"And?" Dumbledore asked, narrowing his eyes.
He was in his office, looking at the five orbs of light hovering beyond the table. Even looking at the orbs, and remembering what they represented, made him uncomfortable in his seat.
Dumbledore didn't like it.
He couldn't like it.
To even come to terms with the facts that there existed… such beings, who could…
Yet, what choice did he have? The path he was treading now had already been shown to him by the Order of the Immortal Lotus when he decided to absorb the Pillar Dumbledore from another timeline.
Now, he must see it to the end. He owed it to his friend, Gellert. He owed it to the children. He owed it to this world.
He owed at least this much to himself.
"This Darcie…" one orb said, its voice ethereal. "… is definitely not a Contestant."
Dumbledore's shoulders visibly slackened. He had been doubting Darcie's absurd intelligence, and her being chosen as a bearer of Supreme Providence, ever since he had learned of the Outer One.
He hated himself for it.
But it was better to pull the doubts from the roots than keep watering them with thoughts.
"We also couldn't sense the presence of the Supreme Protector the Order spoke of," the same orb told the Headmaster. Before Dumbledore could get comfortable, the orb added, "However, there's no doubt after seeing Darcie that there is a Supreme Protector in this world."
Albus' blue eyes suddenly flashed black, darkness overwhelming his senses.
The Order of the Immortal Lotus had warned Dumbledore to not divulge the matter of Outer One to these Contestants. Because if that happened, instead of helping them, billions of these Contestants would storm into his world, obliterating the entire timeline.
Dumbledore didn't know the politics of these unknown beings who called themselves Contestants. But, from the tone of the Imperishable Artifacts, he learned that even among them, an Outer One at best a universal enemy; at worst, a Taboo.
So, the only thing that had been divulged to them was the existence of the Yellow Warlock who was most certainly a Contestant and a Supreme Protector; a term used by the Contestants who watched over anomalies like Darcie Malfoy who enjoyed a Timeline's Supreme Providence.
After that, to let them infiltrate the timeline, the Order of the Immortal Lotus had sealed their powers, lining them along with the timeline's limit; called Overall Grade by the Contestants.
Strangely, the five Contestants had decided to hide themselves at Hogwarts, to Dumbledore's chagrin.
We know a few places at Hogwarts that the Supreme will definitely visit… one of them said. It's in our nature to complete such Missions.
Those places, to Dumbledore's surprise, were the five Cursed Vaults.
Of course, unknown to both Dumbledore and the Contestants, those Cursed Vaults also housed Herpo the Foul's Horcruxes in this timeline.
Suddenly, the five orbs pulsed, talking among themselves.
"Our goals align, Professor Dumbledore," another orb said. "This Supreme has targeted the people under us. For that, he will pay the price."
Dumbledore caught on to the hidden words. "You say it as if you know where he is."
The orb went silent before letting out a chuckle. "No need to worry about the details, Professor. Just know this… One of the Hogwarts' students is either directly controlled by the Supreme or…"
A chill ran down Dumbledore's spine.
"… or a student is the Supreme, hiding in plain sight."
No! This can't be! The Headmaster shot up to his feet, fuming. "What nonsense! Are you perhaps trying to sow doubt…"
"The Gryffindor Common Room…" the orb continued, cutting off the Headmaster's words, "… it is no ordinary Magic, Professor. This is the work of one of us."
Albus Dumbledore looked as if his soul had left his body.
Suddenly, he remembered the recent Werewolves attack.
He had always had a notion that someone from inside had helped the perpetrator of this attack. Now, hearing the truth hurt him the most.
And why wouldn't it hurt? A parasite was living in the Hogwarts, feeding on the students' lives.
"Is he…" Dumbledore asked, gritting his old teeth and caressing his fake, left hand.
The orb guessed the question.
"It's hard to say if he's from Gryffindor or not," it told him. "It could easily be a diversion tactic. This Supreme is still weak, but it would be a grave mistake to assume him a fool as well, Professor.
"But, worry not. We are now here. As long as you give us what we want after we are done with him, then you would never have to go against your principles to save the lives you cherish… and this world."
Dumbledore eyed the five orbs, remembering his feeling of dislike. He nodded.
The orbs pulsated. "We will watch this Arlen Black Character more," the talking orb added. "He needs to be studied further, I am afraid. Not because of the Supreme, but… Hmm… there's something about him. Something very familiar…"
Dumbledore's lips became a thin line. "Arlen Black is a good student. I trust him."
The orbs pulsated again, but this time blatant humor oozed out. Then, the orbs vanished.
Dumbledore looked at the empty office and sat down.
Slowly, but surely, his old lips arched up into a small smile, his blue pupils pulsating black now and then.
Those who dare to destroy the world's peace… Those who dare to harm the children… Those who dare to sow chaos and madness among the masses…
Those who dare to bring Calamity in his timeline…
I will kill poison with poison, Albus Dumbledore decided, holding the Elder Wand. It's easier to take care of the remaining dregs, then.
A grim aura filled the Headmaster's office, Albus' small smile flattening into a thin line.
*
*
"Is it impossible to beat her?!"
Harry shouted, drinking tea in Hagrid's hut.
There was a grim aura here, too. Gryffindor had lost their match with a score that felt embarrassing and shameless to even speak of.
All their plans and practices seemed lost.
All their schemes had fallen off the cliff, dying a screaming death.
"She cheated," Black complained, his head down. "I am sure I had broken her broom's handle. I am sure."
"But she never used her wand," Ron added with a sad voice. "We can't prove anything."
"Huh?!"
Harry caught something from the window, making others see outside as well.
Dolores Umbridge was walking toward the forest with a limp, her right foot heavily bandaged under her pink skirt.
"That's what yeh get for messin' with Fluffy!" Hagrid cheered.
"Fluffy?"
"Yeah — he's mine — bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year — I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the —"
Harry, Ron, and Black exchanged glances. They had always wondered what happened to the item that Hagrid had taken out of the vault before he and Harry got attacked by the Dark Wizard. Now, hearing Hagrid's words, their curiosity shot through the roof.
"Guarding what?!" they asked together.
"I shouldn't have said that," Hagrid said, looking dodgy.
"What's Fluffy anyway?" Harry asked.
"It's a three-headed dog," Black told them, shocking Hagrid. "Draco heard the pink toad… I mean Director Umbridge complaining about it loudly. She was saying she would behead it, and then Draco laughed saying she wouldn't be able to do it three times before getting bitten…"
Harry and Ron laughed.
"Wait!" Harry sat up straight. "Is Draco…"
"Yeah…" Black nodded. "He got the punishment. Not sure what, though. But looking at her face just now, it doesn't seem good for him."
After a silence, just when Hagrid thought the topic had ended, Black asked, "So what's Fluffy guarding, Hagrid? Didn't the Director get bitten when she accidentally barged into the 3rd Floor's corridor?"
Harry and Ron's brows shot up, looking at Hagrid curiously.
Hagrid couldn't believe what the boys were asking. "Now, listen to me, all three of yeh — yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel —"
"Aha!" said Harry, "so there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?"
Hagrid looked furious with himself.
So far so good, Black thought, sighing within. Now… who were the Contestants watching me?
**************
AN: Character Image of Dumbledore is available on Patre0n
Over 60 Chapters ahead of Webnovel are on Patre0n, excluding exclusive Side Stories. With each Tier, you will get ALL Monthly Uploads as well. You can also access all the backlog chapters, with Images and Gifs, enriching your reading experience, while simultaneously supporting the work.
Link: https://www.patreon.com/c/droopyauthor
100 Power Stones: +1 Bonus Chapter