promised you could accompany me, and I stand by that promise. But there is one condition: You must obey every command I give you, without question. Should I tell you to abandon me and save yourself, you must do so." The couple nodded apprehensively. Lyra prayed the circumstances wouldn't have to lead to abandonment. "Take my arm."

"Sir, I thought you couldn't apparate in an out of Hogwarts."

"Well, being me has its privileges."

And suddenly, the moment the teenagers grabbed Dumbledore's arm, their bodies felt as though they were being twisted and stretched, the sensation finally stopping when the trio arrived, standing on a large rock, waves of water crashing against it as they stared at the entrance in front of them.

They walked in, observing the rock beneath and around them as they went along. "This is the place. This place has known magic." 

Lyra knew this place, her father used to talk about it. "Sir, I think it'd rather be mine than yours." Her voice wavered slightly, the older man had no time to object before she summoned a knife, sliding the blade along her forearm, watching the skin break and blood seep out. "Lyra!" Harry was confused, what was she doing?

"In order to gain passage, a payment must be made. Payment intended to weaken any intruder."

"I decided that your blood was more valuable than mine." Lyra dragged her blood across a wall, stepping back as it began to crumble and fall.

"Voldemort will not have made it easy to discover his hiding place. He will have put certain defenses in position. Careful." The three paused their journey, coming across a body of water. Dumbledore sent a spark of light from his wand, watching as it landed a long distance away. "There it is."

"The only question is, how do we get there?" The old man raised his arm as the water underneath began to bubble, a chain levitating into his grasp. "If you would, Harry?" He passed the chain to Harry, who took it and began to pull, revealing a small boat.

The trio made their journey in the boat to the other side, getting off carefully, walking to a crystal like podium, a bowl indented into it, holding a clear liquid. "It has to be drunk, all of it. You remember the conditions on which I brought you with me? This potion might paralyze me. Might make me forget why I'm here. Might cause me so much pain that I beg for relief. You are not to indulge these requests. It's your job, to make sure I keep drinking this potion. Even if you have to force it down my throat. Understood?"

"I'll drink it." Lyra reached for the cup, being stopped by Dumbledore.

"No. I must. I am much older, much cleverer, and much less valuable." The old man scooped the liquid, drinking it. For a moment, silence was all that engulfed them. But Lyra could feel the fear and panic gripping at her bones as Dumbledore began to twitch, falling over. "Professor, are you alright?" She kneeled beside him after getting another cup full of the potion. "Drink, Professor. Breathe." Lyra proceeded t soothe the old man as Harry brought cups of the potion to her.

"Please. Don't make me." Dumbledore pleaded, his voice raspy. The sight of the Professor brought tears to Lyra's eyes. "Sir, please. Breathe. Remember when I was small? When I first met you as a child I called you Dumby. Remember, Dumby?" The man's body calmed down, allowing Lyra to give him more of the retched potion.

Another cup.

And another cup.

And it was down to the final cup. "Please, sir. Breathe. Remember Dumby? You brought me that toy broomstick, told me I was going to be the best chaser Hogwarts have ever seen. You used to bring me muggle sweets and chocolates. You introduced me to my favorite one! Reese's! Reese's Peanut Butter cups! Sir, please." Lyra pleaded, tears rushing down her cheeks as Dumbledore opened his mouth, drinking the potion. "Harry, love, get water!" 

"Aguamenti. Lyra, I can't get it! It won't let me take the water! Hold on!" Harry made his way to the body of water, collecting it. Before he could bring it back, a creature latched onto his arm, sliding back into the water.

Lyra watched creatures emerge from the water, grabbing her wand, she helped Harry cast them away, not hearing the soft, tired calls from Dumbledore. The landing was swarmed as Harry was pulled into the water, earning a scream from Lyra as she continued to cast the creatures away.

Lyra didn't notice Dumbledore getting up, or grabbing his wand until flames wrapped around the landing, the creatures retreated back to the water in fear as Lyra pulled her boyfriend back up, wrapping her arms around him briefly.