Read up to 40 chapters ahead on Patreon - patreon.com/Dark_sym
-----
"Harry, this is highly unusual," Dumbledore said, gazing at Harry solemnly.
"Why does my scar hurt, Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked nervously, his voice barely above a whisper.
Dumbledore's reply came in a calm tone yet was heavy with implications.
"It is likely because you share a connection with Voldemort, Harry."
Harry's breath hitched as Dumbledore continued, "I have only a theory—mere conjecture. I believe your scar reacts when Voldemort is nearby or his desire for vengeance grows particularly intense."
"You survived his attack, but in doing so, some of his magic was inadvertently transferred to you. This forged a connection between you both."
"This scar, Harry, is no ordinary mark," Dumbledore added, his voice low but firm.
"It is a physical reminder of that connection—a conduit of sorts."
While Dumbledore explained, Harry noticed a flicker of something deeper in his professor's eyes. Dumbledore's calm façade faltered as his thoughts drifted.
Ethan, standing quietly to the side, observed it too. He could tell Dumbledore was already contemplating more than he revealed, likely wrestling with the implications of Harry's strange dreams.
Things were far more complicated than they seemed.
"Harry," Dumbledore said gravely, his blue eyes locking onto Harry's, "if your scar ever reacts again—if you feel anything at all—you must tell me immediately."
Moved by the seriousness in Dumbledore's voice, Harry nodded earnestly.
"I will, Professor."
"Good," Dumbledore replied, his tone softening slightly.
"For now, remain at Hogwarts. Avoid leaving the grounds. You can visit Madam Pomfrey for a soothing tonic if needed."
Harry nodded again and, accompanied by Hermione and Ron, left the headmaster's office without another word.
The silence that followed was palpable. Dumbledore remained seated behind his desk, hands steepled, his thoughts a mystery. After a long pause, he finally broke the quiet.
"Ethan, what do you make of Harry's dreams?" Dumbledore's piercing blue eyes fixed on him through his half-moon spectacles.
Ethan met his gaze, his expression thoughtful.
"I don't think it's as simple as a spell transfer," he said, his voice measured.
"The fact that Harry can see Voldemort's actions in his dreams suggests something far more profound."
Dumbledore nodded gravely. "I agree. This is unprecedented—something I've never encountered before."
Ethan hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"Dumbledore, I have a troubling theory."
Dumbledore's eyes sharpened his attention fully on Ethan.
"Go on."
Ethan swallowed hard, debating how much to say. He knew the truth: Harry was a Horcrux. Sooner or later, Dumbledore would discover this himself.
The sooner the truth came to light, the sooner they could act against Voldemort.
The world outside Hogwarts was growing darker. The Ministry of Magic was in disarray, with wizards disappearing mysteriously.
Aurors were stretched thin, and their efforts to uncover Voldemort's plans yielded no results. Ethan knew that Voldemort's power was growing steadily, bringing new dangers every day.
"This connection—this ability Harry has to see through Voldemort's eyes—isn't incidental," Ethan said carefully.
"It's the result of something far more deliberate."
"What are you suggesting?" Dumbledore asked, leaning forward slightly.
His expression was grave, but there was no mistaking the curiosity in his tone.
Ethan's insights, though unsettling, were often accurate.
Before Ethan could answer, the office door creaked open. Severus Snape entered, his pallor even more pronounced than usual, a sheen of cold sweat glistening on his forehead.
He cast a sharp glance at Ethan before turning his attention to Dumbledore.
"Headmaster," Snape said curtly, his voice betraying a note of urgency.
Snape's pale face was taut, his posture rigid as he entered the office.
Ethan couldn't help but notice how Snape's hand lingered near his forearm, where the Dark Mark lay—a silent reminder of Voldemort's looming presence.
"Dumbledore, I—" Snape began, but his words faltered as his gaze shifted to Ethan. His expression hardened immediately, and whatever he intended vanished into silence.
Tension hung in the air. Snape and Ethan had been at odds recently, their interactions strained by unresolved conflicts.
"You're here, Severus," Dumbledore nodded, his tone calm but firm.
Please wait for a moment. Ethan and I are discussing something important."
Snape's lips tightened, but he inclined his head slightly and stepped back, his eyes flickering between Dumbledore and Ethan.
"Ethan," Dumbledore prompted, turning back to him.
"You were saying? Please, continue."
Ethan hesitated, glancing at Snape. The unease in his demeanor was clear, as though he wasn't sure he should speak with Snape in the room.
"Ethan, whatever you have to say, I trust Severus," Dumbledore reassured him, his gaze steady.
Catching the exchange, Snape gave Ethan a disdainful look, his dark eyes glittering with irritation.
Ethan sighed, conceding to Dumbledore's insistence.
"Harry's connection to Voldemort is far stronger than we imagined," he began cautiously.
"The visions he experiences, the pain in his scar—they aren't coincidences. Their bond is extraordinary, far closer than anyone could have anticipated."
Snape's voice cut through the room, sharp and demanding.
"What connection? What visions? What exactly are you talking about?"
Dumbledore explained succinctly—Harry's dreams, his scar, and how they tied to Voldemort's growing power.
Snape's face grew paler as he listened, and almost unconsciously, he pressed his hand to the Dark Mark on his arm as though the explanation resonated with his discomfort.
"Ethan," Snape said, narrowing his eyes.
"Enough riddles. What do you think is happening to Potter?"
Dumbledore nodded in agreement, his expression one of patient expectation.
Ethan hesitated, choosing his words carefully.
"Harry's connection with Voldemort is so strong... it's like a Horcrux."
The room froze.
Snape scoffed, his voice laced with disbelief.
"What nonsense are you spouting now? Voldemort didn't create Horcruxes out of people willy-nilly! That's absurd."
Ethan didn't flinch, his tone steady as he elaborated.
"At Godric's Hollow, Voldemort's soul was already unstable. His madness and his obsession with immortality fractured it further. When he murdered James and Lily and attempted to kill Harry, his soul splintered again. Voldemort fled that night, mortally wounded, unaware that a piece of his soul had latched onto the very child he sought to destroy."
Snape's eyes widened, the realization hitting him like a physical blow. He staggered back slightly, his voice trembling with incredulity.
"You're saying Potter... is a Horcrux?"
Ethan nodded grimly. "It's the only explanation. Why else would Harry speak Parseltongue? Why would Voldemort's wand and Harry's share a twin core? Everything points to a connection deeper than just a curse scar."
Snape's composure cracked further.
"This is insane! Too much, even for Voldemort!" he muttered, pacing in agitation.
"It's not insanity," Ethan countered, his tone cold and methodical.
"It's desperation. Voldemort's obsession with power and immortality closed his eyes to the consequences of his actions. He didn't intend for Harry to become a Horcrux—it was an accident, but one with devastating consequences."
Dumbledore, silent during Ethan's explanation, leaned back in his chair.
His blue eyes, usually twinkling with calm wisdom, were now clouded with worry.
"You've given me much to consider, Ethan," Dumbledore said at last, his voice quiet but heavy with thought.
"If what you say is true, then Harry's very existence ties him to Voldemort in a way I never imagined."
Snape stared at Dumbledore, his disbelief gradually giving way to reluctant acceptance.
"This... this changes everything," he murmured.
"Indeed, it does," Dumbledore replied.
Then, turning his gaze back to Ethan, he said,
"We must proceed with caution. The weight of this revelation is immense."
Ethan nodded, his expression resolute.
The truth was out, and though it was a terrible truth, it was a step toward defeating Voldemort.