Ch 26: The Cave
Ah, the sea... right...
Harry finds himself on a rocky outcrop near the same beach the orphans were taken on holiday. Dumbledore suggests a swim...
The pair swim out to a cave. Dumbledore finds the way in and, to Harry's shock, opens the "door" with his own blood. The cavern is immense and eerie. A vast, black lake stretches as far as they can see. Dumbledore warns Harry not to step in the water and they set off in search of a way across. Harry attempts to Accio the Horcrux and, instead, calls something up to breach surface that he can't quite identify before it submerges. After a bit of searching, Dumbledore finds the chain that pulls a small boat to shore. After a bit of discussion on the amount of "Wizard Weight" that may be allowed on the boat, they set off across the lake. To add to the eeriness, Harry glimpses a pale hand below the surface of the water. And then he sees a dead body. they reach a small island in the center of the lake. Dumbledore warns Harry, yet again, not to touch the water. There is a stone basin on a pedestal in the middle of the island. It's full of emerald liquid and has an invisible barrier over it that allows no hand to touch what's inside. Dumbledore concludes that the liquid must be drunk in order to empty the basin. He makes Harry promise to make sure Dumbledore drinks every drop despite whatever happens. And then he drinks. He managed 3 and a half goblets before something happened. He wants to stop. He doesn't want to drink any more. Harry, true to his word, the rest of the liquid down his throat one cup at a time promising relief and even death after every gulp. finally, Dumbledore collapses. Harry revives him and Dumbledore ask for water. Harry tries to fill the cup but the water vanishes. The only water he can take is the black water of the lake. Pale, dead hands reached out to grab Harry as dipped the cup in the lake. More corpses rose from the water as Harry did his best to fend them off. Dumbledore called a ring of fire and they escaped to the boat with the locket. Harry helped Dumbledore out of the cave and back into the icy water. Dumbledore getting weaker by the moment but strong enough for a few simple words.
"I'm not worried, Harry...I'm with you."
Harry finds himself on a rocky outcrop near the same beach the orphans were taken on holiday. Dumbledore suggests a swim...
The pair swim out to a cave. Dumbledore finds the way in and, to Harry's shock, opens the "door" with his own blood. The cavern is immense and eerie. A vast, black lake stretches as far as they can see. Dumbledore warns Harry not to step in the water and they set off in search of a way across. Harry attempts to Accio the Horcrux and, instead, calls something up to breach surface that he can't quite identify before it submerges. After a bit of searching, Dumbledore finds the chain that pulls a small boat to shore. After a bit of discussion on the amount of "Wizard Weight" that may be allowed on the boat, they set off across the lake. To add to the eeriness, Harry glimpses a pale hand below the surface of the water. And then he sees a dead body. they reach a small island in the center of the lake. Dumbledore warns Harry, yet again, not to touch the water. There is a stone basin on a pedestal in the middle of the island. It's full of emerald liquid and has an invisible barrier over it that allows no hand to touch what's inside. Dumbledore concludes that the liquid must be drunk in order to empty the basin. He makes Harry promise to make sure Dumbledore drinks every drop despite whatever happens. And then he drinks. He managed 3 and a half goblets before something happened. He wants to stop. He doesn't want to drink any more. Harry, true to his word, the rest of the liquid down his throat one cup at a time promising relief and even death after every gulp. finally, Dumbledore collapses. Harry revives him and Dumbledore ask for water. Harry tries to fill the cup but the water vanishes. The only water he can take is the black water of the lake. Pale, dead hands reached out to grab Harry as dipped the cup in the lake. More corpses rose from the water as Harry did his best to fend them off. Dumbledore called a ring of fire and they escaped to the boat with the locket. Harry helped Dumbledore out of the cave and back into the icy water. Dumbledore getting weaker by the moment but strong enough for a few simple words.
"I'm not worried, Harry...I'm with you."