Chaos and Order - A Multiverse Fanfic

ANNOUNCEMENT:

MONSOON SALE [10th August to 16th August] - Flat 40% OFF

*****************

Sound. Sense. Sanity.

All abandoned Dumbledore in that moment as he held the ring in his hand, staring at his long, dead sister.

He could see the past playing out in her ghostly eyes.

Flashes of Spells blinded the eyes as he, his brother, Aberforth, and Grindelwald fought…

One of the stray Spells hitting the innocent Ariana, dropping her dead, ending the duel…

Tears streamed down Dumbledore's cheeks.

The Despair he wielded so mightily and proudly on him shifted as the flaming, dark robe stirred, getting overpowered by the overwhelming guilt.

One time…

For years, Dumbledore had wanted to meet her just one more time.

For years, he had wanted to hold his sister and ask for her forgiveness.

For years, he had searched the myths, followed broken tales, and lived through fantasies… hoping to find the means to do so.

The Resurrection Stone.

One of the Deathly Hallows.

It was here, right in his hand — finally!

All he needed to do was to put the ring on his finger and materialize his sister's soul fully—because, once they destroyed the Horcrux, the Resurrection Stone, which Voldemort seemed to have used not knowing its significance, would be destroyed, too… perhaps.

Perhaps the Resurrection Stone was special enough not to meet the same fate as the Horcrux, given it was also the creation of Death, like his Elder Wand and Harry's Cloak of Invisibility?

But Dumbledore, crying silent tears as he looked at his sister, didn't want to gamble with that perhaps; couldn't gamble with that perhaps; wouldn't gamble… no matter…

A hand landed on his arm softly.

Dumbledore jolted back to reality, hisses filling his ears once again.

He looked down and found Darcie, holding her head, her Slytherin Wand trembling in her left hand. Her right hand, still wielding her Thunderbird core Wand, was squeezing his hand tight, her green eyes planted dead on him.

"The ring…" Darcie said, struggling to breathe. "It's cursed, Professor. We… need to destroy it… please."

Dumbledore could see confusion on her face.

She wasn't understanding what was happening.

She didn't know that more than the ring, the stone it carried was the greatest prize; the means to cheat death itself.

She couldn't feel his guilt.

She couldn't see his Despair.

She couldn't understand what sacrifices he had made… to be here… in this form.

So, in her lack of feeling, seeing, and understanding, Darcie reached out for the ring, simultaneously raising the wand in her left hand.

The Wand of Salazar Slytherin — Snakewood with Basilisk's Horn core.

A Killing Curse from that wand would be enough to end the Horcrux, Dumbledore knew.

But that was not the only reason behind his bringing Darcie along with him to do the deed, instead of using the Gryffindor Sword, infused with Basilisk's venom.

Using the wand to destroy the Horcrux would leave the Resurrection Stone unscathed.

Or, that's what Dumbledore had believed at first.

Now… he wasn't sure; not sure enough to gamble.

Of course, Dumbledore had other, greater motives to make Darcie tag along with him.

Experience. Knowledge. Familiarity. He wanted her to have all these things in the worst-case scenario. Either Harry or Black would have been fine, too, but…

Darcie was Darcie.

And she was doing exactly what she had been asked to do.

Dumbledore snatched his hand away and stepped away from her, making the girl widen her eyes.

"Professor?!" Darcie asked, stumbling.

Then, under the effect of the Horcrux, she fell, her knees cracking the rotting floorboards.

"I am sorry…" Dumbledore said, his eyes reflecting nothing but the Resurrection Stone. "I… am sorry…"

Darcie looked up at him, finally realizing that something… some ancient magic… had taken hold of the Headmaster.

She looked at the transparent ghost of the woman.

Then, she looked at Dumbledore, reaching a far… very ridiculous… conclusion.

"You…" Darcie spoke through gritted teeth. "… are trying to resurrect her?!"

Dumbledore's head snapped toward Darcie.

Darcie smiled at his silence. "Look at… her…" she said weakly. Then, she took a deep breath. "LOOK AT HER!"

Dumbledore's dark eyes shook.

His head was magically snapped in the ghost's direction.

And, through the ghostly halo, he saw Ariana's face; truly saw it.

All Dumbledore saw was nothing but reluctance. She didn't want it. She didn't want him to bring her here… to this world. Not anymore.

Tears streamed down Dumbledore's chin more heavily than before.

He grabbed the Resurrection Stone tighter in his hand and said, "I… am sorry…"

Then, closing his eyes for one final time, he… let her go, the ghost vanishing, carrying the smallest smile on her lips.

Lord Black Phoenix opened his eyes.

Eyes that were dark, terrible, and devoid of mundane emotions.

He looked at Darcie and smiled. "Thank you," he nodded, walking toward her. "Let's get it over with…"

Darcie let out a sigh as the Headmaster helped her up.

He let the ring go and made it hover midair between them before nodding at her.

Darcie, burying her curiosity, lifted the Slytherin Wand again, hoping she would manage to cast the Killing Curse.

Thinking of Voldemort… of Professor Lupin… of her family and friends…

Darcie's eyes flashed black. "Avada—"

"Wait!" Dumbledore screamed, lifting his hand.

Darcie's eyes again shot toward the Professor, fearing that he might have been influenced by the strange magic again.

It wasn't the case, though.

Dumbledore's eyes held a clarity far superior to when they had arrived here.

Lord Black Phoenix looked at the Resurrection Stone.

His head shifted to look at the spot where Ariana had disappeared.

And, he wondered… why only his sister appeared to him when it wasn't just her whom he had lost; when it wasn't just her whom he had… loved.

Grindelwald, his old friend, had sacrificed himself during the Battle of Legends.

Why didn't the Resurrection Stone make him appear along with Ariana?!

That didn't make any sense…

Unless…

Unless Grindelwald's soul couldn't respond to the Resurrection Stone.

Unless Grindelwald's soul was already in the world — restricted magically against his will!

********************

AN: Up to 60 more chapters are available in advance across three Tiers. [Use the link in my NovelFire profile to access all options]

You can even subscribe Trial Tier for just 1.99 dollar to have an experience of exclusive chapters for an entire month, along with all the Exclusive Images. I hope a few of you will consider supporting the work.

100 Power Stones/day: +1 Bonus Chapter next day