Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Original A/N: Thanks to MaeSilverpaws1, who is beta-ing this story.

Chapter One Hundred Fifty-One

The Room of Hidden Things

"So, remind me again how this is going to work?" Harry said frowning. He was wearing a blindfold over his eyes (he closed his eyes so that he wouldn't feel as disorientated by the darkness) standing just outside of the Room of Requirement entrance.

"Well you said it yourself, you know there's a Horcrux in that room," Hermione said. "You have no really evidence but still you know it is there. That suggest that a part of you knows where the … whatever the object that we're looking for, is."

"So if that's that case, then maybe if you stop looking for it, and just let your other instincts take over, you might walk straight for it," Ron said.

"Or I might walk straight into a wall of books and make them fall on me," Harry complained, and his two friend couldn't control their laughter at his suggest. "Oh nice."

"Don't worry Harry, we'll make sure that doesn't happen," Hermione told him.

"Probably," Ron added still sniggering.

"Whatever," Harry huffed.

"Come on, we've been trying to search of this stupid thing for weeks without any success, you can at least try this to see if it works," Ron said, he and Hermione had come up with this idea the other night.

"You told us yourself that you were able to answer some of Dumbledore's question that you shouldn't know the answer to. This is the same theory." Hermione added on.

"Yeah, yeah, let's just do this thing," Harry said, he was already blindfolded after all, and really it was unlikely that his friends would allow him to be buried in a bunch of junk.

"I guess I'll lead you to the door," Hermione said, she sounded as if she was several feet away and he heard her walking towards him before she grabbed his hand and led him the same way that she had come from.

Again Harry thought this was a ridiculous idea, he couldn't even walk to the door without help, how was he supposed to walk in the junk filled room?

"Okay," Hermione said as she let go of his hand.

"Yeah, okay," Harry grumbled. He didn't move, seeing if he felt a pull to walk one way or the other. Nothing. He waited for another minute. Nothing. "This is so bloody stupid!"

"Well as long as you think that way, it's going to stay stupid," Hermione said.

"Huh?" Harry said as Ron said, "what's that supposed to mean?"

"Obviously if you are concentrating on how stupid this is you're not allowing that other part of you come out," Hermione said. "Maybe it would help if you meditate. Let go of your feeling of uselessness."

Harry grimaced. That was easier said than done. Controlling his breathing was easy; he had practice with that this whole year, but he couldn't get in the right frame of mind. In fact the more he tried to relax the more tense he felt. It took him a while to realize that it was fear that was keeping him back. He didn't want to tap into the part of him that might be able to lead him to the Horcrux, as that was the part of him that made him a Horcrux as well.

He felt a sudden resentment, why should he have to be the one to try and find a Horcrux, when it basically meant he was going to be shortening his own life. It was ridiculous that he would have to do this …

Harry opened his eyes and then blinked them close again; he had forgotten that he had the blindfold on as he always had his eyes close when he meditated. The resentment was his own, he did hate this task, but he had set it upon himself to do so. Why was it now that he felt like he was force to do this? His only conclusion was that he had tapped into that part of himself, but instead of helping him it was filling him with doubt.

"Harry?" Hermione asked quietly, and he could hear the worry in her voice. "Did … are you okay?"

"I don't know," Harry answered as he took off the blindfold. "I'm not sure this is a good idea."

"You've been saying that all day," Ron pointed out. "But you sound different this time."

"I don't want to do this," Harry said softly, "I think it's going to work but I don't want to do this."

Ron and Hermione shared a worried glance and then looked back at Harry. He bowed his head so that he couldn't see their expression. He felt ashamed that he was feeling this way and worse about saying it out loud. Especially since he was pretty sure where the feelings were coming from and he hated that.

"Harry," Hermione said in a soft voice, kneeling next to him and resting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure Dumbledore would understand if you …"

"If I can't do this?" Harry finished. "I'm sure he would."

"How come it sounds like you're not about to give up?" Ron questioned.

"Because I'm not," Harry said. "I'm not about to let my fear stop me now."

"Seeing as you never have before," Ron supplied.

Harry nodded his head and realized he didn't need to explain anymore. Hermione shifted until she was sitting next to Harry as Ron started to look at the stuff that was near him, giving Harry the time he needed to master himself. After several minutes, Ron walked over and handed Hermione a book and judging by her beam it was obviously something she found interesting. Again Harry was touched by his friends support and how well they obviously knew him.

"I think it's in a cabinet," Harry said after a long pause as he controlled his fear. He opened his eyes and spotted three cabinets in what space he could see and he was sure there were thousand more in the room.

"That's a good place to start, that should help some," Hermione said encouragingly.

"I think it was burn too … by acid I think," Harry went on. He tried to remember more but he could no longer even see the cabinet.

"Well that'll help some more," Hermione said. "What do you think, Ron?" she added when she saw the redhead was deep in thought.

"Er … I was just thinking that … er … that maybe you should try to hide something," Ron said.

"Hide something?" Harry repeated in a questioning tone as he tilted his head as he thought. "Interesting."

"Interesting! It's brilliant," Hermione beamed at Ron.

"I wouldn't go overboard …" Ron said rubbing the back of his head, "at least, not yet."

Harry shrugged and picked up the book that Hermione was reading and started walking, as he thought about hiding it somewhere. He wasn't sure if this was going to really work as he keep looking at every cabinet that he past, trying to see if it was the burnt one he thought he was looking for. After ten minutes of walking around he throw down the book, cursing.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped, causing Ron to snigger and roll his eyes.

"It's just a book. And this isn't working!" Harry groaned. "I'm thinking too much."

"I never thought that would be your problem," Ron teased and Harry glared at him.

"Maybe if you try to hide something that you actually care about, you'll have better luck," Hermione said, obviously annoyed as she picked up the book he had thrown, the binding was coming off now. "Maybe we'll even destroy the thing if you aren't able to hide it well, to give you the proper motivation."

Harry almost laughed at how much anger throwing a book could bring up in his friend but then he gave her comment some thought. If he actually believe that something he cared about would be destroyed if he failed to hide it in the right place, it might bring him to the right frame of mind.

"I guess we could try that," he said pulling out his map.

"Are you sure you want to use that?" Hermione asked, "we will be destroying it if you don't find the right place."

Harry frowned at her, he couldn't tell if she was being serious or not. She wouldn't actually do that, Harry thought but judging by her expression, he was starting to think she would.

"Maybe we should go back to the door," Ron said. "If we're really going to raise the stakes, we might as well give you the best chance of getting it right." They agreed with him and they all walked back to the entrance.

"Hm," Harry said once they got to the entrance. "Can you guys leave? I just had a thought I might be able to do this better without you hovering over my shoulder."

"Fine," Hermione said. "But don't think that will make it so we won't destroy the map."

"I know," Harry said, and then smirked. "Well, unless I hide it somewhere else in here to keep it from you."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him and he just smiled more before she turned around and left the room with Ron. Harry watched them go and then looked back at the map. "This better work," he muttered to himself as he started walking again.

It was different then the last time he was looking for a hiding spot, he felt the urged to actually find somewhere, but still keep looking for the cabinet at times. He felt more panicked as the time passed, nervous that his friends were going to come in the room and he wouldn't have found the right place. That fear was brought to an apex when he heard his name being called. He no longer had the time; he needed to find someplace to put his map.

"Harry," he heard them call again, this time they were closer to him.

He started walking without thinking, turning corners with no mind to where he was going. That's when he saw it. He paced slowed as he approached the cabinet. When he got to it he opened the door, but frowned.

"There you are," Hermione said.

"You found the cabinet!" Ron said excitedly.

"It's not in here," Harry said dejectedly. "I know it should be here … somewhere … but it's not in here!"

"Maybe it's one of these things," Hermione suggested looking around.

"That's helpful," Harry grimaced; they were still surrounded by junk. There was an old looking bust of a wizard, a lot of books, a crate, broken toys, a tarnished tiara, quills (both whole and broken) along with ink bottles, among other things.

"Well we know it's not going to just be anything," Hermione said. "So far all of Voldemort's Horcruxes have been significant in a way."

"Significant?" Ron frowned.

"Yes," Hermione nodded, "just think about it. There was the ring; Sirius said it was an heirloom of the Gaunt family, Voldemort's mother's family. Then there was Slytherin's locket. That's part of his family too. Dumbledore said that the cup in the vault was Hufflepuff. Which isn't part of his family but obviously it has importance. The diary … well I guess that was important to him to leave behind his legacy …"

"Hmph," Ron huffed hotly, he hated that stupid diary and what it did to his sister.

"And the snake was the thing Voldemort was closest to," Harry added. "I don't see how that will help us here.

"Well it helps us to rule out the books, quills, toys," Hermione said looking at the area and ruling out the things the Horcrux wouldn't be. "It's unlikely it would be the bust, seeing as most of the things are portal and that seems rather hefty. Still it might be too rash to rule it out. For all I know it's a bust of Voldemort's family member …"

She went on muttering. The boys let her do it, placing the things that might be what they were looking for to the side. In the end they had ten things, including the bust as Hermione said it was better safe than sorry.

"Do you really think it could be one of these things?" Ron said, looking at the tiara he was carrying, thinking it was a flimsy thing to hold a part of Voldrmort's soul.

"As unlikely as it seems, these are all the most probable objects that might be a Horcrux," Hermione said. "If we take them to Dumbledore he'd be able to tell if we're right."

"You mean if you're right," Ron corrected.

"Either way, we'll know soon enough," Hermione shrugged.

It took several minutes to get to Dumbledore's office and to guess which candy was his password now.

"Aw, what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today," Dumbledore said, though his expression was pleasant his eyes were on the objects in their hands. "And what have you brought me."

"As you know I've been trying to find the Horcrux in the Room of Requirement," Harry said. "I thought I might have made a breakthrough. I think I found the area where …"

Harry stopped as Dumbledore shot out of his chair and walked quickly towards him, only it was toward him but Ron.

"May I see that," Dumbledore ask and Ron handed him the tiara he was practically touching already. Ron shrugged and handed it over and Dumbledore was holding it close to his eye. "Wit beyond measure … yes I see …"

"Is this the Horcrux?" Harry asked, feeling his heart pound in his chest, both excitedly and with apprehension.

"Oh, I believe it is," Dumbledore said. "It's such a pity."

"Sir?" Harry asked.

"This diadem is a lost piece of our history," Dumbledore said. "It had belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw, lost before she died … many have searched for it over the millennium. I wonder how Tom was able to find it … find it only to mutilate it in such a horrible way. It's unfortunate."

Harry shifted away from Dumbledore, unable to not think of himself when hearing about the diadem being mutilate.

"I'm sorry Harry," Dumbledore said gravely.

"No … it's fine," Harry said backing away, "we should go. You can destroy the Horcrux right?"

"Yes," Dumbledore said gravely.

Harry turned to see that both Ron and Hermione were glaring at Dumbledore. He knew that they still blamed Dumbledore for his knowledge about being a Horcrux, and part of him agreed with them. Still, he grabbed their hands and forced them to go with him as he left the room. Well, at least he won't have to spend any more time in the Room of Hidden Things.