HP: A Magical Adventure Chapter 23: Plans for the Future

15th June 1992

Hogwarts

The days after the final exams were spent frolicking in the sun. My friends and I hung out in the grounds by the Black lake, like most of the other students. The only excitent after our midnight jaunt was the final Quidditch match of the season between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, which had the entire school in attendance.

Unlike the Slytherins, the 'claws were like a well-oiled machine. They managed to build an early lead of 50-20, and it only got more intense from there. Finally, Harry caught the snitch just as the ga was entering the half-hour mark. Gryffindor won the match with 210-100 and secured the Quidditch Cup.

The results were declared a week after the final exam. As expected, I aced every test and was awarded as being the top student of our year. Hermione had been a close second, getting O's in all subjects. Her theory papers had been impeccable, it was the practicals that pulled ahead of her.

Harry had scored Os in DADA, Transfiguration and Charms, followed by EE in Herbology and As in Astronomy, History of Magic and Potions. Neville too, had done exceptionally well—managing an O in Herbology, EEs in Transfiguration, Charms and DADA, and As in Astronomy, History of Magic and Potions. It was comndable given the fact that he was basically using a defective wand.

This morning, I was having breakfast in the Great Hall when Professor Flitwick approached .

"Mr. Carter, the headmaster would like to have a word with you," he started, "in private," he added, taking a look at my friends. "Please make your way to his office after you finish your al. The password is sugar quills."

"Of course, professor," I replied, and he went on his way.

After placating my friends with assurances of telling them everything we discuss, I made my way to the Headmaster's sanctuary. I rode the moving staircase and gently knocked on the door, before it opened to admit .

"You wanted to see , sir?" I asked as I entered the office.

"Indeed, Mr. Carter," Dumbledore replied jovially, gesturing to a chair. "Please have a seat."

"Thank you," I said, taking the offered seat. "And you can call Ben, sir. All my friends do."

"Very well, Ben," he accepted with a smile. "As you might have surmised, I called you to discuss the recent revelations about the source of Voldemort's seeming immortality. I rember what you said a few days ago, but I must, once again confirm this," Dumbledore said with an extrely serious expression. "Are you sure that Voldemort made six horcruxes? No more, no less?"

"I am fairly certain. He turned his personal Diary into his first horcrux. His second was the Gaunt family ring. He managed to swindle information about the Diadem of Ravenclaw from the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw and made it into his third. He ca across Hufflepuff's Cup and Slytherin's locket while working at Borgin and Burkes. He killed Hepzibah Smith, stole them from her and turned them into his 4th and 5th. And when he got blasted apart, a portion of his unstable soul broke and latched itself onto Harry, turning him into an unwilling horcrux."

Dumbledore let off a great sigh and closed his eyes. "I had hoped....prayed that I was wrong about his scar being anything more than a remnant of the curse he survived. rlin knows the boy has suffered enough because of Voldemort's actions." He opened his eyes and looked at with a hopeful expression. "You implied that you had a way to help Harry survive this tribulation. Is that true?"

"It is," I verified. "I learnt a lot about Spirit Magic from a witch in another world. I am confident I can remove the piece of Voldemort from Harry without harming him. In fact, I plan to remove the bits of Riddle's soul from most of those objects. It would be a sha to destroy all those historical relics just to deal with a dark lord."

"Indeed," he said, with a relieved smile. "Now, you said you had so requests. Let's hear them."

"First, I need an unused classroom—to turn it into my workshop. I have seen a lot of magic regarding enchantnts and artifact making. I want to experint in my free ti. Also, it would be good to have a private place to study with my friends. The Library and the Great Hall are often too crowded for my tastes."

"That is easily done," said the headmaster. "Both Ms.Granger and yourself are the top students of your year. We would be happy to provide you with a place to hone your potential. Although, it goes without saying that I hope you won't endanger yourself or your friends with these experints."

One of the downsides of being the top student of the year—as well as being best friends with The Harry Potter—is that people will take notice of you. At first it's nice, especially the attention of the females. But after a while, it gets annoying.

I can't just disappear for hours in the Room of Requirent without people asking questions. But now that my friends were in the loop, I could set up shop in one of the many empty rooms in the castle and work on my projects in my free ti, instead of the middle of the night.

"Secondly, in the next few years, I plan on creating and marketing so entertainnt dia and products at Hogwarts. Nothing extraordinary, just so films and toys to make life in the castle interesting. I want your formal permission for that," I requested.

"Why would you need my permission for that?" asked Dumbledore.

"Because the caretaker, Mr. Filch cannot stand watching the students have fun. The toys I intend to create are both magical and fun. Nothing dangerous, but truly exciting. I have no doubt that Mr Filch will try to confiscate them and get them banned. So, I'm asking for permission beforehand," I explained.

"Very well. As long as they are not dangerous and don't make a ss for Mr Filch to clean, I give my permission to spread your works," affird Dumbledore.

"Thank you, professor. I don't have anything more at the mont. But if I find myself in need of aid or require sothing for a project that I cannot myself acquire, I hope you will help if you can," I requested.

"But of course, my dear boy," he said, looking at strangely. "I must admit being surprised. A young man such as yourself, intelligent and powerful, I had expected you to ask for the Philosopher's Stone or the Elder wand. Are you not tempted by them?"

"Why would I be interested in such defective objects?" I said, with a nonchalant air. "The Elder Wand, the Wand of Destiny, a Deathly Hallow. The most powerful wand in the entire world—yet so incredibly fickle. A wise man once said—Value loyalty above all else. I stand by that. Besides, if I wanted a magical focusing tool, I would just create one with all the knowledge at my disposal."

"As for the stone—it's even more useless to . It can turn things into gold, so can I. Transmutation is such a useful spell, after all. And as for the Elixir of Life that grants eternal life? I ask you—what is eternal life without eternal youth?

Self-imposed torture, that's what it is. I reckon the only reason your friend, Mr. Flal managed to last this long, was because he was lucky enough to be accompanied by the love of his life. Love is the balm that makes any kind of pain bearable, isn't it?" I said.

"It does," he answered with a bittersweet smile. "I am gratified to see that you have already discovered the wisdom it takes powerful wizards decades to find."

"I am afraid I can't take all the credit for that. I have watched so many stories across space and ti. They have more in common than you'd think. I am rely trying to avoid the pitfalls that ruined others."

"Don't sell yourself short, Ben. A smart man learns from his own mistakes. A wise one learns from the mistakes of others. You are a remarkable young man with a good heart." He complinted.

"Thank you, professor." I replied sowhat shyly, at his honest praise. "Now about the horcruxes. I will most likely be able to acquire the Diary soti in the sumr. The Diadem is close by and we can deal with it anyti. The locket remains inaccessible for now, but we will be able to get it within a year as well. The Cup is sowhat tricky, as it is currently sitting in the Gringotts vault of Bellatrix Lestrange," I summarized.

"Hmm....you are right. Removing the cup will be....problematic," said the Headmaster with a thoughtful expression. "I will have to consult with the goblins at the Bank. It might be possible to find a loophole in their Charter regarding the storage of such Dark objects. If not, we will have to consider other avenues of approach."

"I agree, which is why I think it would be best if you could deal with the Gaunt ring this sumr. It lies behind powerful enchantnts laid down by Voldemort on the Gaunt shack.

The house is located in the woods outside the village of Little Hangleton, Yorkshire. Also, if you could acquire a dagger made of Goblin Silver and infuse it with a pint of basilisk venom, it would make an effective horcrux-destroying weapon," I advised.

"Thank you, Ben," he said. "With your assistance, it just might be possible to defeat Voldemort without anymore pain or suffering."

I looked at him for a mont. "Speaking of pain and suffering, I would like you to take soone with you on that trip, soone powerful that you trust. Mad-eye Moody, perhaps," I said.

"I may not be as powerful as I was in my pri, but I can assure you Ben, I can deal with any defenses Tom may have put up," the headmaster replied with a smile.

"It's not the defenses I am worried about. It's the ring itself," I said carefully. "You will be particularly susceptible to it. After all, it contains sothing you have been searching for decades—the Resurrection Stone."

Dumbledore jumped off his seat and practically flew around the table. He ca in front of and held my shoulders tightly.

"Are you certain?" He demanded, like a man possessed. "Are you certain that the Resurrection Stone is there?"

I slowly pried his hands from my arms. "Professor, I know why you want the stone. But trust when I say this—Arianna is in a much better place now. Her soul has moved on to another world." I gently explained to the broken man in front of . "Besides, the stone can't bring back the dead, not really. All it does is summon a spectre of those already gone."

He stood there, utterly defeated. For a mont, he looked nothing like the powerful wizard that everyone looked up to. Instead, he looked like any other old man—burdened by age and regret. He dragged himself back to his chair and sat down heavily, with his face buried in his hands.

"That's how you died in the other world," I told him. "You recognised the stone. There was a powerful compulsion charm on the ring. Despite knowing that it was most likely a trap, you still put it on. That's when you got affected by the Withering Curse on the ring. Professor Snape confined it to your arm when you returned to Hogwarts, but the damage was already done. You only had a year left to live."

"Thank you for telling this, Ben," Dumbledore finally said, raising his head. "I will make sure to take soone with to prevent from doing sothing foolish. Now, if there is nothing more, perhaps you should go and join your friends. I am sure they're waiting for you."

Realising the polite dismissal for what it was, I stood up to leave. Then I rembered sothing.

"Professor, I have another request," I stated. Dumbledore looked at curiously.

"I'm listening."