The Power the Dark Lord Knows Not

Edits by: The Ink Stained One, MollyCoddles

Disclaier: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters and background of Harry Potter. JK Rowling, AOL Time Warner, and some publishers own all of it. This story was created for entertainment purposes only. No profit would be made from this.

Chapter 4 – Friends

That night, Harry woke up a couple of times to Ginny mumbling in her sleep. After waking up in a panic, she would roll towards him and cling to him. She would eventually relax again and resume her slumber.

In the morning, Harry awoke with his scar hurting. Ginny was gently shaking him. "Wake up, Harry!"

Harry's hand instinctively went up to his scar.

She pulled his hand away, bent down and kissed his scar.

Immediately, the pain subsided. He told her, "It's gone. When you kissed my forehead the pain went away." Harry closed his eyes and concentrated on his connection with Voldemort. "Ginny, you are making him ill. He is vomiting uncontrollably."

She chastised him, "Harry, you shouldn't use your connection to look at him. Try using your Occlumency."

He assured her, "Don't worry, Love. I have learned a lot about the magical scar connection between us over the last month. This, I can handle now." He pulled her down and gave her a kiss.

She sat back up. "Harry, you are scaring me. I don't want him inside your head."

He brushed her red hair from the side of her face. "I'm fine, Love. With you here with me, I have a power that he doesn't understand. This time, I feel strong and in control." To further distract her from her fear, he started to playfully tickle her.

Giggling, she slipped away from his hands. "No time for that. You better get up. Moody is expecting you early this morning." She headed out of the room to the kitchen, swaying her hips back and forth to tease him.

He quickly hopped out of bed and dressed. On his way out, Ginny stopped him. "I want you to eat a little something before you start your training." Dobby handed him a slice of toast and a small cup of pumpkin juice. Ginny quickly kissed him, and he went out to join his irritable trainer.

When Ginny eventually joined in the training, Remus reviewed spells with her. She didn't have her own wand, but Flint's wand did not appear to give her any problems. While she was working, she asked, "Remus, Harry and I would like to go to Godric's Hollow to search the ruins. Could we go there tomorrow morning?"

Remus did not make any promises, but he said, "I'll talk with the others. It should be fine."

Occasionally, through the day, Ginny would kiss Harry's cursed scar and smirk. She really liked the idea of being able to torture Tom back.

That evening, Tonks brought in a Daily Prophet from out on the streets where she was working. She told Ginny, "The little toy of yours that Kreacher stole did quite a bit of damage."

Taking the paper, Ginny noticed the front page headlines:

House-Elf Destroys Half of Ministry for Magic

Tonks pointed to another article at the bottom of the page:

Wanted: Ginevra Molly Potter

Recently married to Harry James Potter, Ginevra, also known as Ginny, is wanted in connection with her husband. Like her husband, she too is wanted for aiding and abetting a fugitive.

The next day, Ginny and Harry anxiously woke up a bit earlier to view the remains of the home at Godric's Hollow. After they enjoyed their breakfast, they followed Remus to a quiet country road outside a village. When they walked near enough to the ruins, Remus revealed the Fidelius Charm to them. Ginny gasped and clung to Harry's arm.

Harry said, "It is only a wreckage of house."

She explained, "Yet the grounds are beautiful. The trees and plants are wonderful, and you can probably view the valley below from the back."

Remus agreed, "It is as she said. The house was built on a bluff and has a valley view."

She looked at her husband and asked, "When this is all over, would you rebuild this home for us?"

Her zest for the simple country life was one of the things that Harry loved about her. Her pleading brown eyes had a way of controlling his every thought. He replied, "Yes, Love. I will rebuild it for you, but if we are planning on having nine children, we may want to add a few more rooms."

She gave a warm hug and a kiss. "Thank you."

As she walked away, Harry muttered to himself, "Boy, am I whipped."

The three of them split up as they started to pick through the rubble. In the back lawn, Harry noticed a tent was erected. "Great, I have a squatter on my land," he thought to himself.

Cautiously, Harry pulled out his wand and took a look inside. When he entered the tent, his heart was filled with joy. Standing at the kitchen sink, drinking a glass of water, was Hermione. Her hair was messier than usual and she was wearing nothing but her nightdress.

When she turned around to see him, she ran to him. "Harry! We feared you were dead!"

He greeted his friend with a warm hug and a kiss on her cheek. "I am so glad we found you. I have missed you so much." He looked her over. Her eyes sparkled with happiness he never seen before. Her skin tone was warm and radiant. Realizing something, Harry looked around. "Where is Ron?"

She was blushed from the scrutiny, and then curious, she cocked her head to the side and started analyzing him. "He is in there sleeping." She pointed over to a doorway on the other side of the tent.

Harry walked over and peered into the bedroom. Ron was sleeping on one side of a double bed. On the other side of the bed from him, the sheets were pulled back and a book was left on the nightstand.

He turned back to Hermione and asked, "Is he treating you well?"

Irritated at the question, Hermione answered, "Yes he is. Don't you start hassling him over my virtue."

Harry looked sadly at her as he replied, "I have to. I'm sorry to hear about your parents, but I feel that I am the only family you have left. I consider it my brotherly responsibility to take care of you."

She snapped at him, "I am an adult, Harry. I have never needed you to take care of me."

Harry was only half-listening as he entered the room. He walked over to Ron and gently shook him awake. "Wake up, Ron. It's time to get up, and we need to talk."

Half asleep, Ron said, "Go away Harry. I want to sleep."

Harry shook him again, but he didn't need to say anything this time.

Ron bolted up and stared at Harry, blurry eyed. Blinking his eyes clear, he asked, "Harry? Is that you?"

Harry replied, "Yes, mate, it's me." Harry affectionately shook Ron's shoulder rather than giving him a hug. "You look healthy and well fed. How are you?"

"Fine, Harry," Ron answered. "I thought you were a goner. What happened?"

"I'll tell you everything later. We first need to talk about Hermione," Harry insisted.

Concerned, Ron asked, "What about her? Is she alright?"

Gesturing to the empty spot in the bed next to Ron, Harry said, "This!"

Confused, Ron said, "I thought that you didn't like her that way."

Harry rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I don't. It is just that with her parents gone, I'm the closest one to her. I'm the one who would have to take care of her if you left her, and this," he pointed to the bed again, "is a big thing. If you hurt her, I will hurt you, and our friendship is over. She cannot be treated like you did Lavender. Tell her how much she means to you and marry her. I will not allow you to treat her as if she is your temporary fix."

Hermione entered the bedroom looking flushed. "Harry, I need to get dressed. You failed to tell me that we had other guests, like Professor Lupin."

Harry paled as he realized what she meant. She may have not been so modest around him, but it would have been embarrassing for her if Lupin saw her in her nightdress.

He got up to leave and turned around. "Ron, come on. She needs to get dressed."

Hermione corrected him, "No, Harry, Ron stays. He is my boyfriend. You get out!"

He fumed, "Boyfriend?" Glaring at Ron, he continued, "I was expecting 'husband', 'beloved', or at least 'fiancé'. Ron, do something about it!"

Hermione slapped Harry in the side of the head. "You hypocrite! All this time, you have been sleeping with Ginny, and she isn't even of age!"

Harry gave her an irritated look at the abusive slap she gave him.

She continued, "Come on, you didn't think that I notice? Beforehand, you would have blushed if I got too close or if our legs rubbed up against each other. Now you come into the tent and hug me while I wear nothing more than a nightdress, and you don't look the least bothered by it. You lost your modesty. You have been physically intimate with a woman, and now it is nothing to see me like this. And who do you suppose just walks in the tent when you came in here?" Still tempered, she nodded. "Yes, Ginny."

Ron bounded off the bed to strike Harry with a blow of his own, but Hermione stopped him. "Not now, Ron. We need to talk."

She turned to Harry and snapped, "Out!"

Harry entered the living area of the tent to see Ginny on a chair laughing so hard that she was clutching her stomach. Remus sat in another chair with a bemused expression on his face. As Harry walked into the kitchen, he asked, "I assume you heard everything?"

With tears from laughing, Ginny explained, "You gave Ron a big brother talk, threatening him with harm if he didn't marry Hermione." She chortled a bit more before she continued, "And Hermione thinks you're doing the same to me?"

Helping himself to the kitchen, Harry cooked up some breakfast for Ron and Hermione. He knew that Ron would want to eat first thing after he awoke.

Ron was entranced by the aroma of the breakfast to the point he almost forgot his anger at Harry. He sat down and looked at his plate of food. "What did you put in it?" Ron asked.

Harry explained, "I'm not trying to kill you. It is all edible. You know I can cook, don't you?" He filled a small plate for Hermione.

As if on cue, Hermione walked into the room glaring at Harry. Snatching her plate from Harry, she sat down next to Ron.

Hermione started, "So, Harry, why is it alright for you and Ginny but not Ron and me."

Harry sat down next to Ginny. "It isn't."

Ron added, "Mum's going to kill you both."

Ginny corrected him, "Not as much as she will the two of you." Ginny nudged Harry. "Tell them."

Hermione glared at Remus, "I can't believe that you are encouraging them."

Harry explained, "He is in the same predicament you two are in. He and Tonks are sharing a tent. Mum's is probably going to have a few choice words with him too."

Ron snapped, "Don't start calling my mum, 'Mum'. You make it sound like you are special somehow."

Ginny said, "He is your brother-in-law."

Hermione's eyes went wide.

Confused, Ron said, "He isn't Hermione's true brother, and we aren't even married, yet."

An astonished yet pleased look spread across Hermione's face as she looked at Ron.

Harry explained, "Ginny and I are married. Mum's my mother-in-law."

Ron's eyes went wide. "Blimey! Mum's really going to ballistic now." Ron's eyes turned to Ginny as he said, "Fred and George are going to love this. Little Sis elopes."

Hermione broke away from her reverie of Ron's words and gave Harry a big hug. "Congratulations, Harry. I'm sorry for getting mad and hitting you. It's just that you are attempting to interfere in my life."

Looking at the table, Harry thought about it for a while. "Hermione, you have always been my best friend, and I would miss you if you left my life at this point. You and Remus are the only family I have left beyond the Weasleys."

While Harry was talking with Hermione, Ginny was arguing with her brother. "You don't get it. No one will care! Besides, it is already all over the news." From within her robes, she pulled out the newspaper article from the day before and showed it to Ron.

Remus explained further, "It really isn't eloping if it was an arranged marriage from the start."

Ron's eyes lifted from the paper in shock. "You know about that? We are not supposed to say anything about that, you know. I mean with Ginny, she's all for it, but…" He turned to talk to Ginny specifically. "You don't suppose that is the reason he married you? Is it?"

With a smile, she shook her head and explained, "No, he proposed to me before he found out. He wasn't even mad about it being kept from him all of these years."

Remus smiled and interrupted them as polite as he could, "Ron, Hermione, we really should move you to where the rest of us are staying. Death Eaters and the Ministry have both picked up their efforts in locating all of us. It won't be long until they find this place, despite the Fidelius Charm. Could we pack up the whole tent?"

Looking around the tent, Hermione sighed. "This place looks like a slob lives here. I would rather straighten up the place before we roll it up." Looking at Remus, Ginny and Harry, she asked, "Could you give us a few minutes?"

In understanding, Remus excused himself and went back outside. When Harry started collecting the dishes to clean the kitchen, Ginny gently pulled him out of the tent as well.

Harry protested, "Really, Love, we shouldn't leave the dishes, it is the least we can do."

She explained, "No, Harry, we need to give them their privacy right now." Noticing Ron looking at them, she added, "Besides, I saw this beautiful kissing spot I want to show you."

Ron's face screwed up in disgust. He was thoroughly disgusted that his sister was going to lip wrestle his best friend right outside his tent. Ron glared at them as they walked outside.

As they were leaving, Harry could hear Hermione complain, "Ron, I am not your mum! You will clean up your own mess."

Ginny showed Harry a cozy bench located in the overgrown flower garden. Happily, she guided to the bench, hand-in-hand.

A few minutes later, Hermione and Ron busily exited their tent and started taking it down. Remus offered a hand to them.

Ron asked, "Where are Harry and Ginny?"

Remus pointed over to the garden. "They're over there, acting like randy newlyweds." He thought that Ginny should not be the only one to rile up Ron.

Ron yelled, "They better not be."

Hermione rolled her eyes and tried to busy herself enough she wouldn't think of them.

Just then, Harry and Ginny walked around the corner from the garden. Harry had his arm around her as she leaned against him with a goofy smile on her face.

Incredulously, Ron complained, "That is disgusting! Do you mind? We live here."

Harry's hair was messier than normal. Ginny was picking out some leaves from it when she replied, "It's Harry's property. We'll do what we want. Besides, we weren't disturbing anyone."

Harry affectionately corrected her, "It's your property too." He whispered something else into her ear which made her giggle and blush.

Back at Camp Padfoot, Harry helped Hermione and Ron set their tent back up. He revealed his tent's Fidelius Charm to them so they could visit. At the end of the day, Hermione and Ron joined Harry and Ginny for a late dinner.

Noticing Dobby, Hermione asked him, "Hi, Dobby. Are you working for Harry and Ginny now?"

Smiling nervously, he answered her, "Yes, Miss Hermy. Dobby is working for Master and Mistress Potter now." He started busying himself avoiding the next inevitable question.

She asked it anyways. "How much are they paying you, Dobby?"

Pulling his ears and looking at her nervously, Dobby answered, "Nothing. Dobby is a good house elf."

Hermione erupted, "HARRY! How could you?"

In a pleading manner, Dobby added, "Masters are good to Dobby. They insist Dobby takes days off and buys what Dobby needs with their money."

Harry anxiously hurried out of the kitchen to see what was bothering his best friend.

She growled at him, "You enslaved a free house-elf?" Tears were brimming in her glaring eyes.

Back at the doorway to the kitchen, Ginny yelled, "It is none of your business that we have an elf. Besides, it was my idea."

Quickly turning around and glaring at her, Harry snapped at his wife, "We do not speak to Hermione in that tone. Let me handle this. She has every right to feel betrayed and upset."

In disbelief that he raised his voice at her, Ginny became shocked, angered and sad. She turned back and disappeared into the kitchen.

Dobby was equally upset that he must have had said something bad to cause so much discord amongst the family and guests. Banging his head against the nearest table, Dobby said, "Dobby is bad. Bad, Dobby, bad."

Grabbing Dobby, Harry corrected him. "Dobby is a good house elf. You only told the truth. Even if it was a family secret, you would be able to tell Hermione anything. Hermione, Ginny and I are happy with Dobby. Don't punish yourself."

Harry held Dobby until he calmed down. "Dobby, give me a few minutes. Please go into the kitchen and help Ginny. I should talk to Hermione by myself."

Dobby obediently walked over to the kitchen.

Hermione's anger softened as she witnessed the honor and respect Harry regarded her with. She was also pleased at the gentle nature with which Harry treated Dobby, yet she was still mad. Did Harry just call me family?

Ron was looking around nervously. Looking to avoid the row, he excused himself, "I'm going to check on Ginny."

Sitting down next to Hermione, Harry explained, "I know what it seems to you, but it did not work that way."

She crossed her arms and continued to glare at him with clenched teeth.

"Hermione, Dobby has been free for four years. When he told Ginny that all he only wanted in life was to be my house-elf, she accepted for us. This is about Dobby's happiness, not ours. I tried to offer more time-off and freedoms, but it was difficult without making him feel less of an elf. Belonging is everything to House Elves." Harry was pleased to see that Hermione was at least thinking. "I promise to treat him more like family, and not a slave or employee. If he wants his freedom again, then I don't want to deny him that."

Hermione stood up and started pacing. With irritation in her face, she asked, "So, what about Kreacher? He wants to be free."

Casting his eyes to the table to avoid her look, he explained, "Ginny gave him clothes. Just for the same reason you mentioned. Well, that, and she hates his guts."

Hermione's eyes went wide, as she asked, "What about the Order? The secrets."

Harry shrugged, "What more could he have told the Death Eaters that Snape doesn't already know?"

She thought a bit and asked, "How did he take it? Being let go, that is."

"Pleased. He left us immediately without a word," Harry replied. He purposely left out the part involving the grenade. "So, are you mad at me?"

Hermione thought a bit more, and then took a deep sigh. "No, Harry, I'm not mad at you. I've been thinking about this a lot. I'm not really upset at house elves bonding with families as much as them not being free enough to leave their masters. Both the master and the house elf should be able to break the bond when they become dissatisfied."

Harry did something he never thought he would do. "Hermione, I agree with you on that. I will do whatever I can to support you if you wish to push for that change."

Squealing with glee, Hermione gave Harry a firm hug. "Thank you."

Uncomfortably patting her on the back, he thought to himself. That was too easy.

Ron poked his head out of the kitchen. "Dinner's ready. Is it alright for us to set it on the table now?"

Harry nodded and waved his hand to invite them in.

Ron, Dobby and Ginny all entered the dining area carrying dishes and plates. Ginny was particularly upset and quietly set out the food without looking at Harry.

After they all sat down, Harry apologized, "I'm sorry, Ginny, for yelling at you."

Ginny shook her head and said, "No, Harry, it is my fault. I have done this for years. Whenever anyone has said anything bad about you, I get defensive and yell. You were right to stop me. If anyone loves you close to the way I do, it would be Hermione and Mum. They both have their right to speak their piece, just like I do to Ron." Ginny gave Ron a smirk.

Hermione casually added, "She's right, Harry. I do love you."

Ron bristled. "Yeah, well, you can't have him. My sister already married him."

Sarcastically, Hermione retorted, "I guess that is why I'm settling for you then?" She looked at him with a smirk. "Really, it is not romantic love. It is just… Erm…"

Harry added, "We're family."

"Yes, we're fam…" Hermione caught herself as she realized what she was saying. With a gaping mouth, she looked incredulously at Harry. "Are you serious?"

Harry explained, "Yeah. I have been thinking about it, and it is not like we are going to drift apart after we graduate like friends do. I intend on being with you for the rest of your life. Every birthday and holiday gathering, I will be there to burden your life with my presence and presents. It is not like there is anyone else besides the Weasleys and Lupin. I can't imagine my life without you. Ginny understands." Looking over to his wife, he asked, "Don't you, Love?"

Ginny smiled upon him with soft eyes. She nodded to him and dished more food on her plate.

Hermione was uncharacteristically silent as she tried to logically classify her relationship with Harry.

Ron asked, "What happened with you? Where did you go?"

Harry explained everything that happened to him since he departed from Kings Cross Station. Ginny added in how she was taken captive. She scooted close to Harry as she relived the horrors of her captivity. Because of the nature of some of the events, Ginny left some things out, but Ron, Hermione and Harry still were still shaken and enraged by the events she did share. Harry comforted her by holding her tight. There were other memories she no longer had because she freely gave them to Tonks the night she was rescued.

Sensing it was a good time to change the subject, Hermione asked, "Harry, if and when I do get married, will you walk me down the aisle and give me away?" Hermione gave Ron a nervous glance.

A big smile stretched across his face as he replied, "I would love to. And we will pay for the entire wedding."

Hermione protested, "Oh, no, you don't need to do that. I'll be eighteen soon and my parents' estate will leave me with plenty of money."

Ginny assured her. "It is not like we can't afford it." She gestured to her new robe she was wearing.

Harry added, "Yes, Hermione, I insist. There will be no limitations to what you can have. Ginny and I had a very small and simple wedding because we are in hiding, but it doesn't mean that you can't have a grand one yourself."

"Harry, I'm not like that!" Hermione protested. "I can't see myself having a large wedding. I don't even know that many people."

Feeling very uncomfortable, Ron started to get up.

Hermione felt bad. "I'm sorry, Ron. I shouldn't have brought that up. Please don't go."

Ron waved her concerns off. "It is alright Hermione. I'm just getting up to bring over the bag. It is time we told them."

Hermione looked worried. "Harry, have you told her about the…"

Looking at Hermione, Harry's eyes went wide in realization.

Ginny answered, "Yes, Hermione. I know about the Horcruxes."

Harry explained, "It is a little difficult to keep details like that away from your spouse, especially since she was intimately involved in the destruction of the first one."

Ron approached the table carrying the bag. "We should explain what we have been doing for the last month then."

Hermione added, "Since we didn't know what happened to you." She was looking at Harry. "We assumed that you could have been killed. Since we knew that we were the only others who knew about the Horcruxes, we took on the responsibility of locating them ourselves."

Ron carefully pulled out the Badger cup and a quill from the bag and set them on the table.

Harry and Ginny were astonished by the find.

Hermione continued. "We still need to destroy them, and we need to still find the locket and the snake."

Harry was going to say something, but Hermione continued, "We have a good idea who R.A.B. might be."

Ginny said in a matter-of-fact tone, "Regulus Black."

Shocked, Hermione asked, "How did you know?"

Harry answered, "We found the locket in our vault."

Ginny added, "It was in the Black family vault that Harry inherited from Sirius. Apparently Regulus used it to store his research and valuables."

A gleam shown in Hermione's eyes as she asked, "Was there any information on how to destroy the Horcruxes safely?"

Harry gave her a puzzled look. He forgot about the notes with all of the training he was doing with Moody. Luckily, Ginny didn't.

Smiling at Harry's lack of preparation, Ginny answered for him. "I looked over the notes. He had a good start on a spell that separated the spirit from the object, but the spirit would just slip back into the object later. He didn't figure out how to destroy the piece of Voldemort's soul. Harry poisoned the soul with the basilisk fang to save me."

In deep thought, Harry said, "I believe it involved destroying the article itself. The fang actually pierced the pages of the book, and the ring Dumbledore had had a crack in it."

Ron offered, "Why don't we go talk to Dumbledore again?"

From the other side of the tent, Fawkes warbled his approval.

Hermione pulled out a piece of parchment and started writing out a note.

Harry asked, "You went to see Dumbledore? His portrait?"

Nodding his head, Ron explained, "We had to start somewhere. You mentioned that Dumbledore's portrait was in Professor McGonagall's office, and we have been seeing him occasionally to get direction and ideas."

"Dobby!" Hermione called.

Dobby appeared hesitantly beside her. "Yes, Ms Hermy? You'se call Dobby?"

She handed out a roll of parchment to him. "I'm sorry for making you feel bad earlier. You are the best House Elf I've known. Please take this to Professor McGonagall and wait for her reply."

With a bow, Dobby answered, "It would be Dobby's honor to serve you'se, Ms Hermy, as a member of the Potter family." With a 'Pop', Dobby vanished.

Hermione quickly looked away from the others, hiding her tears.

Harry reached over and touched her arm. "Are you alright?"

She turned back to Harry with happy tears still glistening in her eyes. Looking back and forth between Harry and Ginny, she said, "Well, I guess it's official. I'm a Potter."

Ginny walked around the table and gave her a hug.

He smiled and added, "Well, don't worry about ordering new stationery. There may be another surname in your near-future." Harry gave Ron a smirk.

Irritated and embarrassed, Hermione glared at Harry.

The awkward moment was interrupted when Dobby returned. "The Headmistress will see you now." Dobby bowed low.

Ron complained, "I didn't get a chance to finish eating."

"It is not like you are going to starve." Hermione replied in a chastising manner.

Harry called, "Fawkes, would you like to take us to see Dumbledore's painting in the Headmistress's office?"

Fawkes eagerly flew over to Harry, extending his tail feathers to him. Everyone gathered around and held on to each other as Fawkes lifted them off the floor and flamed them to the Headmistress's office in Hogwarts.

Mildly surprised by the entrance, McGonagall looked up from her desk. "Fawkes, Mr. Weasley, Ms Granger, Mr. and Mrs. Potter, it is good to see everyone together again. From your note, Ms Granger, you would like to talk with Dumbledore's portrait again. I assume you would like privacy?"

Hermione smiled at her and nodded. "Thank you, Professor."

Looking over at Ginny, Harry noticed that she was smiling with a contemplative look. He figured that she was still getting used being addressed with her new name. For him, at least, it brought him happiness each time he heard it.

The aged professor got up from her desk and walked to the door. "Please call me when you are done."

After she left, Harry addressed Dumbledore in the portrait. "Hello, Professor Dumbledore. We would like to talk with you."

Pretending to just wake up, the former headmaster gave them a startled look. "Well, hello everyone. Please sit down. It is good to see you again, Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley. Congratulations on you marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Potter. Fawkes, it has been too long. Please tell me: What have you found so far?"

Harry replied, "It looks like we have the cup, locket and a quill of Ravenclaw's. We just need to figure out how to destroy them. With your experience…" Harry gestured down at Dumbledore's blackened hand. "We were hoping you could give us some ideas, which we could try to destroy them without too many problems."

Dumbledore had a sparkle in his wide eyes as he realized the success all of them had. "The way to destroy a Horcrux is to infuse it with an opposite power that created it. Since a Horcrux is created with Dark Magic and death, we must use an equally powerful spell of Light Magic to destroy it."

Confused, Ginny asked, "Light Magic, sir?"

Happy to explain, Dumbledore continued, "Light magic is created by emotions of love and happiness. It is used commonly in healing spells. When I destroyed this ring, I used the spell Amoris Copus. It infuses the object with feelings of love. That is the spell I would suggest you use to destroy these artifacts."

Hermione protested, "Professor, if you got injured by using that spell, then why should one of us be able to do it? None of us are as strong as you…" Hermione's voice started to crack as she quietly said the rest. "Used to be."

Waving her off with a smile, Dumbledore confidently said, "The four of you individually have far more than what I have when it comes to love. To make it even safer, I would suggest that all four of you perform the spell at the same time."

Dumbledore tutored them on how to cast the spell and the proper wand movements.

When they were ready, Dumbledore had them pair off with their respective partners and focus their attention on the locket. Hermione cleared the Headmistresses desk and transfigured it into polished marble. Placing the locket in the center of the table, they each took their places. Harry and Ginny were standing a few steps away from Hermione and Ron. Harry gently wrapped his free hand around Ginny's waist to hold her close. After a short kiss, the four of them all cast, "Amoris Copus." A gold, white light shot out from their four wands and struck the locket at the same time.

The locket popped open and smoke filled the room as the object rattled on the table with flames and sparks shooting out of it. A loud squealing sound was heard for a minute, and then it was silent. Flares of magic burst out for the locket a few times, but it was quickly consumed by the combined energy of the wands pointed at it.

Harry Vanished the panes of glass from the window to air out the room. The wandless magic was performed casually, but didn't go unnoticed by Hermione and Dumbledore, who both shared a quizzical look.

Neither Hermione nor Dumbledore said anything.

The other two Horcruxes were destroyed with similar results.

Hermione put the room back the way it was, and Harry restored the glass back into the window panes.

Dumbledore asked them, "Do you know now what has to be done?"

Ron answered, "We must do the same to the snake, Nagini."

Harry added, "I think I know where it is."

Dumbledore admonished him, "I don't want you to go off half cocked after the snake. This requires careful planning. You must be prepared to face Tom at the same time."

Harry nodded. "Oh, I remember my lesson from doing that."

"You may also want to include others as well. We can just explain that the snake is the primary goal and Voldemort is secondary. No explanation will be needed." Hermione added.

They all said farewell to Dumbledore and McGonagall before the returning back to Camp Padfoot. They stayed up late that night as they started going over the details and plans for the raid.