Harry Potter and the Fifth Soul

A/N: Thanks to all reviewers. I hope you like this chapter just as much. Though I have to warn you, there comes a cliffy. I simply couldn't help myself...

I hope you aren't too pd off by me taking so long to update. I've been rather busy with work, with a lot of unexpected work coming up, and quite some trouble in private didn't make it easier to find time to sit down and write.

Disclaimer: All credit for creating this wonderful world I play with goes to J.K.Rowling. All rights are held by her, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, Warner Bros., Inc and others. No copyright infringement intended, and no money being made from my frantic scribbling. I bow to J.K.R., as going on with my story makes me aware of all the hardships she must have gone through writing her books.

Chapter 10 – Preparation

Back in the common room Harry had agreed to a few rounds of Wizard Chess against Ron, and like everytime, got beaten in each. Ginny had wandered off together with Hermione, and the twins had flooed back to their shop after a short visit to Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen, who was already busy again preparing dinner.

Ron had told Harry the latest news about Quidditch. Seemingly there had been some complications lately, as more than a handful of muggleborn players had quit with their teams and gone to play abroad.

A while later they had all sat together in the kitchen for dinner and filed in Mr. And Mrs. Weasley on their schedule for the next day. Mrs. Weasley had been hesitant when they had told her about visiting Grimauld Place, as the former headquarter was no longer protected by the Fidelius charm. Mr. Weasley came to their rescue and assured her that he would ask Alastor Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt to check the place beforehand. With the house being searched by the two most skilled Aurors in Britain she finally agreed.

They settled for a tight schedule, as Harry also needed to visit Gringotts and Hermione had to restock her quills and parchments.

After Ron gave a yawn that lasted almost a minute they took it as the signal and excused themselves to bed. Before laying down Harry gave Hedwig a few treats which she took rather reluctantly, but when he told her they would leave here tomorrow she gave a joyful hoot and nipped his finger affectionately.

Whishing Ron a good night he pulled the blanket over himself and went to sleep.

The next morning found the small the kitchen ready to burst. In addition to the regular occupants, Moody and Shacklebolt had arrived just in time for breakfeast, as had Tonks and Remus. Fred and George had filed in a few minutes later and were now sitting in a corner together with Moody, all three of them a mischeavous smile across the face and whispering about an open box of which the others failed to see the contents. Hermione and Ginny were discussing the latest issue of Witch Weekly that had come out the day before, and Harry wondered how on earth they had got their hands on that.

A while later Moody and Kingsley went to floo to Grimauld Place. Harry was just finished with his bread when Shacklebolt was back, declaring the coast clear for them to floo over. Moody had stayed behind to assure that no unwanted visitors would turn up in between.

The four teenagers fetched their cloaks and assembled in front of the fireplace. Throwing a hand full of Floo Powder into the fire, they shouted "Number 12, Grimault Place!" and stepped into the green flames..

At headquarters Harry stumbled out from the fireplace with a little cough and whisked the soot from his robes. He turned just in time to catch Ginny in his arms.

"Heya, had a nice trip?" He asked her mockingly.

"Like I didn't know who's the biggest fan of floo travel!" She nicked back.

They stepped aside to make room for Ron and Hermione, who both looked equally excited and were both swiping soot from their faces.

"So were do we start?" Hermione asked with a quick look around.

"Maybe..." Harry began, but was interrupted by Ron.

"How about the cupboard where Kreatcher was hiding his things?" He asked, and everyone looked at him wide eyed.

"Who are you, and what have you done with my brother?" Ginny asked in a fearful voice.

"Oh stick it, I'm allowed to have a good idea once in a while!" He retorted.

When they were out in the corridor they met Moody, who was guarding the entrance. His magical eye was spinning madly, trying to cover all directions at once. "Looking for something in particular?" He asked them.

"Ah, no." Ron answered, while at the same time Hermione said "Yes. Just something Sirius had wanted to give to Harry."

Harry could tell that the old Auror didn't quite believe them, but was relieved when he only gave a sharp look and told them to hurry up.

Opening the cupboard expectingly, they found it completely empty. Apart from a few spider webs which made Ron jump back.

Ginny stomped her foot to the floor disappointedly. "How will we find it then? This house is too big to look everywhere in the short time."

"Maybe Sirius has thrown it away," Ron surmised, "after all, we did put it to the rubbish. Or maybe Dung has taken it."

He failed to notice the flash that had crossed Hermione's eyes at Ginny's sentence. "Ginny, that is it! Too big!"

The others looked at Hermione flabbergasted. "And in plain English?" Harry asked.

"Don't you see?" she asked them. "It's way too small!"

Ron scratched his head and Harry ran a hand through his unruly hair, both staring at the cupboard inquiringly. Still it was just a cupboard.

Harry turned his gaze to Ginny questioningly, but the readhaired witch had a huge smile across her face. "Hermione, you're a genius! I wouldn't have noticed in ages!"

With that she ran to the kitchen door and looked around the corner, only to jump back to them excitedly. "Oh it's so obvious nobody would have noticed."

"Will you two enlighten us too?" Harry questioned.

After some giggling between the girls Hermione pointed inside the cupboard. "You see, the cupboard is only little more than a foot deep. But if you look at it from the other side you see that the back wall extends into the kitchen four or five feet. I think there's a charm on it."

"Do you know how to lift it?" Ron asked, finally understanding.

"Why does it always have to be me who has to know all the spells?" She asked back.

"Because," Ron answered her with a smile, "you are the brightest witch in the whole century."

Hermione's face blushed furiously at that.

"So let's try a simple one. Revelo!" She swished her wand at the cupboard, but all it did was to give a faint yellow glow. With a determined look on her face she tried spell after spell, some basic ones and some Harry and his friends had never heard before, but those showed even less effect. Grudgingly she shoved her wand back into her pocket.

"Maybe I was wrong and it isn't charmed at all."

But Ginny put her hand on the shoulder of the bushy haired witch. "Or maybe Harry should try it. After all, Sirius has left the house to him. The charm could very well only work for the rightful owner."

Harry pulled his wand out, and the others took a step to the side. "Revelo!"

Instantly the cupboard was filled with a bright golden glow, and when it had diminished the back wall had vanished, allowing their gaze to hit upon an assortment of things. The cupboard now was, as Hermione had guessed correctly, nearly five feet deep, and it was crammed with all sorts of things, most of them magical. Cauldrons in all sizes were to be found, jewellery or household items like old cups and goblets.

The four of them gasped at his, even more when their looks fell upon the item that lay on top. A very familiar looking locket, bearing the crest of a snake which made a perfect 'S'.

Harry was about to extend his hand to it, but was stopped short by Hermione, who had her wand back out and levitated it carefully to Harry's left pocket and let it slip in. "I don't think we should touch it unless we have to."

Harry nodded in agreement, but was soon distracted as he noticed another interesting item.

Ron, following his glance, gasped. "A Pensieve!"

They carefully removed the Pensieve from the cupboard. Hermione shrank it to fit into her pocket and thoughtfully put an anti-spilling charm on it and had just stuffed it into her robe when Moody walked up to them.

"Found what you were looking for?"

They told him they had, so they marched back to the fireplace. This time they shouted "Weasleys Wizzarding Wheezes, Diagon Alley" before stepping into the green flames and vanishing.

They had a tight schedule to follow if they wanted to get everything done this day, so there wasn't time to snoop through the twin's shop, much to the displeasure of Ron, who had to be literally dragged outside by Hermione. Ginny and Harry snickered a bit about that, but were shortly back to honest when Hermione insisted that Quality Quiddich Supplies wasn't on today's list either.

So the group of four strode off towards Gringotts, followed by the watchful eye of Mad-Eye Moody. They all had the hoods of their cloaks on as they entered the wizard's bank. Harry noticed that there was a free counter and strode over.

"Hi, I'd like to visit my vault." He stated, taking his key from the pocket and showing it to the Goblin. It was hard to read an emotion from the face of a Goblin, but Harry thought he had seen a short surprised look cross it. After the next sentence, however, he was sure he saw one.

"Could I have Griphook take us there, please?"

The Goblin paused for an instant before getting himself together. "Of course, if you wish. If you will wait at the entrance, he will be with you in a minute."

Harry nodded a thanks and collected his friends. Only a few seconds later they were joined by a Goblin.

"Good morning, Mr. Potter. You have asked for me?"

Ron and Ginny both had questions written over their faces, only Hermione didn't seem surprised at all. "Yes, thank you that you could take your time, Griphook. May I introduce you to my friends, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley and Ronald Weasley."

The Goblin nodded is head, as did his three friends, and asked them to follow him to a waiting cart. Harry and Ginny climbed into the front row after Gryphook, while Ron and Hermione took the back seats. The cart started to speed down into the deep levels under the floor with a jolt and Hermione gave a surprised shout.

Harry greatly enjoyed the cart ride, as did Ginny to the look of it. Her face was flushed when the cart skidded to a halt, and looking at her, Harry felt a strong urge to snog her senseless. He was saved by Gryphook asking for his key, and after the Goblin had opened the vault for them they entered.

Harry had been a bit reluctant to take Ron with him, remembering the fighting over third year when Ron had been jelaous of Harry's fame and money. Money had always been a sensitive topic as far Ron was concerned. This time however he took it rather well.

"Merlin's beard!" Ron gasped after entering the vault and taking a look around. Ginny and Hermione seemed equally struck.

"Harry, that's..." his girlfriend didn't finish the sentence, noticing the sad look around his eyes.

"It's only money!" He stated, sounding sharper than he had planned to, so he continued. "There are a lot of things in my live that I'd trade for all this money without thinking twice, including each of you." And quieter, only to himself, he added, "there are even more things I've never had that I'd trade this all for."

Ginny had, unnoticed to him, stepped close to him and heared his sentence. Embracing him from behind she placed a quick kiss on his neck that made him shiver. "And that's why we love you, and that's also why you are the good guy and Voldemort can never beat you. You only care for the things that matter."

Ginny's assurance lightened his mood and brought him back to why they were here. So he strode over to a heap of assorted thing near the back of the vault and picked up four small leather bags, about a half foot long and a third wide. He was glad he had remembered having seen those on his first visit to the vault, when Hagrid had brought him to fetch some money for his school supplies. As a fallback plan he had brought some two pairs of socks with him, but he was relieved not having to use those. Yet the idea of using Dudley's old socks to transport wizard money seemed somehow intriguing.

He handed everyone a bag and told them to stuff it with galleons, as they might need quite some money in the next future. Hunting for the Horcruxes could mean a lot of travelling.

The girls immediately started to take galleons from the big heap in the middle of the room and put them into their bags, but Ron was still staring openmouthed at the bag in his hands.

"Ron, what is it?"

"Oy, Harry, do you know what those are?" Ron could hardly take his gaze away from the leather item in his hands.

"They're bags, I suppose?"

"Those are not just bags, mate, those are first quality Dragon hide bags, made from the skin of a Norvegian Ridgeback. They are almost undestroyable, and they must have cost a fortune!"

Harry was about to respond that that was cool, but they still needed to fetch some money, when he was interrupted by Hermione.

"Ehem, Harry?"

"Yes, what, Hermione?"

"There's still a bit more to those bags."

He looked at her questioningly. "Yes?"

Instead of answering, Hermione leaned over the bag and stuck her outstretched arm inside, until the bag hit her shoulder.

"They're charmed to be about six or seven times their size. Do you really want us to fill them?"

"Oh, that would be quite some Galleons. Just put as much in as you think would normally fit inside."

With that, he and Ron too started putting Galleons into their bags. When they were finished Harry pointed Hermione to a stack of books in the corner and asked her to look if there was something useful among them. Ginny joined her, and he used the short time to slip a small wooden jewellery box into his bag.

The girls had found a few books on ancient magic that they deemed interesting and put into their dragon hide bags. As the bags each had a leather string attached to both corners they decided to wear them around their necks, so they could be hidden under their cloaks.

Having finished their business they left the vault and enjoyed the cart ride back. After saying goodbye to Griphook the stepped out into the sunny morning at Diagon Alley. Hermione asked if they could fetch her writing supplies from Flourish and Blotts first when Ginny tugged at his robes, whispering "Harry!".

Turning his face to her, he saw her eyes grow big and, with a feeling like his guts where ripped apart, he saw a yellow lighning strike her stomach and she went sailing backwards through the air.

"Ginny!" a strangled cry escaped his mouth. He turned to where the lightning had come from. Seeing the familiar figures of four Death Eaters with their mask on and their wands aimed at his friends, his rage was infuriated. Before even thinking about what to do he had pointed his wand at the group and shouted "Sectumsempra!"

The four Death Eaters didn't even see it happen to them, as they were swept from their feet by the force of the spell. Harry didn't bother to look how badly he had injured them. Sprinting towards the lying body of Ginny he shouted at Ron and Hermione to apparate to the twin's shop.

He kneeled down beside the lifeless form of his girlfriend and grabbed her into his arms. He felt tears running down his face, and murmuring her name over and over again, he apparated them both into the back room of Fred and George's shop.