[FF] Trinity VII: The Twilight (Type-Moon/Harry Potter X-over)

[hatori]

Actually, I figured out a reason why that wouldn't work - the basilisk venom would've killed it along with the diary. Nice idea, though.

err, as i recall in canon... the sword imbibes whatever does not destroy it.. thus making it stronger as it takes in the properties of what it absorbs.... if the horcrux was not meant to destroy the sword.. wouldn;t that also be absorbed in, and it's properties as a living fragment of voldemort's soul be applicable?

[Incarnite Azurnum]

If that was true, then the sword would either:
A) Act as a pseudo-Hocrux for the wielder. The wielder won't die as when the wielder is killed, his soul goes into the sword which then 'places' it back into the body
or
B) It absorbs/stores the souls of any being that it kills.

This would be because the sword doesn't absorb the properties of the soul but rather the construct known as a Hocrux.

I'm not sure which one is more terrifying, but holy crap I would not want to be on the sharp end of that blade.

[MWkillkenny84]

B) It absorbs/stores the souls of any being that it kills.

And thus the Sword of Griffyndor become the next Soul Edge...

[Explorerbean]

It's generally a bad idea to be stabbed in the first place.

[Kieran]

err, as i recall in canon... the sword imbibes whatever does not destroy it.. thus making it stronger as it takes in the properties of what it absorbs.... if the horcrux was not meant to destroy the sword.. wouldn;t that also be absorbed in, and it's properties as a living fragment of voldemort's soul be applicable?

Good point - and a scary thought . . . But in this case, I'm going to argue that it's not, for two reasons:

1) Shirou wouldn't have been able to copy it so completely if it was, and

2) Horcruxes gain influence over their wielders whenever they're used - whether written in, worn, or in the Sword's case, used to stab things. It would've shown signs of it by now if it was a Horcrux.

[hatori]

heh.

[Kieran]

DISCLAIMER: Lunar Legend Tsukihime, Fate/Stay Night, and all related characters and concepts are the creation and property of Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon, along with anyone who's happened to license them, like Geneon or Funimation. Harry Potter and all related characters and concepts are the creation and property of J.K. Rowling, along with her publishers and Warner Bros., as regards the movie material.

This is a not-for-profit, just-for-fun project.



Writer's Note: Certain dialogue sequences in this story are lifted from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but I trust in the intelligence of my readers (and the availability of the books) to recognise them when they see them.



Chapter 5 - . . . And Parting



August 1, 1997






The keys to the success of any plan, Lord Voldemort knew, lay in preparation, timing, and luck. Given the fickle nature of the latter, it was far better to make one’s own luck, but with all he’d experienced, the Dark Lord knew that denying its influence of in any given endeavour was a fool’s errand. As such, he’d planned his approach to this particular one very carefully.

Contrary to what some may have believed of his initial speech to the Durmstrang student body some months ago, destroying Britain outright was not his goal. If that was all he sought, the Dark Lord could’ve simply worked to recreate the lost spells which sank Atlantis, millennia ago - certainly, if anyone could have done so, it would be himself . . . No, he still sought to rule Britain, absolutely - but many of the current structures and strictures in Britain needed to be altered, if not outright abolished, for the country to be shaped as he wished. To that end, it meant that a great many people in the Ministry would need to die - and all at once, at that.

More importantly, it needed to happen in such a way that suspicion was not aroused. Wizarding Britain might be composed of sheep, but the lessons of recent years had reinforced the fact that the wizarding world as a whole was not. And it certainly would not do to invite ICW scrutiny upon this country so soon after all the work he’d put into getting rid of it. Therefore, it must seem as though everything within the country was business as usual to the outside world - or, at the very least, an internal affair over which they had no jurisdiction. Only then would he be free to begin reordering Britain to his liking - and if he did so slowly enough, and subtly enough, the sheep would never even realise that he was doing so.

It was not, perhaps, the means he would wish to use - indeed, some might call it unworthy of a wizard of his power and status - but it would be effective, which was what truly counted. And, to those who believed it beneath him, the fact that he used such means would effectively mask his hand in the whole affair, which was no small consideration. He had spent decades trying to conquer through fear, and force, but subtlety would seem to be the weapon that would actually accomplish his goals. It was galling on some levels, but Lord Voldemort supposed that it served him right for following Gryffindor’s methods, instead of Slytherin’s, for so very long.

The vital element of this plan was that everything that happened be seen as accidental, or merely coincidental. True, there would be conspiracy theories, as there always were when so many things went so wrong all at once, but without hard evidence, the ICW would have no grounds to investigate - especially when what were thought of as his own forces were so visibly busy elsewhere . . .

To begin with, it had required judicious use of the Imperius Curse - beginning with the order, “You will give no indication in your behaviour that you are under the Imperius Curse.” It was astonishing how little suspicion could be raised with that simple sentence, really. Under that influence, however, several dozen files had been copied and delivered from the “Mudblood Orientation Centres,” revealing the names and locations of dozens of the creatures . . . And he had Dementors available for every one of them. Even should a few of them fail, or the Mudbloods fight back, the Ministry would still be kept busy trying to contain all the damage - because so many Dementors rampaging in Muggle areas couldn’t fail to attract attention. Any Patronus-capable witch or wizard would be dispatched, along with the Obliviators, to handle the situation.

Of course, travelling to combat the problem would be difficult, as he’d directed his primary inside agent to arrange the wide-scale, and obvious, sabotage of the Floo network. That would grind much of Britain to a halt, and lock down the Ministry building itself while the DMLE investigated the sabotage effort. They would, naturally, focus on the large “tour group” which had been allowed inside - and, unknown to the DMLE, allowed to keep their wands. Voldemort presumed that things would be over quite quickly after that, especially when the timed Portkeys went off, bringing the dragons from that Romanian preserve they were about to raid. Speaking of which, he needed to get there quickly - he would, after all, need to show his face in order for everyone to believe that he had nothing to do with things -

The Dark Lord paused, momentarily stunned at the sudden sensation which ran through his body - a magically-induced feeling which warned him that someone had activated the trap protecting one of his Horcruxes.

Dumbledore, Lord Voldemort realised. It has to be Dumbledore . . .

Cursing silently, even though he’d long been expecting this sort of event, the most feared wizard in a millennium Disapparated, homing in on the sensation as a guide. Conquering Britain - and even providing a very visible diversion so that his followers could do so - would have to wait. This was far more vital to his success than any single plan or attempt.

Although, he mused in mid-vanishing, the death of Dumbledore will be no small aid to those plans and attempts, either . . .






Galen used the pandemonium following the arrival of Shacklebolt’s Patronus as a cover to slip the Deathcloak over himself. Now vanished from sight, he took the opportunity to slide the folded Invisibility Cloak that they’d taken from Mundungus Fletcher two years ago, along with the Marauders’ Map, into the pocket of Neville’s dress robes, patting them obviously. Then he collected Hermione, who gave a little sigh of relief to be shielded from the sun, and they went in search of Takara.

“We can’t forget Crookshanks and Mirai!” Hermione hissed urgently in his ear. “Luna and Ginny brought them, but they’re up at the chateau!”

“All right,” the wizard murmured. “Hold onto the cloak, and get to Takara - I’ll fetch them, and meet you up there.”

The nice thing about French-style mansions with big windows was that they provided excellent views for line-of-sight Apparition. He barely had time to blink before he was in the second-floor parlour. A quick twist of his hand brought his wand to the fore, and a short, sharp movement Summoned his dragonhide duster from his bag. In seconds, he was garbed and ready for combat - not that he expected any from within the house itself, but he wasn’t taking chances, either.

He’d had a guided tour, of sorts, so his Occlumency could help him find his way around the house, but Galen couldn’t say for sure which room the two familiars had been left in - and while this wasn’t a hundred-room manor house, it wasn’t exactly a cozy little bungalow, either. The Delacours owned and operated a major fashion house, on par in the magical world with Gucci or Dior, so naturally, the style they could afford was fairly high-class. Lacking any better guideline, Galen headed in the direction that the girls who’d been Fleur’s bridesmaids were housed - he knew that Takara, at least, had been dragooned into the position . . .

Even as he kept his senses alert for signs of nearby people or animals, Galen’s mind was racing with the knowledge of where they’d need to go from here. The easiest way to get to Albania was probably to go in from Greece, because the only other option he could think of was Bulgaria - and given their last encounter with Viktor Krum, the werewolf wasn’t exactly eager to risk crossing paths with him again. From there - well, “the forests of Albania” really wasn’t much of a clue to go on, especially if forests were as common in that country as they seemed to be, but it was all they -

Galen stopped in sudden realisation. Damn it all to hell - they couldn’t leave yet! They had to go all the way back to the United Kingdom first! Damn it, damn it, damn it! Taking a deep breath, the lycanthropic wizard began revising his plans . . .

Whatever happened at the Ministry, Dumbledore has to be either in hiding, or dead - and whichever it is, it’ll be announced once the takeover’s complete. But no matter which, we can’t afford to leave all of Dumbledore’s notes and research materials on Horcruxes lying around at Hogwarts. Or the Sword of Gryffindor, for that matter! Because it’s too bloody useful to not have it available - and I really don’t fancy trying to haul it out of Bellatrix’s vault before sending torrents of Fiendfyre in to destroy the cup - it’ll just make things that much harder . . .

But that means we’ve got to go back to Hogwarts and raid it before the Death Eaters consolidate their control of the Ministry, which gives us only a limited window in which to do it - and it’s one that’s closing as we speak!

Cursing the fact that basically all their plans had to be reconsidered in light of this new objective, Galen decided that time was valuable enough to risk calling out, “Mirai-chan, sing out so I can come get you and your dad - we need to go now!”

Lycanthropic hearing pinpointed a distant yowl, and he strode into a room that had both a ginger and a black Kneazle-cat crossbreed, along with their carriers.

“No time to argue or explain, guys - get in your carriers, please.”

Bless that Kneazle blood - they did as he asked, and Galen quickly added in their food and water dishes, and their litter boxes, before latching the carriers shut, picking them up, and Apparating to the front foyer with a thunderous crack.

He was smothered almost immediately by a suddenly-appearing pair of witches, the silvery cloak gripped in Takara’s hands.

“So,” Hermione said as she took Crookshanks from him, “Shall we head for the nearest airport, and catch the next flight to Greece? Or did you have another route in mind?”

“Yeah, actually, I do,” Galen said, rolling his eyes. “You’re not going to believe this, but . . .”






The keys to the success of any plan, Albus Dumbledore knew, lay in preparation, timing, and luck. Given the fickle nature of the latter, it was far better to make one’s own luck, but with all he’d experienced, the old wizard knew that denying its influence of in any given endeavour was a fool’s errand. As such, he’d planned his approach to this particular one very carefully.

In truth, he’d had a great deal of time to consider this particular plan. Upon recognising the ring shown in Bob Ogden’s memories, he’d been fighting the urge to hunt it down. Even after all these decades, the lure of the Deathly Hallows still enticed him - for entirely different reasons than in his youth, admittedly, but it was still there. Of course, until very recently, he’d thought the third Hallow entirely lost to history, which was one of the reasons - though not the primary one - that he’d ultimately surrendered the Peverell Invisibility Cloak to young Salvatore . . . Nevertheless, the fact that they still held so strong a hold was a good reason for Albus not to seek them out, as he’d continually refused the Minister’s position throughout his life. Power was his weakness, and the world would be far better off if he did not possess any.

The old wizard sighed. If only they had not insisted on giving him so many titles and responsibilities, or that others more suited or capable had appeared to wield them! He would have been quite satisfied as nothing more than Headmaster of Hogwarts for the remainder of his lifetime . . .

Suddenly aware that he was woolgathering, the old wizard shook his head. There was work to be done - and it was time to be about it.

Ever since Amelia had informed him of the Ministry’s knowledge of Horcruxes, and the steps they’d taken to detect and eliminate them, Dumbledore had taken a keen interest in their efforts - particularly with this Horcrux. He was not entirely certain that it was wise to simply leave it be, though the rationale made some sense, especially in light of the diary’s destruction. Tom would have been desperate to know whether that event had been the result of a mere accident, or a calculated act, and given the various hiding places, the ring would’ve been the least complicated one to check on. It was possible that he’d laid extra defences upon it at the time, as well, but he would have been satisfied that at least one Horcrux was utterly secure. And in truth, one was all he truly needed.

Amelia’s planning had been ingenious in that regard, in that she’d done nothing to the Horcrux or its protections directly - the monitoring enchantments were laid on the protections themselves. As soon as someone or something tripped them, the Auror Division was alerted and dispatched. It would likely be too late for whoever set them off to be saved, which was a pity, but it allowed them to keep watch without overtly tipping themselves off to Lord Voldemort, because even deactivating them, as he would have to, would signal the Aurors.

Yes, it was a remarkable bit of spellwork, really. Unfortunately for the creator, Dumbledore knew more of such enchantments and protections than anyone alive, including Lord Voldemort, and even without the full power of the Elder Wand at his command, circumventing them was a simple task. Not easy, perhaps, but simple - and he had more than sufficient time to see the task accomplished. His class work for the coming year had been completed two days ago, and he was not expected at the Ministry for some time yet, when he would need to meet with the new Minister (whomever that might be) in his position as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. He literally had days, if that was what it took, to gain access to the Horcrux - and the Resurrection Stone it contained.

Still, Dumbledore rather hoped that he wouldn’t have to go that far. The longer he was away, the more he might have to explain. And simply because no one expected to see him for a time did not mean that his absence would go unnoticed . . .

Shaking his head again, the old wizard continued moving onto the grounds of the old Gaunt property, carefully scanning the area with both his eyes and his wand. Tom would have laid a fiendish trap, indeed, for any foolish enough to come seeking his Horcrux, and one that was entirely lethal. Dumbledore was certain of it - in addition to protecting the soul container, he would not wish anyone to linger long enough to make a connection between himself and the Gaunts, impoverished and mad as they were. Nor the Riddles, for that matter, who lived only too close. Anyone seeking this Horcrux could not, must not, be allowed to leave this place alive, lest they speak of whatever they might have seen, or learned.

No, quiet as it seemed right now, Albus knew that he was in deadly danger here, and acted accordingly. Still, as he advanced on the cottage, nothing sprang at him. There were no hidden Dark creatures, or traps, waiting to seize him or pounce upon him. No enchantments barred his path. It was troubling, and therefore Dumbledore moved with excruciating slowness into the house itself - if it could truly be called a “house.” The shack had been ramshackle and worn in the days before Tom Riddle’s birth, and the intervening decades had shown it no kindness. The structure had all but collapsed into a utter ruin, little more than a pile of rotting lumber, with vague hints suggesting that it might once have been a building.

Certainly not a house - and most definitely never a home, Albus mused, making his way “inside” - if there could be such a thing with only an archway remaining of a front door and wall, and even less of the other three enclosing walls. Bob Ogden’s memories made that quite clear, indeed.

It took the former Headmaster several minutes’ worth of careful detection spells to uncover the Horcrux’s hiding place, and his suspicions only increased. Granted, it had been hidden under a net of concealing enchantments that perhaps only a team of experienced, well-read and far-travelled curse-breakers could unravel, but that appeared to be all that protected it. He found no hidden spelltraps, no dormant creatures nearby waiting to be awakened -

This is wrong, Albus mused to himself. Surely, Tom wouldn’t leave one of his precious soul containers without any sort of defences? Even the diary benefited from being kept within the protections of Malfoy Manor - though admittedly, its anonymity was its greatest insurance against harm . . .

The old wizard frowned. By his calculations, the ring was most probably the second or third Horcrux Lord Voldemort had created, depending on whether he’d waited until after acquiring Hufflepuff’s cup before using the items as soul containers. Probably after, as he’d shown no real signs of the sort of damage that having three Horcruxes would likely have on a being while interviewing Hepzibah Smith about her family heirloom. Regardless, he would’ve been far beneath his desired total of seven, and would undoubtedly been paranoid about his Horcruxes being discovered before he could reach that “ultimate” protection. There must be a defence for the ring beyond its concealment - there simply had to be!

And yet . . .

If anonymity is its best defence - and indeed, it has worked well for the Resurrection Stone - then Tom would likely have set any protections to trigger only when there was no other choice. They would not, perhaps, react even to an attempt to move the Horcrux, only to any attempt to destroy it. After all, even if it resides elsewhere, it is safe so long as it is whole - and the magic necessary to destroy it is rare, indeed.

Even Dumbledore had only limited means to do so. Given the choice, he would’ve preferred to use the Sword of Gryffindor, as the goblin-made weapon had undoubtedly absorbed the power of the basilisk venom it had come into contact with five years ago - and how fortunate that it had! If Shirou Einzbern had chosen to sever the serpent’s head from its body, instead, or pierce other vital organs, the weapon would never have obtained that power. But as the Sword planted in its own mouth, in mid-bite, the great snake’s venom had already been flowing, and came into contact with the blade, thus creating a powerful weapon, indeed. And Takara Aozaki’s addition of dragon’s blood three years ago had undoubtedly made it even more formidable - ideal for this task.

Alas, the Sword of Gryffindor now resided in Minerva’s office, and he had no pretext for obtaining it that would not have aroused suspicion, nor would its absence have generated anything less than complete alarm on Minerva’s part, and likely Amelia’s, as well. Instead, he had planned to use Fiendfyre, but now he wondered at the wisdom of the choice. Surely so thoroughly destructive a force would trigger whatever Tom had left behind - and indeed, it would alert the DMLE, as it couldn’t fail to collapse their monitoring spells. With Fawkes’ assistance, Albus could be well away from here before they arrived, and untraceably, but without knowing what else it might unleash . . .

After all, dealing with the Fiendfyre will be bad enough - I’ve no desire to unleash a horde of Inferi, or possibly worse, on an unsuspected Auror team, as well. Sacrifices are necessary for the greater good, but as thinly as we are stretched right now, they must be carefully measured against the cost.

The only thing to do, then, was to move the ring away from whatever might be waiting. It would still trigger alarms at the DMLE, but it would be much safer, if for no other reason than that he could choose a place where the Fiendfyre was likely to cause less damage. Dumbledore considered the caverns by the sea, where a young Tom Riddle had tortured his fellow orphans. Rock would be far less affected by Fiendfyre than wood and grass - and the caves themselves were also not a bad spot to hide a Horcrux, now that he thought of it . . . Carefully, he swept away the debris concealing the ring, and stared at it, revealed. The silver setting of the jewellery itself was gaudy, and somewhat tacky, but the stone -

Albus’ breath caught in his throat as he beheld, in person, the black stone, carved with the sign of the Deathly Hallows. The Resurrection Stone! The one Hallow which, above all others, he had always desired, and the one Hallow which had never been within his grasp, until this moment . . . Filled with profound reverence, the old wizard picked up the ring, mesmerised by the gleam of the sun on the midnight depths of the stone, the carving of the Hallows’ symbol rendered almost silver by its rays. Here was the key to the forgiveness he’d always sought - from his parents, from Ariana -

His arm was seized by a hot, sudden throbbing, leaving razor-edged cold in its wake - and it was only then that Dumbledore realised that, in his euphoria, he’d slid the ring onto his hand.

Seeing his hand blacken before his eyes, Albus instinctively reached to tug it loose from his finger, only to feel the band clamp on more tightly, and see the blackness spread to the tips of his right fingers, as well. Desperate, he cried out, “Fawkes!”

The phoenix appeared in a burst of flames, diving for his human companion - and directly into the path of a Killing Curse. The magnificent firebird exploded on contact, leaving a featherless, scrawny chick to tumble helplessly to the ground.

Dumbledore stared in horrified disbelief at the fate of his phoenix friend - but quickly snapped out of his daze when Lord Voldemort himself appeared, in all his terrifying “glory.” The Dark Lord held his wand at the ready - and Albus realised that his fingers were now too rotted to properly hold one, much less duel an opponent of this calibre.

“Surprised, Dumbledore?” Tom asked, in a nearly conversational tone. “By now, I’m certain, you’ve realised my choice of protections: a simple charm to entice people to put on the ring. It need not even be very powerful - after all, most people will pick up a pretty or valuable-looking ring when they come across one. As such, it’s easily overlooked, and the curse does the rest.”

The old wizard tried to Disapparate, but of course, Tom had likely blocked that option some time ago - and if he had not, the Aurors certainly would have. And he had no broomstick, nor Thestral, on this occasion. He would be reduced to travelling on foot, for as long as he had feet - and there was nowhere he would be able to reach in time.

“I’ve often wondered if you knew about my Horcruxes,” Lord Voldemort admitted, as the rot continued to spread throughout Albus’ body. “I assumed that the diary would’ve made you suspicious, but you did nothing about it, for years, even when I was helpless to stop you . . . And then you hired old Horace Slughorn out of retirement. That certainly implied that you were trying to find them, but I knew they’d be safe, regardless. Slughorn would never talk, because he never had - and even if you forced something out of him, they’d still be safe - because you never had, either.”

The rot had finished devouring Dumbledore’s limbs, and spread to his torso. He could feel it eating its way into his chest, towards his mind . . .

“After all,” Tom said brightly, “you’d known who I really was, and what I was really capable of, all along - and you still allowed me to become what I am, to do the things that I did. You’d kept my secrets longer and better than old Sluggy ever did - why would you change now? And so you have, Dumbledore, so you have . . . After all, you came here alone, didn’t you?”

He bared his teeth in an approximation of a smile. “And now I am in control of everything - or soon will be - so there’s no one left to tell, no authority to appeal to - not that it matters, as you likely only have about thirty seconds left, anyway. And you’re going to help me hide my treasure even better than before - for who would even consider that the tomb of Albus Dumbledore could house of one of my soul vessels? That it was upon his very hand, no less?”

The Dark Lord’s eyes flashed triumphantly. “Why, no one at all . . . Unless, of course, they knew you.”

His mocking laughter followed Albus down into the abyss.






Lord Voldemort nodded in satisfaction as the ancient fool finished dissolving into a rotted ruin. The sense of satisfaction that filled him was indescribable - finally, the champion of Mudbloods, half-breeds and traitors had fallen, and to a simple trap meant to snare common wizards! In the end, Dumbledore’s reputation had proven overblown, as he’d always believed, and now there was no one to stop his rightful ascendancy . . .

The Dark Lord scowled, correcting himself at the thought. If the odd phenomenon that had occurred while duelling the son of that man persisted, then the boy, at least, was a plausible threat - particularly if it was something which could be taught. If Longbottom were to learn how to accomplish it, Lord Voldemort might fully believe in that prophecy once more. But Gregorovitch had assured him that using another wand - in this case, Barty’s, as it worked reasonably well for him, and vice versa - would overcome it.

. . . And for the old wandmaker’s own sake, he had better be right, the Dark Lord mused.

But in the meantime, none would suspect his potential weakness, as the wand had been Transfigured to resemble his old one, and Barty’s, likewise. Only Crouch and he knew of the switch. And until he met the boy again, he would seem as invincible as always - and should Gregorovitch prove correct, even when he met the boy again, he would be. But that was for the future, and at the moment, he was required to deal with the present - including the mouldering remains of Albus Dumbledore.

Casually, the Dark Lord cast a series of privacy charms, and preservation charms common to undertakers and necromancers, to sustain the corpse until such time as he could retrieve it, and put it on display in an appropriate manner. He also summoned the phoenix chick, casting a Freezing Charm in mid-flight to keep it from causing trouble - he was certain that he could find a use for such a rare and powerful (and therefore, valuable) creature.

In the meantime, however, Lord Voldemort had a nation to finish conquering. The additional wait of a few more days, or even weeks, would make no difference in the determination of the ancient wizard’s final disposal. Dumbledore no longer mattered to his plans - and indeed, as the last few years had proven, he hadn’t mattered much at all for a very long time.

Lord Voldemort, now (or soon to be) the de facto supreme ruler of wizarding Britain, Disapparated, leaving the corpse of Albus Dumbledore behind to lie in silence and stillness . . .

. . . Save for the stone that was set in the ring on his left hand, which infinitesimally, but inexorably, began to move.








Additional Writer's Notes: And since by this time next week, I'll hopefully be out of surgery, and I'm working straight through between now and then, I'm afraid this is probably the last update you'll see on either of my stories for a while. Sorry.

[ItsaRandomUsername]

Hi there, Hell. Everything's going to you in a handbasket.

[Kieran]

Wouldn't you be disappointed if it wasn't, though?

[Megaolix]

Unless, of course, they knew you.

Hi there, Fate. Someone's tempting you. How soon will you answer?

[JxK]

For who would even consider...Unless, of course, they knew you.

As Galen so eloquently put it, never tempt fate. She's can be one vindictive bitch.

But yeah, it's a good update Kieran. I'm looking forward to more.

Edit: I was looking forward to finding out what happened to Bones, but I suppose that will be the next update? It does sound like she has her work cut out for her though. Dementor attacks which she probably knows are a distraction and are meant to whittle down and clear out her forces...and she has no choice but to send people out anyway. No, definitey wouldn't want to be in her shoes.

[Kieran]

Hi there, Fate. Someone's tempting you. How soon will you answer?

Read the last line again - I think you'll have your answer.

As Galen so eloquently put it, never tempt fate. She's can be one vindictive bitch.

With absolutely no self-control.

But yeah, it's a good update Kieran. I'm looking forward to more.

Sorry you'll have to wait, then - but I'll get back as soon as I can.

Edit: I was looking forward to finding out what happened to Bones, but I suppose that will be the next update?

Probably - this is one of those days that needs to cover several chapters in order to get everything important, like last book's Valentine's Day, or Hallowe'en.

It does sound like she has her work cut out for her though. Dementor attacks which she probably knows are a distraction and are meant to whittle down and clear out her forces...and she has no choice but to send people out anyway. No, definitey wouldn't want to be in her shoes.

Me, either.

[Elf]

And now Dumbledore's dead.

. . . I actually liked how he died, that wasn't what I expected.

[Kieran]

I know you weren't - but I've been planning that for months. Ever since, on re-reading how he got the ring, I was reminded that he put it on willingly. And while it was still a Horcrux, no less! He saw the Stone, and just went for it, forgetting everything else. His motivations might have changed (maybe), but obviously he hadn't, despite the century or so of experience he'd acquired since his sister died.

. . . I'm sorry - if you're going to work that hard to win a Darwin Award, you've earned it.

[honed]

My God, it's full of stupid! Wow, you've managed to make Dumbledore dying the best result that could come of that situation.

*Holds head* the last time I was so floored by a character's willful idiocy was when I watched the last two episodes of Evangelion. I never liked how exaggerated your portrayal of Dumbledore was. His pieces sometimes read like VN Shiro's internal monologues. He may have been similar to your portrayal at the start of the story(s) but he never reacted to what occured after that(the Potters, prophecy shenanigans, Snape's arrest, situation with the Aurors, etc). It was always strange to see in a story with so much depth compared to canon. I'm not saying he was a good guy or not an idiot, but you don't seem to treat his character as a person. Still, I put up with it since the rest of the story is coherent.

Anyway, how did Galan know about that AU ending to Legacies?

[JxK]

I know you weren't - but I've been planning that for months. Ever since, on re-reading how he got the ring, I was reminded that he put it on willingly. And while it was still a Horcrux, no less! He saw the Stone, and just went for it, forgetting everything else. His motivations might have changed (maybe), but obviously he hadn't, despite the century or so of experience he'd acquired since his sister died.

. . . I'm sorry - if you're going to work that hard to win a Darwin Award, you've earned it.

How'd Dumbledore survive it the first time in canon? It's been a good while since I read the book, so all I remember is Snape somehow blunting the effects of the curse.

[Mattias]

Oh no! The Ring of Haunting is haunted!

[Kieran]

My God, it's full of stupid! Wow, you've managed to make Dumbledore dying the best result that could come of that situation.

And all I had to do was follow canon - scary, eh?

*Holds head* the last time I was so floored by a character's willful idiocy was when I watched the last two episodes of Evangelion. I never liked how exaggerated your portrayal of Dumbledore was. His pieces sometimes read like VN Shiro's internal monologues. He may have been similar to your portrayal at the start of the story(s) but he never reacted to what occured after that(the Potters, prophecy shenanigans, Snape's arrest, situation with the Aurors, etc). It was always strange to see in a story with so much depth compared to canon. I'm not saying he was a good guy or not an idiot, but you don't seem to treat his character as a person. Still, I put up with it since the rest of the story is coherent.

Another accomplished writer (whose name escapes me at this hour) that I read has commented (and I agree) that Dumbledore isn't a person - he's a plot device. Because if you treat him as a person, it becomes impossible to account for all the wrongs he committed, through either action or inaction, and all the inconsistences between what he says and what he actually does.

The only logical explanation I can come up with is that the man is either genuinely senile, or so stubbornly entrenched in his beliefs that it's virtually impossible for him to consider any other perspective.

Anyway, how did Galan know about that AU ending to Legacies?

. . . I'm sorry, I don't follow?

How'd Dumbledore survive it the first time in canon? It's been a good while since I read the book, so all I remember is Snape somehow blunting the effects of the curse.

Snape was able to limit the curse to his hand - at least the visible damage. No Snape here, so it wasn't happening this time.

Oh no! The Ring of Haunting is haunted!

Now you're getting it - I always said making a Horcrux out of the Deathstone was a bad idea . . .

[JustBrowsing]

My only complaint is that the Scarlet Seven never got a chance to sit down and show Dumbledore just how much of an idiot he had been. Maybe we could get Ciel-sensei to give him a session to show him what he did wrong?

This is right in line with the rest of his moves though, and makes perfect sense given a smarter Voldemort. I normally hate Greater Good!Dumbledore, but you've written him so fittingly that it worked great throughout the story. And you end almost every chapter on a cliffy so well, that I hate to love hating you for doing it!

[JxK]

My only complaint is that the Scarlet Seven never got a chance to sit down and show Dumbledore just how much of an idiot he had been.

That would make for a rather interesting scene. Bring his spirit back with the stone just so everyone can deliver a proper verbal beatdown.