Chapter 30: September 1997 part 3
A few days after the attack at the Burrow, and at the café, the trio resided at Number 12 Grimmauld Place, at least for the time being. Neville asked a good question to Hermione; why was is safe to be at the Black residents than anywhere else? Hermione explained that because Grimmauld place has been enchanted by the order, with the Fidelius Charm. That involved the concealment of information inside a living person. The chosen person, or Secret Keeper, is the only person who is thenceforth capable of revealing the protected information to others, however many previously knew it.
If the Secret Keeper, shares the hidden information, the person to whom he or she has confided it will be bound by the Fidelius Charm and find it impossible to pass the information on. The Fidelius Charm is not without its weaknesses. If the Secret Keeper wishes to do so, they any divulge the information at anytime (although the secret cannot be forces, bewitched or tortured out of a Secret Keeper who does not wish to give up their secret. It must be given voluntarily). If the Secret Keeper dies, anyone whom he or she has confided the information will become a Secret Keeper. This could involve many people. Many of whom might be more willing to share the secret. Even Severus Snape knew about the safe house. Mad Eye Moody set some trap in the house for Severus if he tries to come back to Grimmauld Place.
"I found this last night, in Sirius' old room. A letter from my mum." Harry pointed out. He read it out loud:
"Dear Sirius. Thank you for Harry's birthday present. You'd think he'd been born on a broom. James says he's got the look of a Seeker, but then James would. We had a very quiet birthday tea, just us and old Bathilda, who dotes on Harry. Wormy dropped by late in the day but seemed down and didn't stay long. James is frustrated being shut up here, but Dumbledore's still got his invisibility cloak, so he doesn't have much choice. By the way, Bathilda tells the most amazing stories about our old Headmaster. I don't know how much to believe. Can it really be true that Dumbledore-"
Harry turns the letter over, but there is nothing else written.
"Harry… How are you feeling?" Hermione asked.
"I'm—I'm not sure." Harry's hand began to tremble.
"I'll go grab us some tea." Hermione placed a loving hand over his, and left the room.
Moments later:
"They knew her." Harry says.
"Bathilda Bagshot?"
"Yeah. They knew her. She wrote a History of Magic, you know.
"Did she now?" Hermione laughed, looking back at when she was explaining the night sky as they enter in the Great Hall as first years.
"I'm thinking maybe we should go talk to her. She still lives in Godric's Hollow. I'm thinking maybe she could help us." Hermione looks up, regards Harry closely.
"Harry. I can imagine why you'd want to go there, but… I don't think Bathilda Bagshot is going to know where Voldemort hid his Horcrux's." Harry frowns at Hermione's response. Hermione reaches out, touches his face lightly.
"Hey! I think you two better come up here." Neville said.
Harry and Hermione rushed up the stairs to Neville's room. Neville peers out a curtain as Hermione and Harry join him. In the courtyard outside, two dark figures stand near a tree. Another sits on a bench.
"The two clinging to the tree are Death Eaters for sure. Dunno 'bout the bloke on the bench (dropping the curtain) Can't see us of course. But we'll have to be careful coming and going. C'mon. there's something else you need to see." Neville said as he leads Hermione and Harry out of his room into Regulus' old room. Beyond the door way is a cramped bedroom, walls covered with eerie scrawling's and symbols of dark magic.
"Lovely." Hermione says.
Neville pulls the door shut. Affixed to the outside is a small sign, hand-lettered in a spidery crawl: Do Not Enter With the Express Permission of Regulus Arcturus Black.
"Regulus Arcturus Black?" Hermione questioned, She gasps. Neville nods, extend his hand and taps the first letter of each name on the sign.
"R.A.B" Neville says.
A little while later, down in the kitchen, close on the locket, Harry Removes the note.
"To the Dark Lord. I know I will be dead long before you read this…I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it.."
"R.A.B was Sirius' brother?" Neville asked.
The trio is sitting down at the kitchen table. There is sloppy stacks of old Daily Prophet newspapers surround them.
"Yes, the question is, did he actually destroy the real Horcrux?" Hermione asked.
Harry nods… then spots a shadow trembling on the wall just outside the kitchen. He scramble sup and out of sight.
"Stop! I order you!"
Seconds later, Harry reappears… dragging Kreacher the house elf by one ear. Kreacher mumbles foul oaths.
"Kreacher…" Neville says.
"Been spying on us, have you?" Harry inquires.
"Kreacher has been….watching. Kreacher always watches." He responds.
"Well, maybe he knows." Hermione mentioned.
Harry glances at her, realizes what she means, takes the locket and dangles it before Kreacher's massive eyes like a hypnotist. Kreacher watches it sway back and forth.
"Have you ever seen this?" Harry asked. Kreacher grumbles incoherently.
"Kreacher, I own this place. Sirius left it to me. Which means I own you too."
Kreacher grimaces mightily, then gives in.
"That was Master Regulus' locket.
"That's right. But there were two, weren't there?" Kreacher's eyes widen in surprise. He nods again.
"Where's the other one?"
"Kreacher doesn't know where the other locket is."
"But was it here? Did you ever see it?" Hermione asked.
Kreacher spins, his face ugly and vicious:
"Filthy Mudblood—the Death eaters will soon be coming for you!" Neville snatches Kreacher by the neck, shakes him. Kreacher gargles.
"Blood-traitor! Blood traitor!"
"Neville! Neville!" Hermione yelled. Reluctantly, Neville releases her.
"Answer her." Harry demanded.
"Yes. It was here, in this house. A most evil object…"
"How do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Before he died, Master Regulus ordered Kreacher to destroy it. It was the last thing he asked of Kreacher. But no matter how Kreacher tried, he could not…"
"Where is it now? Did someone take it, Kreacher?" Kreacher nods at Harry's question.
"Who, Kreacher? Who was it?
"Mundungus. Mundungus Fletcher." The trio glance at one another, then Harry turns back to Kreacher, looks him in the eye.
"Find him."
Crack!—Kreacher vanishes."
Along the Countryside around dusk the Hogwarts express stands still upon the cracks as Dark wizards board the train… As the dark wizards move down the aisle, flinging open cabin doors, in search of Harry. They pass Ginny, and Seamus, Katie Bell, Lavender, Romilda Vane and Cormac.
"My father will hear about this!" Cormac whined.
Finally, Dean Thomas bars their way, smiles defiantly.
"He's not here, you fools." Dean confirms. Once the Death Eaters leave, Katie Bell turns to Ginny.
"How's your brother Ron? Isn't he with Harry and Hermione?"
"No, Ron has had a falling out with them. I'm not exactly sure what the cause was. Nobody will say anything. But right now, Ron isn't in the right mindset."
"Has he gone crazy?" Katie asked.
"Probably. I haven't seen him since before my accident." She refers to her near death experience.
"That's strange. I'm pretty sure the 'Golden Trio' would've last forever."
"Who knows?"
Back at Grimmauld Place
It's been raining most of the day. The dark figures still loom in the square, waiting for something to happen. Hermione looks out her bedroom window, listening to the rain hit the window pane. She misses Severus terribly. She knows he's still at Hogwarts, teaching, at least that's what she thought. She opens up her journal and there is a message inside:
"We have a plan of action."
"What is that Severus?"
"Albus will step down as Headmaster. Leaving me in charge. He will explain to the student body that it is time for him to 'slow things down.' However, he will also state that he will be staying in Hogwarts to help me transition into the new role as Headmaster."
Hermione couldn't believe that Albus Dumbledore is retiring. There's gotta be something to this plan.
"Is he officially retiring?"
"No, He knows there will be death eaters that will be 'teaching' He thinks it'll be safer for me, to be in charge so I can be in the Dark Lord's good graces. Thinking he'll have the upper hand."
"How do you feel about that Severus?"
"I don't like it one bit. But there isn't anything we can do about it. There's something else."
"What's that?"
"Voldemort commanded Draco Malfoy to kill Albus." Severus said.
There is a pause. Hermione couldn't wrap her mind around it.
"This is another reason why Albus wanted the student body to think he's retiring. It'll also be for his safety. We healed his hand from the ring. Remember?"
"Yes, how can I forget? I owe that man everything. Is there anything I can do?" Hermione written down.
"Just help Harry destroy the Horcrux's. Your intelligence is vital to the success of Harry's defeat of Voldemort. You know he wouldn't last two days without you."
"That's what I've heard." Hermione couldn't help but laugh.
"Severus, there are two death eaters outside, they've been hanging around since we've got here."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, the enchantment's on the safe house is remarkably strong. They can't break the barrier."
"That's good. You may need to leave soon."
"Harry had ordered Kreacher to find Mundungus. He has the locket."
"The locket?"
"Oh- Regulus Black Locket. It's a Horcrux."
"How do you plan on destroying it?"
"We're not sure. We'll think of something."
"Well, hope its sooner rather than later."
"Severus- Please be safe. Let me know how your transition is fairing."
"I will keep you posted. You'll do the same, yes? Stay safe."
"I will. I love you Severus."
"I love you too."
A/N: Another chapter done! So, I may have to adjust the timeline again, just a bit. I needed to factor in the war as well. When I started this story, I was a bit younger and not really adverse in creating as much detail as possible. (Also, my grammar was lacking). I'm hoping as this story progress, that the relationship between Severus and Hermione will grow stronger as they are force to be apart for the duration of the war. (Mostly). I have also decided a different direction in Albus' future. Instead of sixth year in the actual books, Draco has the task of his headmaster's (or now formal) headmaster's fate. How will Albus guide Severus as he takes the lead as Headmaster? Will this plan be pleasing to the Dark Lord? Maybe, who knows? Please Rate and Review!
