Unspoken Connections

Harry looked at her and shrugged, turning back to Dumbledore he said. "In the dream I had in the summer, Wormtail and Voldemort were discussing some kind of plan to kill…kill me and there was an old man there, a muggle at least I think it was a muggle that was murdered."

Dumbledore's gaze sharpened on Harry. "To kill you Harry? Are you certain?"

"I think so sir, but it was only a dream or do you believe these things are real?"

Dumbledore face was a mask of concentration as he looked at Harry then at every other person in the room before he finally answered the question. "It is possible," said Dumbledore. "I would say - probable. You see there was an old muggle who disappeared from a village that Tom Riddle's father lived in. I can't guarantee it was the same person but it is quite possible," He sat back and reflected for a couple of minutes before he addressed the people around his desk again. "There is something that is really troubling me though."

"What is that sir?"

"You said in this latest vision he was performing the Cruicatus curse on Wormtail."

"Why does that bother you?"

"How did he do it without a body for he had to hold a wand to perform that curse?"

"But how?"

"How?" muttered Dumbledore. "How indeed is the question."

"But why am I getting these dreams or whatever they are now? Is he getting stronger?"

"Voldemort?" Dumbledore asked giving Harry the piercing gaze that made Harry feel he could see right through him. "I can only give you my suspicions for I have no proof Harry, but yes I do believe he is," The Headmaster sighed and looked much older, and wearier, than ever.

"The years of Voldemort's ascent to power," he said as he looked again at Harry and the women around him, "were marked with disappearances. Bertha Jorkins, an employee with the Ministry.."

"I remember the Weasleys talking about her," Hermione said then realized she had just interrupted the Headmaster. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."

"That's quite alright Miss Granger, but as I was saying Ms. Jorkins has vanished without a trace in the place where Voldemort was certainly known to be last and then the muggle I just mentioned. His name was Frank Bryce, he lived in the village where Voldemort's father grew up, and he has not been seen since last August. That's about the same time you had that dream wasn't it?"

"Yes sir."

"Two disappearances in places associated with Voldemort. They could be a coincidence but I think not especially now that I know you saw Voldemort kill a muggle about the same time Bryce was last seen. Again could be a coincidence, but very unlikely."

Then, because of mental nudge from Fleur, Harry asked. "And do you know why my scar hurts?"

"I have a theory, no more than that," The Headmaster answered after another contemplative look. "It is my belief that your scar hurts both when Lord Voldemort is near you, and when he is feeling a particularly strong surge of hatred."

"But. . . why?"

"Because when the curse failed on that night many years ago, I think it left a connection between you and Tom," explained Dumbledore. "That is no ordinary scar."

Harry's hand again went immediately to his forehead. "Connection to Voldemort?" He looked at his bondmates, expecting to see and feel horror at what they were themselves connected to, but only saw three ladies with looks of concern and love. "So you think because something escaped Voldemort was angry enough for me to feel it?" Harry asked finally.

"Yes." Dumbledore replied. He was silent for a couple of moments and then continued. "I had hoped and still do hope that your bond will protect you from the connection with Tom in some fashion. From what little Miss Delacour said about the potion her father gave you, I would hazard a guess that not only did it prevent the bond from protecting you but might have actually made your mind more susceptible to the emotions of Voldemort."

"How...he wouldn't do anything like that."

"Oh don't think I am suggesting he gave it to you with that intent. I apologize if it seemed that way. No, Alain Delacour is a very good man," Dumbledore smiled at the two Delacours. "Again I must say that I am guessing, but the way Professor Berceau described how your bond would protect your mind I would presume it has taken over the protections your mind had already formed to protect you from Voldemort as well. So when the potion interfered with the Veela bond and the protection it offers, it probably left you very susceptible to that connection," Dumbledore looked at Harry over his half-moon glasses. "I highly recommend you not take that potion again. For Mr. Delacour it does what he needs it to do, but for you Harry, it could be very very dangerous."

"Yes sir," Harry replied softly though he was having a hard time swallowing the lump in his throat. "I just wanted to get you a present Angel."

"And I'm sure you did a wonderful job of eet," Gabrielle replied and he felt a surge of love over the bond.

"Well if that is all…" Dumbledore started as an obvious dismissal.

"Should we ask about ze 'orcrux while we are here?" Fleur asked Harry and her Bond Sisters.

"He obviously didn't want us to know, but we know now," Hermione responded. "Would it get your father in trouble for giving us the book?"

"We don't 'ave to tell 'im where we got ze information. 'E already knows about zem so zat's not a problem."

Harry could feel Hermione's reluctance and was about to suggest just leaving when he felt her resolve strengthen and she replied. "Okay, let's ask."

"Sir, may we ask a question? We 'ave been researching what a 'orcrux..." Fleur started but that was as far as she got as Dumbledore's eyes sharpened and he had his wand up far more quickly than someone his age should be able to react.

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