Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of his freinds. That's JKs work, and she's very good at it.

Searching

Harry sat in the kitchen, thinking over the days events. Snape had shown up, and then had left very quickely. Harry got the idea that he wasn't very comfertable, and he knew why.

Harry wasn't paying attention, when Ginny came in, holding the Daily Prophet. She was looking at the front page, and seemed to be very distressed about something.

" Harry, look at this.". Harry looked up, and sat next to her, and leaned over her shoulder to look at the page.

Ministry of Magic Confirms that

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is Back, and on the move! (Writes Barb Price)

After the violant death of Charles Priest, better known as Charlie, the wizarding world

started to doubt that all the Death Eaters (You-Know-Who's followers.) were actually captured, and in Askaban.

There was a attack on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry last June, parents began to worry. With Dumbledore dead, their children did not have much protection.

The Ministry confirmed last night, at 10:01 PM that You-Know-Who is back. They will

not confirm that any of the sudden deats of the last year is in any way connected to

Death Eater attacks.

For more, continue on page 4

Harry stared, open mouth at the paper. When had Charlie died? Did the Death Eaters kill him? Ginny looked up at him, with tears in her eyes.
" Harry, it's our fault he's dead. If he hadn't told us about the Death Eater attack then-". Harry interupted her, " If he hadn't told us, then we'd probley be dead, and we wouldn't have found Dumbledore. Come on Gin, it's okay.". Ginny was leaning into him, crying softly. " You only knew they guy for a day, and he was a Death Eater.". Ginny looked up at him and glared. " Harry James Potter, unless you know something I don't about Charlie, then you had better be at least sorry we got him killed!". Harry sighed, he knew that Charlie had helped them, but he had also betryed them...No, no he did help them, more than he could ever hurt them. " I know Gin, I know."

When Harry went to bed that night, he had a very uneasy feeling. Something was going to happen, and it was going to happen soon. Harry pulled the blanket up over his chin, and went to sleep.


"Crucio." Voldomort said again " If you just tell me, then I'll stop, so tell me!". A girl was on the ground, shaking madly. " N..no." she said with trouble. Voldomort looked very mad, and screemed " CRUCIO!". She screamed again, as she was twisted, and pulled in every direction.

Tell me where it is you little mud-blood!". She shook he head, and fell unconcius. Voldomort glared at her, and called " Lucius, get in here and take that filth back to the dungeon.". Lucius Malfoy stepped forward from the shadows, and levitated her out of the room.


Harry woke up, his forhead burning with pain. He glanced at the clock, and sat up quickly. It was already almost nine! They were suposed to leave at 9:30! He got dressed huridly, and ran down stairs. Everyone was sitting at the table, quietly eating breakfest.

" Good morning Harry, sleep well?" Ron asked brightly. Harry glared at him and said " Why did you guys let me sleep in? We're leaving in thirty minuetes!". Hermone rolled her eyes, and repied for Ron, " We let you sleep because you'll need it. You're the only one that slept past eight.". Harry sighed, and got a bowl, and some oatmeal. " You till could have gotten me up, I only have forty-five minuets now!". Ginny rolled her eyes, and scooted over so Harry could sit down.


Forty-five minuets later, they were all ready to go. Everyone disapperated to the Ravenclaw house.

Hermione gasped when she saw it, it was gorgeous. It had three levels, and had a stacked stone extetior. It had square bushes all around the front, that Harry guessed served as a fence.

There were bushes that had flowers that Harry had never seen before, there were purple and yellow ones, and blue and orange ones, and a bunch of other colors. Harry almost leaned down o look at them more closly, but then he rembered what he was there for. He pulled Ginny and Hermione away from the small family of knomes, and walked up to the huge front door. Harry hesitated, then knocked on the door.

No one came to the door, but it swung open on it's own.

" Hello? Anyone home?" Harry called, sticking his head inside. No one came. " Do you think it's deserted then?" Hermione asked nervously. Harry stepped in, and looked around. Everything was very dusty, it looked like no one had been their in years.

Ron tripped over a large rug, and dust clouds came up from it. Harry coughed, and said, " Yes, I think it's deserted Hermione.". She nodded, and followed him. Harry looked around, and didn't see Dumbledore. " Where's Dumbldore, wasn't he right there?" He looked around, and didn't see him anywhere.

" Harry my boy, I may be old, but I'm not senile." Harry whipped around, and saw Dumbledore standing there, his eyes twinkling. Harry gave an emberessed smile, then turned to look around. There was a wooden staircase, that looked like it once was very nice. There didn't seem to be much downstairs, execpt a kitchen, living room, library, and a dining room. So Harry started up the stairs, with everyone follwing behind. They entered a hall, that had about ten doors. Harry turned and looked at Dumbledore. " Which one should we go to first?" He asked him. Dumbledore looked at him, then at the doors. " I would suggest that we move from front to back, Harry.". Harry nodded, and picked the one on the left. He turned the door knob slowly.

It was a bedroom. Harry sighed, and looked around. There was a queen sized bed, that had a royal blue blanket on it. The walls were paneled with a light wood. There wasn't anything in the room, but a dresser, and the bed, and there was nothing in the dresser. Harry sighed, and went back out. " Nothing in there, just a bedroom.".They nodded, and went to the next room. Most of the rooms were the same, and a few of the them were empty.

The very last one they checked, was a library. There were shelves full of books, but what Harry was very intrested in, was a large wooden chest. It was hidden in a corner, so Harry hadn't noticed it at first. When he saw it, he first thought it was just a bench, but then he noticed the lock on it. He took a closer look, and saw it was locked. It was made with oak, and had black metal straps down the edges, and middle. There were gold tack like things on the straps, and the hinges and lock were also made of gold. Harry tried to open it, and couldn't.

" Over here, come look at this." He called. They came over, and looked at it. Dumbledore leaned down and looked at it closlely. " Hmm, what about it, Harry?" He asked. Harry hesitated, then answered, " Well, it's locked, and it was hidden...I don't know, it just seems like the most logical place for Voldomort to hide a horcrux.". Dumbledore nodded, along with everyone else.

" Well, then let me open it then, Alohomora.". Hermione said, pointing her wand at the lock.

It started to rise, slowly. When it stopped riseing, it was sitting on a tall table, that was made out of a weird metal.

" What is that?" Ginny asked quietly. She bent down, and looked at something on the bottom of the table. " Look at this, what is it?" She said. Everyone bent down to look at it. " I think it's a button, wonder what it's for?" Ron asked quietly.

" Unless I am mistaken, we would mst likely find out, if we push the button." Dumbledore answered. Ron hesitated, and then leaned around his sister, and pushed it. All of a sudden, a voice said " The key to this chest, is in the forest of Pretience . You must go there to get the key, and return inone weeks time. There will be many obstacles in order to get to it.".

Harry gaped at it, then looked around at his freinds and Dumbledore. They all had looks of confusion, even Dumbledore. " Did you not get that?" he asked them, seeing the looks on their faces.

" No, it was in Parsletounge, Harry.''. Hary sighed, and relayed the message that it had said. They all sat in stunned silence. " What does it mean? What kind of obstacles?" Ginny asked after a minuete. " I don't know, but where is The Forest of Pretience?" Harry asked them. Everyone but Dumbledore looked away. " The Forest of Pretience is a forest where all things evil dwell. Voldomort went there to find werewolves, vampires, Giants, and all the other Dark creatures that sided with him the first time.".

Harry gulped, and didn't say anything. Dumbledore smiled at him, then turned and left the room saying, " Well, we should get back home, we can get ready for the forest, and leave as soon as we're ready.". They all stared after him, and Ron said quietly " Is he serious!". Harry was wondering the same thing, but didn't say it. He turned and follwed him out the door, and everyone else followed.


A/N Hey everyone, I made a mistake in this chapter, so I decided to come back and fix it. So please read and review it, and

SHer-My-Oh-Knee

Sam