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Warning! Character Death

Chapter 10

Meanwhile, Casseopia Black had discovered where the Gaunt shack was located. She stared at the property in disgust. The depths that the Gaunts' had sunk to surprised even her. That such a run down property had ward upon ward layered on it, in such a complex pattern proved that there was something inside that someone was protecting. The chances that a horcrux was located here was immense.

She had also learned that Lucretia Lestrange had dated the Dark Lord when they were in Hogwarts. She had been Lucretia Vaisey at the time. The only reason they had not married was there was an unbreakable Marriage Contract with Rafael Lestrange. Casseopia theorised that he might have given a horcrux to her for safe keeping. Lucretia had died after giving birth to her twin sons Rodolphus and Rebastian. She had finally birthed a live heir rather late in life. Stress from numerous pregnancies had weakened her greatly. Once again, Casseopia was thankful for her unmarried state.

Casseopia would return with more help, if Arcturus agreed with her conjecture. She also had the knowledge of the last customer Tom Riddle had visited when he worked at Borgin and Burkes. Hepzibah Smith had had many treasures, none more interesting to the Dark Lord more than Slytherin's Locket. She was sure he killed her to obtain the locket, and the rumoured Hufflepuff's Cup.

Casseopia was sure that she knew the identity of at least two of the horcruxes, if not the location. She was sure more digging into Tom Marvolo Riddle's background would answer those questions sooner or later. That is if the Gaunt shack and the Lestranges did not hold a horcrux. Pleased with her information gathering, Casseopia returned home to inform Arcturus of her findings.

At the same time, Dorea was calming a crying infant. Young James Potter didn't know what was happening, but he was rather unhappy about it anyway. Dorea had been surprised a few minutes earlier when a harried Potter house elf arrived at Potter Manor.

"Mistress! Tippy has tried eveything, and Young Master will not calm!" Tippy said, looking quite panicked.

Dorea took the crying infant, gently rocking him and making comforting noises. He eventually fell into an exhausted sleep. Dorea turned to the much calmer house elf. "What happened, Tippy? And where is Euphemia?" Dorea asked. It wasn't like Euphemia to leave her child alone, and crying.

"Tippy is sorry, Mistress. Mistress 'Phemia was called to St. Mungo's. Master 'Monty has collapsed at Gringotts, he has! Mistress 'Phemia handed Young Master to Tippy, but Young Master became upset. When nothing Tippy tried helped, Tippy decided to tell Mistress." Tippy said, crying fat tears as she talked.

Dorea gasped. Fleamont collapsed at Gringotts? What happened, she wondered. "Thank you, Tippy. You did the right thing. Please bring me James' things. Anything he may need for the night." Dorea said. She had had a baby herself only four years ago, she knew a lot of equipment was required.

As the evening wore on, Dorea was notified by Charlus that he and Euphemia were at Mungo's, and what had happened. Dorea was horrified! What if someone had obliviated herself or Charlus? What did this mean?

Eventually Charlus returned, Euphemia in tow. She looked exhausted, and Dorea immediately shuffled her into a guest Suite. She called Tippy, and requested food and a hot bath being drawn. Euphemia mechanically ate a few small sandwiches, and a cup of tea.

"James is sleeping. He was very upset when he arrived, but Carina and I were able to feed and calm him down." Dorea said, to make conversation. Euphemia appeared to be in shock, and had not asked about James at all.

"Oh! Yes, James." She said, slightly fuzzily. "I hope he didn't give you much trouble, he has a touch of colic." Euphemia said.

Dorea was concerned. "Oh, no. James was fine. Carina seemed to have a calming effect on him. We would be happy to keep him while you visit Fleamont." Dorea said.

"Thank you, Dorea. I don't know what I qould have done today, without you and Charlus." Euphemia said. Her father, Derrick Fawley, was currently on holiday in France, looking for another wife. His first wife, Araminta, had only bore him Euphemia. The Fawley family charter required a male heir, and after Araminta's recent death, Derrick had started the search for another wife. The current Fawley heir was Nicholas Fawley, his nephew. They had never really gotten on, so Euphemia would never call Nicholas for support. Besides him, and his wife (a former Parkinson) Euphemia's only family was the Potter's.

Dorea retired to bed sometime later, requesting to be awakened when James woke up. After a restless night, Euphemia and Charlus returned to the hospital. This continued for several days, Euphemia getting weaker, and thinner as the days wore on. Fleamont Potter had yet to wake.

The Black family had been busy. Once they recognised a threat, they eliminated it post haste. Arcturus and Lucretia and Ignatius Prewitt, had returned to the Gaunt shack, and dismantled the wards covering the property. (Lucretia and Ignatius were independant Curse Breakers)

Upon entering the shack itself, Ignatius noticed a concentration of Dark Magic under the floorboards in the main room. "The feeling of this magic is corrupted. I have only felt it's like one other time, when examining an ancient tomb in Syria. That item turned out to be the horcrux of an ancient warlord." Prewitt said, disturbed by the feeling the area gave off.

They carefully pulled the floorboard up, unearthing what appeared to be a ring box. They all appeared to become enthralled at the same time. The desire to open the box and put on the ring was great, but their will was greater. "Don't open that box! There must be a powerful curse on that ring for it to have that effect." Arcturus warned.

Ignatius twisted his wand in an intricate pattern, looking at something only he could see. "Morganna! There is a flesh rotting curse on the ring, along with another that fuses the ring onto the finger, until the curse is completely disbursed." Ignatius stated in alarm. He quickly levitated the ring box into a larger, iron box he had brought with them. Putting up a curse sheild, Ignatius opened the box.

The ring inside was ugly, and crudely shaped. It looked like someone had scratched a nonsense pattern on a black stone, then lightly squared it off, and put it on a ring. The feeling the ring gave off, though, was quite sinister. Ignatius quickly closed both boxes, then lowered the shield. They all let out great sighs, which was more relief than Arcturus would normally have shown. This was an extreme situation, however.

"Why did you open that case, Iggy?" Lucretia asked, shaken.

"We have to leave this place as we found it. That means we have to transfigure something into a replica, and put another flesh rotting curse on it. Riddle must not know that anyone discovered his secret." Prewitt said, putting a hand on her shoulder for comfort.

Arcturus gave him an approving look. He had never been impressed by the Prewitts. Ignatius, however, was a cut above the rest. Arcturus quickly transfigured a replica out of ring that Lucretia sacrificed. It was much easier to transfigure simular materials. The item would also last longer. He allowed Ignatius to add the curse, then they replaced it under the floorboards.

As they were leaving the property, they replaced all the wards that had been present. As they stepped onto the Lane, they were blindsided by a late attack. A large black viper struck out, sinking his teeth into one of the intruders. Arcturus quickly struck out at the snake, using a cutting charm to sever it's head. They quickly used the emergency portkey, taking them back to Black Manor.

They had no idea that one of them would be losing their lives' today.

That was the risk of going against the Dark Lord.