Chapter Twenty-Five
Sherlock's pronouncement brought a horrified silence over the room, though he and Violet only had eyes for Dumbledore. At Sherlock's words, he'd gone grey, his eyes closed, and he seemed to age even more. "That's why you left Harry with the Dursleys."
Remus spoke barely louder than a whisper, but Dumbledore felt that was worse than if he'd shouted. The young man, who looked far older than his years, stood, hands clenched in tight fists, the cords in his neck standing out in sharp relief against his thin frame. Which frame shook with his barely controlled anger. "That's why I couldn't take Harry, why you wouldn't let me take Harry. You knew Petunia hated Lily, and you wanted Harry raised there so he would be your grateful little puppet once he got to Hogwarts. You wanted him to have such a low opinion of himself that he would think nothing of sacrificing himself for others. You wanted him to die!"
Remus's last shouted words rang in the air as Dumbledore lifted his sorrow-lined face to answer. "I never wanted him to die. I never wanted James and Lily's boy to suffer. And I had no idea that the Dursleys would be so unforgiving of such an innocent. But I admit, I knew he would not be cossetted, not be pampered the way he would if raised in the wizarding world. And with the belief that Riddle put in the prophecy, he marked Harry as the only one who could defeat him."
"Hogwash," Cecelia answered viciously, stunning nearly everyone in the room. "Harry is just a boy, while we have some of the brightest minds in our world right in this very room. I'm sure we can find a solution that doesn't involve a boy going against an insane Dark wizard. Besides, I've never put much stock in divination."
Her stern admonition galvanized the room. "Who else could Voldemort have trusted with one of those Hor- those things?" John asked, watching as Sherlock began frantically pacing once more.
"I'm sure Lucius would have had one," Sirius said, glancing at Violet for confirmation.
"Yes, he was always kissing Voldemort's feet," she agreed. "It appears that I have another visit to make. It's past time I visited my other godson, anyway."
"He would have thought that Little Hangleton would have been a good place to hide something," Sherlock concluded, his mind still going in multiple directions at once.
Mycroft nodded. "It would be a little inside joke, with him being the only one in on it. He never told anyone about his origins, I assume, and it would commemorate his first kills. A high distinction for one such as him."
"Dumbledore, you said he had an obsession with the Founders," Mary began. "Are there any possessions of the other Founders that we know of, besides Hufflepuff's cup?"
"Gryffindor's sword has resided in the Headmaster's chambers at Hogwarts for millennia," he replied. "It is the only known relic of Gryffindor's to survive."
"Hepzibah Smith claimed that she was a descendant of Hufflepuff, would never shut up about it, really," William said, reminiscing. "I think she said her family had something of Hufflepuff's, so that was probably the cup. Though she did die a while ago, so I assume that's how Riddle got it."
Dumbledore sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I'm afraid you are correct, William. I was able to interview Hepzibah's house elf upon her untimely death, and Riddle did visit shortly there before. Hepzibah showed him her most prized treasures, her cup."
"You're leaving something out, Headmaster," Violet snapped, glaring at him. She knew he was withholding something, but his mental walls were up and keeping her from knowing just what it was.
He sighed again. "I am, Ms. Evans. I apologize. I'm not used to sharing so much with others. Hepzibah also showed Riddle a locket, one that belonged to Slytherin himself, one that Merope Gaunt sold just before giving birth to her son. I am sure that he also stole the locket to make it into a Horcrux, as well."
"So, we've got a locket somewhere that we need to find, as well. Anything else from one of those Founders?" John asked, doing a remarkable job of keeping up with the conversation, even for not knowing very much about magic.
The rest of the room was silent as they all tried to think. "Ravenclaw's diadem is the only thing I can think of that might fall into that category, but it's been lost for centuries," Remus said, still avoiding looking at his former mentor.
"We'll file that away for later," Sherlock said, brushing it aside. He still paced, brushing Violet's shoulder every time he passed her. "Violet, you'll be making your visits in the morning, I presume?" She nodded. "I will go with you, if you'd like."
"I'm sure Professor Slughorn would love to meet you," she replied with a hint of a smirk before falling serious again. "But I think I should visit Cissa on my own. At least, for this first time."
He nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. "Then, I think a visit to Little Hangleton is in order. John, do you happen to have the afternoon free?" he asked, turning to his best friend.
John nodded immediately, but didn't have the chance to respond. "We'll go with you, as well," Sirius said, gesturing to Remus.
Violet saw Sherlock begin to protest and quelled it with a look. "That would be lovely, thank you, boys," she said instead.
"John, I'm scheduled at the surgery tomorrow," Mary reminded regretfully.
Once again, he didn't have an opportunity to reply before Cecelia said, "I'll be over bright and early to collect the children. After all, after such an ordeal, they need extra pampering."
"I'll see what more I can find about Horcruxes," William volunteered. "Specifically, on how to destroy them."
"Anthea will look more into Riddle's background, see what she can dig up," Mycroft announced. "I've a meeting with a very old friend that couldn't possibly be put off."
Dumbledore looked a bit lost, as though he wasn't used to being anything less than in charge. Violet supposed that was probably true. "If you could compile everything you've found so far, Headmaster, we will have some place to start," she told him, taking the slightest pity on the old man. After all, it wouldn't do to alienate someone who knew so much and had the possibility of being of use.
Once everyone had their marching orders, there really was no reason to linger any longer. Dumbledore was the first to leave, after promising to comb through all of his memories (both his own and those he had collected). Remus and Sirius said goodbye to the adults before hurrying out of the room to say goodbye to the children.
"Thank you, Mycroft," Violet said softly, as William told John and Mary what he'd found about John's heritage.
Mycroft's raised eyebrow was the only indication that she had surprised him. "He's my nephew, or will be, once you two marry. I protect my family, and I've learned from my past mistakes in that regard. I'll not let anything bad happen to him, not if I can prevent it. And besides, I have goldfish to do the footwork for me."
"In any case, thank you," Sherlock said, for the first time in his life.
"Had I known he would inspire this kind of thanks," Mycroft replied, smirking, "I would have tried to bring Harry into your life sooner. Now, I have work to get back to, and you have a little boy in need of comfort, I'm sure."
Violet took Sherlock's hand, pulling him toward the others to prevent an argument between the brothers.
"That's why she always had us drink those nasty tonics just before going to bed!" John exclaimed, just as the couple joined them.
"I've just informed John that his grandmother was a Squib," William said, in answer to Violet's questioning look.
"My granny, not the one who lived in Little Hangleton," John clarified. "She lived with us for years, and anytime Harry or I got sick, she always gave us these terrible tonics, always just before bedtime. And we always woke up feeling better. But she never would tell us what was in them, just grin and say it was Granny magic. It actually was magic. I always thought she was just a bit cracked."
"Well, she was related to you, so that's not necessarily out of the question," Mary grinned at him.
A dark-haired streak shot towards Violet, wrapping itself around her legs. "Hello, my darling," she said softly, pulling Harry into her arms. "Did you have a nice time with Aunt Thea?" He nodded, or rather, buried his face further in her neck with a nodding motion. "And what do you tell Aunt Thea?" she prompted.
"Thank you, Aunt Thea," he said, popping out only long enough to say the words and wave to the woman in question.
"You are so very welcome," Anthea said brightly, handing Rosie over to Mary. "It's always a pleasure to spend time with some of my very favorite people."
That earned her a tiny, peeking out grin from the little boy, and a laugh from the baby.
It didn't take long for all the farewells to be said, and for each of the families to head home. Mrs. Hudson had a pot of her onion and garlic soup waiting for the Baker Street trio, along with copious kisses and snuggles for Harry. And at bedtime, it took four more stories than usual for Harry to finally fall asleep.
Neither of his adults were settled, however. Sherlock paced for hours, violently turning every time he reached a wall. Violet sat on the couch, looking, to all the world, calm and collected. However, Sherlock recognized the anger written in her every line, the plotting going on behind her eyes. Finally, after midnight, he recognized that neither of them was calming down, so he reached for his violin. It took less than twenty minutes of him playing for Violet to begin drooping, and only forty for her to be asleep. He played for a bit more, to make sure she would still sleep, then he carefully carried her to their room. As he settled her on their bed, she fisted his shirt. "You're not leaving me alone tonight," she murmured, looking up at him.
"Of course not," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "I wouldn't dream of it."
A sleepy smile crossed her face. "I'm glad you know who's in charge here."
He huffed a laugh. "It's always been you, my love. Always you."
AN: I know it's yet another short one, but it's necessary. Next chapter will be meeting Slughorn, and possibly Narcissa! Fun times to be had for all, especially Violet as she meets up with people from her past. And Sherlock and Slughorn meeting will be lots of fun! Thanks for reading, following, and favoriting, and a huge thanks to those of you who review. Reviews are love! And to those of you who were wondering from the last chapter, no, Sherlock and Mycroft are not Legilimens, they just know Violet very well and are intelligent themselves. Happy reading!