Chapter 29 - ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST

Daphne POV

It had been a month since term had started, tomorrow was simply going to be the best day ever.

At least I hoped it would beIt was going to be Valentines Day tomorrow. I wonder what Harry is going to do? Hopefully, he doesn't forgetAlthough to be fair, he has had a lot on his plate this year

His literal death experience, sharing souls with Vol-Voldemort…

I still can barely say his name and still flinch at it, how does Harry do it without any hesitation and fear whatsoever?!

...The prophecy and this whole Sirius Black fiasco. I don't know, was it selfish of me to want Harry to do something for me tomorrow? I was currently walking towards the Library, Harry and Hermione had both been helping Tracey with arithmancy. Honestly, I could use some help too… This new unit we started involved calculations for wand movements. We were learning trigonometry and the angle degrees and how that affects a spell. I then approached their desk, however, Harry suddenly turned and looked at me.

"Hey Daph, nice of you to join us".

"How did you know I was here? I didn't tell you I was coming… I didn't make any sound either..."

Harry then put a finger to his lips.

He whispered, "Magic".

I then promptly smacked him on the head with my arithmancy notebook.

"Ow… okay okay geez… I will tell you later".

I nodded, satisfied with his answer. I then sat next to Tracey as my boyfriend and Hermione tutored us. After Harry and Hermione finished tutoring us, I then left with Harry to the Room of Requirement. I thought I was going to enter Harry's training room with the dummies, but I was shocked when I saw the mountain pile of objects within the room. We then shifted through the objects, it seemed that Harry was collecting ingredients for a love potion… and the strongest one… Amortentia…

"Harry, why are you gathering ingredients for the strongest love potion in the world…"

Harry turned around quickly.

"Oh… it is just a precaution… I just thought that some people might try and sneak me a love potion or two tomorrow as it is… you know…"

I was happy that he didn't forget! My heart soared for a moment before I realized that he implied that tomorrow that Weasel Girl might strike! However, what would gathering ingredients and brewing it yourself do?

"Oh, I understand Harry, however, that doesn't explain why you are gathering love potion ingredients".

Harry laughed slightly.

"That is because I want to recognize the magical signature for a love potion, that way I will know what food or drinks will be spiked with it without drinking it and falling under the potion".

"What do you by magical signature?"

Harry then explained to me the complex magical theory behind magical attunement and reading magical auras. I was quite shocked when I found out Harry had mastered this. I asked him to teach me, but after I tried a few times I couldn't feel anything. He said we would work on it together and see how it goes in the future.

After Harry gathered the ingredients and helped him with brewing the potion. He gazed at the potion for a bit. He stood silently, eyeing the potion. He then took his wand out and vanished the potion.

"Okay Daph, let's go".

"Wait? That's it… that looked so simple…"

"Well… I mean I could see the object and the magical aura it gave off, I will recognize it next time now that I have seen it. So yeah…not much else to do aside from seeing and remembering... that is pretty much it".

"What about using it to detect if an object is dangerous or not? Dark objects definitely will give off a different vibe right? Problem a nasty feeling or dangerous vibe?"

"Yeah, you are probably right Daph, but it is not like Hogwarts has any-"

Harry fell silent. His face then drained of color. He then sharply turned and looked at whichever mountain pile he was looking at.

There were so many piles of goodness knows what in this room.

I followed Harry over to the pile he was apparently looking at.

Harry POV

"What about using it to detect if an object is dangerous or not? Dark objects definitely will give off a different vibe right? Problem a nasty feeling or dangerous vibe?"

Godric then said in my mind, "Wow Harry, your girlfriend is so clever! I wonder if deer Salazar is in her head…"

Shut up Godric, that-

I fell silent as I felt a slight nasty and eerie feeling creep over me. It was faint and hardly noticeable.

Godric… is that?

"Yes Harry, I recognize it… In fact, I can't believe that we missed it! The bazillion times we have been up here in this room doing detection drills… Harry this has a similar magical signature to the Horcrux that was in your head…"

I then walked over to where I was feeling this suppressed and quiet nasty aura. Daphne followed closely behind me. When I arrived in front of the mountain pile of objects I stopped and stared at it for a bit.

Um Godric, I know finding it is good and all, but how are we going to destroy it? I might need to go down to the chamber and…

"No need Harry, take out my sword".

Wait… since when could your sword destroy Horcruxes? I thought only basilisk venom could-

"Since you stabbed it in the basilisk's mouth and the sword absorbed the venom's deadly properties".

Ah… great…that's convenient...

I took my wand out and casted accio on the Horcrux. Nothing happened.

"I think it might have an anti-summoning charm on it Harry, you will have to dig your way through all those objects… Be careful though to not touch the Horcrux. We don't know if any curses have been placed on it".

Okay Godric.

I then looked over at Daphne who seemed slightly worried.

"Daph, could you stand back a bit, please? I think I just found a Horcrux…"

Her eyes bulged out and she started to ask a million questions per minute.

"It is okay, I am going to be careful, I won't touch it and use my wand to move it around, after all, there might be curses placed on it… but I need you to stand back… if it is dangerous, I can probably get out of the way… but I need to make sure you are safe".

I could tell she wanted to argue but she bit her lip and reluctantly nodded her head. I raised my hand in the air and mist started to swirl around my hand. I then opened my hand and the Sword of Gryffindor began to materialize in my palm. I firmly grasped the handled and leveled the sword. The feeling of warmth and a surge of confidence suddenly flowing through me.

I waved my wand at objects and pieces, on the pile with the Horcrux in it, and started tossing them left and right onto other piles of items. After clearing through much of the junk, I finally found it. I levitated an object underneath the box and lifted it all together towards me. I then waved my waved again and formed a rope and hook to unlocked it.

Then the foul magical signature was let out. Oh, it felt absolutely disgusting, it was nasty in every way imaginable.

"MERLIN'S BEARD! THAT IS ROWENA'S DIADEM! HOW DID THE BLOODY FUCKER FIND IT AND DARE TURN IT INTO A HORCRUX!" Godric roared in my mind.

I don't think I had ever seen him lose his temper. Even when explaining to Dumbledore about me being a Horcrux, he was calm, but had a seriousness behind it. I never heard Godric yell like this.

Godric then sadly choked out, "Destroy it Harry… I can't bear to look at it this way… the very thing it has become defiles Rowena's memory".

I raised the sword to strike it down, but I started to hear some whispers in my ear, telling me terrible things of Daphne, I ignored them and struck down at the diadem. There was an explosion and dark smoke started to pour out of the diadem. I staggered back a bit from the unexpected explosion. I could no longer detect the foul Horcrux anymore. I then looked down at the broken diadem tried repairing it but it did not work.

Maybe Dumbledore can repair it using the Elder Wand

I looked over at Daphne, who looked extremely worried.

"It's okay now Daphne, you can come over now, the Horcrux has been destroyed".

When she walked over she gasped.

"Isn't that Ravenclaw's long-lost Diadem? That was a bloody Horcrux?!"

"Yeah…"

We both stared at the broken diadem for a while before I picked it up.

"Hey Daph, do you mind if you head on first back to your common room? I am going to take this to Dumbledore".

She nodded her head and turned on her heel to leave when I suddenly remembered something.

"Wait! Daph!"

I called after her. She spun around gracefully, like a muggle ballerina.

"Yes, Harry?"

I then took off my Potter family ring and canceled the notice me not charm for only Daphne. Her eyes then looked at the ring in surprise.

"Here is my family ring, it has enchantments on it to help detect and poisons or potions in whatever you hold in your hand… Just in case… you know… for tomorrow…"

She beamed at me but then shook her head shortly after.

"Thank you Harry, I appreciate your concern, but I have a familial ring that does that as well".

She raised her left hand and then canceled her notice me not charm on her ring for me.

"I am after all heiress to a Most Noble and Ancient House".

Phew!

I smiled at her knowing that she would be safe tomorrow. Once outside the Room, we shared a quick kiss before going our separate ways.


As I approached Dumbledore's office, once again… I realized I didn't know the password. I luckily though saw professor Lupin standing at the gargoyle, about to go up. I then quickened my pace and broke into a run.

"Professor Lupin!" I yelled.

I sprinted as fast as I could to get to him. He turned around to see me bolting down the corridor. He then let me catch my breath.

"You need to see the Headmaster Mister Potter?"

I looked and smiled at the Professor.

"Yes sir, I have something very important to discuss with him".

Professor Lupin looked intrigued.

"Oh, and what may this important thing be? Not if you mind disclosing it to me".

I bit down on my tongue.

"Sorry Professor, but this is something strictly between me and Dumbledore. Dumbledore told me to not tell anyone else about it".

I noticed that Lupin's shoulders sagged a bit, he then turned towards the gargoyle and said "airheads".

Next, he said something that kind of shocked me as we walked up onto the steps.

"Dumbledore told you I am a werewolf didn't he?" My eyes widened slightly at his open admission.

No wonder he was gone once a month during DADA and we got stupid Snape. He had to undergo a transformation into a werewolf and be away from students. Daphne had told me of his reaction to Dean's werewolf boggart while we took Tracey to the hospital wing back then. It made so much sense now!

The steps then stopped rotating as we got off onto the solid stone floor leading to the Headmaster's office. Lupin, then realizing that Harry didn't know, widened his eyes before looking away in shame.

"Oh… He didn't… I am sorry… you must think I'm-"

I cut the Professor off immediately.

"Professor, my view of you has not changed. You are still that brilliant DADA Professor that has taught us so much this year. In fact, I'd say this makes me admire you even more than before! Despite… your furry little problem... you still show your love and passion to teach every time you are in class with us! I do not by any means think any less of you, sir!"

Professor Lupin was about to respond when Dumbledore told us to come in. After entering the office I saw Dumbledore there talking with… Snape…

Snape then hid the potion he was holding quickly, but not before I got a glance at it. Not that I needed to see it to know what potion it was. It was clearly wolfsbane. The very fact that Professor Lupin is here proves it.

"It is okay Severus, Harry know about… my furry little problem".

Snape snorted, "Of course he knows, you told him didn't you Lupin? Couldn't control yourself and tell a student, especially that arrogant-"

Dumbledore then cut Snape off.

"I think that is enough Severus, that will be all. Thank you for helping Remus with the wolfsbane".

Snape stormed out of the room after Dumbledore dismissed him, cloak billowing behind him. After talking to Dumbledore and Professor Lupin about his furry situation, I found out he was one of my father's close friends. They caused a lot of mischief for Dumbledore and Mcgonagall back in the day. Lupin then talked about his adventures with him, and how they first met. He then talked about how he and my Dad were part of the Mauraders! He was the wolf looking character on the Marauder's map! That meant that my Dad was an animal and potentially an Animagus as well! He could be one of the other three… But wait, my patronus was a stag… My dad's might have been the same. I then remembered the stag drawing on the Map. It was called Prongs! I then broke into a large smile at knowing something more about my Dad. I then couldn't help but wonder about my Mum as well.

"Professor… what about my mother? What was she like?"

Professor Lupin looked distant for a while. He then explained how kind and endearing my mother was, but also very strict and fiery at the same time. He told me how she easily accepted that he was a werewolf, just like I did moments ago before entering the Headmaster's office. We then got into a long conversation before Professor Lupin left.

"Harry, I assume that your visit tonight was not to simply come to see how I was doing. It is getting late... if there is nothing urgent then you best head off to bed".

"Actually sir, there was something incredibly important I wanted to discuss".

I then gave him a knowingly look. Dumbledore then quickly summoned his wand out of his robes and cast several charms over the room. One charm even stopped the paintings from listening in! He then gestured for me to continue.

"I found and destroyed a Horcrux sir, in the school…"

I took out the broken Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw. He gasped in surprise as I walked over and placed it on his desk.

"This… was in the school?"

Dumbledore looked absolutely floored. I wasn't sure if it was because of knowing that a Horcrux had been right under his nose, or that it was the freaking long-lost Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw.

"Yes sir, I found it when I was looking for some potion ingredients in the Room of Requirement".

He processed what I said. A calculative look took place in his twinkling eyes.

"Very well Harry, if what you brought me was indeed a Horcrux, you have helped me narrow down my search for it significantly…I will let you know more soon once I have narrowed down the possibilities… for now, good night and well done on discovering this!"

I beamed at Dumbledore, glad to be of help. I then left his office and headed back to my room.