Meeting with the Headmaster
Meeting with the Headmaster
Filch grumbled and muttered to himself the whole way up to Dumbledore's office, but Barnaby and I didn't say a word to antagonize him. It was such a bizarre feeling being back inside Hogwarts again, and during summer holidays when all the students and most of the staff were absent.
Several portraits and ghosts however, waved to us and called out greetings as we passed by them. Filch retreated, mercifully, once we'd reached the large stone Gargoyle that marked the entrance to the Headmasters office. "Sugar quills" I commanded it, making use of rather obvious hint Dumbledore's Patronus had given us. The Gargoyle folded it's wings lazily and moved to the side, allowing us access to the winding staircase.
When we'd reached the top Barnaby reached out his hand to knock on the door, but as always Dumbledore was one step ahead and answered pleasantly "Come in" before we could knock.
"Ah Miss Strixx, and Mr Lee, how lovely to see you both. I had only just read the thoughtful announcement you sent to me when your Patronus arrived" he inclined his head at me. "First, let me offer both my congratulations and my gratitude to you for remembering me in this very happy time of yours. Such delightful news indeed! But to what do I owe this great pleasure this evening?"
In that moment my exhaustion from the day of walking all around the village and of using my Legilimency finally caught up with me. I faltered with my words and looked to Barnaby for rescue.
As always, he was there to catch me.
"Professor, we found ourselves in the area today, first day on the job tracking Werewolves." Barnaby started, indicating the badge on his coat.
"But we'd been meaning to schedule an appointment with you soon, and would have done so in advance had we known we'd be coming to Hogsmeade today."
Dumbledore always gave the impression that he knew what we were thinking but I'd never felt his presence in my mind. If he was a
Legilimens, he was the best one out there. His gaze shifted from one of delighted amusement to one of intent listening and said only, "Please sit down, you both look exhausted. Tell me how I can assist you?"
We sat gratefully and I leaned against Barnaby as he told the Headmaster every detail of our engagement and of the ring, he even included everything we'd learned about the Lee family's wedding traditions and 'Ceremony of Bloods'.
Dumbledore did not interrupt once, he only nodded his head here and there and waited for Barnaby to finish speaking. When he had, Dumbledore asked if we had the ring in our possession currently.
I blushed, admitting that we did as Barnaby produced it from his pocket. I apologised for bringing it into the castle, but also told him how Hogwarts, nor the Ministry of Magic's security seemed to acknowledge it as a cursed object.
"How curious" was all he said, studying it intently.
After several moments of silently observing the ring do nothing, Dumbledore pointed his wand at it and finally something happened. The ring's largest diamond started to darken slowly until it had turned entirely black. And then a second later it lightened back to its original greyish purple colour. All three of us sat transfixed as we watched the ring turn again to black, and again to purple. Black, purple, black, purple, it did this steadily for a few more minutes before resuming it's original colour and staying that way.
"Seventeen" Dumbledore said quietly to himself. I absentmindedly reached for Barnaby's hand as we continued to stare, transfixed at the ring.
"Seventeen times" he said again. I removed my gaze from the ring with some effort and looked up to meet Dumbledore's blue eyes as I asked, "Do you know what it means Professor?"
"Haven't the faintest" he replied, cheerful once more. "Well, that is to say I cannot be certain, I have my suspicions of course. This is a most peculiar heirloom of yours Mr Lee." he was studying Barnaby with a thoughtful expression.
"I could tell you what I think, now that we've seen all that the ring seems to want to show us" Dumbledore offered.
"Powerful magic often has a most interesting story to tell us, and this ring is not only vastly powerful, it is also very old. And coming from me that's saying rather a lot" he chuckled merrily to himself before continuing. "Old and powerful things do have something to tell us, I daresay they even like an audience. But knowledge is most worth knowing when you seek it out yourself, rather than having it handed to you. I think you would be wise to hit the books, as they say" he concluded, standing up from his desk. Dumbledore jogged spiritedly over to his overflowing bookshelf and returned with a very heavy looking book bound in cracked leather. The book was titled 'Moste Ancient Magicks' and there was no author name.
He handed the book to Barnaby and said, "This used to be in the restricted section of the school library, but as Headmaster I enjoy the privilege of being able to remove certain texts as I see fit. If you were still my pupils I would perhaps not be so willing to hand it over to you as I am now. I do believe however, that you have proven yourselves beyond a shadow of a doubt and I have not an ounce of trepidation in giving this to you now. One might even consider it a wedding present, as it is entirely unique, although I didn't think so at first. I do hope it helps you unravel the mystery that shrouds your ring."
Barnaby was running his hand over the cover of the book and looking at it very intently. "The writing on this, it looks just like a book my Grandmother has. One that I've seen over and over again. The lettering is identical" Barnaby told us. "Curiouser and curiouser" Dumbledore was now beaming at us. "It appears I don't know everything. You might want to see if you can get your hands on that other one as well. As they say, there are two sides to every story."
I had a very distinct feeling that Dumbledore had more he could tell us, but that he was holding it back for some reason. I had a momentary desire to open up my mind and see if I could catch whatever it was, but just as the thought occurred to me Dumbledore turned to look at me and said, "I am extremely confident all will be made clear to you in due time. My advice for now is to study up and not worry too much about the future."
I felt another blush coming on, he had to be a Legilimens. Or just supernaturally perceptive. I awkwardly broke his gaze and turned to Barnaby.
"Show Professor Dumbledore your other rings."
Barnaby obligingly removed his three rings and handed them to the Headmaster, while I pulled the delicate silver chain over my head and followed suit. "Mr Borgin said these rings are powerful, but not cursed. Is there anything else you might be able to tell us about them?" Barnaby asked.
Dumbledore studied the four rings in his palm before closing his hand around them. "Ah, yes, Mr Borgin was quite right. These rings have been imbued with magic. I've seen the like before. I think I would be correct to assume that the enchantment on these rings grows in strength each time they are passed down through the family. And that the longer you have them the more their power is granted to each wearer."
Hearing it from Dumbledore just made sense, and small wonder Borgin had wanted them. But I was mystified at how he knew, so I asked, "Professor, you can tell just by holding them? How?"
Dumbledore chuckled cleverly, "Well, as it turns out these are not the first of their kind I've been asked to look at. As I recall it, one Cecil Lee had me examine his own Lee family rings when he was a student here. And his were just the same."
I was annoyed, Uncle Cecil could have just told us about the rings, rather than let Barnaby believe they might be cursed. We needn't have even shown them to Borgin at all. But Barnaby just looked relieved at the news. He took the rings back when Dumbledore held them out to him, but before he even placed them back onto his fingers he reached over to me and put the ring on the chain back around my neck with a small smile.
I was extremely touched by the gesture. I knew by now that taking his rings off made him very uncomfortable or anxious until the moment he put them back on, but him prioritising me having mine, and the fact that he still wanted me to have it at all, it meant the world to me and made me love him even more.
"Now, is there anything else I can be of assistance with before I bid you goodnight?" Dumbledore asked us. He was courteous but I could tell it was time to go. I had a last minute thought. "Er, yes, actually Professor, just one more thing if you don't mind." Dumbledore resumed his seat, folded his hands neatly and looked expectantly at me.
"Well, as Barnaby said, we're tracking Werewolves now, and we've been all through the village today looking for evidence and gathering testimonies. Is there anything you can tell us, have you seen or heard of anyone who might be in need of help, before the next full moon?"
Dumbledore was beaming at me again. "On this matter I'm afraid I won't be much help. I had heard the rumour but I've only just returned to Hogwarts from traveling since the end of the semester, so if there was any action, I'm afraid I missed it. I trust that you will handle the matter delicately though, when you eventually catch up with him or her. I am very proud of you both, I know you had other ideas and offers for employment post graduation but I rather think you've chosen the perfect thing just now" he finished happily.
Professor Dumbledore had given us a lot of new information, even if some was cryptic and there was probably more still he was holding back. We thanked him and took our leave, promising he'd get an invitation to our wedding as soon as we'd figured out the curse on my engagement ring and decided on a date. He said he would be most delighted to attend and waved merrily to us as we left his office. We let ourselves out of the castle and through the gates, not wanting another run in with Filch now that it was late enough for him to be in his dressing gown. We left the grounds and walked up the familiar path once more until we were far enough away to Disapparate home.