Chapter Four

Playtime in the Library


August 10-Ok. Things have been pretty bad lately. Hermione is testy, trying to figure out the place Voldemort left behind. Ron...well, I think he is starting to have doubts. Ginny keeps adamantly defending me and this quest...I would say it's getting annoying. But, seriously, I find it refreshing. I have doubts myself. But whenever I do I tell myself that it's this or the adults.

And there is no way I am working under them again. Not being told crucial information until it's too late, being treated like your fragile, like your to young and innocent. BAH! I'm the one that should know this stuff! It's my right! If I have to kill him, I should be given this right at least...Right?

August 12-One word...Disaster.

We were running out of food so the girls went to a muggle supermarket for groceries. Nothing happened there. It was Ron and me. Ron started saying that maybe we should go back. That maybe we need help. He even mentioned the order. I just ignored him but he was adamant. So...unfortunately, I blew up in his face.

Suffice is to say when the girls returned even food wasn't enough to get him to talk to me.

August 20-Hermione, after days of self inclined hermit-hood she has made a list of all the places Voldemort left behind.

I'd asked her what took her so long but I'm afraid she'd blow up in my face...unfortunately...or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, Ron did.

"Hermione...Why did it take you over 20 days to figure out that list?"

"Oh Ron. It's not as easy as it seems. It involves careful study and research because this is all before our time. If we were to just write out a list we would most likely miss most of the places Voldemort has been to."

At Ron's confused and blank look she continued

"All the places he's attacked, not just Death Eaters, but him. So I had to look up his sightings and list those. Then all his known hideouts. But if this R.A.B. character was a Death Eater, and I think he was, then this place he left behind could be an unknown hideout. Which we will never find. But I'm hoping one of these places on my list will be the place he left behind."

"Why do you think R.A.B. is a Death Eater?" I asked. This conversation was getting interesting. And, thankfully, she seemed to be in a good mood, practically bouncing.

"how could a non-Death Eater know about his Horcruxes? When, I'm guessing, most Death Eaters didn't know?"

Anyways. The list is as follows;

List of Voldemort's Sightings and Hideouts

Locations and the Families Targeted

1)Godric's Hollow---Potter,Swelter
2)London--------------Bones,Travers,Taves,Jones
3)Lockness-----------Campbell

Various Wizarding Areas and Hideouts
1)Diagon Alley-------Almost every shop
2)Knockturn Alley---Almost every shop
3)Ministry
4)Inverness-----------Cave 10 miles south
5)Grimauld Place
6)Askaban

Grimauld Place? I was surprised at first then I remembered that it belonged to the Blacks. Known Voldemort supporters. That will be the last place we check. And I voiced my opinion. Thankfully, they all agreed.

I noticed that he didn't show up for many killings. I suppose they weren't important enough...

Hermione said that after we check out the various locations that we can cross them off. I asked why the Potters weren't crossed off. Her answer. "We have to check it for Horcruxes, Harry. We went there, yes, but we didn't check." then she sighed and mumbled something about wishing Dumbledore told me how to recognize them. Oh well.

Ginny came up with a good question. How in the hell are we going to get into either Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley or, the Ministry? What about Askaban? Frankly, even if we could get into Askaban, I don't think I would want to. And that cave? Hermione pointed out that the article just stated that. No pictures, no map, no directions. We just know it's 10 miles south...Bloody Hell.

August 23-Ginny keeps following me around. I really like her...a lot. But I'm afraid. Truthfully and utterly afraid. If Voldemort finds out that I lo-like her then they will go after her. I don't want any of my friends to die. And if I have a relationship with Ginny, like she so obviously wants me too, it will make her an even bigger target...

August 25-We finally moved from our hideout just outside London. I'm pretty sure the Order has already checked every possible location they think we might be in. Fortunately they never thought to check that close.

Our new location is in Inverness. A fairly big city. We picked this city because it was big and therefore will have a few libraries, hopefully with information on Horcruxes, and because there was a possible Death Eater hideout near here.

We rented out a small flat. Laughable, I know. But who would honestly think a group of run-away teen wizards would rent out a muggle flat in Inverness?

I argued about the likelihood that someplace would rent out a flat to a bunch of 17 year old teens. I mean, we are of age in the wizarding world, but not the muggle world. Ron just gave me a blank look while Hermione pointed out that we are wizards and therefore can produce the legal papers and cards. I didn't ask how, nor do I wish to know. All I know is that I am now worshiping the two brilliant minds in 'Operation: Fool the Muggle Government'. Hermione and Ginny.

It's only a 2 bedroom so Ron and I share a room, and Ginny and Hermione share the other.

I think Ron and Hermione would like to share one, but I really don't wish to sleep in the same room as Ginny. I want too...but...NO! It's quite obvious really, with Ron's attempts at being subtle, that they want to share a room...

There's a modest living room, a tiny kitchen and a bathroom. Nothing special. And all painted white. Thankfully it isn't about aesthetics.

We will be staying here for as long as needed. We set up anti-apperation wards and a few defensive one also, to keep out unwanted guests, and a filius charm to top it off. Since I paid for the flat, I'm the secret keeper. I wanted to put up an unplottable ward too. But Ginny and Hermione said it would be damn near impossible, considering we now live on the 5th floor of a building.

August 28- After we got settled in we located a few libraries, we split up and went to check them out. I got grouped with Ginny. Somehow I think she had something to do with this. Last time we went to the library I went with Ron. Something is definitely up. Both the girls say this is because us guys have such small attention spans and need some one there to keep them focused. As if. They make more of a distraction!

I sneezed. We had been there for over 2 hours and had looked over all the books in the public reading area. We now had to some how find our way into the restricted sections. We know it's possible. Hermione had done it before, and so had we, in other various libraries.

"So Ginny," I started, hidden behind a book rack, holding a random book as a distraction while secretly spying on the door to the restricted section. "How shall we proceed?"

"Well…" She turned to look at me with a twinkle in her eyes that didn't bode well. "Do you want to cause the distraction or me? Either way you will have to cast the spells since I'm under age…" She trailed off, a smile tugging on her lips. Her eyes returned to the book in her hands. 'Cooking for Company: A House Witch's Guide for the Perfect Meal' which she happened to have upside down.

Cocking an eyebrow I turned it right-side up and replied "Well, Ginny, since I don't want to be greedy. I'll cause the distraction and cast the spells …So, how about you sneak in? Then after a few minutes I'll follow? Sound good?"

With a nod she answered "Permission to start 'Operation: Sneak into Restricted Section' "

With a laugh, "Granted"

I stayed where I was, surveying the scene around me for any witnesses, seeing none, I hastily cast a concealing charm. With a laugh I pointed my wand towards the restricted section's 'guard', which was actually a witch, set there to keep underage wizards out. Unfortunately, they didn't call our trio the most promising students to ever grace Hogwarts for nothing.

I started to disarm the wards set around the witch and her table. Tricky, yet not impossible. Most wizards, even ten years out senior, wouldn't be able to do this, but they don't need to learn. We did. And determination is a good teacher.

A good 10 minutes later I was finished. It just took a confusion charm at the beginning to hide the effects of the spell I cast and no one would be the wiser.

Once I was done I took of the concealing charm and motioned to Ginny who had walked over to a stack of books closer to the restricted section. As soon as she saw she walked confidently towards the door and right through it.

With a laugh I perused my book. Funny. These charms and wards. A few well thought out maneuvers and they were down. Too easy. But, possibly, most people weren't as talented, or really needed to get past them.

The wards around the restricted section didn't work by age, instead they focused on a slip of paper.
You went up to the desk to the witch keeping watch and gave your reason, then showed her that you were over age. A signed note by a professor or influential person worked wonders too. Because if your reason wasn't valid, like say, for reading purposes, you weren't allowed in.

Now, me being of age doesn't help because so many people are looking for me and if I was seen in Inverness the news would get back to the Order. So we have to trick and lie our way in. Easy enough. We have been doing that exact thing since we were 11. Have we not?

So, obviously, with the wards down, anyone could get in. But you could still be noticed by the witch. That's why the confusion charm is still in place. She might see us but it wont register it in her brain, so, it's like we weren't ever there.

I look down at my watch and realize that 10 minutes have passed. Setting my book on the nearest shelf I stalk confidently towards the restricted section.

"Finally, I thought you would never come." Ginny's rambling met me through the door.

"humph"

We then took opposite sides of the room and headed towards the middle.

An hour later…"HARRY!" Ginny squealed. "I think I found something!"

Rushing over towards her I tripped over a book left on the floor and skidded the rest of the way to her on my arse. Looking up from my new seat I raise my arm in a silent gesture for the book.

Horcruxes are among the most sinister of devices. To make one is to bring your soul into hell, an early death. There is no coming back. Morals are left behind for the search for true immortality. Reason is forgotten, along with, guilt, shame, trust and love. All great and strong emotions are forgotten except for the most evil. Lust, selfishness, greed, maliciousness. All in all, to make a Horcruxe is to equate yourself with a monster.

But I digress. I go back from my warning and into an unknown territory. Only a few of us have traveled this path, and they aren't able to tell it. You can always tell if a person has made a Horcrux. There are several ways. A potion, aptly named the Horcrux Catch or with a simple spell, Horcruxes aperio

If you are unable to do either, a less trusted method is by asking said person to cast the Patronis spell. A person who has made a Horcrux cannot cast a Patronis spell. But neither can most of the population. Also, a person who has made a Horcrux is similar in more ways then one to a Dementor. A Dementor had no soul of it's own. Instead it has to feed off of others. Therefore a person who had made a Horcrux won't be as susceptible to Dementors, nor will they be able to handle a Patronis charm that is cast at or near them.

"hmm…Well at least it's something…though it doesn't say how to actually find them…"

"Keep reading Harry…"

After you have found a person who has made a Horcrux and you wish to find that person's Horcrux you must first cast the Horcrux aperio spell on that person. This spell will give off a colour. This colour can be used to locate the Horcrux as long as you are within 10 yards.

To find a Horcrux you must first guess the location. There is no easy way. Then, once you are within 10 yards of the suspected Horcrux, cast the Horcrux aperio spell. If the item in question glows the same colour as the witch or wizard in question did, then there is a good chance that you have found their Horcrux. Of course, it could also be someone else's Horcrux. There is no way to be certain.


Once you have found a Horcruxe one way to destroy it is to destroy the object. The more magical the object, the harder it will be to destroy it. Obviously, some magical objects are priceless and therefore you might not wish to destroy it. Another way is to undo the Horcrux. This way is less used and less trusted. It is some what of a myth. To do so you shall need a person pure of heart and a Phoenix. Without one or the other there is no other way to destroy a Horcrux while leaving the item in tact.

I have found and destroyed a Horcrux, but never have I used a Phoenix, therefore I cannot say exactly how it is done. All I have heard is that the Phoenix will know what to do. Obviously, not many people can even make a Horcrux. And even less people have destroyed one. Therefore the knowledge gained on this subject is limited and is often destroyed when found by a person who has made a Horcrux.

Other then the ways listed above. There are no other known ways to find and destroy a Horcrux.

"That was interesting…"

"So we find Voldemort…"

"In to the belly of the beast…so to say…"