A Magic Number
Malfoy did indeed heed Professor Dumbledore, breaking off from them just before they reached the gargoyle guarding the staircase to the Headmaster's office, and headed off in the direction of the Hospital wing.
"Sphinx Snaps" Professor Dumbledore said. The statue gave him an odd look. "Yes I know I had said for you to only accept that password were I alone in my office, and then only from Mr. Potter. However from this point on Mrs. Granger shall be joining us as well, so please allow her passage under the same conditions, save for one new one; that I need not be alone, merely that which ever of we three use the password, you may only accept it if the office is Empty but for one or more of us.
Hermione didn't think that could have sounded anymore confusing, but the gargoyle seemed to have understood, as he stepped aside allowing them passage up the spiral staircase to the Headmasters office.
"Harry," Hermione said as she watched Malfoy turn the corner at the end of the corridor before fading out of sight "are you sure about this, about trusting him?" Hermione asked.
"Yes." He said as they climbed the stairs at a brisk pace.
"But Harry, how can you be? So certain that is, he's never given us any reason to trust him before." Hermione pushed.
"HermiOuch" Was all Harry managed as they entered the office his hand rubbing his swollen jaw.
"OH Harry I'm sorry, I should have waited till… well we are here now so…" Hermione apologized. With a quick swish and flick of her wand the swelling began to reduce from Harry's face.
"Ah thanks Hermione. So how do I look?" Harry asked
"As handsome as ever." Hermione replied "How does it feel though, does it still hurt?"
"Oww, you know now that you mention it." He said rubbing his jaw again "Nothing a little kiss wouldn't fix though My Love." Harry smiled at her
"Harry not in front of Dumbledore!" Hermione replied
"Oh do not mind me my dear, after all if the muggle fairy tales are to be believed, true loves kiss is quite the powerful magic in itself." Dumbledore commented. "What I have witnessed before me today is indeed true love."
Hermione went crimson from her ears to toes. "Ah well… um… I…" Not being able to think of what to say she simply leaned up and pecked Harry on the cheek, then walked directly over to one of the plush high back chairs in front of the Headmasters desk and took a seat.
"Now then Harry," Dumbledore said "There was something you and Miss Granger wanted to show me?"
"Ah yes Professor." Harry said following Hermione's lead, Harry headed over and took a seat in the matching chair next to her, Dumbledore following suit to his own on the opposite side of the desk.
"Well Professor, you remember that dream I told you about yesterday? The one with…" Harry trailed off.
"The one where you and Miss. Granger were dancing yes." Dumbledore replied
"You told Dumbledore about…? Before you told me?" Hermione said feeling rather hurt Harry hadn't come to her first.
"Ah well… you were the first person I wanted to come to Hermione… but…
"Miss. Granger ask yourself, how would you propose Harry here, ask you for advice on what to do, about a dream, where he confesses his love for you, before actually telling you he loves you?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well I suppose… but then who else did you…?" Hermione asked
"No one." Harry answered immediately "I left from my lesson here yesterday and, well aside from the business in the tower when I went to pick up my potions book… came straight to you. You know the rest from there." Harry said.
"Now if we are all agreed, shall Harry proceed Miss. Granger?" Dumbledore asked
"Oh… ah yes sorry, go on Harry." Hermione said extremely embarrassed by her recent protests.
"Ah right… Well like I said that dream. Hermione, Neville, Luna, and I got discussing it over drinks last night and Luna seemed convinced from my description of the tiara, that it was in fact the Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw. Which got Hermione here thinking… well do you want to explain?" Harry asked looking to Hermione.
"Umm well, you see professor, Harry described a serpent on the locket I was wearing." Hermione said
"Yes I do recall, however I fail to see the relevance, there are any number of things the snake which attacked you in your dream could represent, The basilisk you faced in your second year, Voldemort's loyal serpent Nagini, or even Voldemort himself, who has often taken serpents to represent himself." Dumbledore said.
"Yes professor it's not that it was a serpent, but how Harry described it." Hermione replied
"It looked just like the ones on the taps in Moaning Myrtles Bathroom sir." Harry added
"Ah, the emblem of Salazar Slytherin. So you believe then that the locket which you saw was his as well?" Dumbledore asked
"We don't just believe it sir," Hermione said, opening the copy of Ancient Artifacts to the rendering of the tapestry she had shown Harry in the Library earlier.
"That is definitely the Diadem I saw Professor, and the locket, it's the same one around Slytherin's neck in that picture." Harry said
"A very interesting development but I fail to see how it helps us with our immediate concerns." Dumbledore said.
"Because Professor, I'm fairly certain, the locket… It's a HORCRUX!" Harry said.
"And we think we know where it is." Hermione added.
Dumbledore's eyes grew large. It was a very unsettling thing Hermione felt, to have caught Dumbledore by surprise with anything. She had always expected him to be two steps ahead and yet for the second time today she had seen a look of bewilderment on his face. First at Harry's display back in the classroom, and now at how they seemed to be leading him.
"How?" Dumbledore insisted. "How do you know, and where do you think it lays?"
"Well as soon as Hermione showed me that tapestry, I realized I'd seen that locket before. Summer before last, at Sirius' place. It was in a china cabinet in that sitting room off the kitchens." Harry stated.
"That explains the where but not the why, come on Harry how can you be sure it's a …." Dumbledore pressed him.
Hermione had never seen this side of the professor before the warm glint in his eye was gone, the gentle nature of his wizened voice replaced with a demanding almost threatening tone. Was this what Harry had been going through all year? Was this why he thought he need her?
"My scar Professor," Harry said, he seemed completely unwavered by the sudden shift in Dumbledore's demeanor, clearly this was not a singular occurrence. "Every time I would approach that room my scar would start to burn."
"Ah, yes I understand." Dumbledore said, seeming to return to his normal self on Sickle. "You believe your scar was reacting to the bit of Tom's soul within the locket then?"
"Bit of his soul?" Hermione asked
"Yes Hermione that's what a Horcrux is, a person splits there soul, and places part of it into an object, there by making it impossible for them to truly die. Even if their body is destroyed they can rise again from the part of them that survives in the Horcrux." Harry explained
"How… How could you split…" Hermione asked not sure she wanted to know the answer.
"Splitting the soul is an act of extreme violence against one's self, it therefore requires an act of equal violence to be preformed, so far as I know there is only one such act which is sufficient." Dumbledore said
"You mean… You preserve your life, by taking the life of another? That's… Horrible!" Hermione replied "How can such magic even exist?"
"I regret Miss Granger, there are many such dark and horrible magics in this world which are not disclosed to you within these walls." Dumbledore replied "I have always held to the belief that while defense against what dark magic my harm you, is a most essential part of what we teach you here. Knowledge of those Dark Practices which do not pose a direct threat, only encourages more to take them up."
"I… I understand Professor. But given what we now face…" Hermione replied
"There are things for which your standard lessons cannot prepare you, yes." Dumbledore finished for her "That is why I began these lessons with Harry, and why he has insisted you specifically be allowed to join them."
"Insisted? So then you did not intend…" Hermione asked Dumbledore.
"I did not, however nor do I object to your inclusion Miss. Granger." Dumbledore assured her "To be frank I assumed that had I not made these lessons between merely Harry and myself, he would insist on Mr. Weasley's inclusion as well and I…"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Both Harry and Hermione said in unison.
Dumbledore gave them both a rather surprised look. "Is there something the two of you wish to tell me?'
"Ah well…" Hermione began
"NO!" Harry said decisively "Professor, you needn't bother yourself. Suffice to say Hermione and I have had something of a falling out with Ron… and Ginny for that matter."
"Harry, if there is something with which I can be of assistance…" Dumbledore offered
"We're taking care of it Professor" Hermione interjected "I'm not quite sure how things are going to turn out of course, but I'd say whatever happens, it'd probably be best you not factor either of them into any future plans."
"As you wish. " Dumbledore said, then with what Hermione could only describe as admiration added "Harry you have impressed me greatly of late, I would not have expected you to extend such an olive branch to Mr. Malfoy, nor that you would be able to find such words to convince him to accept it. You have shown yourself today, to be the leader we shall soon need you to be. As such I will not question your decisions, whatever they maybe, regarding the Weasley siblings. I simply hope that you will handle whatever transgressions your friends have brought upon you and Miss. Granger, with as much wisdom and grace as you have shown your long time advisory this day."
"Unfortunately Professor, at this moment that advisory is easier to trust then those friends. After all, we may have almost always been opposite sides, but Draco has never been false about it. I have always known where he stood and why, even if I didn't agree. But with what's happened with Ron and Ginny… well I have to question whether I ever really knew them at all." Harry said
"I see…" Dumbledore replied "Well I shall say no more on it Harry, except that should either of you…" he said looking at Hermione "… wish to talk, my door is always open."
"So then if we assume your suspicions regarding the locket are correct, it would appear we have found yet another of Tom's Horcruxes." Dumbledore said returning the conversation to why they were there.
"Actually I think it's rather more then that." Harry said "If I'm right about the locket, then I think we've figured out how many Horcruxes there are in total as well!" Harry said.
"What?!" Hermione and Dumbledore both said at the same time turning to look at Harry.
"Professor, where are the two we know of for sure?" Harry asked. Dumbledore reached into his desk and pulled out Riddle's Diary, and the Gaunt Family Ring, placing them on the desk.
"Okay so that's two, now if that was all there was then I could understand it." Harry said
"What makes you say that Harry?" Hermione asked intrigued
"Well you're the Arithmancy expert not me, so correct me if I'm wrong but 3 is a magic number right?" Harry asked her.
"Yes, but what has that got to do with anything?" Hermione replied.
"Because it plays into Riddles vanity, he'd want the number of pieces to mean something, so having two Horcruxes would mean Tom had split his soul into three. Two in the Horcruxes and then the one left in him…" Harry replied
"Ah… I see, very clever Harry" Dumbledore said.
"But the fact the locket exists means there would have to be at least Four pieces… and there is nothing special about the number four, is there Hermione?"
"Well no, not especially… except… well not that it would mean anything to Voldemort, but it is my personality number…" Hermione said meekly
"Yes but your social's a nine, and mine is two for personality and.. well not sure do Y's count as vowels? If I remember correctly from when you used to practice on me in third year, you said our numbers made us a perfect match for… well anyway."
"You remembered all that, just from helping me practice? I always thought you hated letting me practice on you." Hermione replied.
"No…, is that why you stopped?" Harry asked "No I rather enjoyed there being some homework I could finally help you with, the one who couldn't stand it was…"
"Ron" they both said together
"Ahem… as revealing a conversation this is, was there a point you were trying to make Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"Oh… ah yeah sorry, Hermione after three…?" Harry asked
"Well generally, the next number of any great significance would be seven." Hermione answered.
"I thought so." Harry replied. "Sir how many times could one split their soul?" Harry asked.
"Well in theory an infinite number of time." Dumbledore replied.
"Yes but what about in practice?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure I follow Harry." Hermione said.
"Okay well lets for sake of argument assume the Diary here was the first one he made. When I encountered it, the part of Tom Riddle inside seemed to be roughly the same age we are now, so I'd say that's a safe bet.
Regardless though if he split his soul and put half in the diary that means only half of him was left in his living body right? So then when he made the next one, let's just say it's the ring here… It would only have half of the half of him remaining in his body… no?" Harry asked them.
"I see Harry" Hermione said "Your saying the three pieces wouldn't be equal parts of him, each new Horcrux he makes contains less of Voldemort's soul, and leaves less of him in his real body."
"So then you wish to determine how many times Voldemort could have split himself before what was left would no longer be him?" Dumbledore asked
"Precisely!" Harry said "After all his goal with these is to live forever right, but if their creation destroys what he is in the process then what's the point? I mean after seven, what's the next number that has any kind of power associated with it? "
"Well that would be the combination of the previous two powerful numbers," Hermione said " three sets of seven, Twenty-one."
"Right thought it would be something like that, but if Riddle went that far what would that leave him with like one, one millionth of himself left?" Harry said
"Actually one, one million, forty eight thousand, five hundred and seventy sixth left to be exact." Hermione said, drawing the attention of both Harry and Dumbledore. "What? It's just basic math, one soul divided in half exponentially…" She explained
"We'll take your word for it Hermione." Harry smiled "Look the point is I think even seven Horcruxes would push Voldemort to the limit of being able to maintain himself. More over I think we've got a good idea what the other Horcuxes are."
"We do?" Hermione asked
"Well yes." Harry said. "Look if we can agree on the seven pieces of soul being his goal, and we already know that one was in his boyhood diary, and one in the gaunt family ring, the last known heirloom of any value from his mothers pureblood wizard family, then that leaves four more Horcruxes to be accounted for right?"
"Yes and we are fairly certain that one of those four is Slytherin's locket, which makes sense since Voldemort is Slytherin's heir. But how does that help us with the other three?" Hermione asked
"Because Miss. Granger, you were not only wearing the locket in Harry's dream, but Ravenclaws Diadem as well." Dumbledore offered.
"Exactly… Hermione think about it, maybe my subconscious did pull up the image of the locket from some buried memory of Grimmuld place, but then how do you explain the diadem? Luna said the no one has seen it for centuries. Unless…"
"Unless, you think the diadem is a Horcrux as well!" Hermione said, "That still doesn't explain how you'd know that? I mean with the locket sure you felt it back at Sirius' house but how could you have known about the diadem?"
"Because Miss. Granger, if the diadem is indeed a Horcrux then it means at least one person has seen it. Lord Voldemort, and as fortunate, or unfortunate it may be, it appears despite his efforts in Occlumency, Harry's mind still touches that of Voldemorts." Dumbledore said
Hermione's face turned white as she looked to Harry, she could not remember ever feeling more worried in her life. Whether what Harry said next was because he saw this on her face or not, she couldn't be sure, but she hoped it hadn't merely been to assuage her fears because he said:
"Actually no Professor, I don't think that's quite right, at least not anymore. I don't think Voldemort has been able to enter my mind directly for some time, or I his. At least if he has then he hasn't tried, and well either he has protected himself in some way beyond my understanding, or I am no longer able to enter his.
No I think it might be more accurate to say that our subconscious are linked somehow, it's almost like I can feel what he's feeling at times… in fact the only time I don't is when…" Harry trailed off.
"When what Harry?" Hermione asked.
"When I'm with you Hermione. Somehow whenever I'm with you, it's like all the darkness inside that touching Riddles mind brings, its just cast away by this all encompassing light." Harry said, he seemed to have lost himself in his thoughts as he spoke.
"Harry… I … I don't know what to say…" Hermione managed unable to find the words to express the joy, flattery, and most of all pure love she was feeling for Harry at this very moment. She'd have kissed him if they weren't sitting but two feet in front of the Headmaster, instead she opted to simply take his hand and try to will Harry to feel everything she couldn't say.
"If I might be so cruel as to interrupt this affectionate display. Even taking your theory as correct Harry, there being seven parts of Voldemorts soul; two are the destroyed diary, and ring, one is Slytherin's locket, and one Ravenclaws Diadem. Including the piece still within Tom himself that only accounts for five, we are still missing the other two." Dumbledore stated.
"True Hermione" said, but I think we have a fairly good hint as to what they are."
"Do we?" Dumbledore said, he sound as though he already knew where she was going, but Hermione felt the need to say it anyway. "Well yes, there are four Horcurxes still out there, one of which we are fairly certain is a relic of Slytherin, and another a relic of Ravenclaw… well doesn't it stand to reason that the final two would be relics of the remaining two houses."
"No your right Hermione that was my thinking as well. Look Professor, maybe if it was just Slytherin's locket then we could chalk it up Voldemort being his heir, but there is nothing about Ravenclaw's Diadem to tie it to Tom Riddle except that she was one of the Founders, and he would therefore consider it an item of immense magical value." Harry said
"I Agree with all you have both surmised today," Dumbledore said "However there is a flaw in your theory. There are only two known remaining relics of Gryffindor house, and they each reside in this room. Yet neither has ever before, nor at this very moment caused your scar to burn you, have they Harry?" Dumbledore asked
"No… "Harry said. Hermione knew that tone, it was the tone of defeat in Harry's voice, and she wasn't about to have it.
"So what?" Hermione said, "I still say the theory rings true. So Voldemort wasn't able to make a Horcrux from Gryffindor, it's not really surprising is it, the Sorting Hat remains here all year round, aside from the first day of term, and the sword? Well no one had seen it for ages either Harry, before you pulled it out of the sorting hat four years ago. It will only present it self to a true Gryffindor remember? Since that time, it to has resided here. Voldemort would have had to sneak them out right from under your nose Professor! Besides, are you telling me there are only two items that have ever been owned by or tied to Godric Gryffindor?"
"Even if you're right Hermione, that still doesn't leave us with any idea what the two relics are." Harry said.
"Perhaps that is enough for today." Dumbldore said "Even without the last, we have accomplished a great deal this afternoon. There are many tasks to undertake just in what we have learned so far…." Dumbledore paused for a moment "Besides it is nearly time for supper."
"Have we really been here that long?" Hermione asked
"Mmm yes I've found time moves funny during these lessons" Harry said.
"Come to think of it, I certainly am famished." Hermione said.
"I'm not surprised, you barely touched your breakfast and now we've worked right through lunch." Harry replied. He got to his feet, and said" If you'll excuse us Professor" then turned to Hermione, extending her his hand and bowing slightly said " Care to join me for dinner My Love?"