TPH11

Disclaimer – just having fun with JKR's characters and playing with the ideas caused by the movie 'Easy A'

Chapter 11

Narcissa and I sent a barrage of owls to the Harem over the next week with the question - "If you had to hide something of great importance at Hogwarts, how would you do it?"

I attended the next 'Order' meeting while we awaited replies. It wasn't a great deal different than what I expected, of course. The meeting didn't get underway until there was an hour of back-slapping, gossiping and boasting among the Gryffindors – a few pints were drank … and a lot of suspicious glances thrown at me.

Even after single-handedly decimating Voldemort's ranks and crippling his image as a powerful Dark Lord many only saw me as a Slytherin. Luckily – for them – James and Remus greeted me like a long-lost Marauder brother and pressed a tankard of mead at me. I did like the stuff, so I stayed to see if they'd bought the good brand.

Albus finally called for order and the various members began giving their reports. There wasn't much new, except that Moody and the other ministry members listed off some of the final death eaters to be rounded up in ministry. I was pretty sure Voldemort had no one left in the ministry, now. His newest members were being killed off at a reckless rate since most of their raids were being led by Bellatrix and Barty Jr.

Barty Jr. had been revealed as a death eater during a raid, appalling his father and everyone else. He was now disowned and on the run, staying at headquarters with Voldemort most of the time. Bellatrix and Barty were not immune to Voldemort's decision to 'breed new death eaters' and they'd decided to throw in together. I had nightmares about the sort of child they were likely to have.

Albus finally introduced 'Kingsley Shacklebolt and Severus Prince – both interested in joining the ranks of the 'Order of the Phoenix'. Kingsley had just started training as an Auror, but he looked eager for action. I'd listened to James and Remus describing the duties of the members and what exactly they swore to as members – the vows were mostly to not speak of their activities but we weren't expected to follow blindly. We could opt out of any operation we disagreed with.

Their headquarters was presently at the shrieking shack, to my amusement. The dining room and kitchen had been joined and expanded – I suspected wizardspace. Still – Remus, James and I had snickered and told jokes about it's new use. Sirius sat on the other side of James – well away from me, and to my surprise he and Remus seemed to be ignoring each other.

Arthur and Molly Weasley smiled happily at Kingsley and they also applauded me with a bit of an alarmed look. They all knew of the floo powder 'incident' and that I was the contact for a spy – none the less I was obviously 'dangerous'. Molly was pregnant – again – for Weasley pup number six, due in March.

Lily and Alice had used the potions I'd sent and had let me know two weeks later that they were sucessful and the pair of likely Gryffindor cubs would arrive in late July or early August. Both children would be Leos – quite appropriate, I thought. Narcissa would be due in June and Lucius had already reported that he'd done as he was told to the Dark Lord. Lucius' wife would pop out the real Malfoy heir the end of June. I shook my head. I was very glad I would not be teaching at Hogwarts in eleven years.

The meeting ended after some plans for raids on the Crabbe holdings and Goyle Manor. Luicus had presented me – and therefore Rufus with plenty of evidence. Albus intended a raid by the ministry, but the Order would surround the places ahead of time, ensuring no escapes.

Dumbledore held me back until all the others were gone, and to my shock actually suggested I become a teacher at Hogwarts. I think I blacked out in horror for a moment at the thought. I remembered classes far to well and the general unwillingness by the majority of my fellow students to put forth effort into anything that resembled work. Few were eager to do anything unless they had a personal interest in it or if it was spoon-fed to them with no actual effort on their part.

He insisted that I would be safe at the school and that it would be convenient for me to brew potions for the Order there. As well, the spy could then report directly to me – and he and Rufus of course. Ah, he wanted better access to the spy – and a better Potions Master than Slughorn.

"While cognizant of the honor your offer does me, Headmaster, I fear I must decline." I hoped I didn't look as horrified as I felt.

The Headmaster seemed amused at my rather formal words. "Well, if you change your mind, let me know. Professor Slughorn has been hinting he would like to retire. I was hoping to have a replacement ready."

"Half the students would remember me as a student … it would be impossible to get control of the classes unless I turned into an ogre. And in potions class lack of attention can be fatal." I shook my head. "The idea of teaching potions to a bunch of children who have no interest in the art sounds like torture to me."

"Now, some would be interested – there are always a few who take to it ..." Albus said in a coaxing tone.

I shook his head again. "No, teaching would never be my forte – even an apprentice who obviously is very motivated to learn would be pushing it."

Albus finally conceded defeat, to my relief, and then gave me a mischevious grin. "There is going to be an opening for a divination professor as well … I suppose you've no interest in that either?" His eyes twinkled and he was openly laughing. "You did get outstandings in your owls and Newts in it ..."

I took a couple deep breathes … hexing him would be a mistake. "I didn't even take the class, as I'm sure you are aware. I just read some books I saw the others lugging around." I sneered. "It's not like it is a difficult subject … just a usless one."

"There are true seers … and I've noticed that when the future wishes to be known … it makes itself known whether you want it to or not." Albus was no longer twinkling.

I felt a chill brush across me, but decided we'd spoken of that quite enough. "I know Rufus has informed you of a little work I'm doing on the side, along with my spy."

Albus nodded slowly. "I was quite appalled … I knew Voldemort had studied the very darkest arts … but even Grindlewald never stooped to Horcruxes." He looked abruptly very old.

"We've got three of them, now – and as long as he doesn't make the snake into another one – we have only two to go." I said, trying to look a bit cavalier about it all. "He still can't make up his mind which one of us to kill to make the final Horcrux."

Albus smiled a bit. "I'll try to infuriate him a bit and draw his fire." He hesitated. "Rufus says the last two you seek are the Diadem of Rowena and a … ring. I recall that young Tom started wearing a ring in his last year or two of school. I will look into it for you."

"Tom?" I asked uncertainly.

"Yes, Voldemort's name was Tom Riddle before he became Lord Voldemort." Albus answered. Soon, to my astonishment, Riddle's story from the time of Albus seeing him at the orphanage to his graduation and Riddle's rise in power – even his return to Hogwarts, seeking the post of DADA.

"Who were his parents?" I asked slowly, deep in thought.

"A muggle – Tom Riddle, who he was named for according to the orphanage, and a witch who never attended Hogwarts according to the entry book of Hogwarts – Merope Gaunt." Albus brushed at his beard thoughtfully. "I never delved as deeply into his past as I perhaps should have – I did not see the need. If a ring is one of the objects, though, I obviously need to look into this further."

I nodded and flooed to Prince manor, and then to Hawthorne Keep. Lucius and I discussed all that had been said at the meeting.

"So, the Dark Lord did come to Hogwarts, at one time?" Lucius mused. "It must have been when he cast the curse – and he perhaps hid a horcrux at the same time?"

I nodded – it did seem quite likely. "I let Potter know that there was likely a traitor in their midst, but I don't know that he'll be able to bear to look closely at his most trusted. Black and Lupin are in the Order already – and Pettigrew, I hear is planning on joining. Of course the Longbottoms and Weasleys are in it along with dozens of other 'friends' of his. It could be anyone. So I whispered in Moody's ear as well … if anyone can sniff out a traitor it is him."

Lucius grimaced, as did I … Moody was a nightmare at the best of times, but he was the best one for the job.

Lucius left and I finally climbed up to bed. Narcissa was happily reading and muttering the names of constellations under her breath. "Perseus … Pyxis … Pavo ..." I rolled my eyes, she wanted to continue the tradition of naming children for stars or constellations.

"Well, just don't name the child Scorpius or Telescopium … or Vela for that matter." I said, picking up the covers and sliding in with a sigh. I was exhausted. Narcissa closed the book with a snap and waved the lights off. Well, maybe I wasn't all that tired.

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Owls arrived to Prince Manor and were passed along to me from the Harem. They'd racked their brains as well as questioned everyone they could think of. Several had come up with the same answer. The legendary room of requirement could apparently become a room the house elves called 'the come and go room'. It was fulll of discards and hidden objects.

It was now December and Narcissa was needed at Malfoy Manor at times for various parties and 'luncheons' and to let everyone see her not quite so flat stomach. Potter and Black were now training with the war-wizards and their hours were long. So, I enlisted Lily's help to search Hogwarts – Horcruxes were not mentioned, just that we though the diadem was there – which was alluring enough on its own. Rufus met us at the gates and ushered us through the castle.

We arrived to the seventh floor without encountering very many students – most were eager to avoid Rufus at a time when everyone should be in class. Lily elected to do the pacing and thought hard for a place to hide something. At last the door appeared and we entered to find an enormous room stuffed full of odd objects. Flying catapults, old swords – a blood - stained axe and various trunks overflowing with ancient garments.

We wandered through it, gazing uncertainly around. Rufus tried an accio, but it didn't seem to work in the room. "Well, it is spelled to be a hiding place – being able to accio something would not be helpful in that."

"We need to be systematic in this, lets start sorting things and maybe we can make sense of it all." Lily offered. We spent several hours working our way through things. We found a few crowns – some were very old or missing their gems. At last Rufus pointed to an old marble bust with a wig on it – and perched on top of the wig was a diadem – Rowena Ravenclaw's to be exact.

I held out the magic – supressing bag and Rufus hovered it into it. We left the room, Lily looking back longingly. "There's likely all kinds of treasures in there ..."

"Well, someday we'll have to mount an expedition … but for now, we have a Dark Lord to defeat." I patted the bag.

"You'll tell me what all this was really about, later – won't you?" Lily asked with a knowing smirk.

I smiled, I'd almost forgotten how intuitive Lily was – and how smart. I simply nodded – she'd worm it out of me at some point, I knew.

The diadem was added to the collection and December turned into January. The traitor soon seemed to become active – raids were less sucessful and a few order members got badly injured. Lucius was unable to get the traitor's name, though, and Black quite enjoyed needling me about my spy being 'worthless' at present.

Moody had sent me a message via Rufus saying he'd not tracked down the traitor, though he had cleared a few he'd suspected. Moody also said that Black had started muttering to Potter and a few others that he suspected Lupin, of all people. I was stunned by this, though I admitted it was a brilliant cover if true. Still, I doubted Black was correct and Moody seemed to think the idea was rubbish.

I turned up at Potter's household for Lily's birthday in January, and presented her with a gift.

"The vials contain a potion I've just patented along with Potions Master Pucey. It contains a memory of walking on a beach in Maui at sunset – you find yourself walking along, with the waves crashing, birds chirping, etc. You pour it into your bath and relax into the memory – it lasts about an hour. I gave one as a gift at Christmas and she said it was quite effective for relaxing." I smiled at Lily's delighted look.

I realized my mistake immediately as Lily's eyes sharpened. "Oooh, she enjoyed it, you say? Come now if you have a particular ladyfriend, you must tell me."

"Now, I won't divulge her name, Lily." I protested, turning red at James and Remus' hooting. Black sneered, but refrained somehow from commenting.

"But you gave her a very charming potion for her bath for Christmas." James waggled his eyebrows. "Did you invent the potion for her, Severus?" James guessed and I flushed even redder, giving myself away completely.

Remus smiled gently and diverted them a little by asking if I intended to expand on it by adding other locations. Lily immediately started listing other beaches and a few trails with spectacular views that she thought would be excellent to add. I nodded in relief and James said I should have a line for men – maybe some of flying through the clouds or over scenic lakes. Not bad ideas, I thought.

I managed to get James alone for a bit while slicing some cake, and asked what he thought the chances of Lupin being a traitor were.

James laughed harshly. "Sirius is jumping at shadows. I'm sure its anyone but Remus. Sirius is just falling back on how his family thinks – when in doubt, blame the nearest dark creature. In this case – Remus the werewolf." I nodded, that made perfect sense. James grinned, then. "If you hadn't blown up most of the inner circle he'd be blaming you – as it is he mutters about you offing all of your competition."

I snickered. "If I was so foolish as to mention taking over the world I'm sure Lily would slap the idea out of me in short order – and she would have some help."

"Help from the anonymous female you're giving potions to?" James grinned.

I managed to smile through the blush as I escaped to the floo. Narcissa wouldn't necessarily disagree with taking over at least the more sophisticated part of the world, though she prefered the Malfoy method of just buying it.

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Spring arrived and with it The Headmaster informed Rufus and I that he'd tracked down the origin of the ring in question – the Gaunt ring, or as the Headmaster insisted – it was originally 'the Peverell ring'. This made Rufus' eye's sharpen in suspicion and piqued my interest.

I insisted that Rufus and Moody accompany him, when the Headmaster seemed to feel he could go on his own. Moody was sure to notice and traps and Rufus would make sure the Horcrux came to me for disposal.

I waited anxiously on the appointed day, pacing in front of the fireplace with the Hawthorne name. Narcissa had her feet up, troubled by swollen ankles and tried to explain to the house-elf why kippers and strawberry ice cream would be perfect together. At last Rufus arrived, muttering about batty Headmasters.

"He tried to put it on!" Rufus hissed. "The daft old coot. There's at least one deadly hex on it."

We hovered it into the vault – the wave of darkness that came out of the opening was suffocating, but we would put an end to them soon enough.

Rufus and I took James with us to Azkaban. We swore him to silence, and Rufus used a spell to ensure it. Having a higher up Auror as well as a war-wizard trainee along with a well-known Death Eater killer (me) bought us entry into the prison with no problem. Borrowing a fairly large room was also easy enough and I dumped the contents of the magic-supressing sack onto the table in the middle of the room. The sparkling pile of objects – and one dark book - looked innocuous enough. The wave of hate the came off the pile of Horcruxes was intimidating, though.

We backed out the door and went down a hallway, the guards throwing up a shield in front of us. I could feel the horrible chill of the dementors coming forward and turning into the room, there were soon screams heard and more dementors poured into the room, crowding each other. I'd never seen a feeding frenzy before, but I was sure that was what it was. The screaming intensified to ear-shattering octaves and then abruptly stopped.

The dementors slowly left and I made my way forward, followed by James and Rufus. The table was tipped over and the objects were scattered. The book was in shreds – thick, dark ink running everywhere. There was a rent in the cup and the diadem had a hole in it – both were smoking and twisted a bit. The necklace had a slice taken out of the locket and there was a large crack in the stone in the ring. The darkness seemed gone, with only an empty chill in the air left.

Not even the dementors could dampen my spirits at that moment, as we gathered up the remnants of the Horcruxes.

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