Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. Just the plot.

A/N: Sorry for the very long gap in updates. Lost my inspiration and it doesn't seem to want to be found. I've sent out a search team for it but it's nowhere to be seen.

Chapter 12

The weekend went faster then Harry anticipated. Most of it was spent in the spare room he had turned into his study with a massive pile of books before him. He was feeling quite discouraged by the time Sunday night rolled around. He had no idea what to do next.

He closed the book in front of him with a thump, and rubbed his forehead with his hands. He looked at the picture of Sirius that had been placed on his desk by Ginny, and wished he was there to help him. He thought about Sirius's old house and wondered if anyone had successfully managed to remove the portrait of Sirius's mother. Then it hit him.

Ron, Hermione and Ginny were watching the television in fascination, Ron kicking Ginny every so often to try and get her to hand over the remote.

"I'm tired of this," he whined as the girls watched a muggle fashion show intently.

They all looked up as Harry burst into the room, panting slightly.

"I've got it!" he yelled.

The others just looked at him.

He sighed and took a seat. "When we were cleaning out Sirius's house he showed me a tapestry on the wall of his family tree. He had been burnt off of it. But next to his name was his brother's name. His brother worked for Voldemort and he was killed by him too."

"And this is relevant…why?" Ron cut in.

"Sirius's brother's name was Regulus Black," Harry explained.

There was a silence in which Harry's friends just looked at him.

"R.A.B" Hermione finally said. "Was there a middle name?"

Harry shook his head.

"Well," said Hermione, "then we need to find out more about Regulus Black. Birth and death records, articles… anything. We can look for that in the Hogwarts library. Have you managed to find anything else that may be useful?"

"Nothing" Harry said quietly. "But I suppose this is a start."

Hermione nodded. "It may get us somewhere."

Harry lay on his bed, looking out the window at the dark night sky. His mind was working overtime. He could not help thinking that perhaps Regulus Black had taken the locket, therefore giving Voldemort a reason to kill him. He pulled out the note from the locket, trying hard not to think about the events of the night on which he had found it. He opened it and read it again, now noticing how the writer had called Voldemort the Dark Lord. He had not really noticed that before and found that quite odd. Any other person would have written something like 'He Who Must Not Be Named' but instead it was 'the Dark Lord'.

Harry folded the note and put it back it the drawer beside his bed, then rolled off his bed to join the others in the common room.

Back in the Mountain caves, Severus was sitting a huge round table, around which was seated the rest of the Death Eaters and his Master. At this time of day the caves were colder then usual, and Severus could feel it penetrating through the layers of thick clothing he wore.

"The plan will proceed," Voldemort said quietly, his snake-like eyes sweeping the room. "But a few changes have been made. Hogwarts is weakened without Dumbledore. This comes as a huge advantage to us. We will invade them when they least expect it. When their guards are down. I have two informants inside the grounds who tell me that the Potter boy has returned this year. He is now more vulnerable without the protection of his precious Dumbledore. We will attack the castle and retrieve the boy and any others we possibly can. We will bring them back here and the second phase of the plan will take place. I trust you all already know what that includes."

Severus knew too well what it included and it was his fault that it had not begun earlier. Dumbledore had been Draco's to kill but Snape had not had the patience to wait for him to do that. Severus could feel his Masters eyes on him and he looked down at the table quickly.

"The time is not yet right," his Master continued, "but be prepared for it is soon."

A/N: Yeah, that's it. Sorry. Next chapter is in the works and will be out soon.