AN: Characters, as usual, do not belong to me.
Is it so much to ask for? A few moments of peace and quiet before they break the wards and chaos reigns supreme? How do they expect anyone to be able to concentrate on defending this castle when they haven't even had time to collect their thoughts and resign themselves to the fact that a lot of people are about to die? And that I'm probably going to end up killing? Not that I want to, but if it's kill or be killed, there's not much choice.
But no, it's Hermione, can you do this and Hermione, how do I do that, and if they don't all shut up I'm going to make them. It's one thing to kill the snake and Voldemort – they're mortal, in some sense of the word, but that still leaves a Horcrux. And I still don't know how to destroy it. If we don't, then this whole battle will be worthless – we might as well have given up when the Chamber of Secrets was opened in second year. The Chamber of Secrets… The Chamber of Secrets… of course! I've been so stupid. Basilisk venom is one of the few things that can destroy a horcrux. There must be some basilisk fangs still down there. But how to get in…
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"Ron. Ronald! I need your help." Ron looked shocked – it wasn't often that Hermione wanted someone's help, much less his help.
"What for, Hermione?"
"We need to get into the Chamber of Secrets and find some basilisk fangs. They can destroy horcruxes."
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It felt like ages before Ron's hissing caused the Chamber to open, but probably wasn't all that long. Once we were inside, the job was simple – the fangs, about a foot long, weren't difficult to find. Ron handed me the cup, Hufflepuff's cup, and told me to stab it with one of the fangs. Said it wasn't right if I didn't get rid of one of them. That job done, we grabbed the fangs and raced back out, only to find Harry waiting for us. One breathless explanation and an order from Professor McGonagall later, and we were searching for Ravenclaw's diadem.
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I'll never forget the Fiendfyre as long as I live. I'm still amazed that Goyle even knew the incantation, let alone managed to cast it, but in the end it did destroy the horcrux. Not a method I'd have dared try, but that's irrelevant now.
AN: Reviews are always appreciated, so if you could just click the button, please...