Title: Harry Potter and the Great Adventure

Author: Magiquill9

Chapter 14: Another One Bites the Dust

Ships: Harry and Ginny, Hermione and Ron, Bill and Fleur, and Lupin and Tonks.

Chapter Synopsis: Harry sends Ginny back to Ron and Hermione, heads to the ministry with Tonks, has it out with the minister, and manages the potion for the wand.

Story Summary: HBP raised as many questions as it answered. How can Harry find a horcrux? How can he destroy the horcruxes? Everything was laid out, and we were about to jump off the cliff. Here's where the cliffhanger ends and the adventure begins. Join Harry and friends as they struggle to lead the wizarding world out of despair, fight the good fight, and put an end to the evil that is Tom Riddle.

Disclaimer: Well, here I am again. I hope you enjoyed the obstacle course as much as I did. I had fun with the sphinxes. It's a lot of fun writing riddles. And you know what? I think I actually managed a plot device or two in there. Shocking. Bonus points a mi? Possibly. Here's to wondering if you all caught my hints. They will be revealed eventually, I think there was maybe four? I don't remember for sure. Three or four. Anyways. This chapter should be interesting. We'll see just who gets manipulated. Oh, and Harry's almost half way now I think? Maybe. Well, here you go, Chapter 14: Another One Bites the Dust.

"Harry. Harry! HARRY!" Harry's head lazily snapped up, and his eyes began to allow the light to enter. He looked straight into the eyes of-

"Tonks? What's the rush?" Harry slowly woke up, and got out of bed. It was hard, because he had to pull himself out of Ginny's embrace. Apparently, they had fallen asleep together. Harry couldn't remember anything except hitting the bed, and falling asleep. Blushing, he sat up, and then stood, watching Tonks apprehensively.

"Well?"

"I have to go to Scrimgeour, and I was wondering, well, hoping, that you would come with me." She looked at him pleadingly.

"Why's that?" Harry asked suspiciously; he didn't want anything to do with Scrimgeour.

"No reason, just I think it would be a good idea if you came along." Her eyes begged him to say yes.

"Alright," Harry conceded with an over dramatic sigh. "What about Ginny?"

"She can go back to the Burrow. I'm sure Ron and Hermione can find something for her to do while you're gone."

Harry nodded slowly. "Alright. But I'm not promising anything about how I act towards Scrimgeour."

Tonks tried to hide her smile, failed, and instead turned away.

"Right then, off to the ministry. Here, I can apparate you to the apparition point. Hold on for a sec." Harry grabbed her arm.

"No, I mean, I need to get something first, hang on," she said, laughing.

"Oh." Harry smiled sheepishly. Tonks went back outside to talk to Moody, and then came back. Harry spent the time gazing adoringly at Ginny. She seemed so peaceful in her sleep. Harry only wished she could be like that in real life. Whatever it takes, Harry thought, to keep her happy. Harry's thoughts were interrupted abruptly by Tonks's reappearance.

"Ready Mr. Potter?"

Harry grinned, as did Tonks. Scrimgeour was in for it this time.

"Three, two, one." Harry, grabbing onto Tonks's arm, apparated with a pop.

Harry felt the feeling he often experienced during any kind of wizard travel that wasn't on a broom: nausea. He steadied himself as they landed on the Apparition level of the Ministry.

"Well, let's go then Harry. I'm supposed to report to Scrimgeour. Of course, it will be more of me yelling at his stupidity and him talking to you, but whatever." Tonks sighed mock-dramatically, causing Harry to grin. She changed her hair to a bright pink and walked purposefully towards the secretary. Harry was impressed by her intimidating gait; at least, before she tripped over her shoelace and fell. Harry laughed and helped her up, then approached the secretary. Tonks, still trying to regain her dignity, stood up in a huff, but Harry had already started talking.

"Harry Potter and Nymphadora-" Tonks glared, "Tonks, here to see Rufus Scrimgeour," Harry said with a smile, oblivious to Tonks's rage at being referred to as 'Nymphadora.'

"Of course, the minister is expecting you Miss Tonks. Go right ahead." They marched up to the minister's office, Tonks steadily building up her indignant rant. She was muttering darkly under her breath, and Harry almost felt sorry for the minister.

"Ahhh, Auror Tonks," Scrimgeour said as way of greeting once Tonks had entered his office. Tonks nodded stiffly.

"And Mr. Potter, what a pleasant surprise. Let me just speak with Miss Tonks for a moment and you and I can catch up."

Harry glared back at Scrimgeour's carefree attitude and sat back in the chair provided for him, staring expectantly at Tonks. He wasn't disappointed, as she launched into a speech about how stupid it was to attack Hogwarts, something about how 'a troll without a club would have lasted longer than we did,' and 'I've seen a giant's arse lead an army more effectively.' Needless to say, Scrimgeour was not in a good mood. As a matter of fact, he was in a bad mood, a very bad mood. Harry sensed the subtle signs of accidental magic.

"So how many did we lose Miss Tonks, out of the 15 aurors I sent?" Scrimgeour asked, a cold tone in his voice.

"Five, including Shacklebolt," Tonks stated.

"Shacklebolt?"

"Yes," growled Tonks menacingly, daring him to push the point. Scrimgeour did not rise to the challenge.

"Very well, how many were you up against?"

"Aside from the fact that they knew we were coming and had an ambush already in place? Well, take away those odds, the fact that they counter attacked, and well, I think that leaves about twenty-three death eaters, more or less. And of course, Azkaban has been broken into and captured as well, so their numbers have only been going up, whereas ours are dwindling, and will, at this rate of incompetence, disappear. Please, do the wizarding world a favor and don't do a half-arse job. You would do better returning to the aurors. At least there, you were worth a damn."

Scrimgeour froze after hearing Tonks's assault. Harry would have to; there wasn't much to say on the minister's behalf.

"Thank you for your report auror Tonks. Good luck in the future. If you will allow me to speak with Mr. Potter for a moment, I would appreciate it," said Scrimgeour, effectively dismissing Tonks and ignoring her accusations. Harry stared at the man. If there was one thing Scrimgeour had going for him, it was that he had guts.

Tonks left, promising Harry she would wait for him, and Harry was left to face the minister alone again, one on one.

"Have you thought about our earlier discussion Harry?"

Harry thought back on the last time he had been here. He had considered agreeing after Stan had been released. But it was another story now. Harry wasn't sure if he wanted to support Scrimgeour. He had just gotten Kingsley killed. He had lost Hogwarts; he had lost Azkaban. What next? But, Harry was beginning to think he didn't have much of a choice. The aurors were hopelessly outnumbered, as Tonks had said, and the dark side was growing stronger by the minute. Scrimgeour was beginning to make some bad calls, and it was showing. The dementors were still breeding. Everything, pretty much, was going to Hell. And it looked like the only way to Heaven was through the center of it.

"Well, minister I have a question for you."

"Be my guest Harry."

"How do you think the ministry is handling Lord Voldemort right now?" Harry was pleased to notice a small shudder at the mention of Voldemort's name.

"Well, I- there- well, you see. There is always room for improvement," pronounced Scrimgeour, pleased at worming his way out of that situation.

"Really? How so?"

"We, well, we should take back Hogwarts-"

"Haven't you tried that already?" asked Harry innocently.

"Yes."

"And?" pressed Harry.

"It didn't go according to plan. Someone leaked the information," muttered Scrimgeour.

"I would recommend, at the very least, cleaning out your ministry. Check everyone's forearms for the dark mark, for starters. You will need everyone on your side to actually be on your side." Harry watched for the man's reaction. He seemed almost offended.

"No one here is working for you-know-who-"

"Someone obviously is minister; how else do you explain the Hogwarts ambush? How else do you explain Kinsley's death?"

Silence.

"I would recommend checking your own fortress before going after someone else's. Let me know when there aren't any death eaters here." Harry stood up abruptly, and turned to leave.

"There is something you should know. Harry."

Harry turned around, letting his gaze fall on Scrimgeour, expectantly.

"There is something in the Department of Mysteries. Something that you need to see."

Harry perked up at the mention of the Department of Mysteries.

"Hmmm," was all Harry said.

"Maybe next time when my ministry is cleared-"

"Ahhh," stated Harry. He turned around and walked out, Scrimgeour shouting behind him.

"I will owl you!"

Harry gave a wave of his hand without turning back. The door closed behind him. Harry saw Tonks waiting for him.

"Well?" Tonks watched Harry's expression.

"I convinced him that the ministry is corrupt-" Tonks snorted, "and I found out that he has something I need to see that is in the Department of Mysteries," stated Harry.

"Well, that should be interesting. You ready to go home Harry?"

Harry nodded fervently, to Tonks's amusement. They went to the apparition point and apparated back to Grimmauld Place.

Harry was able to step through the door, and made it three steps, before he was attacked.

Ginny slammed into him and pulled him into a hug that would of brought one of Mrs. Weasley's to shame. Her red hair was all in his face and her head rested on his chest. He stroked her back soothingly.

"I'm here Gin. It's ok."

She only nodded in response. Harry picked her up and carried her up to the library, Ginny squealing along the way. Harry laughed and gave her a peck on the cheek as he headed to his two best friends.

Harry announced is arrival very loudly, making sure he didn't walk in on something he didn't want to have imprinted in his mind. When he thought it was finally safe, he opened the door and walked into the library. Ron and Hermione sat side-by-side, reading a book. Hermione's hair was as wild as, well as wild as something. Harry couldn't find an appropriate comparison. Her hair just flew everywhere. She was a little red in the cheeks, as if she was out of breath, and Ron just had a goofy grin pasted on his face.

"Hi Harry," they chorused.

"Hey. Did you find out about the potion?"

"Sort of," replied Hermione.

"Where were you mate?" asked Ron.

"Long story," said Harry. And so, he and Ginny began to tell their tale, starting with meeting up with Snape in the Room of Requirements, and Harry ended it about his trip to the ministry.

"Speaking of the ministry," Harry began, "You all know how magic is detected right?"

"Yeah," they replied slowly.

"It can identify the spell and everything, like it did in my second year and my fifth year. Couldn't they- correct me if I'm wrong Hermione- use their system to track the unforgivables?"

Hermione looked thoughtful for a while. Then she opened her mouth.

"I think they could Harry. I don't see why not."

"I'll ask my Dad," said Ron, and he walked out to do just that.

"Anyway, here's the- Snape's book," said Harry, and he tossed it on the table. He also placed on the table The Darkest of the Dark, the book he had found about horcruxes, after unshrinking it. Then, he placed the potions there after them.

Hermione looked through the copy of Advanced Potion Making and found what she needed. She began rattling off ingredients, but Harry didn't know what she was talking about. He let Ron handle it. Instead, Harry sat on the chair and began to read from The Darkest of the Dark, picking up where he left off.

It explained how to make a horcrux, but nothing about destroying it. It said that you would first designate whom you wanted to kill and point your wand at them while saying Specialis Avada. Then, you would cast Avada Kedavra on the person you had marked.

After that, you chose what object you wanted the piece of your soul to go into. You would point your wand at it and say Specialis Kedavra. Both objects would then be marked, somehow. It was unique to each caster. After that, you would state Specialis Animus. Then the horcrux would be created. But there was nothing, nothing at all, about how to destroy one. The only other thing there was how to use a horcrux to survive, but Harry wasn't interested in that.

Harry looked to see how Hermione was doing. She was going at it already with the potion, stirring and sifting through Snape's notes. She added ingredients here and there, and muttered under her breath. Slowly but surely, the cauldron began to simmer, and a vapor began to emanate from it, similar to the one Harry had seen at the Riddle house. Whatever Hermione was doing, it was working.

Harry began to try and analyze the potions that he had taken with them. One looked frighteningly close to the potion that had been in the cave. Another, reddish green in color, seemed to cackle threateningly at Harry whenever he glanced its way. A light blue one was also in there, but Harry was equally clueless as to what it could be.

"Hah!" shouted Hermione triumphantly.

"It just needs to sit there for about 15 minutes, then it will be finished," announced Hermione.

"That's great," said Harry. "Hey Hermione? Can you tell me what these potions are?"

Harry gestured at the reddish green one, the one he believed to be from the cave, the light blue one, and the other one that resided in the box.

"Well, that one," Hermione said, pointing at the one from the cave, "looks like a magic draining potion. It drains you of your magic and you will slowly succumb to darkness.

The older you are, the more lethal. It can take years to regain your magic and replenish your reserves. The second one, that blue one, is a potion that replaces memories. It will take out a memory and put a new one in its place. The reddish green one, that one, well; it is used when you want to capture a piece of a soul. I think it's probably what Voldemort would use if he needed to get a piece of his soul from the horcrux. He would immerse the horcrux in the potion, and then his soul would come out. Then he would, in theory, be able to merge with it. That last one, ummm, I think it's a potion that attacks the mind. Like, the anti-Occlumency I guess."

"Well, that's interesting. How's the potion coming?"

"It should be finished by now," she said. Ron had already been in and out of the room a few times, and Harry was finally able to talk to him.

"What'd your Dad say?" Harry asked. Ron looked up form what he was doing.

"He thinks it could work. It sounds like a good idea anyway. He's going to ask." That was all Harry could ask for, so he nodded in thanks. He left to retrieve the wand, and he came back to he library.

"Well guys, this is it. Cross your fingers." Harry twirled the wand one last time in his hand, admiring Rowena Ravenclaw's wand, her tool that had allowed her to perform magic. Harry looked at jagged mark at the bottom of the wand, the mark that symbolized the wand was a horcrux, and that Voldemort's soul darkened the goodness the wand was capable of. Almost regretfully, Harry dropped the wand into the cauldron. The wand had hummed one last time in his hand. Harry really didn't feel like parting with it. He didn't know why. The wand simmered in the cauldron after it fell in with a small splash. The wand looked like it was breaking up before their eyes. Harry watched as the wand began to split along the jagged line. The phoenix feather was slowly revealed.

"It's working," Ginny said in awe. Harry agreed.

The wand continued to split along the line, until finally, only the wood was on one side of the cauldron, and the essence, the phoenix feather, was on the other. Harry wondered what happened to Voldemort's soul. Then he received his answer. The cauldron exploded with a bang. Everyone quickly cast shield spells. The potion flew straight up into the air, like a fountain. The phoenix feather fluttered to the ground. The remainder of the wand settled on the dusty floor. Harry gave a sigh of relief. It was done, he thought. He had never been more wrong in the rest of his life. Harry's scar gave a sudden twitch, and he collapsed onto the floor, landing in the puddle of the potion.

There's your chapter guys, for some reason it was extremely difficult to write. I don't know why, but I just couldn't get it flowing the way I wanted it to. It ended up pretty short, sorry bout that. Please review and tell me what you think.To hopefully get your forgiveness, I will give you a preview of the next chapter.

Chapter 15: Two Steps Forward One Step Black.

Synopsis: Harry runs into someone he thought to be dead, the ministry is attacked, Harry heads there to help. What he meets is something he never expected. A few days later, Harry ends up back at Grimmauld Place after a successful raid is made to rescue him.