Dumbledore was working hard on locating the last Horcruxes, with the great work from Remus, who had read Regulus' notes and everything else they had found on it.
Collecting memories, analysing them, digging, interrogating... It was a lot of hard work, but they had moved forward quite a lot. There was 4 left. Two of which they didn't know what they were, they could only guess. Nagini and Harry, they'd have to be last. Nagini because she was often near Voldemort though the members of the Order of the Phoanix new that they had to kill her at the first opportunity, and Harry, well... Albus really hoped that he was right in his guess that Harry would survive a killing curse, that if he let Voldemort kill him, then he'd be destroying the Horcruxe and Harry would still live. Then he'd be able to kill Voldemort, accomplishing the prophecy.
Shaking his head, Albus looked at Remus's notes. He believed, after working with him on the memories and the notes they had found, that Marvolo Gaunt's ring would be one. They both believed they knew where it was, but they couldn't go, it was too close to Riddle's mansion, where they believed Voldemort's Headquarters to be. No matter how small, dirty and pathetic his old family home was, Voldemort would surely have it protected, so they had to wait until he and most of his followers were distracted to go and look for the ring.
Severus did say that when Voldemort went in a meeting held at Malfoy Manor, he often left either Nagini or another Death Eater behind to keep watch. he also had placed several strong magical protections and alarms. They'd have to make absolutely sure that he was busy somewhere else when they got it otherwise they'd be interrupted.
According to the notes, Voldemort had Huffelpuff's cup in his possession at some point and he was going to turn it into another Horcruxe. It was safe to assume that he had done everything he wanted to do, and so they needed to find the actual present location of the cup, which wouldn't be easy.
"You work too much, Albus. It's summer, your students are on a break, can't you rest too?" His brother asked him as they shared a drink together, quietly.
"There's a war going on, Aberforth. I can't rest until it's over." Albus shook his head.
"What's going on in that head of yours?" His brother asked him with a frown.
"Way too many things, as always. But I know something Voldemort doesn't know anyone knows, and it's important that he never finds out." Albus replied in a chuckle, making his brother chuckle along with him.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Albus could see Ariana's portrait chuckling as well. He missed her. In all his years, he had never gathered the courage to apologize to her, though she seemed to understand it and seemed to have forgiven him.
"Seriously Albus, why don't you let younger wizards fight this war? I don't want to offend you, but you're old. You could retire, enjoy peace and quiet." Aberforth tried to insist.
"I couldn't, you know me too well. As for offending me, don't worry, I know exactly how old I am." Albus chuckled.
"You really think you can win this war?" His younger brother asked seriously.
"Not on my own, but I can guide the right people into doing the right things, and then we'll win." Albus nodded.
"It's Potter, right? He's the one who'll have to finish it all in the end?"
"I wish I could tell you that no, he isn't, that he'll be able to live out his life like any kid his age, but unfortunately, yes, it's him."
"You love him." It wasn't a question.
"Yes, I love him like a grandfather loves his grandson." Albus nodded.
"Alright." Aberforth nodded, and Albus understood more into his brother's nod and smiled thankfully.
He knew that his younger brother had just silently agreed to be there for Harry Potter in case he, Albus, died before the end of this war.
.
The summer break had only started two days ago and Albus had received an urgent message, from Andromeda Tonks, asking that he and Sirius came over as soon as possible.
Remus was working on his book which would be published a couple of weeks before school started, Tonks was working, but Harry and Rose were at the Burrows. Fred and George wouldn't be signing the paperwork for their shop until 2 more days, so he understood that Rose would want to enjoy some free time with her boyfriend while she could. Even when she worked at the shop with him, they wouldn't have much time to be in each other's arms, not if the shop was as successful as Albus predicted it would be.
"Sirius, ready to go?" Albus asked his teacher who nodded.
When they arrived, Ted wasn't there, he was apparently at work. Andromeda was nervous. She had prepared tea and cookies and she held in her hand a letter. An official Ministry Letter that also held the Goblin of Gringott mark, worrying them as to what this serious matter would be.
"Andy, what's going on?" Sirius asked her, worried about the reason behind her nervousness.
"I received an official letter. Bellatrix's death seems to have... I mean, she didn't have heirs, you know? And since her husband and his brother are outlaw, they can't inherit her vault. Without a will, an official one, it seems I'm the one who inherits it all because I'm her older sister, though I have to share a fourth of it with young Drago Malfoy, because he's a male of her bloodline and has never been arrested. She wanted to leave it all to him, but the will that was found in her vault isn't legal because it was done while she was an outlaw. They looked into it, that's why they're only contacting me now. They've decided to still allow Draco to get a fourth of it, I get the rest. Gringott's Goblins want me to come and inspect the vault I inherit. I have to decide what goes into my vault and what goes into Draco's. Gringott has added a note saying that there is a suspicious item inside and I figured it would be best if you came along. Sirius for the moral support and Albus in case this item is truly dangerous. With Bellatrix we never know, she was... You know..." Andromeda explained, serving them some tea and showing them the letter.
"For the Goblins to get personally involved and to warn you, it must be something big, they usually let people deal with things without getting involved. Though now that the Ministry of Magic has reopened negotiations with them, they are a bit more pleasant to deal with." Albus nodded with a frown.
"Albus, Bellatrix has always been close to Voldemort, you don't think she could have one of them, do you?" Sirius asked the old headmaster in a small voice.
"I think it's a possibility. He gave one to Lucius for safe keeping, he could have very well given one to Bellatrix as well. We should go check it out as soon as possible." Albus nodded.
"I was hoping you'd say that. I'm ready to go now if you are." Andromeda assured them.
"Alright then. Let's finish our tea and go. I'm particularly fond of this one. You chose well. " Albus complimented.
.
Sirius, Andromeda and Albus entered Gringotts together and were immediately directed to a higher ranked Goblin, one who handled old family vaults.
They signed some papers, and, after about an hour, they were standing inside the huge vault. It was filled with gold and stones and objects. Two Goblins had come with them and stayed outside, standing guard.
"Albus, look!" Sirius exclaimed, pointing to a cup.
"What is it?" Andromeda asked, curious and worried.
"This is a very dark object, Andromeda, one we've been looking for for a long time. Destroying it would help destroy Voldemort." Albus explained in a small voice, making sure the Goblins wouldn't hear him.
"Then you must take it and destroy it." She nodded.
Waving his wand, Albus managed to break through the different protections charms placed on the cup before he held it. He placed the cup inside his pocket, planning on destroying it once he got to Hogwarts.
"So much gold... She hurt so many people... She didn't deserve that kind of money..." Andromeda shook her head.
"She got what she deserved in the end." Sirius assured his cousin.
"I know." She nodded before she asked one of the Goblins, in charge of transferring what she decided would go to Draco.
She selected a fourth of the money, jewelry, stones and signed so it would be legal and once it was moved to Draco Malfoy's vault, making sure that only he would be able to touch this money and only once he was graduated from school because she didn't want to risk Lucius Malfoy using this money, then she asked the Goblin to come back because she had other transfers to make. She selected another fourth and had it transferred to her daughter's vault, making sure her child would be fine, no matter what.
Of course she trusted Remus to do what was necessary in order to provide for her daughter, especially now that he had a stable job with the Weasley twins. Even if his book wasn't a success, he'd have enough money, but, just in case, she wanted to protect her daughter, and her potential grandchildren.
"The rest goes in your own Vault, then, misses Tonks?" The Goblin asked her.
"I... No. Can it stay here for now? I want to divide what's left between a few associations who help werewolves and victims of the war. This is what her gold should be used for. Albus, this golden chest, and everything that's inside, you take it for the school. I want it to go to your fund for poor students." Andy decided.
"That's very generous of you. Thank you!" Albus thanked her.
"I don't want anything from her." Andromeda shook her head before she left the vault, accepting Sirius' arm for support.
As soon as they were out of the bank, Albus left them, eager to destroy the Horcruxe. He had placed the golden chest in Hogwart's bank vault, happy to know that they'd be able to help more students thanks to this donation.
Sirius accompanied his cousin back to her house.
"How are the wedding preparations coming along? Do you need any help?" he asked her.
"Oh, it's coming along rather well. It's going to be a rather small affair and Molly offered to let us use Winky to do all the cooking. Dobby, the house elf, came on his own to offer his help as well. Not much work for an House elf at Hogwarts during the summer break. In the end, I won't have much to do. I even have the time to help Nymphadora make her own wedding gown." She replied.
"Well, if you need Kreacher, don't hesitate to ask him, he's been really helpful since last summer, when we finished what Regulus died trying to do." Sirius offered.
"I'll keep that in mind, thank you." Andromeda nodded.
"If you decide that you want him, just ask Winky or Dobby to get him, he knows to obey to you too." Sirius informed her.
"Thank you, I might take you up on that eventually." She smiled.
"Just out of curiosity, will your daughter be called by her full name during the ceremony?" Sirius asked with a smirk.
"Of course she will be! It's her name!" The mother nodded.
"I can't wait to see it." Sirius declared, making Andromeda laugh along with him.
"I've heard Ted and Remus betting on the color of Dora's hair during the ceremony." She chuckled.
"I'll get in on that action." Sirius added.
She knew that he had brought up this subject to change her mind away from the dark thoughts brought by the visit to Bellatrix' vault, and she was grateful.
The summer is only getting started, so much more to do.
Dudley, the shop, a wedding, an escape, a chance encounter, dancing, falling in love, an injury severe enough to be in St Mungo's, pygmy puffs, another death... And that's not in the right order (or it would be too easy).
Review please
Lorelei Candice Black