Chereads / Harry Potter Getting Even / Chapter 19 - Breaking the Chains

Chapter 19 - Breaking the Chains

Hearing Harry's shout, the other portraits seemed to forgot their fear and let out cries of shock and horror.

" You didn't!"

" How could you?!"

" Who do you think you are?!"

And to Harry's great amusement, the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black began ranting and swearing in such a creative and colourful way that Harry was sure even a seasoned sailor would have blushed.

Eventually Albus was forced to shout, "Enough!"

Once the room had quieted down, although mutinous mutterings could still be heard, Dumbledore continued to speak, staring at Harry with a look of betrayal that made him want to laugh. "You needed to destroy Voldemort, you needed to support the light and follow in your parent's footsteps. You know the prophecy, it had to be you."

Harry growled and took a step forward. "Follow in their footsteps. Die, you mean?" Harry said in a deadly tone.

With narrowed eyes the portrait of Dumbledore seemed to puff himself up before speaking, "For the greater good, my boy, some sacrifices must be made."

" How is my death for the greater good?! " Harry screamed, before he took a breath. "And don't you even think to use my parents against me! I doubt my parents would have wanted me to sacrifice my life after they lost their own lives saving mine!"

"They believed in the light! The prophecy!"

"The prophecy," Harry spit the word out, "it's always been about the prophecy. But tell me Albus, was there ever a prophecy, or did you just make that up to fit your desires?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore seemed to vibrate in anger in his portrait, before he once again put on his sagely persona. "How could you ask me that, my boy? Your parents died for that prophecy."

" They died for me!" Harry shouted, "They died sacrificing their lives so that I could live mine!"

"They were great people, true light followers! They knew that some sacrifices had to be made. Just look at you now, Harry, you practically ooze darkness - you're turning into Tom!" Dumbledore said, his voice comically rising in pretend concern.

"I'm exactly who I've always been Albus, just without your manipulations," Harry said.

"This is why you had to die, Harry. You're just like Tom, just as dark," Albus finally said, losing his grandfatherly persona.

" Dark does not mean evil! " Phineas Black's portrait shouted, interrupting the conversation with the support of the other former headmasters and headmistresses.

"He's right," Harry said, drawing the conversation back to himself. "Dark does not mean evil. Something you have never understood."

Albus huffed arrogantly, "You think to tell me anything? I am Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, and you are just a boy!"

Harry shook his head condescendingly. "No, you're the portrait of a dead man," Harry said icily.

Albus huffed again, "And you're a dead man walking, Harry. Or did you forget? You killed your soulmate." Albus' taunt made Harry's heart twinge momentarily and once again the other portraits exploded in anger.

Harry, however, started to chuckle softly after the moment passed, eventually gaining the attention of the room when his guffaws became loud enough to notice.

"You think this is funny?!" Albus demanded, wanting to know why Harry was not crying because of his words.

Harry eventually calmed down and shot Albus a hard look. "Yes," Harry said to everybody's confusion.

"There is no bringing him back this time, Harry. I made sure of that," Albus taunted. "You will die just like him."

Harry, however, just smirked. "Ah, that, Albus, is where you are wrong," he said.

The portrait of Albus jumped to his feet and pushed his face closer to the frame. "What have you done?! " he demanded.

"Tell me Albus, what do you know about the Deathly Hallows?" Harry taunted.

The portrait seemed to lose colour, something Harry didn't know was possible.

"Impossible," he whispered.

"Oh no, dear Albus, imagine my surprise when I did my blood inheritance test and I found myself to be the lord of five families and the Master of Death," Harry said.

The other portraits all froze at his words, shocked whispers running rampant.

"So you're going to bring him back." Albus said with disgust, looking at Harry with pure unadulterated hatred.

Harry laughed again. "Oh no, where's the fun in that? Even Death doesn't like to bring back those who have passed. No, what I'm planning is much more fun, dear Albie," Harry continued to taunt.

"What, you demented boy?!"

"Why, I'm going to go back," Harry said.

His words caused all the noise to stop before finally soft chuckling then full blown belly laughs were heard. Unsurprisingly, it was once again Phineas Black's portrait.

"You can't!" Albus screamed.

"Oh, but I can, and it will be glorious," Harry replied, his dark smirk promising revenge. "I will have my revenge and save Tom," he promised.

"He can't be saved!" Albus tried to reason in vain, hoping to regain control of Harry.

"I refuse to believe that!" Harry replied, before his warning wards gave a twinge. Pulling out the map Harry saw McGonagall walking toward the office. With a smile Harry tucked it away and faced the portrait of Albus for the last time. "It seems our time together has come to an end, so I will just say this: I cannot wait to see you again, professor."