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Chapter 12 - Grave Discoveries
Harry, Ron and Hermione were walking towards the Quidditch Pitch, in an excited and nervous frenzy. No one knew what to expect. They made speculations about the possibilities of what could be guarding the Horcrux, if it was really at the graveyard as Hermione had surmised.
"Well, this can't be good", Ron surmised. "I mean, Dumbledore nearly lost his hand when he was dealing with the ring".
"Not to mention how weak he was when he was poisoned in the cave", Harry shuddered.
"And the Basilisk fang in your arm must not have been much fun, either", Hermione added. "I can't even begin to imagine what would be guarding the other Horcruxes." With the looks of disbelief thrown to her from Ron and Harry, she continued, "Alright, I've imagined hundreds of other possibilities. But, believe me, you don't even want to hear them. They've given me enough nightmares as it is. Let's just take it as it comes".
Harry and Ron silently agreed, each with a nod of distinct apprehension.
As they strode onto the pitch, they were greeted by the sight of Tonks and Remus waving frantically at them.
"Move it along, guys", cried Tonks. "We leave in less than two minutes".
Clutched in Remus' hand was a pair of broken spectacles, which was to serve as the portkey to the cemetery where Harry had witnessed the rebirth of Voldemort over two years before. Harry shuddered at the memory and was tremulous as his fingers touched the portkey. He was recalling the horrifying experience that he had managed to live through the last time he had taken a portkey from almost the same exact spot. Harry silently prayed that he wouldn't be leading anyone else into certain death.
Within a moment, the world began to spin as the group found themselves roughly deposited at the gates of the cemetery.
As everyone picked themselves up from the ground, Ron exclaimed, "Harry, we're going to go take our apparation exams as soon as we can. There is no way I want to portkey again if we don't have to!"
Harry wholeheartedly agreed with his friend. He looked around and found his mind subconsciously replaying the events of that fateful night during his fourth year.
"…kill the spare."
"…his mother left upon him traces of her sacrifice…I can touch him now."
"…for the lingering protection his mother once gave him would then reside in my veins too…"
"You stand, Harry Potter, upon the remains of my late father…a muggle and a fool…very like your dear mother…"
Harry felt the tears streaming down his face as the memories continued to course through his mind.
The next thing Harry realized was that he was shaking. Or more accurately, Remus was trying to shake him out of the trance he was in.
Remus was yelling, "Harry! Harry, it's alright! Focus on me…you're not there anymore. It's safe now."
Ron added, "Well, sort of safe. Considering that we're in a bloody cemetery, looking for a piece of You-Know-Who's soul."
"Ronald, you're not helping. And will you please just say his name!" Hermione said.
Tonks stood in front of Harry and asked, "Harry, are you sure you want to do this? Maybe you're not ready. Remus and I can search, you and the others can go back to Hogwarts…"
"No!" Harry exclaimed. "I'm fine. Everything just hit me at once. I haven't been here since that night. I just need a minute."
Harry drew in a deep breath. He knew that he needed to remember that night, there might be a clue that could help them.
He slowly exhaled as he faced his companions. "Hermione, where do you think that we should start?"
"I think that the best place to start would be where Cedric was killed. I know that you told us Wormtail killed him, but this place is important to Voldemort. It's the place he was reborn." Hermione answered.
"Then I think we need to head in that direction. I can see the clearing where Voldemort and I were lifted to during the Priori Incantatem. Cedric was killed near there."
"Hermione," Remus started questioningly, "I wanted to ask you about this theory. Why do you think that he would have hidden a Horcrux here? I thought that they were made years ago, before his fall. Wouldn't that make it highly unlikely that one was placed here recently?"
"Actually, Remus, I have been thinking about that quite a bit. Everything we are assuming is purely that, just speculation. We believe that there are seven Horcruxes. Unfortunately, we don't know, for certain, what all of them are. We do know that he made the diary, the locket and the ring before his fall. We also know that he was in possession of Hufflepuff's cup before he fell. But, we do not know if he made it a Horcrux in this time frame. He was not expecting to meet his downfall when he went to Harry's home all those years ago. In fact, correct me if I'm wrong Harry, but didn't he tell you in fourth year, that while he was hiding in Albania, the snakes he possessed died shortly afterwards?"
At Harry's nod, she continued her idea. "I believe that the monstrous snake of his, Nagini, was made into a Horcrux after the night at the Potter's. I believe that making the snake a Horcrux was an act of desperation to complete his task. Why else would someone put a portion of their soul into a living entity, which has its own soul? A body can house only one spirit within it. Eventually, one of the two must somehow be cast out. His snake is obviously not the typical garden snake found in the muggle realm, perhaps this allows it additional longevity before one of the souls must be expunged from the physical body."
"Again, I have to say it. That girl is a bloody genius." Ron said with a smile.
Remus looked at the girl with pride evident on his face. "You really are the brightest witch of your age Hermione. Though I understand it is speculation, you have given us our first lead."
Hermione blushed under the gaze of her companions before saying, "I believe that we have a walk to make. Harry, if you would show us where to go."
Harry, Ron and Hermione walked together, closely followed by Remus and Tonks, slowly making their way towards their destination.
The cemetery grounds were eerily quiet. The only sounds to be heard were the soft tread of their footsteps upon the earth.
The quiet was suddenly broken by Ron. "I can't take it. It's too bloody quiet! Unnatural, it is. Someone say something, talk about anything. I need a distraction!"
"Actually Mione, there is something Ron and I wanted to ask you about that spell you showed us. The Pulsus charm."
Hermione looked at the pair as Harry continued. "We were wondering why it worked so differently at the D.A. meeting? I mean, it was still strong, but no where near as powerful as it was the first time Ron and I cast it."
"You're telling me! I ripped a bloody door off of its hinges, then could barely knock over a puny 4th year with it!" Ron exclaimed.
Hermione gave an exasperated sigh as she looked at Remus and Tonks, knowing that at least they knew the answer.
"If the two of you ever bothered to actually read, you wouldn't even need to ask me that question!" she exclaimed in a rather irate voice. "Yes, Pulsus is a strong spell, it's old magic. But any spell has the potential to be very powerful. All magic, both light and dark, is tied to the emotions behind them. Haven't you ever noticed that a Dark Arts spell is much more powerful when thrown by a truly evil individual? The reason that it was so powerful when you first used it, is simply that in each situation, both of you were highly emotionally charged. In fact, I'd wager that your spells Harry, are even more so than the average wizard."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Because of your mum. She left a powerful mark on you through her love. Which is, simply put, the most powerful emotion there is. Hate and anger are strong, but love is infinite. It knows no boundaries and has no end. This, in conjunction with your own emotions, fills you to capacity. I've never known a person, other than you, that could be capable showing of such compassion and love, after experiencing everything you have in your lifetime."
Harry's heart swelled with Hermione's words. In that single moment, he felt more powerful than he had ever been. This realization came to a crashing halt as they reached their destination.
Harry faced his friends and said in a low voice, "Here…it all happened right here."
Everyone froze where they stood and Remus took control. "Everyone, canvas the area. Call for me or Tonks if you find anything that looks suspicious. Be careful and be aware. There's no telling what precautionary methods Voldemort may have taken."
After two hours of fruitless searching the area surrounding where Cedric had died, the group was beginning to lose hope.
Ron asked, "What exactly is it that we should be looking for anyway? I mean, it's not like there's a tombstone labeled 'You-Know-Who's Horcrux Lies Here'."
"Ronald, sometimes your unknowing strokes of brilliance astound me!" Hermione exclaimed. "Harry, weren't you tied to a tombstone? Which one was it?"
"That one over there. But what does that have to do with Cedric?" Harry inquired.
"Nothing, that's just the point. I think that my theory may have been wrong…" Hermione started.
"Harry, write down today's date! She admitted that she was wrong!" Ron declared in glee.
"Ronald, hush. I need to explain. My theory may have been wrong, but I think that there is a Horcrux here. I was so focused on making a connection between the Horcrux and its location, that I didn't stop to consider other options. The cup itself symbolizes the qualities of Hufflepuff, that doesn't necessarily mean that it would be hidden where a Hufflepuff was murdered. I think that it was hidden many years earlier. Harry, why is it that you were bound to that particular headstone?"
Harry answered slowly as Voldemort's words from years past once again entered his mind. "It was his father's grave. He needed his father's bones to create a new body for himself."
"And if I remember correctly, didn't you tell us that Voldemort despised his father for being a muggle and for abandoning his mother?" Hermione questioned.
"Well, yes. But I don't see where you're going with this." Harry responded.
"Oh, sometimes the two of you frustrate me endlessly. Tonks, Remus, come help me, while these two try to catch up." Hermione exclaimed.
The three began to circle the grave, looking for any signs of disturbances.
"I know I'm right, but where is it?" Hermione thought out loud.
Remus and Tonks began to walk away from the grave, saying that there was nothing there to be found. They noticed that their charges were not following their lead. They turned to see Harry and Ron looking curiously at Hermione.
Hermione was now kneeling directly in front of the headstone, looking at it as if she had never seen it before. She ran her hands over the name.
Tom Riddle. She raised her hands to the rather ornate carving above the name.
"I've found it!" she exclaimed.
Remus, Tonks, Harry and Ron rushed to her side.
"Mione, are you sure? I don't see what you're looking at." Ron questioned softly.
"I'm positive. Look at it. I mean really look at it for a moment. I can't believe that I didn't notice it before. It was in front of us this entire time." she said triumphantly.
Tonks stood next to her and began to study what she was staring at. "Oh Merlin! I can't believe it…how could we not have seen it?"
Harry turned to Remus and Ron and asked, "Am I the only one who feels like a prat right now?"
The three men nodded in agreement and looked at the women for an explanation.
Hermione began, "Harry you said that his father was a muggle. That is what made me assume that the carving on the headstone was a picture of a Christian challis or something of that nature. Until I looked at it closer. If you look at the markings on the cup, they are not merely decorations…they are runic symbols. The one in front means loyalty. Voldemort must have transfigured Hufflepuff's Cup to be within his father's headstone. If you look very closely, they markings around the cup, make it look as if the whole illustrated section was inserted separately into the rest. He probably found it to be morbidly ironic to hide an item of belonging to Hufflepuff, known for her loyalty and steadfast nature, within the standing memorial to the man that he felt exemplified the exact opposite nature. It's sheer luck that we've found this….. It had nothing to do with Cedric, or Voldemort's rebirth at all. Voldemort probably had this hidden years ago, in an effort to mock his father, even in the afterlife."
"So, Tonks is the new Transfiguration instructor. Care to give us a demonstration, Professor?" Ron asked.
"It can't be that easy, Ron. Voldemort wouldn't take the chance that someone could just un-Transfigure the cup and be on their way." Harry said. "There has to be something in place to protect it. And if his past defenses are any clue, chances are that it's pretty dangerous."
"I agree, Harry." Remus offered. "But we need to try something. We are not just going to leave it here."
Tonks began to edge closer to the headstone. "I think that I should try. We can be back at Hogwarts in seconds if something goes wrong. This might be the only opportunity we have to retrieve this."
Everyone exchanged fearful glances as Tonks raised her wand and began a complicated series of movements.
A/N: Sorry for the short chapter and the mini-cliffhanger. We have too much planned for Chapter 13. We'll be working on it as much as possible. Hang in there guys. Thank you to everyone who's reviewing.
