chapter 28

Harry opens his eyes, and sees a person blurry, then can identify that it's Key smiling.

"Harry, you are okay", said Key, then hugs Harry.

"Key. I'm okay, what about you?" replied Harry.

"I'm fine, a very healthy cousin", said Key, seems happy.

"Thank goodness", said Abigail. "Please never, do anything that dangerous again".

"I will not make any promises", said Key.

"That's not promising", said Abigail.

"Wait, what about Hermione and Ron?" asked Harry.

"Relax, they are fine", said a voice.

Harry, Key, and Abigail see Dumbledore walk in.

In-between this moment, Harry notice he is in a hospital wing.

"Dumbledore", said Harry.

"Good afternoon, Harry,Key, Abigail", said Dumbledore.

"Wait, Key, what about the stone?" asked Harry.

"It's fine", said Key. "I gave it to Dumbledore".

Harry notices that next to him is a pile of sweets on the table.

"Tokens from your friends and admirers," said Dumbledore, beaming. "What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows. I believe your friends Misters Fred and George Weasley were responsible for trying to send you a toilet seat. No doubt they thought it would amuse you. Madam Pomfrey, however, felt it might not be very hygienic, and confiscated it".

"How long have I been in here?" asked Harry.

"Three days", said Key.

"But sir, the Stone--" replied Harry.

"I see you are not to be distracted. Very well, the Stone, it has been destroyed", replied Dumbledore.

"Destroyed?" said Harry blankly. "But your friend -- Nicolas Flamel--"

"Oh, you know about Nicolas?" said Dumbledore, sounding quite delighted. "You did do the thing properly, didn't you? Well, Nicolas and I have had a little chat, and agreed it's all for the best."

"But that means he and his wife will die, won't they?" asked Key, getting in-between the conversation.

"They have enough Elixir stored to set their affairs in order and then, yes, they will die", Dumbledore revealed.

Dumbledore smiled at the look of amazement on Harry and Key faces.

Harry lay there, lost for words. Dumbledore hummed a little and smiled at the ceiling.

"Sir?" said Harry. "I've been thinking... sir -- even if the Stone's gone, Vol-, I mean, You-Know-Who--"

"Call him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself", Dumbledore tells Harry.

"Yes, sir. Well, Voldemort's going to try other ways of coming back, isn't he? I mean, he hasn't gone, has he?" Harry questions.

"No, Harry, he has not. He is still out there somewhere, perhaps looking for another body to share... not being truly alive, he cannot be killed. He left Quirrell to die; he shows just as little mercy to his followers as his enemies. Nevertheless, Harry, while you may only have delayed his return to power, it will merely take someone else who is prepared to fight what seems a losing battle next time -- and if he is delayed again, and again, why, he may never return to power", Dumbledore answers Harry's question.

Harry nodded, but stopped quickly, because it made his head hurt. Then he said, "Sir, there are some other things I'd like to know, if you can tell me... things I want to know the truth about..."

"The truth." Dumbledore sighed. "It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution. However, I shall answer your questions unless I have a very good reason not to, in which case I beg you'll forgive me. I shall not, of course, lie."

"Well... Voldemort said that he only killed my mother because she tried to stop him from killing me. But why would he want to kill me in the first place?" replied Harry.

Dumbledore sighed very deeply this time.

"Alas, the first thing you ask me, I cannot tell you. Not today. Not now. You will know, one day... put it from your mind for now, Harry. When you are older... I know you hate to hear this... when you are ready, you will know."

And Harry knew it would be no good to argue.

"But why couldn't Quirrell touch me?"

"Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign... to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin. Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good."

Dumbledore sighed very deeply this time.

"Alas, the first thing you ask me, I cannot tell you. Not today. Not now. You will know, one day... put it from your mind for now, Harry. When you are older... I know you hate to hear this... when you are ready, you will know", replied Dumbledore.

Harry knew it would be no good to argue.

"But why couldn't Quirrell touch me?" asked Harry.

"Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign... to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin. Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good", Dumbledore explained.