"I believed in fairytales… Once… when I was young and foolish…" She said in a barely audible voice, she was in the present but her mind was in the scene of many years ago where she had said the exact same line. The woman looked up at the young lad, her eyes boring into his.
"That I suppose was a mistake," the woman whispered as she stood abruptly and walked to the window, looking out blankly. She looked about 20. Only 3 years older than the trio. "You still haven't answered my question. What is it you want from me?"
"Information." Harry answered.
"About what?"
"Voldemort." The lady snatched her head and stared suspiciously at the three before once again staring out the window. Harry felt Ron stiffen as she did so.
"I cannot help you." She murmured simply, her voice quivering.
"Duchess Carey." Hermione said cautiously "We are looking for a horcrux." The lady flinched visibly but Hermione continued "And from what we have learned it is possible that you might have it…" When the she did not reply. Harry slammed his fists on the table surprising everyone but the duchess. "This is the safety of the wizarding world we are talking about! How can you be so daft!?"
She hung her head and replied: "This is a war I want no part of… Your parents understood that much."
"Don't you dare talk about my parents! You don't even know them!"
"Oh but I do, Mr. Potter very well… Your mother was a good friend of mine." The three looked at each other with confused looks on their faces. This woman was too young to know James and Lily Potters.
"Answer the question! Where is the horcrux?" Harry yelled pulling out his wand. Trying to ignore her previous statement.
"You're looking at it…" she whispered as turned her face to them and for a mere second her sad eyes flashed blood red.