CHAPTER 22

Hermione paced the room as she waited for everyone to come in. She was nervous. It wasn't like one tells their dead professors that they have come back from future.

Reg and Sev were in other room. They were friends from being together in Slytherins, and then as Death Eaters. It was good that they had someone to hold the ground from them.

"Calm down Mione. Stop pacing, you are giving me headache." Lily complained. She was sitting around the table.

Hermione was spared an answer when Dumbledore walked in the room. "Hello Hermione." He said. "Lily. James. Sirius. Remus. Hope you are all doing well."

"Hello Albus." They greeted. It was still weird calling the old man with his name.

"I was quite shocked Hermione when a patronous walked inside my office and started talking in your voice." He said taking a sit. "The order has been looking for some sort of special communication that only we can manage. Were you aware of it?"

" No Albus, I wasn't. I will tell you the spell. It is quite easy if someone knows to cast Patronus but there is something else which is important and need to be discussed here."

"What is it?" He asked as lily poured him a cup of tea and everyone took their sit. They all too were eager to know how to kill Voldemort.

"I think its time I come clean in front of you. They all know my real story." She pointed towards the others. "And so does two more people. But before I tell you everything, I want you to extend your help to those two young men I talked about. They happened to be ex-death eaters. I know you believe in protecting the soul of people. Trust me, they aren't Dark wizards, they just made wrong choices."

"Hermione, do you know how big it is? They could give us intel on his actions." Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eyes. "Is Voldemort aware of their deception?"

Hermione shook her head and asked Sirius to bring him in. "Albus, Severus Snape and Regulus Black." They looked nervous and took sit in between all of them.

"Are you confident of where their loyalty lies?" He asked.

"As sure as I am of mine loyalty." She promised.

"Severus and Regulus, I am glad to see you have seen the error of your way. I had always known that young people have immense capacity to do good."

"Just like that?" Regulus asked his jaw hanging. " You trust us just on words and how can you forgive us for what we did." It was one of his fears. Even if his brother and his friends had somehow forgiven. He was sure no one else will knowing that they had taken part in killing and torturing, though he had never killed anyone, who will believe it.

"Dear boy, fear not, you are going to go through Veritaserum in front of the order for them to accept you. And as for you being death eaters," Dumbledore leant toward them so that he was looking directly in their eyes as he said, "One should never underestimate the allure of darkness, even the purest of hearts are drawn to it. We can only be glad that you have broken free from its shackles and if what you say is true, I cannot stop the Light from embracing you." ( Read A/N)

Hermione smiled at the kind words of the man but frowned immediately, when he said, "What are you willing to give in return?"

"Albus, you won't use them to spy. They won't endanger themselves to get any information of him." Hermione said before anyone said anything.

Everyone stared at her. It was hoped that she had intended the man to be spies. Even the two men in question thought the same. But one man felt elated, Severus, if he was going to leave his side, he had no intention of returning back.

She saw everyone's questioning glance. "I am not putting them in any danger. And Besides it won't be necessary."

"How?" Dumbledore asked.

"If you remember I told you I know how to kill him. I am ready to tell you."

"Then do go on."

" Professor do you remember Tom Riddle."

"Yes I do recall the young man. He disappeared after he left Hogwarts. Only once was he seen when he came to ask for a job as DADA professor."

"How is he relevant to Voldemort's death." Severus asked.

"In each and every way." She said, "Tom Marvolo Riddle was the son of Merope Gaunt , a descendant of Slytherin himself and a muggle named Tom Riddle. Marvolo disowned his daughter after she ran away with a muggle. His father abandoned his mother after he found out that she had used love potion on him. Merope died giving birth to Tom Riddle Jr in an orphanage and died. The kid grew up to be known as Voldemort."

"Of course." Dumbledore said, a sad look in his eyes. " He was always fascinated with Dark Arts. I knew something was wrong with that boy. No wonder Lord Voldemort rose just when Tom Riddle disappeared."

"Why is it important to known about his past?" Sirius asked impatient.

"Because that is essential in knowing what he chose as his horcruxes."

"Horcruxes?" Dumbledore asked. "Plural?"

It was a deja vu for Hermione. How many times will she explain this.

"Yes. Plural. Tom intends to make seven but so far he has only five."

"The most powerful number." Severus nodded in understanding.

"Do you know what they are?" Regulus asked.

"Yes. And I know where they are kept."

"Thats great. We can go and destroy it immediately." James said.

"No , James. Tom won't keep the parts of his soul lying around for someone to come and destroy." Dumbledore said and nodded at Hermione to continue.

"The first one, we found out was Tom Riddle's journal. It is a black leather journal which feeds on the magic of those who write in it until his memory becomes strong enough to replace the person. It is in Malfoy Manor."

Lily gasped at it.

"The second one was a ring. It was a family heirloom of The Gaunts. It is kept in the cottage in Little Harington. There is a curse on the ring , the person who puts the ring on will die because of a curse on it. The third is a locket." She nodded at Regulus to continue.

"It is a Slytherin heirloom. It is kept in a cave on a secluded island. To enter one must give blood. There is a small heap of skeleton in middle of a lake. The lake is filled with inferi. On the heap is a basin filled with a liquid. It cannot be vanished or transfigured. It can only be drunk. The liquid makes the drinker relive their worst memory again and again. It also weakens them and makes them thirsty. The Agumenti doesn't work inside the cave. And taking water from the lake will make the inferi attack." He finished.

"Thats too strong of a security." Remus piqued.

"The next one is Helga Hufflepuff's cup." She said, taking the ball back to her court, "It was entrusted to Bellatrix. In our time , we found it in the Lestrange Vault. However…"

"Bellatrix isn't married to Lestrange yet. That means it is in the Black Vault." Sirius finished for her. A hard to read expression on his face.

"Yes. It must be in Black Vault in Gringotts. Which is the second safest place in Wizarding World of Britain. Adding to it, there may be a Gemino curse on everything else near the cup. The last one is the Diadem of Ravenclaw. It is in…"

"Hogwarts." Dumbledore finished for her.

"Yes Albus. I see you have caught a pattern in Tom's hiding place."

"Indeed Hermione. I now realize why he had come to apply for the DADA post. He knew too well that I won't give him the job. He hid the diadem then."

"Yes. It is in Room of Requirements. Or Come and Go Room."

"There is no such room." James said.

"We know every secret of the castle." Sirius added.

"No one knows all the secrets of Hogwarts , except from Hogwarts herself."

"You speak like Hogwarts is a person." Sirius scoffed.

"Hogwarts is more like a tree, expanding and adding more to its branches and roots as per its needs." Remus added. "Read Hogwarts: A History , someday please."

Hermione smiled at him affectionately. He is possibly the only other person apart from her who had recited the book's line to his friends.

"Hermione, if I may ask, what did you mean, in my time?" Dumbledore asked.

Sirius beat her to it, "You see Professor, our dear Granger here," he gave a very long and dramatic pause before shouting loudly , " is a time traveler from twenty years in future."

This time Dumbledore didn't hide his surprise. The evening was full of shocks and surprises.

"Remus son, do you have any muggle sweet? This evening is rather too dramatic for an old man like me."

Remus nodded and handed him some candies.

"So , you say you are from future?"

Hermione nodded.

After a long pause, he said, "Do you know how Horcruxes are destroyed?"

"What?" Hermione exclaimed, "Nothing else on that matter."

"No. I see you have convinced all these young people and I know how paranoid they can be. So you must have given them some good proof for your words. Besides all the information you possess won't be possible otherwise. However, I expect a meeting with you soon."

"Thats good , I guess. I know how to destroy the horcruxes. Either fiendfyre or basilik fang." She told.

"I can control fiendfyre." Sirius, Reg and Sev said together.

"Marvellous." Dumbledore said.

"When do we begin?" James asked.

"After the full moon." She told them. Hermione wanted to celebrate Remus' birthday. She had intended the potion to be a gift for him. But now she had planned something else, she hoped he would like. Everyone agreed as the order started arriving.

A/N: All Klaus Mikaelson fans will know whom I quote above there. I don't know where I got that from. I was just thinking about writing something on Darkness and then the quote struck me. Though I had no idea where I had heard that one, I knew it was not mine. So, after a quick web search, I knew it belong to one of my favorite TVD character. The dialogue fit so well there that I couldn't find the heart to remove it. So, Hey, Sorry if it offends anyone.

johnson

Thanks a lot. This is the first time I am writing anything and it is kind of you to say such sweet things. I hope I manage to stay on track throughout the story. Keep reading and reviewing. It is very encouraging. Again, THANKS!

daichisjuicythighs

I sometimes like some normalcy in the chapters and I guess it was more like a quiet before a storm. Because from this Chapter onwards, things are going to get crazy and there won't be anything 'domestic' (for the lack of a better word). Also, about insta , I will have to warn you I am not too active on social media. I have an account which I used for writing purposes and have closed it. I am a nerdy and boring person. You have been warned! If you are still Gryffindor to Hufflepuff for being friends, send me your id address. The one you mentioned in your had a space after the full stop, it had me confused, plus there are few similar ids.