A/N: You guys really inspire me to write. Keep on reviewing!

Chapter 27: Exploring Possibilities

A series of thuds resonating from the general direction of my bedroom door made me snap awake, wand at the ready.

"Who is it?" I called from my position on the far side of the bed.

"Remus. Can I come in?" came the muffled reply.

"Yes." I kept my wand pointed at the door as the door opened.

"Harry?" a Remus-looking man inquired.

I peered over the top of the mattress. "Who or -- what -- is Prongs?"

"Prongs was your father's Animagus form, a creator of the Marauder's Map, and a dear friend of mine. Harry is this really necessary? Where are you?"

I stood up and shrugged my shoulders. "With a homicidal maniac on the loose one can never be too careful. Constant vigilance and all that."

Remus smiled. "Alastor would be proud. Get dressed, I want to get to Flourish and Blotts before the rush."

"It's August Remus – there's always a rush."

"Truer words were never spoken."

Xxx

The trip to the Alley (which is normally rather eventful) was far less colorful than it had been in previous years. A lot of the stores were boarded up, and the shoppers were scurrying fearfully, as though they were afraid that some unseen evil was lurking just around the corner.

"At least the Twins' shop is still up and running." I commented to Remus as we passed the now-closed Ollivander's.

"Mmm… should we be worrying about You-No-Poo?" He asked, eyes twinkling in mirth.

"It does sound rather fearsome, doesn't it?" I replied, trying not to laugh.

"Don't laugh – constipation can be a most horrible torture." He scolded, lips twitching.

"I didn't say it wasn't." I chuckled, opening the door of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes.

"Oi!" said Fred as we walked in, "Gred, look who it is!"

"If it isn't our favorite benefactor!" George exclaimed, coming over to greet us. "What can we interest you blokes in? We have Invisibility Hats…"

"And Decoy Detonators…"

"And Instant Darkness Powder --"

"Straight from Peru." They suggested simultaneously.

"Actually," I smirked, glancing at Remus, "Moony and I were wondering what you could tell us about the fearsome You-No-Poo…"

xxx

Severus was in his lab brewing, as per usual, when I finally sought him out after I finished reading Volta de Morte.

"Professor?" I inquired, knocking on the frame of the open door, "May I have a word?"

"You may," he replied stirring some concoction thrice clockwise, "just as soon as you store that book elsewhere. Its ominous aura could contaminate the phoenix tears, and we don't want that, now do we?"

I nodded and, after storing the book in an empty study, returned.

"I have a question." I began, sliding onto a stool across the bench from Snape.

"So ask."

"What would happen if you cut off your Dark Mark?"

"It would re-grow itself," he murmured, sprinkling the potion with something orange, "why?"

"Would the amputated Mark keep its magic?"

"The Chaos Magic that created it? Most likely. Why?"

"I just had an idea, is all." I picked up a vial of silvery liquid and studied it. "What's this?"

"Unicorn afterbirth. Are you going to tell me this ingenious idea of yours or not?"

I pulled a face. "Gross. I was thinking that if you're willing to, ah, lend an arm, we could use the amputated Dark Mark and an advanced locator charm to find Voldemort's Horcruxes. It was his magic that created it, so the Mark should be able to focus the locator charm on his soul fragments."

"In theory."

"Yes."

Snape added a few seeds to the potion, which then turned the shade of slightly tarnished gold. "The only flaw that I foresee is the Mark leading us to Voldemort himself."

"Yes… but it would only do that if he were summoning you, right? It otherwise isn't attuned to his person."

"Perhaps… I suppose there's no harm in trying. I'll try it myself first, just in case. If it works, we can use it. If not…"

"Back to the drawing board." I agreed. "Thank you for your help, Professor."

"If it could free me of my servitude and banish the evil that stalks my family, then I will be your guinea pig. Pass me the dragon liver."

Xxx

That Wednesday saw the Professor and I in his lab, ready to test out my new theory.

"You're sure you want to do this? I could call up the Ministry and have them send us Pettigrew's if you want instead."

"I'm not a Hufflepuff, Potter." came the stiff reply.

"If you're sure…" I said, giving him one last chance to back out.

"Just do it. And be quick about it."

"Do you want to numb it or something first?"

"Did you take out the Clotting Serum like I instructed?"

"Yes."

"No." He watched as I picked up a silver knife. "Use a severing charm," he said, "it'll be cleaner."

"Yes sir. Ready?" I asked a final time.

"Just get it over with."

I nodded. "Diffindo!"