Disclaimer: I own no part of Harry Potter or its associated canon nor, any other already copyrighted material.

(A/N):

Chapter 15

The End of the Beginning

Harry picked up his Firebolt from the stand next to his bed that it had been resting on ever since the beginning of the year. Wiping off the thin coat of dust that had collected on its handle, he flipped it over his shoulder and headed out of the otherwise abandoned dorm room. Reaching the common room he found a good number of students already awake, though few were dressed, lounging around and just generally enjoying the morning. Though only half past nine most of them looked wide awake and ready for Halloween. A few of the older students were catching up on homework and at least half a dozen games of exploding snap were in progress.

Crossing the room he greeted the few students who waved to him. Just before reaching the portrait hole Neville caught up to him and glanced at the broom. "You going for a flight Harry?" Harry noticed a few nearby students turn toward him, wondering if he was going out and how they could join him. Harry had hoped for someone to question him and this was perfect.

"Afraid not. I'm on my way to Ron's room. We're going to do some broom maintenance. Haven't flown in a couple months after all. Probably take us all day."

"Oh…" Several of the students mirrored the disappointment in Neville's voice. "Well…don't forget about the feast."

"Not a chance. See you there." Harry headed out and down the corridor, side stepping a group of third years heading in. Double checking the pockets on his muggle clothes he made sure he had everything he might need. Up one sleeve his wand was again strapped to his arm as it had been all year and in his pocket sat a small folding knife he had received by owl just yesterday. He didn't know if he would need it, but it was better than trying to control the Prince's spell to draw blood.

Striding past another Auror he reached the portrait and spoke the password lapis lazuli. Just before stepping through he noticed Ginny approaching, a grin on her face. "Good morning beautiful." He kissed her deeply as her cheeks colored just a little.

"Good morning. What's with the broom?"

"Cover story. Told everyone I'm going to be doing maintenance with Ron. Should take all day."

"Good idea. Too bad you can't go for a ride. I haven't even got to try out mine yet."

"Christmas break. Promise. We'll get out some day and fly for a while. Just the two of us."

"How do you think mum's going to feel about that? Or Ron?"

"Do you care?"

"Well…not about Ron."

"I'll talk to your mum. Don't worry; we'll get out of there for a while."

"Okay." Letting her take the lead, he followed her in. As they emerged into the common room, Hermione was just coming out of Ron's room, pulling her jacket on. On seeing them, she froze, her face reddening for some reason. "Morning."

"Hey Hermione."

"Uh…hey. I…I didn't expect you this early. Ron's just getting up. I mean waking up." They glanced at each other wondering what was up with the normally cool and collected woman.

"Uh…yeah…okay. Tell you what, we'll go down and grab something to eat while you two get ready. Want anything?"

"Oh…whatever they have."

"Right…" Shepherding Ginny out before she could say anything, he headed for the Great Hall.

"But I already ate."

"Would you rather have stayed?" She threw a glance over her shoulder at the closing portrait.

"Good point." She sat next to him and was silent as he pulled a plate together. "What do you think was going on anyway? Why would she have been so embarrassed if she was just waking him up?" Her brow creased for a moment as she thought it over. Her eyes widened suddenly and she spoke again, slowly as if only realizing the words as she spoke. "Wait…you don't suppose…"

"No."

"You don't even know what I was going to say."

"And that's the way I want to keep it. If you don't say it I don't have to think about it."

"But…" He cut her off with a quick slicing hand gesture.

"No more talking." Despite the look she stayed silent as he finished and carried a small plate of food back up the Ron and Hermione's room. The pair was now dressed and ready, sitting on the couch and waiting. The carefully avoided looking at each other as they finished the delivered breakfast. While they did Harry turned to Ginny and handed her the Marauder's Map. "Take good care of it. And take care of your self." He pulled out his DA coin. "And don't hesitate to call us."

"Of course. You make it back in one piece."

"Will do." He turned to the others. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, mate." Hermione glanced at the clock.

"We do need to get going. Our bus will be by in a little while." All four stood and Harry pulled out the key. He also grabbed his broom firmly. "Just in case." Hooking his finger though the end he held the key out. Each of them grabbed hold and he turned to smile at Ginny once more. A second later the tug caught him behind the navel and pulled them through space to land roughly in the basement of Zonko's.

Glancing around at the dark, dusty basement crammed with boxes and other miscellaneous packaging, he slid the key back into his pocket. Hiding the broom carefully among the other debris he turned back to the others. "Okay Hermione, where are we going?"

"A bus station a few miles from the orphanage. It's the closest place I could find." She pulled out a map and pointed it out to them. "Right here." Her finger slid a few inches away. "The orphanage is here. It should only take us a half hour by bus."

"Excellent. Well then, let's go." Stepping away from the others he focused on his destination, turned on the spot and dissapperated. A moment later he appeared with a pop in the bathroom stall of the bus depot. Another pop a moment later told him Ron had arrived safely. Stepping out he met his friend as he emerged. Following Ron out they joined Hermione who was already scanning the bus schedule and the buses pulling in.

Motioning them to follow, she led the way to the ticket counter and bought their passes. Moving along the line of waiting busses she found theirs and led them on board. As was the case on the journey to Godric's hollow it was a relatively quiet ride due to the lack of people. Harry stretched out on a back seat and watched the city roll by. As Hermione predicted it was half an hour later and just running up on quarter past eleven when they stepped from the vehicle onto the curb. Looking up, her eyes widened.

"Uh oh." Harry followed their focus.

"That's a problem." Instead of the broken down building they had expected to find, there was a well kept, clean and updated orphanage standing before them. The plaque fastened to the front gate confirmed the address. "Any ideas?" Hermione looked around for a moment. Both boys nearly stumbled as she grabbed their wrists and pulled them across the street into a small alley. "Hermione? What are doing?"

"Shut up for a minute. Harry, put your cloak on. Ron, don't move." Double checking that no one was watching, Hermione drew her wand and tapped it to Ron's forehead. Flinching at the touch, nothing seemed to happen for a moment. As Harry quickly threw on his cloak though, something changed. Before his eyes, Ron seemed to age ten years. Ron's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he watched his hand change. Touching his face he could feel the slight blanket of magic indicating shifts in his looks. His clothes also changed to a nice pair of slacks and a sweater.

He really stared though when the spell took effect on Hermione. Harry couldn't blame him. Right before them she fully matured into what, Harry had to admit, was a rather attractive woman. Ron was struck dumb at the sight and she colored a little at seeing his reaction. Harry was thankful for the cloak to hide his own goggling eyes. She now wore a long sleeved blouse, jacket and pants. Taking a moment to collect herself she reached out and grabbed Ron's arm.

"Now, just let me do all the talking and play along. Harry, follow us in and break off when you get the chance." Harry followed as Ron stumbled along next to her. Passing through the open gates she approached the door and knocked firmly. Just as she was about to knock again, the door opened to reveal a young girl, perhaps thirteen, standing there in a neat if simple dress.

"Good morning. How can I help you?"

"Good morning. We have an appointment to speak to the matron."

"Mrs. Auster? Please come in. I'll go let her know you're here." Harry slipped in as the girl held the door for them and closed it quietly. She then hurried off to find the proprietor. It was the same entry way…and yet, not the same. Time had been kind and apparently the place had fallen to more able owners as it was now well cleaned and appointed.

"Appointment? For what?" Ron was whispering to Hermione.

"I told you, just play along. Here, give me your hand." Harry could just see the tip of her wand protrude under her hand and tap Ron's third finger on the left hand. She did the same to her own. A second later small gold bands wrapped around the fingers she had tapped. Harry's eyes popped again, realizing what she was doing. Ron just stared at it, curious as to what it meant. Harry had to hold his mouth shut to keep from chuckling at the situation.

A moment later a tallish graying woman dressed in a skirt suit and reminding him oddly of McGonagall in both stride and bearing approached with the girl at her side. "Good morning. I'm Elizabeth Auster, the owner of the orphanage. Anna tells me you have an appointment. Unfortunately I don't have any record of it. What were your names again?"

"Hello, my name is Virginia McKenny and this is my husband George." Harry had to suppress another chuckle at the look on Ron's face and noticed Hermione's nails nearly drawing blood on his arm to keep him from giving them away.

"And what was your appointment about?"

"Well…we were considering adoption. For various…reasons…we are unable to have children of our own so we thought we might open our home to another child."

"Oh! Well…it just so happens I have a free moment now. If you'd like to come back to my office we can discuss some of the options available…" She gestured down the hall where her office apparently was.

"Thank you." Nearly dragging a shell shocked Ron, Hermione followed the woman down the hall. Harry nearly followed until he noticed her hand waving him off. Stopping, he waited several moments until they disappeared down the hall followed by the girl. Looking around he tried to figure out where to start his search. The most logical place seemed to be Tom's old room.

Careful not to make any more noise than he had to, Harry slowly ascended the split flight of stairs. Walking along to where Tom's room should have been he found only a blank wall. Confused, he moved onto the next door. No…that was too far. Going back and forth across that same stretch of wall he still found no door. Thinking maybe he had missed a floor in the memory he climbed another set of stairs.

On this floor he found a door in the right spot, but it was the wrong door. Taking a chance he slowly pushed it open. The room was clean and held a nice bed, dresser and desk. Judging by the lack of any effects, the room was also currently vacant. Not Tom's room at all. Beginning to grow frustrated he stepped out of the room and closed the door quietly.

Going back down the stairs he headed for the place Tom's room should have been. Now, as well as the blank wall, there was another young girl, perhaps nine, standing across the hall, just staring at the empty patch. As he approached the girl's head turned to look right at him.

"Hello." She smiled a little and waited. No…it couldn't be… He double checked that no part of him was sticking out. Finding none he spun around thinking someone was behind him. Finding no one he turned back. She was still staring right at him, waiting. Tentatively he raised a hand and waved. She waved back immediately. Stunned, it took several moments before he could move closer and whisper. As he did she followed him perfectly.

"You…you can see me?" She nodded quickly.

"Yeah."

"How?" The girl's face scrunched up suddenly, trying to figure out how to respond.

"I…I don't know. I can see lots of stuff other people can't. It's almost like magic." Harry goggled at her.

"Like…what else can you see?"

"Well…there's that door right there." She pointed at the blank wall. "No one else can see it. At least they say they can't. Seems like a silly thing to lie about if they can. I know there's something fun behind it, I just don't know what." Harry's head whipped to the wall, still only seeing a wall.

"A…door? Where?"

"Right there. Can't you see it?"

"No…"

"Here, give me your hand." Harry reflexively extended his right, knowing she could find it within the cloak. She grabbed hold and pulled him across the hall. She set it on something hard and round and let go. After a moment he realized it was a door knob. And a quick turn told him it was locked. Glancing around he carefully slid the wand from one sleeve to the other and focused. Thinking 'alohamora' he heard the responding click in the lock mechanism. Suddenly the door became apparent to him, looking much the same as it had fifty years ago. Just as he became concerned others could now see it, a small boy walked by and looked at the girl.

"Staring at the wall again Juliette? Still think there's a door there?"

"No…not really…" The boy walked away chuckling at her. Once he was out of sight Harry turned to her.

"Juliette?"

"Juliette Allison. At least, that's what they said my mum named me…"

"Oh…sorry. I…I never knew my parents either." She smiled a little at this. "I'm Harry by the way."

"Hi." After a moment she glanced at the stairs. "Do you need your friends now Harry?" Harry again gaped. The girl must have seen through the disguises and obviously realized the trio was together.

"Uh…yeah….yeah I do. Now I just have to get them out of that meeting…and distract Mrs. Auster…"

"Easy. Follow me." He did as she headed for the steps, making enough noise to mask his steps. Following her down the hall they approached the open door of the matron's office. As they did he could make out her voice.

"Your husband's not very talkative is he?"

"Oh, usually he won't shut up. He's just a little nervous about children. Isn't that right George?"

"Uh…yes dear."

"Well…at any rate you seem to be in excellent circumstances to raise a child…" Harry could guess where those 'circumstances' had come from. "Now, if you'd like to follow me to… Yes? What is it Juliette?" The girl had approached the door and waited to be acknowledged. The other girl had disappeared for parts unknown while he had been away.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but I think Brian fell up in the attic and hurt himself. He's bleeding." The woman looked concerned and just a little annoyed.

"Well…I'd better see to that. Juliette, go find Anna and meet me in the attic. Mr. and Mrs. McKenny, if you'll excuse me for a moment. Feel free to look around, I'll be with you shortly." She rushed out, leaving the pair alone. They rose a second later and turned to the door. Hermione was the first to speak.

"Come on, we have to find Harry."

"No need. I'm right here." They both jumped as he spoke. Sticking out a hand to signal his location he waved them along. "Go up the stairs and straight ahead. Stop about twenty feet along." Following behind as they complied he moved around in front of them and again stuck out his hand. "Here, hold on." Ron grabbed hold with one hand and took Hermione's in the other. Pushing open the door neither could see Harry pulled them into the room. Closing it again he pulled off the cloak and looked around. A quick swipe of his wand locked the door once more.

It was a carbon copy of the memory. Bed, wardrobe, exactly the same, grey and depressing. The others looked around, Ron the first to comment.

"Growing up here…kinda makes you see how a guy might go bad."

"Ronald…"

"What?"

"Is that sympathy I hear mate?"

"Well…no. But…you know this isn't the nicest place. The Burrow is cramped sometimes, but at least there's some color."

"Give over Ron. I grew up in a house with people that hated me and I didn't turn into a murderer."

"True… So…any idea what we're looking for?"

"Not really…" Harry began to move around the small room, his hands brushing this and that trying to pick up anything like the feeling he'd had in the cave. Hermione watched him, curious.

"Harry…what are you doing?"

"Trying to feel Tom's magic. I felt it in the cave. I figure it must be here somewhere." He reached the door and could just make out the traces of the spells that had hidden it. Turning back he caught the odd look Hermione was giving him. "What?"

"Harry…the ability to identify magic as being from a specific person…or even feel it fifty years later…that's a really rare ability. I didn't think anyone even had it at our school. According to what I've read…no one's had that ability in centuries."

"Well…Dumbledore had it. And I can at least feel Tom's…" He continued around the room and stopped at the wardrobe, ignoring the awed look on Hermione's face. Reaching for the handle he felt something askew. There…very faint…but it was there. The slightest trace of magic. Opening the door he reached in against common sense and reached past what should have been the back of the otherwise empty and dark wardrobe. Wherever his hand was, it was cool and damp. Pulling it back, something occurred to him. "I…I think this is some kind of portal. Like the vanishing cabinets. No idea where it leads though."

"Well…only one way to find out." Hermione released Ron's hand and stepped forward. Harry put out a hand out to stop her. "Harry…we're in this together."

"Yeah. But I'm the better duelist. I'll go first." She grudgingly accepted this and waited. Harry turned and dove into the cabinet, falling for a moment through some cool, liquid like substance. He rolled out onto what felt like stone. Rising to a crouch he drew his wand. "Luminos." Light appeared and showed a small, damp, stone chamber. The only feature was a large picture frame that Ron and Hermione tumbled out of in turn a moment later, the rock seeming to swirl for a moment as they did. After helping them to their feet they also looked around.

"So…a dead end?" Ron looked and similarly saw no other way to go. Harry let his hand graze over the stone opposite the frame. "Where are we anyway?" Hermione had been studying the rough hewn walls, slick with moisture, as well, though for a different purpose.

"We're at least a mile below the city, deep in the bedrock of London." She glanced back to find Harry focusing on a spot on the wall. "What is it Harry?"

"He did this before…in the cave. Dumbledore called it crude. It is. Light please. Nox." Sheathing his now dark wand he waited for Hermione to cast luminos. As she did the light revealed the glint of the knife he had drawn from his pocket and folded out. Hermione stared at it, stunned.

"Harry…what are you doing?"

"Blood. This door needs blood to open." He raised the knife to his arm.

"Then hand it here." He turned to see Ron holding out his hand for the blade. "We don't know what else we'll have to face and you can't just bleed out before you meet it. Here." Slowly Harry handed over the knife. Ron approached the spot on the wall and shrugged back a sleeve. Drawing the edge lightly across his arm he moved forward and wiped it across the stone. They each watched, waiting. Nothing happened. Ron did a decent job of healing the cut but still nothing happened on the wall. "What's going on…did I miss the spot?"

"No…wait…oh…Tom…"

"What? What is it?"

"Give me the knife." Taking it back Harry took a deep breath before slicing his own arm and pressing it to the stone. The stone vanished immediately. "Thought so. Damn…there's something I didn't want to think about."

"What mate?"

"This door needs the blood of an innocent."

"You mean…innocent as in never-"

"Yes Ron, that's exactly what I mean." Harry squeezed his eyes tightly and kept from turning even one millimeter toward them, instead stepping forward through the doorway. Wiping the knife off on a piece of cloth he had brought along for just such a use, he returned it to his pocket. It was by the approaching light he could tell the others had followed him through the arch into…wherever it was they were. The light couldn't find the ceiling and it dropped off a few feet ahead at a slightly rounded edge. He tried to see deeper into the darkness but could make nothing out. Ron broke his concentration suddenly, speaking at his side.

"So…that means you and Ginny never-"

"No Ron. And now we both know far more than we wished to about the other so what's say we drop it?" He didn't have to look to know the thump behind him was Hermione's hand connecting with the back of Ron's head. "Hermione…can we get some more light?"

"Uh…yeah…" A moment later the light coming from her wand magnified many times. It revealed that they were standing on the edge of a large basin with a high domed ceiling that gave Harry flashbacks to the cave. A good way above them hung what appeared to be a lamp. After a moment he pointed at the device.

"Inflamare." A small fire ball shot from his wand and started up the old wick. A second later the fire trailed away to both sides along an invisible conduit. A moment after that a lamp thirty feet to either side of the first lit up and the fire moved on in much the same way. They watched in awe as a circle of fire lit up all around the basin, revealing it to be many hundreds of feet wide. The fire also traced to the center to reveal a chandelier of flame that hung from the center of the dome over a small raised platform. While Harry focused on the platform and what appeared to be a small pedestal on it, Ron was staring over the edge in front of them, pointing.

"Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?" Harry stepped forward and looked down. The basin was indeed filled, at least a foot deep, with a slowly moving mass of a hundred different kinds of snakes. All shapes and sizes moved around and over each other, forming one giant moving floor. Harry couldn't identify any of them on sight, but he would bet his Firebolt every last one was deadly poisonous. "How are we going to get past this?"

"Simple Ronald. We ask nicely."

"Ask? Snakes? Nicely?"

"Yeah Ron. Or have you forgotten I'm a parlsmouth?"

"Oh…right…" Harry kneeled down at the edge of the small drop of and concentrated.

"Please move aside." He could hear the hisses coming from his mouth and waited for a moment. Many of the snakes had stopped moving and now stared at him. "Please let us through." It took another moment before the snakes started to move aside. A few moments later a channel two feet wide was slowly appearing between them and the platform. "Thank you." Making sure all the snakes were out of the way, Harry slowly stepped down to the basin floor.

Finding it solid he turned and helped Hermione down. Ron dropped down behind them as Harry slowly started moving forward. "Be careful where you step and stay close." Slowly moving along the clearing corridor they crossed the snake pit. Harry had to stop a few times to allow snakes to move aside or repeat his request. In time though they reached the center platform. Hopping up before helping the others, Harry looked around.

Just like the cave the platform was round and about twenty meters across. In the center sat a small pedestal. Approaching it, he could see the cup from his memory walks glinting faintly in the light. Small, golden, as with two finely wrought handles, the cup of Helga Hufflepuff sat alone on the flat top of the stone pedestal, looking for all the world like it was just waiting for someone to pick it up. Moving close Harry reached out his hand. He could feel the signature of Tom Riddle surrounding the cup, but had no idea what spells might have been cast on it. He stopped before crossing the edge of the round surface.

"Go on mate…take it." Harry shook his head in response.

"It's too easy. We're missing something."

"Easy!? We just had to break into an invisible room, dive thorough a hidden portal, cut ourselves open to reveal a doorway and wade through a pit of snakes! You call that easy?"

"Yeah…It was a lake full of inferi in the cave. There's got to be trap on the cup itself. Not something instantly fatal, just very dangerous. Like a slow acting poison. Tom would want to see who could penetrate his defenses this far, but he wouldn't want them in any condition to defend themselves."

"Well then…only one thing to do." Ron shrugged back the sleeve on his arm and began to reach for the cup. Harry's hand shot out to stop him.

"Ron! No!"

"Harry…this is the same as the chess board first year. You're the one who has to take down…Voldemort. Not me and not Hermione, you." He shrugged of Harry's grip. "Besides, if it's a slow acting as you say, just get me back to school. Slughorn can whip up an antidote." Harry glanced to Hermione before slowly nodding his ascent. Ron's hand extended slowly. Harry could hear Hermione's breath catch as Ron's hand crossed over the edge of the platform. His hand moved within a few inches of the cup

"Wait…" Harry touched Ron's shoulder to stop him and whipped around. All three turned to find a rather large snake slithering up the edge of the platform and moving toward them. "It'sss a trap…" Harry kneeled as the snake stopped near him and rose. Hermione whispered from his side.

"Harry…what are you doing?" He waved her off for a moment and focused on the snake.

"We know. But we must have the cup."

"Why?" Harry puzzled over how to explain the situation to a snake.

"If we don't get it…then darkness will cover the world. We can't let that happen."

"It is important enough that your friend would sacrifice himself?"

"Yes." The snake, which to Harry now looked oddly familiar, seemed to consider this for a long moment.

"Then…I will do it instead."

"What?"

"Place me on the platform. I will push the cup to you. Once off the edge it will be ssafe…"

"But…you'll probably die. Why would you do that?"

"Repaying a debt…I owe you."

"Me?"

"Seven years ago…you released me from my prison." Harry's eyes bulged as he put it together. Seven years ago…the zoo…he made the glass disappear…

"You…that was you?" The snake nodded in confirmation.

"And now I can help you. Lift me up." Nodding, Harry held out his hands and took hold of the snake.

"Harry…what are you doing?" He didn't respond as he lifted the snake and set it slowly on the platform. The creature wound around the cup and studied it for a moment. With a powerful spasm it hit the cup and sent it flying right into Harry's waiting hands. Tucking it carefully into his jacket pocket he looked back to the snake. Whatever trap had been in place, it clearly wasn't meant for something so small. It was already laboring to breath

"Thank you." It nodded in confirmation.

"Now…hurry! You don't have much time…" As it spoke the chandelier above them began to dim. Harry turned back toward the pit of snake and noticed all the lamps staring to dim.

"Come on!" Shouting for the snakes to move he dashed back toward the outside ring, the others following closely. Jumping up to the edge he whipped out his knife and slit his arm, pressing the fresh blood to the doorway just in time for all of them to nearly fall though it. Pressing on in the nearly extinguished light, he sent Hermione and then Ron through the picture frame before jumping in himself. Smashing through the doors of the wardrobe he rolled to a stop on the floor, just short of the others.

It took several minutes for them to recover and rise to there feet. Harry stood against the wall, Ron leaned on the desk and Hermione stood near the bed, staring out the window. Ron glanced at Harry from the desk. "What was all that with the snake? What did he say? I mean, obviously he volunteered to help…but why?"

"He was…repaying a debt."

"A debt?" Harry told them about the time at the zoo and some of what the snake had said. "Wow…just think what would have happened if your cousin hadn't made you angry that day.

"Yeah…" They lapsed back into silence for several moment before Hermione spoke, face pressed close to the window, staring at the sky.

"Say…how long do you think we were down there?"

"Maybe…half an hour…what do you think Ron?"

"Sounds about right. Why?"

"Well…according to the sun…we've been gone for five…maybe six hours."

"What?!" Both boys spoke in unison.

"Don't ask me how…but we've been gone that long."

"We've got to get back. The feast will be starting soon. If we're not there…" Harry moved to check outside the door when a sudden vibration drew his attention to his pocket. His blood ran cold as he realized what it was. His hand shook as he reached for the coin, a move mimicked by the others. The first two lines frightened him.

Great Hall

School Under Attack

The last sent terror through his veins.

Dementors

"Bloody hell." He didn't bother trying to disguise the raw fear in his voice. He looked up to see the others with similar looks of fear. Almost without thinking Hermione drew her wand and tapped her forehead, followed by Ron's. A moment later their cloaks of age fell away leaving their teenage selves. Summoning up all his mental strength he steadied his voice. "Let's go. Not back to the depot, we apparate right here, straight to Zonko's." The others gave slow nods and all three vanished as one.

(A/N): If you feel it is warranted feel free to review. I welcome any and all opinions.