CHANGE SCENE && 3 January 1996

The Hogwarts Express left London on schedule to carry the students back for the Winter Term. The trip was relatively uneventful though it seemed a very long trip that day for Harry Potter. When they found him on the train, Ron and Ginny settled into the compartment he was sharing with Neville Longbottom. The Weasleys hardly left Harry's side and snapped at them more than once.

"What did you and your godfather do after he threw everyone out of his house?" asked Ron. "Dad said…uh…Professor Dumbledore is very disappointed in Sirius and in you."

"I'm sorry to hear that Ron," Harry replied. "But Dumbledore has had many disappointments in his 137 years of existence; he must be used to them by now."

"Is he really that old?" asked Neville. "Wow, I wonder if Dumbledore ever met Queen Victoria?"

"Who?" asked Ginny. "I thought that muggle woman was named Lizzy-something."

"Who are you talking about, Gin?" asked Ron.

With a little help from Neville, Harry kept the two Weasleys off track. But when Ron persisted in asking Dumbledore-centered questions, Harry retaliated by asking, "Did the healers get the scars on your hands healed?"

Looking directly at Ginny, Harry asked, "Did you get to see the other healers, Ginevra?"

Brother and sister were uncomfortable with those questions and fell silent before standing and leaving the compartment. Ginny went to look for some friends. Harry said nothing and turned to a book on puberty that embarrassed Ron. Weasley said, "I'm going to look for the mud…Granger. She didn't answer Mum's letter about coming to visit."

Once both of the Weasleys were gone, Neville asked, "Can I borrow that book some time?"

Looking up confused for a moment, Harry said, "Uh, this is a false flag."

"A what?"

"The book is about something totally different than a boy going through puberty. The title is to make everyone stay away," Harry confessed.

Then he asked, "Neville, did anyone talk to you about that stuff?"

Neville shook his head as he blushed. Reaching into his book bag, Harry pulled out a book on Classical Paintings that he handed over. "Sirius got me a couple books and this one is the best – it's got lots of information. But don't pass it around."

"Classical paintings?" asked Neville before he opened the book. "Oh, it's another false flag thing."

Diving into the book, Neville was quiet for over an hour while he read the book that discussed the changes occurring in the teenager's body. When Neville left to walk about a bit, Harry nodded but didn't say anything; his attention was on the pages of his book on protecting his mind. Since receiving the book from the Room of Requirement in early November, Harry memorized many portions and built an organization for his memories that consisted of snitches floating in a limitless, tranquil ocean. To defend his ocean, something he'd never seen except on telly, Harry placed swarms of giant squids like the one in Black Lake. However, his squids were armed with spikes on each arm and each spike dripped with basilisk venom.

When Snape had attacked, the squids grabbed the greasy git's probe, jerked it forward to reach into Severus's mind, and slap him around with their basilisk venom. Through word of mouth, Harry heard from Sirius who talked to Minerva on boxing day that the Saint Mungo's healers hoped to release Severus Snape in approximately thirty days for at least a month's recuperation in a quiet location.

"There's a tomb in Little Hangleton where Snape can hang out while he recuperates," Harry told his godfather who was confused but happy with the news.

Eventually, Ron reappeared at the door of the compartment and complained that both Neville and Harry were turning into Granger who did nothing but read. Weasley never mentioned finding Hermione and to placate his friend, Harry put away his book and suggested a chess match. While he played with Ron, using his occ skills to analyze Ron's play and figure out a strategy that could defeat the Weasley king of chess, Harry considered his plans for tonight.

'I want to visit the Room of Requirement tonight and find the Diadem with the Horcrux. Three small cups of holy water should do the trick – just like my scar.' Glancing toward Ron, he wondered if Weasley would stick too close to let Harry slip away. 'I'll need Dobby's help with the holy water. I can't take a chance of it getting split or confiscated by a professor.'

'Maybe tomorrow night…tomorrow afternoon…let's see what the schedule has for winter term.'

CHANGE SCENE && Delays

The atmosphere in the Great Hall that evening was welcoming though boisterous. The Heads of House spent the evening mingling with their students at the tables rather than sitting separated at the staff table where Dumbledore held court on his golden throne. The deputy headmistress actually had a smile on her face that evening – the schedules for the winter term were complete and her changes would impact instruction – students were grouped by their test scores rather than their house. Dumbledore wasn't aware of this change and Minerva had no intention of telling him.

At some point during the welcoming feast, Albus noticed the absence of Miss Granger. When he inquired with the deputy headmistress, she informed him that she'd received a withdrawal notice from the parents due to moving out of Britain. They argued about Minerva's hoarding of information, Miss Granger's importance to the future, and the consequences of the girl's departure. Albus was most disturbed when he learned that Mr. Hilliard had been informed the same day as the letter arrived, but he'd had to wait until tonight.

"Albus, do you care about the other students who've withdrawn at Christmas?"

"Others withdrew?" Albus asked but when Minerva began to explain about Miss Sydney from Hufflepuff who withdrew to marry at 17, the headmaster waved away the news. Minerva frowned and gave her meal her full attention.

CHANGE SCENE && Finally Visit the RoR

In the mash of students returning to the dorm, Harry decided to wait until the next day to try and get to the Room of Requirement. His schedule the next morning was a full day of classes and the Quidditch team meeting in the evening. It was 7 January before he found a quiet afternoon where he could escape from Ron and Ginny to venture to the room underneath his cloak. Dobby waited for Harry's call with the liters of holy water to douse the diadem when he found it.

At the tapestry of trolls in ballerina outfits, Harry walked back and forth three times, thinking, 'I need the room with the Horcruxes. I need the room with the Horcruxes.'

The door that appeared was different than the room with the drawings and information on the Horcruxes made by Tom Riddle. There was a complicated lock in the center of the door that Harry had to open with his wand and then his palm print and the door was very heavy. Stepping inside, Harry stared and muttered, "Uh-oh."

Arranged around the room were multiple Horcruxes – at least twenty such artifacts were hidden within the Room of Requirement. Most of the Horcruxes were royal crowns, but there were a few weapons and necklaces in addition to Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem. Thoughtful as ever, the room provided a parchment listing all the Horcruxes hidden within Hogwarts. The list was long and included kings, queens, villains (often the kings), and some details about their makers.

Cleopatra (Helga Hufflepuff) Bust Marble

Caesar (Godric Gryffindor) Gold Roman Victor's Crown

Theodora (Rowena Ravenclaw and Perenelle Flamel) Jeweled Necklace

Justinian (Salazar Slytherin and Nicolas Flamel) Iron Buckle for Robes or Belt

Alexander the Great (not seen since WWI) Golden Knife Sheath

Ramesses the Great (not seen since WWII) Golden Ankh

Marc Antony (murdered by Caesar in 1402) Greave (a leg guard)

James I (died 1620) Crown

Charles I (died 1640) Crown

Charles II (died 1685) Crown. Founder of Magical Britain

Edward I (died 1307) Crown

Edward the Black Prince (died 1376) Crown

Edward III (died 1377) Crown

Henry V (died 1422) Crown

Henry VI (died 1471) Crown

Charlemagne (died 814) Shield

Attila the Hun (died 453) Sword

Eleanor of Aquitaine (died 1204) Crown

Henry III (died 1272) Crown

Henry II (died 1189) Crown

Richard the Lionheart (died 1199) Crown

Thomas Riddle (died 1981, 1991, 1992) Diadem

After reading the parchment that identified all the Horcruxes, Harry stepped closer to the tables with the devices displayed. The crowns were made of gold with jewels. There was one plain belt buckle, one necklace, and a few weapons that had been used. The teenager went back to the bust of the queen of Egypt and said, "Hello, Cleopatra."

Behind him, a voice replied, "Hello, Harry Potter."

The boy leaped in the air, spinning around, and dropping into a crouch with his wand in his hand. The lovely voice simply giggled and then laughed aloud.

END SCENE &&