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Chapter 681: The Resurrection Stone
🕑 Added 2025-04-06 12:36:11 +0000 UTC“Severus, I believe you've forgotten what just happened, haven’t you?”
Dumbledore asked nonchalantly as he rose from the ground, dusting off his robes as though nothing unusual had occurred.
Who would have thought that the esteemed headmaster of Hogwarts, widely regarded as the most powerful wizard in the world, could be knocked to the ground—on his face, no less—by one of his own professors? If word of this got out, his reputation would be in tatters.
Dumbledore wasn’t certain how he felt about it, but he was positive that Dugald McPhail would be ecstatic, likely trembling with excitement. And if McPhail found out, it would only be a matter of time before the entire wizarding world knew.
To prevent such a catastrophe, Dumbledore even entertained the fleeting thought of silencing Snape permanently.
Well… this place is secluded, unfrequented, and fully furnished. It would be perfect for someone wracked with guilt, like Severus, to remain indefinitely. No one would ever find him, of that I’m certain, he mused.
Meanwhile, Snape stood there, his focus inexplicably lingering on the sensation in the soles of his feet. He hadn’t noticed it before, but now, seeing Dumbledore’s disheveled state, a peculiar realization dawned. Why did it feel so… pleasant?
It was as though he had stepped into a stream of Felix Felicis mixed with phoenix tears—a profound, inexplicable relief and satisfaction radiating from his feet, spreading through his entire being.
If only there were a spell to preserve this feeling forever.
“Severus…”
Dumbledore’s voice pulled him from his reverie. Snape blinked, suddenly aware of an icy draft swirling through the room.
How odd. He was certain he’d shut the door earlier—where could the wind be coming from?
“Apologies, Headmaster,” Snape said gravely, regaining his composure. “The situation was urgent, and I had to act. That ring bears a dreadful Curse, and not even someone as powerful as you could escape its effects unscathed.”
“I understand, Severus. You acted to save me, and for that, I owe you my thanks.” Dumbledore finished dusting himself off and approached Snape.
Both men tacitly avoided mentioning what had just transpired.
Dumbledore’s gaze returned to the ring, and a flicker of pain and internal struggle crossed his piercing blue eyes.
“What exactly is that thing?” Snape asked, unable to hold back his curiosity.
“The Peverell family ring,” Dumbledore replied.
“The Peverell family… as in the three brothers from the tale who possessed the Deathly Hallows?” Snape asked instinctively. He paused, frowning. “It’s just the ring of an ancient family. Famous or not, it hardly seems worth such a reaction...”
A sudden thought struck him, and his expression shifted to one of disbelief.
“I see you’ve guessed,” Dumbledore said calmly. “This is the fabled Deathly Hallow, the Resurrection Stone—said to bring back the dead.”
Snape’s breath quickened. His hand moved involuntarily toward the ring, his yearning evident.
Beneath his robes, Dumbledore shifted slightly but ultimately did nothing to intervene. Instead, he waved his wand, and the ring vanished.
Snape’s hand froze midair, trembling with frustration. “Where did you put it?” he demanded, his voice rough.
“Do you recall what you just said?” Dumbledore replied serenely. “The ring is Cursed—Tom’s magic, meant to guard his Horcrux.”
“I don’t care!” Snape snapped. “There’s only one Curse. I could bear it. If I took it, you wouldn’t need to worry about it anymore. Isn’t that enough?”
“I understand your thoughts, Severus. But Lily is gone. The Resurrection Stone cannot truly bring her back.”
Dumbledore’s calm gaze met Snape’s. “Besides, have you considered Kanna? I believe she is preparing for her Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers examination, isn’t she?”
Snape’s breathing slowed. His voice dropped to a murmur. “Perhaps she’d be fine without me.”
“I’m certain she would,” Dumbledore said with a faint smile. “Kyle is an admirable young man, and together they—”
“Silence!” Snape roared, cutting him off.
For reasons he couldn’t quite articulate, his desire to touch the accursed stone abruptly dissipated.
“You must try to accept it, Severus,” Dumbledore said gently. “They truly are a good match. And I must warn you—your objections are futile. You know this to be true.”
“If you say one more word,” Snape interrupted coldly, “I will ensure The Daily Prophet publishes every detail of your recent… humiliation.”
For once, Dumbledore said nothing. A heavy, peculiar silence filled the Gaunt Shack.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Snape broke the heavy silence.
“Well... how did you manage to come to your senses?” he asked. “I noticed that your hand paused at the critical moment. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to catch up.”
“That,” Dumbledore began, extending his arm and studying the bloodstains that stubbornly lingered, “is the most astonishing part. I never imagined that a promise I made long ago would actually save my life.”
“What kind of promise?” Snape asked, unable to suppress his curiosity. He had assumed the injuries were merely a result of the Curse.
“A magical contract,” Dumbledore explained. “It prevents me from even thinking about using a Horcrux. Because of this restriction, I cannot touch the Resurrection Stone—it, too, is one of Tom’s Horcruxes.”
“You knew the Dark Lord would turn the Resurrection Stone into a Horcrux?” Snape frowned. “This was part of your plan all along, wasn’t it? A precaution you prepared before coming here?”
“No, I didn’t know,” Dumbledore replied, shaking his head. “And the contract has existed for years. If not for today’s events, I might have entirely forgotten about it.”
“Years?” Snape’s confusion deepened. Who would craft a magical contract for such a purpose? Dumbledore wasn’t reckless, but this seemed almost... absurd.
“It was Kyle,” Dumbledore said suddenly. “He holds the other half of the contract. In fact, he was the one who proposed it in the first place.”
“Kyle?” Snape’s expression darkened at the mention of the name. “What does he have to do with any of this? And didn’t you just say the contract pertains to Horcruxes?”
“Kyle possesses a Horcrux,” Dumbledore said calmly. “The fabled Slytherin locket is in his hands.”
Snape blinked, his mind grappling with the revelation. Ten seconds passed before the gravity of Dumbledore’s words sank in.
“You gave a student a Horcrux?” Snape’s voice erupted, vibrating through the room and shaking dust from the ceiling. His neck veins bulged with fury. “How dare you entrust such a dangerous object to a child! What if it’s Cursed? What if someone touches it accidentally? What were you thinking?”
Judging by his expression, Snape looked one impulsive step away from kicking Dumbledore again.
“Calm down, Severus, please,” Dumbledore interjected quickly. “I’ve already examined it thoroughly. There is no Curse on the locket—nor any dark magic that could harm Kanna. I assure you.”
Snape’s anger dimmed slightly at the mention of Kanna’s safety. “You’d better be right,” he muttered, his tone still sharp. For all he cared, Kyle could deal with the consequences himself. Kanna’s well-being, however, was non-negotiable.
“So, this contract,” Snape said with a sneer, “was initially meant to bind Kyle to something, wasn’t it? How ironic that it ended up saving your life.”
“It is rather ironic,” Dumbledore agreed, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “But I must clarify—this was entirely Kyle’s idea. I had no intention of binding him through magic.”
“You expect me to believe that Kyle foresaw the Resurrection Stone becoming a Horcrux?” Snape’s voice rose again, skepticism clear in his tone.
“I don’t believe he did,” Dumbledore murmured, his gaze drifting back to the faint bloodstains on his arm. His voice softened, almost introspective, and though he said no more, his expression suggested his thoughts remained far from the present moment.
...
After securing the ring, the two left the Gaunt Shack. Dumbledore gave his wand a subtle wave, and the vines that had previously been displaced crept back up the dilapidated house. Slowly, the bushes shifted and closed together, concealing the shack once more, until it appeared as unremarkable and abandoned as before.
“What will you do with the Resurrection Stone?” Snape asked, his tone carefully neutral.
“It must be destroyed,” Dumbledore replied without hesitation.
The destruction of the Horcrux was, of course, non-negotiable. Yet, he did not elaborate on the method or the timing of its destruction. Fiendfyre was the simplest option, but neither Dumbledore nor Snape mentioned it aloud. Perhaps both silently recalled the perils of that particular magic.
“I have other matters to attend to,” Dumbledore said, glancing up at the heavy clouds looming overhead. “Will you continue to follow me, or are you heading back to Hogwarts?”
“Where are you going?”
“Most likely to Devon for a short while,” Dumbledore replied.
“I have classes this afternoon,” Snape said curtly, giving Dumbledore a look that suggested he had more to say but ultimately chose otherwise. After a pause, he shrugged and added, “Don’t mess with the Curse. If you do, you won’t live to regret it.”
“Ah, I’m well aware,” Dumbledore said lightly. “And even if I had the inclination, I couldn’t. The magical contract ensures I cannot break its restrictions on my own.”
Snape remained silent, offering no further comment.
A gust of wind swept past, rustling the hedges and dislodging a few leaves that fluttered to the ground. The two figures turned and disappeared down the dirt road, leaving the Gaunt Shack shrouded in its usual stillness once more.
...
Snape arrived in Hogsmeade via Apparition, his robes billowing as he moved with purpose. Without pausing, he strode back to the school and headed straight for the greenhouse. Ignoring the curious glances of students, he dragged Kyle out with a firm grip on his arm.
“Professor, what are you doing...” Kyle muttered, stumbling to keep up. “The exam is coming up, and Venomous Tentacula is an important topic—”
Snape didn’t bother responding until they were far enough from the greenhouse. Then, with a cold, clipped tone, he demanded, “Where is the Slytherin locket? Hand it over!”
“What?” Kyle blinked, feigning confusion.
“Don’t play dumb.” Snape’s narrowed eyes gleamed dangerously. “I know you have it. Now, give it to me.”
“As the Head of Slytherin,” Snape added icily, “I am entitled to any heirlooms left behind by Salazar himself.”
Kyle rolled his eyes. “Then maybe you should talk to Professor Dumbledore...” he muttered.
“Are you implying that you handed it over to the headmaster?” Snape sneered. “Interesting. Because he’s the one who told me you had the locket.”
Kyle groaned inwardly. He hadn’t expected Dumbledore to broadcast the information so freely. How could he tell Snape, of all people? Giving Snape the locket felt like throwing raw steak to a starving Fang.
“Hand it over,” Snape ordered, extending his hand.
“Sorry, Professor...” Kyle said bluntly, “but I don’t have the locket anymore. I gave it to someone.”
“Gave it to someone?” Snape’s expression darkened, and his voice rose sharply. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that thing is?”
“That’s exactly why I gave it away,” Kyle replied coolly. “In the wizarding world, only Nicolas Flamel has the expertise to handle such an object without destroying it.”
“Nicolas Flamel?” Snape’s anger faltered momentarily, replaced by surprise. “So, you didn’t give it to—”
He stopped mid-sentence, his expression hardening.
“To whom?” Kyle prompted, curious now.
“Shut up. Five points from Hufflepuff,” Snape snapped, refusing to elaborate.
Relieved to learn the Horcrux wasn’t currently at the school, Snape turned on his heel and marched back toward the castle, leaving Kyle behind.
Kyle, watching him retreat, couldn’t help glancing toward one of the castle’s uppermost windows. Had Snape already gone to see Dumbledore? Or perhaps Dumbledore had returned without anyone noticing?
Snape’s reaction confirmed something Kyle had long suspected: the professor had likely encountered other Horcruxes.
The Resurrection Stone, Kyle mused. It was the only known Horcrux that hadn’t yet been accounted for. But where could it be? Neither the Hogwarts library nor Sirius’s collection of obscure texts had any leads. The Gaunt family held no records, either. Even Dumbledore had seemed uncertain when Kyle had subtly broached the topic.
Kyle frowned. Could Dumbledore’s recent departure have something to do with finding the stone? And Bob Ogden… He seemed like a key figure in all of this.
Glancing at his arm, Kyle pondered the magical contract he had once helped create. He wasn’t certain it was still in effect, but if it was, it might yet serve its purpose.
For now, though, Dumbledore remained absent. Kyle shook his head, dismissing his thoughts as he turned back toward the greenhouse.
When he returned, Professor Sprout was instructing the class. “Venomous Tentacula is a very dangerous plant,” she said sternly. “The seedlings we’re studying today aren’t lethal, but a single prick is enough to land you in the Hospital Wing for a month. And don’t come crying to me if you miss your exams.”
This was why Venomous Tentacula was studied in the sixth year—it wasn’t a critical year for exams.
After getting her approval, Kyle resumed his spot at the workbench.
Next to him, Kanna leaned closer. “What did Professor Snape want with you?” she asked curiously.
Mikel and Ryan, nearby, perked up, eager to hear the answer.
Snape’s abrupt entrance earlier had startled the entire class, prompting wild speculation—some students were convinced Kyle had blown up Snape’s private stores and was about to face retribution.
“Nothing,” Kyle replied with a shrug. “He wanted the Slytherin locket from me.”
“A Slytherin snuffbox?” Mikel asked, blinking in confusion. “What’s that?”
“Idiot, it’s a locket,” Ryan corrected. “It’s supposedly one of the Founders’ relics—one for each House. Gryffindor has the Sword, Ravenclaw has her Diadem, and Hufflepuff has the Golden Cup."
“But they’ve all been lost for centuries. No one’s actually seen one.”
“That’s amazing...” Mikel’s eyes lit up, but then he turned to Kyle with suspicion. “Wait, if that’s true, why would Snape come to you for it?”
“Who knows...” Kyle said, slipping on his dragon-hide gloves. “Maybe someone said something to him.”
“That person must be trying to frame you!” Mikel said indignantly. “That’s awful!”
“Yes, I agree,” Kyle said, nodding in agreement.
