AN- Hey guys! It's me again with a new story, and let me tell you right now, this is going to be one hell of a different story- for starters, though it is essentially a romance, the first half has none whatsoever- it mainly concerns finding Horcruxes and getting out of danger. It's basically a story about how I think the seventh book is going to be, so I've used a lot of things from the books by Rowling, including the Horcruxes, the mystery about RAB, Pensives, Snape, Malfoy and The Fortress of Shadows. It's a very fast story. If you have any complaints, then review and tell me. If you don't, then review and tell me anyway.

Title- A Piece of your Soul

Summary- While helping Harry look for Voldemort's Horcruxes, Hermione stumbles upon a suspicious looking goblet that delivers her to a mystery world of fantasy and fervor…

CHAPTER 1

The library at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was, as a rule, kept locked at night, but Hermione had managed to borrow the keys from the Librarian, Madame Pince, under the pretence of light reading.

'Normally dear I would encourage things like this, especially in the seventh year,' the librarian had said with an austere look. 'But I must say- seeing as your duties- Harry Potter's best friend, NEWTS do come second-…'

Hermione kept silent. She knew what was being implied.

The librarian continued, 'But as so few children have returned after last years- catastrophe- Minerva isn't really all that Dumbledore used to be, specially as a Headmistress, but…' her musing seemed to peter out. 'I suppose its all right.' she agreed, finally, and handed Hermione a large golden ring from which a single golden key hung.

'Thank you, Madam Pince,' Hermione said, carefully. 'I appreciate it.'

'My dear.' Madam Pince said suddenly, as Hermione made to leave. 'If you don't mind me asking, the teachers and I have been very- curious, about something.'

Hermione turned, and her gaze hardened slight. 'What?' she asked, a little aggressively.

'It's just that…' the librarian's voice dropped. 'We've all been wondering what- well, what Potter has been doing..' she hesitated. 'He's our only hope in these troubled times, and-.'

Hermione interrupted her. 'We're working on it,' she replied, coldly, and hurried off.

Hermione kept running until she came to the oaken doors of the library. Both Harry and Ron were in front of it, fully dressed.

'Did you get it?' Ron asked, breathlessly.

Hermione held up the keys. 'Here. And did you get the-.'

Ron broke her off, by holding up a large stone basin. 'Yeah, I did.'

'Excellent. Harry, are you ready?'

Harry nodded grimly. 'Yes.' he said, finally. 'Yes I am. Let's go.'

Hermione slipped the key into the old-fashioned brass lock that padlocked the oaken doors together. It was well oiled and turned easily. She pushed the door open.

The library was dark and foreboding. Hermione quickly grabbed a lantern and the three stepped inside.

'Well then,' Ron said, as he softly shut the door behind him. 'Restricted Section.'

Hermione was already walking towards it.

'Put the stone basin on the floor,' she instructed. 'Harry, you look along that side with Ron. I'll cover this shelf.'

They got down to work in the darkness. The lantern light flickered and threw uncertain shadows on the walls and shelves. Hermione stirred uneasily.

'Found anything?' she called.

'There's one book here…' Harry muttered, 'It's called 'Wanderings of the Mind…'

'It doesn't have anything we need,' Hermione replied, shaking her head.

'Let me guess,' Ron muttered grimly, rummaging through stacks of books. 'You've read it already'

'I borrowed it for a little light reading, Ronald.'

'Light Reading? That book's heavier than an elephant that's just had someone do it a lap dance.'

'I did not have to hear that-.'

'Enough you guys!' Harry interrupted. 'Here's another one. 'Thinking again.'

'No,' Hermione said, promptly. 'Shut up Ron,' as he began to open his mouth.

There were a few more moments of silence. Then suddenly, Hermione let out a stifled exclamation.

'I think I found a promising one.' she said. 'Pensives through the ages.'

She dragged the heavy book to the boys. 'Does it have something?' Ron asked, eagerly.

Hermione opened the book, and rested her fingers on its thick pages. 'Let's see.'

She flipped the yellow pages. They made a soft rustling noise. Harry glanced around worriedly. 'Be careful, Hermione. Anyone might here, and-.'

'Here!' Hermione said, interrupting him. 'Harry, I found it!'

Immediately, the two boys clustered around her.

'How to make a Pensive,' she read out, 'A detailed explanation. Yes guys, I think this is it.'

'It's written in some sort of code,' Harry said, frowning at the symbols.

'Coptic,' Hermione explained, 'I learned it in Ancient Runes.'

'So read it then.' Harry urged. 'And tell me what to do.'

Hermione's eyes scanned the page of Coptic Symbols, flitting over each word with a fluid precision. Ron nudged Harry, and both watched her admiringly. She was wearing her school uniform, and was bending over the book, biting her lip as she read. Her hair was pulled off her face, so her milky white skin and clear brown eyes were visible, but was pulled into a massively frizzy ponytail behind her head. Both of them were very proud of their friend.

After Dumbledore's death, Harry had vowed to himself that he would go in search of the Horcruxes, and his best friends had promised to come with him. Later however, Professor McGonagall had said she would greatly prefer it if they came back to Hogwarts, just for a few months.

'We need you,' she had said, desperately, 'With Dumbledore gone, the only way parents are going to allow their children to Hogwarts is if they know you three will be there- specially you, Mr. Potter.'

In the end, they acquiesced to come back to their old school for three months, but in the mean time, Harry was trying to locate the other Horcruxes. He had wanted to take Ron and Hermione into the Pensive with him to show them all of Dumbledore's memories, but he had no idea which to show since the bottles had not been labeled. It was then that Hermione had come up with an amazing solution.

'Of course we don't need to see his memories, Harry,' she had explained, patiently. 'Since you've seen them they've literally become your memories. Why don't you make a Pensive?"

Harry had thought about it for sometime. 'Wouldn't that be quite difficult?'

'Not necessarily,' Hermione had replied. 'Why don't you bring Ron down to the library tonight, and we can work it out. And remember to bring Professor Dumbledore's old stone basin, if the headmistress will allow you.'

Accordingly, they had met in the library at the appointed hour. Harry and Ron watched their best friend as she translated the Coptic symbols.

At length, she looked up again, a relieved look on her face.

'It's really easy, Harry! You just need to concentrate really hard!'

Harry looked wary. 'That's not all that easy for us intellectual inferiors, Mione.'

She waved aside his objections. 'Stop being silly! Look, put the basin here on the floor. Now, Harry, kneel down beside it, and concentrate on the thoughts you want to show us.'

'Now what?' Harry asked, sinking to the floor.

Hermione glanced back to the book. 'Now you place the tip of your wand to your temple, and using the spell 'Penseivo' extract the desired thought.'

Harry looked a little skeptical. He placed the wand on his temple, closed his eyes, and whispered 'Penseivo.'

Ron and Hermione gasped. A slick, silvery thread had woven itself around Harry's wand, and was glimmering in the low lantern light. Still with his eyes shut, Harry pulled the wand from his head. The thought stretched and then snapped like a glistening web. When Harry gently tipped it into the basin, it changed formed and swirled around in a suspended state.

Finally, Harry opened his eyes and looked into the basin.

'Wow,' he said, softly, eyes shining.

For a few minutes the three of them simple stared at the shining pool in the basin. It signified something more than achievement to them- they felt like they had started off on a journey, a journey from which there was no turning back.

'Well,' Harry said, breaking the silence. 'You two had better go then.'

'Yeah,' Ron said, tearing his eyes away from the Pensive. 'Harry, you better remember to pull us out.'

Harry rolled his eyes. 'Like I could forget. Come on, guys. Just plunge your head in one after the other. The basins large enough.'

There was another moment of silence. Ron and Hermione exchanged apprehensive looks, and then simultaneously plunged their heads into the glittering pool of thoughts.