There was a stunned silence following Regulus's words – a silence that Adeline didn't understand. She looked between Regulus, who looked gravely determined, and Dumbledore, who looked as though something he had long suspected had just been confirmed.

"How do you know?" Dumbledore asked finally, coming around the back of his desk and taking a seat heavily. Regulus followed suit, returning to his own seat. Adeline furrowed her brow, confused, but sat down next to Regulus.

"What…" She began, but was cut off by Regulus.

"How do I know what they are, or how do I know that he has them?" Regulus asked, somewhat pompously. He crossed his legs regally, and leaned back in his seat, maintaining eye contact with Dumbledore.

Dumbledore considered Regulus with a shrewd eye. "Both, I suppose."

"The Black library is very well respected in the…darker parts of society," Regulus began. "My brother never stepped foot in there, but I…well, I was intrigued. Are you familiar with "Secrets of the Darkest Art"?"

Dumbledore nodded. He stood, suddenly, and took two long strides over to a locked cabinet behind his desk. He took his wand out, made a complicated wand movement, which popped one of the doors open. He pulled a book out from the depths of the cabinet, closed the door, and locked it again. He came back to his desk, putting the book down in front of him. It was a large tome, wrapped in black leather. It was weathered, looked incredibly old, and gave off such a terrifying power that Adeline shivered. "I had it removed from the library once I became Headmaster. I presume this is the very book in which he learned of them himself…"

"I don't doubt it. Although, who knows where he might have heard of them. I wouldn't put it past him to have read every book the library here had to offer. And if books like that," he nodded to the book on the desk, "were sitting around, I can't imagine what else he must have learned from the Hogwarts Library. Horcruxes may be the least of our worries…"

Adeline sighed loudly, irritated that neither Regulus or Dumbledore had seen her look of utter confusion. She cleared her throat pointedly. Dumbledore and Regulus both turned to look at her. "I'm a little lost."

Dumbledore smiled kindly at her. "I apologize, Adeline. Horcruxes are not something that most people in polite company discuss. Most witches and wizards have never even heard of them."

"What are they?" Adeline asked, sitting forward in her seat.

"Pure evil," Regulus answered, simply. "They're one of the most vile things a witch or wizard can create."

"Mr. Black is correct. Horcruxes are objects in which dark wizards hide a piece of their soul; in effect, it tethers them to a sort of half life in the event that their mortal bodies are killed. To create a horcrux requires the ultimate act of evil – in order to split their soul, a wizard must deliberately take someone's life, without regret or remorse. The act of murder irreparably damages ones soul – those who wish to create a horcrux take advantage of this damage, casting a spell which severs that part of their soul, which they then hide in an object, tethering them to life. It is believed that creating a horcrux promises immortality; however, true immortality is impossible to achieve. If a horcrux is destroyed – and yes, they can be destroyed – that witch or wizard would once again be mortal, and would be able to be killed." Dumbledore looked troubled as he explained. His blue eyes had lost the friendly sparkle that they usually carried, looking dull and concerned.

It took Adeline a moment to wrap her head around what she'd just learned. She felt her stomach contract with disgust; she was no stranger to the dark arts – growing up with her family had exposed her to things that other students had never heard of before – but this…this was something far more evil than anything her parents had ever spoken of. She couldn't imagine the amount of hatred and fear one must carry in their hearts in order to commit such a heinous act. She swallowed thickly, needing to clear her throat before she could speak. "So, Voldemort…can't currently be killed?" She asked, feeling fear clench her heart.

Regulus shook his head sadly. "Not unless we find and destroy them."

Dumbledore turned his gaze back towards Regulus. "Them," he said, turning the word over in his mouth. "That is the second time you have used a plural in relation to horcruxes. What leads you to believe that he has multiple?"

Regulus assessed Dumbledore, asking his own question rather than responding. "You don't seem surprised by the idea that he may have multiple?"

Dumbledore tilted his head. "For years, I have attempted to find proof that my suspicions were correct. I'd noticed, back when Lord Voldemort was known as Tom Riddle and I was simply the Transfiguration Professor, that Tom had borrowed this book from the library more times than any other student. I'd guessed that horcruxes would be of particular interest to Tom, given how desperately he clung to power and the drive to push the boundaries past what any other wizard had done before. For years, I have been collecting memories from those that had known Tom Riddle during the time before he shed the name completely – looking for clues that he may have created a horcrux, or possibly more than one. I had never been able to find definitive proof that he had been interested in making more than one, though I did suspect it. The memory that I have that would have solidified my suspicions is damaged; and I have been unsuccessful in convincing the original holder of the memory to provide me with the unmodified memory. I am curious to know what makes you believe he may have more than one."

Regulus's face was blank. "I've held two of them in my hands."

Dumbledore's face immediately sharpened. "Where are they now?"

"Lucius Malfoy has one in his manor. My cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, has the other. I believe she placed it in her vault at Gringotts."

"Fuck," Adeline whispered, reflexively. Bellatrix was terrifying; if she had a horcrux, Adeline couldn't see how they would be able to destroy it. She looked at Dumbledore, who hadn't seemed to hear her. He was looking off into the distance, his eyes unfocused.

"And you're sure that they were horcruxes?" Dumbledore asked sharply, his eyes snapping back to Regulus.

Regulus shivered, a dark look taking over his face. "I've never felt anything more horrifying in my life. It was as though every dark thought I'd ever had in my life came rushing to the front of my mind. If they weren't horcruxes, I don't even want to know what they were."

Dumbledore nodded. "What objects were they?"

"The one that Malfoy has is a leather notebook, or a journal perhaps. Bellatrix has a cup – a golden cup with a badger on it."

"A badger?" Adeline asked. "As in…Helga Hufflepuff?"

Regulus shrugged, but Dumbledore nodded pensively. "Yes, I believe so. A few things that you need to understand about Tom; the first being that even as a child, Tom loved to collect prizes. He would take things from other children at the orphanage where he grew up – mementos from the times where he would bully them. The second being that Hogwarts was the first, and perhaps only, place that he ever felt at home. I think he would find it very fitting to take a relic from each of the founders of Hogwarts and create horcruxes from them. It doesn't surprise me at all that he has Hufflepuff's cup – in fact, I know exactly when and where he got it. If I'm not mistaken, I believe he has a locket that once belonged to Salazar Slytherin, that he would have stolen from the same lovely woman whom he stole the cup from. After he murdered her, and framed her house elf."

Adeline did some quick math. "So that would be…three horcruxes?"

Dumbledore thought for a moment. "I have reason to believe that at least two others exist. One – something belonging to Rowena Ravenclaw. I believe that he may have hidden that one somewhere within Hogwarts. The other – an heirloom connected to his mother's family. Many years ago, Tom Riddle traveled to the village in which his mother and father grew up in, and murdered his father and his grandparents. He then framed his uncle, Morfin, for the murder, and, I believe, stole the last heirloom that the Gaunt family had."

Adeline gasped. "Why?"

"Tom hated the fact that his father was a muggle – he hated that he carried his muggle father's common name; for his father was also called Tom Riddle. His father had abandoned his mother – who he had only been involved with because she had bewitched him with love potions for the entirety of their whirlwind romance – when she revealed that she was pregnant. Tom hated him for that, hated his mother for being weak enough to succumb to death. I believe that is where his obsession with immortality sprang from."

Adeline furrowed her brow. "He had a troubled childhood, didn't he?" she asked quietly.

Regulus snorted derisively. "I had a troubled childhood – Sirius had a troubled childhood – and we're not going around murdering people. Don't get all sympathetic - he's a psychopath. He's not troubled, he's evil."

Adeline nodded once in agreement and acknowledgement. "How did he frame his Uncle?"

"Morfin already had a history of hexing muggles in the town. In fact, he already had a history of hexing Tom Riddle Senior – his sister, Voldemort's mother, Merope, had long held affection for him, and Morfin hated his sister. And muggles, for that matter. It was a simple memory alteration charm – it took me some time to extract the original memory from Morfin. Voldemort is incredibly skilled; but, if I may say so myself…I am more skilled," Dumbledore explained, humbly.

"So…five horcruxes?" Adeline asked.

"Possibly more," Dumbledore said. "There is no way to know for certain. However, at least five, I believe."

There was a tense silence. Finally Regulus spoke. "So, what's our next step?"

Dumbledore answered. "Allow me to do some additional research. I believe that I know the location of one more horcrux, and I will need some assistance from you, Adeline."

"From me?" Adeline asked.

"Yes. You will be getting training from Gringotts in their archaeology program – you'll learn how to find sites of immense magical power, and will gain curse breaking experience. Both will be necessary for locating the remaining horcruxes, as well as gaining access to the ones that we have already located. I had already planned to recruit you for this mission once you graduated – it seems that Mr. Black beat me to the punch, as they say."

"I don't know how I'll be able to help, sir. If you can't find them, I doubt I'd be able to," Adeline said skeptically.

Dumbledore chuckled. "As talented as I am, which is rather talented, I still need a second set of hands now and again. Once you have completed your training program, you will be immensely helpful. Now, it is getting late, and I have some research I must do at once now that I have this additional information. I will send word when I have more news. Mr. Black, I trust that you will accept Adeline as our messenger. It would be too suspicious for me to call you back to my office again."

Regulus nodded. "That's the plan. I'll send word of anything else I learn as well. I'll be spending some time with Lucius this summer, and I'm sure that he has no idea what he's holding on to. He's bound to let something slip."

With that, both Regulus and Adeline said goodnight, and left Dumbledore to his thoughts. They walked in silence for a moment, until they hit the staircase. Adeline was prepared to ascend, while Regulus would descend to the dungeons. He smiled tightly to her before turning his back. He was halfway down the first flight of stairs before Adeline called, "Regulus?"

He turned over his shoulder. He quirked his eyebrow. "Does Finnegan know about…them?"

Regulus looked her up and down subtly. "I don't know."

Adeline nodded averting her eyes. "Will you…"

Regulus cut her off. "Yes. I'll watch out for him for you."

Adeline nodded once. "Goodnight, Regulus."

"Goodnight, Adeline."

It was a week before graduation. Adeline and Sirius had given an excuse to their friends, who were holding court in the Gryffindor common room – playing exploding snap, joking around loudly, attracting the attention of the rest of the house. They'd wanted some alone time together, something that they had been lacking since they returned to Hogwarts after Christmas Break.

It wasn't that Adeline had been avoiding Sirius, per se. She just hated that once again, she was hiding something from him. It made her feel sick to her stomach; although she knew that this time, she was hiding something from him that was so important, it was worth potentially losing him over, it didn't make it any easier. She wanted to protect Sirius – if he knew about the horcruxes, it would just be another target on his back. But at the same time, she wished she could share with him that his brother, who'd caused him so much disappointment and unhappiness, had seen the light and switched sides. She wished she could reassure him that the little boy he had loved was still there; that he wasn't lost, like her own brother seemed to be. But keeping him safe, and helping Dumbledore and Regulus destroy Voldemort, took precedence over her guilt. Not that she could tell him, even if she decided she wanted to.

Sirius squeezed Adeline's hand. "You okay? Where'd you go?" He asked softly. They were laying underneath one of the willow trees near the lake, enjoying the warm summer breeze and the sound of students enjoying their last week before heading home.

Adeline looked up at him, smiling tightly. "I'm okay. Just thinking about the future, you know? How crazy it's going to be when we leave."

Sirius nodded, pushing a strand of long black hair behind his ear. "It's going to be weird not having James sleeping in the bed next to me, and having to plan time to see you. I won't be able to just pop downstairs and steal you away anymore." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"We're both going to be so busy too – you with Auror training, me at Gringotts. Plus the Order," she whispered. "It's going to be tough to find time together."

"Now, if you would just agree to move in with me…" Sirius said in a singsong voice.

Adeline shook her head indulgently. She twisted her head so she could press a quick kiss to his lips. "I can't leave Mary alone with the flat. She'd never be able to afford it. Plus, we both need to be on our own, you know? At least for a bit."

Sirius nodded. They'd had this conversation a hundred times in the last couple of months. Adeline knew that Sirius was nervous that they'd grow apart. But she was nervous that he had grown complacent – that he'd forgotten what it meant to work for their relationship. They were so used to spending time together organically – they lived in the same common room, ate their meals together, went to classes together, studied together. But they never had to intentionally find time to spend together. Even today, they had been spending time with the group when they decided to slip away for some alone time. Adeline was curious to see what would happen when they each had to make it a priority to see each other.

"I'm worried about Dolohov," Sirius said suddenly, shaking Adeline from her thoughts. His arms had wrapped around her middle slightly tighter, the hand that was holding hers getting slightly clammy. "I'm worried that something will happen to you and I won't be there to help you. I'm worried that your brother will come after you."

Adeline turned in his arms so she was looking at him properly. "I'm worried too. You remember what Regulus said…" He hissed when she said his brother's name. She rolled her eyes – if only he knew. "He said that we wouldn't be protected by Hogwarts much longer. We already knew that my brother and Dolohov were going to be after us. All we can do is be ready."

"Delle…" Sirius began.

"No, Sirius," she said firmly, knowing what he was going to say before he began. This was another argument they'd had a thousand times over the last couple of months.

"It makes sense, Delle," he snapped, heatedly.

"I don't care if it makes sense to you, Sirius!" Adeline snapped. "I'm not going in to hiding."

"Dumbledore can protect you. Hide you. You can still help the Order, but you don't need to be out and about, going to work."

Sirius didn't know that she did have to go to work. She had to get the training that Gringotts would provide her with so that she can help Dumbledore find and destroy the Horcruxes. She couldn't tell him that, however, and he was frustrated that she was so insistent on working. If he had his way, he would wrap her up in bubble wrap, shove her into a protected house, and unwrap her when he war was over. It was bizarre, seeing as Sirius was such a strong advocate that everyone should be fighting. Lily called him a hypocrite every time they talked about it – he was militantly insistent that everyone do their part, but when it came to Adeline, he wanted her to sit it out.

"Adeline has a target on her back," he'd hissed at Lily, the last time she had told him he was being hypocritical. "None of the rest of you do."

Lily had scoffed. "Right, I'm just a mudblood – that's not a target at all, huh?"

"Me too," Mary had agreed.

"James and I are going to be Aurors as well – I think that puts a target on our backs," Alice had said with a shrug.

Sirius had just grumbled that they didn't understand. James had said, finally, "She's your girl, we get it. But we all are going to have targets on our backs, and we're all going to do our part. Delle included. You think I wouldn't shove Lily away in a secluded house and have her wait out the war if I could? Of course I would! But I can't – all I can do is make sure we all take care of each other. And we'll have the rest of the Order watching our backs."

Two weeks ago, after Adeline had passed on a message to Dumbledore from Regulus, he had asked her for her opinion on the other Gryffindors, the ones who weren't in the Order. She'd given her honest opinion – she trusted Alice, Mary, Lily and Remus with her life, and she believed that Peter was harmless, though not an asset. She and Dumbledore had been meeting frequently, as Regulus had been passing on information as often has he could, so he had taken to asking for her opinion on various things. The other Gryffindors had been inducted into the Order shortly afterwards.

"Sirius," she said, touching his face softly. "I know that you're scared, and I am too. But hiding me away leaves me more vulnerable. Being out with the Order, fighting, gaining experience while there is a group of people to watch my back, is the only way I'll be able to defend myself if something does go wrong. If I never learn how to fight – really learn how to fight, in a real-life situation – I'll never be able to defend myself."

Sirius took his time answering her. "Dumbledore has some sort of mission for you, right? He said so when he told us about the Order for the first time. You know what it is, don't you? That's why you're so insistent on learning to fight. That's why you've been sneaking around the castle." Adeline knew that Sirius had grown suspicious – especially after catching her chatting quietly with Regulus twice since December. She'd assured him she was working on Dumbledore's orders, and he'd backed off slightly – like it or not, he knew that she and Regulus had some sort of strange friendship and if she was using that bond to help the Order... She'd told him she was going to keep her eye on Regulus, after all.

"Yes," Adeline said.

"What is it?" He asked.

Adeline's stomach dropped. They'd broached the subject before, but he hadn't outright asked her. "I can't tell you."

"Why?" He pressed.

"Because I promised…" a sharp heat filled her chest. A warning from the Unbreakable Vow. She couldn't say Regulus's name.

"Promised who?" Sirius snapped. "I hate it when you keep things from me."

Adeline couldn't say. "It's Order business, okay? Can you trust me? Trust me that I'm not hiding anything from you because I want to, but because I have to?"

Sirius hesitated, but nodded reluctantly. "Sure, Delle," he said, somewhat sarcastically. "I trust you."

Adeline didn't believe him.