A/N: Thanks for the support.

The Slytherin Reformation

By Spectre4hire

14: Come Together

The remnant of the horcrux smoldered on Dumbledore's desk. The basilisk fang the cause of its destruction remained stuck in the golden locket. It loomed over what was left of the horcrux like a tombstone over a grave.

"It is done," Dumbledore announced, with a flourish of his wand, he banished the smoke and residue of the horcrux. Then with what was left, he had it floating in the air before falling into one of his desk drawers. The drawer itself closed shut with a click. A faint light seemed to encase the drawer for a long second before it dimmed and disappeared altogether.

The horcrux's destruction was a good end in Harry's opinion to what had been a very adventurous last twenty four hours.

"Two more," Sirius was holding a golden necklace that looked similar to the horcrux they had just destroyed. "We're close to killing this bastard and for good this time."

Harry understood his godfather's anger. Hours ago, he thought he knew his brother, only for that knowledge to be turned on its head when he learned that his younger brother, Regulus had betrayed Voldemort and died for it. It was why he wouldn't let go of the chain he was holding. Regulus had left it behind when he stole the real horcrux so Voldemort would know it was him. Harry wasn't sure if Voldemort would ever know that detail, but Sirius did, and he wouldn't forget his brother's sacrifice. It had been his godfather who destroyed the horcrux. He drove the fang into the locket. It tried to stop him. It tried to tempt him, but Sirius, who was in a vengeful haze didn't even hesitate in destroying it.

"We are," Dumbledore agreed solemnly. His gaze was sympathetic when it rested on Sirius.

"I think I'll be going," His godfather sounded distracted, "I-I want to return to Grimmauld Place." He finally pocketed his brother's locket. "I promised Kreacher I'd tell him when it was done." He let out a short, fragile laugh. "Me keeping a promise to that old, miserable elf." He turned to Harry. "Keep your nose out of trouble." He emphasized his warning by tapping Harry on said nose.

The gesture made him wrinkle it. "Hey!" He protested, pleased at the real smile that got from his godfather. "I'm not looking for it. It just finds me." Harry shrugged.

"Uh-huh," Sirius embraced him. "I'll see you before the Holidays are through." He then turned to the headmaster. "Dumbledore, do you mind?" He gestured to the fireplace.

"Please," the headmaster offered it gladly, he rose from his desk to shake Sirius' hand. "You did good tonight, Sirius. You did what too few would do at the lure of riches and fame that Tom offered. You openly defied him."

"That wasn't Voldemort," he dismissed stiffly.

"It was a shade of his power," Dumbledore admitted, "And stronger men than you have fallen to less."

"Thanks," Sirius didn't look like he was, save for a flicker that managed to pass over his expression. He took the floo powder and disappeared into the flames.

"Let us not make this a Holiday tradition," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled when he turned to Harry after watching Sirius leave.

"No, sir," Harry agreed.

"Did you look at the locket before Sirius destroyed it?"

"No," Harry had had other concerns at that moment, needing to open it. He kept his distance from it, saying as much to the headmaster, who nodded, "It felt wrong."

"Because it was magic twisted in such unnatural ways," Dumbledore returned to his seat. "That is what a horcrux is." He rested his hands on his desk. "I asked about the locket because even before it was Voldemort's horcrux it held value and a worth that is hard to measure. The locket was an heirloom to Salazar Slytherin." He shook his head with disappointment, "What a waste of a priceless treasure." He took a lemon drop from his bowl, popping it in his mouth, but the candy didn't seem capable of changing the headmaster's mood.

There was silence in Dumbledore's office for nearly a minute, uncomfortable and stifling that Harry considered asking if he could leave before the headmaster broke it.

"It is not the first Hogwarts heirloom that Voldemort has used," Dumbledore said, "The goblins told me that the one they found and destroyed in Gringotts once belonged to Helga Hufflepuff."

"There's two horcruxes remaining," Harry pointed out, "Do you think they belong to heirlooms from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw?"

"An excellent observation," Dumbledore smiled, but it faded with his next words. "However, the only heirloom I recall from Godric Gryffindor was his sword, and I don't believe it would let itself be found by a Slytherin like Tom."

"Oh," Harry didn't completely understand what the headmaster meant, about a sword not wanting to be found, but then again, with magic involved he shouldn't be too surprised. "What about Ravenclaw?"

"That would be her diadem," Dumbledore was stroking his beard, "But that too seems to have been lost to the ages."

"So we don't know what his last two horcruxes are?" The earlier hope had all but vanished.

"I believe I know what one of them is," Dumbledore was quick to temper excitement and expectations, "But it'll take time to see if my hunch is correct."

"And if it is?"

Dumbledore seemed to read his mind. "You would like to come with me."

"Yes, sir," That had been their agreement, but now he saw Dumbledore no longer looked as agreeable to it.

"I put you in a great deal of danger in that cave," Dumbledore's blue eyes shone with regret, "If those inferi had-" His words broke off, clearing his throat and turning away. "What I'm trying to say, Harry, is that our arrangement may be coming to an end."

"But, sir, you need me." Harry definitely tried not to sound petulant, "I had to open the locket." He had to speak parseltongue to coerce it open to allow Sirius to destroy it.

"You did," Dumbledore agreed, but he didn't look convinced. "I think that was enough excitement for the night." His blue eyes were more dimming than shining.

Harry decided it wouldn't be smart to press his case, not now. That didn't mean it wasn't easy to not speak up and argue some more. He got to his feet. "Thank you, sir." He left after the Headmaster's farewell descending the steps. He should've felt relief that he was no longer going to be asked to take such risks, but Harry just felt numb.

The weeks after the destruction of Voldemort's horcrux passed quickly for Harry Potter.

He felt himself being pulled in so many different directions with so little time for it all that the remaining horcruxes and the mysteries entwined within them had faded in their prominence, retreating to other immediate matters that needed his time and attention. The teachers didn't ease their students back into the term after the long Holiday, the amount of homework that was assigned to them was staggering. When homework didn't require his attention in his off-hours then Slytherin Quidditch did. The miserable cold weather didn't discourage their practices. Harry's broomstick felt more like an icicle after a practice spent on those biting winds. The only one who didn't seem to mind was their captain and Tracey. The latter would play quidditch in a snowstorm if she was asked to.

What little time was left to them after school and quidditch, Harry tried to spend with Daphne. His very patient and understanding girlfriend. Their Hogsmeade dates were the few bright spots Harry could look back on since the term started. The other bright spots also starred Daphne, but he tried not to think too hard on those memories since they often left him with a goofy smile and a dazed expression.

"Even Professor Lupin?" Tracey sounded personally betrayed. She was walking while trying to slide her books into her bag.

They were filing out of their latest Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Moony had returned after being absent for a few days. Thankfully, none of his friends seemed to notice Moony's 'sickness' mirroring the full moon and simply believed it to be the cold that they had been told.

"It's like he's assigning us all the homework he couldn't give us because he was sick," Daphne pointed out, a pout forming on her lips.

"This throws my whole night off," Theodore sighed, "I was hoping he'd give us his usual lighter load so I could double down on the Charms and Transfiguration homework." He ran a hand through his hair, "But now with this essay..." The thought seemed to break him as he trailed off.

Hermione came to her boyfriend's rescue. "I'll help you."

Theodore smiled at her. The two were walking while holding hands. Mr. Nott's attempts to separate them had all failed. Harry admired his friend, sticking up to his father. It couldn't be easy, He tried thinking about it by relating it to Moony or Sirius or Cyrus, and the scenario made his stomach rumble at the unpleasantness of it. Simply put it would be terrible.

"Harry?"

All six heads turned at the sound of his name. It was Moony hurrying to catch up with them. Their smiles were more strained than sincere while also trying to look innocent even though they had just been grumbling about said Professor's homework.

"Professor Lupin?"

"Could I have a word with you, please?"

Harry nearly groaned. It was not because he didn't want to talk to Moony, but because they were free for a little bit and he wanted to spend the time with Daphne. Not anymore. He tried not to show his disappointment, "Of course, professor."

Moony's smile was tight but genuine. "Good." He left them without a goodbye.

He nearly felt guilty for his reaction seeing how relieved and appreciative Moony seemed with him at accepting his request. It didn't help his case that he reminded himself that Moony had just endured the torments of the full moon.

"It's okay, Harry," Daphne assured him with one of her sweet smiles that made Harry's head go fuzzy.

"Library?" He asked her before shifting his gaze to the rest of his friends. They all assented. "Good," he then kissed Daphne ignoring Tracey's catcall, and made his way to Moony's classroom, feeling a little bit better. Kissing his girlfriend could have that effect on him.

Moony was waiting for him in the classroom when he arrived. "Could you close the door, Harry."

He did. "Moony?"

"Upstairs," He gestured to his office where he was already heading. He didn't even glance behind him to see if Harry was following.

"What's going on?" Harry forgot all about his homework and his plans at seeing Moony looking so melancholy and acting so distant. He saw that a butterbeer bottle was waiting for him at Moony's desk.

"I'm resigning from Hogwarts," Moony said abruptly.

"What?" He stammered some other words, but that was the only one that sounded coherent to human ears. "Why?" he asked, "You can't!" He couldn't concentrate, his mind tugging him in all different directions. He went for the butterbeer, but even that couldn't soothe him from being so upset.

"I received a letter from the Ministry. Wormtail revealed to them that I was a werewolf."

"Bastard," Harry cursed, but wasn't chided for it. He had already been warned that this could happen. He remembered Sirius mentioning it months ago, but he had put it out of his mind. He hadn't wanted to think about it, especially with how great of a professor Moony had been. Not to mention, how much Moony was enjoying said job. Now, it was being taken away from him, and it wasn't fair. "When?" Harry couldn't allow this to happen. We can fight this. We will fight this.

"Effective immediately," Moony answered, "Sirius is going to come by to help with my stuff." He gestured to his office. It was only then did Harry realize that much of it was already packed. He had been so focused on Moony, he hadn't looked around, but now he saw several papers, and other items under enchantment, marching on invisible tracks and into separate boxes.

"They can't do this!" Harry protested.

"Yes, they can. Once the parents start writing to the Ministry and the Board," He said, before stopping, a sad look crossing his face. "Hopefully, this won't blow back to Cyrus or Dumbledore since they took the risks in hiring me despite knowing of my condition."

"You deserve to be our teacher," Harry argued, "You're the best professor we've had on the subject."

"The world doesn't work that way," Moony had accepted the defeat and was ready to move on.

Harry wasn't him. He wasn't going to let this go. He finished his butterbeer while his mind rolled over what it could do to stop this from happening. Dumbledore! The name came to him before he drank the last drop, and when he did finish, he put it on the desk. "Thanks for telling me, Moony," Harry said, "When will the school find out?"

"Dinner," Moony answered, but his despondent haze seemed to lessen somewhat as his eyes focused on him. "The headmaster will make the announcement. In regards to me being a werewolf, I'm not sure when that'll first come out, tonight? Tomorrow morning?" He shrugged, "It'll be soon."

Harry nodded, the beginnings of a plan was starting to form. "I need to get going." He rose from his seat. "My Defense professor gave me a lot of homework." He slung his bag over his back.

That got a tired smile out of Moony. "I'm sure that professor means well."

Harry dismissed that with a wave of his hand. "Nah, I'm sure he's just a bored old guy."

That got something stronger, a weak chuckle. "Careful, I would hate for you to lose house points."

"Would you actually hate taking points away from Slytherin?"

He scratched his chin, pretending to be deep in thought. "When you say it like that then: no, no, I wouldn't." Moony ended it with a full smile.

"Then I better get going," Harry was nearly at the door when Moony called after him.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?" He tried to look innocent. He wondered if Moony had figured it out, would try to stop Harry, would refuse to accept help and instead just accept this decision.

"Let your friends and classmates know that the essay is canceled," Moony surprised him with that.

"Thanks," He brightened at that unexpected break. "I will." He left with a wave, but Harry wasn't going to his friends at the library. He was off to see Dumbledore.

"Lemon Drop?"

Those were the two words Dumbledore greeted Harry with when he barged into the headmaster's office without an appointment and barely a knock.

He was near panting since he practically sprinted to get here. "Sure." He took one, unwrapped it and popped it in his mouth. The taste was strong and sweet. "Sir, I need to talk to you about Professor Lupin-"

Dumbledore stopped his prepared speech by raising his hand. "Remus has already informed me of his decision. I talked to him, as did Cyrus and Sirius," He said, "Remus would not be swayed."

"That doesn't mean he's right, sir," Harry surprised himself with the force in his tone.

Dumbledore looked at him quizzically. "You'd disregard Professor Lupin's wishes?"

"They're not his wishes, sir," Harry knew he was right.

"Are you so certain?"

"Yes," He was. "Resignation or not, they're going to reveal his secret, but I won't let it ruin him." He paced in front of the desk. "He's the best professor we've had on the subject."

"I believe you speak truly," Dumbledore agreed. "It is a sad thing. I really had hoped Professor Lupin would be the one."

"The one?" Harry asked.

"Yes, the one to break it," the headmaster answered, "It's been a very long time since our Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor has stayed more than one year."

"Really?" Harry knew it was at least a decade just by listening to the older students over the last few years, who'd always complain about another year, another professor. "How long has it been, sir?"

"Decades."

"Decades," Harry repeated in disbelief. He tried to think how many witches and wizards who would've passed through the school as students having seven different professors which included his own parents. Just how many professors has this class gone through? "How?" Harry asked, "How is that possible."

Dumbledore looked at Harry over his half moon spectacles as if weighing the question and whether or not, he should answer it. "I believe the position is cursed," He said mildly, "Many years ago, Tom came to Hogwarts seeking the position and I refused him. Ever since no professor has held the job for more than a year."

Voldemort? Harry had a hard time picturing the Dark Lord in front of the classroom while trying to explain the basic spells and defenses or of Voldemort giving out homework or answering questions. It was just too bizarre.

"I think he knew that he wouldn't get the job," Dumbledore seemed to be remembering the incident, "He was already beginning to change. He wasn't the same handsome Tom Riddle who once walked these halls as a student. And he hadn't arrived alone. He had come with several of his followers. He should've known that I would've been aware of their presence at Hogsmeade no matter how discreetly they tried to be."

"So why did he come here?" Harry didn't think that made sense if the headmaster was remembering it correctly which he believed he probably was. "Why ask for a job he knew he wouldn't get?"

Dumbledore actually looked truly puzzled by that as if he never gave it serious thought until this moment. "I'm not sure, Harry."

Harry was about to let the matter lie, but when he was thinking it over, his eyes had wandered to the seal of Hogwarts, displaying all four houses proudly with their respected symbols, and their names. He perked in his seat at once, struck with a sudden idea. "Sir, what if he didn't come to Hogwarts for the job."

"What do you mean?" Dumbledore frowned in thought.

"What if it was for something else," It was all lining up in his mind. His thoughts neatly tying together with their earlier conversation playing out in his mind about Voldemort collecting pieces of Hogwarts heirlooms. "What if the heirlooms were here. And he found them and needed to retrieve them to make them horcruxes."

"They were not," Dumbledore said apologetically, "They came to Tom's possession in a different way."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." The headmaster didn't look inclined to share why he was so confident.

"Oh," Harry sagged in his seat. For one awesome second he thought he had it all figured out only for it to be quickly dashed. No, no, he couldn't give up. He knew something was there. So the heirlooms weren't at Hogwarts, he accepted that disappointing fact, but he wouldn't accept that Tom came to Hogwarts for a position he knew he would never get. Voldemort didn't seem the person who liked rejection, and if he knew he was to be rejected then there had to be another reason why he came...

"He wasn't looking for the heirlooms, sir," Harry blurted out, "He had one!"

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose at Harry's statement. "And he came here to hide it?"

"Yes," Harry's head was bobbing up and down. He was sure he was right on this. He had to be.

"Hmm," Dumbledore's fingers tapped against each other below his chin. "It would be risky, but Tom considered this school his home, and after discovering the Chamber of Secrets he may have discovered more of Hogwarts secrets that were lost to us over the years."

"It wouldn't be a risk to him," Harry wasn't guessing. It was a feeling. It was nearly chilling how confident he was in it, at knowing Voldemort. "He'd think no one would find it. Flaunting his power and knowledge over all the ignorant students who passed through these halls and all the professors too."

"Well done, Harry," Dumbledore praised, "Five points to Slytherin for such wonderful deduction skills."

Harry beamed. "Thank you, sir." He didn't think he did anything too noteworthy. He just needed the pieces to practically slam against each other in his mind for him to figure it out.

"I'll start the search immediately," Dumbledore sounded genuinely happy, "Harry, if you're right and that the horcrux is here then I believe we would then know the final two locations."

"Really?" Could they really be that close to finding them and then destroying them?

Dumbledore nodded, but his tone was cautious when he spoke. "If its here it will not be easy. Tom was very clever." He was reading the spines of some of the books in his office. "It could still take us months or years, Harry, and that's if you're right," He sighed, he picked out a book, scanned it, frowned and then put it back.

Tom was very clever. Harry wouldn't argue that. He had seen enough of Voldemort's power, remembering the potion that had turned Dumbledore into a blubbering mess or of all those inferi. All of whom who had been killed by Voldemort's hand, who then enslaved them to his will. What sort of terrible magic would one need to master to perform such dark acts?

"He's arrogant," The incident with their latest horcrux was still fresh on his mind. "Remember the cave," He wasn't sure that was the best choice of words given the turmoil Dumbledore had gone through, so he quickly pressed on from that mistake. "Kreacher, The Black's house elf. He got through the wards because Voldemort didn't appreciate their power and magic. He thought he understood them, but when Regulus called for Kreacher, the elf came, bypassing all of Voldemort's defenses."

"You're right, Harry. I'll consult with the house elves. They're aware of this school and its magic in ways, we never will comprehend." Dumbledore was smiling, "Five more points to Slytherin."

"Thank you, sir," Harry hadn't come here expecting to get points. He had come here… Moony! The reminder of Moony's resignation was a dark cloud that quickly fell over him and sunk his mood.

"Professor Lupin?" Dumbledore cast him a sympathetic glance, guessing correctly of Harry's sudden shift.

"Yeah," Harry found another reason to hate Voldemort. His stupid curse had cost Professor Lupin his job. It didn't have to. He had just figured out Voldemort's possible horcrux location, why couldn't he figure out a way to break his curse so Moony could continue teaching? For the second time that night, Harry felt the thrill of an idea that could change everything. He needed a way to show the Ministry and the parents that they wanted him to stay as their professor despite him being a werewolf. The answer came to him: A petition! If they could get all the students to sign to show them that they wanted Moony to stay. Could that be enough? He wasn't sure, but he wouldn't let the doubt conquer him. He thought of something else. He had done it to help his godfather and he'd do it to help Moony. He didn't like the celebrity status, but if it could save Moony from being sacked then Harry would use it to its full effect.

I t looks like I'm sending a letter to Fudge.

In what was turning out to be quite an eventful night, Harry wasn't done yet.

"Harry?" Daphne greeted him. "Are you okay?"

Harry sucked in a breath. "I'm. Fine," he panted out.

"Did you actually run to the library?" Tracey gaped. "I thought that was only something Hermione did."

His friends had all forgotten their homework at his sudden arrival to their table. He had left Dumbledore's office still considering his plan on this petition and believed in it by the time he reached them.

"What did Professor Lupin want?" Neville asked.

"Yeah, you were there for a long time," Susan pointed out.

"Essay. Canceled," Harry breathed out the two words still regaining his breath from another sprint across the castle. His answer sent murmurs around the table.

Theodore groaned, hitting his forehead with his hand. "I just spent the last two hours on it." He then dropped his head to the table where it hit the wood with a soft thud. "OW."

Hermione comforted him by patting his back. "Maybe, you can get extra credit for it."

The only one unaffected by Harry's sudden appearance was Luna. She was humming to herself, oblivious to his arrival, and content in her own little world.

"Why would Professor Lupin cancel the essay?" Susan asked, looking neither excited at the news like Tracey or disappointed by it like Theo, just curious.

"Because Professor Lupin is going to resign," Harry had to raise his voice just to be heard over his outraged friends, but looking around the table to see them all, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw, all four houses it made him believe the plan could work. "But I have a way to stop it."

A/N: It's been a real struggle to write anything and then whatever I ended up writing regardless of the story, I'd despise it and delete it and on and on the cycle went. My skills and confidence have pretty much plummeted. I'm saying this as an apology and as a warning because the quality of my writing has dipped considerably.

Okay, with that out of the way here are the author notes for this story:

Liberties are made to try to tie this slice of life story together into a conclusion. The inclusion of competent adults will likely make it very mild and uneventful.

Thanks for the support,

-Spectre4hire