Developments

Harry stood before the monster statue, starting with hazelnut chocolate as he guessed the password.

He rattled off more than a dozen candy names in one breath. The statue split open in response, revealing the entrance behind it. Harry had no idea which password had worked. He stepped forward and onto the spiral staircase.

Knock, knock, knock—

"Come in."

Pushing open the door to the Headmaster's office, Harry saw Dumbledore emerge from the inner room in a dressing gown. His messy beard was tied up in a cloth bag, and his expression was kind. "Harry. What brings you here so late?"

Harry did not know how to say it. He slowly entered the room, sat down at the desk, watched the headmaster pour him some honey tea, then looked up and said timidly, "Sir, about that night..."

"Go on."

"I..."

Harry paused. Looking into those deep blue eyes, he gathered his courage and whispered, "I want to see my mother again. Could... could you lend me the Resurrection Stone?"

"I'm sorry, Harry. Forgive me, but I cannot agree."

"Why?"

"The Resurrection Stone cannot truly bring back the dead. Do you remember The Tale of the Three Brothers? The pain of having them so close, yet being unable to reach them, can drive a person mad. You have already experienced that feeling." Dumbledore spoke softly, sighing as he stared at the steam rising from his teacup, as though he too had known such pain.

"..."

Harry fell silent. A figure formed from moonlight appeared in his mind, and the spot between his brows itched faintly.

If he could truly feel his mother's kiss, he would give anything.

The headmasters' portraits on the walls had already fallen asleep. But a closer look would reveal that old Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black only had