After a few minutes, the potion had done its job. The two of them hurriedly changed clothes, and Hermione filled in the warrant she had taken. As soon as they were done, they apparated in front of Azkaban. On the desolated rock spiking out of the sea. Edmund instantly felt bad. Hermione, trying to stay in character, pretended she wasn't scared, even though deep down, she only wanted to run away. There was a human guarding the entrance. Hermione recognized him. It was a death eater called Macnair, the executioner that had been charged to kill Buckbeak.

"We are coming to see Morfin Gaunt." She declared.

"With all due respect, ma'm, can I ask why?"

"A really serious lead let us believe that he might have been in contact with the criminal Albus Dumbledore. I have a warrant, here."

"I have to ask, Ma'm. What is your source, exactly?"

"Hermione Granger has been found and questioned under crucciartis. She gave us this information, and will now soon be delivered to the Malfoys."

Macnair seemed to hesitate.

"I have been tasked by the Dark Lord to search and arrest Albus Dumbledore." Hermione said in a frustrated tone. "To oppose me is to oppose the Dark Lord's will, Macnair. Now, let us through."

"Cell 182. Third basement."

He stepped aside to let them in, and a dementor guided them to the cell, hovering above the ground, and then left the same way. As they entered the cell, they found out they were not alone. There, looking at them with a piercing look, was Albus Dumbledore. There was a moment of tension, before the old man smiled.

"Hello, miss Granger." He said. "And who's the young man with you?"

"Professor..." Hermione let out, stomached. "I... I... how...?"

"I'm Edmund Pevensie." The young king interfered. "And you must be Professor Dumbledore. I am honoured to meet you."

"The honour is mine." the old wizard replied. "But what are you two doing here?"

"We have to talk to Morfin Gaunt."

Dumbledore looked at him like he was scanning him, and then stepped aside, letting them discover a sickly man, curled up on his bench, eyes lost into the void. Hermione got closer to him, and knelt beside him.

"Mr. Gaunt?" She asked. "Can you hear me?"

The only response she got was a hissing sound, which she didn't understand. She turned to Ed.

"He understands you." Dumbledore explained. "But he doesn't know how to speak something else than Parseltongue."

"You understand it." Edmund noted. "Do you speak it as well?"

"I do indeed understand it. But no, sorry, I can't speak it."

"Mr. Gaunt, do you remember your sister's necklace?" Hermione asked.

Once again he hissed, angrily.

"He didn't like his sister." Dumbledore translated. "He blamed her for disappearing with the necklace."

"Do you remember your ring?"

"Soiled. disgraced. Defiled. The little bastard defiled it." Dumbledore translated.

He looked at Hermione.

"Does it mean what I think it means?"

"Yes." she confirmed. "And he also defiled the necklace. We have to destroy it, but we must open the medallion. Mr Gaunt, you're the only one who can order it to open."

"He won't destroy the medallion." Dumbledore said.

Edmund decided to step in.

"As long as the medallion is unscathed, the bastard will live forever. I know you hate him."

"His father is a filthy muggle. You are a filthy muggle. Why should I help you destroy it?"

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Who do you hate most? The muggles, or the proof of your sister's treason?"

There was a long silence that followed, and Hermione glared at the young king, who held her gaze. Finally, the reply came.

"He says: get me out of here, and I will help you. So, you have managed to find one of the dark lord's horcruxes, then. Well done, miss Granger."

"We have two of them, actually. We have the ring, as well. But we know this one is gonna be harder to destroy.

Why is that?"

"It is one of the deathly hollows. It's the resurrection stone."

"Who told you that?"

"You did, professor. Through your copy of Beedle the Bard's book."

She let her eyes slip to Dumbledore's hand. It had turned black, like it was mummified.

"And I guess you already figured it out, professor. You tried to use it to bring Ariana back, didn't you?"

"Perhaps." the old man said in a sad smile.

"Can you destroy the ring? Without damaging the stone?"

"I don't know, miss Granger. But I can try."

"I'm sorry to interrupt you." Edmund intervened. "But this man is dying. If we don't get him out now, he won't be able to open the necklace."

"You're right, Ed. Now, how do we do that?"

"I suggest a diversion." Dumbledore said. "Listen closely."