Chapter 8: Registration and Revelation

Harry woke up late the next morning. He stretched as he looked around in his room at Godric's Hollow. Sunlight streamed through the high windows which were draped with thick velvet curtains. The candlestick still held the melted wax, which had been glorious candles the previous day. He watched, amazed as the wax began to pile itself up and once again stood as a candle, ready to be lit. Images of the previous day began to flash before his eyes. He tried not to think about Hermione's parents, he threw off his covers as someone knocked on his door. The door was thrown open. Hermione ran in, she looked alight with happiness.

"Oh, Harry," she said, her face shining, "Mum and Dad are alright."

"Wow," said Harry, as he felt a tight knot undo in his stomach, "that's great, Hermione."

"Yeah, I thought something worse could have happened…" she said, and Harry understood she was referring to Neville's parents.

"Well, get dressed, Harry," she stood up straight to regain her composure, "we're going to see them after breakfast."

Harry nodded. She left the room and closed the door behind her. He got dressed, got a few insults from the mirror on the cupboard for his hair that refused to lie down. He then proceeded to the kitchen; the aroma of bacon and eggs welcomed him as he entered the room. Hermione, Amanda, Eliza were seated around the table. Amanda looked up from the tray she held and smiled at Harry.

"Your registration is today," she said, "four O' clock in the afternoon." As everyone began their breakfast, Harry was left to his own thoughts. He tried to stop thinking about Hermione's parents, his thoughts drifted to the Registration test he was going to take. He felt pretty nervous about it, though he did not know what exactly made him nervous.

Harry polished off his bacon and eggs and stood up from his chair as Hermione and Eliza stood up from their chairs. Amanda drew out her wand and waved. The plates and goblets vanished, leaving the table sparkling clean.

"What are you waiting for? C'mon," she called, walking out of the room. They followed her. Amanda gave the password to the door and they stepped out of the house into the cheery sunny day. She flung out her right hand and the purple Knight Bus appeared.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus," began the grubby wizard in an un-welcoming voice.

"Four to St. Mungo's," said Amanda swiftly.

The wizard muttered, "Hmph," as he showed them inside. They sat in their seats and Amanda handed out the gold. Nothing significant occurred on the ride, unless you counted Eliza falling from her seat five times in a row. They alighted at the entrance to St. Mungo's and Harry looked around. The place was crowded, yet there was a lot of space for the Knight Bus to be stopped. As the Knight Bus bumped off, they made their way into the Reception.

St. Mungo's looked as gloomy as ever, even on that cheery summer day. The Welcome Witch seemed to be in a bad mood, she shouted at the visitors for no apparent reason. Harry sighed for they had been waiting for almost half an hour in the long queue. Not wanting to hear the Welcome Witch screams; Harry looked around and spotted an additional note on the floor guide. It read:

MUGGLES...Sixth Floor

Any kind of treatment for Muggles (The Non-Magical Community)

He nudged Hermione and pointed towards the additional note on the Floor Guide.

"Oh yes, St. Mungo's had added a new floor for Muggles," she said, airily.

Harry frowned. "But why would they need a new floor? Last year, Mr. Weasley-"

"There have been way too many Muggle accidents, so they had to add a new floor exclusively for Muggles," Eliza cut in onto their conversation. Harry stared at her, surprised. She shrugged, "It was in the Daily Prophet."

"Come on now," called Amanda as they made their way towards the sixth floor. They entered the Ward and Harry thought not only the patients, but also the people who were visiting looked jumpy. As he surveyed the patients, Harry's eyes spotted a small boy who had arms sprouting from his head. Hermione had rushed up to her parents' beds. Harry was glad that they were sitting up.

"Mum, Dad," she said as she hugged her mother. "How're you?" she asked.

Mrs. Granger sat up gingerly and hugged her daughter.

"We're fine, honey," Mr. Granger inspected his daughter and asked, "and you?"

"Fine."

"When can we get back home?" Mrs. Granger asked the room in general.

"I'm sure you can return to your house today," answered Amanda. "Oh, we haven't been introduced. I'm Amanda Rosenay, and this is my daughter Eliza," she said. She extended her hand towards Mrs. Granger.

"I'm Jane Granger. This is my husband, Mike," responded Mrs. Granger, as she took Amanda's hand.

"Oh, and we've added a few security measures to your home, Mrs. Granger. No one can Apparate in or out of your house anymore; it's also unplottable now," Amanda added conversationally.

Hermione's mother just nodded in response, clearly not understanding a word.

"Right then," said Amanda. She clapped her hands together, "Hermione, if you want to stay a bit longer, we're going to see Remus,"

Hermione nodded. Harry, Eliza and Amanda left to see Lupin. They entered the ward in the fourth floor. Harry saw Lupin was reading the Daily Prophet, when he saw them come in, he raised his hand in welcome. He looked tired, but otherwise he was fine.

"Remus," said Amanda, "how're you feeling?"

"Fine," he smiled, causing his eyes to twinkle. "Eliza, Harry," he added to the pair of them.

The motherly-looking Healer bustled in, she seemed highly preoccupied, and muttered to herself. She walked up to Lupin's bed, and examined his hand.

"Well, well," she said, more to herself than to Lupin. "Mr. Lupin, you're fine,"

"Can I go?" he asked her.

"Of course," said the Healer and waved her wand. A piece of parchment appeared along with quill and ink.

"You sign this," said the Healer and thrust the parchment to him. Lupin sat up gingerly and fumbled with the quill for a second. He then signed the parchment and looked up, unsure of where to leave it. All of a sudden, the parchment, quill and ink began to float, and Harry looked up to see the Healer waving her wand.

"Right then," said Amanda with a smile. "What are we waiting for? Let's go," she added in a commanding voice. They returned to the sixth floor and met up with Hermione.

"My parents can go home now," she informed them.

"Remus," said Amanda in a low voice, "maybe I should go with them, just to be sure."

"Fine, I'll take the others home," Lupin whispered back.

"OK, Eliza, Hermione, Harry, go with Remus," she instructed. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I'll take you home."

"Umm, Mrs. Rosenay?" began Mrs. Granger tentatively, "No offence meant, but we'd prefer travelling by the normal way."

"Muggle transport you mean?" verified Amanda, a grin flitting across her face. Mrs. Granger just nodded in response. "No problem," added Amanda, as Mrs. Granger's face brightened. "In fact, we need to take a train to your residence."

"Right," said Lupin. "Come on, you lot, the sooner we get home, the better."

"Listen, everyone," said Amanda. Harry looked up from the game of Wizard's Chess he had been playing with Eliza. Hermione was engrossed in a book on a nearby couch.

"Your Ministry registration will be today at four o' clock in the afternoon," she told them, "it would be best if Muggles didn't know about this place, not that they can't be trusted or anything, but it's just safer that way. So the Dursleys and Grangers will arrive directly to the Ministry."

"What about Ron?" asked Hermione.

Amanda grinned at Hermione, and there was a knowing look in her eyes. Hermione blushed. "I believe Arthur and Molly will arrive at the Ministry with Ron," she replied.

"Right, and your Apparation tests," Amanda looked at Harry. "That'll be today as well. Right after your registration."

"OK," said Harry, he could not hide the slight nervousness from his voice.

"It's not difficult, Harry," said Lupin bracingly, as though he had read Harry's mind.

Harry said nothing, but he nodded in response.

"Remus, will you stay at home with Eliza?" asked Amanda.

"No problem," Lupin smiled.

Harry turned back to look at the game. "Queen to E5."

"My Knight will take care off her," Eliza grinned. As she spoke, her knight smashed Harry's white queen to pieces.

"But," said Harry, bewildered. "You didn't even direct them."

Eliza laughed. "I've known them long enough for this, Harry."

"But, that's not fair," Harry protested.

And they continued to argue. Hermione, however, did not even look up from the Transfiguration book she held in her hand. The rest of the afternoon breezed away, and soon it was time for them to leave to the Ministry. Harry, Hermione and Amanda left the house at three o' clock. Amanda waved her wand and an old shoe appeared.

"Portus," she said firmly; it glowed with a blue light, and appeared normal again. "Hold on, now." Harry held it, and felt a familiar hook beyond his navel. After what seemed like hours to Harry, they hit the ground in what seemed like the backyard of a posh looking house. The afternoon sun's rays cast a shine on to the house, and it looked like one of the biggest houses in the family. There was a lawn in front, and there were begonias, which reminded Harry forcibly of Aunt Petunia. Unlike Aunt Petunia's, these seemed to be flourishing.

Harry saw Amanda glance around as if to check if they had been noticed by any Muggle. She also had her hand in her jacket in which, Harry assumed, she held her wand. They walked to the front porch; Harry saw the name Michael Granger on the nameplate. This must be the Grangers' residence, he realised. Amanda rang the doorbell. A crack in the door revealed Mrs. Granger, she looked flustered.

"Oh, it's you," she said, as though she had expected a monster to bring down her house.

"I hope you're ready, Mrs. Granger," Amanda said indifferently.

"Yes, yes," she nodded and smoothened the creases of her dress, "why don't you come in?"

"Sorry," answered Amanda, immediately rejecting the offer, "but we're in a hurry."

"Oh, fine," said Mrs. Granger nervously, and called out to her husband. In a minute, the Grangers came out, both of them looked apprehensive. Amanda held the old shoe and murmured 'Portus' again.

"If you will hold this," said Amanda thrusting a shoe at the Grangers. They looked plainly terrified at this thought and Harry held back a grin.

"Just a finger will do," Hermione added, to her tense looking parents. "It'll take us to the Ministry of Magic." Harry saw the Grangers exchange a glance, which plainly said 'how is a shoe going to help?'

"On the count of three then," said Amanda, "one, two, three."

They hit the ground in front of number four, Privet Drive. Harry thought it was quite an achievement that they were not seen by Muggles in both places, but he also suspected that Amanda cast some spell to avoid Muggle detection.

Amanda walked up towards the doorstep and rang the doorbell. The door opened a creak and Harry saw his Aunt Petunia.

"Who are you?" she asked rather rudely.

"Amanda Rosenay," she said in a crisp voice. "I'm here to take you and your husband to the Ministry of Magic," she said as though she was inviting them to a beach party.

Aunt Petunia did not reply but stared at Amanda, petrified. Her husband had obviously forgotten to mention Harry and Amanda's visit to their house. Uncle Vernon appeared behind Aunt Petunia, his walrus moustache twitched at the sight of them. He was dressed in his best black suit. He excused Petunia and himself, and immediately, Harry could hear Aunt Petunia screeching in protest. After about ten minutes, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon returned. Her face was flustered, and his moustache seemed to be twitching again.

"Come on then," said Amanda irritated, and led them out of the house.

She muttered 'Portus' for the third time that evening and the old shoe glowed blue once again.

"You need to hold it," she added to the Dursleys who were eyeing the old shoe with utmost contempt. "Just one finger will do," she added. Aunt Petunia whimpered, and looked as though she would faint, she held on to the shoe. Harry felt the familiar sensation of a hook beyond his navel for the third time that day, and after what seemed like ages, he felt his feet hit the ground.

"Where exactly are we?" asked Uncle Vernon, his face as red as a beetroot, as he picked himself up from the ground. They had just been transported to the 'Visitors entrance' of the Ministry of Magic. The place looked completely like a Muggle street that Uncle Vernon gave everybody a strange look. Harry began to wonder how everyone would to fit into the telephone box. Uncle Vernon looked like he would occupy half the telephone box himself.

"Right," said Amanda, "get into the telephone box, everyone."

Uncle Vernon muttered, 'Preposterous,' as they bustled in. Harry was amazed to see that all of them fit in quite nicely. Amanda, who was the nearest to the phone, dialled the number and the cool female voice responded.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business," she said.

"Amanda Rosenay, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Vernon Dursley, Petunia Dursley, Michael Granger and Jane Granger. We're here for the Ministry registration of overage wizards," said Amanda.

"Thank you," said the cool female voice, "visitor to the Ministry, please take your badge and attach it to the front of your robes."

Harry head a click and a clatter, and seven square silver badges appeared. Amanda distributed them, and Harry saw that it had the words, Harry Potter, Ministry Registration on it. As Harry pinned his badge, the cool female voice spoke again.

"Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit a search, and present your wands for registration at the security desk which is located at the far end of the Atrium."

The telephone box shuddered suddenly, and Uncle Vernon gave an odd dog-like yelp. The telephone box began to sink into the ground, and after a minute, the cool female voice sounded again.

"The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day."

The door of the telephone box sprang open and they scrambled out. Harry stepped in, and his last visit to the place had been one of his worst nightmares ever, and now he felt like he was walking into his nightmare itself. Somehow, every memory that the place held for him was bad. Right from his first visit, where he had to be tried for something that was not exactly a crime, and then he had to see his godfather die. Harry's feelings for the place had long changed.

He noticed that the place, however, looked the same as ever, as he crossed the fountain of Magical Brethren. It was intact even after it had been transfigured by Dumbledore the year before last. They walked up to the Security Desk and Harry saw the badly-shaven wizard look up at them.

"We're here for the Ministry registration of overage wizards," said Amanda, smiling at the wizard.

"Step over here," said the wizard in a bored voice. He ran a long golden rod up and down her front and back. He repeated the procedure for everyone, and Harry saw Uncle Vernon give Aunt Petunia a stern glance as though all this was her fault, before stepping up for the search.

"Wand," he grunted. Harry held up his wand. After checking it with the brass instrument that looked like a set of scales with only one pan, the wizard read the writing on it.

"Eleven inches, phoenix-feather core, been in use for six years, right?" he asked in the same bored voice. Harry nodded, and the wizard thrust his wand back at him. He checked Hermione's and Amanda's wand the same way, before turning to the Grangers and Dursleys.

"They're Muggles," said Amanda swiftly.

"Hmph," said the wizard and dug into his drawer to produce a heavy book.

"You sign here," he said to the four of them, jabbing at the page, "along with your full name and address." They fumbled with the quill, before Amanda conjured up a pen for them to use.

"A mark of your identification as well," the wizard said, after they had finished. "Come here," he added to a terrified Uncle Vernon. He muttered something about 'thought it was over when the wretched boy left', and shot a nasty look at Harry before the wizard then drew out his wand and ran it over Uncle Vernon's thumb. He repeated the same movement on the register, next to Uncle Vernon's name. Harry saw that Uncle Vernon's fingerprints had appeared on the parchment. After he had finished with all of them, they walked past the gates where the lifts stood behind golden grilles. They joined the crowd near one of the lifts, and as one lift descended with a lot of jingling and clattering, they scrambled in. They went up past Level Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three and when they reached Level Two, they got out, along with a few others.

"This is it," said Amanda, as they began to walk along the narrow corridor. They turned around a corner and walked past the Auror Headquarters to another pair of huge oak doors with a lopsided sign that read Ministry Registration of Overage Wizards. The room had high ceilings and sunlight filtered through its windows. There was an unused air about it as though it had not been in use for a long time. They walked through the doors and Harry spotted Ron along with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, standing in a long queue. They seemed to be in conversation with a witch who wore a vulture topped hat. Harry guessed that the witch was Mrs. Longbottom. As they came nearer, Ron turned around and gave Harry and Hermione a smile which they returned.

"Arthur, Molly," said Amanda, nodding to them. "Oh, hello Mrs. Longbottom," she added looking at her, "how are you?"

"Fine dear," answered Mrs. Longbottom.

"And this is Neville?" she asked, looking at Neville, "My, the last time I saw you, you were only a baby." Neville gave her a half-hearted smile in response, and Harry saw him turn slightly red.

"Ah, Amanda," said Mrs. Longbottom, conversationally, "you're the new Transfiguration teacher, I hear?"

Amanda gave her a half-smile half-shrug, and Harry turned to Hermione, Ron and Neville.

"I thought McGonagall wanted her to be the Defence Against Dark Arts teacher?" Harry asked, frowning.

"Yeah, but I heard Gran telling Uncle Algie that McGonagall managed to find a new Defence Against Dark Arts teacher," said Neville.

"Wonder who it is..." said Hermione thoughtfully.

"So, been having a good holiday?" said Neville.

"Yeah, and you?" said Ron.

"Mine's been pretty good. You're going back to Hogwarts, right?" he added.

"Yeah..." said Harry.

An uneasy silence fell and Harry broke it by asking Ron about Bill's marriage.

"You should have seen Ginny with that sister of Fleur's, Gabrielle, or something," he said, laughing, "She looked murderous. And then Percy! He actually came, though Dad reckons he came only because Scrimgeour must have made him..." And Ron droned on and on about the marriage while Harry was in another world of his own. He felt slightly guilty for their break up, but he knew he missed her. Though he knew he could not afford to fall in love with anyone, he could not stop himself from thinking about Ginny.

Hermione was waving her hand in front of him. "Harry, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said, and was saved from further response as Mrs. Weasley called out to them for the registration. There was a desk, behind sat an irate looking wizard who wore robes of grass green. Harry was able to see only his face, for there were huge dusty volumes of books arranged in a higgledy-piggledy manner, one on top of the other, that hid him.

"Full name," he said gruffly looking at Harry.

"Harry James Potter,"

"Your parents were wizards?"

"Yes," said Harry with a slight air of annoyance.

The wizard jabbed his wand at the huge volumes and one huge volume with a big 'P' in front appeared, He tapped his wand again and Harry saw it open on one particular page.

"Potter...Potter..." he muttered, and tracking down the name, he waved his wand to conjure up quills and ink. Harry saw with a pang his Mum and Dad's names below a long line of names which he assumed to be his family's. The wizard wrote Harry's name below their names and then looked up.

"Parents or Guardians?" he said.

"Guardians," answered Harry.

"Are they wizards?" asked the wizard.

"No."

"Where are they?" he asked looking at the crowd behind Harry. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia bustled forward.

"Full name," he said in a bored voice.

"Vernon Ernest Dursley and Petunia Evans Dursley," said Uncle Vernon, suspiciously. The wizard noted their names down.

"Residential address," said the wizard.

"Number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey," said Uncle Vernon anxiously.

"You need to sign here, along with a mark of your identification," the wizard said to the Dursleys. "And you," he added to Harry, "need to produce your wand."

Harry handed over his wand, and he dropped it into the brass scale like device used by the Security wizard.

"Eleven inches, phoenix feather core, in use for six years, correct?" he asked, reading from a piece of parchment that had come out of the device.

"Yes," said Harry.

The wizard then turned towards the Dursleys and said, "Hold out your hand."

Uncle Vernon held up a pudgy hand tentatively, and the wizard ran his wand on his fat thumb and repeated the same movement on the parchment. He did the same for Aunt Petunia and then he called, "Next."

After the registration was over, Harry, Ron and Neville went over to the Level Two for their Apparation test. When they entered the Apparation Test Centre office, Harry's jaw fell open. Instead of being inside a dingy looking office - as he had expected, he was inside a street similar to the corner of a street that was as long as Diagon Alley, complete with shops. It ran narrow and Harry had to crane his neck to see the end which was blocked by a wall. Harry looked around and saw a portly wizard, with a clipboard at hand.

"Full name," he said in a raspy voice.

"Harry James Potter," said Harry nervously.

"You were born on July 31, 1980, correct?" asked the wizard, sifting through the papers of the clipboard.

"Yes," said Harry.

"Right, now I want you to Apparate to that shop over there, understand?" The wizard indicated with his hand.

Harry nodded, and closed his eyes and concentrated hard on the place he was supposed to Apparate to. Suddenly, he felt as though he was being sucked into a rubber pipe, his eyes were being forced back into their sockets, his ears were being pressed back into his skull, and as suddenly as it had begun, the sensation ended, and Harry tentatively opened his eyes. He was standing in front of the shop that the wizard had shown. He had done it.

"Right," said the wizard, and made a note on his clipboard. Harry waited to watch Ron and Neville Apparate and he was glad that they succeeded on their first attempt. After saying goodbye to the Longbottoms and the other Weasleys, the Grangers and the Dursleys were taken to their houses via Portkeys. By the time Harry, Ron, Hermione and Amanda Apparated to Grimmauld Place, it was dark.

"You've been away for a long time," complained Eliza.

"Supper," Amanda announced, ignoring her.

They went upstairs for dinner, and after that, Harry and Ron felt too sleepy to do anything else, though it was barely seven o' clock. Harry felt a nudge on his back and turned to see Hermione, a look of excitement on her face. She glanced around the room, and Harry thought she was looking to see if anyone else was listening in. He turned and saw Amanda and Lupin deep in conversation, and Eliza too busy trying to listen to what they were saying. He turned back to Hermione and raised an eyebrow.

"Look at this," he said, thrusting the Transfiguration book into Harry's arms.

"Hermione, if you want Harry to read this-" Ron began, annoyed that she wanted him to read a book now.

"No, no," she said hurriedly as Harry began to turn his back to her. "Look at this,"

Harry took the book and Ron looked at it over his shoulder. "What's the big-" he started, but he left the sentence hanging in mid-air, as he let out a loud gasp, for in the margin of the book, was an elaborately drawn 'S' and 'R' linked together. Below it were the words: Sirius and Rosina forever. Around it were small hearts with the initials SB and RB.

"What do you think?" he asked Hermione urgently.

"Why don't we ask Lupin about it?" Ron whispered.

Harry nodded and led the way towards the table around which Amanda, Lupin and Eliza were seated.

Careful to maintain a light-hearted tone, Harry thrust the book at Lupin. "What's this?"

"What's what?" asked Amanda, as she leaned forward in her seat to take a look at the book. Harry surveyed Lupin closely and noticed that a frown had creased on his forehead.

"Well?" Harry prodded. He saw Lupin and Amanda exchange a glance, before Amanda spoke.

"It's simple isn't it?" She gave a short laugh. "Rosina was in love with Sirius." She adapted a light-hearted tone that did not quite convince Harry.

"How did this book end up here?" Hermione asked.

"Rosina left all her possessions with me," she said simply.

"Why?" Ron pressed.

"Because she was my friend," Amanda added, a note of annoyance in her voice that plainly suggested that they should think twice before continuing. However, he decided that he needed the information more than anything else. So, he continued.

"But still, why would she leave her things with you? Did she know she was going to be killed?"

"Enough." She stood up from her seat. Harry seemed to have crossed some unseen limit. "Rosina hasn't got anything to do with what concerns you. Just forget about her."

Unnerved, Harry did not say anything else nor did anybody else. To break the silence, Lupin spoke.

"Harry," he called, "how did your Apparation go?"

"It was OK," said Harry, "at least, I managed to pass it the first time."

"So, almost everything's ready for you to begin," said Lupin.

Harry stared at him before he understood his words. Of course, how could he have forgotten? Lupin was talking about the Horcruxes. But there was a lot going on, that Harry hadn't spared a thought on the Horcruxes. But now that he mentioned it, Harry felt as though something had gripped him from inside.

"Harry," said Amanda, "you also need to be trained in Defence. Not that you need it," she gave a short laugh. "But it's important."

"Ah," groaned Ron, one evening. He was sprawled on his bed, massaging his fingers. "We didn't study like this even for the O.W.L.s. And I'm aching all over," he complained.

Hermione turned to face Ron from near the window. "Didn't you hear Mrs. Rosenay, Ron? It's important."

"You just like her because she likes to make us work," Ron bit back.

"And for what do you think she's doing that? What is it to her if we learn defence or not? You're very ungrateful, Ron," Hermione hissed.

Harry felt it was time he stepped in. "Please, don't start again. We've got enough to worry about even without you fighting."

An uneasy silence fell.

"Well, I'm off to the Library," Hermione spoke after awhile.

"You ever spend time somewhere that doesn't have books?" Ron asked, and then shook his head.

"I'm not the one who spends their life at the Library," Hermione fired back.

"You're joking, right?" Harry spoke in spite of himself.

"No, if there's someone who spends more time at the Library than me, it's Eliza," Hermione said, sounding amused.

"Really?" Ron asked, "I wonder what she's doing."

"What she's doing?" Hermione sounded scandalised. "She's studying, of course! And we all need to be doing that. Now if you'll excuse me..." Hermione left the room.

And so, for the whole of next week, Harry, Ron and Hermione, learnt new spells from Amanda, sometimes joined by Eliza, who seemed to be spending a lot of time in the Library, that Harry was surprised she had not read all the books in that Library. Harry was reminded of the time when he, Ron and Hermione had spent their time preparing Harry for the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament. Apart from mealtimes, they spent almost the whole of the day practising spells. Soon, Harry had mastered a tricky spell which created a sort of a bubble around the caster that would deflect minor to moderate jinxes, which according to Amanda would grow stronger as Harry practised it. He had also improved a great deal in non-verbal spells.

"So, Harry," said Amanda, one evening, "are you ready to begin?"

"Yes," said Harry, and he did not feel as confident as he sounded.

"Where do we begin?" asked Ron, as she sat down next to Harry.

"The Gaunt House?" Harry suggested, looking at all of them. Hermione and Ron nodded in response. Harry had given the matter a great deal of thought during the previous week, and decided that the Gaunt House was as good as a place to start looking for anything that might lead him to the Horcruxes.

"Don't worry, Harry," said Hermione, "you're going to succeed."

And with that comforting thought, Harry went to bed, not willing to think about what the next day would bring.