Disclaimer: HP is not mine

Chapter 8

July 1st 1997

Harry Potter stood in his bedroom of Number Four Privet Drive, surveying the contents of his trunk, which lay strewn all over the floor around him. His robes were in a pile on the bed, his books stacked in a corner, spare parchment, quills and ink were piled on his desk and finally the locket that he had acquired with Dumbledore just a few days previously was sat on his chest of drawers.

He was rearranging his trunk, sorting out everything he was going to need on his hunt for the horcruxes. Everything he would not need he was packing in his trunk, and what he was going to need was put in his backpack. He could not afford to wait until the summer was over to start, who knows what could happen now that Dumbledore was dead.

Once he had sorted out everything that he would need from what he would not and had it all packed, he picked up his backpack and trunk and headed downstairs.

Vernon and Petunia Dursley were sat in the living room as he entered; watching the evening news, pretending that the other occupant of their house did not exist; Dudley had yet to return from Smeltings.

He cleared his throat, "Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, I'm leaving now. I just wanted to say good luck, and if any of my friends come round, just tell them I left to finish what he started, they'll understand."

Vernon grunted and turned back to the television, Petunia however spoke up. "You normally stay for longer than this, why leave now?" Her frown turned into a worried look, "Your headmaster said you would not be safe until you turned seventeen, and that you had to stay here."

"Under normal circumstances that would be so, however with Professor Dumbledore's death certain things have changed. I have a job to complete, and the sooner I start the better. The time spent here should be enough to protect us all until my birthday. You may want to take an extended holiday, get out of the country when Dudley finished for the summer."

He gave his aunt a gentle smile before turning and leaving. Once he reached Magnolia Crescent he threw out his arm for the Night Bus, which thankfully did not almost run him over this time, gave his destination and sat down to wait his turn.

Eventually Harry got off at Grimmauld Place, and watched as number twelve slid out from between numbers eleven and thirteen. He slowly made his way up the stairs remembering the last time he had been here, the last time he had actually spent time with his godfather. He quietly opened the door; with Dumbledore dead he did not know if the house remained under the protection of the fidelius charm or not.

A creak upstairs had Harry pulling out his wand, while old houses did normally creak and groan of their own accord, that creak had sounded like a footstep had accompanied it. He slowly crept up the stairs not wanting to alert the intruder to his presence. For all his luck it could be Mundungus Fletcher, out to pilfer more goods, but he would rather be safe than sorry. Mad Eye Moody's 'constant vigilance' kept ringing through his head as he crept along.

A sudden movement at the end of the corridor had Harry flicking his wand and disarming the unseen assailant. A clatter and a thud were heard as the wand dropped to the floor and the person hit the wall as they flew backwards.

He kept his wand out as he made his way over. Laying there slightly dazed was Draco Malfoy. "Malfoy, what the hell are you doing here?"

The blonde boy blinked up at him a few times, not really registering who was stood over him. "Potter? Potter!" He jumped up, "What're you doing here?"

Harry rolled his eyes at Malfoys repetition. "I happen to live here Malfoy, this is my house. You however have no right to be here. Care to explain?"

Malfoy strode over to where Harry stood. "Look Potter, I had no idea this was your house, I was just brought here and told it would be safe. You see the Dark Lord had no need for me after I failed in the mission he gave me. He would have tortured and killed me had I not been rescued and brought here."

Harry twirled his wand around his fingers and leaned against the wall. "And tell me Malfoy, why should I believe you? Up until a week ago you were a firm supporter of Voldemort. How do I know that this isn't a trap?"

"If this were a trap Potter, you wouldn't be alive right now," a low smooth voice came from behind him. "And if I were the Dark Lord, I would not hesitate to kill you."

Harry spun around sharply to see Snape stood less than a foot away from him. He raised his hand to cast a spell at Snape, but before he could his hand was grabbed.

"Don't be foolish Potter; you are always rushing into things without thinking. You did not fare well the last time you attacked me, if you care to remember?"

Harry glared at Snape, "Well you'll have to forgive me, but the last time we met, you had just killed Dumbledore and had declared your allegiance to the dark forces. Why are you here anyway? I'm guessing that you were the one who brought Malfoy."

Without letting go of Harry, Snape turned towards Malfoy. "Draco, go wait for us in the dining room, there's some food down there for dinner if you are feeling hungry."

Once Malfoy had disappeared down the stairs Snape turned back to Harry, "I brought Draco here because he was in need of protection, and because I have some information for you that is crucial for your survival."

Snape glared into Harry's eyes, seeming to get lost in their green depths. "I made a promise to his mother to protect him, mothers will do anything to protect their young, even die for them. Draco doesn't know, but his mother may not survive the ordeal if the Dark Lord finds out everything she did for him. You and Draco are very much alike Potter, both having mothers who care for you so much."

Harry pulled away from Snape's grasp. "I don't see why you care, you don't like me, you hated my father, and while I don't know how you felt about my mother, it was enough to call her a mudblood. I saw it remember, and she had the decency to stand up for you against your tormentors." He took in a deep breath, "and I know it was you who led Voldemort to them, you overheard Trelawney's prophecy and gave it to your master."

Snape suddenly pushed him into the wall, his hand around Harry's neck, "You know nothing Potter. Your mother was my best friend growing up, and at Hogwarts even though we ended up in separate houses. I destroyed that by calling her that name, and we never recovered from that. Then she went and married your father, and they had you, there would be no coming back from that. Yes I overheard that prophecy and told the Dark Lord, but when I found out he was targeting your family I begged him to reconsider, to spare your mother. In the end I turned to Dumbledore for help, and I have been in his gratitude ever since."

Snape released his hold on Harry, who slid to the floor gasping for breath. Once he had recovered he looked up at Snape, his eyes wide with realisation. "She didn't have to die," he whispered.

"Voldemort gave her the option of standing aside, but she refused. It was because of you that she got that option. You loved her."

"Yes Potter, I loved your mother. Now I am going to save Draco's mother in the way I was unable to save yours, and for that I need your help. You hold the secret to the Dark Lord's destruction, and together we are going to sort this out."

"Horcrux, what on earth is a horcrux?" Draco Malfoy asked half an hour later as they sat around the dining room table. Harry had just explained about what he and Dumbledore had been looking for on the night of his death.

"It is an artefact containing a piece of your soul, if you were to be killed then you would avoid death, but you would be stuck in a non-corporeal form, able to posses other beings. It is how Voldemort was able to come back two years ago." Harry explained. "Professor Dumbledore believed Voldemort had split his soul into seven separate pieces: six horcruxes and himself, or that was his intention at least before he fell afoul of a rebounding killing curse fifteen years ago."

Harry went on to explain about Tom Riddle's diary, the Gaunt's ring and the belief that he had used something belonging to each of the founder's; especially considering that he and Dumbledore, upon searching for the horcrux, had found Slytherin's locket, or what they thought had been Slytherin's locket.

"Here," he said sliding the locket and note across the table. He had taken to carrying R.A.B's locket around with him in his pocket, in a reminder of what had been sacrificed for this war.

"I recognise that," Draco said, snatching the locket up. "My mother has a similar one. It had belonged to her father; he, his brother and sister each received one."

Upon hearing this Harry jumped up from the table and ran upstairs, leaving Snape and Malfoy no choice but to follow if they wanted to know what was going on.

They found Harry in the drawing room examining an old tapestry, his hands tracing lines from one side to another. "Ah ha, here it is," he shouted, not realising the other two were right behind him.

"We're not on the other side of the world you know Potter," Malfoy said, causing Harry to blush as he turned to face them.

"Anyway, it's all here. Your grandfather, Cygnus Black had Walburga and Alphard as his brother and sister. Walburga, the eldest of the three, married her cousin Orion Black. They had two sons, Sirius Orion Black and Regulus Arcturus Black, R.A.B! Regulus was a death eater and died not long after joining, but before the fall of Voldemort. Sirius said that it was possible he had a change of heart and was killed because of it. What if he found out about the horcruxes and he was killed because of that?"

"Don't rush into things Potter. We have no real proof, no one knows whatever happened to Regulus Black, he just disappeared, and his body was never found. Not even the Dark Lord ever knew what happened."

Harry's grin faltered for a minute, before perking up again. "Kreacher!" he called.

There was a sudden pop from behind the two Slytherins, and they turned around to see an elderly, hunched over, house elf stood there. "Master called Kreacher," it seemed to croak, "despicable master that it is," was added after under his breath.

Harry strode over to Kreacher, holding his hand out to Malfoy for the locket. "Can you tell me about this Kreacher?" he asked, kneeling down to Kreacher's height.

Kreacher opened his mouth to say something, closed it once, before opening it again. To Harry's horror he broke out into loud, wailing sobs that shook his entire body. "Master Regulus' locket, Kreacher tried, Kreacher tried, but Kreacher failed in his task. Poor Master Regulus would be so ashamed of Kreacher's failings."

"It would seem that your elf knew the fate of Regulus Black all along, and his link to the horcruxes Potter." Snape said.

Harry ignored Snape, his attention on Kreacher who had started to hit his head on the floor while wailing, "Kreacher failed, Kreacher failed!" Harry had no choice but to order him to stop hurting himself "Can you tell me what happened to Master Regulus and the locket?"

And so the whole tale came out, how the dark lord had used Kreacher to test the potion that guarded the Horcrux, how Regulus had found out and had taken Kreacher back, drank the potion himself, and getting killed by the inferi in the process, and instructing Kreacher to take the locket back and destroy it, no matter what.

"No matter how hard Kreacher tried, the locket could not be destroyed. Kreacher hid it, but then Mudbloods, Blood traitors and half-bloods came along and tried to throw it away. Kreacher took it along with Miss Bella and Miss Cissy's pictures, my mistresses' gloves, the order of Merlin 1st class, and the Goblet's with the family crest on." Kreacher cried from the floor, his fingers itching to punish himself but his orders from his master over-ruled him.

"What ever happened to it Kreacher? Do you still have it?" Harry asked, prepared to stop Kreacher if the house-elf chose to hurt himself, he was so used to Dobby doing it by now.

"Mundungus Fletcher. Mundungus Fletcher came and stole all of Kreacher's treasures after master Sirius' death. Kreacher tried to stop him but he failed."

A few images popped into Harry's mind: Mundungus Fletcher telling Sirius that he could sell those silver goblets for a fair price the summer before fifth year, and then a year later accosting Fletcher in Hogsmede after his looting of Grimmauld place where he had the aforementioned goblets. With a sudden lurch Harry realised that he could possibly have had the locket with him at that point. "What are the chances that he still has it on him now?" he asked turning to Snape.

"I would not like to hazard a guess, Fletcher always was a loose end, and did not always turn up to Order meetings. And I have not been to an Order meeting in a long while, not since...well you know."

Harry scowled, "Yes, well he was very good at disappearing from duty when he was supposed to be keeping an eye on me, leaving me to fight dementors on my own." He turned to Kreacher, "Do you think that you could track Mundungus Fletcher down for us Kreacher, we need the locket that he stole."

"Kreacher will do anything to fulfil Master Regulus' last request," he said before disappearing with a pop.

"I will leave you two boys here alone," Snape said, turning to them. "I still have to report in with the Dark Lord, he does not know of my involvement with Draco's disappearance as of yet, and I intend to keep it that way. Do not worry Potter; I shall not mention anything about you. If I find that you two cannot behave when I came back, you will both be sorry. Am I understood?"

"Yes sir," Harry and Draco both mumbled.

With one last hard look, and a swish of his robes Snape left the room, leaving the two boys to pour over where the rest of the horcruxes could be.

July 9th 1997

It was over a week later that Kreacher showed up again, holding a struggling Mundungus Fletcher and a surprising guest.

"Harry Potter, Dobby helped Kreacher bring in this worthless scum. Dobby wanted to help the great Harry Potter!"

Harry could hear Fletcher spluttering behind the two elves. "Now see here, it was only a bit of silver no one wanted, no harm done. I don't see why I've been dragged here against mi wishes by these two," he indicated towards the two elves.

"Well you see 'Dung," Harry began. "On one of your many forages of this place, you took something that was very important to us. If you cannot tell us what you did with it, I shall hand you over to Malfoy here, and I'll allow him to torture the answer out of you. He's been taught some pretty dark curses after all."

"'Old on, let a man speak before taking such drastic measures. What is it ya wanting," Fletcher spoke holding up his hands, a look of worry on his face.

"A silver locket, with an S inscribed on it," Harry spoke slowly, maintaining eye contact with the thief.

"That thing? Useless it was, practically had to give it away; it wouldn't open so no one would buy it."

"Who Fletcher, who did you give it to?"

Fletcher was quiet for a minute, thinking it over. "Some ministry worker I think it was. I was out on the streets, sellin' mi wares when she comes up askin' for mi licence. Gave her some story 'bout me leavin' it at home and she wa' welcome to one of mi items while I went home to fetch it. She picked up that locket, 'n' I high tailed it out o' there 'n' neva went back knowin' she'd be on the lookout. Nasty toad woman she was."

Harry and Draco shared a look; only one person they knew could be described as looking like a toad. Draco quickly pointed his wand at Fletcher and whispered "obliviate".

"Dobby, if you could drop him off somewhere, anywhere will do, and thank you." Harry said as Dobby grabbed a fistful of Fletcher's robes and disappearing. Harry then turned to Kreacher, "Thank you Kreacher for your help too. Here, I want you to have this," he held out Regulus' locket. "You deserve this after everything you've done."

Two tears rolled down Kreacher's cheeks. "Master wants Kreacher to have Master Regulus' locket?"

Harry bent down and rested his hand on Kreacher's shoulder. "Despite everything, you've helped in more ways than you can ever imagine, and you deserve this."

At that moment Snape strode through the kitchen door. "We have a big problem on our hands, the Dark Lord plans on releasing his most faithful from where they have been imprisoned in Azkaban. With those followers back at his beck and call, the dark side could become the formidable force it was twenty years ago.

Both Harry and Draco paled, their joy at locating a Horcrux quickly fading. "When?"

"Within the next few days, while defences are low, the ministry has been in turmoil this last year and especially so since Dumbledore's death, they are spread very thinly."

"We need to get a message to the ministry, stop this from happening." Draco spoke up. "I for one would prefer my father and the others to remain where they are. Aunt Bellatrix was bad enough without adding the others back into the mix. We also need to get a hold of that locket."

Snape looked between the two boys, clearly he was missing something. "Kreacher found 'Dung, but he'd given the locket to Umbridge." Harry explained.

They were all silent for a few minutes until Harry spoke up. "I have an idea, you may not like it, but it just might work."

July 10th 1997

"I cannot believe you talked me into this Potter," Draco hissed as he and Harry rode down in the telephone box into the ministry. "Here we are sneaking into the ministry in the early hours of the morning, just to steal a bloody necklace."

To anyone else riding who may have been in with them, the sound of Draco's voice would have unnerved them as Draco was currently hidden underneath Harry's invisibility cloak, while Harry had concealed himself via a disillusionment charm.

"Relax Malfoy; we should be able to pull this off without a hitch. Look at everything you accomplished last year; this task should be like child's play for you. I have to satisfactorily convince the minister there is to be an attack on Azkaban and to send in the troops, I'm not exactly his favourite person at the moment since I won't be his poster boy."

"Oh yes, it's all about Potter," Draco muttered as their lift came to a halt and the door opened. Harry hushed him as they crept along the corridors to their destinations. "Remember, no waiting for one another. As soon as you've got the necklace, get out. We'll meet back at Grimmauld place."

Harry slipped into the minister's office and sat down in a corner to wait while Draco moved down the corridor to the undersecretary's office.

Harry had no idea how long he was sat there for, but he had fallen into a light doze when the door opened and the Minister and Percy Weasley hurried in.

"We need to arrange a meeting with the department of magical games and sport; we might have to withdraw from next year's Quidditch World Cup if the current situation is not resolved."

Percy made a note on his scroll. "And what of Dumbledore's will sir?"

"We still have a couple of weeks until we have to release the contents of the will to their recipients. There has to be a reason as to why Dumbledore left something to Potter and his friends." Harry's ears pricked up at this. "Now, you'd better go and send that missive and finish your work for the day."

It was not until Percy had left the room that Harry spoke up. "When was it the Minister's right to withhold people's property, just because he holds a grudge against the certain individual?" He could have laughed when the Minister physically jumped a foot in the air.

"Who's there?" Scrimgeour said, frantically spinning around.

Harry stood up and cancelled the disillusionment charm, locking and silencing the room as he did so. "Just me Minister. You really should get better security on your office sir, next time it could be a Death Eater laying in wait for you."

"Mr Potter, what are you doing here, how did you get in? There are charms set to go off when anyone enters unauthorised."

Harry smiled, "Yes, Dolores Umbridge had the same on her office while she was headmistress at Hogwarts. Really, you would think you would come up with something a little bit more secure. As for why I am here, I was going to tell you about an upcoming Death Eater attack, but I want to hear about what Dumbledore left for me before I tell you."

Scrimgeour's face turned red, "You think you can bribe the minister do you Potter? The boy who thinks he can get everything."

"It worked for Lucius Malfoy; he was always lining the pockets of certain individuals with gold, especially Fudge. I mean, if you want to turn a blind eye to this attack then I'll just leave now, but you'll only have yourself to blame when people ask why they weren't better protected." He turned towards the door."

"Wait," Scrimgeour sighed. He pulled open his desk drawer and pulled out three objects; A book, a muggle cigarette lighter and a snitch. "These are what Dumbledore left for you, Miss Granger and Mr Weasley. You were also granted the Sword of Gryffindor, but as that is a historical artefact and a Hogwarts possession the headmaster had no right in leaving it to you."

"And you seem to think that a hidden message has been left in these? The only thing I can think of is; remember what you have achieved and persevere." He flicked his wand and writing appeared in mid-air.

'The vanquished one seeks to restore his faithful,

Azkaban is next on his list to conquer.

The Dark Lord's most faithful will triumph,

Should the guards at sea fail.'

"I was never here Minister, this just appeared. You can understand the need to keep this between us, considering my source of information."

"You are sure you can trust this, how can you be sure this is not some wild goose chase while another attack occurs elsewhere?"

"I would trust this person with my life, so I trust the information they give me. Of course most people would think the same way you are, so here," he finished off his note with an embellished lightning bolt. "I'm sure you can keep this on a need to know basis, we don't want to panic the general population, or risk anything getting back to the Dark Forces." Harry reapplied his disillusionment charm before leaving the room.

"Oh, and before I go, accio snitch. You wouldn't mind, seeing what I have given you. Farewell Minister."

Severus Snape was pacing the floor of the kitchen, waiting until Harry and Draco returned. He himself had just returned from a Death Eater meeting where he had learnt some very disturbing information.

He heard a creak from upstairs and withdrew his wand just in case but moments later breathed a sigh of relief when Harry stepped through the door. "Everything went according to plan then?"

"Kinda," Harry shrugged. "I kind of blackmailed the minister." He shrugged sheepishly.

Snape rolled his eyes, "Only you Potter. What made you resort to that may I ask?"

Harry told him all that he had overheard and obtained while in the minister's office. "Why would Dumbledore leave me the sword in any case? Sure I used it to defeat Tom Riddle and the basilisk, but that's all in the past now, the first Horcrux destroyed."

Snape was thoughtful for a minute. "We will figure it out, but at the moment we have a more crucial matter on our hands. The Dark Lord has a spy within Hogwarts, someone who can take over from where I left off, however this time it is a student. He plans on using them to bring you to him."

"Who is it? How would they bring me to Voldemort, unless... They plan on seducing me don't they?" When Snape nodded, Harry continued. "So it's obviously a girl, one of the Slytherins?"

"The Dark Lord would not be foolish enough to use a Slytherin for this Potter, he knows about the discord between you and them. No, this is a person he plans on disposing with once he has you. It is someone he knows you will trust; I only caught a glimpse of this spy beneath her robes, but it was enough to hazard a guess. After all, only one family I know has such vivid red hair."

"Ginny? What would possess her to do such a thing?" Harry sank down onto one of the chairs. "How long has this been going on? Was she a spy while we were going out, or more recent than that?"

"To be honest Potter, I do not know. She was only revealed last night."

"Does she know what Voldemort will do to her when she delivers me to him? Does she know that she is signing her own death warrant?"

"I believe the Dark Lord has told her that she can have her heart's desire should she succeed, and that would be you. No doubt her belief is that she will rise up the ranks to become the Dark Lord's favourite and you would be her reward, her plaything."

Harry shuddered in revulsion. "Is this girl delusional or something? Voldemort wants nothing more than to see me dead." He suddenly laughed, "I get killed, and then he kills Ginny, she will then achieve her heart's desire, we will be together through death."

Harry did not know what, but something he said caused Snape to snap. "Don't joke Potter, we have all sacrificed too much for you to give up now, or do you want them all to have been in vain, and I am not risking everything for your ass." He leaned over Harry, black eyes bearing into green ones, Snape's breath ghosting over Harry's lips, and for one crazy moment Harry was tempted to lean up and kiss the man, until Malfoy's voice broke the silence.

"Am I interrupting something here?"

Snape took a step back, giving Harry one long, last, hard look, making Harry wonder if the same thing had occurred to Snape as it had to him. They both turned their attention to Malfoy, who was stood in the doorway, leaning against the jam, swinging the locket around his index finger."

"Draco," Snape seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "I wasn't expecting you back so soon; everything went well I take it?"

"Of course. That woman will do anything for a little bit of power. All I had to say was 'that pretty piece hanging around your neck was stolen from my family. Light sympathisers took it, thinking it was a dark artefact when really it is a family heirloom on my mother's side. I can see to it that you are substantially rewarded if it is returned to us.' Of course she acquiesced when she realised just who it is for. Despite my father's imprisonment, my mother is still well respected; she also believes my father was wrongly imprisoned, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." Malfoy paused for a moment before continuing. "I did notice several Death Eaters and dark supporters around the ministry on my way out. Is the Dark Lord planning a take-over?"

"That has been amongst the Dark Lord's plans, although I do not know of anything being definite just yet." Snape replied. He walked over and took the locket off of Malfoy. "Any ideas on how to destroy this then Potter?"

"Well, last time I used a basilisk fang to destroy the Horcrux in the diary. I have no idea what Dumbledore used to destroy the ring."

"Well then Potter, you and I will have to take a trip to Hogwarts soon; we can end this sooner rather than later then." Snape said. "I would rather this not go on by the time school resumes again."

July 15th 1997

"I've been thinking," Harry began sitting down next to Draco in the sitting room.

"That must've hurt," Draco teased as he stretched out on the sofa, placing his feet on Harry's knee and resting his head against the arm rest, closing his eyes as he did so.

"Idiot," Harry retorted chucking a pillow at the blonde's head. "Anyway, Dumbledore told me that Voldemort applied for the defence position at Hogwarts twice. He was unsuccessful both times and after his second application there hasn't been a professor who has lasted longer than a year. What if Voldemort himself placed a curse on the position?"

"Where are you going with this Potter?"

"Voldemort placed something in the school that would only let people teach that subject for a year, keeping something of himself within the school as a reminder to Dumbledore of what he denied; if Voldemort couldn't teach, then no one else should either. What if that thing was a..."

"Horcrux," Draco said, sitting up. "The only question is, which one?"

"My guess would be either Hufflepuff's cup, or something of Ravenclaw's. The only problem being I have no idea what it could be."

"When are you and Snape off to Hogwarts?" It was a complete change of subject, but Harry assumed it was leading somewhere.

"Tomorrow, why do you ask?"

"While you're there, see if you can speak to the Grey Lady, she's the Ravenclaw house ghost. The Bloody Baron told us once, apparently the two of them had a bit of a past. If the Dark Lord did hide it where would it be?"

"If you wanted to hide something in Hogwarts that only you knew where it was, where would it be?"

Draco thought for a moment, "The Room of Requirement."

"Quite possibly."

July 16th 1997

Harry and Snape stood outside the main Hogwarts Gates looking in. "You are quite sure no one will be here sir to interrupt us?" Harry asked as Snape began making a series of complex wand movements, lowering the enchantments on the gates that were supposed to keep the Dark Forces out.

"Only the ghosts, house-elves and portraits. Usually the headmaster would remain, maintaining the wards, ready for the new term but as a new head has yet to be appointed..." Snape stopped as he caught sight of the marble tomb glittering in the sunlight. "I never realised they had buried Albus here, I had thought perhaps Godric's Hollow..."

Harry, who had been reading the Daily Prophet over the summer, knew from Rita Skeeter's articles that Dumbledore had grown up in Godric's Hollow, and that's where the rest of his family had been buried. "We felt it was for the best, considering everything."

Snape turned to look at Harry, "I never wanted to kill him, but I was stuck in a situation. He was dying; that curse on his hand would have killed him had I not isolated it and that is when he made me promise that when the time was right I would kill him. And then came the unbreakable vow with Narcissa Malfoy. I had no choice in the end."

"I understand sir. That same night he made me feed him poison so as to reach the locket. He begged you to kill him; He pleaded with you, not for his life but for his death." For several minutes they stood there, paying their silent respects to a man who gave up so much for the two of them.

Once inside Snape turned to Harry. "Go find the Grey Lady, it cannot hurt to find out what Rowena Ravenclaw's artefact was, then meet me in the headmaster's office; there is something I must do up there and then we can go down to the Chamber of Secrets together."

Harry hurried off. He had no idea where to look, but knew he would have to come across a ghost eventually that he could ask. It was strange walking through corridor's devoid of life; during term-time odd people would be about; teachers on free periods, students making their way to classes or the library, Filch and Mrs Norris cleaning and terrorising, and prefects patrolling.

Eventually he came across the ghost of Nearly Headless Nick. "Mr Potter, what on earth are you doing here? You very nearly scared me to death, there's usually no one around this time of year."

Harry had to stop himself from laughing, despite being dead over five hundred years, Nick still used many sayings students around the school did. "I need to find the Grey Lady."

Nick indicated for Harry to follow him, and so they set off through the corridors until they reached the entrance of a tower where a door stood. Nick disappeared through the wall, but reappeared moments later followed by another ghost.

"Sir Nicholas tells me you wish to speak with me Mr Potter."

"I am on the quest to find artefacts belonging to the four founders. Gryffindor's sword I discovered a few years ago which remains wholly intact. Slytherin's locket, Hufflepuff's cup and something belonging to Ravenclaw have all been turned into dark artefacts by Tom Riddle, Lord Voldemort as he is known. I have the locket and am on the quest for the cup, but I have no idea what Ravenclaw's item was."

"You speak much like he did all those years ago. Your Tom Riddle came to me to ask about the Founder's items, for academic purposes he so claimed. Lady Ravenclaw's prized item was her diadem which was said to be the source of all her knowledge. I am afraid I may have truly caused total damaged to my mother's most treasured possession."

"Your mother..." Harry began but was cut off when the ghost turned towards the door. A few words were exchanged with the eagle door-knocker and the door opened. The ghost drifted through the open entryway and Harry had no choice but to follow.

Harry moved inside what could only be the Ravenclaw common room. It was a wide circular room; high arched windows were covered with blue and bronze silk. The ceiling was domed and painted with stars, the carpet midnight-blue. Tables, chairs and bookshelves were arranged around the room and in a niche opposite the door stood a tall, white, marble statue.

"That circlet on the head of my mother is her fabled diadem. It was rumoured to grant the wearer immeasurable power and knowledge. However, no one has been able to determine that claim; jealous of my mother, I stole the diadem and fled. I hid out in a forest in Albania, and there it remained even after my death. Until he came around asking questions, he sounded so sincere.

"There were many who were hoodwinked by him." Harry said as he moved closer to the statue to look at the diadem. There was something familiar about it, and as he looked up to read the inscription; 'wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure'. Suddenly Harry realised where he had seen it before. The statue he had placed to mark the Half-Blood Prince's copy of Advanced Potion Making; He had put a wig and a tiara on the bust of the ugly old warlock, the same tiara that was Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem.

Harry quickly turned around and ran out of the door, "thanks Nick, Lady Ravenclaw," he called over his shoulder. He hastened towards the seventh floor corridor and the tapestry of the dancing trolls. Thinking of the room of hidden things, he walked up and down the corridor three times and then darted inside when the door materialised.

He meandered through the rows of objects looking for his goal, last time he had not realised just how big this room was. He knew he was close when he passed by the repaired vanishing cabinet, and then finally he spotted it. The ugly warlock with the tiara perched on top, looking very out of place. He was about to turn around when he remembered why he had marked this spot in the first place. He opened the cupboard and withdrew Advanced Potion Making; it was time this book was returned to its rightful owner.

The Gargoyle guarding the entrance to the headmaster's office was open when he eventually reached the headmaster's office, so Harry could only assume that Snape was already up there.

"Ah Potter, you managed to locate the Grey Lady then?" Snape said as Harry walked through the door.

"Even better," Harry smirked. "I found another Horcrux." He set the diadem down on the desk. Around him he could tell the portraits of former headmasters and mistresses were watching curiously under the guise of sleep; however Harry only had eyes fixed on one portrait.

"Harry my boy, well done," Dumbledore smiled down at him, his eyes twinkling madly.

"It's not over yet, we still have a way to go, sir." He glanced over at Snape. "There is still the matter of destroying what we have. You did say we would go down to the Chamber of Secrets.

"Indeed Potter, let's not hesitate on that matter."

"Severus, Harry, wait!" Dumbledore spoke up. "You don't have to go all the way down to the Chamber of Secrets to be able to destroy them; there is something much closer at hand."

Harry and Snape cast their eyes around the room looking for something to destroy the horcruxes with, until Severus laid eyes on Gryffindor's sword. "Of course, it's crafted by Goblins."

"What does being Goblin made have to do with anything?" Harry asked looking between Snape and Dumbledore's portrait.

"Something that is Goblin made has certain qualities about it." Dumbledore explained. "Their blades will imbibe only that which makes them stronger."

"At Harry's blank look Snape prodded him further. "Think Potter, what did you use the sword for that could possibly strengthen it?"

Harry cast his mind around. He had killed the basilisk in his second year; he had destroyed the diary, Riddle's Horcrux, with the basilisk fang. "Basilisk venom! That's what made it stronger. The sword took on the properties of the venom; therefore the sword can destroy the horcruxes."

Dumbledore smiled down at Harry as Snape reached over to retrieve the sword. He passed it to Harry to do the honours. "It seems a shame to have to destroy them; these are the only relic's belonging to the founders." Harry sighed.

"That's why he will have done it Potter. The Dark Lord does not care for their value, but what others care. They would be safe as no one would want to destroy them. Now I suggest you get on with this."

As Harry placed the open locket and diadem on the floor and raised the sword. He was about to bring it down when out of each of the horcruxes figurines emerged. Both Harry and Snape gasped; the horcruxes had assumed the form of James and Lily Potter. Harry was frozen, the sword raised above his head as he took in the sight of his parents.

"Oh Harry," Riddle-Lily said looking down at her 'son', "how could you? He is not right for you."

Riddle-James nodded along with his wife. "He will eventually betray you when someone better comes along, you know this. I have seen it in our hearts." Riddle-James' eyes glowed red for a brief second and this was enough to snap Harry out of his stupor. With a roar he brought the sword down twice; once on the locket and once on the diadem. Both times the horcruxes let out a long scream and oozed black fluid.

"Well done my boys, well done!" Dumbledore praised. "You are two horcruxes closer to your goal. Now that the two of you are working together, the statute has changed somewhat. Severus, have you told Harry what I informed you about?"

Snape glanced over at Harry, who was looking quizzically between Snape and Dumbledore, before answering the former headmaster. "I'm afraid not Albus, I barely spend time with the boy, the Dark Lord believes I am still solely loyal to him. I call round to ensure he and Mr Malfoy have not killed one another.

"Ah, you have Mr Malfoy with you, splendid. Now I am sure you boys have things you must be doing, so I will bid you farewell."

"Indeed," Snape replied and turned to walk out of the door. "Come Potter."

Harry silently followed Snape out of Hogwarts and back across the grounds where they apperated back to Grimmauld Place. Not once did he ask about what Dumbledore had said, knowing Snape would tell him in his own time.

Draco was sat alone in the lounge at Grimmauld Place, Severus and Potter had gone to Hogwarts, leaving him alone for the first time since Potter had arrived.

A tapping at the window drew him out of his thoughts. His mother's little owl was outside waiting to come in, clutching a scroll between its talons. He opened the window and the owl swooped in, dropped the scroll before swooping out again.

He picked it p, fearing the worst; why else would his mother be writing to him.

'My dearest Draco, I hope this letter finds you well. The Dark Lord has now taken up permanent residence at the manor since his failed attempt on Azkaban; he does not seem to trust any of us at the moment as he feels we have a spy in our midsts. Your Aunt Bellatrix seems to be the only one who has retained the favour of the Dark Lord as he has gifted her with the task of looking after something of great importance to him. The end may be near my son, the Dark Lord plans on over throwing the ministry soon and then the muggle loving fools will be put in their proper places.

With love.'

A noise upstairs startled him and he dropped his letter on the floor just as Snape and Potter walked through the door.

"Draco?" Snape asked, seeing the startled expression on the young man's face. "What's wrong?"

Draco picked up the letter and handed it over. "I don't know why, but something about it worries me. Whether it's because it's my mother writing to me, what she has written or the owl finding me, I don't know."

Harry peered over Snape's shoulder at the letter. "I always find owls can find you no matter what, and no matter what, your mother will miss you so will want to write to you, even if just to reassure herself."

Snape tapped a portion of the letter, "The Dark Lord trusts Bellatrix over anyone else. Perhaps he trusted her with something important to him." He looked over at Harry, "Perhaps his soul?"

Harry's eyes widened in realisation at Snape's words, "But how would we find out what it is and where it is?"

Snape hissed then before he could answer and grabbed his arm; obviously his Dark Mark had flared. "I will have to leave you two to think it over, I have to go. I will try and find out what information I can, and I will try and see how your mother's doing as well Draco." With that Snape swept from the room.

23rd July 1998

It was a week before Harry and Draco saw Snape again, and during that time they had exhausted ideas on where Bellatrix could hide a Horcrux, although Harry had determined that she more than likely had Hufflepuff's cup.

"I'm sorry for taking so long boys, the Dark Lord indeed trusts no one besides Bella at the moment, and everyone has been given menial tasks to do. He trusts no one since the attempt on Azkaban, believing any one of us to be spies." Snape stepped into the drawing room. "I've spoken with your mother Draco; she is doing well despite the circumstances. She has been playing hostess since the Dark Lord took up residence at the manor, and has been privy to certain information." He withdrew a drawstring bag and dropped it on the coffee table. "I believe this is what you are looking for Potter."

Harry reached into the bag and pulled out Hufflepuff's cup. "You managed to find it!" he exclaimed. "How?"

"As I said, Narcissa is privy to certain information, Bellatrix had this in her room," Snape said. "All it took was a quick duplication charm and I brought this with me."

Harry humped up and flung his arms around Snape's neck, however he quickly stepped back seeing the look on Snape's face.

"Sorry," he muttered. "Well...thanks."

A strange motion flickered across Snape's face, "Think nothing of it." Snape replied.

The awkward moment passed as Harry left to go collect the sword of Gryffindor.

Draco looked at Severus with raised eyebrows. "Is there something going on between you and Potter that I should know about? This isn't the first time I've witnessed one of these moments between the two of you."

Severus cleared his throat and picked up the cup to follow Harry out of the room.

Draco quietly followed Snape out of the room several minutes behind, not wanting to interrupt but also wanting to know what was going on. He peered through the crack in the door to see the remains of the cup on the floor and Snape and Harry sat on the bed.

"There's just Nagini left now, and she'll be the hardest to obtain," Harry sighed.

"There is one other that you should know about, an unintentional one the Dark Lord had no intention of creating," Snape said staring at a picture on Harry's bedside cabinet.

"It's me, isn't it?" Harry said. "Dumbledore said that the night he tried to kill me he transferred some of his power to me, only it was more than just power, it was part of his soul. Hence I can speak parsletongue and have been able to see what he has been doing." He turned to face Snape, "I'm going to have to die, aren't I?"

Snape nodded and Draco wondered whether he did not know what to say, or just could not. Even he was speechless.

"Of course, we had to destroy all the other artefacts to get rid of Voldemort's soul, why should I be any different? Just promise me that once I'm gone, you'll kill old snake face for me."

Snape turned to face Harry. "You will get through this Potter, I've not risked everything to see you die. Despite the Dark Lord and Ginerva Weasley's efforts, you will not fail."

Draco could almost taste the tension in the air between the two of them; they either needed to fight it out between them or...

"I also think another visit of John Smith to the minister is in order," Snape eventually said. "The Dark Lord is in the final stages of his plans to take over the ministry, and first on his list is the minister's death."

July 30th 1997

Harry crept through the ministry underneath his invisibility cloak. Today was busier than it had been last time so he had to be careful not to bump into anyone. He was alone this time, there being no need for either Snape or Draco to come.

Suddenly bright pink hair was in his line of vision, and he plastered himself against the wall as Tonks and Kingsley Shaklebolt walked past. "...and there has still been no sign of Harry?" Tonks asked. Remus is besides himself, put a right dampener on our wedding. If not for the fact that Harry couldn't come, even if he was available, was the only thing that would get him in front of a minister. I had to say Harry would want this."

"As far as we can tell he is still safe, there was no sign of a struggle at his home despite his relatives not saying anything. Death Eaters haven't been bragging about his capture either. Mad-eye went by Grimmauld, but couldn't get in, maybe..." The rest of Kingsley's words were swallowed up by the crowd.

So Remus and Tonks were married now, at least some people could find joy in these difficult times, and Bill and Fleur's wedding would be soon, remembering he would be unable to attend.

He hurried on towards his destination and managed to slip inside an empty elevator the same time as Arthur Weasley. Mr Weasley looked tired and haggard, and with a stab of guilt Harry realised what his disappearance must be doing to those who cared about him. His heart went out to the Weasley's when he remembered what their daughter was planning.

Luckily Harry was able to slip out without alerting Mr Weasley to his presence and crept along to the minister's office. He was just about to open the door when a thin man stepped out. Harry recognised the man as Pius Thickness from Snape's description; a man Voldemort's forces were using to infiltrate the ministry, who was currently head of magical law enforcement. "Do not worry Minister, I will see to it."

Harry clenched his fists, wanting to really eliminate this man, but if he succeeded today, this man would get what was coming to him. He slipped through the door just before it shut. Scrimgeour and Percy were bent over a set of documents. He sighed; there was no easy way to do this.

He flicked his wand and a ribbon appeared, and with another flick words began to form, in the same way Dumbledore had back in first year.

The threat upon the Island may be over,

But the Dark Lord aims even higher,

His eyes are dawn to the ministry and,

Upon Augusts' front he will attack,

While the eyes of Order are drawn to bridal flowers.

It was then a matter of waiting until his note was read, and hopefully it would not take too long. Indeed, it was two minutes later when the minister happened to glance up. Unbeknownst to him, his and Harry's eyes met across the wording and Harry could see a moment of horror pass across them.

"Mr Weasley, what do you make of this?" Scrimgeour said placing his quill down.

Percy looked up and paled. "It's like the other one, about the attack on Azkaban, the inside informant. If we can assume it's the same person and is genuine. We don't want to get carried away with this when it could be a diversion."

Again, Scrimgeour's eyes met Harry's, but this time it seemed genuine, as if looking for confirmation from the mysterious sender. "The last one was correct, so we can assume that this one will be too. We will need to be vigilant, extra security at the ministry. And if I am not mistaken it is your brother's wedding that day is it not?"

"It is sir? Are you planning on a visit?"

Scrimgeour shook his head, "No, but you will be. Visit you family, offer your congratulations and keep your ear to the ground. If there is an attack it will either be here or there. Either way, we are on guard. Now can you go and inform the Auror office I will need all staff on duty that day and I will need a word with Robards, A.S.A.P."

"Yes sir, I'll go now, but I have no idea how my family will react."

Harry followed Percy out of the door, as he did so he heard the minister mutter, "You better be right out this Potter."

16th August 1997

As per usual weeks went by without Harry and Draco seeing any sign of Snape; they were not worried yet as Voldemort was more than likely keeping his followers on a tighter leash. It was the middle of August before they saw him again.

"The Dark lord was most displeased his attempt to take control of the ministry failed, he lost several key players to Azkaban, and it is only a matter of time before he draws you into the open Potter. The ministry has also declared that Hogwarts will be reopening in September for all who wish to return, the question is, what are the two of you going to do come September?"

Harry thought about it. His aim had been to find and destroy the horcruxes, but now his job was almost complete and there was little else he could do right now. "Are you suggesting that we return to Hogwarts?" he asked raising his eyebrows.

Draco looked up from where he was staring into the fire, "I have no objection with returning to Hogwarts, if the ministry has determined it safe to return then I'm all for it. To be honest I would feel safer at school than not at school." He stood up. "I can't say anything about Potter, but I would say the Weasley's would be returning." With that he walked away, out of the room closing the door behind him.

"He has a point you know, no matter how he came to the conclusion. You return to school, you can find out Miss Weasley's plan of action, and then we can form a plan of action. Just promise me you won't do anything stupid, not after how far we've come."

Harry looked down at his lap. Could he keep that promise? He wanted to confront Ginny, get the truth out her and what would posses her to do such a thing.

Fingers under his chin tilted his head up to look up into Snape's eyes. "I'm not saying don't confront her, just don't go in there all guns blazing. Forget your rash Gryffindorishness and act more like a Slytherin; can you do that for me?"

Harry smiled; now that he could do.