Whatever It Takes

Disclaimer: I'm getting tired of saying this. I don't own Harry Potter. There. Whew!

A/N: Oh, I guess I didn't mention this, but since Ron and Hermione have gone back to Hogwarts, Ron, of course, is no longer living in Grimmauld Place with Harry, and Hermione quit her job. Clear, now? Good…my mistake!

Another thing words in italics are Harry's thoughts. Correction: Most of the words in italics are his thoughts, but not all of them.

Chapter 8

Harry slowly picked up the locket and looked at it. It took awhile, but something just clicked in his head and he knew.

It's the horcrux!

He felt something building up in him, but it was quickly quieted as he re-thought this.

Wait. It can't be the horcrux. That would be too easy! Plus, what is it doing in Grimmauld Place?

Harry's thoughts were interrupted by a voice.

"Harry?" It was Remus Lupin.

"Hi," Harry replied.

"I thought I would just come and check up on you now that Ron and Hermione aren't here," Lupin said, glancing around the room.

"I'm fine and if you've come to try and make me change my mind…"

"I wouldn't do that, Harry. You're an adult and you can make your own decisions," Lupin said seriously.

Harry sighed. "What's that?" Lupin asked.

"I dunno. I was just putting something in a drawer and this was in it," Harry said, showing Lupin the locket.

"I thought…well you know. I thought maybe it was the horcrux Dumbledore and I were looking for," Harry spoke quietly.

"Hmm…R.A.B.," he muttered. "You weren't able to figure out who…"

"No," Harry said firmly.

"Well, maybe it's best this stay with me, Harry. I wouldn't want you getting into trouble over this. I'll have Mad-Eye look it over, of course."

"It's probably nothing. I just can't help…now that he's gone."

"It's hard to believe," Lupin said nodding. "And…you're sure that you are okay staying here by yourself?"

"Yeah."

"Well, if you need me, just send me an owl," he said and Harry nodded. With that Lupin dissaperated with the locket and Harry was left alone again. Although, he did have Hedwig to keep him company and the daily letters from Ron and Hermione.

Most of the time Harry spent thinking. It was hard not to when everything was so quiet. Of course, every so often Mrs. Weasley, Lupin, or someone else from the Order would come up and check on him, but they never stayed for long.

So, Harry was left to his thoughts. He spent half the night awake, trying to imagine where the horcruxes were and what the remaining one was. Thoughts of how to defeat Voldemort and even possibly Snape, swirled in his head.

The Christmas holidays were approaching and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had arranged for him to stay at Hogwarts for a few days with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. They had thought it might cheer him up to come back, even if it was for only a few days.

The place was practically empty, as Ron had told him, because parents wanted to be with their children at every moment possible, should something horrible occur. Ron had also told him this would be a good time to see the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and to discuss the recent happenings with Voldemort that had been in the paper.

Everyday The Daily Prophet was filled with stories of people who had gone missing or who were found dead. Things were definitely getting worse, as it was not only the average wizard or witch who had mysteriously disappeared, it was whole families now. Even the dementors had gotten worse and almost 3 times a week the paper had claims of people seeing Inferi.

Muggles were also aware of what was going on. Obviously, they did not know that there was a war in the wizarding world, but they did notice that their friends and family had gone missing. Even once or twice Harry had read in a muggle paper that they had seen a mysterious object high in the sky, lighting the place in a eerie green light.

Scrimgeour tried to make it seem that things were under control, when clearly everyone knew that things were quite out of hand. Wizards and witches covered their quivering faces with the hoods of their cloaks and rarely went out at night. They quietly tittered about co-workers who were acting strangely and did not stop to politely say, "Hello," to a stranger.

The air had a feeling of anxiety, and even Harry noticed that with buttoning his coat all the way up, somehow the black, coldness was still able to seep in.

It wasn't until he, with numerous Order members as escorts, saw the castle, did he remember how grand and magnificent it looked, even in the daylight. It was almost as though the castle was a beacon shining from the middle of a deep abyss.

Harry found Ron, Hermione and Ginny in the empty Gryffindor Common Room. Ron was playing chess with Ginny, who was of course losing badly. Hermione was reading a thick book at a table strewn with many papers. They all greeted him enthusiastically and once Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had left Harry immediately informed them of his discovery at Grimmauld Place.

"So, Lupin took it?" Ginny asked and Harry nodded.

"Well, why didn't you destroy it?" Ron asked.

"I wasn't sure…," Harry started, but was interrupted by Hermione.

"Are you crazy, Ron? It could have been jinxed!"

"I just have this feeling. I think it actually might have been the horcrux," Harry said slowly. Ron and Ginny looked gleeful, but Hermione looked horrified.

"Let Mad-Eye look it over," Hermione spoke stiffly.

"I will, but when I get it back…"

"If you get it back, Harry…"

"I think I might try to open it and then maybe I can destroy it."

"I don't think it was the horcrux, Harry. It just doesn't make sense. What would it be doing in Grimmauld Place?" Hermione asked.

"Are you forgetting that Sirius's family favored the Dark Arts, Hermione? They would have loved to hide something so important in their house. Sirius's mum probably hid it!" Harry said angrily.

"From what you said, it sounds like it wasn't hidden very well."

"Well, maybe Kreature moved it! I dunno!" Harry yelled.

"Ron, don't you think…?"

"I think Harry's right," Ron said quietly.

"Fine! Just take Harry's side! I'm always wrong, aren't I?" Hermione shot back. "I don't know why I even try to talk to you about this!" She walked up the stairs to the dormitories and slammed the door.

Ron swallowed. "You shouldn't have said anything," Harry told him.

"It's fine. She's always mad at me anyway. I really do think you're right, though Harry."

"I do too," Ginny said seriously.

"Thanks." It was nice having people stand behind you, but in some ways Harry couldn't help but feel sorry for Hermione, who was only trying to protect him.

A/N: School starts early over here, so I won't be able to update as often as I used to. I'll try to update once a week, but the first week of school is always so hectic, so I'll just have to wait and see.