Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sat enclosed in Harry and Ron's room. Now that their training was over, they planned to leave the next day to search for the horcruxes. They had asked for all of the Order to be present at a meeting tonight after supper. Then, they were going to break the news somehow that they were going on a secret mission that Dumbledore had asked them to complete the night he died. They knew that none of the members of the Order would take it well.

Harry ran his hand through his already wild hair. "Look, we just have to tell them straight out, that's all. Just get it over with. They'll understand."

Ron shot him a dubious look and remarked. "Do you really think that my mum will understand? She'll be in tears and the whole lot of you know it.

Ginny interrupted. "Ron, we can't help it. Dumbledore gave strict orders that no one, not even the Order, was to know about the…you know." She ended quietly.

Hermione finally spoke up. "Harry's right. There's no sense in beating around the bush. We just need to remind them that even though Dumbledore is dead now, they should still trust his previous judgments." Suddenly, noises were heard downstairs that could only be made from apparating.

"It's time." Harry said. "Let's go."

The foursome apparated downstairs with serious doubts about how the next hour would go.

Professor McGonagal stood up and said, "Well, Potter. You called this meeting. Are you ready to tell us all what's going on?"

Harry took a deep breath and exchanged looks of apprehension with his friends. "I called you all here today because I need to tell you about something Professor Dumbledore asked the four of us to do before he died. When I tell you this, I know you are going to protest that we're too young to be doing this, but I just want to remind all of you that you trusted Dumbledore before he died. We really need you to keep your trust in him now when I tell you what's going on."

Harry paused for a deep breath and looked to see everyone looking at him expectantly. He continued. "Professor Dumbledore and I went on a secret mission the night of his death. The condition on which I was able to go was that I did whatever he asked me to do. For reasons only he knows, one stipulation was that only the four of us know about it." he said hesitantly gesturing to his friends. "The mission that we were on was an extensive one that would take many nights, maybe even months. Needless to say, we didn't complete it that night. Professor Dumbledore asked that in the event that we didn't complete the mission, that Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and I would complete it for him. We were also to keep the nature of the mission a secret, even from the other Order members. In short, we're leaving tomorrow to finish the mission Dumbledore and I set out to do the night he died. And on his orders, we're doing it alone."

Harry stepped back a step, and looked into the faces of his dearest mentors, friends, and family.

"Harry, as gifted as I know you and your friends are, it would be foolhardy to go on this 'mission' without any backup." Lupin said gently.

"Sir, we know we are taking huge risks, but we have all agreed to do this thing. And you yourself trained us this summer. Would you not say that we are prepared for whatever we face?" Harry countered.

"Harry dear, I understand that you all feel that you have to do this, but you are like my son and I don't want you to get hurt. Not to mention Ron and Ginny-" Mrs. Weasley started.

Ron interrupted. "Mum, Harry and I are both of age now. You can't protect us anymore." he said clearing his throat.

"But Ginny-" she protested weakly.

"Mum, you can't make me stay behind. I'm going. We're in a war, mum, I would end up fighting eventually." Ginny said defiantly.

Hermione spoke up hesitantly. "Please, everyone." she spoke up over the heated discussion. "We don't know when we'll be back, please can we make this night a good one?" she pleaded.

"We can't change your minds then?" Mrs. Weasley asked hopefully with a worried look toward her children.

"No." Ron answered for them all.

After a moment of tension, Mrs. Weasley gathered the four of them into her arms for a tearful hug. "Just be careful, dears, okay?" she said in a muffled voice.

Soon, everyone slowly accepted that this was going to happen and started to relax. The room was buzzing with small talk and advice for the four friends. Before long, most of the Order had to leave for the night so with another round of handshakes, hugs, and advice, the only people left at the house was Lupin, Moody, and the Weasley's.

Harry took this opportunity to pull Mr. And Mrs. Weasley into the kitchen for a private chat. "Look" he began awkwardly. "I wanted to apologize for taking Ron and Ginny on the trip. I knew I wouldn't be able to talk Ron out of it so I broke up with Ginny and hoped that would keep her here where she would be safe. But she just wouldn't take no for an answer.

Mrs. Weasley gathered Harry into her apron. "Dear, don't blame yourself for Ron and Ginny. They have minds of their own. So don't feel bad about that, okay." she said in a kind voice.

"We know you'll all do all you can to protect one another." Mr. Weasley said. We trust you all but we will still be worried. It's the parent in us." he said with a half smile.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good to know." he said. "But you have my word, I'll do my best to protect all three of them."

Just then, Hermione ran into the kitchen. "Harry, I have to talk to you NOW." she said firmly. Grabbing his hand, she apparated them both upstairs to where Ron and Ginny were waiting.

Before Harry could ask, Hermione, eyes flashing, started talking. "I was thinking about who R.A.B. could be and then I remembered Sirius's family tree tapestry. His brother has those initials." she said triumphantly.

"Hermione, he was also a death eater." Ron said a little condescendingly.

"Exactly. He was also killed by Voldemort. Now, you know that half of the Death Eaters are only Death Eaters out of sheer terror of what would happen if they didn't support Voldemort. We also know that Sirius told Harry that his brother tried to back out. Now, knowing it takes two people to get to the Horcrux, suppose Regulus was the one Voldemort took when he left the Horcrux. Or even if he wasn't the one, someone else HAD to know where it was and the word could've gotten around to the Death Eaters. Regulus could have taken the locket BEFORE HE WAS KILLED!" Hermione practically screeched. "The locket could be here in the Black house!"

Harry just stared at Hermione. "You are a freakin' genius!" he said with a wide smile. "And I know just the person, er, thing that would know."

"Kreacher, get in here right now!" Harry said firmly and loudly.

With a crack the hideous house elf stood in front of Harry.

"The filthy half blood calls me?" he said with a smirk.

"Kreacher, I demand to know if there was ever a locket brought into this house?" Harry demanded.

"The half blood master wants to know something that is none of his business, he does." Kreacher driveled.

"Tell me now, Kreacher." Harry demanded.

"The locket is not for filthy half bloods and mud bloods!" Kreacher screeched. "The locket belongs to the dead son. Only him."

"Bring me the locket, Kreacher. Now." Harry ordered.

Screaming with resentment, hatred, and rage, Kreacher disappeared and reappeared with a locket. Harry reached out to grab it but Kreacher held on tight to the locket.

"Drop it, Kreacher!" Harry now yelled.

With hatred pouring out of his mouth in the form of insults and expletitives, he slowly allowed the locket to slip through his fingers to the floor. Harry immediately scooped up the locket and widened his eyes at the S engraved on the front.

"This is it!" he whispered. "But how do you destroy gold?"

Hermione answered quickly. "You have to melt it in really hot fire." She pointed her wand to the fireplace and said, "Incendio" She kept her wand steady with the fire and it continued to grow.

Harry dropped the locket into the fire. Harry, Ron, and Ginny joined Hermione by the fire. Pointing their wands, they felt the fire heat up. In a matter of seconds all of them were dripping with sweat. Finally, the gold began to melt. And when they felt they couldn't take the heat one second more, they watched as the last little bit melted in the fire. Hermione muttered a couple of words and the fire was instantly put out.

They looked at one another and Ron said with a very Weasley-ish grin. "Three down and three to go!"