His Greatest Wish, by AndromedaMarine
A/N: To reviewer Moonstone blaze—I tried to respond to your review but was unable. In answer to your question: at this point in the timeline (canon and otherwise), only four Horcruxes have actually been made. The locket was not made until a few months before Regulus discovered Voldy's secret in-canon (which was probably the spring of Regulus's seventh year or the summer after Regulus left Hogwarts), Nagini wasn't made a Horcrux until later, and Harry was the seventh and final Horcrux. The diadem and the ring were the two made the earliest, considering where they were hidden and also Dumbledore's hunting down of memories regarding Tom. The cup and diary can, at this point, either be or not be. For this story, they exist now, and we know they are still somewhere in Voldemort's or another Death Eater's possession because of the relatively low rank of Lucius. While Bellatrix had shown incredible loyalty to Voldemort before her death (remember she was in love with him), she hadn't been a Death Eater long enough to be entrusted with the Cup of Hufflepuff.
Destroyed
Summer 1973 finally arrived. The first morning home, Lily awoke to the sound of an owl tapping on her window, bearing a letter from Molly and Arthur Weasley that announced the birth of their son, William Arthur Weasley. When Lily read the letter she grinned widely, immediately writing back her congratulations. When she told Sev he didn't seem surprised by the news—in fact he reacted as if he'd been expecting the Weasleys to start having kids.
Two days after returning home, both Lily's and Sev's owls came with invitations from Frank Longbottom, inviting them (as well as the rest of the Circle) to come for a weeklong visit at the Longbottom Estate. Sirius and Regulus were staying there for the summer, and it had been Siri's idea to get everyone together for several days in the middle of summer. Everyone accepted the invite and Lily felt the joy of freedom when the eight Hogwartians played four-on-four Quidditch in the cover of the enormous back yard.
On the last night at the Longbottoms, Artemis, Sev's owl, brought him a letter with the Headmaster's seal on it. Sev ripped it open and read it anxiously, wondering what could be so important that the Headmaster was writing him during the summer. What he read made his jaw drop. Albus Dumbledore was going to hunt down the two Horcruxes he could and attempt to destroy them.
Swiftly Sev wrote back, his temper bubbling a bit, Not without me you aren't. I know what happened last time, and if it happens again you'll need me around to save you and your beard. It's not that easy, Albus. Don't think you can stop me from being a part of this. If you don't want me to break the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Sorcery I suggest you come retrieve me at my mother's house once I return from the Longbottoms. He sent Artemis out the window once more and sat on the guest bed to contemplate.
He didn't really need to wait that long, because they returned home that evening and the next morning Dumbledore showed up on the doorstep of Spinner's End, having gone to the trouble of dressing like a Muggle door-to-door salesman. The only unfitting feature was his very out-of-place long silver hair and beard. Sev had told his mother the night before that Dumbledore would be taking him to Hogwarts to discuss some things, and he really wasn't sure when he would come back. Thankfully Albus corroborated the story, even going so far as to imply several days might be needed. Eileen wasted no time being thrilled that her son was so special in the magical arts, even if she had no idea why he was so talented to begin with. ("It's your Prince blood, I tell you," she'd said happily before they left.)
Sev actually forgot to tell Lily what was going on (not that he would have been truthful about it), but they had no sooner Disapparated from the living room of Spinner's End that Sev realized his mistake. He buried it in his mind and sucked in a deep breath of morning air when they arrived at the far end of High Street in Hogsmeade.
"You said several times that the diadem resides in Hogwarts," Dumbledore said seriously as he began to walk down High Street towards Hogwarts. As he walked he transfigured his strange Muggle clothes back into his bright purple robes. "And that it is located in the Room of Requirement."
"Yes," Severus replied simply. Even now, at thirteen, he wasn't much shorter than Dumbledore. A growth spurt had happened just before the end of term and now Lily and Alice had to look up to see his face.
"For the life of me I have not been able to find this room. I daresay it is a particularly good thing you insisted to come along."
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Albus," Sev replied, slipping into his old habit of calling the Headmaster by his first name.
Dumbledore glanced at the outwardly young Gryffindor. "I still find it quite fascinating, your extensive knowledge."
Severus ignored this comment. "What method were you planning to use?" he asked quietly as they passed the Three Broomsticks, taking care not to actually say the word Horcruxes. It was too early to be open, but he briefly saw Madam Rosmerta behind the bar through the window.
"Fiendfyre," Albus answered, equally quiet. "It was one of the more recognizable spells among the few listed in that book describing how to destroy one."
"Despite it being more recognizable it is also the hardest to control!" Sev protested. They had reached the gates to the grounds, the winged boars gazing down on them with indifference. He felt the wards as they passed through the gates and entered the grounds. "Forgive me, but have you ever even cast Fiendfyre?"
Dumbledore's already wrinkled brow furrowed. "I am not proud to admit it, Severus, but yes. I do not deny it is difficult to control, but not impossible. I know you are aware that I was once in the company of Grindelwald. We discovered and tried many spells, Fiendfyre among them."
They passed Hagrid's hut and started up the hill to the outer courtyards. It had been a while since Sev was on the Hogwarts grounds during summer, and he'd forgotten how much he missed the castle when it basked in the sun.
"Why did we not go directly to Little Hangleton, Albus?" Sev asked as they passed into the Entrance Hall. He immediately felt much cooler inside the stone castle than out in the courtyards. The walk from Hogsmeade wasn't exactly long, but it was hovering unusually close to eighty degrees outside. Sev didn't wait to look around to make sure no other teachers were nearby, and Dumbledore did the same check. Sev took the opportunity to cast Muffliato nonverbally as they started up the staircases towards the Headmaster's office.
"I wanted to be as prepared as possible, Severus," Albus replied. "Rather than risking my life as I apparently did when you last knew me. Why else do you think I owled you?
A shiver of anger trickled down Sev's spine. "You couldn't have simply asked for my assistance?" he asked coldly. "You had to phrase it in such a way that I thought you would attempt it alone, again?"
"You have denied it, but you are an interesting and complex man, Severus. Not only quick, cunning, and brave, but also loyal, and wise. You are not just a Slytherin and a Gryffindor, Severus. You represent every House at Hogwarts equally."
Severus huffed at him. "To go as far as I've come one needs to demonstrate those traits. I am not truly a Hufflepuff or a Ravenclaw, Albus, and you know this very well. Being clever doesn't exclusively make one a Ravenclaw, nor does being loyal exclusively make one a Hufflepuff."
They came to the spiral staircase guarded by the stone gargoyle. "Fizzing Whizbee," Albus stated clearly, deciding not to make a reply to Severus's last comment. The gargoyle jumped aside and a few moments later they were in the great circular office. Albus went straight for his warded bookcase and extracted Secrets of the Darkest Art.
He went directly to the page describing how to destroy a Horcrux. "It would be safest to retrieve the Gaunt Ring first, and bring it directly to the Room of Requirement. Once there we should locate the diadem and then have the Room change into something where the fire will not escape and become a danger to the school."
Sev now realized why Dumbledore had waited until summer to try anything with the Horcruxes. If he lost control he didn't want the students to be in harm's way. The thought crossed his mind that it was truly amazing how far they'd come in this war against a madman in the span of almost ten months with Dumbledore in on the secret. Perhaps this man wasn't so bad after all… Famous last words, Severus, he thought firmly to himself, famous last words.
He watched as Dumbledore raised his wand and muttered an incantation that Severus did not recognize. The Headmaster proffered his arm. "If you would take hold again, Severus, we'll be going to Little Hangleton now."
One of Sev's eyebrows went up when he realized Albus had lifted the Anti-Apparition spell for a few moments.
Three seconds later, they appeared on the little road leading to the former home of Lord Voldemort's mother. It took Dumbledore a long time to break through the wards guarding the ring, and even though he didn't want to, Sev remained more to the side than anything else. He watched as Albus crumbled the last barrier to the heavily protected Horcrux and his stomach tightened when he saw the Headmaster begin to reach with his hand for the ring.
"No!" Sev cried, leaping forward. "What did I tell you? Don't even touch it!" Albus stumbled back several feet, his face drained of color, as Sev stared angrily at him. Sev conjured a jar with a flick of his wand, pointed at the ring on the floor, and said, "Wingardium leviosa." The ring floated innocently from its place on the floor and into the jar, where Sev magically sealed it and placed an anti-breaking charm over the glass so if it dropped, it wouldn't shatter. He gripped it tightly in one hand and regarded the Headmaster carefully.
"I nearly forgot you were here," Albus said, gazing at the jar. Sev followed his gaze and looked down at the clear glass. He pointed his wand at the jar and it instantly filled with black smoke, and the ring was obscured from view.
"You need not be unnecessarily tempted, Albus," Sev said firmly. "Back to Hogwarts, then, to find the diadem."
They Apparated directly to Albus's office. Sev moved quickly, taking the lead as they went up several more staircases until they came to the seventh floor corridor he knew so well. Three times he walked back and forth past the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, his eyes closed, his brows furrowed, and his mouth silently repeating that he needed the Room of Hidden Things.
When the door appeared, Albus's old face radiated excitement. Immediately they began searching for the stone bust of an ugly old man, which Severus remembered from Harry's lifetime. It took them almost two hours going through the tight corridors, during which Sev absently wondered if there was anything useful in here he might salvage one day. Sev found the stone head first. He looked around as Harry had all those years from now, and spotted the tarnished, long-sought-after diadem sitting on an old chest of drawers.
"Albus!" he called, and five minutes later the Headmaster appeared beside him. Sev had taken the opportunity to subject the diadem to the same treatment as the ring, so it was concealed before Albus even arrived. Sev held up the two jars. "Now I suggest we find the door and request a fire-proof room."
Sev could tell Albus wasn't happy about it when he made it clear there wasn't any possibility of the Headmaster attempting to destroy them alone. If anything Albus would need help controlling not just the fire, but also his curiosity. Sev knew the Horcruxes would put up an enormous fight, so once inside the fireproofed Room of Requirement he wasted no time tossing them to the center of the room, his wand already out. Albus cast the spell.
The Fiendfyre leapt from the Headmaster's wand with ferocity, and immediately both Sev and Albus concentrated their energy on making it target the two trembling jars in the center of the room. The jars shattered when the fire touched them, and Sev heard the bitter screams as the cursed flames enveloped and destroyed the diadem and the ring. But the fight with magic wasn't over, as the Fiendfyre had turned its attention on the two humans in the room. It took Sev and Albus much strength to smother the flame, but when they did, ten minutes later, Sev half collapsed against the wall. Albus had dropped to his knees, panting from the exertion.
That night Severus stayed by himself in Gryffindor Tower.
Albus Apparated him back to Spinner's End the next morning, and as Albus spoke to Eileen Prince, telling her the story he and Sev had agreed upon, Sev mounted the stairs and collapsed in his bed for the rest of the day, still drained from the Fiendfyre.
He woke late that afternoon to the sound of voices downstairs. He listened for a few moments and realized Lily was talking to his mother. He dragged himself from the bed and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He rarely ever took the time to see what he looked like, and when he studied himself he saw how much different from his original self he appeared. He wasn't unnaturally thin anymore, in fact he had muscle from all the Quidditch he now played, his hair was still long and fine, not greasy, but his eyes were tired.
Sev shrugged to his reflection and went downstairs.
"Where have you been?" Lily demanded as soon as he came into view. Eileen smiled to herself and went back into the kitchen. "Wait, no I want to tell you something first. Let's go outside." They went to their spot at the park.
"Petunia's got herself a boyfriend."
Severus Prince couldn't help but snort as he saw the walrus image of Vernon Dursley enter his mind's eye. "Don't tell me…is he completely right for her? A narrow minded walrus more concerned about how much money he's going to make than whether anyone actually likes him?"
Lily stared at him. "How in Merlin's name did you know all that?"
"Er, I saw them earlier," he lied with a spectacular lameness that would have put anyone to shame.
Lily's eyes flashed dangerously. "This is about whatever you're hiding from us, Sev, isn't it?" she demanded. In a brief moment of silence she pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes shut. Then she stared him down. "You know what? I have stood by silently, letting you lie to us. But you know about Dursley, obviously. That tells me that I might not even know you anymore, Sev. You're my best friend, Sev, but—"
"But what?" Sev replied, a little irritated, and a lot worried.
"I know you said you wanted me to forget about it for a while, but I can't! I can't forget about it when you know things before I tell them to you! How did you know about Dursley?"
"I—" he bit his tongue.
Lily threw up her hands in frustration and turned her back to him for a moment. "This is ridiculous," she muttered.
Things were going to hell in a hand basket, and the fact that Sev froze up didn't help his case any.
She turned on him again. "And where were you the past couple days? Your mother said Dumbledore came to collect you for something about lessons next year, but I don't believe it—especially not since you slept the whole day away after you got back. You look tired, Sev, drained—like you did something incredibly advanced, even for you!"
"Lily, it's not—"
"What I think?" she finished for him. "Why isn't anything what I think? Why are you always right? It's because you won't listen if I've got a theory—and maybe my theory's correct!"
He hadn't expected it to get so out of control so soon. "I'm sorry, Lily, I told you back in November that I can't tell you anything yet!"
"Are you waiting for an engraved invitation from someone to tell you that you're free to confide in your friends?"
"It's not that, you're too young—" he fell silent, having said far, far too much. Lily glared at him.
"You are three weeks older than me, Severus Prince. Three weeks. Don't you dare say I'm too young, if you've apparently been keeping this secret since the day before we even came to Hogwarts first year."
A chill ran down Sev's spine for the second time in three days. He kept his mouth shut.
"You know what?" she said, her eyes hard and her jaw set. "I can't talk to you. I can't do this right now. You're lying to me and the tension has become too much."
Sev stared at her. "Lily, wait—" he reached for her shoulder but she moved away from him and started to walk back towards her house. "Lily!" Sev called after her, taking several steps forward before he realized she wasn't stopping, let alone coming back.
His heart pounded painfully in his chest, and all the bad memories rushed back into clear focus. He was breathing heavily, but the weight of what had just happened made his vision a little foggy. He watched her retreating form until she disappeared around the bend of the road.
He sank to the ground, and so commenced the worst summer he could ever remember.
Lily did not speak to him for a month. When September came near he went to Diagon Alley alone, purchased the next year's supplies, and retreated back to his room. It was August twenty-ninth when someone knocked on the door just after dinner, and when Sev opened it he stared at Lily Evans in shock for several moments before she pushed past him and into the living room.
"I'm not apologizing," she said after a minute. "But I will admit that I miss my best friend."
Sev's shoulders sagged in relief. "Can we go outside to talk?" he asked softly, not wanting his mother to overhear any conversations. Lily agreed and they went to the river's edge.
"I still can't tell you," he whispered without looking at his best friend. Lily turned to face him and he forced himself to look into her eyes. He saw the hurt in them and immediately felt much worse than he already did.
"That's not good enough," she said. "You've had plenty of opportunities to talk to me about whatever this is…and you've refused to. So, I'm giving you an ultimatum."
Sev's heart sank and his throat closed up a little. With difficulty, he swallowed.
"Next September, Sev. No later. I'm sick of it, sick of all the secrecy. Don't you trust me enough to tell me?"
"Lily, it's not that simple—"
"I don't care how complicated you think it is, Severus Prince! What I care about is that you think I'm not ready for whatever it is because of how big and confusing it might be! I'm a big girl, Sev, I can handle the truth."
Sev looked at the ground. "I'm not so sure…" he replied softly, digging his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
Tears started to fill Lily's beautiful green eyes. "If you don't tell my by next school year, I'll…I'll…"
"Never speak to me again?" Sev supplied glumly. I've heard that before,he thought to himself.
Lily appeared shocked by the suggestion that they never speak again. "No, not never," she emphasized. "Maybe for a while, but not…not never."
"You wouldn't be able to forgive me," he said in an even gloomier tone. "You know how to hold a grudge, Lil. You and Petunia both."
An expression of righteous anger filled her face. "Are you comparing me toPetunia,Sev?" she said, a little shrilly. "Because my taste in men—not to mention friends—could never be as atrocious as hers, what with that whale she calls a boyfriend following her around everywhere!"
He let out a small laugh, but it was Sev's turn to get serious. "I'm just saying that it would suck to be on the receiving end of your wrath, that's all." I've been on that end, and it's not fun.
This seemed to amuse Lily, for her anger dissipated and a small smile tugged at her lips. "So you'll tell me by fourth year?" she asked in a softer voice, her eyes pleading.
Sev struggled with his answer, even though he'd known it would come to this. "Y…yes."
Lily beamed, threw her arms around him, and kissed his cheek.
Third year began without much fanfare, except that Regulus could now be found regularly in the company of the Circle of Seven.
As the weeks passed Severus had a few meetings with Dumbledore, suggesting that the residences of the captured Death Eaters be searched specifically for the Cup of Hufflepuff and the diary, seeing as they had not gone to Bellatrix or Lucius. He honestly had no idea where the Horcruxes would actually be, but under Dumbledore's suggestion and with his attendance, the residences were searched. It was a large undertaking, mainly because with the help of Veritaserum used on the seven captured from Grimmauld, more than forty of Voldemort's supporters had been detained, seriously shrinking the Dark Lord's base of support.
The cup was found in the Rowle estate, closely warded and very difficult to retrieve. An Auror was seriously injured in the process.
The diary was found on the shelves of the enormous Black library, where Narcissa, Bellatrix, and Andromeda's parents, Cygnus and Druella Black, lived.
When Severus heard this news from Dumbledore, he felt Christmas had come early. He helped Dumbledore control the Fiendfyre once more, and the last remaining Horcruxes were but memories when December 1973 arrived.