Live On, Harry, This Is the Last Lesson

"I leave one ounce of Phoenix Fawkes's phoenix essence blood to Lynn Roll, hoping he will believe that phoenixes can be reborn from fire, and that through phoenix essence blood, he can achieve rebirth from fire..."

Barty Crouch Sr. read softly as he handed a test tube to Linley.

The test tube contained a golden-red liquid. It was Phoenix Fawkes's essence blood. The golden-red liquid seemed like burning flames; not only was it not cloudy in the slightest, but it also gave off a refreshing, soothing feeling.

Linley frowned deeply as he accepted the test tube. "Phoenix essence blood..."

Linley vaguely remembered that at the beginning of the school year, he had told Dumbledore that he had learned and mastered Bloodline Fusion Magic from his teacher. At the time, Dumbledore had seemed to be muttering something to himself.

"Looks like... it'll come in handy..."

That seemed to be what Dumbledore had muttered back then. It would come in handy—what would come in handy?!

Could it be that Dumbledore had foreseen this day even then?

Could it be that Dumbledore had already made his own death part of the plan?

Linley's expression darkened. Why had Dumbledore not discussed it with him beforehand when arranging his own death?

He was clearly a trustworthy comrade, wasn't he?

Why?

Dumbledore clearly did not have to die. He had clearly changed everything!

Draco had turned back from the brink, Professor Snape no longer needed to act as a spy, six of the seven Horcruxes had been destroyed, and even Voldemort had been suppressed until he was like a rat scurrying through the streets, not daring to show himself in the British wizarding world.

So why had Dumbledore still chosen death?

Dumbledore, did you really think your death was worthwhile?!

For some reason, Linley felt a