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Chapter 1508: The Meaning of Death
🕑 Added 2025-06-28 16:12:02 +0000 UTCUndoubtedly, both Evan and Harry had a lot to say to Dumbledore, but they didn't know how to express it.
For anyone, these would be particularly difficult words to say, with inexplicable sadness filling the three of them. Faced with the sudden news, the two of them had a lot of things to confirm with Dumbledore, and the most difficult one of all was whether Dumbledore could not die!
Even though he had already explained that this was not death in the true sense, but rather magic.
Death was an essential element of this unparalleled spell. In a certain sense, it was no different from using magical ingredients, chanting incantations, or performing the necessary wand movements during spellcasting. There was no need for over-interpretation — death here carried no more meaning than a flick of the wand.
But life itself had given the word "death" more unique meanings.
No matter who it was, they would not feel at ease when facing death.
Evan and Harry were no exception. They couldn’t just remain indifferent, as though nothing had happened, and tell Dumbledore to rest in peace and go die, that he should go early and come back soon. ...
Compared to Harry, Evan might have thought more deeply about it, and more rationally.
If Dumbledore’s departure was already fated and inevitable, then it couldn’t be changed. What they needed now was not pointless grief, but a way to think about how to make the most of the situation and turn a disadvantage into an advantage.
For example, making Voldemort believe that Dumbledore was truly dead!
Or going even further, following Dumbledore’s plan, making Voldemort believe that Dumbledore had been killed by Draco Malfoy or Snape.
No doubt, upon hearing news of Dumbledore’s death, Voldemort would be overjoyed. He wouldn’t pass up any opportunity to make himself stronger.
Ever since his last duel with Harry, he must have realized that something was wrong with his wand. He had likely already begun investigating the secret of the Elder Wand!
Evan had to admit that letting things develop according to the original plan seemed to be the best outcome, and this matter was highly feasible. This was originally an event he had tried his best to avoid, but now it seemed that it had to happen! He wanted to help Dumbledore complete this script.
After explaining everything clearly, Dumbledore seemed to have exhausted all his strength.
He looked particularly weak, and on their way back, he didn't say much.
In fact, he fainted on the way.
If he hadn’t confirmed that he was still breathing, Evan might have thought he was dead.
Evan had never imagined seeing Dumbledore like this.
This powerful wizard had reached the end of his life, and he was now waiting for the arrival of Death!
Evan still remembered the last conversation between him and Dumbledore on the tower of Azkaban.
"Professor, are you ready to face Death?"
"Of course, I just need to make this matter more meaningful now," said Dumbledore lightly. "Evan, death is not something to be afraid of; it is actually like going to bed to rest after a long day. Moreover, for people with a clear mind, death is nothing more than another great adventure. We should welcome Death like meeting an old friend, and happily leave the world with him as equals."
"Will you come back then?"
“Perhaps, I might choose to keep going."
"We will miss you, Hogwarts cannot be without a headmaster."
"Hogwarts has been able to last for a thousand years because of the will it upholds and the unique qualities inherited from the Four Founders, not because of any specific wizard," said Dumbledore slowly, closing his eyes. “We will triumph in the end, Evan. I’m just so tired. Let me rest for a while now, there are still many things to do later."
About ten minutes later, Evan, Harry and Dumbledore returned to the dark High Street in Hogsmeade. The warm summer breeze blew in their faces, the thick fog and the smell of salt had gone, and the three of them looked particularly bedraggled, their clothes dripping with water.
It was quiet and dark all around.
In the distance, a few streetlamps and lit upper windows were the only sources of light.
"Wake up, Professor, we're back!" said Evan, taking a deep breath.
“Back to the castle… remember, what I need is… Professor Snape…" Dumbledore opened his eyes, and his condition was far from being better than before. "Bring Severus..."
"We'll take you back right away. Harry, support the Professor!" said Evan, and as the two of them helped Dumbledore out of the alley, they heard running footsteps.
Madam Rosmerta was scurrying down the dark street toward them on high-heeled, fluffy slippers, wearing a silk dressing gown embroidered with dragons.
Evan pointed his wand at her, paused slightly, and then lowered it again.
“I saw you Apparate as I was pulling my bedroom curtains! Thank goodness, thank goodness, I couldn’t think what to — but what’s wrong with Albus?"
She came to a halt, panting, and stared down, wide-eyed, at Dumbledore.
“He’s hurt,” said Evan.
“There was an accident — we need to get back to Hogwarts,” Harry added. “Madam Rosmerta, could you —"
"No, you can't go back to Hogwarts now," Madam Rosmerta said quickly, "Don't you realize — haven’t you seen —?"
"Seen what? Rosmerta, what has happened?" Dumbledore looked up.
“The — the Dark Mark, Albus."
And she pointed into the sky, in the direction of Hogwarts.
Evan, Harry, and Dumbledore looked around, and there it was, hanging in the sky above the school: the blazing green skull with a serpent tongue, the mark Death Eaters left behind whenever they had entered a building ... wherever they had murdered. ...
Harry’s eyes flew wide open, Dread flooding him.
Evan narrowed his eyes — the planned script had begun!
"The Dark Mark; when did it appear?" asked Dumbledore, and his hand clenched painfully upon Harry’s shoulder as he struggled to his feet.
“Must have been minutes ago, it wasn’t there when I put the cat out, but when I got upstairs —"
“We need to return to the castle at once,” said Dumbledore. “Rosmerta” — and though he staggered a little, he seemed wholly in command of the situation — “we need transport — brooms —"
“I’ve got some behind the bar, you three can use them!" said Rosmerta, looking
very frightened. “Shall I run and fetch — ?"
“No, Harry can do it."
Harry raised his wand at once.
“Accio Rosmerta’s Brooms!"
A second later they heard a loud bang as the front door of the pub burst open. ...
