Hey Readers, this chapter has one hell of a lot of important info so pay close attention to it. It doesn't really have much pairing in it as it is mainly about Voldemort's background. It does have a tiny bit of Lily and James with the Marauders right at the start but there is nothing of deep significance. any who; Enjoy! Review! Many Thanks, Your Loyal Writer...

It was the Christmas holidays and Harry was beginning to get worried. It had now been nearly 6 months since their first Horcrux and they still had had no progress on finding any others. He would have devoted the entire holiday to research if Remus and Sirius hadn't locked the door of the library. This had frustrated Harry at first.

"Oh Get a life Paws!" Dora had exclaimed in exasperation. "You spend more time in there than Hermione ever did!"

"It's true Harry. If I didn't know any better I'd think you were trying to steal my title as family nerd!" Hermione joked.

Harry smiled and muttered something about it being his duty.

"I think that even the most demanding of the wizarding world will allow you a holiday at Christmas, Har." Sirius told his godson firmly.

Reluctantly Harry had agreed to leave the search for the entire Christmas period.

He enjoyed a lovely family Christmas and enjoyed nothing more than playing around with Moony, Padfoot, Whiskers and Fluffy.

They had great fun at full moon as it brought with it another Marauder outing. Lily had not been particularly pleased with the idea. Especially when she found out that they had sneaked off once before.

James on the other hand could not have been more pleased to see the Marauder adventures back in action.

"Ok, fine. Sirius look after Harry and keep Remus out of sight. Hermione, Dora try and keep the boys out of too much trouble. Harry, best behaviour, ok. Very well. You can go." Lily sighed.

"Hurrah!" Dora cried. "Sorry Lily, I am far from able to keep them out of trouble."

"Quite! Dora will be the one getting us into trouble. She seems to have inherited Sirius' gene for mischief!" Remus laughed.

Lily sighed again.

"Go! Go! Before Lily changes her mind!" James urged with a wink.

Sirius laughed and steered the group out from the basement.

The gang spent the night in Hogsmead. They had to admit that it wasn't nearly as fun as in the day because none of the shops were open. However, Sirius, being Sirius, found a secret off-the-street entrance to Honey dukes. They took their pick of sweets to feast on and as they left, Hermione dropped a bag of galleons on the counter.

They then ventured to the Hogwarts lake where they enjoyed a swim in the moonlight. Hermione rode on Harry's back as she was less than eager to soak herself. Her plan was foiled as Sirius made sure that Harry flung her off and made sure she did swim about a bit before being allowed to return to the safety of Harry's back.

The next day the group were in bed until 2pm when Hermione began staggering about waking everyone up for a late lunch. After lunch Sirius retreated back to his room where Harry suspected he had gone back to sleep.

"Harry? Can I come in? I want to talk to you." Remus was knocking on the teen's door.

"Of course. Come in Moony." Harry approved opening the door to his friend. "What can I do for you Remus? Please, do sit down."

"Well, I was just thinking….. well, it might not be what I think it is but… I have discovered that … perhaps there maybe a Horcrux in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault." Remus explained.

"Really? What gives you that impression? How did you discover this?" Harry asked, intrigue in his eyes.

"Well, there was talk on the street that Bellatrix had taken over from Lucius as Voldemort's favourite Death Eater. I had therefor been researching all I could on her. You know of course that she is the sister of Andromedra and Narcissa. Also that she was the witch who tortured Alice and Frank Longbottom into insanity. Well, I began tracking records of all that I could. I used your friendship with Ragnok to access some old Gringotts records. I was sifting through some from before Your birth when I made a rather interesting discovery. It seems that one Tom Marvolo Riddle had made a deposit into Bellatrix's vault. He presented permission papers signed by Bellatrix and had her key with him along with some other paperwork that allowed him to take out several thousand galleons. Anyway, the point is that he left a valuable golden cup, thought to be that of Helga Hufflepuffs, in her vault that day." Remus muttered so as to keep the conversation from the rest of the house.

"But Moony, Riddle hated Hufflepuff's! what on earth would he want one of her belongings for?" Harry interrupted.

"Harry. Did you know that Riddle was an orphan? His mother, Merope Gaunt- from the direct line of Slytherin, was a witch who was not allowed to attend Hogwarts." Remus mumbled.

He summoned the pensieve.

Let's meet her"

Merope Riddle (née Gaunt), (c. 1907 – 31 December, 1926) was a pure-blood witch, daughter of Marvolo Gaunt, and sister of Morfin. She was a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin and a Parselmouth. Merope lived in a shack with her father and brother, who mentally and physically abused her. Later on, Merope grew to have an obsessive love for Tom Riddle, a handsome and wealthy Muggle. When both her father and brother were imprisoned, she bewitched and married Tom, but when he recovered, he abandoned her and their unborn son. She died in an orphanage leaving behind her baby son.

Harry and Remus landed in a shack. There was an old man sitting in a chair with a young man crouched beside him.

Morfin Gaunt, Brother- "She likes looking at that muggle. Always in the garden when he passes, peering through the hedge at him, isn't she? And last night — Hanging out of the window waiting for him to ride home, wasn't she?"

Marvolo Gaunt, Father- "Is it true? My daughter – pure-blooded descendant of Salazar Slytherin – hankering after a filthy, dirt-veined Muggle?"

A girl then walked in she was probably around the age of 19. Merope had lank, dull hair and a pale, heavy face with eyes that looked in opposite directions. She kept herself cleaner than her father or brother but was very defeated looking.

She was abused by her father for having no real magical talent, as he saw it, and for loving a muggle. Her brother watched and laughed.

Next Remus and Harry were taken to an orphanage where a pregnant Merope had fallen. She was taken inside and gave birth to a son.

Merope Gaunt- "He is to be called Tom for his father and Marvolo for mine and his Surname is to be Riddle… I hope he looks like his Papa."

Merope then dies leaving her son alone to be raised as an orphan.

"So you see Harry, Hogwarts, to Riddle, was the only place he could call home. This made anything that could be connected to it very valuable to him. If it is Hufflepuff's cup in Bellatrix's vault I am almost positive that it is a horcrux."

"Merlin's beard! I'll start research right away!" Harry gasped.

"Absolutly not! You promised Sirius. No, we'll research at Easter and if it is a Horcrux, we'll move in the summer. That is my final word Harry. Now come down with me. I'm sure the girls will have started dinner. We might get on their good side if we offer to wash up!" Remus instructed. He winked at Harry who chuckled to himself before nodding in agreement and heading down stairs.

Christmas was a quiet affair. Harry and Remus chose not to share their break through on the cup so that it would not be such a let down if it led to nothing.

Harry was not too pleased about not being able to tell Hermione, however Remus had kept his promise to Harry. Now he, Harry, must do the same.

Sirius had begun to catch onto Remus, Harry and Hermione's secret. He was pacing his in room.

'It has something to do with these Horcruxes. And Harry. And Voldemort. I bet it has something to do with this last Horcrux; the one that we don't know anything about. And I'd eat my hat if that flaming scar isnt involved too.

So; Harry, Voldemort, Horcrux, Scar, Connection. Merlin's Beard! What if…'