Hey Everyone. This one's going to be kind of short. I've been busy this week, but I really wanted to keep this in the top area, I have a tendency to update at odd times and then no one reads it, so I wanted to change that with this chapter. I'm really hoping this goes the way I want it to go, so for the first time I'm really going to try to finish this. So here you go enjoy!
Chapter 8
Footprints
"What about the Goblet of Fire?"
The famous foursome sat in the living room of the Burrow, scanning through every book ever that could possibly be connected to Voldemort and Hogwarts. Something that could be the object of Gryffendor's or Ravenclaw's.
"I know," Ron said. "It's a stretch, but it is very connected to the school…and well he liked the connection…to the school…damn, I'm very stupid." He said and frustratingly closed his book.
"We're all running on empty here," Hermione said.
"We've found one!" Professor McGonnagal ran into the room from the kitchen.
"Professor McGonnagal, when did you get here?" Ginny asked.
"Not important, we've found one of the Horcruxes."
"Where?"
"After several months we believe we've finally discovered the final resting place of his mother, Merope Gaunt. And We have reason to believe that he hid one there. We don't know which one or even if we're right. But we're going. I thought I should inform you." McGonnagal said as Mr. And Mrs. Weasley entered the room.
"Who all is going?" Harry asked quietly.
"Myself, Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, Lupin, Moody, and Bill." McGonnagal said, with a look on her eye as though she knew what was coming.
"We're coming too." Harry said, standing. The others did not hesitate they all stood up as well.
"You bloody well are not," Mrs. Weasley said.
"Dumbledore told me that I was to go and find the Horcruxes." he was addressing McGonnagal, not anyone else. "You know I have to go."
"Potter, I…"
"One must die at the hands of the other, for neither shall live while the other survives." He recited to her. If it was up to her, he knew right then she would have let them go.
"Ginny, you're staying here," Bill said.
"They're all staying here!" Mrs. Weasley shouted.
"Molly…" McGonnagal said. "Harry, Ron, and Hermione are coming…They are of age, and they….Harry has the right."
"Well then Ginny is staying here." She pleaded.
"I have no say in this matter. If it was up to me, Miss Weasley would stay behind." She said.
"No, I'm coming." She said.
Harry knew she couldn't come. He'd gotten over the noble hero thing, realizing that Ginny was involved whether he wanted her to be or not. But he knew the only way they would go is if Ginny stayed behind.
"We'll take you to headquarters…" Lupin said.
"No, I'm coming, Harry tell them!" She almost screamed. All eyes turned to Harry.
He walked over and kissed her forehead. "I have a power the Dark Lord knows not," he whispered in her ear. "To Love. Ginny, I am in Love with you. And I need to keep loving. I need you to keep living, and I need you to keep loving with me. Without you…love is…gone…broken. You were right in front of my face for so long…I can't lose you now."
Her eyes had gone watery. He knew she accepted it. "We'll drop you off at headquarters, you'll be safe there." He stood up and they walked to the fire.
"Harry," Hermione said from the corner…. "We've overlooked something large."
"Hmm?" He turned to see Hermione at the fireplace holding a bag of floo powder, but staring at the mantle.
"Fuck"
He put Ginny down and they all gathered around the mantle. Taped on to one of the photos was another Muggle Polaroid picture.
"Damn, it's been months, I thought he may have…" McGonnagal said, trailing off.
"What is it?" Ron asked from the other side of the room.
Harry tore it off and ripped it in two. "A Picture of Merope's Grave."
"Ms. Orva, I've been wondering when I'd be seeing you." Severus Snape stood in the same positions as her last visit. Directly in front of the door leading to Voldemort's sitting room. "I will not lie, he is angry, and rest assured he knows you are here, and does not wish to speak with you."
"Thank you, Severus." She said unsmilingly. "Just give him a message for me. MacNair is dead. I need to borrow Lucious if he still wants my services. I do not expect an answer soon, so until then I will continue the plan to the best of my ability."
They stared. "Do you have all that, or would you like me to repeat it?"
"The message will be delivered. Go, now." He said with an unreadable expression.
After a moment he opened the door.
"What do you think?" He asked as the Dark Lord made his way over the threshold.
"She is being reckless. She will get herself killed."
"Shall I ask her to resign then?"
"I don't really have a problem with the scenario I've just outlined. If she gets it done, she will be honored, if not…well…I'm not getting any older." He sneered.
Snape disliked the situation that he had been put it. He could not show his face or perform any duties for his Master. The only one he had now that…well…
It was not as though Severus had no feeling for it. He felt very greatly toward the killing of Albus Dumbledore. But now…what choice did he have. He could not do anything but protect the Malfoy Boy, and he could not show his face in public either. He felt trapped, isolated, as though he would never be happy again. He supposed that wasn't a problem for the Dark Lord, but it was all he could do to not go completely mad. The boy was getting worse and worse, bitter about not killing Dumbledore, bitter about having to stay inside all the time, and of course the Dementors weren't helping.
He looked up through the window of his room…or at least, the cell to which he had been assigned to sleep, there was no blue sky, no birds. He missed Hogwarts Castle so. He would have given anything to return at that moment. His life had grown considerably in complications since last June. But it was September now, nearing October, and it was time to move on.
He was not Loyal to the Dark lord now, but he COULD not be loyal to the Order anymore either. And should he reveal anything about the true events of last June, he knew that both sides would kill him, and if he left Draco's side, he would die.
No…he thought to himself. He disliked the situation very much.
It was time…he thought that I free both Draco and I of this curse. I believe that we will be paying a visit to Hogwarts this Sunday.
Next: The Inheritance
