CHAPTER 15 - THE LOCKET


Back at Grimmauld Place Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the potions room on the 2nd floor. Hermione was making the strengthening potion as Dumbledore had advised. Harry was telling Ginny what Dumbledore had said and Ron was reading one of the defense books.
"See you Ginny" Harry said then turned the mirror off
"How is Ginny?" Hermione asked
"She's good. Said school is getting harder and the teachers are pushing them."
"Good. The exams should still be on." Hermione replied absent mindedly
Harry picked up another defense book and started flicking through it. There was silence.
"Ahh! I figured it out!" Ron suddenly cried making both Harry and Hermione jump.
"You know how back when we were cleaning this house at the start of our 5th year and we were in the living room on the 3rd floor with the Black tapestry. Well inside the china cabinet was a heavy gold locket. What if that was Slytherins locket!" Ron explained
"Ah! Sirius' brothers initials are R.A.B!" Harry told them
Hermione looked up slowly putting the lacewing back down.

"Are you sure?" She asked sceptically

Harry and Ron looked at each other then looked back at Hermione.

"Hermione, come with me." Harry said as he took her hand and lead Ron and Hermione up to Sirius' room in the attic. Harry went to the corner and found what he was looking for, the photo album. Harry sat on his late godfathers bed and Ron and Hermione joined him.

"Look, this is a photo of Sirius and Regulus, now look." Harry said as he took the photo out and turned it over for them both to see the initials 'Sirius P. Black & Regulus A. Black'

"Well, even if Regulus is R.A.B, we threw that locket out ages ago, whose to say it is still here." Hermione said crossing her arms defiantly

"Hermione, seriously. If it belonged to Slytherin there is a huge chance that its in Kreachers den. It hasn't been cleaned out since we moved in." Ron said even more defiantly. Harry sensed a fight coming on so he interjected

"How about we go down and take a look in Kreachers den and see."

Hermione stalked out of the room followed closely by Ron and Harry.

Hermione was the first to look in Kreachers den

"Look, its not here, just pictures of Bellatrix and other Black family members."

"Oh, move out of the way." Ron said rudely and began up turning the den, looking under everything.

"Its not here." he said dejectedly

Hermione looked at Ron and then went back to the potions room.

"What's her problem?" Ron said bitterly and left aswell. Harry stared into Kreachers den and sighed.

'This horocrux is going to be the hardest one to find yet.' Harry thought to himself

It was nearing midnight and Harry Potter was pacing around the room he and Ron shared. Ron was snoring, but Harry had grown accustomed to it.

'Where could it be?' he was thinking to himself. Harry could not think of any other place of significance to Voldemort. His mind was racing, running through the memories Dumbledore had shown him; The Gaunt's house, but Dumbledore found the ring there. The orphanage, but the cave was connected to the orphanage and that was where the false locket was. Harry balled his hands into a fist, still held anger and resentment to that place. Slughorn's memory was to support Dumbledore's theory, so the locket wouldn't be hiding out in Slughorn's office. The next memory Harry was shown was of Hepzibah Smith, but she introduced the Hufflepuff cup and re-introduced the locket. And then finally Dumbledore's own memory of Voldemort requesting the job at Hogwarts, and Hogwarts was where the flute was. Harry rubbed his knuckles into his temple.

'This thought process is getting me know where.' He thought to himself. Harry couldn't stand it any more and went down to the kitchen for a hot drink.

Harry rounded the corner to the kitchen and only just managed to stop himself from screaming. Dobby the house elf was sitting at the table drinking, what smelt like, warm butter beer.

"Hello Harry Potter sir." Dobby said quietly

"Hello Dobby. Its good to see you, but why are you here?" Harry asked

"The portrait of the great wizard Dumbledore has asked me to tell you something very important. It was one of his secrets and we house elves are sworn to secrecy." Dobby said as his eyes filled with tears

"Dobby, its not a secret if you are told to tell it." Harry said softly, his curiosity was taking over. Dobby looked around, his eyes wide and bulging and filled with tears.

"Dumbledore was a great wizard, and a nice one too." Dobby hiccoughed

Harry leaned across the table and took the butter beer away from dobby then held his arms next to his body.

"Dobby, you are a free elf, and Dumbledore has always let you know that. Now if he has told you to tell me something I would really like to know what it is."

Dobby lifted his head and looked into Harry's emerald green eyes.

"Dumbledore has a brother. Aberforth." Dobby said and bowed his head. Harry let him go.

"Thank you Dobby, but I knew that already."

"There is more. He, he, he is the owner of the Hogs Head and he has… something you need. A gold necklace." Dobby whispered and hit him self in the head. Harry's mind began to race. He pinned Dobby's arms to his side again to stop him from punishing himself.

"Are you sure Dobby?"

"Yes, I's am very sure Harry sirs. Dumbledore said you should go to him, his brother in the morning. Goodnight Harry sir's it was nice to see you again." Dobby said as he finished his butter beer then disappeared with a crack. Harry felt terribly relieved and made him self some hot tea. He drank it and put his head on the soft wood of the table. He closed his eyes finally feeling a sense of relief.

Harry woke with a start. The kitchen was full of noise. HE lifted his head and rubbed his eyes. The Mr and Mrs Weasley, Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, Ron, Hermione, Bill and Fleur were all eating breakfast around him and a plate of eggs and sausages was in front of him.

"Good Morning." Mrs Weasley greeted him

Harry grunted out a reply. He still wasn't properly awake yet. Ron and Hermione were looking at funny. He waved his hand to signal that he would talk to them later after breakfast.

Everyone had gone off to work and Mrs Weasley had to go to Diagon Alley with the help of Winky and a small share of Harry's money which Mrs Weasley never knew about.

"How come you slept down here last night?" Ron asked

"I couldn't sleep so I came down here for a hot drink and guess who was down here? Dobby of all people. And he told me something about Dumbledore." Harry paused to see the reactions on his friends face. Ron looked as thought he wanted to roll his eyes. He has never trusted Dobby after their second year at Hogwarts.

"You know the owner of the Hogs Head in Hogsmeade, well the barman is Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth. And he wants to see me, right now."

"Do you want us to come?" Hermione asked

"Umm, I think it would be good if you went to Hogsmeade with me but ill go in the bar alone. If I need help, ill, umm, send out a patronus." Harry said. Ron and Hermione nodded in agreement. They all got ready and the disapperated away.

Harry turned and saw Ron and Hermione holding hands walking up to the shrieking shack. He walked into the Hogs Head and saw the barman looking at him. Harry gave a small wave and the barman nodded his head and went out back. Harry followed cautiously. He found himself in a small storeroom out the back.

"Hello Harry." A low raspy voice came from down the back.

"Ahh, Hello?" Harry said carefully

"Come down here, I have something that might interest you." the low voice said and Harry saw an arm gesturing Harry to follow. Harry got half way to the arm and changed his mind.

"Why don't you come out here." Harry said

The barman came out from behind a dusty shelf holding something shiny in his left hand.

"My brother told me you might be suspicious. Let me introduce myself. I am Aberforth Dumbledore. And I have something that might interest you." He said. Aberforth looked very much like his older brother, except his beard wasn't as long. In comparison it was rather short, it only came down to the top button on his shirt. He was holding out his hand.

"Take it, I have no need for it any more." Aberforth said holding out his hand. Harry reached his hand forward and took what was in Aberforth's hand. Just as Harry was about to pull his hand away Aberforth took a hold of it.

"I bought this off Mundungus the day you saw us in Hogsmeade. I could not give it to you until know. I've already dealt with it, it is safe. Good luck." Aberforth said as he let Harry's hand go and walked back out to the store front. Harry turned his hand over and saw Slytherin's locket in his hand. Harry smiled to himself in shock that he had acquired the locket so easily. As he was walking out Aberforth said

"My brother wants to see you."

Harry smiled and nodded

Outside Harry saw Ron and Hermione kissing on the corner. They saw him and stopped.

"Do you have it?" Hermione asked

"Yes. But I have to go up to Hogwarts now, by myself. Ill see you guys back at the house." Harry said

"Be careful. We will see you later." Hermione said

"Ok, ill see you guys later." Harry said. He sent a patronus to Professor McGonagall, walked outside then disapperated with a crack.
Professor McGonagall was waiting for Harry at the school gates
"Good day Mr. Potter."
"Hello Professor."
Professor McGonagall opened the gates and led Harry to her office.
"Ah, Hello Harry," Dumbledore greeted him warmly "I'm guessing you have some good news for me?"
"Hello Professor. Yes its about... about..." Harry began
"I have a staff matter i need to attend to. Excuse me." Professor McGonagall interrupted and swiftly left. Harry heard the door click shut.
"Professor, we only have 1 horocrux left to destroy, well 2. Nagini and Voldemort." Harry explained
"Well done Harry. Now I have something important to tell you. About how to destroy Voldemort without splitting your soul."

Harry arrived back at Grimmauld Place as Mrs Weasley was serving dinner

"Mmmm, that smells good." Harry said taking a seat between Ron and Aunt Petunia. Ron looked at Harry and was about to open his mouth

"Ill tell you later ok." Harry interrupted. He pilled his fork high with mashed potato and placed it into his mouth.