Chapter 14
The Horcrux Hunt
"Draco! Why on earth are you hanging out with the mud-blood?"
"Parkinson, I don't have to explain myself to you." Draco drawled "Draco, what about our betrothal?" Pansy whined
"Don't you read, my father has called off the betrothal and has decided that I may marry who I wish! Why on earth do you care, I thought you were interested in Theodore Nott?" Pansy blushed red "He is only the heir to a noble house, whereas our marriage could be advantageous." Draco scowled "You are a dull and boring hanger-on to anyone who is fortunate to be an heir to a fortune, anybody else would be better than you!" Pansy burst into tears and ran into the girl's dorm. Draco felt bad for saying that, but it was the truth, Pansy was only after being the next Lady Malfoy and Draco really liked someone else.
His owl Hermes flew into the common room and held out it's claw for Draco to take the letter. "Hello, sweet Hermes, owl treats?" Hermes hooted and ruffled his brown feathers. Draco smiled and put some in his perch bowl then sat on the couch to read his letter. It was his mother's handwriting.
"My dearest little dragon"
"Your father has turned his back on the dark lord and joined the ranks of the light, finally, we will mostly be a neutral family, but nor do we desire your father to become a boot-licking slave to that monster, whom shall not be named or mentioned in our household again. Headmaster Dumbledore will not want you to know but your father has decided to devote his days and nights hunting the soul vessels, these are called "Horcruxes" they are the most, evil of creations of dark magic you can imagine. Apparently, the dark lord created seven, one accidently and six with the intent of becoming immortal. I give you this warning, if you come across a founder's object hidden in the school, do not touch it or pick it up. It may try to possess you or suck out your magical core. Our dearest friend, and your godfather know of the founder's objects and the ring and the diary, it is imperative that you tell your godfather and your cousin, Harrison, of any suspicious objects. Keep yourself safe, my dragon and always remember the adults will take charge of this, you are still a young boy who should be having fun with your friends, having dates or playing quidditch."
"We both love you so much and we are doing this for your future."
"All our Love, Mother"
Tears pricked in Draco's eyes and he rubbed them. "Hermes, could you take this small note to Harry?" Hermes hooted and took the note into her claw before flying off through the dungeons.
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"Morning, Dad" Harry called and found the quarters empty. Skull and Shriek were there "Morning, Bran-boy, your father has not returned from Gringotts yet."
"Did he mention when he would be back?"
"Yes, Bran-boy, he told you not to worry but to prepare breakfast" Dante walked in "Morning, Harry, where's uncle Severus?" Harry mumbled "He's still at Gringotts, I told him it was my transfiguration exam today, I really wanted him here to help me revise." Dante was on a mission to help Harry achieve his Outstanding mark. "I'll help you revise, don't worry, what are you working on?" Harry ran and got his books which got snatched from his hand by Skull "Skull, give them back!"
"No, Bran-boy, your father wants you to eat a healthy breakfast every morning, or he promised to put you back on the nutrient potions again!" Skull said darkly
"I will just give them to Dante and he can proofread my revised essay while I eat, right, Dante?"
Dante chuckled "Skull, give them back, you pain in the ass, pesky feather duster, Harry has given his oath to eat while I proofread!"
"There, see" Harry put the cereal in his bowl and stuck out his tongue "Oh, very mature, Bran-boy" Skull retorted and was surprised when Shriek clipped him on the head with her wing. "Ouch, you females can be violent!" Harry burst out laughing and Dante followed suit.
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Severus walked into the Lestrange vault with Narcissa and shivered at the cold. "Cissy, can you spot the cup, anywhere?" Cissy shuddered as she pointed to it on a high shelf in the vault "Ah!" Severus felt his dark mark burning.
"Severus! You can't go anywhere near it, I will get it, do not touch anything, there is a multiplying charm on the golden bowls." Narcissa used her shawl and reached up to the shelf and then Severus heard it speak "Snape, you traitor!" it spoke in a hissing voice. "Grab it, Cissy!" Narcissa nearly tripped and fell into the gold coins but she retained her balance with the shelf. "Got it, Severus!" She threw it to Severus who caught it with his teacher's robes.
"Narcissa, take your time getting down!" Narcissa Malfoy did so with grace and dignity and carefully stepped through the objects piled everywhere.
"Is it wrapped?" Narcissa asked "Yes, I had better take this to the basilisk's chamber. But both Harry and Draco have, their transfiguration exams today. Harry is rather nervous and asked me for help to revise."
"We are doing this for our children and our children's children, for their future, so they will not have to bow and scrape to a half-blooded bastard!" Narcissa was determined that it would not be so. "Too right" Severus agreed
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Severus burst into his chambers and flopped into his armchair. Skull flew onto his shoulder "Are you tired, my human familiar?"
"Shattered, Is Harry dressed and ready?" Harry came running out of his bedroom and dived into Severus' lap who immediately wrapped his arms around his son. "I was so worried you wouldn't make it in time!" Harry burrowed into his father's robes. "I have two classes with the Ravenclaws and the Hufflepuffs then I shall meet you outside your exam room, are you ready, Harry?" Harry was silently nodding. "Did you get it, the….thing?" he asked
"It is destroyed, Harry, just four more" Harry whooped "Then no more mouldy-shorts!"
Severus laughed a deep husky laugh and put his head back "Mouldy-shorts, what in merlin's teeth has Skull been teaching you, my errant son?"
"Well he's practically a dead zombie and zombies smell rotten and mouldy, anyway, I have got to go and meet Hermione, she is so eager, Draco is meeting me there too, love you dad, wish me luck, Dante was good to help me, and he said he would join us for tea later" Severus pulled Harry in for another hug and kissed his forehead. "I wish you good fortune and lots of luck. Get going" Harry grabbed his bag and ran from their quarters.
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Harry, Draco and Hermione filed into the exam room and took their designated seats. Minerva handed out to each student their individual exam paper and walked back to the front of the classroom "This is a two-hour examination, for year 3 transfiguration, you will all notice at the front a water goblet that you will transfigure into an animal of your choosing. On each of your desks are bottles of highland spring water, if you need the bathroom, please raise your hand and I will give you a five-minute bathroom break. There will be no talking during this exam, your two hours will start now!"
All twenty students opened their papers and started to read their first question.
'What is the difference between conjuring an item from thin air and transfiguring a non-living item to a living creature?'
Harry tapped his pencil on the table "Oh, yes" he wrote his answer in two small paragraphs. Dante had showed Harry how to distinguish between Isaac Newton's third law of motion to Magic itself.
A/N Sir Isaac Newton, the laws of gravity and motion and speed