“Yes,” Dumbledore said apologetically. “I have told you this before, but you see — it is necessary to start with your scar. For it became apparent, shortly after you rejoined the magical world, that I was correct, and that your scar was giving you warnings when Voldemort was close to you, or else feeling powerful emotion.”
“I know,” said Harry wearily.
“And this ability of yours — to detect Voldemort’s presence, even when he is disguised, and to know what he is feeling when his emotions are roused — has become more and more pronounced since Voldemort returned to his own body and his full powers, and you can even feel his thoughts and what he sees.”
Harry did not nod. He already knew what Dumbledore was saying.
Over the past year, Evan and Sirius had told him these words countless times. He had also seen the corridor of the Department of Mysteries countless times because Voldemort wanted to get the Prophecy Orb. The last time he saw Caresius being attacked in Norway also confirmed this.
“On the night when you saw Caresius being injured by the statue of the evil god, Voldemort felt your presence when you entered so far into his mind and thoughts,” said Dumbledore. “I have been concerned about this happening, but things have uncontrollably moved in that direction. He then entered your mind and controlled your thoughts. He could control your body, and I believe he must have been ecstatic when he found out about this.”
“Evan told me that, so you asked Snape to teach me Occlumency.”
“Professor Snape, Harry,” Dumbledore corrected him quietly. “But did you not wonder why, given the severity of the situation, I did not personally teach you Occlumency? Why I had not so much as looked at you for months?”
This was exactly what Harry wanted to know. He looked up and he could see now that Dumbledore looked tired.
“You see, Harry,” continued Dumbledore. “I was worried that Voldemort would use you, that he would find a way to manipulate you, and I believe I was right to think that Voldemort would have made use of you in such a way. On those rare occasions when we had close contact, I thought I saw a shadow of him stir behind your eyes…”Harry remembered how he had always felt ready to attack whenever he made eye contact with Dumbledore during this period.
“After the incident in Norway, I realized that my worst fears had come true: Voldemort had learned that he could use you, and in an attempt to arm you against Voldemort’s assaults on your mind, I arranged Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape,” Dumbledore paused. “Apparently, it didn’t work very well.”
“I may not have the talent to learn this magic. My scar always hurt worse after lessons with him, and the method he taught me…” Harry added, remembering Ron’s thoughts on the subject. “How do you know he wasn’t trying to soften me up for Voldemort, make it easier for him to get inside my mind?”
“I trust Severus Snape,” said Dumbledore simply.
Harry fell silent again, choosing not to comment. He did not trust Snape.
However, he did think that what his father had done to Snape in the past was wrong.
Although he had apologized to Snape on Evan’s advice, it was natural if Snape hated him.
He hated him as well. Harry always believed that it was Snape’s lessons that made things worse. Perhaps, thinking even deeper, Snape was working for Voldemort.
“Occlumency is a very advanced magic, and because of Voldemort’s influence, it was especially difficult for you to learn,” said Dumbledore. “But I had no better option. After that brief attempt in Norway, Voldemort’s assaults on your mind and control of your body seemed inevitable. He wouldn’t give up this opportunity. I have talked to Evan, Hermione, Elaine and others about my concerns before. Voldemort’s aim in possessing you, as he demonstrated tonight, would not have been my destruction. It would have been yours. He hoped, possessing you, that I would sacrifice you in the hope of killing him.”
“If this can destroy Voldemort …”
“No, Harry — you are the most important,” said Dumbledore. “In order to avoid this from happening, at Evan’s suggestion, we devised a plan to actively lure Voldemort to the Ministry of Magic without you showing up.”
“Voldemort wants to get the prophecy, but he doesn’t want to show up. He wants you to give it to him,” Evan continued, noticing that Dumbledore was looking at him. “So we leaked the information through the house-elf Kreacher. You know, Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange are also members of the Black family. In Kreacher’s mind, the two of them have always been his mistresses, especially Bellatrix. In a sense, she is even better than Sirius, and Bellatrix is Voldemort’s confidant…”
“You used Kreacher?”
“That’s true. Sirius deliberately issued some contradictory and confusing orders so that Kreacher could go to Malfoy Manor to meet Narcissa and Bellatrix. They soon learned about Dumbledore’s news and the information we wanted them to know from that house-elf. Voldemort will firmly believe that you are willing to do anything for Sirius. At that time, he can use this to lure you to the Department of Mysteries.”
“But, it was Malfoy who kidnapped me directly!”
“Yes, that was our oversight. Voldemort was too impatient. After the last failure, he no longer had the patience to wait, and when I got the news, I was stuck in Norway,” said Dumbledore. “Fortunately, no irreparable mistake has occurred.”
“Alright,” said Harry. In the room where the prophecy was stored, Sirius had used his body to stop Voldemort’s spell. For a moment, Harry had felt death; he thought Sirius had sacrificed himself, but Dumbledore had arrived just in time.
Just so close, Sirius was about to die in the Department of Mysteries.
If that had happened, Harry didn’t dare think what he would have done…
He stared at Dumbledore for a while, and now many things were clear, except for one.
“Alright,” Harry repeated. “About that prophecy…”
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