A tall, thin man was standing there, his features bearing a clear resemblance to Dumbledore's—especially the same pair of clear blue eyes.
Beside him stood a kind-looking woman.
"This.. You.. F-Father… Mother… yes, it has been a long time… I… sob.. I."
"Take a deep breath, my child.."
"M-Mother… F-Father…" Dumbledore's voice trembled, hitching with emotion. "I-I'm sorry… I failed you both. I failed Ariana… I didn't take care of her. I… because of my own selfishness… I let Ariana—"
His words broke off into a raw sob.
"So young… it was all my fault… hic all my fault…"
As he spoke, his voice cracked and shattered like thin glass. Then, he dropped to his knees and wept—loud, heaving sobs tearing from his throat.
That cry—thick with guilt, regret, and helpless sorrow—echoed like a wound no time could heal.
That cry—the waight of it—no one could truly measure.
Even Wade, standing quietly to the side and merely watching, felt a weight pressing on his chest.
It was the first time he had ever seen the always composed and steady Dumbledore lose control .
Ariana and their parents quietly walked to Dumbledore's side, sorrowfully watching him as he wept in anguish and guilt.
"This was my fault, Albus," his father said with deep regret.
"When I went after those Muggle boys to avenge Ariana, I should have thought of the consequences… If I hadn't died so early, you wouldn't have had to bear such a heavy burden at such a young age… With your brilliance, you should have soared freely… but instead, I left you shackled."
"That's not true… hic Father, it's not like that…" Dumbledore murmured through his grief.
"Brother… you don't need to say sorry to me," Ariana said sadly. "If anything, I'm the one who should apologize. I should have been stronger. Everything that happened to our family began with me…"
"This.. hic.. please.. never forgive me.."
"Please stop tormenting yourself… become once again the brother I once knew—the one who was full of confidence and light, all right?"
"Ariana… how.. How? HowHowHowHowHowHowHowHowHowHowHowHowHowHowHowHowHowHowHow? How can you forgive me?"
"HOW CAN YOU FORGIVE SOMEONE SO PATHETIC, SO SELFISH, SO DESPICABLE LIKE ME!? IT WAS MY FAULT! IT WAS ALL BECAUSE OF ME… THAT YOU DIED SO YOUNG…"
"Albus, please.. I never blamed you. Not even your dear friend… Death—for me, for you, for Aberforth—it was a kind of release."
"No… Ariana, don't say that… how can you say that…"
"I was an Obscurial, brother. Even if that incident had never happened, I wouldn't have lived much longer…" Ariana tried to place her hand on his shoulder, but it passed right through. "Please… stand up, brother. So many years have passed. We all hope… you can let it go. Let it all go…"
"Yes, my child… let it go. Don't hold on to guilt or sorrow. Death is just another great journey—we've only begun it before you," Dumbledore's mother said, her hand hovering gently over his head. "Don't despair. You are the pillar for so many people now, and you have your own mission, don't you? Live well, and carry the love in your heart."
Dumbledore slowly raised his head, gazing through teary eyes at the three figures standing before him. Ariana and their parents stood together, smiling at him with encouragement and warmth.
"Brother, it's time for us to go. Remember what we said…"
Ariana's voice was soft, and then, with her parents, she turned and walked into the distance, fading slowly into the mist.
Wade, who had been quietly watching from the side, was once again stunned. According to what was written about the Resurrection Stone, the summoned spirits should only disappear when the holder released the stone—so why did they leave on their own?
He began to suspect something strange.
Earlier, when Tom hadn't even rotated the stone and still saw Merope, and now, with Dumbledore's family leaving of their own accord, both situations seemed to defy the Resurrection Stone's established rules.
A wild thought struck Wade: could it be… that the spirits Tom and Dumbledore saw weren't just illusions conjured by the stone—but real? This text is hosted at n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net
Dumbledore sat slumped on the ground, silently gazing at the place where his parents and sister had vanished, his hand gripping the Resurrection Stone trembling slightly.
No one knew how long passed before he finally felt someone gently helping him up.
"Professor… are you all right?"
"Thank you, Wade… I'm fine. I just… still have a hard time letting go."
Dumbledore spoke while looking down at the Resurrection Stone in his hand, his expression filled with conflicting emotions. After a moment of silence, he returned the stone to Wade.
"Sorry… could you give me a moment alone?"
Wade nodded and turned to leave, holding the Resurrection Stone as he headed toward his room.
As he passed through the living room, he spotted Tom standing quietly by the window.
Clearly, Tom had also seen the moment Dumbledore lost control of his emotions.
Wade waved at him. "Come on, Tom. Professor Dumbledore needs some time alone."
Tom walked over without a word and followed Wade up the stairs.
"Is something like family… really that hard to let go of?" Tom suddenly asked.
Wade was a little surprised by the question. "I suppose so."
"You don't know?" Tom asked again.
"Only those who've truly experienced the beauty of family would understand. Someone like me right now… I'm not really qualified to say," Wade replied, feigning a heavy tone as he walked toward his room.
Tom looked at Wade's retreating back and couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh.
Although you have a family I envy… I didn't expect you to be the same as me…
Thinking this, Tom suddenly called out to Wade. "Can I borrow the Resurrection Stone again?"
"This was yours to begin with, Tom." Wade placed the Resurrection Stone back in Tom's hand.
As soon as Tom held the stone again, Merope reappeared before him.
His expression grew indescribably complex once more.
"Come… Mother. This time… let's have a proper talk."
Watching Tom's silhouette as he walked back to his room, Wade sighed inwardly.
Tom… he didn't understand love? Maybe that was true before—but now, he would understand it soon enough.
About an hour had passed.
Dumbledore finally knocked on Wade's door.
"Come in, Professor," Wade said, inviting Dumbledore inside.
The house-elf Toby brought in the desserts, candies, and drinks that had already been prepared.
At this moment, aside from slightly red and swollen eyes, Dumbledore had mostly returned to his usual self.
"Have some dessert, Professor. Something sweet can lift your spirits a little," Wade said with a smile.
"Thank you…" Dumbledore accepted the small cake Wade handed him. "I'm sorry you had to see me like that…"
"It's perfectly natural, Professor. Family is one of those things that are hard to let go of, isn't it?" Wade said as he placed a cup of pumpkin juice, extra sweetened with double sugar and honey, in front of Dumbledore.
Dumbledore took a sip of the pumpkin juice. The rich sweetness did improve his mood quite a bit.
"That Resurrection Stone… please be sure to keep it well hidden. And of course, remember the lesson in the story. Don't lose yourself in it…" Dumbledore said with a sigh.
Wade smiled, then glanced in the direction of Tom's room. "Rather than hiding it away, it seems more meaningful to use it to teach someone what love really is."
Dumbledore looked toward Tom's room in surprise, following Wade's gaze.
Ok! This chap was too heavy for my young heart😭
Read 12 Chapters ahead: /Captain69