A/N: I own nothing, I am just borrowing JK Rowling's people for a little while. Just so you know, I will be without a computer for 6 weeks. I apologize but unless I miraculously come up with internet somewhere, this is the last update until August. Thanks so much for reading!
To say that Ginny felt like the wind had been knocked out of her, or that she felt as if she had a long run in with a Dementor would have been an understatement. She could grasp the fact that Voldemort had split his soul so he could live, she could understand why Harry had been so preoccupied, but she could not even get her brain around the fact that Harry was the one to kill Voldemort or die trying.
In a wry sort of way it occurred to Ginny that for months all these adults in the Order had been closing them out, shutting them out and ignoring their opinions. They were all so preoccupied with what He-who-must-not-be-named was doing, thinking and planning. Ginny snorted, here the one bloke that everyone is protecting is the only one who can succeed with what they are successfully keeping a secret from him. The whole irony of it was enough to knock Ginny to her knees. The part that scared her the worst, wasn't that Voldemort might win, but that Harry might die and she might live.
"You had better clear steer of him Draco. Most of us are really quite amazed that your blond head still exists." Snape warned.
"I am well aware of how many times I have failed, thank you," Draco Malfoy sneered back.
"The sheer fact that he didn't kill you after going after Potter still amazes me. The Dark Lord does not allow someone other than himself to issue orders." Snape replied.
"What the Dark Lord and I discussed after that is none of your concern. My mother made that vow with you, I didn't. I don't need you watching my every step…you aren't my professor now. And I don't need your help." Draco spat out.
"Mmmhhhhmmmm, well yes, I am sure the fact that I killed Dumbledore was just a vague dream." Snape started softly and quickly grabbed Draco by the neck. "Listen to me and listen good, do not mess this up. I have worked far too long and too hard."
Draco was gasping for breath and rubbing his neck as Severus Snape left the cold dark room. The truth was Draco simply didn't care anymore. He was a dead man. When all was said and done, he had failed. Voldemort was planning on getting the rest of his death eaters out of Azkaban, but Draco knew only of this plan through eavesdropping. He knew he would be included, simply because the Dark Lord would need all the death eaters he could come up with to defeat the Aurors.
That was a sore spot as well with the Dark Lord, recruiting was not going nearly as well as he wanted and just about everyone that came in contact with the Dark Lord felt his displeasure. There were days Draco wondered what he was really fighting for.
He wasn't having any trouble fighting off the Imperius curse, but he certainly didn't want anyone else to know that. Ollivander was known for his wand making, and the wand that Voldemort wanted was almost complete. He tried to stall without delaying but the truth was he wasn't sure how much longer he would be needed and consequently how much longer he would live. He knew Dumbledore had an idea of Voldemort's plans for a new wand, he only hoped Dumbeldore had let someone else know of his hunch.
"What do you think they are doing up there mate?" Ron asked.
"You know how girls are, they have to take every detail apart and look over it with a spotting scope." Harry replied, but inside he was worried about how Ginny was doing.
He had felt like his whole world was ending telling her about the prophesy. He watched her face pale and knew that he was handing over a portion of his burden to her. He felt that she was taking away her happiness somehow by telling her the truth and he vaguely understood why Mrs. Weasley tried to protect all her children from the truth. Harry himself wanted to protect Ginny, he was simply at a loss on how to do it.
"Harry…," came the tentative voice of Ginny down the stairs, "I want to help."
"Ginny," Harry started but Ginny cut him off.
"No, really, Harry. Don't you dare shut me out." She said with a gleam in her eye. " I want to help find and destroy the Horcruxes. Tell me what they are again."
"Ring, Cup, Locket, Diary, and 2 others which we just aren't sure about." Harry rattled off.
"Dumbledore got rid of the ring and um, we got rid of the dairy. But someone with the initials R.A.B got the locket, do I have it right?" Ginny asked looking to Hermione for confirmation.
"Yes." Hermione replied.
"The next logical step is to find out who R.A.B is… how hard could that be? I mean, surely any significant library search could come up with any sure names that start with B. And my guess is that Black is as good of place to start as any." Hermione finished.
Ron and Harry just stared at the two girls.
"Blimey, Harrry, they sure do scare me sometimes. Kinda makes me wonder what they have us around for doesn't it? Ron said as he shook his head.
"Okay, um, Hermione can you track down anyone with those initials?"Harry asked trying to keep focused on the direction of the conversation.
"Sure," Hermione replied.
"The best place to start would be the tapestry. If we can't find any Blacks on there then we will move to the library" Ginny replied.
"Hmmm," Hermione replied deep in thought , " If only we could get into the Hogwart's library. And Ronald, before you even suggest it we can not have anyone Apparate into it!" She said with a smirk towards Ron.
"Hey, I didn't say a word," Ron replied.
"Hermione, um, I know of a way we might be a couple books, but you may not agree to it. I mean you could always ask him to do it as a personal favor with um, compensation of course," Harry snickered.
Ginny sent him a sideways glance.
"Huh?" Hermione replied looking confused.
"Dobby offered to help anytime we needed him. But I didn't know how you ,uh, exactly wanted to go about asking him." Harry finished stressing the word asking.
Hermione beamed, "I am sure that I could pay him for his time. Thanks, Harry!"
"Yeah, good luck with that," Harry replied, under his breath.
"Harry, I think you better come in here!" Hermione yelled.
"Sssshhhh, keep your voice down," Ron warned "How would you explain this to mum when she wonders what the yelling is about?"
"Just tell her that you found another Doxie,"replied Ginny "she will start another cleaning spree and be gone for days."
"Yeah, but quite frankly I am tired of cleaning. My fingers still aren't the same. Come up with something else." Ron groaned sending Ginny a dirty look.
"What is it," Harry asked.
"Well the only R. Black is Regulus, Sirius's brother. But he was a death eater, right?" Hermione asked.
"Yep, Sirius said so." Harry replied.
"So then it couldn't be him." Ron said.
"What was his middle name?" Ginny asked.
"It doesn't say," Hermione replied.
"There is only one way to find out," Harry replied grimly.
"No, mate, you don't want to bring him back here." replied Ron
"It's the only way," Harry said.
'What, who?" asked Hermione and Ginny simultaneously.
"Kreacher!", Harry said loudly.
Nothing happened.
"Maybe he's dead," Ron said hopefully.
"Ronald," Hermione yelped.
'POP'
Dobby appeared dragging a graying piece of material.
"Mr. Harry Potter, sir." Dobby started to bow.
"Hey Dobby," Harry replied with a grin.
"Ooooh, Kreacher didn't want to come, But Dobby make him, yes sir. Dobby made sure that if Harry Potter needs something Dobby will help out. We don't need him." And with a swift kick from Dobby the gray lump groaned.
Giving a silencing look to Hermione, Harry looked down at Kreacher.
"My beloved Mistress's house, ruined, tarnished by filth, mudbloods and traitors," Kreacher started to moan.
"Dobby will kick him again, sir," Dobby brought his foot back.
"No," Harry laughed reaching for Dobby's small foot.
"No, let him be," Harry said again, secretly glad for Dobby's loyalty.
"Kreacher, I realize we are horrible, terrible people. Not worthy to be in the royal house of Black," Harry started sending a silencing look at Dobby, who had started to protest. "But I come to ask about your master, Regulus Black."
At once, Kreacher's head snaps up and some life came back into his eyes, "Ooooh my master Reggie, what a good boy he was." And then he crumpled, "but they came to get him for what he did. Never should have done it, I told him when we left, but he just had to have that bauble."
"Bauble?" Harry asked while Kreacher was distracted.
"Some stupid Fancy; master had enough money to buy anything he please, but oh no, we go looking for some Fancy" Kreacher moaned.
"A locket ,"Harry asked.
Kreacher, now snapping out of his memory, muttered, "Not gonna tell you filth anything about my wonderful master."
"Kreacher, I demand that you tell me about Regulus Black. And start with his middle name," Harry ordered.