Author: Magiquill9
Chapter 16: The Most Recent and Dirty House of RiddleShips: Harry and Ginny, Hermione and Ron, Bill and Fleur, and Lupin and Tonks.
Chapter Synopsis: Harry reads about the Prank of the Century, Harry and company run into someone who smells like a goat, head to Riddle manor, and begin the search for Hufflepuff's cup.
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 guys, I'm back. I sincerely hoped you all enjoyed chapter 15. It looks like it from the reviews. That's the most I've had for a chapter. I personally like that chapter as one of my favorites. The story is flowing well I hope. I hope you all are enjoying it as much as I am. Not that you all care, but we are currently 3-2 in district and I am in second place for leading goal scorer in the district. 5 games to go. Then playoffs. Then that's it. And I will focus on this story if it isn't done by April. But it should be. Anyway, about the story, I am just getting started with the suspense. Sorry this chapter took so long, it was just being a pain with me. I think I've finally got it where I need to be. But enough of my rambling. On to Chapter 16: The Most Recent and Dirty House of Riddle.
"So who wants to go down the trapdoor, that refuses to light up, and go through the Lord knows how many traps so we can beat the big bad soulless evil guy first?"
"You should be more careful. Someone might mistake you for an optimist."
"What do you mean 'what's wrong with your scar' Ginny?" asked Harry warily.
"It looks, I dunno, different, mate. She's right," ventured Ron slowly.
"Hand me a mirror," Harry said. Regulus offered him one. It looked oddly familiar.
Harry pushed his bangs aside and stared at his scar. It had doubled. Where there had been only one lightning bolt, there were now two. Like the original scar had been outlined and filled in. It went from normal to bold. It was hard to describe. Harry knew something had happened. And he remembered.
"I would have enjoyed letting you loose on the world again. But, you have pushed me too far. My generosity only extends so far. Goodbye Harry. I hope you enjoy death. My understanding is it is swift and painless. But don't take my word for it. I have never died, after all. Avada Kedavra."
Harry had been hit by the killing curse again, and lived to tell the tale. But, something in him had felt like it died. It wasn't like he had two souls in him was it? Harry's mind flashed back to something else, something he didn't remember.
He saw a battle going on, two shadows, locked with one solid beam of light, and interlocked in an eternal battle.
Was that his soul? Being attacked by two other souls? That made no sense. Unless Voldemort had attacked him with his soul divided or something. But then, how did Harry survive? Did they stay in him? Waiting perhaps, for another opportunity to take control? But then, if Harry was hit with the killing curse, what exactly died? A stray fragment of Voldemort's soul? The remains of the horcrux from Ravenclaw's wand maybe? Harry was starting to get a headache.
"I think, that something inside me died while Voldemort had me."
Silence met Harry's words.
"You think maybe part of your soul died-?"
"Yes and no," said Harry, staring at Ron as he said it.
"What do you mean?"
"Part of someone's soul died in me."
Hermione gasped. "So you were a horcrux-?"
"I'm not sure. I think that maybe, when we destroyed the wand, part of Voldemort's soul entered me. That's why I blacked out."
Regulus opened his mouth to contribute for the first time. "How exactly did you destroy it?"
In detail, Harry explained how they had destroyed the wand. Regulus nodded along thoughtfully.
"You're right Harry. His soul did invade you. It tried to take over your body I'm sure. That's what happened to Dumbledore. He had to destroy his arm to get rid of the piece of the Dark Lord's soul. I'll take care of the cup, when we find it. I'm fairly certain it's at Riddle manor."
"So am I," said Harry, remembering the feeling he had when he had been taken hostage after the pick-up Quidditch match.
"So then, it looks like we're off to Riddle manor," said Ron.
"Not yet," said Regulus and Harry simultaneously.
"I still want to speak to Aberforth first," said Regulus.
"And I would rather wait a bit, we need to make sure we are ready for this," replied Harry.
"Just think guys, we take this one out, it's just Voldemort and Nagini," said Hermione quietly.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"We've come a long way in a short amount of time. What is it now? September? October? I don't know; I've lost track," said Harry.
"I think it's October. The 25th if I'm not mistaken," said Regulus. (A/N: The date's probably aren't that accurate, but let's just pretend it's almost Halloween, is that ok guys?)
"Time flies huh?"
"I guess so, yeah. So, what are we going to do?"
"Well, we need to find Aberforth first," said Regulus. "Then, we will have a duel, to see how far along you four are."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Harry asked. "Let's find Aberforth."
"I'll be back," Regulus said, and he swiftly departed. Harry sat down and picked up a book. He started reading while they waited for Regulus to come back. Harry opened it up to a random page and began to read.
"The prank of the century. We returned for our final year at Hogwarts. As always, we had the customary Welcome Feast prank. But this one topped all the others. We had to outdo ourselves; it was our final year. James was headboy, Lily, headgirl. Remus was still a prefect. Sirius was just as crazy as always. And Peter was still along for the ride. So here's the recap.
"You've got the glamour charm on right?"
"It's been perfected. Only the boggart can see you Padfoot."
"Great Moony. Now Prongs, be sure to bring our dear headgirl near me ok? This is going to be perfect. And Wormtail, did you finish the final touches for Snivellus?"
"Yeah, followed exactly what Moony said to do."
"Excellent my comrade in arms. Excellent. This will be great. Well? Let's go."
"Padfoot? What about-?"
"Already taken care of Prongsie my boy."
"Then, let's get this show on the road."
So we walked into the great hall, Moony silently dragging the invisible boggart, Prongs heading towards his unsuspecting girlfriend- "she is not!" "Get over it Prongs, you all will be married!" "You think so?" "Shotgun best man!" "Of course Prongs, would it work out any other way?" "Godfather too!" "Padfoot, your ruining the entry." "Sorry…" "It's ok, back to the story." his unsuspecting girlfriend, Wormtail shaking with laughter "I was not shaking with laughter!" "You were about to piss your pants Wormtail!" "Guys, what did I tell you?" "Sorry Mum." "It's Moony to you three. Yeah you too Prongs, I know you were thinking it." "What?" Anyway, Wormtail's robes turning a strange shade of yellow and Padfoot walking alongside the boggart, preparing for what it would become. The students all quieted down and watched the Marauders make their entrance, all staring warily, waiting for the prank that was bound to happen. And sure enough, they were not disappointed. Moony released the spell and the boggart appeared, staring directly at Sirius. Sirius forced himself to fear the scrawny Severus Snape, and lo and behold, so it became. Snape stared at the boggart murderously.
"Black!" But it was too late.
"Riddikulus!" Remember that one outfit Lily wore when she had claimed she was dressing up as a muggle? The summer dress, down to just above her knees and the tight top that Prongs was drooling over? Picture that on Snivellus. Needless to say, he was furious. At least, the real one was. The boggart looked confused. It stared at its' dress and gripped it's fake breasts that had appeared along for the ride. Snape charged.
"I'll have you for this Black, you're going to-" But what Sirius was going to do was never know, because a bat appeared in Snape's place. Wormtail snickered uncontrollably. Prongs, who was with Lily, spilled his drink all over her, forcing her to stand and begin one of her long rants at him, but was interrupted when the bat flew right into her bun, which she had made up precisely for this event. Smack! It got tangled in Lily's hair and she shrieked. Prongs was in for it now. Not even the long lost twin from the future with a broken time turner excuse could get this one back to normal. Sirius kept under the cloak and left the room. Moony had already made it to his seat along with Wormtail while James, apologizing profusely to Lily, said he would get rid of the bat.
"Evanesco." The bat turned into Snape and both he and Lily fell onto the floor of the Great Hall. James's mouth opened in fake shock.
"Fancy meeting you here Snape." James walked back to the Marauders' spot at the table and sat down, just as Sirius flew into the Great Hall, seemingly running late.
"What'd I miss guys?" They laughed, but the prank wasn't over. McGonagall had just arrived with the new first years, and her stern face showed that she was expecting a prank, not knowing one had already come to pass. Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eye, and they waited as the Sorting Hat began to sing.
"A thousand years or more ago
There were the Founders, Hogwarts, Four.
They strove to build a magical place,
To train the children of their race.
Each of the four chose to handpick
The ones they would teach magic.
Shrewd Ravenclaw said
'I want the ones, with intelligence in their head.'
Noble Slytherin told
'I want the ones from the pureblooded mold.'
Brave Gryffindor claimed
'I want the ones with bravery attached to their name.'
Fair Hufflepuff then took
'all the rest without a look.'
Today I will do
What they asked me too
Divide you in four
To each house once more.
So come put me on your head
And let me have a look.
Slytherin will be
Those with great cunning.
Ravenclaw will be
Those of wise minds.
Hufflepuff will be
Those who play fair.
But Gryffindors beware
For the Marauders lie there."
Everyone burst into cheers, and the Marauders bowed extravagantly. Everyone had finished their part, and so ended the great prank of the century."
Harry set down the book and laughed heartily. He looked around and noticed that Regulus had returned. And next to him stood someone Harry knew he had seen, but never recognized.
"Aberforth Dumbledore at your service." Harry knew it was him; he had smelled something that smelled suspiciously like goat. He looked a lot like Dumbledore, except missing the twinkle.
"I found him so I thought we could bring him along for the ride. We're heading to Riddle House, and last time I destroyed a horcrux, Aberforth helped me out. So I thought it would be a good idea if he came along," said Regulus.
"Where have you been anyway Aberforth?" asked Harry. "We went to your pub but we couldn't find you there. We were looking all over the place and everything." Aberforth looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"I had things to do. I was going to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and I was, well, preparing for it." Harry thought that answer was kind of odd, leaving his pub without closing it to prepare for something, but he was here right now and he wouldn't outright lie to him would he? Harry would just have to accept that he would know when it was time for him to know, like Dumbledore always did to him. It wasn't like he had a choice.
"Right, well shall we get going then?" Harry did a mental count in his head. The diary, check, the ring, check, the locket, check, the wand, check. Yeah, he just needed the cup and Nagini. He wondered how this was going to work.
"Portus. I probably shouldn't be making an illegal portkey but I've grown past caring. The ministry is pretty much destroyed isn't it? No more minister. As a matter of fact, from what Aberforth has told me, Lucius and the gang are running the show in the government. Lucius has been elected to temporary interim Minister. With exclusive powers due to the war. It doesn't look pretty right now. But we're almost done. Everybody grab on."
"Wait!" yelled Remus. Harry turned towards his werewolf friend.
"Yeah Moony?" Harry asked.
Moony ignored Regulus and Aberforth. "Come here Harry. There's something you need to know." Harry left Hermione, Ron and Ginny alone and headed with Remus into the other room.
"Yeah?" Remus cast a silencing charm and a colloportus on the door.
"The ministry is under the control of-"
"Lucius Malfoy, so I heard."
Remus looked at Harry incredulously.
"Right. Tonks has gotten the majority of the aurors together that she could. She's trying to unite them, but it's not looking very good. After Kingsley's and Scrimgeour's deaths, well, everything has been going down hill. Azkaban is lost, and so is Hogwarts as well. Avalon is all that's left. She currently has the aurors there and she's training them for an attack. She wants you to meet her there as soon as you can. You're the man running the show Harry. And we're having an order meeting at Avalon as well. So hurry back. There's a lot that is going to have to happen." Remus looked a lot older than he normally did. The war really was taking its' toll.
"I will be back as soon as I can Remus. I have to stop by the ministry though. There was something in the Department of Mysteries that I'm supposed to see," Harry said, recalling Rufus's words.
"Ok. Good luck Harry." Remus squeezed Harry's shoulders and started to walk out. "If I asked what you were doing or where you were going would it make any difference?"
Harry shook his head solemnly.
"I thought not. Give 'em Hell Harry." Harry nodded. Remus walked out, sighing as he closed the door and apparated away to somewhere else.
Harry cancelled Remus's charms and walked back into the room. At his friends' looks he waved his hand. 'Later,' he mouthed. They nodded.
"Can we go now?" asked Regulus.
"Yeah."
"On the count of three then: one, two, three." They spun around in circles and landed in the graveyard of Little Hangleton.
Harry's mind began to bring back memories, and his arm began to shiver a little as he remembered what had happened. They trooped up the hill, Harry slightly shaken after seeing the place of Voldemort's rebirth, and headed towards the Riddle house. Harry noticed with a smirk the tombstone where Malfoy had been hit. They kept on walking until they approached the back door. Harry felt a- something around him, almost in the air, but he couldn't quite place it. It looked like Regulus did too. Aberforth lowered his wand slightly. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny trailed behind, looking at just what was going on.
"I'll stand lookout," volunteered Aberforth. "When you have the horcrux just come get me and we will take care of it." They all agreed and headed in. Harry took one last look at Aberforth and saw him convulse a little bit, like he was having a fit. He coughed a couple of times and grabbed a flask from his side and drained it. He swished it around and swallowed, and the convulsion stopped. He sat patiently to await their return. Harry hoped he would be ok. They turned around and faced the task at hand: finding the hiding place of the horcrux.
Harry felt inside a burning desire, and he felt attracted. They passed by the room where he had been held captive. And then where his wand had been destroyed. Harry felt a pulling sensation from the next room.
"This way," he said quietly. He motioned for everyone to follow him and he headed towards the door. Regulus stopped him and tried to open it. It refused. Then Ron tried. Still nothing. Harry had an idea. He stared at the door and pictured a snake, rearing its ugly head at him. "Open." Only 'open' wasn't what came out. It was a hiss. The door still remained closed when Ron tried it.
"I think you may need a dark mark to open it. Let me try again Ron," said Regulus. He twisted the knob and it opened this time. The combination of parseltongue and a dark mark worked. They walked inside cautiously. It was dark as night.
"Lumos." Their wand tips alight, the room was illuminated a bit, but not much. Almost like having a flashlight whose batteries are dying. The room was still semi-dark. They groped almost blindly around the room. Harry put his hand out to feel the wall and tripped over something. He turned back around and investigated more closely what it was that had made him almost fall. It was a trap door. Harry levitated it open and looked inside. It was pitch black.
"That's darker than Fred and George's Peruvian Darkness powder. Anybody have a spare hand of glory?" asked Ginny.
"The one time Malfoy would actually be somewhat useful," muttered Ron darkly, and somewhat ashamed at admitting a ferret could be useful. Regulus looked around. Then he opened his mouth.
"So who wants to go down the trapdoor, that refuses to light up, and go through the Lordknows how many traps so we can beat the big bad soulless evil guy first?"
"You should be more careful. Someone might mistake you for an optimist." Harry turned. He didn't expect something like that to come from Hermione. He let loose a small chuckle.
"Well guys, here it goes. Let's go find that cup."
I know, I know, it was a short chapter and I'm terribly sorry. It just did not like me that much. As usual, when I give a short chapter though, I will give you a preview of the next one. I hope this makes it up to you all. And please, please, please, leave me a review. It really makes me happy when you alll do. That last chapters reviews were great. Keep it up. :)
Chapter 17: A Traitor in Their Midst
Chapter Synopsis: The Burrow is destroyed. Hufflepuff's cup is destroyed taking someone else down with it. Grimmauld Place is attacked.
