Chapter Three: Switching Sides

"Dad, I heard someone say something about Horcruxes the other day. What are they?" Ashlyn had been thinking of the right way to phrase this question for over two months, she finally thought she had it right.

Lord Voldemort looked over at her and was shocked, "They are a bit of dark magic. A Horcrux holds a part of your soul. The only way to get a Horcrux is to commit the most horrible act anyone could ever commit: killing another person."

"Well, Dad, you have killed people, do you have Horcruxes?" Ashlyn tried to keep her face as innocent looking as possible.

"Yes, my daughter I do have Horcruxes, but I only made them, so that I will not die easily, so I can stay alive to protect people." His face was unemotional, almost cold.

Ashlyn resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "Wow, you're so brave, Dad. I wish I could be as brave as you," Ashlyn had said this many times before, but this was the only time she didn't mean it at all.

Lord Voldemort smiled a forced-looking smile at his daughter and patted her head, "You will, love, you will."

"Dad, what are your Horcruxes?" She had the look of a curious teenager plastered on her face.

The man took a deep breath, "Daughter, I tell you this because I trust you fully, and find no reason not to tell you. I have three objects from the founders of Hogwarts. I have a cup of Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem, and a locket from Salazar Slytherin himself. I also have a ring from my grandfather, and an old journal. I made the mistake of giving the journal to an associate of mine, who gave it away without thinking, and it was destroyed. Also, my snake, Nagini, you have seen her, is my last Horcrux. So I had six Horcruxes in all, but now only five of them remain."

"Wow. Where do you keep all of them?"

"That, my daughter, is a talk for another time. You go off to bed now." He kissed her oddly on the top of her head, "Good night."

"Good night, Dad." Ashlyn then slipped out of the room, and into her own bedroom.

She found her owl, Glindell, and wrote a quick owl to Regulus about the information she had found out. Then she quickly changed into her pajamas and then she went to her bed. She turned over and fell asleep quickly, focusing on the position she was supposed to be upholding.

Months flew by before Ashlyn could get her father to tell her of the locations of his Horcruxes. He was focused on a project that was to be performed by a boy with the name of 'Malfoy' and a man named 'Snape'. She had heard snips about Hogwarts as well. Her father had told her that if all went well, she might not have to go to Hogwarts to fulfill her plan. Ashlyn wasn't sure if this was good or bad news. But, when her father finally was able to tell her the locations of his Horcruxes, she was ready, and was keeping her father out of her mind.

"So, Dad, where exactly do you keep all your Horcruxes?" Ashlyn asked, one day after a particularly short lesson.

"Well, daughter, the ring, I left in the rubble of my grandfather's house. The locket, I keep in a cave by the beach, you know the one, I've told you about it before," Ashlyn remembered, picturing what she thought the place might look like in her mind, "Nagini, I keep with me at all times. And the cup and the diadem, I keep at my mansion."

"Mansion? You have a mansion? Why don't we live there instead of this place?" Ashlyn asked, curiosity making her ask questions again.

"I rarely ever go there, but the magic surrounding the cup and wand will only let my blood pass to get them."

"So, would I be able to get them? Hypothetically speaking?"

"Yes, only you and I would ever be able to pass the magic surrounding it. Do you have any more questions? I have something to attend to; a man name Greyback is awaiting my arrival." Voldemort made his way to the door, Nagini trailing after him.

"No, father, that was all." She smiled as he walked out of the room. She then ran into her room, called Glindell over to her, and wrote a quick note to Regulus describing in full detail the locations that she had found out.

Hours later Glindell was back outside Ashlyn's window and she hurriedly opened it, and let the brown owl in. She stroked the owl's heard gently, and then took the letter off of its leg. She recognized Regulus' writing and began reading immediately.

A.M.R,

A.D. has already recovered the ring in the rubble of the house. He has told me that is was the ring that caused his injury on his hand. As for the locket, A.D. has an idea on where it is, but will not be able to go retrieve it for another two months, near the end of June. I believe we should get it sooner, so we can destroy the monster. So, I will come to get you tonight, if I am not mistaken, your father will be away for the weekend, with a man named Greyback. So we will have time. Please be ready at midnight, we will need the protection of darkness for this to work. Meet me outside the back door, I will be waiting.

R.A.B.

After she had read the note over three times, she set the paper on the floor and pointed her want at it. She whispered, "Inflamare." And the paper set to fire; she then stomped on it and used her wand to put the ashes in her trash bin. This was what Regulus had told her to do with his last letter and with any other letters he sent to her, that way no one could read it after she had. She was excited to finally be doing something to help stop her father. She anxiously awaited Regulus' arrival, and stood outside fifteen minutes before the set time. At exactly twelve 'o' clock midnight, Regulus Apparated in front of her, with a grim expression on his face.

"Are you ready?" he asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

Ashlyn nodded and he helped her to Disapparate. They were now on a large rock with water crashing below them; they could smell the alt in the air. Regulus motioned to Ashlyn and they began to climb down into the water. Once they were in the water, they held their wands high, lit with the 'Lumos' spell, and swam over to a cave in the distance. Ashlyn was cold to the bone and shivered as she swam through the water. When they got to the cave they climbed out. Regulus then performed a spell that dried them and their clothes. He then began to look around, murmuring words Ashlyn could not hear, and rubbing his fingertips along the wall. Suddenly, he took out a sharp knife and cut a place just above his elbow. Ashlyn gasped.

"Regulus! Why did you do that!?"

He looked over at her, "Your father is a very crude man. He would want someone to have to pay a price for getting this far." And with that, he spread the blood from his arm on a particular section on the wall. A blazing silver outline made an arch on the cave wall, and the rock within the arch disappeared. There was now an opening that led into darkness, "Come, Ashlyn, we must hurry, we do not know what we will meet in here."

Ashlyn followed Regulus cautiously through the opening, her hands clasped together so tightly that her knuckles were white. They were now standing on the shore of a big black lake. The lake was so big that Regulus and Ashlyn could not see the other side of the cavern they were in. A misty greenish light shone from what appeared to be the middle of the lake. Regulus led the way as they carefully walked around on the shore, carefully avoiding the water. Regulus was staring hard at everything around him and he had his wand held high, and was muttering to himself. When he suddenly stopped, Ashlyn almost ran into him.

"Ashlyn, there is something you must know, your father is very evil and cruel. Whatever is out in the middle to prevent us from taking the Horcrux will most likely be hard to get past. Magic always leaves traces, and I am able to tell when your father has left something hidden, having watched him for so long." After a moment's silence he stuck his hand out in the air in front of him. His hand clasped something unseen to Ashlyn and he began to pull on it, as if pulling a rope in a game of tug-o-war. After a bit of pulling, Regulus tapped his knuckle with his wand, and immediately a think, coppery green chain appeared in his hand. He then began to tug on the chain, and suddenly, out of the depths of the black lake, a small boat broke the surface. The boat was tinted the same green as the chain. Regulus pulled the chain until the boat rested on the shore in front of them.

"Regulus, are you sure both of us can fit in this boat?" Ashlyn asked, staring at the small, eerie looking boat.

"I don't believe your father made this boat worrying about weight, but more about magical capability. Your father underestimates the power of underage witches and wizards, so I don't believe you will count. Your father put an enchantment on this boat so that only one wizard can cross at a time. But like I said, he underestimates the ability of underage witches and wizards. I do not think he would expect a fifteen-year old witch to enter this boat. Especially not his own daughter. So, please, Ashlyn climb in."

She quickly obeyed, staying away from the water. When Regulus joined her in the boat they were crouched together and uncomfortable. Regulus coiled the chain onto the floor of the boat; and they began to move. Ashlyn stared down into the water as they floated along, and saw something so disturbing she screamed. Regulus followed her gaze and saw a marble white face in the water, eyes closed, face inches from the surface of the water.

"Inferi." Regulus breathed, "Ashlyn, these are dead bodies, dead bodies that are enchanted to come to life to do the bidding of the wizard who summoned them. I believe these will be the ones who try to prevent us once we get the Horcrux. Inferi hate fire and warmth, remember that Ashlyn, remember that."

Ashlyn nodded. As they rolled onto the shore of the middle of the lake, the source of the green light was revealed; a large stone basin stood in the middle of the large rock the boat now perched on. Regulus jumped out and helped Ashlyn out of the boat. They carefully made their way over to the basin and peered inside it. There was a green liquid in it, and they could not see the bottom of the basin for the liquid was so thick. Regulus tried to poke the liquid with his wand, but it was as if an invisible barrier was put up inches above the liquid, and his wand could not penetrate it. He also tried to touch it with his hand, which did not work either. So, Regulus conjured himself a goblet.

"Regulus, you're not going to drink that, are you? It could be poison!" Ashlyn cried, as Regulus readied his goblet to be dipped into the liquid.

"I do not think your father would want to kill the person that made it this far, I believe he would want someone to be weak enough so he could find out why they made the effort to get the Horcrux. So, whatever happens to me when I drink this, you have to make me keep drinking it, OK?"

"But- Reg-"

"You do want your father destroyed do you not?"

"Yes, but-"

"No, Ashlyn, this is the only way to do this. Please, promise me you'll make me drink it."

"I promise." Ashlyn hated what she was promising, but Regulus was so sure, she could not defy him.

Regulus nodded, and then dunked the goblet into the green liquid. He dipped the content from the goblet into his mouth. Ashlyn stared at him, wondering if he was in pain. His eyes were closed, as he pulled the goblet away from his mouth. His face was scrunched up, but he dipped the goblet back into the basin. He took three more goblets of the liquid, but as the fourth goblet left his lips, his face began to twitch and his grip on the goblet slackened.

"Regulus, Regulus are you OK?"

"I don't want to—don't make me…" Regulus said his voice scared and weak.

Hating herself, Ashlyn grabbed the goblet and filled it up, she thrust it into Regulus' hand and brought it up into his mouth. He screamed in pain, and yelled, "Make it stop! STOP!"

"Regulus, here, drink this, it'll make the pain go away." Ashlyn lied as she refilled the goblet and thrust it back to Regulus. Regulus gulped down the liquid as if he was dying of thirst.

The basin was now half-empty and Ashlyn was hating herself more and more as she continued to make Regulus drink the vile potion. He was screaming and writhing in pain by the tenth goblet,

"Please, stop, make it stop, don't want to take it, it's my entire fault… STOP!"

"Regulus, drink, you're almost done, now. Not much more to drink, you're almost done!" Ashlyn's face was twisted up in hatred as she shoved another goblet full of liquid into his mouth. As Ashlyn filled the twelfth goblet, she felt it scrape the bottom of the goblet, "Nearly there, drink up."

Regulus drank the last three goblets while screaming in pain. When the last goblet was drained, and the locket lay on the bottom of the basin, uncovered, he screamed and fell to the ground, eyes closed. Ashlyn screamed and dropped to her knees, "Regulus, please, no, don't die, no!"

Regulus' eyes stayed closed, but he managed to whisper, "Water."

Without thinking, Ashlyn grabbed the goblet and dipped it into the lake, filling it to the brim with the water. She poured it into Regulus' mouth, then screamed, because she felt something cold on her arm. She turned and saw a marble white arm clenched around her upper arm. She screamed louder and pulled her wand out, "Inflamare!" The arm burst into flames, and it immediately sank back into the water with its body. Ashlyn screamed again as she saw more white bodies climbing onto the rock, she shouted the spell again, and the rock was encircled with flames. Regulus was slowly getting up as Ashlyn turned back to him.

"Regulus! We have to hurry, the Inferi!" she screamed and watched, intrigued as he pulled a piece of parchment out of his pocket. She watched as he wrote a quick note, then he pulled out a locket out of another pocket. He folded the note and put it into the locket. He then took out the real locket out of the basin and replaced it with his decoy. He placed the Horcrux locket around his neck and then motioned to Ashlyn. He lifted her over the flames and into the boat. He then jumped into the boat himself. He silently created a fiery lasso around the boat as they began to move, and they saw Inferi sink back into the water, trying to get away from the fire.

The two hurried out of the boat, letting the fiery lasso dissolve and they hurried to the opening, which was now shut. Regulus was leaning on Ashlyn, as she held him up. She grabbed the knife he had stored in his pocket and she dug it into her arm, gasping in pain. She then spread the blood on the wall, and the opening appeared once more. Ashlyn helped Regulus into the small cave and there they stopped.

"Ashlyn, you will have to Apparate us back to your house. I cannot do it. I am sure your father taught you how?" Regulus' voice was quiet and getting weaker by the minute.

She nodded and turned on the spot, thinking hard of the Riddle house. The two appeared in the backyard and Regulus fell to the ground. Ashlyn knelt next to him, "Regulus, are you OK? What's happening?"

He held her face in one hand and looked her straight in the eyes, "Ashlyn, once the Horcrux is in contact with someone other than the person who owns it, it begins to pour all its energy into that person, causing the person touching it to lose themselves, and become completely possessed by that part of the soul in the Horcrux. I could take off the locket, and in a few days time, I will be back to normal. But the Horcrux would still be functional. The only way to destroy it is to attack the Horcrux while it is on the person. You have to kill me, Ashlyn. You have to point your wand straight at the locket, and kill me."

Tears streamed down her face, "NO! Regulus I will not kill you! I will not become like my father!"

Regulus wiped her tears with his hand and smiled, "You can never be like your father. He kills for greed, and power. You are doing an honorary thing, do not ever think you are like him. Now please, hurry, I can already feel the soul in me. Hurry."

Ashlyn bent down and kissed his forehead, "Thank you, for everything. I'm sorry." Tears continued to fall down her face as she pointed her wand at the locket.

Regulus pushed down her wand, "Use mine, so they don't trace the spell back to yours. Don't be sorry. Defeat him Ashlyn, you're strong. I know you can do this." He said, his voice very faint, and his eyes drooping.

She nodded, put her wand in her robes, and took his. She pointed it at the locket and cried as she whispered the two words she heard months and months ago as she saw her mother fall, lifeless, to the ground. A bright green light flashed and Regulus' eyes closed and his breathing stopped. He was dead. The locket opened and a puff of black smoke emitted from it. The Horcrux was destroyed. She continued to cry as she dragged his body and wand away from the house. She proceeded to bury him on the bottom of the hill that the house sat on. She cried hard as she climbed back up to the house and as she entered it, she ran into her room and collapsed on her bed. She had just committed the worst crime anyone could ever commit, and she had killed one of the only people who had ever been a true friend to her.

She had thought she had chosen the right side. If this was the right side, why was she forced to kill someone she cared about? Would she truly become like her father. Was her destiny inevitable, or did she actually do some good tonight, by destroying a piece of her father's soul. Did she actually do something to help Harry get closer to destroying her father? Right now, she could not tell.

Ashlyn spent the next moth and a half in a daze, she hardly came out of her room, and she shut her mind completely off to her father. One day Glindell flew into the window and perched onto Ashlyn's shoulder looking indignant. He had a letter tied to his foot and was trying to get Ashlyn to take it. She untied it and did not recognize the long handwriting on it. She unrolled it and began to read it:

Young A.M.B,

I am sorry to inform you that I will not be of much more assistance to you after next week. I have a feeling I will no longer be of service to anyone. Please send Regulus my deepest regards, and tell him I think him for everything he has done for us. I greatly appreciate all the information you have helped us get. I wish you luck with your plan and please tell Harry that I wish him the best of luck. Because when you see him, I am sure he will need it. Please do not lose faith and please help him in any way possible.

Sincerely,

A.D.

Ashlyn wept at Professor Dumbledore's words. It was as if he was saying he was about to die. And then the bit about Regulus, it was just too much. She shoved the letter into her trunk that her father had bought her months ago, and crawled into bed, ready to lay there until September 1st when she would be going to Hogwarts, and meeting Harry Potter. Meeting Harry was the only thing she looked forward to now. She desperately wanted to meet him, and see how he dealt with loss. She just wanted her father dead, so all the death and killing would stop. She didn't want anymore to happen, and that couldn't stop until she and Harry destroyed the remaining three Horcruxes, and Harry destroyed her father. Then, and only then, would the killing stop.