A/N: Thanks, everyone for reading and especially for reviewing! Please let me know what you think about the story so far!
Harry and his friends approached the house, once again in their invisibility cloaks. "After the dementors, if anyone is here, they will know but at least if they can't see us, we'll have a slight advantage." Harry had said.
After they had searched the house and was convinced they were the only ones there, they shed their invisibility cloaks. "Which horcrux do you think is here?" Ron asked.
"I'm really not sure, but I do know that there has to be something here worth guarding or we wouldn't have been attacked by the dementors." Harry said thoughtfully. "It either has to be the Hufflepuff cup or the item of Ravenclaw's."
"Harry, you found what was supposed to be Slytherin's locket in a cave…the Slytherin common room is in the dungeons at school. So is Snape's classes. Marvolo's ring was found in his house. It seems like Voldemort is putting these objects where the owner themselves would put it. It was Ravenclaw who valued intelligence above anything. And I don't think that it's a coincidence that it's in the Riddle house either. We just passed what looks to be the library…maybe we should start searching there." Hermione suggested.
"Good idea, Hermione." Harry replied. "Remember, you guys, this was a muggle house, so I think anything that looks magical in the least could be the horcrux."
The four of them spent the next couple of hours pulling books from the shelves, going through the desk, and completely taking the room apart looking for anything. Harry started feeling the walls around the room trying to find anything magical about them. He noticed his friends looking at him strangely.
"Dumbledore was doing this at the cave. He could feel the magic, he said." Harry said in explanation. After hours of searching and not finding anything, Harry began to lose hope. How was he ever going to find these objects? And even if one of them happened to be here, at this house, how in the world was he going to find the other one?" Those questions were bearing down on him with the speed of a freight train.
"Hey, you guys, look at this." Ron said suddenly. He was holding open a thick book, except the middle of all the pages had been cut out to conceal what looked to be a wooden bird. The bird was carved out of a wood Harry had never seen before. The bird was also amazingly detailed. Every little feather was carved out to perfection. But the thing that stood out the most was the R carved into the birds chest.
Hermione almost choked. "I can't believe I forgot this! I read a book a few years ago about the founders of Hogwarts, and it stated that Rowena Ravenclaw collected raven figurines because of the connection in her name. "This has to be it!" Hermione practically shrieked.
Hermione reached for the raven and Harry quickly pulled her hand away.
"This is not going to be as easy as just picking it up and taking it with us. You think the dementors were the only defense Voldemort had here? I don't think so." Harry warned. "Wands out."
Harry looked around the room and saw a poker by the fireplace. He grabbed it and hesitantly prodded the raven. With a bit of a groan, the bookshelves swung open. There was a slight rustling and then he heard what sounded like thousands of birds flying. "It's bats!" Harry shouted. "Run!" he yelled as he grabbed the raven. Not a moment too soon the horde of bats came rushing out. They were huge. Harry had never seen anything like them but he decided not to stay around to examine them. Harry ducked his head and followed his friends out into the hall. "Keep your heads covered! Run!" Harry yelled again as they ran outside the house. The foursome ran as fast as they could and didn't stop until the bats flew over them.
They collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. "Wow, did you see how big those bats were?" Ginny exclaimed. "I bet they were vampire bats!"
"Come on, you guys." Harry said getting up. "The dementors have probably let Voldemort know we were here. We've got to go. Apparate to Hogsmeade. We can rent a room and rethink our strategy. Holding Ginny's hand so she could apparate with him, he apparated and found himself by the Three Broomsticks along with his friends.
"I don't know about the lot of you, but I could use a butterbeer right about now." Ron said somewhat shakily. Everyone agreed and they entered the tavern.
Rosmerta, the tavern owner, spotted them at once and came right over. "I never expected to see you here at this time of year!" she said pleasantly. "What will you be having?"
"Four butterbeers, please." Ron replied.
"It'll be on the house today." Rosmerta lowered her voice. "Harry, I just want to apologize about what happened. I feel like I should have known somehow that I was Imperiused. How could I have done this to poor Albus and the children?" she said with a sad look on her face.
Harry softened. "But you couldn't have known, Rosmerta. You shouldn't blame yourself. I know Dumbledore wouldn't blame you for a thing."
Tears formed in the corner of her eyes and she blinked them away impatiently. She gave Harry a motherly hug. "Sweet of you to say, dear." she said tearfully.
"Rosmerta," Hermione began in a subtle change of subject. "We need to rent a room for a few nights. Somewhere where we can blend in and not be noticed."
"I know just the place!" Rosmerta replied brightening a little. "Maurite's it's called. A little place on the edge of town. I doubt if you've even given it notice on your ventures down from the school."
"That's great. Thanks, Rosmerta." Hermione replied. Rosmerta smiled and delivered their butterbeer to the four friends. They finished the butterbeer rather quickly as the tavern had steadily become more crowded. With another word of thanks to Rosmerta, they left to find the place called Maurite's.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had little trouble finding the little inn with the wooden sign announcing it's name. The foursome walked inside. They had decided on the walk over to the inn that since Harry was so recognizable, that he should keep as low a profile as possible, so Ron stepped forward to obtain a room.
"Canna help ya?" the older witch behind the desk asked.
Ron cleared his throat. "Yes, we need to rent two rooms, please."
"Be a Galleon a night." she replied, trading two keys for the two Galleons Ron put on the counter. "Up the stairs and the last two rooms on the right."
Ron gave the other key to Hermione and the gang went upstairs to find their rooms. They found that their rooms were adjoining rooms that shared a bath. They each took turns with the bath and Harry was secretly pleased to see Ginny sitting on the bed in his and Ron's room when he came out of the bathroom.
"Sorry, Harry. Ron came into our room and practically ordered me out." Ginny said with a smile.
Harry made a mental note to thank Ron the next time he saw him. "I'm glad you're here." Harry said, smiling. Ginny looked sexier than ever in a white tank top and short green shorts. Her hair was still damp, occasionally sending drops of water down her back. Harry came over and sat down on the bed next to her. "I want you to know that I'm glad you've been with me these past few days. I really don't think I could have gone to Godric's Hollow without you."
Ginny leaned forward and kissed him, running her hands through his hair. Harry responded and slowly laid Ginny down on the bed. "I love you, Harry." she whispered between kisses. "I would go anywhere with you."
"This is heaven." Harry thought as he laid there with the girl he loved. Ginny slid her hand under his shirt and gently stroked his chest and stomach. Harry felt as if he were on fire, his body aching for more of her touch…"Ginny we have to stop." Harry said suddenly.
"Yeah, I know." she said with a grin. "But, Harry, would you sleep in here with me tonight? Just sleep, nothing more." she added. It didn't take long for Harry to make up his mind. "I would love to."
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"Hermione, I'm glad we're able to slow down and spend some time with each other." Ron said shyly. They were in Hermione and Ginny's room sitting on the bed. Ron was wearing a pair of jogging pants and a t shirt. Hermione was wearing a pair of blue silk shorts and matching top. "I mean, we always spend time together, but not like this, you know? Ron kept rambling on nervously and Hermione smiled. Same old loveable Ron. Never knows when to shut up and kiss a girl. "Ronald, shut up and kiss me already." Hermione replied with a smile to his long speech. Ron was happy to comply.
Ron and Hermione had been making out for quite some time when Ron suddenly sat up. "What's wrong, Ron?" Hermione asked.
Ron was blushing again. "Nothing's wrong. I'm having a great time with you. But I'm getting to the point to where I want to do more than just kiss." he said honestly. "And I would never ask you to do anything more. I respect you too much."
"Ronald, did you ever consider that I might want to do more than just kiss, too?"
Ron looked at Hermione with a startled expression. He would never in a million years expect that phrase to come out of Hermione Granger's mouth. "Well, actually, no. I mean, not right now." he stumbled. "I really want to be with you, Hermione, but I just think we should wait until things get back to normal around here." he said softly.
"I know, you're right. But, Ron, could you just sleep in here with me tonight? Just sleep, nothing more." she added. Ron immediately agreed.
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The next morning, the group woke early to resume work on the horcuxes. No mention was made of the night before and each couple knew that following nights would not be spent in the same way. They were all secretly relieved not to have to make explanations. They spent all day at the library, reading up on Helga Hufflepuff and anything to do with her. However, at the end of the day, they were still no better off. Ron paid Maurite for another nights stay. Harry pulled the raven out of his bag when they got back to their rooms. Okay, it's time to try to separate the horcrux from the object." Harry said rather nervously as he had no idea what would happen when they did. He sat the object on the table and tapped it with his wand. "Horcrux absentia" he said firmly. Nothing. Hermione decided to give it a go. She tapped the raven with her wand and said, "Horcrux absentia". A little wisp of air came out of Hermione's wand, but somehow they didn't think that was all there was to it. An hour later, they had all taken several turns each to no better results than Hermione's. Deciding to give it up for the night, they departed to their rooms. On their third day in Hogsmeade, Hermione glanced up from the book she was reading. "What if Voldemort hid the horcrux in Hogsmeade?" Hermione asked.
"The Shrieking Shack!" Ginny exclaimed. "It's worth a look, right?"
Harry and his friends immediately set off for the Shrieking Shack. Upon entering it, Harry couldn't help but think back to when he had last been there. He had found out the truth about Sirius and that he had a godfather. Harry forced himself to focus on the present. "Do you think that it could be in the secret passageway that connects to Hogwarts?"
"I'm not sure, but I definitely think we should search the building and the passageway." Hermione replied.
"Lumos" Ron muttered and the others did the same filling the room with the light of their wands.
As the room was pretty much bare, it didn't take long to search the contents of the room. Harry walked around the room feeling the walls again, and the others joined him. "I don't feel anything, do you?" Harry asked no one in particular. "I think we should search the passageway now."
The four friends resumed the search in the passageway, feeling the walls once more. Harry passed over the end of the passageway that was under the Shrieking Shack. He almost passed over it, but he had a feeling that he should examine it more closely. The wall felt different than the other walls of the passageway. He could just feel that this was where the other Horcrux was. "Back up, you guys. I'm going to use the reducto spell on this wall. I just feel that there is something behind it." Harry pointed his wand at the wall and yelled, "Reducto!"
Nothing happened. Then Harry flashed back to the cave and how there had to be a payment of blood to enter. Harry dug a knife out of his bag and made a small cut. There was a gasp from Ginny as he smeared the blood on the wall. Suddenly, the door slid open.
The group entered the room that had been opened. It was like they were standing on the edge of a giant bowl. In the middle, stood the cup.
"How do you reckon we get it, then?" Ron asked.
"I don't know. I think I'll just go and try to pick it up. I don't know what else to do." Harry started down the slope and as soon as he did, the bowl-shaped recess started filling with water. Harry scrambled back up the bank. "Where's the boat? There's got to be a boat!" he murmured to himself as he scrambled around the edge. Not finding one, Harry was stumped. "I guess I'm going to have to swim down to the bottom and get the cup." he thought aloud.
"Harry, no! You can't do that!" Ginny protested. "What if-what if something happens?" she asked.
"I have to try, Gin." Harry said as he kissed her. Performing the Bubblehead Charm on himself, he went into the water and started swimming toward the bottom. It seemed to Harry that he had been swimming forever when he reached the cup. Harry grabbed the cup. Immediately, Inferi started coming out of the ground and after him. Harry started swimming back as fast as possible. Harry had managed to stay just ahead of the Inferi for the most part, but he was worn out from swimming so far and could see the surface. He pulled up to the surface and yelled, "Make a fire!" Harry started to climb out of the lake when one of the Inferi grabbed his ankle and tried to drag him back under. Ginny and Ron kneeled down to try to pull Harry up while Hermione tried to keep the other Inferi at bay with the fire.
Ron pointed his wand at the Inferi and yelled, "Impedimenta!" The Inferi stopped and Harry wiggled out of it's grip. "Thanks, Ron!"
Harry ran to the door and smeared more blood on it. Thankfully, it opened immediately. The three ran up into the Shrieking Shack and out of the door. In fact, they didn't stop running until they got to the inn, even though reasonably, they knew they had left the Inferi behind in the hidden room. The foursome went straight up to Hermione and Ginny's room.
"We have to destroy the horcruxes!" Harry said, frustrated.
"Harry, something Dumbledore said keeps going through my mind. After he told us how to separate the soul from the object, he told us we had everything we needed to do it. And, he kept going on about how important friends were. Why don't we all try this together?" Hermione said thoughtfully.
Determined to figure out the spell, everyone nodded and thrust their wands forward. They tapped the raven and said, "Horcux absentia!" in unison. Suddenly, a silvery vapor that smelled of sulfur shot out of the raven. The room was filled with the vapor which had gradually turned black. Then just as it was there, it was gone. The gang excitedly repeated the spell on the cup and freed it of it's soul.
"There's no sense in going after Nagini until I fight Voldemort." Harry commented. "The only thing I want to do right now is pack up and go home to the Burrow."
"Yeah, let's go home." Hermione said as she kissed Ron. "Let's go home."