Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 137: Voldemort Missing
Harry finished recounting everything that had happened to him in the past, the strange visions, the Killing Curse and the truth about the recent Voldemort attack. When he finally fell silent, they both can feel the heavy aura from Sirius.
Sirius stared at him, his expression no longer playful or relaxed. For once, there was no trace of a grin on his face.
"That happened," Sirius said slowly, disbelief, "and you never once thought about telling me?"
Harry froze and his mouth opened, then closed again, unsure of what to say. His shoulders tensed instinctively, as if he were bracing for a scolding. He never had father to discipline him and Vernon wasn't the type to discipline instead making him a tool.
But under serious gaze, it was different.
Thankfully, Dudley stepped in.
"Relax, Sirius," Dudley said calmly. "You were stuck in Azkaban. How was Harry supposed to tell you without making you worry even more?"
Sirius blinked, then let out a sharp breath. "Oh, brilliant. Now you're putting the blame on me." He slapped his forehead dramatically, then suddenly smirked and burst out laughing.
Harry frowned. "Why are you laughing?"
Sirius wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and pointed at him. "Your reaction just now," he said, still chuckling. "That freezing, the guilt, the look on your face… it's exactly the same as James."
Harry face immediately turned bright red.
"W-What?" he stammered.
Dudley couldn't help himself. He laughed too, a short, amused sound. "I can see it," he added. "The panic and the way he locks up when caught off guard."
"That's not funny," Harry muttered, turning his face away, ears burning.
Sirius grinned wider. "Oh, it absolutely is."
The tension that had filled the room finally eased.
And Dudley found himself grinning like weird man who laughed at something funny.
He glanced down at the newspaper still resting in his hands, luckily no one in the common room noticed him grinning. Dudley focused back on the newspaper.
There is no new attacks. No reports of Death Eaters causing chaos. Voldemort name hadn't appeared in days.
'Why he is so quiet?' Dudley wondered.
Voldemort wasn't the type to retreat without a reason. Was he regrouping? Training his Death Eaters after the failed attacks? Or was something else happening behind the scenes?
His mind then think about the recent unknown wizard who defeated and kill 3 death eater.
Dudley fingers tightened slightly around the paper.
'I need to meet this boy,' he thought. 'Soon.'
Whether that mysterious wizard was an ally… or a future enemy. Dudley needed to find out before it was too late.
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30th June 1996
Headmaster Office - Hogwarts
Albus Dumbledore stood quietly looking at the outside through window at his office, his hands folded behind his back as he watched the last of the students depart from Hogwarts. Laughter echoed faintly across the grounds as carriages rolled away, carrying young witches and wizards back to their homes for the holidays. Normally, this sight brought him comfort.
Today, it did not. He let out a long, weary sigh because the recent news make him worry with future of wizarding world.
Snape just come back from Death Eaters Headquarters and he brought news that make Dumbledore feel uncomfortable.
Apparently Voldemort had gone missing and no one knows where he had gone, not even Bellatrix knows his whereabouts and they all are trying to search and even find clue of where Voldemort had gone.
Because of this, Death Eater didn't attack the muggles because there is no order from Voldemort and they are too busy finding him.
Which is good but this is also a bad news, if he is not hiding or retreating where does he gone?
Dumbledore knew Tom Riddle far too well, that man didn't do something that waste his time. He wasn't a baby to be in the corner of room and cry silently. When Voldemort disappeared, it was never without purpose. It meant preparation and he suspect Voldemort had gone to study Dark Magic.
Yes he is studying Dark Magic and even more powerful Dark Magic that he currently had. Dark Magic had always tempted Voldemort and Death Eater, but now it was no longer enough for him and his Army.
After his recent failures to kill Amelia Bones and also his Death Eater who are lost against Muggleborn wizads. No one from Pureblood are stupid enough to become Death Eater.
And that, more than anything, worried Dumbledore.
He turned slightly, his gaze drifting toward the shelves filled with Dark Magic book, this is his collection of Dark Magic which he had confiscated from Library.
This book had been confiscated by him before Tom Riddle gone to this school, he make sure something this dangerous won't fall into the hands of any student.
He wondered how come Tom Riddle gone his hands on Horcrux, which he believed he made it on his 5th years in Hogwarts.
Talk about pureblood, not all of them are willing to join Death Eater.
Some wanted benefit of their blood status but too scared to join him, but now thanks to the recent failures of their operation.
No one from that side are being recruited and even Voldemort followers, were beginning to hesitate. The Boy-Who-Lived had not only survived yet again, but had openly saved Amelia Bones, a respected figure within the Ministry. That single act had shattered many illusions that they are unstoppable.
Who, after witnessing that, would willingly pledge themselves to darkness?
Dumbledore closed his eyes briefly, another image surfacing in his thoughts, Dudley Dursley the cousin of Harry Potter.
The chess piece he never thought before.
Even now, he still didn't believe what he had seen before.
Dudley… defeating Voldemort.
On paper, it made no sense, although he is slightly genius but he is still in fifth year and yet he was the reason Voldemort was repelled.
That Thunderbrew Potion, which had helped Dudley to fight Voldemort.
Even now, the sight sent a chill down his spine, when Dudley demonstrated that potion against a dummy doll.
With just one move, Dudley manage to destroy all of the dummy dolls within a second.
And then came the Edurus Potion, where Dudley skin hardened like stone and it make his body become durable enough that he can withstand against diffindo.
Unfortunately, Dudley keep the ingredients and formula secret, he also didn't plan to share the potion to any of the member of the order of phoenix.
This is a good thing, something that dangerous won't fall into the hands of a Dark wizard and also it is a bad thing because if Dudley share the potion to them, it will make Order Of Phoenix more stronger.
...
There is 30 advanced chapter on my patreon.
Chapter 164: Hermione Dilemma
Chapter 165: Dumbledore Regret
Chapter 166: Funeral
Chapter 167: Moving
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