"Long time no see, Professor," Jon said calmly.
That was true—Jon hadn't seen him once since Dumbledore fled Hogwarts months ago.
"I thought you'd go see Potter first," Jon added honestly.
"Harry is safe now," Dumbledore said.
"I also thought you'd summon me to your office."
"Indeed, that was my initial plan," Dumbledore nodded. "But this place felt… more appropriate. This is my brother, Aberforth."
As he spoke, Dumbledore gestured toward the barman of the Hog's Head, who was mingling with the goats. "I believe you've already met him."
Aberforth Dumbledore slowly lifted his head and glanced at Jon.
"Good day, Mr. Dumbledore," Jon said respectfully.
Aberforth gave the slightest nod, then turned his attention back to the goats.
"My brother has always thought his goats are easier company than I am…" Dumbledore murmured softly. "Aberforth, may I go see Ariana?"
There was a hint of pleading in his voice.
The moment hung in silence. Dumbledore stood waiting in silence… after nearly half a minute, his brother finally lifted his head.
"All right…" Aberforth said gruffly. "But if you frighten her, I'll—"
"Break the other half of my nose?" A small smile touched Albus Dumbledore's lips. "Thank you, brother."
Aberforth didn't reply, simply returned his focus to the goats.
"Come along…" Dumbledore said to Jon with a wave. "Just a bit of family business. Pay it no mind."
...
Jon found himself once again in the cramped basement of the Hog's Head, but this time he was accompanied not by Aberforth, but by Albus Dumbledore.
Above the fireplace hung the same enormous portrait. The blonde girl about Jon's age recognized him the moment he stepped inside. She smiled and waved at him.
But when Ariana Dumbledore saw the Headmaster behind him, her smile froze instantly.
She stiffened, lowered her head, and began to sob quietly.
Dumbledore approached the portrait slowly, with great care… He touched the portrait with surprising gentleness, and the girl within gradually reached out her hand to him.
He stood on tiptoe and kissed the hand in the portrait. Throughout the entire moment, he didn't speak a word.
The girl wiped her tears, forcing a small smile.
Only then did Dumbledore make himself look away from the portrait.
"It has been many years since I last saw her…" His voice suddenly sounded old, his words halting. "My sister, Ariana… I believe Aberforth may have mentioned her to you…"
"He mentioned her briefly…" Jon said vaguely.
"Then let us speak of business." Dumbledore drew a clean handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his eyes.
"Is he dead?" Jon whispered, making sure Ariana couldn't hear—he very much preferred Dumbledore not lose the remaining half of his nose.
"Not yet… Tom is gravely wounded. It will take at least half a year, perhaps even a full year, before he recovers at all." Dumbledore's voice had steadied again. "And I very much want to know—how did you do it?"
Jon took out the bag of blackened fragments, casting a worried look at Ariana's portrait, concerned the grotesque Horcrux remains might frighten her.
Ariana Dumbledore seemed to sense his concern. She smiled, nodded, then covered her eyes with her hands and turned away.
Jon spread the bag open on the table. The black fragments gave off a scorched, acrid smell.
...
Dumbledore took out his Elder Wand and gently prodded the fragments, frowning occasionally.
"So… Tom hid his soul inside these objects?" The wise Headmaster recognized the truth almost immediately.
"Yes. That's how he managed to cling to life, even after his body was destroyed so many years ago," Jon explained. "One is the diary he used in his youth—the very thing that tempted Miss Weasley into opening the Chamber of Secrets three years back. And the other is the relic of Madam Rowena Ravenclaw, the legendary Ravenclaw diadem said to bestow wisdom."
"I see." Dumbledore nodded, comprehension dawning. He didn't ask Jon how he knew these things, nor how he'd found them. Instead, he asked directly, "These fragments were protected by powerful enchantments. How did you destroy them to this degree?"
"Simple. Fiendfyre." Jon produced the silver octahedron. "Grindel… the gentleman from Durmstrang. The item he left me works very well."
He was careful not to speak Grindelwald's full name in front of Ariana.
He pushed the silver box toward Dumbledore. "It's time I returned this to you."
"It never belonged to me in the first place." Dumbledore shook his head and pushed the box back, unchanged.
Jon didn't pick it up, allowing it to remain on the table.
"You used Fiendfyre to destroy them while Tom and I were fighting, weakening him instantly… giving Alastor and me our opening?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
"Something like that," Jon said with a nod. "I must say, the Dark Lord has never been particularly bright… Sorry, I've gotten used to saying it that way. Should I call him 'Voldemort' like Mr. Potter and the others? Or 'Tom,' like you?"
"Call him whatever you like. Names are just labels—use whichever pleases you." Dumbledore chuckled.
"To create things this powerful…" Jon pointed at the Horcrux fragments. "The Dark Lord still has five… no, four… actually—three and a half… If we destroy them all—"
Dumbledore raised a hand, interrupting him.
"I'm sorry, Jon… but may I speak first?" he asked seriously.
...
What could be more important than Voldemort's Horcruxes?
Jon couldn't help being surprised.
He nodded lightly, lowered his head, and listened.
"Phineas mentioned you once doubted your abilities… that you believed you lacked talent for magic?" Dumbledore asked slowly.
"Inferior? Impossible!" Jon shook his head repeatedly. "Surely you don't believe anything Headmaster Black says. He'd point at a rooster and swear it was actually Fawkes!"
"You needn't worry… There is something I intended to tell you around this time last year, but I decided to wait another year." Dumbledore's voice was steady—calm, but entirely serious. "You possess the most extraordinary… most exceptional… and most fearsome talent a wizard can have."
"What?"
"Because you were born a Predictmagus."
"Predictmagus?" Jon froze, staring blankly at Dumbledore. "What is that?"
From the portrait, Ariana Dumbledore turned toward her brother, blinking her pale blue eyes with adorable curiosity.