Disclaimer: Not mine. Burrowed only from the great JK Rowling – not that you didn't already know.

Through the Furnace

Previously in Through the Furnace theme song plays

"I don't understand," Snape was saying. "It all points to this wall."

Slytherin was unsuccessfully hissing at the stone wall in parseltongue. Needless to say it was not working.

Godric was scratching his beard distractedly tying to look like he was coming up with a solution and failing miserable. Rowena was testing the wall with her hands as if she could sense the physical strength.

"Blood," Harry gasped.

Godric whirled to look at him.

"Blood is the key."

Chapter Sixteen. Valley of the Shadow of Death

"Blood?" Hufflepuff grimaced scrunching up her face to look much like a little pug dog.

Harry glanced at the other adults and they too looked distinctly disgusted. "The variation of the same theme with this Dark Lord: blood, torture, death, a little more torture you know…"

Salazar raised his eyebrows and turned back to the wall. "Charming," was all he muttered. Godric unsheathed a long dirk from one of his boots that Harry had previously hadn't seen. It amused Harry that these great wizards carried weapons even though they had wands… It was with a morbid fascination as Godric raised the dirk over his palm.

"Here I cut myself," Harry said scrambling over to Godric's side and rolling up his sleeve. "Use mine." A thin red river ran down the Harry forearm, where Wormtail had cut him for the blood that resurrected Lord Voldemort.

Harry wasn't ready however for Snape to grab him and pull him roughly back.

"Idiot boy!" Snape hissed between his yellow crocked teeth. "Don't you ever think anything through?"

Harry looked from the dead end, to Godric then to Snape, his brain clearly working overtime to figure out what Snape was accusing him of not thinking about.

"Now, now, Snape no need to man handle the boy," Rowena said wiggling her figure at the black clad man.

To Harry's surprise Snape let him go and ushered him, instead of roughly shoving him like he wanted to, to the side.

"It would be advisable not to use the blood that rans through the veins of the Dark Lord. Your blood Potter," Snape replied with the little menace he could conjure. He did not even deign to look at Harry.

Godric nodded his head as if this was all agreeable and raised the long dirk over his palm again. Harry was looking straight into his calm face but had to look away as the dirk came down.

Harry heard a clang then a sound that reminded him of a great iron bolt being drawing to unlock a heavy dungeon door. He turned his face around again to see the great gapping hole that was now before them.

There was now a certain chill in the air. Something was rooting Harry to the spot. His heart was thumping painfully against his chest and his scar was burning almost feebly. Harry watched Snape and then the female founders disappear in the black abyss.

"Come." Salazar Slytherin surprised Harry for the second time that day and took the crook of his elbow and led him forward. "The sooner we start the sooner we finish."

Harry nodded grimly but that did not stop the rolling sensation in his stomach.

For a moment the blackness engulfed both Harry and Salazar. The chill deepened making Harry shiver violently. A surprised shriek ahead made Harry start and jump closer to Slytherin. Slytherin on the other hand did not seem to notice. Harry surmised it was because he was used to the foul things Dark Wizards conjured in their wild fantasies.

"On your guard Harry," Salazar murmured creeping forward dragging Harry forward. Harry thought he didn't need to be told that! He fumbled in his robes and pulled out his wand.

"Lumos Maxima!"

Slytherin gave Harry a strange look as if to ask why hadn't he thought of that?

The deep whole was illuminated for a moment in the wash of Harry's spell. Harry was relieved to see everyone looking well. Hufflepuff was wringing her skirts dry as she had stepped in something one could only hope was a rock pool. Needless to say it was she that shrieked in such a lady like manner.

The atmosphere of the cave itself was foggy. White mist swirled about before them so that they could see too far ahead but assumed that the cave continued for a while.

Snape opened his mouth as if to speak then decided it was better to clamped his jaw shut.

The mist swirled faster. And Harry felt his blood freeze it his veins and felt for certainity the cold sweat dripping down the nape of his neck. His breathing became hitched and laboured – something was close. Slytherin's unobtrusive grip on his shoulder became painful – testimony to the snake founder's fright.

Rowena suddenly gave a strangled cry and turned abruptly so that she nearly came face to face with the stone wall.

Harry snapped his head around to regard the Ravenclaw founder curiously but his attention was suddenly caught by a wisp of cloak in the mist.

"There!" Harry cried pointing.

"What?" Snape hissed.

"A cloak!" Harry returned, his eyes futilely darting from side to side, forgetting he was talking to his dreaded ex – potions master. "We're not alone."

Harry shivered unconsciously inching closer to Salazar Slytherin. No one spoke then there was a low keening wail.

Ravenclaw was now desperately clawing at the rock face, her long delicate fingers scratching and scraping. Blood ran down her torn nails and ripped flesh. And her wail became a long winded scream.

"What's wrong with her?" Hufflepuff cried over the din. She grabbed Rowena's shoulders and started shaking her roughly.

"I dunno!" Godric said, his wand out stretched in front of him. "But whatever it is that is effecting her like that is out there."

"How comforting," Harry squeaked sarcastically.

Another wisp of cloak, matted black and deep crimson…

Harry's breath shuddered in his throat as a horrible creature came into his line of sight. His knees would have buckled from underneath him had he not been so petrified that he could not move.

It was the rattling breath sucking at the atmosphere that Harry recognised first. Like most of its kind it was tall cloaked – but no fully in black, which confused Harry. The tattered remnants of the being's cloak were crimson. It stepped forward its foot was the horridly familiar grey blue scabby but slimy skin.

'Dementor!' Harry's mind screamed. 'Dementor, dementor, dementor…"

Was it the dementor that brought Rowena Ravenclaw to her knees? Even in his terrified state Harry doubted that possibility.

"Expecto P..pa..pa…" Harry could get no further. His voice stuck in his throat. Although he was with the most powerful foursome dreamed up by wizard kind (and Snape), he felt terribly alone and depressed. Happy memories flittered away like a flock of birds that had been frightened away.

"E..ex…"

The dementor creator stepped forward again strangely elegant in the swirling mists. It reached up slowly and pooled its hood down. And the pale white face of Voldemort was glaring at Harry from underneath red hooded eyes.

"Harry Potter…" the voice was Voldemort's soft mocking call. But Harry was not at all sure the thing had opened its mouth.

"Harry, get back!" Godric cried.

But Harry could not move. He was rooted to the spot.

"Harry Potter…"

A whispered spell in Harry's right ear and a crystalline shadow of shimmering silver engulfed the six wizards.

The spell was broken and Harry was able to jump backwards and look everyone in the eye. Rowena was sobbing in Helga's arms. Godric seemed unnaturally tense his nostrils flaring and chest heaving as if he had ran a mile. Salazar stood with his wand outstretched and Snape was covering his face in his hands.

"What are they?" Rowena sniffed delicately. Even if she was in the middle of a horrible break down she had to have the answers.

It was Snape who answered. "Dementor hybrid… The Dark Lord had boasted about successfully mating dementors with boggarts."

"And there is the result." Slytherin clucked his tongue. His wand was still outstretched covering them all with the silver blanket of protection.

Snape didn't say anything in return. He turned around and stalked away, careful to remain in the safety of Salazar's spell, his robes billowing behind him. Helga, still supporting poor Rowena followed Godric stood back and waited for Harry to reach his side so they took up the rear.

"Buck up Harry, Salazar's spell should protect us from any harm."

Harry grimaced. Godric didn't sound very confident.

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The locket found at Grimmauld Place sat in the middle of the dining room table. All eyes were glued to the seemingly insufficient item.

"I say we destroy it," Remus Lupin said taking a sip from his hot chocolate.

"What if it's dangerous?" Tonks countered looking up from her mug a rim of melted chocolate giving her an unflattering moustache. "Surely Harry would have said to destroy it if he wanted us too."

"His handwriting is scrawled," Hermione replied. "He was in a rush when he wrote this."

"Harry's writing is also scrawled," Ron pointed out logically. "So how can you tell the difference?"

Hermione just rolled her eyes in response.

"We should put it to a vote," Shacklebolt said. "All in favour…"

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Godric stood back in the gloom as the other inspected his shield, which had unfortunately been chosen by Voldemot as a horocrux. He felt his stomach plummet just looking at the shield which had been a gifted upon his knighthood from the Gryffindor clan leaders. It only seemed like yesterday we he stood tall and proud. He had been so very young then – and naïve.

The shield was protected by a strange murky green light. Salazar had his hand pressed against the protection whispering in rapid Latin. He didn't look too happy at being so close to the protection shield. Even the dementor hybrids which had followed eagerly at a distance seemed uncomfortable. That was little comfort in itself.

Finally Salazar sighed and pulled away.

"Well?" Rowena snapped. She had become irritable when she realised she was the only one to panic under the dementor hybrid's influence. She didn't feel better when Harry admitted he was too scared to even utter a sound.

"Advanced magic," Salazar announced. Rowena rolled her eyes at him.

"Yes Salazar dear, we had gathered that," Helga interjected patiently. "Please do continue."

Salazar smirked but it was rather wryly. "Whoever pushes through this barrier has to give something of themselves in return. There is no other return."

"Like your soul?" Harry asked in a shaky voice.

Snape sniffed indifferently.

"No," Salazar said quietly. "A memory, a happy memory that will be lost forever."

Harry racked his brain. "I'll do it," he said.

Godric placed his hand on Harry's shoulder and squeezed shaking his head sadly in reply. "I will."

"But…"

Godric shook his head.

"But you used your blood to open the cave it isn't fair that we ask this of you," Harry argued.

"It is not asked of me. I offer freely of my own will."

"And I offer of my own free will too!" Harry cried. "You don't have to be a hero all the time you know!"

"If only you would listen to your own advice Potter," Snape snarled.

"Shut up!" Harry returned facing his ex-professor. Snape raised his hands in defeat but looked gloatingly victorious.

"Harry, it's dangerous for one so young and inexperienced to have his mind sacked and pillaged," Helga said calmly. "Just look at me! I was never the same after I tried something similar."

Harry wasn't sure if he should laugh or cry as Helga pointed to herself energetically more like a thirteen year old school than a regal character from a history text book.

Godric pulled up his sleeves and pressed bodily against the barrier while Harry was distracted. A blinding white light filled the cave and Godric pushed himself through…

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After what seemed like an eternity Godric pulled himself back through the shield feeling as if something inside of him was missing. His heart seemed heavy, depleted but he could not recall the reason for his sudden melancholy.

Godric held up the shield for everyone to see and then turned it back to himself delicately tracing the embossed pattern with his hand lovingly. He was dead in this time true and even though material possessions could not follow you to the after life some mementos are hard to give up.

"I'll do it," Salazar said with a slight nod of encouragement. "If you cannot bring yourself to do so."

"Thankyou," Godric replied tearing his eyes from his shield and handing it away with trembling fingers. "You always understood me Salazar." Then he turned his back and stepped to the outer most point of the protection of Salazar's spell as if he could not bear to see his shield destroyed.

There was a pause then a tremendous crack and Godric knew the noise signalled the shield was no more. He sighed and began the long trek back painfully aware of the dementor hybrids watching their every move.

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