Chapter X – Cleaning Up Your Own Mess is Good Manners

When they arrived at the ministry apparition area it didn't take long for a couple of security guards to come forward. A crowd of several dozen people had gathered around looking at the four of them with good reason. Ron was supporting Hermione who was leaning against him with her left arm hanging by her side. Harry had one arm around Luna's waist helping to support her and he had the sword in his other hand.

When the guards saw their condition and who it was that was holding a sword they took a step back. One asked, "Can we be of any help Mr. Potter."

"No," Harry said, "we will be fine. Wait, yes you can help. We have to see the Minister of Magic immediately. Maybe one of you could come and keep the crowd back. Both guards escorted them to the elevators and went up with them to the first level and took positions outside of the minister's office keeping the crowd from gathering near the door.

When Kingsley's secretary saw them come in she hurried into his office without knocking. Kingsley came back out with her and looked at the four of them. Hermione just nodded to Kingsley and began to walk forward into his office with Ron still holding her. Kingsley got out of their way and told the secretary to get Clyde there as quickly as he could make it and bring something strong for everyone to drink. Then he closed the door behind them.

"Tell me!" he said.

Hermione started with their arrival at the Irish ruins and described Luna's search. Luna interrupted when Hermione got to the description of the room where the Horcrux was. Clyde came in with the secretary carrying a tray with several types of drinks and some snacks.

When she left everyone picked something to drink and then Luna continued, "I could feel something as I got to the room but it was very weak; not at all like the other Horcruxes in Washington. I concentrated as hard as I could and as I move about I could feel the sensation get stronger and then weaker. When I thought I had the strongest reaction I told Hermione."

"When Luna said she was close," picked up Hermione again, "I started trying some of the spells Professor Flitwick suggested might tune the vibrations of the hidden dimension to our dimensions. The first few didn't work but finally I got one that allowed me to see a blurry image of the Horcrux; it was a statue of a black bird. Then I saw Luna start to shake and I knew I was almost there and the effect of the Horcrux was beginning to come through the opening I was making. Suddenly Luna was knocked backward as if she were punched in the face and I knew the doorway to the other dimension was open allowing the full effect of the Horcrux to hit her open mind as she concentrated."

"I have never been punched in the face," interrupted Luna, "but it did feel a lot like the stunner the death eater hit me with at the Battle of the Department of Mysteries."

Hermione started again. "I stepped forward to take Luna's position closer to the opening. Professor Flitwick warned me when the door opened to the other dimension it would be drawn toward our dimensions and because I was casting the spell I would also be drawn to it. I had a rope around the hilt of Sword of Gryffindor and around my wrist so I wouldn't drop it into the other dimension by accident. As the statue of the bird became clearer the sword and I were being pulled into the other dimension more strongly.

Professor Flitwick told me that if I were pulled into the other dimension I might not be able to get out. He wasn't sure, but logically if nobody but a secret keeper can get in; then nobody but a secret keeper could get out. Normally that isn't a problem since only secret keepers are able to get in. I was using a charm to try and get in without being a secret keeper. The charm I was using was making the other dimension vibrate more like ours; to get out I would need a different charm that would make our dimensions vibrate like the one I would be trapped in. I had no way of knowing what that charm was or even if I knew the right charm; I would have to use trial and error to get out just like I was to get in. To keep from being pulled in I braced myself; and then I felt someone grab me and help hold me in place."

"That was us." said Ron and Harry together. "We saw she was slipping forward and she was starting to appear blurry to us. If she disappeared we wouldn't know what to do to help her."

Hermione continued, "If I could destroy the Horcrux I could stop chanting the charm and the other dimension and I would have not be pulled toward each other any longer. But I couldn't jab the Horcrux. Neither it nor I were stable; we were both bouncing around in the space between dimensions. I felt as if my arm was being ripped off and was ready to quit when I felt the sword hit the Horcrux. I could hear it scream and saw the soul fragment fall apart. Then I stopped chanting the charm; the other dimension disappeared and I fell backward on top of Ron and Harry. I still can't lift my arm; I will have to go to St. Mungos when we're done."

"This Horcrux is dead? You're sure of that?" asked Kingsley.

"Yes," said Hermione, "I'm positive."

Then you better get yourself and Luna to St. Mungo's." said Kingsley. "You both look like you may pass out."

"Not yet," said Luna, "We need to see Bellatrix first. We need to know if she felt the Horcrux die. If she felt the disturbance she may be shaken enough that I will be able to read the location of the other Horcrux before she can calm herself and block her thoughts."

"She is not here, she's in Azkaban." said Clyde. "We would have to apparate there."

"None of us has ever been there," said Hermione, "and the way I feel I don't want to run into any Dementors. Can she be brought here?"

"We don't use Dementors as guards any more; ever since they went over to Voldemort during the war." said Kingsley. "The building is used because of its isolation from any muggle areas its but we have witch and wizard guards there now. If you two think it's that important and you feel up to it we can guide you by side along apparation."

Ron tried to talk Hermione into waiting until she had her arm looked at by the healers at St. Mungos but she insisted that could wait and learning about the other Horcrux couldn't.

The two security guards escorted them back to the disapparation area where, holding hands, the entire group apparated to Azkaban. They were immediately surrounded by the prison guards; nobody apparates into Azkaban without an appointment; not even the Minister of Magic. It took only a few minutes for Kingsley to identify himself and the others and then make arrangements to have Bellatrix brought to an interrogation room.

Hermione and Luna talked quietly to each other during that time and agreed that only the two of them should go into the room and Hermione would talk first so Luna could concentrate on Bellatrix's thoughts. When Bellatrix was seated and chained in place the two of them went in.

"Your not looking too good." said Bellatrix with a smile on her face. "I hope you didn't have an accident, I am so sad when I hear mud bloods and blood traitors have been hurt; and it wasn't me that hurt them." she then added.

"Actually it was you that injured us," said Hermione, "in a manner of speaking.

Now Bellatrix stopped smiling, "What do you mean by that? What kind of trick are you trying to play on me?"

Hermione looked at Luna and Luna shook her head as a sign that she wasn't getting any feeling that Bellatrix knew about the Horcrux being destroyed. Maybe the distance was too great or the incomplete opening of the dimensions prevented her from feeling it.

Hermione went on a different tack; she pulled the Sword of Gryffindor from under her robes and asked, "Know what this is?"

Bellatrix looked at it suspiciously. "I remember you had it with you once before when we met. I also remember you lying to me when I asked you politely where you got it. Are you going to try and lie to me again?"

Hermione let the remark pass and said, "Do you know what we use it for?"

"To slit your own throat because you disgust yourself?" Bellatrix said but with more of a worried tone in her voice now.

Again Hermione refused to respond to the taunt. "We stab and destroy what are normally well protected magical objects. I think you understand what I mean."

"That's nothing to me." said Bellatrix slowly. "What ever you destroy is not of importance to me."

"Oh," said Hermione, "I think what I destroyed earlier today is of vital importance to you. I think in fact what I destroyed is worth about half of your life to you."

Bellatrix began to move about in her chair. She was clearly worried but kept looking at Luna knowing if she lost control Luna might just be able to discover something important before she could regain control and block her out. Still she had to find out if they had really destroyed one of her Horcruxes or if this was just a trick. They knew of the Egyptian statue, she had let that slip to Luna in Washington when she lost control. But it had been moved over a year ago before they could destroy it; it must be still safe. No harm could come from mentioning it to try and discover what they wanted. She knew they couldn't get at the black bird; she alone as its secret keeper could find that.

"I know you have been searching for an Egyptian statue for more than a year now." Bellatrix said weighing every word carefully."Have you come to tell me you found it? Perhaps you did, but it would be just another minor setback in my plans. I have eternity to correct my mistakes, I'll be around long after both of you are dead."

Hermione was ready to spring her trap and gave a quick look at Luna to be sure she was ready too. Then she said, "An Egyptian statue? That's interesting but it was a black bird I killed today."

Bellatrix gasped and looked from Hermione to Luna but in that split second Luna smiled. How could they know about the black bird, nobody knew she had made a new Horcrux, or what it was; and nobody could even see it much less destroy it with her as its only secret keeper. Bellatrix recovered quickly and said, "Black bird, I know nothing of black birds. You are trying to trick me into saying something."

"We have no need to trick you." Hermione said, "The black bird is destroyed. You put too much trust in what you think is impenetrable security for your Horcruxes; and you underestimate what a mud blood and a blood traitor can do when they work together. We found and destroyed your Horcrux in Washington last year; now the black bird; and soon the Egyptian statue. You only have a normal life span left and you will spend it here unable to make another Horcrux."

Hermione could see Bellatrix was on the verge of losing control and pressed her. "You really should have studied the Magical Theory behind Fidelius charms in more detail before trusting your life to one."

At the words Fidelius charm Bellatrix screamed, "You lie, you lie, nobody but a secret keeper can get to an object protected by a Fidelius charm."

Hermione looked at Luna but Luna shook her head. Even with Bellatrix out of control Luna wasn't getting the location of the last Horcrux. Hermione thought, maybe Ron was right; it was a mistake questioning Bellatrix while they were both so tired and hurting. Luna looked exhausted and Hermione's arm was throbbing. We have to stop and rethink the situation she thought.

"It won't be long before I use this sword on the Egyptian statue." Hermione said staring right into Bellatrix's cold black eyes. "Then we'll see who has a long and happy life, you or us."

As Hermione got up to leave, Luna spoke for the first time. "I feel sorry for you," she said to Bellatrix, "with no friends to help you, you'll never know what Hermione and I and the rest of us have and how strong we are because of our love for each other."

When Luna finished she stood up and suddenly Bellatrix flew into a rage. "You feel sorry for me." she screamed, "Feel sorry for yourself and your friends. You're not done with me; I kill you all before I am finished."

Four guards came in and restrained her dragging her back to her cell still screaming at them swearing to kill them.

"Well that was quite a show." said Kingsley. "But what did you get from her? Did she reveal the location of the other Horcrux?"

"I'm not sure she knows where it is." said Luna. "Twice when she lost control she thought of the black bird and the Egyptian statue. She pictured the black bird in the castle ruins nothing about a Fidelius charm. She only pictured the Egyptian statue where I saw it the first time, the British Museum. Maybe she told one of her people to hide it and not tell her where so I wouldn't be able to get the location from her mind. After all she doesn't need to find it; only the person that will perform the ritual to bring her back if she dies again. What I did see clearly is that there are no other Horcruxes. She was worried that there is only one left and that we might find it."

"Actually I don't think anyone has to find the Horcrux. I don't know if it has to be there when the spell to create a new body is preformed." said Harry. "When Wormtail brought Voldemort back in the cemetery he used Tom Riddle's bone, my blood, and his flesh. I never saw a Horcrux there or heard it mentioned in the spell. Of course they are small and could have been there out of my sight. The Horcrux binds the soul of the dead person to the earth but I don't understand how it is connected to the new body. Hermione I hate to ask but perhaps you could look into the Magical Theory behind Horcruxes and find out if it has to be at the ritual.

"Do you mind if I take a short break first?," said Hermione, "In the mean time let's stick to the present topic. The black bird was in another dimension so in a way Bellatrix didn't know where the bird was, only where the castle and the charm hiding it was, that's why you saw the castle. Maybe she put the Egyptian statue under another Fidelius charm. Did she think of any other location anywhere?"

"Both times she thought of the Egyptian statue," said Luna, "she pictured it in the place I first got from her mind in Washington, the British Museum. That's what makes me think she doesn't know where it is. Like I said before, maybe she just ordered her people to get it out of the museum and let one of them hide it so I can't see it in her mind again."

"Perhaps that is it," said Harry, "but I don't think Bellatrix would trust anyone but herself with a hiding place. I think maybe she was worried so much about us finding the black bird; the location of the other Horcrux just didn't enter her mind. As we catch the other Eastern European coven members we'll find the truth. Either one of them will know about the statue's location or they won't. If they know we find and destroy it, if nobody left alive knows about it nobody will be able to bring Bellatrix back once she dies."

"That's not correct." said Hermione. "All of her people may die but a thousand years from now some witch or wizard may find the Horcrux, recognize it for what it really is, and bring Bellatrix back just out of curiosity of wanting to know who made a Horcrux, when, and why. We have to find and destroy it somehow and be sure Bellatrix dies without making another first. That will be the only sure way to prevent her from ever returning.

We'll figure it out later, but someone please get me to St. Mungos now before I scream."

Right,"said Ron, "and I think Luna better get checked out too. Let's go."

A few hours later everyone was back at Grimmauld Place enjoying one of Kreacher's fine meals. Hermione's arm was still immobilized after being dislocated by the pull from the other dimension. Once treated however it was not hurting any more and the healers told her it would be like new if she rested it for a few days. She told her supervisor at the ministry she would be out until after Christmas and if that was a problem he should talk with the Minister of Magic about it.

Luna was given a tonic and had a two hour nap and was feeling fine; better than Rolf who was upset over Luna being hurt because he didn't understand what this whole episode was about. For security reasons he would never be told the entire story.

The next day Rolf and Luna left to return to their Snorkack hunting. Ginny had Quidditch practice as usual; Harry had to go in for some tests Mr. Pinkley had set up. That left Ron and Hermione free until after Christmas and they decided to visit the family at the Burrow and Shell cottage. Also the wedding was getting closer and there were a lot of details to be taken care of and Ginny and Hermione needed time to do that.

After Christmas Ron and Harry returned to the last semester of their classes. Hermione who was supposed to work on the Protection of Magical Creatures bill she helped write because vote on the bill would come this year and support had to be lined up in the Wizengmort was instead spending most of her time locked away in the Department of Mysteries researching Horcruxes.

Kingsley or Chitterly occasionally sent a memo announcing the capture or death of one of the eastern European witches or wizards that had escaped the raid months ago. By the first of May only five of the coven members remained free. None of the captured people knew of Bellatrix's final Horcrux and chances were looking slim that remaining five could help when captured.

Harry and Ron graduated as full time Aurors along with Dean and Angelina on May 15th. Dean and Angelina were each assigned to a senior partners and started work out of the ministry's Auror headquarters. After one year's evaluation they would become eligible for other assignments.

Normally Harry and Ron would also have been assigned to a more senior Auror for field experience; but Clyde and Kingsley agreed that this was a unique situation. Harry and Ron had been together fighting Voldemort and now Bellatrix for ten years. They knew each other's strong and weak points, how the other would react in a particular situation, almost each other's thoughts. It was decided to leave them together as a team. They started in the field that Monday working from Auror headquarters.

Their first morning at work they went together to talk to Head Auror Chitterly. "What can I do for my two newest Aurors?" Clyde asked. "As if I don't already know. You're not happy being assigned to headquarters. You want to be assigned to Eastern Europe so you can join in on the hunt for the final five coven members. You want to be there for the end to Bellatrix's plans. Am I right?"

Harry looked at Ron and spoke first, "This whole thing with Bellatrix came to light with our trip to Washington two years ago. We are the ones that discovered she had returned. We learned about the Horcruxes she and her followers made. We found the Horcruxes and destroyed them except for this last one. This whole mess with Bellatrix is personal to us and cleaning up your own mess is good manners. We want to finish what we started."

Clyde looked at the two of them and said, "I promise you will be there for the end of it; but not now. The Aussies and Kiwis are returning to their own countries. The six months they promised us are up soon, the Americans are also going back to the states soon because we don't need extra people now. There are only five coven members left and out British teams have been chasing down clues for more than a year now. They know the area, they know the locals. You two would go into the situation cold. It would take weeks for you to catch up to where our teams are and that would be wasting time. There is nothing you could do right now to move forward the hunt for the coven members or the Horcrux.

I understand your feelings but I need you where I assigned you. If we find the person that hid the Horcrux or the Horcrux itself I promise I will let you two and Hermione and Ginny be there for the end of all this. Agreed, do you understand?"

"Yes," said Ron, "I hope you understand we had to ask. If we didn't try we would have always been thinking that we should be there instead of what we are assigned to. Thank you for hearing us out. We'll get back to our desks now."

As the turned to leave Clyde added, "Also don't forget you two have a wedding coming up in ten days. What do you think Hermione and Ginny would do to me if I sent you to Eastern Europe now? I'd be less afraid of Bellatrix."