Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 142: Stupid Action
"Do you really think that smashing the ring against the wall would allow you to escape the curse?" Snape sneered.
His voice was cold and sharp as ever, but beneath the biting tone lay genuine concern. Despite his expression, Snape cared deeply about Dumbledore condition at this very moment. The only man who knows about his real self despite everyone didn't believe him.
"Tell me," Snape continued, his dark eyes fixed on the withered arm, "why would you put the ring on your finger when you knew it was cursed?"
Dumbledore lowered his gaze. His shoulders sagged slightly and for the first time, he looked truly tired and also a face of someone who just overcome with sadness.
"It was my fault," Dumbledore replied quietly, people who knows him can feel sincerity in his voice. "Tell me, Severus… how much time do I have left?"
Snape drew in a heavy breath before answering, because this is something he hated. The Dark Lord danger are still there and with Dumbledore gone who will fight him?
"At most, a year," he said at last. "Even if we were to amputate the hand, the curse has already spread throughout your body. The potions I prepared have slowed its progress, but they cannot stop it."
There was a brief silence, Dumbledore really regretted to hunt down the horcrux alone he should bring someone else and if that person was not Dudley, even Severus can join him hunting the horcrux.
"Thank you, Severus," Dumbledore said softly.
...........
1 August 1996
Gaunt Shack
Two figures could be seen approaching the ruined shack from the distance.
One of them was Dudley Dursley and the other one was Steve Rogers, they come by here using Knight Buss and apparation.
Over the past few days, Dudley had been teaching Steve Rogers magic up to a fifth-year Hogwarts level, legilimency and also occlumency. Spell theory, magical control, intent, and structure. Everything that could be taught by Dudley had been drilled into him.
At the same time, Dudley also learned Steve Rogers magic he now with of course sling ring can opened up a portal. For Steve, he didn't need it but Dudley really need it because he didn't have the same power like Steve.
Thanks to the Ancient One template, Steve absorbed knowledge like a sponge soaking up water. Concepts that would normally take students years to understand settled into his mind within hours. His foundation in discipline and mental focus made learning magic extremely easy.
Dudley had briefly considered bringing Steve to live with the Dursleys, they are real biological brother but he dismissed the idea almost immediately. Doing so would attract far too much attention especially from Amelia Bones and Albus Dumbledore. After everything that had happened, a boy confirmed to have killed three Death Eaters suddenly living close to the Potter family would raise questions no one wanted asked.
Instead, they met in secret.
Every day, without fail, they spent at least three hours mastering magic.
What surprised Dudley the most was Steve control. Even without a wand, Steve could use magic almost as effectively as Dudley himself. The difference was subtle but undeniable.
For Dudley, a wand barely mattered. His system had cleared his magical pathways entirely, making spellcasting feel as natural as breathing.
Steve, on the other hand, simply didn't need one because his physiology body are different. He had two magical pathway inside him.
Still, Dudley understood the practical advantage of wands. They acted as amplifiers and regulators. If a spell normally required a hundred units of magical output, using a wand reduced it to around eighty. Less strain and less exhaustion that means the longer the fight and they can cast much faster.
Normally, that would matter but with Steve stamina and the Ancient One template, it barely made a difference.
Dudley stamina had increased so much that it won't matter to him too. But for Dudley he still choose to use a wand because he had long grown accustomed to fight using a wand, so he kept one out of habit.
As they drew closer to the Gaunt Shack, Steve narrowed his eyes.
"Why does this place look like someone already been here?" Steve asked.
Dudley stopped walking while turning his head to Steve.
"You're right," he replied, raising his wand. "Revelio."
The spell washed over the area.
Nothing, he can't feel nothing, there is no lingering dark magic and no active curses and no hostile enchantments.
Dudley expression darkened.
"…Don't tell me that old coot really did this," he muttered in frustration.
Steve glanced at him. "Did you tell him about the Horcrux?"
"Yeah," Dudley groaned. "I told him not to hunt Horcruxes alone and if he found a clue directly to tell me first."
He clenched his jaw. "I should've just blasted this place from a distance."
"Let's go inside," Steve suggested. "Maybe Dumbledore hasn't reached the core yet or we are simply misunderstanding him."
Dudley exhaled slowly. "You're right."
They entered the shack and the deeper they went, the clearer it became what had happened. Traps lay broken, dark enchantments had been dismantled. Whatever danger once filled the shack had already been neutralized.
All of it bore the unmistakable mark of Dumbledore work because no one except him would enter this place.
Dudley stopped walking when he saw the drawer open and he had a gut feeling that the Horcrux had been destroyed by Dumbledore.
He didn't say anything at first.
Steve looked at him. "How long before the curse kills him?"
"At most… a year," Dudley replied quietly.
Steve jaw tightened.
"Dudley," Steve said after a moment, "you need to make sure Dumbledore loses the Elder Wand."
Dudley looked up sharply.
"Even though the withering curse came from Voldemort," Steve continued, "the only way to truly claim that wand is by defeating its master. If Dumbledore dies while still holding it...."
"I know," Dudley interrupted. "You're right."
He reached for his wand, intending to cast a Patronus.
Then he froze because he just remembered something.
"…Wait," Dudley muttered. "I forgot something."
Steve frowned. "Forgot what?"
"It's been a long time since I sent a Patronus to Voldemort," Dudley said slowly. "The last time was after defeating him."
Steve blinked. "Oh. That thing you do just to make Moldy angry?"
"Yes," smiled Dudley.
Dudley raised his wand. "Expecto Patronum."
The Patronus burst forth and before it could go far away, it stopped and circling around.
It hovered in the air, shifting uncertainly, as if unsure where to go.
Steve stared at it. "Why does your Patronus look… lost?"
"It never does that," Dudley replied.
A terrible thought crossed Steve mind.
"…Don't tell me Voldemort went to another dimension to learn Dark Magic," Steve said slowly, "and your Patronus can't pinpoint him."
Silence fell between them.
Their eyes widened at the same time.
"Oh, Steve," Dudley whispered. "No wonder he wasn't in the newspapers."
Steve voice was grim. "You're right. Now Dumbledore has been cursed…"
He paused.
"…and what comes next?"
...
There is 30 advanced chapter on my patreon.Chapter 167: Moving
Chapter 168: Proposal
Chapter 169: Multiplayer Condition
Chapter 170: Susan Power
Chapter 171: Grangers Reaction
Chapter 172: Infamous Student
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