The beginning of the end
Albus has called his girlfriend Minerva to see him late one evening.
Minerva muttered, "I feared the worst when you asked me here tonight and..." She glanced at his burnt hand and winced. "It looks like I was right."
Albus said, "Yes, I am afraid that this," he gestured to his burnt hand, "Was why I called you here this evening, Minerva."
Minerva frowned. "What are you not telling me, Al? How did you burn your hand like that?"
Albus told her, 'You know better than anyone why I cannot disclose such matters, not even with you."
Minerva nodded. "It's not like I would blab the news to the entire school. You know me, Al. You can trust me with anything."
Albus sighed. "It was a Horcrux that did this to me."
Minerva gasped. "One of his?"
Albus replied, "If by 'his', you mean Voldemort’s, yes. It was one of his."
Minerva mumbled, "Am I allowed to know more?"
Albus explained, "It was Marvolo Gaunt's ring. Severus managed to confine the curse to my hand, but it... is not good."
Minerva took a deep breath and after a pause. "I didn't want to believe what you kept telling me about impending doom and danger. That you might not be able to survive this time... but this, this is very real." Her usually solid composure faltered and she cried out, "Oh Al, what are we going to do?!"
Albus stated, "What we have always done, my dear. Survive."