They spent half the week relaxing, spending some time just as teenagers might normally do. They played some games of quidditch, swam in the pond but in general relaxed. On Wednesday Harry was starting to get anxious again concerning the summer project. He had received a letter from Griphook concerning the basilisk. He was thanked for the meat. In exchange the goblins were going to make as many sets of protective clothing out of the snake hide for him and his friends. They had collected a large amount of venom both in the fangs and in the venom pouches. Most of the venom would be stored in separate vault at Gringotts but a quantity was being sent to Hogwarts.
He said, "I am thinking it is time to tackle the two Horcruxes that we have. I will send a letter to Professor McGonagall so that we can get some people together. I am thinking that this Friday may work. We should have Professor Slughorn with a variety of potions, Madam Pomfrey as backup with your brother Bill since he has dealt with curses. Harry wrote out his request to the Headmistress while Ginny wrote one to her brother. Harry opened the kitchen door and Hedwig flew in and eagerly got the letters again and left.
Their group flooed to the castle with Molly and Remus. When they got to the castle the headmistress took them down to the potion lab. Dobby and Winky were waiting for them with Remus. Bill was there with two goblins. Professor Slughorn and Madam Pomfrey with a case of medical supplies were also waiting. They had a large set off table set out with chairs set around.
Bill greeted them and said, "Charlie sent over a jar of dragon blood."
Harry then asked, "Dobby, can you get the locket?"
Dobby answered, "One moment." He popped away but was back quickly and placed the locket on the table.
Harry continued, "Now the diary was shall we say activated by writing in it. It seems the ring that Dumbledore discovered was activated when he put it on. I am assuming that to activate the locket someone would have to wear it. But before we do that I think it should be checked out as much as possible."
He left it on the table and Bill and the goblins started to probe it. Dobby and Winky also took some time to study it. After about fifteen minutes Bill and the goblins had finished.
Bill said, "There were a set of basic curses that have been removed. There seems to be one curse that I cannot identity."
Dobby said, "It is some sort of curse that will cause the wearer to be sleepy."
Harry commented, "That would cause any victim to be vulnerable if the locket was activated. Would there be a potion to counter act that."
Slughorn answered, "If we take one of Madam Pomfrey's pepper up potions, we can add a dose of a sleep potion antidote." He and Madam Pomfrey went into his office for a while before coming out with a jar full of dark green liquid.
He said, "I think that is the best we can offer."
Harry asked why don't we try some basilisk venom or dragon blood first Professor Slughorn got out two large bowls and Dobby moved the locket into the bowl. Harry first poured some dragon blood unto the locket but nothing happened. Dobby moved the locket into the next bowl and Harry then carefully dipped a fang in the jar of venom and tried to push it into the cracked around the locket. It fizzled a bit but the locket didn't open. Dobby cleaned the locket off with a wave of his hand.
Harry then said, "I think I will take the next step," as he picked up the locket. He sat down in a chair.
He was interrupted by Ginny who said, "I think we should do this together." She enlarged the chain that it hung on. Before they went any further they had a large glass of the pepper up potion. She sat down next to Harry before placing it around both of their necks. They each held the chain at the side of the locket. Finding that nothing happened, he grabbed the locket with his hands and tried to open it. But it wouldn't budge.
Ginny said, "I guess the last resort is to speak to it with parseltongue." They both then spoke "open" to the locket in parseltongue. The faceplate opened and green dense fog moved out and hovered between them.
It first spoke to Harry in his mind and said, "Greetings young one, I can be of a great assistance to you if you are willing to accept my help."
Harry answered, "That is not my attention. I am hoping to destroy you as the diary was destroyed." He felt a force tried to invade his mind but it was blocked as he felt the love and presence of Ginny guarding him.
It then turned to Ginny and tried to do the same thing. It said, "Greetings young one, I can be of a great assistance to you if you are willing to accept my help."
Ginny answered, "That is not my attention either. I am hoping to destroy you since I experienced the diary before it was destroyed." She felt a force tried to invade hers mind but it was blocked as she felt the love and presence of Harry guarding her.
It became even angrier as it went back and both trying to find an opening. It could find none and after about fifteen minutes Harry and Ginny felt the energy of the force start to dispel above their heads. The green fog began to disperse and the life of that soul part screamed in pain as it was lost. Many of the other people in the room did their own SCOUGIFY to the air.
Professor McGonagall asked, "Are you alright?"
Dobby levitated the locket off their necks and back to the table.
Bill waved his wand over the locket for a moment or two and commented, "The locket is no longer a Horcrux."
Harry took Ginny's hand and looked into her eyes for a moment before saying, "We are okay. I think we should wait a day before trying another one."
Madam Pomfrey started checking them out carefully. She said, "That seems to have drained your magical reserves as well as given an other emotional shock. I am going to require that you both spend the night here for observation.
Ginny said, "I won't argue with that but I think we are okay. I think if we can spend the rest of the day relaxing, we should be okay. I am sure that Dobby and Winky will keep on eye on us during the day. Some more fresh air and sunshine I think is in order."
Harry and Ginny went out of the back of the castle and down to the lake. They wandered over to a tree that they had sat under during the school year. Dobby brought them a picnic lunch.
Harry commented to Ginny, "I do enjoy these lunches that we are having with each other. The only thing better would be if these burdens weren't on top of us.
Ginny said, "I know but we are making progress. If you feel okay we should deal with Tom's fake plaque tomorrow."
Their friends spent the day studying and practicing at the castle. They had dinner in the great with everyone before Harry and Ginny headed to the hospital wing for the night. They each changed into pajamas behind separate screens before crawling into two of the beds next to each other. Once they were asleep a stronger golden glow surrounded them as they sleep. During the night various people stopped by and locked in at various times. They included Professor Slughorn, The Headmistress and even Molly had flooed after midnight just to check. But staying over on one side was Dobby and Winky who spent the entire night looking over the two people that they also consider family.
We they woke up they found a clean set of clothes. They used the hospital bathroom and got cleaned up for the new day. Winky brought them up breakfast from the kitchen. After Madam Pomfrey had checked them out, they walked to the headmistress' office. The door opened as they approached.
She greeted them and said, "Well, good morning. It seems you are looking fine. Do you still want to deal with the plaque?
Harry turned and looked into Ginny's eye before saying, "I think we are both ready."
She replied, "Everyone is expected back at nine."
Harry and Ginny took a walked around the lake before heading back to the Potions classroom.
The same group as yesterday was soon assembled.
Harry asked Dobby to get the plaque. He was back shortly and while levitating it in the air the plaque was transfigured back it the Cup. It was set the in one of the bowls. It was a plain golden cup with but it had words in Latin scribed around the rim that said:
To those in need may they drink from this cup to find healing
Hermione said, "That may be like the Holy Grail story that muggles have."
Professor McGonagall commented, "It was thought that the cup would increase the healing powers of any potion that was drunk from the cup."
Bill and the goblins went to work over the cup. When they had found nothing other than it being a Horcrux they let Dobby look at it. He commented, "I can only assume that since the cup was made with healing powers that dangerous or harmful spells or charms couldn't be place on it."
They poured dragons blood over it to no avail. They then tried the Basilisk venom again but that did nothing.
Harry asked, "What is the strongest health potion you have. If you put it in the cup both Ginny and I will have a drink"
Madam Pomfrey pulled out a bottle from the case and poured out a dark red liquid into the cup.
Ginny sat next to Harry and Harry said, "To our health." He took a mouthful before handing the cup to Ginny and she took a mouthful. When they had both swallowed a silver haze enveloped them and another dense green fog pulled away from the cup and hovered in the air between them. The cup became lost in dull shade and was now bright and shining gold.
The voice from the fog first spoke to Harry again in his mind and said, "How may I assist you. I have many skills and much knowledge to help you."
Harry answered, "We went through this yesterday already. That is not my attention. I am going to destroy you as the diary and locket was destroyed." He felt a force tried to invade his mind but it was blocked as he felt the love and presence of Ginny guarding him.
It then turned to Ginny and tried to do the same thing again. It said, "How may I assist you. I have many skills and much knowledge to help you."
Ginny answered, "That is not my attention either just like yesterday. I am also going to destroy you since we dealt with the locket and now it is your turn." She felt a force tried to invade hers mind but it was blocked as she felt the love and presence of Harry guarding her.
It became angry as it went back and both trying to find an opening again. It could find none and after about fifteen minutes Harry and Ginny felt the energy of the force again start to dispel above their heads. The green fog began to disperse and the life of that soul part screamed in pain as it was lost. Many of the other people in the room did their own SCOUGIFY again to clean the air. This time Harry and Ginny both felt really good compared to how they had been feeling.
Ginny spoke, "That was not bad at all. The health potion seems to have fully woken me up."
Harry commented, "I think I am ready for a quidditch match."
Madam Pomfrey came over and checked them out before saying, "They seem to be in good health. I would still want to be cautious and have them spend the night or I can pop over to the burrow and check on them tonight and then in the morning if that would be easier."
Ginny answered, "I think going back to the Burrow will be better."
That night they were both checked out thoroughly by madam Pomfrey and found to be in perfect health. The same was found on Sunday the morning. They spent that day a relaxing and resting a having now had two-thirds of the Horcruxes destroyed. That evening Ron was once again beating Harry in the fifth round of chess with Ginny and Hermione watching and trying to give Harry pointers along the way.
Ron asked, "Harry, you had mentioned a while about using Bill and Fluer's wedding as trap for Voldemort and the eaters."
Harry answered, "That was my rough idea but I guess I have been so busy and that I have not thought about it much. Since you are our strategists have you come up with any ideas."
Ron answered, "Well for openers a little bit of trickery is in order. We can provide notice in the paper that a small private wedding will be held at the Burrow. Instead we can invite lots of dignitaries privately. Since you are now Lord Potter and Lord Black it would seem most of high society would want to show up at the wedding of your future wife's family. But they would have to be invited secretly. Although it would be properly leaked to one or more targeted people so that it would get back to Voldemort. The Burrow would be set up for the Wedding with all the fixings. When the guest arrived they could be port keyed away or floo away to an alternative location and let's say held there for a while to. Maybe we could send them to Potter Manor. Left at the burrow would be whatever forces we would have whether the Order, the Aurors, the elves or any others. We could officially have a small group of Aurors scheduled for actual duty. But we would need the rest on either some sort of standby or scheduled at a believable alternative with the ability to get here quickly. I have been talking with my brother Charlie about the ability of using dragons as part of any battle. He thought you might like seeing that Hungarian Horntail again or maybe the young and still growing Norbert. The biggest question is what forces can we gather to fight with."
Harry replied, "That reminds me that I need to set up to meet both the elves leadership and the goblins. I know I can use the elves that I have bought but there may be more. As for my relations to the goblins, I think they might be much better than the ministry."
Ron continued, "If we have a solution to the dementors, then we need to consider the giants. Could we get them to change sides or at least remain neutral? Hagrid has tried in the past to deal with them. Could we try again and send Hagrid? Could we offer them anything more than what the ministry has offered?
Harry said, "I kind of like your idea of dragons. My offer to the werewolves has already gone out so hopefully we can get a good response from them.
Hermione added, " I am sure Hagrid would like to see Norbert again. But what we need is to be able to show that things have changed. The one thing that Hagrid doesn't have anymore is an official wand. It was snapped when he got expelled due to Tom Riddle. I still think he had the pieces in his umbrella but if we show the giants that he had a wand again it would show his acceptance into society. Maybe we could see if Gawp could get a wand, that might make a bigger impression."
Harry continued, "Then let's set up a meeting with the Order and the Ministry. I will get together with the elves and goblins. Oh, Dobby are you around?"
There was a pop and Dobby answered, "Of course I am around. What day would like the meeting."
Harry answered, "Why did I assume you would be around? You must be keeping a close eye on me. And doing I mighty fine job I should add. Let's see if any meeting can be done in the morning so we can still continue the training and dueling in the afternoon. I think at the end of this week we should tackle the Orphanage and the last Horcrux."
With that Dobby popped away. Dobby set up a meeting with the elves and Goblins at Gringotts on the third floor on Thursday.
They continued training during the week. On Wednesday morning an Owl arrived for Harry notifying him that the trail of Umbridge and Fudge would be on that Friday. Harry was scheduled to give testimony that morning. Since they would be at the ministry he wrote a letter to schedule apparation tests for him, Ron and Ginny for that afternoon.
On Thursday Remus came to pick them up and he asked, "I hope you do not mind but I asked Professor McGonagall to join in the meeting."
Harry answered, "That shouldn't be a problem. She may be willing to disclose more of the actions of the Order that I could not answer.
When they flooed to the bank they were ushered into the main hall and meet the Headmistress along with Bill. There were then shown into the third floor conference room. There was a small group of goblins that included Griphook, Gritton and Gorgock. The goblins he had never meet before were all dressed in the fanciest of clothes with lots of gold jewelry. There were also three ancient looking elves wearing different types of uniforms standing next to Dobby and Winky.
Griphook came over to Harry and his friends and said, "Harry, I would like to welcome you back to Gringotts. You already have met Gritton and Gorgock but may I introduce you to the members of the goblin's counsel. Our council head is Bodrig while Ragnock and Turgot are also members. Harry greeted them with a bow. Dobby then introduced the elves as Berty, Klepy and Suto. The elves came over and Harry shook their hands. They were moved over to the table and given seats in what seemed to be assigned order.
Griphook then said, "Since the Potter and Black family are significant depositors at the bank the Gringotts family has always kept an eye on it members. Since the return of Voldemort the Goblin Counsel and we have kept a closer eye on Harry in particular. Now with the death of Dumbledore the counsel has been more concerned especially with the limited effectiveness of the ministry. There is still a lot of bad blood between the Goblins and the ministry.
Bodrig then said, "It is our grave concern that Voldemort is defeated. We know his hatred of all but pure bloods. If he ever won then he would come after the goblins and put us into a slavery much worse than the limits than which we are already faced with. After you and your friends with the order helped protect Gringotts we would decided it was time for us to find a way to assist you in your war."
Harry replied, "Well, all wizards had a vested interest to protect Gringotts given that it is a focal point of the economy. I was glad to help. Since I was raised with muggles I had no idea of the magical world before Hagrid introduced me to it. I find the discrimination in this world to be worse than what is in the muggle world. Of course I am friends with half giants, now have family members from the elves and my guardian is a werewolf. I have opened the Black house to give an alternative to the Werewolves. It is my intent to push for reforms once this war is over so that there can be equality of all beings. Once I am of age it is my intent to use the circle of lords to push for a declaration of war as well as reforms. It is my goal today to see what type of support I can gain in the fight with Voldemort."
Bodrig asked, "I have not heard about a meeting of the circle of lords."
Harry answered, "I have just learned about the body and that I represent two of the senior houses. It is my intent to call for a meeting around August first once I am of age. Since the Black family with the support of the Malfoy family had blocked such a declaration during the first war that will not be an issue this time around. I will also push that deatheaters and their families are stripped of all titles and wealth. After the first war the death eaters just rejoined society as if they had done nothing. They have corrupted the current government. They are probably the leaders behind all the discriminatory action of the ministry"
Bodrig replied, "I am unwilling to give any support to the ministry but for now I am willing at the very least to privately support you personally. How can the goblins help? I am willing to send goblin warriors to assist you.
Harry replied, "If I have read the history of the house of Black correctly then the last goblin war was actually instigated at the very least by the Blacks. The house of Black can renounce the limits and restrictions placed on your people, if it can be demonstrated that you have loyalty to wizards and the House of Black. Your assistance in this war would satisfy that demand and I would be willing to nullify the surrender terms that were agreed too so that you can be free of that agreement.
Berty entered the conversation said, "The elves also are prepared to raise a force to also assist Harry. We have seen his care for other creatures when he worked to raise Dobby and Winky to full human status. We have a prophecy that we think can be fulfilled in this time. As result we are gathering a force of forty-nine elves that serve houses that support the light. The elves are being given permission to join this war in support of the light. As the leader of the elves I am pledging this support to Harry. We are impressed that Harry already has been able to fully free Dobby and Winky from their ancient bonds."
Harry answered, "I am more than willing to accept any help. If you are to give then I need to disclose some of our intentions. Bill and Fluer are planning a wedding in August. It is our goal to use this as a trap against Voldemort and his followers. I already know from some visions that Voldemort will make it a major attack. I know the ministry is corrupt but I have been able to recently work with them and will hopefully have their assistance at the Burrow. For specifics our strategists is Bill's brother Ron." Ron then discussed the preliminary planning for a battle at the Burrow along with the discovery by Hermione of the spell that is expected to kill dementors.
Harry then continued, "If you are truly willing to help then I need to also disclose the prophecy that is behind Voldemort actions. He told them the prophecy that had been made to Professor Dumbledore. He continued, "As you can see when he only heard the first part of the prophecy he went after me. Now that I know more of my family's history in fighting for the light I can understand why he choose me as the most likely threat. If I am ever to have a life then Voldemort must be permanently defeated. To that end I am working on what I call a summer project that has been going good but is not done yet."
McGonagall then entered the conversation, The Order of the Phoenix and it members are fully supportive behind Harry and his actions. We have been helping with this summer project on the side as well as working with the ministry. It has not been mentioned but Harry was able to get a ghost to spy on Voldemort and has successfully recruited other ghosts so that most of the moves that they currently make are know and can be fought or stopped. The order and the ministry have been working closely to defend both the muggle and magical world."
Bodrig asked, "Would it help you if we were to make a public statement to show the goblins support. If we did that before you call the circle of lords it would provide leverage to get the rest of them on your side."
Berty add, "We would like to be a part of any statement."
"Well if that is the case," Harry added, "it might be I could idea to make a big public splash in the papers when I come of age at the end of July. Luna's paper could make it a special edition with my coming of age and the support I am gathering. So that there are no surprises to the minister I would like to make the minister aware of the situation as soon as possible. So the question then is, Bill, when do want to have your fake wedding."
Bill said, "To take advantage of the full moon then we were thinking August 16."
Bodrig asked, "What is the advantage?"
Ron answered, "With the full moon we will equip the elves with silver coated arrows to shot at the Werewolves.
Harry said, "We have one other project that we have been studying which involves separating the good people from the bad. We have not found an answer for a way to detect people put under the imperious curse. I am trying to keep as many victims out of this war as possible. We are hoping to find a way to know who is imperioused so that they can just be stunned and then evacuated from the battlefield. They would be tested with Veritaserum afterwards for confirmation. Along the same lines it would be the ability to identity people that have taken the mark without taking the time to have people roll up their sleeves. If I were passing out marks I would put them on other parts of the body as well as make them invisible. Any help with making identification easier would be helpful."
Bodrig replied, "I will have members of are security staff work with your people and the elves to find a solution. I know the bank has many undisclosed security precautions that are used.
Harry continued, "The research can be handled with Hermione and I will let Ron and Bill organize the war. Dobby is my contact point for the elves. Shall Griphook be the contact point for the goblins? The headmistress shall be contact for the Order as well as sending information for the ministry."
Bodrig then said, "Let me say that given the history that the goblins have had with the house of Potter and what I have seen today I can give you my full support and thank you for having this meeting. It is with great hope that Voldemort may be defeated."
Their group flooed back to the Burrow for lunch and continued on with their training.