Milk_Is_My_Drug
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Chapter 93: Fragments of a Dead Future
🕑 Added 2025-05-01 13:42:57 +0000 UTCThe headmaster’s office at Hogwarts was quiet. Albus Dumbledore sat heavily in his chair, his face pale and drawn, his blue eyes clouded with exhaustion. Severus Snape stood nearby, his usual stoic expression replaced by one of deep unease. The two men had returned from the Malfoy Manor in silence, their minds reeling from the encounter with Dante.
After a long moment, Snape broke the silence. “How much of that was true?” he asked, his voice low and cautious. “What just happened with him?”
Dumbledore sighed, leaning back in his chair. He looked older than Snape had ever seen him, the weight of the encounter clearly taking its toll. “I don’t know anymore,” Dumbledore admitted, his voice weary. “The strongest wizard I have ever met, at least in terms of raw magical power, was an Obscurial who lived past his childhood. When I was controlled by Dante, I felt his magical power. It far surpasses that of the Obscurial. I have never felt anything like it before.”
Snape’s lips thinned as he processed Dumbledore’s words. The headmaster’s admission held too much weight. Dante’s power was beyond anything either of them had ever encountered. “Do you think he really destroyed the world?” Snape asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Dumbledore lowered his head, his hands clasped together as if in prayer. “I don’t know,” he said softly. “But the way he spoke, the emotions he showed… it indicates that it’s true, or at least he believes it to be true. If it is true, then he has lived a long life, full of himself and what he can do. And in the end, everything failed. It crushed him. You heard him—now he has nothing to do.”
Snape’s dark eyes narrowed as he considered Dumbledore’s words. The implications were clear. “What should we do?” Snape asked, his voice tense.
Dumbledore shook his head, his expression one of resignation. “We can’t do anything now,” he said quietly. “Dante is beyond our reach. His power is beyond anything we can comprehend, let alone deal with. For now, we must wait and observe. We can only pray he doesn’t go down a darker path.”
Snape’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. The idea of being powerless was not one he liked, but even he could not deny the truth of Dumbledore’s words. Dante was a force unlike anything the wizarding world had ever seen.
___________
The news of Dante’s return spread quickly, reaching even the ears of the Weasley family. Arthur Weasley, desperate to save his daughter Ginny, wasted no time in traveling to Hogwarts to seek Dumbledore’s help. He arrived at the headmaster’s office, his face pale and drawn, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by one of deep worry.
“Professor Dumbledore,” Arthur said as soon as he entered, his voice urgent. “I’ve heard that Dante Malfoy has returned. If he truly is our last hope to save Ginny, then I’ll beg him if I have to. Please, contact him for us.”
Dumbledore sighed, his expression one of regret. “I’ve already visited him, Arthur,” he said, his voice heavy. “But since his return, Dante is not in his normal state. He’s… troubled. I’m afraid he won’t move or leave the manor for any reason at the moment.”
Arthur clenched his fists, his frustration and fear evident. “Ginny won’t last long,” he said, his voice breaking. “We’re running out of time.”
Dumbledore sighed again, his blue eyes filled with sympathy. “I advise waiting for now,” he said gently. “Hopefully, he will recover from his state and be willing to help. Trying to talk to him now might not end well.”
Arthur lowered his head, his shoulders slumping in defeat. The helplessness was almost too much to bear. Without another word, he turned and left the office, his heart heavy with worry for his daughter.
___________
Not long after Arthur’s meeting with Dumbledore, Molly Weasley wrote to her children at Hogwarts, informing them of what had transpired. She urged them to keep an ear out for any news about Dante’s state, especially from his brother Draco.
When Harry and Hermione heard the news from Ron, they felt a deep sense of worry for Ginny. Ron, however, was angry “Dante’s a true evil dark wizard,” he muttered, his voice filled with frustration. “He might be able to help, but he’s just sitting in his home all day, doing nothing.”
Hermione frowned, her brow furrowed in thought. “Something must have happened,” she said, her voice firm. “He didn’t look well when he disappeared, and he returned in a strange state. No one knows what happened to him.”
Ron scoffed, crossing his arms. “He seems to be well enough to reject helping,” he said bitterly.
Harry, who had been silent until now, spoke up. “Isn’t Luna Dante’s friend?” he asked. “And doesn’t he…. have a soft spot for her? Why not ask her to try talking to him?”
Hermione rolled her eyes. “He helped her because he’s a good person, not because he has a soft spot for her,” she said, her tone exasperated.
Ron snorted. “Only you and Loony Luna think he’s a good person,” he muttered.
Harry ignored Ron’s comment and pressed on. “Why not just try?” he said. “It’s not like we’ll lose anything. We can tell the headmaster to help with that as well.”
After some back-and-forth, the trio finally agreed to approach Luna. They found her in the Ravenclaw common room, her usual dreamy expression replaced by one of quiet concern when they explained the situation.
“I’ll try,” Luna said softly, her voice filled with determination. “Dante’s my friend. If he’s in trouble, I want to help him.”
With Luna on board, the group headed to Dumbledore’s office to seek his assistance. The headmaster listened to their plan with a thoughtful expression, his eyes flickering with a mix of hope and caution.
“It’s worth a try,” Dumbledore said finally. “But be careful. Dante is not himself right now, and I cannot predict how he will react.”
___________
Dumbledore and Luna arrived at the Malfoy Manor through the Floo network, stepping into the grand entrance hall with its cold, opulent decor. Lucius Malfoy greeted them with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I am so honored by your frequent visits,” he said, his tone dripping with thinly veiled sarcasm.
Lucius led them to the garden, where Dante sat alone on the bench, his silver hair glinting in the faint sunlight. Lucius opened his mouth to announce their arrival, but Luna, ever unbothered by formalities, walked forward without hesitation. “Hello, Dante,” she said, her voice soft but cheerful.
Lucius frowned, annoyed by her lack of decorum, while Dumbledore tensed slightly, his eyes fixed on Dante, wary of his reaction.
Dante looked at Luna, then at Dumbledore, his expression unreadable. “Was I not clear enough the last time?” he asked, his voice cold.
Dumbledore remained silent, but Luna stepped closer, her dreamy eyes filled with concern. “I heard at school that you’re not doing well,” she said. “I came to check on you because you’re my friend.”
Dante’s gaze softened slightly, though his tone remained flat. “I’m fine. There’s no need to check on me.”
Luna tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. “Then why aren’t you helping Ginny? I know you’re a nice person and wouldn’t let someone innocent die. So you’re definitely not okay.”
Dumbledore and Lucius exchanged a glance, both resisting the urge to correct her. [Who is the good person again?] they thought, though neither dared to voice it.
Dante sighed, his silver eyes narrowing. “You’re still the same,” he said. “That’s bad for you.”
Luna blinked, confused. “Why?”
Dante was silent for a moment, his gaze distant. “Because some wizards tortured and killed you for that attitude,” he said finally. “Your father was devastated.”
Luna froze, her usual dreamy expression replaced by one of shock. “It… killed me?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dante’s face remained emotionless. “In a different time, yes, you were kicked out of Hogwarts, tortured and killed.”
Dumbledore’s heart sank as he listened, a bad feeling settling in his chest. Luna, however, seemed more curious than frightened. “How do you know?” she asked.
“I’ve lived this life before,” Dante replied, his tone matter-of-fact.
Luna’s eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked thoughtful. “Did I find the Crumple-Horned Snorkack?” she asked, her voice hopeful.
Dante shook his head. “No.”
Luna’s face fell, her disappointment evident. “Oh,” she said softly.
Dante raised an eyebrow. “Is that what disappoints you? Not seeing it?”
Luna nodded. “I hoped I’d at least achieve my goal before dying.”
Dante’s expression flickered, a rare hint of emotion crossing his face as he recalled the memories of her father. For a moment, he wondered if that had been her last thought before her death.
Luna, however, quickly regained her composure. “Why aren’t you helping Ginny?” she asked, her tone gentle but persistent.
Dante shrugged, his voice devoid of emotion. “I don’t feel like doing anything anymore. I saved her once. I don’t feel like doing it again.”
Luna frowned slightly, her brow furrowing. “It’s hard to imagine that you’ve lived this life before,” she said. Then, with a small smile, she added, “If you feel bored of this life, why not save Ginny and then do something new? like proving the Crumple-Horned Snorkack is real?”
Dante stared at her for a moment, then replied with a straight face, “I already did that. You were dead and didn’t have the chance to see it.”
Luna blinked, her eyes widening in surprise. “You… found it?” she asked slowly.
Dante nodded.
Luna pursed her lips, her expression a mix of curiosity and determination. “Then show it to me,” she said. “If I was dead when you found it, the least you can do is show it to me now.”
Dante looked at her silently for a moment, then sighed. Without a word, he disapparated, vanishing in an instant. Less than thirty seconds later, he reappeared, holding a strange small creature in his arms. It was a purple hairless beast with a golden horn curving backward and a smaller, straight one beside it. Its eyes were large and luminous.
Luna’s eyes lit up with wonder. “The Crumple-Horned Snorkack,” she whispered, her voice filled with awe.
Dante handed the Crumple-Horned Snorkack to Luna. The creature nestled into her arms, its golden horns glinting faintly in the sunlight. “It lived in the forests of Russia,” Dante explained, his voice steady. “People don’t see it because it has a natural disillusionment charm. It lives on top of trees and can jump long distances without making a sound.”
Luna’s eyes sparkled with wonder as she held the creature, her fingers gently stroking it. Dante continued, “This is a Crumple-Horned Snorkack child. Take it with you. It’s harmless, and I’ve disabled its ability to hide. Just feed it some tree leaves, and it will be fine.”
Luna nodded, her expression filled with gratitude and excitement. But before she could say anything, the world around her shifted. In the blink of an eye, she found herself standing in the Ravenclaw Tower at Hogwarts, the Crumple-Horned Snorkack still cradled in her arms. Beside her, Dumbledore stood, his expression one of mild surprise.
Luna blinked, looking around in confusion. “What just happened?” she asked, her voice soft but curious.
Dumbledore recovered quickly, his usual calm demeanor returning. “Dante’s accomplishments in magic are beyond anything I’ve ever seen,” he said, his tone a mix of admiration and resignation. He turned to Luna, his blue eyes gentle. “Take care of the creature, Ms Lovegood. If you need help, you can ask Hagrid.”
Luna nodded, her attention moved to the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. But after a moment, she looked up at Dumbledore, her expression thoughtful. “What about Dante?” she asked. “Will he be okay?”
Dumbledore sighed, his gaze distant. “It seems he needs more time to move on,” he said quietly. “For now, we must be patient.”
