Harry Potter and the Ancient Secret of War

Thanks to Renzo for the help with the update

Chapter Twenty

The Ancient Secret of War

Harry awoke early the next day to find that Hermione was still curled up by his side. He watched her for a few moments, thinking how wonderful and innocent she was when asleep. But he hadn't forgotten his sense, and woke her up gently.

“Hermione,” he said softly into her ear, “Wake up.”

She woke up and smiled at Harry, “I was having a most wonderful dream.”

“Was it something to do with the both of us?” Harry said.

“It might have been,” was her reply.

Harry grinned at her. Finally, he said, “You must go back now. Madam Pomfrey will enter any moment.”

As if precisely on cue, they heard the door on the far side of the hospital wing open, and they heard Madam Pomfrey come in. Fortunately, Hermione had managed to cover herself with the Invisibility Cloak in time.

“Mr Potter,” Madam Pomfrey said on seeing him awake, “who were you talking to? I thought I heard voices.”

Harry groaned. Madam Pomfrey had the ears of a fox and the eyes of a hawk. “No one,” he said shifting uncomfortably from his prostrate position. “Just myself.”

Madam Pomfrey raised her eyebrows. “Are you sure?” she asked.

Harry nodded and tried using his hands to prop himself up into a sitting position.

“Mr Potter, what do you think you're doing?” Madam Pomfrey shouted as soon as she saw him. “You're supposed to only lie, not even sit properly. Your wounds haven't healed properly as yet.”

“I got bored lying there,” Harry said. “Besides I feel much better and much fresher today.”

Madam Pomfrey did not look too convinced but she let the matter be. She retired to her office for some time to do whatever important work she had.

As soon as she had gone, the still invisible Hermione gave him a short chaste kiss on the lips and saying `See you soon' went out of the Hospital wing.

However, even before a couple of minutes had passed, Harry saw a shadow by his bed. It was Dumbledore.

“Professor?” Harry exclaimed in surprise. “I did not see you arriving.”

“Obviously,” Dumbledore twinkled. “I didn't want to disturb yourself and Miss Granger.”

Harry blushed a bright shade of red at this. “I…we…we were just…” he stuttered.

“No need to be embarrassed, Harry,” Dumbledore said, “It's love after all. I still remember my first love when I was here at Hogwarts. Ah! The feeling of young love - the memory still invigorates me.”

Harry did his very best not to choke at what he was hearing the old Headmaster say. He changed the topic, not wanting to hear of Dumbledore's affairs in the past, and said quickly, “So Professor, what brings you here?”

“You,” Dumbledore replied simply. “I just wanted to know how you feel.”

“Okay,” Harry said. “The sore feeling is less and…”

“You know I'm not talking about your physical health at the moment, Harry,” Dumbledore reminded Harry.

“My mind,” Harry said. “It feels a little less heavy. And I can remember a few more things. I remember meeting my parents and asking them all those questions. I now remember how they told me that it was an illusion I was trapped in. They made me promise that I'd try to leave that world. But what happened after that, I do not know.” With that, he told Dumbledore about meeting his parents and then watching a vision of Hermione in the Hospital Wing. However, that's all he remembered.

“Well, you've remembered something at least,” Dumbledore observed. “That's an improvement, isn't it?”

“I guess so,” Harry agreed.

“I'd still advise you not to think more about it,” Dumbledore said. “It will improve with time, and you'll remember everything at the exact opportune moment you are meant to.”

Harry noted mentally that he had understood Dumbledore's cryptic words. This came as a surprise, because he had always believed Dumbledore to be a bit mad. He believed that the Headmaster sometimes made the funniest and the strangest remarks. But he realized that this time even though his manner of using the words was the same, still he had understood the meaning behind them.

“Sir, what happened?” Harry said. “How did I get trapped in that world?”

“It was the spell that Voldemort used on you at Hogsmeade,” Dumbledore answered. “It's an ancient curse and is called the Entrapment Curse. It traps the mind in a delusional, ideal world so that the person who is under this curse does not want to leave that ideal world. It is one of the strongest and the most dangerous curses in the Dark Arts, and one of the least known ones too. Very few know it exists, even fewer know how to counter it or throw it off.”

“Then how did I recover from it?” Harry asked.

“Because you possessed the strength of mind to realize that it was an illusion and the real world, even though harder and less desirable, was the right place to be. You didn't take the easier route out, you chose the right one,” Dumbledore answered.

“Are you here to explain everything to me?” Harry asked.

“I'm here to give you the possible reasons,” Dumbledore replied. “First of all, let me tell you that I took the liberty of bringing this book that was under your possession. Why don't you take and read it a bit?”

Harry diverted his attention towards the book. It was `The Ancient Secret of War'. It still looked the same as it had when he had first seen it, almost as if it were under a strong preservation spell. He took it in his hands and placing it on his lap, opened it. The first page was completely blank. He looked up at Dumbledore, who was watching him intently, his eyes twinkling. Upon seeing Harry's gaze upon himself, he smiled at Harry reassuringly and gave him an almost imperceptible nod.

Harry turned the leaf over. The second page was also blank. There was not a single mark on the yellow, coarse parchment which looked as if it had seen many ages on the planet. Then he turned over the page one more time.

On that page was drawn the portrait of one of the most beautiful women Harry had ever seen. In fact, she was downright the most beautiful woman he had seen. The face looked as if it were carved in the likeness of a Goddess. Maybe she is a Goddess, Harry thought. Her eyes were blue, her hair a most captivating gold, and her skin smooth and fair. It was as if her form was touched by no frost and she dwelt upon the Earth in its morning, even when the flowers were in full bloom and the grass wet with glistening pearls of dew. Harry stared at the picture and his heart gained solace; a welcome calm spread through his form.

Dumbledore was forgotten, as were his surroundings as Harry reminisced one of his memories - one that he didn't know he had in his mind:

It was a cool evening, and he found himself in a forest, an open forest glade. It was a clearing almost like a circular meeting room. It seemed to have been shaped by hand, yet something told Harry that it was not so. The place had a distinct old-world feel to it and seemed to Harry that the alcove by the lake where Hermione and he had spent her birthday was a mere extension of the land he was in at the moment.

He was surrounded by tall trees, whose bark was magnificent silver and leaves golden. It looked like the trees were covered with gold - such was the dazzling splendour of those precious leaves. The sun was fading, and the stars were gathering their light - to shine once more when all worlds went dark.

Harry moved about in the glade. He could see nothing except for the trees around him, the exposed darkening sky above and the grass beneath his feet. The moon rose; even as the sun faded away completely and its light disappeared from the walls and the floor of the glade. It was a breath-taking sight as the glade was filled with moonshine. Harry felt as if he was walking on silver and surrounded by walls of silver capped with god. Here, were jewels of the world, wrought by nature.

The glade did not need any light - such was the pure white light that emanated from the waning moon. Around it, the stars were twinkling merrily. Their light was overcome by that of the moon, yet they could be seen ever so clearly, glittering against the dark background.

Though Harry could not see any living soul within sight, he now started haring gentle voices ringing with unknown melodies in an unknown language. It was like the soothing murmur of the wind, and appeared to have encompassed within itself the very life-force of the earth. Harry could distinctly feel within the song, the rustling of the leaves, the sound of flowing water, the merry crackling of a warm fire and the calls of innumerable and unnamed birds and beasts. All these sounds of the earth were all inter-woven as one in that heavenly music and a single melody was formed - rich, varied, articulate and beautiful - the song of the earth itself.

The voices that sang this beautiful symphony were rich as if melody to them was of second nature. They seemed to Harry, to linger just beyond his range of vision, just beyond the distance which his eyes could pierce and perceive.

It seemed to Harry that the music was a celebration of the earth and the life that it nurtured in its womb. But a while later, the tone changed, as did the music that flowed from the lips of those mysterious singers. As the new melody began, Harry felt the visions of stars and moons cloud his eyes. He felt himself walking in strange and distant lands - in places where the stars were different, and the moons strange. Yet he felt the sorrow that those voices contained. It was as if they were all mourning for something that once was - something they gave up - something they sacrificed.

Suddenly, a white light began shining to Harry's right. Even though he did not understand the language that the songs were being sung in, Harry felt the joy and wonder the latest melody contained make a way into his own heart and fill his mind with a sense of anticipation and reverence.

The white light was coming closer every minute and Harry now saw the outline of people walking towards him. But it was the person at the fore that caught his attention. He could decipher not a single face anywhere, but that person, seemed heavenly. The very sound of that person's coming to enliven his spirits and raise the anticipation in his heart.

Harry took one step closer and then he saw her - the same woman he saw in the book. She wore a smile on her face as her eyes fell upon Harry and sparkled with a variety of hues that Harry could not decipher. She was wearing long robes of what seemed to be a white fabric. But Harry felt that she wore the very soul of the earth because her robe and her presence seemed to bring all under her influence.

She spoke out to Harry in a melodious voice that seemed like the sound of a trickling waterfall in a dense rainforest, “Welcome Harry Potter! You've come from far and through many perils to this realm. Do not let your heart be troubled now. Take some rest now. When the morning comes, we shall sit together and I shall give you what you seek.”

“I seek nothing,” Harry said.

“Then I'll give you something that you deserve,” the lady said.

Suddenly, Harry felt himself being shaken out of his reverie. He looked at Dumbledore who was silently looking at him in a curious, analytical manner.

“Who is she?” Harry asked Dumbledore, pointing to the portrait he was holding.

“Why do you ask?” Dumbledore said.

“I just think…I might have met her…” Harry replied. “In fact, I believe I have.”

Dumbledore's eyes shone in understanding and joy as he heard this. He suggested to Harry, “Why don't you read on Harry?”

Harry turned the page once again, even though his mind still dwelt upon the splendour and royalty the portrait exuded. The next page contained hand-written text. Harry flipped the pages of the book once and saw that it was all written in the same, looping hand. The text read -

Here lies an account of the history of wizards, as they appeared on the Earth and formed the governing the White Council under the will of Queen Impraeclar. Here follows an account of all that the wizards did in their time on the planet before they passed away with the Elves, and also the secret of their own ancient powers, lest our knowledge of these matters becomes too scarce and we are forgotten to the world of the future…

Harry read on fascinated. If the book did indeed contain what it claimed to contain, it contained the knowledge of the very race of the wizards themselves.

Three thousand lives of men have passed since the Five Wizards first appeared on the Earth. They were brought here at the will of the Great Power that governs the universe and brought to terms with the ways of the world by the pious power of the Elves. They appeared as old men, robed and cloaked. It is now the Order of the wizards that has established itself as a saviour of the world, even as the time draws near for them to leave the realms of the place they have been calling `The Realm of their Keep' for the last three hundred millennia…

Harry's mind began spinning at this. So, were these wizards all extra-terrestrial beings like those extra-headed cartoons Dudley loved to watch on television? He took a breath and read on -

…Four of the five wizards have all similar powers and were cloaked in blue. The Head of the Wizard Council though, is the White Wizard, and the council is named after him as the White Council. Many a year have passed since the White Council met together - another sign that the time of the Five Wizards is drawing to a close.

The remaining four Wizards have now begun travelling across the length and breadth of the continents to find their successors - ones to whom they would pass a part of their magical powers onto - ones who could protect the beings on the earth from great evils that the nameless fear residing in darkness may dare to send forth…

That was all Harry could read at the moment. His head was already spinning with all that he had read. He needed someone to explain all that he had read in a simple, agreeable tone so as to believe all of it.

He looked involuntarily at Dumbledore, who seemed to have guessed his predicament. He asked Harry, “Do you want me to explain the rest to you?”

Harry nodded. Then, on second thoughts, he asked, “How do you always know what the person in front of you is going to say?”

“I've been granted the gift of foresight, Harry,” Dumbledore answered. “And I have no doubt you will understand how or why before this night ends. I daresay it is going to take a long time. So why don't you keep the book aside? I'll explain all you need to know for the moment.”

Harry nodded.

“This book, Harry,” Dumbledore began, “as you might already have guessed, is indeed a history of the entire wizarding race. It tells us about how the five wizards appeared of the sea, sailing on handsome ships. They took their residences in different parts of the world and dwelt there. It was their job to assist the human race in facing and fighting any evil that might be perpetrated.

“At that time, the race of Elves also reigned supreme on the planet. They were all wise, tall, handsome beings. They were immortal, like the wizards, and cared deeply for all that grew on the planet. It was the queen of the High Elves, the Queen Impraeclar, who first summoned the five wizards together and formed the White Council. It was she who imparted them their positions of honour within the council.”

“Professor,” Harry said, thinking aloud, “The Elves. Are they the ones who the centaurs call their masters?”

Dumbledore nodded. “Yes Harry,” he said, “The centaurs are an ancient race existing for longer than we could ever imagine and the elves were an even more ancient race. The elves loved to teach everyone the meaning of the very soul of the earth. They taught not only the centaurs but also so many other species…trees, birds, flowers…”

“Then why don't we see them now?” Harry asked.

“I'm coming to that now,” Dumbledore said his eyes twinkling at Harry, “You are young and want all explanations quickly. I'm old. I need time to think and deliberate before I say anything.

“You see, Harry,” Dumbledore continued, “The Elves lived for thousands of years here on this planet. Finally, when they had faced all kinds of evil and had warded them off, they were all granted a choice - a choice to either pass into the Blessed Realm and remain a reclusive species that had no concerns for the future and the goings-on in the world, or to stay here and dwindle into a rustic folk with few memories of the great things they might have done. For the time of the Men was fast approaching - a time when Men would rule the whole earth.”

“And they took the first choice of passing into the Blessed Realm…” Harry trailed off. He could see the logic behind the answer.

“Not all,” Dumbledore corrected him. “Some of them had grown to love the earth and all upon it so much that the grief of parting was too much for them. They remained behind and slowly lost their abilities, one by one. Their immortality was taken away as had been foreseen and they merely continued to live on, serving wizards - something that they never had imagined doing in their heyday.”

“House Elves?” Harry asked for a confirmation of his thoughts.

Dumbledore nodded sadly. “Isn't it sad,” Dumbledore began, “That a race whose wisdom and thought are unparalleled in all the annals of history was made a slave by us? The House-Elves might not have the wisdom and the power of the Elves but they are wise and powerful in their own right. We generally look only at their external appearance, their talk and their will to survive to form our opinions about them, never once remembering who they were. We never once remember that they are bound to us not by our greatness, but by the consequence of a choice they made aeons ago.”

“What was the Blessed Realm?” Harry asked.

“It was…I don't know…But I guess you could call it heaven,” Dumbledore replied.

“Who gave the Elves the right to pass into the Blessed Realm?” Harry queried again. “And what have the Wizards got to do with the elves?”

“Many things,” Dumbledore replied grimly, “Along with the Elves, even the Wizards were given the choice to pass into the Blessed Realm in view of their services to the free worlds. The Wizards accepted that choice, even as most Elves had. And so they passed away from the dimensions of this world.

“However, before they departed, they were also worried about the future of all the humans on the planet. For even after all the evils they had fought in their time, evil was sure to take a new form and a new design. In that case, if the wizards did pass away form the Earth, it would mean that the fight between good and evil would always start with the odds heavily stacked in the favour of evil.”

“So they taught people magic?” Harry asked.

Dumbledore nodded. “That's the general idea. The wizards knew that all humans had the ability to manipulate the various elements of nature and energy. They were also aware that some humans had more ability towards this than others. So, they picked those more promising ones and taught them their own arts - the most elementary ones. Thus began the education of magic as we know it.”

As Dumbledore said this, a lost memory came to the fore of Harry's mind. He found himself sitting on the most sweetly fragrant grass. The blades were green as could be imagined, and exuded a unique freshness. Before him, sat the Elf Queen he had seen earlier.

“Who are you?” Harry asked her.

“I am the Queen of the High Elves, the Keeper of the Wizards' staffs,” she told Harry, “Impraeclar is my name.”

“Where am I?” Harry questioned.

“In a place where few mortals have come before you,” came the reply. “Do you know why you've come?”

“No,” Harry answered. There was no point lying about things he did not know.

“Are you afraid?” the Queen asked him.

“No…and yes…” Harry replied.

“What is the meaning of your words?”

“I'm not afraid of your demeanour,” Harry answered, “But I'm afraid of what lies beneath. I see a cloak over you, a cloak that hides what you really are…all you really possess. I fear that cloak, not you.”

“Wisely answered,” the Queen replied. “I see you are deemed for great things. I perceive a mark over you which speaks of that…Rest now for you have had a long journey…through the gravest peril, that of being a prisoner of your own mind. I will summon you after you have had your rest.”

With that, the Queen rose and with her departure, Harry's memory faded and he found himself back in the Hospital Wing listening to Dumbledore.

“I've met her,” Harry said, “I've met Impraeclar.”

“The memory of the Queen of the Elves is something that is a privilege beyond any on this planet,” Dumbledore said. “You will realize the same when you understand more.”

“Sir,” Harry began after a while, “you said that the wizards taught their followers only the most elementary skills. Then how can we do so many things with magic?”

“No barrier can stop you, Harry, if you possess the will to learn,” Dumbledore replied. “In time, after the wizards passed away, the original followers taught their skills to others and the magical community grew as they in turn, taught many more. The wizards did teach them only the elementary arts - ones that were just about sufficient to help them fight evil. However, with the passage of time, newer skills were also discovered and the scope and powers of magic grew, even to where we now stand with it.”

“But what you are saying is merely `history',” Harry objected. “What's it got to do with the present.”

“I'm coming to that now,” Dumbledore said. “You see, Harry, this book contains all information about the powers of the wizards. It states that if any wizard or witch from the human race showed enough promise, he or she could acquire the powers of any of the Five Wizards, based on the tests he or she would have to give. In ancient times, at a stage when Muggles and magic were not estranged from each other, kings and emperors had great wizards and witches in their courts. Some of them had the powers of one of the Five Wizards as well. Their powers helped the king or the Emperor to win wars, conquer lands and fulfil all his ambitions. Even the great Merlin was one such wizard.”

“But he was the greatest,” Harry interjected.

“Indeed, he is still the greatest,” Dumbledore agreed. “Harry, when you give the tests for acquiring the powers of the Wizards, you are only given powers according to your abilities. Such is the nature of these tests. Your mental power, will, willingness to work hard…all these qualities are evaluated. The greater share of qualities you have, the greater powers you are likely to get. Now, the interesting thing is that this book speaks of how to acquire the powers of four of the Five Wizards. It also describes the power of those wizards and how to use them. But, strangely, it doesn't speak of the powers of the White Wizard - the most powerful of them all. A strange coincidence you might say. Yet we know that those powers exist. Do you know how?”

“How?” Harry questioned.

“Because,” Dumbledore answered. “There has indeed been one person in history who has acquired those powers.”

“Merlin.” Harry whispered. Dumbledore nodded.

“Yes, the great Merlin,” Dumbledore said. “Merlin the wise. Merlin the guide. Merlin the beacon of hope. Merlin the White Wizard. Indeed, Merlin was the White Wizard. But few people know of this.”

“How do you know then?” Harry asked, even though he felt that he knew the reply.

“Because I myself am a member of the White Council,” Dumbledore replied. “Because I am Albus Dumbledore, one of the four attached to the colour blue till such time as my life lasts.”

Harry looked at Dumbledore in awe. But the Headmaster pretended not to have noticed this and continued, “All the four wizards, Harry, are said to have been given a very prolonged life aside from all their other superior powers. But the powers of the White Wizard cannot be matched. From Merlin's accounts, the White Wizard has the gift of immortality on top of everything. But it is still a secret as to how a person may become the most powerful wizard alive by assuming those powers. It is a secret that could win lands, vanquish enemies and gain lordship over all, for the White Wizard can conquer all. That is why it is the Ancient Secret of War.

“Many who have somehow come to know of the White Wizard's existence, have tried to get to this pinnacle. But all failed and had to settle for lesser abilities. One of those was Tom Riddle. He tried, but could not go beyond the abilities of one of the Four. Pity that he later became Lord Voldemort. Pity that he turned blue into black.”

“So why tell me all this now?” Harry asked, wondering where this was heading off to.

“Do you believe in God, Harry?” Dumbledore asked.

“What's that got to do with what I asked?” Harry questioned in return.

“Everything.” Dumbledore replied. That one word spanned all.

“I don't know,” Harry replied. “I mean, the Dursleys never took me to Church now, did they?” There was a nervous edge to Harry's voice.

“I'm not speaking of the concept of religion, Harry,” Dumbledore said. “They are many. I'm speaking of the thread that binds them - the faith. I'm talking more so of the concept of God.”

“I don't understand. I don't know-” Harry began but the Headmaster broke in.

“Let me put it this way,” Dumbledore said, “It will make it easier for you to grasp my words. Do you believe that there is a Supreme Being with such supernatural powers which exceed the limits of our wildest imagination and keep the entire universe under His sway? Think carefully and answer.”

“I think I do believe that,” Harry replied after a while.

Dumbledore said, “Then why do you think that the Supreme Being, whom we have named God, does not give us a clearer proof of His Existence even though He certainly has all the powers of the world at his disposal?”

“I don't know,” Harry said with a shrug of his shoulders.

“Think hard, Harry. The answer is right before you.”

“Maybe because He does not want to,” Harry replied tentatively.

“But the question again is `why?'” Dumbledore said. “Why would He not want to assert His Dominion over us, when we clearly cannot match up to His Powers.”

Harry said, thinking a bit, “Because maybe He is not allowed to.”

“Who imposed that restriction on Him?” Dumbledore asked. “Clearly, there is no one in the universe who can supersede His Supreme authority. Clearly, He is the greatest, isn't he? So who can stop Him?”

“I don't see any meaning to all this,” Harry objected. “Why are you asking me?”

“Patience, Harry,” Dumbledore said, “Patience. You have to realize that patience is a very important virtue to possess. As for my questions, they have a common purpose - to make you understand.”

“Then why don't you do so already?” Harry snapped.

Dumbledore ignored Harry's tone and continued, “Harry, God does not exert His direct influence, which is more than likely to betray His Existence because He might have made Himself abide by the very laws that He has laid down for all others. It is His way of justice, a unique one, almost poetic justice, some might call it, but it might be true nonetheless.”

“And what are those laws?” Harry said, beginning to comprehend.

“The most important law,” Dumbledore said, “that governs the universe as it is made, is that power is always given to every being in direct proportion of the faculties that being possesses, especially the ones that suit the wielder of such powers. You will never find unwarranted gifts in the hands of unworthy beings. That is nature's way, God's way, of maintaining balance in the world.”

“But what about Voldemort?” Harry questioned. “Isn't he unworthy of the powers he possesses?”

“Voldemort is not unworthy of his powers, Harry,” Dumbledore said. “Even when he was Tom Riddle, he was brilliant and worthy enough. He was just not pure enough in his heart. He is evil, yes, but when you think of it, you'll ask what is evil, if evil does not know how evil the light seems to be.

“Power is a great paradox, Harry. Those who don't have it yearn for it. Those who do either yearn for more of it or wish that the power had never come to them. Power does strange things to different people. You must remember that even Voldemort was Tom Riddle once.”

“Tom Riddle was no different from Voldemort,” Harry said, “He opened the Chamber of Secrets. He murdered his own father.”

“Don't be too harsh in meting out your judgement of others before knowing everything, Harry,” Dumbledore said. “You never know the way another person's mind works. I daresay that you and I might have met the same fate had we been in Tom's position. Whatever anyone says, I have sympathy for the boy I once knew.”

Harry laughed at this.

Dumbledore saw the fits of laughter that his student had broken off into and said gravely, “This is no laughing matter, Harry.”

“No laughing matter?” Harry exclaimed. “You are Voldemort's greatest enemy and you say you sympathise with him. This is funny, even beyond fun.”

“I didn't say that I sympathize with Lord Voldemort,” Dumbledore said. “My sympathies are with Tom Riddle.”

“They are both one and the same,” Harry countered.

“No, they are not,” Dumbledore replied. “Tom Riddle was a promising student, someone who could have done great things for the world even by serving wizard-kind. Yet his choices went astray. He chose to serve himself and so, succumbed to all evil. He became a heartless body that had no shadow left of his former self.” Dumbledore spoke sadly and shook his head at the end.

“You speak as if you still harbour hope of Lord Voldemort reforming himself,” Harry observed.

“This is not mere jest, Harry,” Dumbledore spoke, “There have been moments in time when Lord Voldemort might have turned aside from evil. He was offered choices, but he always ignored the right ones and so, became more and more entrenched in the Dark Arts. I don't know if his fate will give him one final chance to correct himself. Yet I feel that there is no way whereby he could fully return to the path he left fifty-five years ago, even if my heart hopes otherwise…No, I do not think that will ever happen now…not now…not ever.”

“Why do you still wish the impossible?” Harry asked.

“Because I don't want you to become a murderer,” Dumbledore replied.

“It is my destiny,” Harry said. “To be a murderer or be murdered. You told me yourself.”

“Yet it is not your fate,” Dumbledore said. “Destiny lies in a man's own hands. Destiny can be altered, fate cannot.”

There was a silence in the room after this.

Finally Dumbledore spoke, “As I told you Harry, the Five Wizards specified for their powers to be assumed by the worthy, after they passed away. Each wizard was given foresight, whereby they could prepare themselves for prospective evils, besides other powers. However, it does take many years for the wizard to master those powers. Indeed, I'm not so sure that even after all these years, I can bring all the gifts I was given, into use. Such is the great paradox.

“When I first saw Tom Riddle, I could sense in him all the makings of a great wizard. I used my foresight, and I saw that he was destined for greatness. I don't know how the Dark clouded my vision, but it did. Seeing Tom for three years gave me enough confidence towards disclosing the Ancient Secret of War to him. I gave him the book. I told him everything. At fourteen, he told me he was ready to take the tests.”

Dumbledore had a faraway look in his eyes. Harry saw sadness in there and maybe a hint of repentance. He was hanging on to every word that the old Headmaster spoke.

“I should have seen it then,” Dumbledore sighed. “Tom was too eager. He also had this deep sense of being wronged by world that dwelt in his heart. I should have known that these were dangerous signs, but I took them to be an urge to prove himself. I let it go. I allowed him to take the tests.”

“What happened then?” Harry asked.

“I was confident at the time when he went that here was one who could become the White Wizard, someone in the likeness of Merlin. But when he came back, he had the blue raiment on. I didn't stop to dwell on it though. I had at least, been proven correct on some counts. Here indeed was one of the most powerful wizards in the world - one in the making. Yet, now that I think of it, it becomes clearer. Apparently, he wasn't pure enough of heart, his soul not deserving enough to gain absolute power.”

“When he came back, I perceived the transformation he had undergone after a few days. Till then, he had already begun unleashing the evil that he had succumbed to. He opened the Chamber of Secrets. It was then that I realized what I had done. It is a burden that I've been carrying for the last fifty-five years. I have been the cause of the plight of the wizarding world and I can never forgive myself for that.”

There was a long, pregnant silence in the room. The air had become heavy in there and Harry could almost see it with his eyes.

Finally, Harry asked the question that was now foremost in his mind. “Professor Dumbledore, where do I appear amidst all of this? What can I do?”

Dumbledore fixed his eyes on Harry and said, “Harry, I believe you have enough power in you to become the White Wizard.”

“What?” Harry exclaimed and sat bolt upright in his chair.

Dumbledore nodded. However, Harry stammered in disbelief as he said, “No, no, Professor…I…I think you're mistaken. How could I be a candidate for the White Wizard's powers? It's more likely that someone intelligent like Hermione can be one…not someone like me.”

Dumbledore said, “Calm down, Harry. I know it's hard to believe all this. But I have no doubt that what I said is true. As for Miss Granger, she has potential for greatness, but she is not yet ready for greatness to be heaped upon her.”

“So you think I'm ready?” Harry asked.

“Yes,” Dumbledore replied. “You have begun showing signs of greatness. Your forays into wandless magic show that clearly enough. Besides, if you stop to think, you will find that even your thinking has gained another dimension. You cannot deny it, Harry. You're coming into your own.”

“Why do you believe in me so much?” Harry asked, after a moment's silence. “After all, I could be another Lord Voldemort in the making.”

Dumbledore gave a wry smile on hearing this and said, “Let's just say experience has taught me to perceive things more clearly, and judge men correctly.”

Silence filled the room again as Harry was given time to collect his thoughts.

“Look Harry,” Dumbledore spoke after a while, “You can always think carefully over what I've told you. You can take as much time as you like. I mean it when I say you are ready. Once you convince your mind of that, I will help you attain the next level.”

“I understand,” Harry finally said. “I do need some time…as you said. Once I know I'm ready, I will come straight to you. But Professor, you still need to tell me why your think I'm capable of being the White Wizard.”

“I think I need to correct your assumption there, Harry,” Dumbledore said. “I don't think you're capable of becoming the White Wizard. I believe you have already become precisely that.”

“What!” Harry exclaimed.

“Yes, that is my conjecture,” Dumbledore stated, “You fulfil all the pre-requisites for giving the tests to become a wizard of the White Council. Had you become one of the four wizards, I would have definitely known. But your magical resonance is too strong even for that. I feel it in the bed you lay upon, in the confines you lie within. I feel it in your gaze, on your face.”

“If that's true, why can't I just heal myself and walk out of here at once?” Harry questioned.

“It's not something for jest, Harry,” Dumbledore said seriously. “I only said you have the powers of the white Wizard within you. Do you not realize why I've made it clear to everyone that you should be kept away from magic for some time to come? Your latent magical energy was only `just' enough to absorb the powers you were being offered. That is my belief. Still, there is occurring inside you, a terrible overhaul of all your magical energy. Only when things settle down within you, will you be able to use magic again.”

“How do you know all this?” Harry asked, bewildered at how he had gotten into all this.

“I spoke to the Queen Impraeclar, the guardian of the White Council,” Dumbledore replied. “She told me that the white Council has its head again.”

“But what does she have to do with all this?” Harry asked.

“You said you remember meeting her,” Dumbledore said. Harry nodded.

“For giving the tests to determine whether you can enter the Wizard Council, you must pass temporarily into the Blessed Realm. There you are tried, tested and given your powers. It is the last task anointed to the High Elves.”

“I don't remember meeting anyone but the Queen,” Harry stated.

“The secrets of healing that have been long lost here among us are still remembered by the High Elves,” Dumbledore said. “While you remained in their care, you were fine, even though your latent magical levels were at an all-time low. However, once you woke up in this world again, we could no longer provide you with the same care and healing. Your temporary loss of memory is but a result of the safeguards they wove on your mind.”

“What safeguards?” Harry queried.

“Imagine Harry,” Dumbledore spoke, “going to sleep thinking of yourself with ordinary abilities and then waking u the next day to find yourself all powerful. The shock, if not anything else, would make you go mad.”

“So, this memory loss is a safeguard for ensuring my own sanity?” Harry summarized.

Dumbledore nodded in the affirmative. “You could say that,” he said, “As you begin to accept these powers, and I say accept, mind you, not learn, you will remember more and more until all gaps are finally filled.”

Harry nodded. He understood the gist of Dumbledore's explanation.

“How long will I have to stay here?” Harry questioned.

“Only a few days more,” Dumbledore answered, “until you regain enough strength to perform and withstand magic. Having said that, you might notice a surge in the force of your spells. So, I'd advise you to be careful about the magic you perform…If there are no immediate questions, I'll leave now. As it is, I've given you much to ponder over and I, for one, also have many outstanding issues to resolve, least of all informing the school of your awakening.”

“Actually, I've three questions,” Harry said, “Why tell me all this when I cannot use the powers? And how do your know these things if the powers of the White Wizard are entirely secret?”

“Knowledge is most preferable when the mind reels in questions,” Dumbledore replied. “As far as my knowledge of this affair goes, I've only told you what I went through and what I believe is uniformly applicable to all wizards of the council. That's why the identity and powers of the White Wizard are the Ancient Secret of War. Very few know of his existence and no one knows surely about all the powers he commands. Those, I believe, are the answers to your first two questions.”

“Sir,” Harry said, “if what you said about the White Wizard's powers is true, couldn't I just use them to defeat Voldemort?”

“You'll first have to learn of those powers, Harry,” Dumbledore sighed. “And it might take more than a life age to do that. And if you do, you might find your outlook much changed,” With that, he got up and left Harry to sort out the world of information just given to him.”

* * * * *

Author's Note:

Many thanks to all those who read and reviewed last chapter. I loved them all, even though I might not have replied to them. The last two weeks had been very busy for me despite the break from college and all, since I'd gone on a trip with my friends.

Secondly, this chapter is greatly influenced by the Lord of the Rings. This was under the plans for the last six months and I remember telling the readers beforehand in some chapter or the other that I intended to borrow `certain' concepts from the Lord of the Rings. Having said that, this is not a crossover fic.

Anyways, this was a pivotal part of the story. I'm really glad to get it done. Hope you like it. Till then, bye.

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