Hello everyone! Well, I'm out of surgery. It went well, but now I've got a tube stuck in my stomach. Not a very nice feeling as it puts you off your food. And the fact that I've got to take 12 pills a day, not nice, anyway…
Here is the next chapter! You might see that I am operating on the RAB theory, and I hope it doesn't sound too far fetched.
The Bond
Chapter 5: Regulus and the Horcrux
Black hair flying against the slight wind, James Potter apparated in front of the Burrow, planting his feet firmly on the ground, and gazing upward at the house, sighing. He should've been bringing Harry here, but Dumbledore needed him, but what for, was the question? What did Dumbledore want with Harry in the middle of the night that couldn't wait until the following day?
He started up the path towards the house, rising his fist and knocking loudly on the door. There was a bustling behind the door and Mrs Weasley answered.
"James!" she clasped her hands together, "it's so good to see you!" She leaned round his shoulder searching. "Where's Harry?"
"With Dumbledore. He's coming later." James explained.
"Why on earth would Albus take Harry away in the middle of the night?"
James shrugged. "I'm clueless as you are."
Mrs Weasley sighed. "Well, we can't do anything about that now. You'd better come on in. The others have just gone to bed, so you'll have to be quiet."
"Fine with me," James replied, stepping into the Weasley's kitchen. He sat down at the table while Molly poured out some hot soup that she had made, placing it in front of James.
"Now I don't know if you are hungry but its there if you want it."
"Thanks." James picked up the spoon, and lifted up the contents of the bowl into his mouth, letting the hot liquid run down his throat. It was delicious. Even Lily hadn't been that good at cooking, though her roast beef had been excellent.
After he had finished his meal, he took his leave from the kitchen and on Molly's instructions silently crept up the stairs to a spare bedroom where he laid down on the bed, closing his eyes and he did not wake until the following morning when commotion began below.
He made his way down the stairs following the sound of female voices. He frowned. He recognised Mrs Weasley and Ginny's but did not recognise the third. He gripped his wand just in case. Slinking down the stairs, he reached the bottom. The kitchen door flung open and out stormed Ginny, her red hair tied back in plaits. Her face was red.
"What's going on?"
She flung her hands back. "It's her!"
"Her?" James cocked his head.
"Yes. Fleur Delacour. Trust me, go in there. You'll see what I mean." And Ginny stomped off, leaving the older Potter alone standing in the corridor.
Stepping forward, James opened the door to a scene. He could see Mrs Weasley trying her hardest to not shout and scream at Fleur Delacour, the slim French girl, who was commenting on her cooking and various other things in the kitchen. Her accent was thick and hard to understand, but then she was trying her hardest to speak properly in English.
"Geez, my mother wouldn't do dis' like dat!" Fleur said, "It's so eenglish!"
Mrs Weasley crossed her arms, "Well, if you'd take a look at your surroundings you would notice that we are in England!"
Fleur did not reply, but instead strode over to the table and picked up a tray. "I wish to take dis up to 'Arry. I'm sure he'd be pleased to see me."
Mrs Weasley scowled. "I am perfectly capable…" she stopped as Fleur walked out the kitchen. "Ohhh, that girl! Bill!"
Her son sniggered. "Oh, let Fleur have her fun. She wants to help!"
"Helps to much." Molly replied, following her out the room, but not before inviting James into the kitchen to sit down and eat.
Mrs Weasley soon returned, her temper at its boil, Ginny following shortly thereafter. James slowly ate his breakfast, savouring the nice taste of the toast, and the bacon that had been sizzling when he had woken up. He didn't know what to say but was thankfully saved from conversing with Bill or Fleur as the two were wrapped up in their own idyllic world.
About ten minutes later Harry entered the kitchen along with Ron and Hermione. Hermione was sporting a black eye. "What happened?" Mrs Weasley asked, bustling over to her.
"I got punched by one of Fred and George's products." she confessed, brushing her bushy hair back.
"I should be able to fix this." Mrs Weasley retrieved a few products and set to work, but when she pulled back, nothing had happened. Hermione couldn't believe her luck.
"Why me?" She asked.
"Dad, can't you do anything to help her?" Harry asked, pulling up a chair at the table.
James frowned, glancing at Hermione. "No. I don't know what to say. Sorry." he shrugged apologetically.
James listened half-heartedly to the conversation around him, lost in his own thoughts. When he was like this he remembered Lily, his precious wife, who he loved dearly and continued to do so even though she was no longer in the world. He could almost taste her lips on his, and the smell of her sweet fragrance lingering under his nose. He sighed, missing her.
However a scream interrupted his thoughts. It was Hermione. She was pointing at the window, her eyes wide. James moved forward, squinting. "Owls. Three of them."
The trio's faces had gone pale.
"OWL results." Hermione whispered and she began to hop and down on her feet.
James laughed. "It's not that nerve wrecking! I didn't get like that when I got my OWL results."
"Well, you probably didn't make a fatal mistake in one of your exam papers that could determine between a pass or a fail!" Hermione replied, anger rising.
James smiled sadly. "Hermione, you are one of the brightest witches of your age. You cannot fail."
Hermione crossed her arms, unconvinced, but she said no more, not wanting to argue. She was frantic with worry about what her results would be. James shook his head, hardly daring to believe it. Hermione was being ridiculous over the exam results. He knew Hermione had passed her exams. She was a brilliant witch and studied hard. No one could beat her.
He had of course taught her for a majority of the previous year. He had been amazed at her devotion to her studies, but also marvelled at her courage to stick by Harry no matter what his decisions had led them into.
A true friend.
Harry needed those, especially what was coming in the future. It was only a matter of time.
He watched in anticipation as the three of them unfolded their letters with shaking fingers, faces whites. Just as he had predicted, Hermione had received top grades in most subjects apart from in Defence Against the Dark Arts, in which she had got an 'E' meaning Exceeds Expectations. Even James couldn't see why she was so disappointed. They were the best results out of all of them. But something stopped him from talking to Hermione as he felt that he would only make her unhappier. He would let Harry and Ron comfort her. Ron had passed with seven O.W.Ls and Harry had also achieved seven O.W.Ls, with the highest mark in Defence Against the Dark Arts, at a grade O, which meant Outstanding.
"Congratulations, Harry. I'm pleased with you. Well done." he hugged his son, ruffling his hair, his eyes shining. He had known Harry would pass well, though he was slightly disappointed that Harry had not succeeded in receiving an 'O' in Potions.
It would have been great to see Snape's face if Harry had got top grades. James thought with glee. Snape would've probably demanded a retake to make sure that Harry's mark is genuine.
With the results out of the way, James spent the rest of the day with Harry, informing him about the Auror attacks he had been involved in, however he stayed away from any mention of Horcruxes or Dumbledore. He felt it was not his duty to tell Harry this, not until he knew about it himself. Besides the longer Harry didn't know about it, the longer chance he had of a childhood, though it had been ruined by his upbringing, he had had a sort of one when he had come to Hogwarts, which made James all the more pleased that the Weasleys had sort of adopted Harry as another son.
Yet, his mind still nagged at wanting Lily to be with him. If only I could see her again. But I've had that chance. It won't happen again. Miracles can't happen to the same person three times in a row!
Sirius came to the Weasleys house a few days later for dinner. Afterwards he and James retreated to Arthur's study for a private talk, where Sirius produced a crumbled piece of paper dated sometime in 1981. It was written in an elegant scroll, a farewell letter. It was by Regulus Black, Sirius' younger brother.
"Where did you find this?" James asked.
"I was at Grimmauld Place talking to Kingsley when he decided to step back against the wall in the kitchen, leaning on it heavily. The wall opened up revealing a dark space behind it. This was what was there. And James, I think you should read it. Dumbledore will need to know this as well."
James took the letter from his friend, flipped it over carefully and began to read, his eyes widening.
Dear Sirius,
You probably want to know why I am contacting you in this manner. The reason is, that by the time you read this, if you ever find it, I will be dead. I have been brought to my senses. The Dark Lord is too powerful. I have deserted him. His power extends far beyond mine, and he has committed a crime that even I cannot ignore. His actions have shown me is no more then a merciless killer who is only working to gain his own power. You see, Voldemort, is creating Horcruxes, splitting his soul in two and hiding the pieces so that if anyone ever killed his body he would survive. It is essential this information reaches Dumbledore, for he will know what to do. My betrayal will soon be caught and I must flee. I have stolen a Horcrux and hidden it. If you think hard enough you will know where I have taken the Horcrux. It is pertinent that Dumbledore finds this Horcrux as it will mean one step closer to defeating Voldemort once and for all. I do not want to reveal the location of the Horcrux in case this letter is intercepted by the wrong hands. I wish you the best of luck in the future, and remember your brother as someone who realised he was wrong at the end of a road. This is my final act.
Farewell, dear brother and good luck.
Regulus Arcturus Black
"Your brother had another Horcrux?" James asked, amazed, totally shocked.
"It seems like it," Sirius muttered, "But that's the thing: where is it? The letter states that I should know where it is, but where would Regulus hide it?"
James frowned. "I think maybe we should go to Dumbledore. Tell him about this and then see what he says. He may have a solution."
Sirius took the letter back. "I think I will. I'll come back to you once I have some answers. I have a feeling I may know where it is, but its just a nagging feeling."
Crossing his arms, James asked: "And what is this nagging feeling?"
"Well Regulus never knew where I lived after Hogwarts. The only time he could see me was when I was in battle, or at the Auror Office. What if, and it's a long shot I know, that he managed to hide it in my old Auror Office. I mean, he never lived to see me go to Azkaban so he has no idea that I haven't been in the same office. Do you think it's a possibility?" Sirius questioned.
"I think we should give it a try, but talk to Dumbledore first, and then come back to me. Then we will decide whether to look in your old Office." James answered.
"Fine." the other agreed and then he left, leaving James alone, contemplating the content of the letter, his mind whirling. How could Regulus have found a Horcrux, and most important how had he stolen it and kept it hidden all these years?
Those were the questions that needed answering, and the person who knew the answer was dead.
Sirius did not return for a couple of days as he was busy with Auror work, as well as trying to find time to speak to Dumbledore. Unfortunately the headmaster had gone somewhere and no one knew where he had gone, so Sirius had been waiting till when he got back.
In the meantime, James spent his days referring the Quidditch Games that Harry and the others put on. He also learned a lot about Fred and George's business from Bill who had been visiting them regularly at their shop in Diagon Alley.
Harry, Ron and Ginny kept begging Mrs Weasley to take them, but she kept refusing, informing them that they would only go there once their book lists arrived, but they hadn't come this year yet. Even James was beginning to worry, but he was confident that they would arrive in time.
Before they did arrive, however, Sirius returned with news about Dumbledore. He had eventually seen Dumbledore and when he had suggested the location of the Horcrux, the headmaster had agreed that looking in Sirius' old Auror Office was a good place to start.
They decided to go there early on August 2nd, two days after Harry's sixteenth birthday which had involved a stupendous amount of celebrating, ending in James getting drunk and needing a potion to stop his head-ache from overtaking him completely.
They apparated into the Auror Office, and Sirius led them through the many hallways to his old Office which was now occupied by a Hestia Jones. She scowled as they presented a letter from Dumbledore, asking her to vacate her office while they searched for an object. She didn't like the idea but she did so, knowing that it was important.
"Where shall we start looking?" James asked, scanning the Office, taking in the desk.
Sirius frowned. "I used to have a locker hidden by magic in the corner. I don't know if it is still there. No one knew it was there apart from me. But I did keep a record of it, in my bank account. If Regulus was smart enough he might've been able to work out the combination. And I get the feeling he might have done. He was smart enough to work out many of my secrets."
"Well, you were never good at keeping secrets," James replied, slyly.
Sirius's eyes darkened. "Snape provoked me. He deserved what he got."
"And so did you. I'm just amazed that if you want things kept hidden you would have learnt your lesson through that!" James chuckled. "I don't mean to hurt your feelings."
"I know, but…" Sirius shrugged, sighing, "I'm ashamed of my actions of that day, when I betrayed Remus' secret to Snape. I don't know what was going through my head when I did that."
"Jealousy of his influence on your brother?" James noted. "I remember you got very aggravated whenever you saw Regulus hanging around with Snape."
"I was. I always wondered what he saw in him. I guess I still have that to find out."
"Enough of this, lets find this thing." James mentioned.
Sirius stepped forward, waved his wand out, muttering a silent spell, that James couldn't even identify by the colour of the sparks. As soon as the words had left his mouth, a hole opened up in the side of the wall, big enough for an arm to fit through. Sirius reached forward and his eyes lit up as his fingers brushed against something. But when he pulled it out, he pulled a face in disgust as he saw it was just a flimsy piece of paper.
James picked it up and read through it, passed it to Sirius, who's eyes widened and then he disappeared, a large grin on his face as he apparated away. James shook his head. Now all he had to do was wait.
The two of them met again in Dumbledore's Office that evening. The crumpled paper had revealed the name of a locket that had belonged to Sirius' mother. This locket, apparently, according to Regulus, was the Horcrux that Voldemort had used to hide part of his soul. Sirius had gone back to Grimmauld Place and retrieved it, after wringing it from Kreacher's grasp.
The House-Elf had been stubborn. Thankfully Sirius had used magic on him to force the house elf to tell him where the Locket was being kept.
In the end, Sirius had found it in his mother's room (of all places) and had had to decurse it before he could take it. That had taken a while, but with the combined help of Kreacher (forcefully though) he had succeeded in taking the Locket.
Dumbledore arrived, taking the Locket and inspecting it, his eyes frowning. "This is a Horcrux. I'm impressed. Well done, boys, well done. That is one least obstacle less for Harry."
"But there is still four more to go." James growled.
"And that is up to Harry." Dumbledore mentioned.
"I know." James replied, eyes hardening, wishing that he could do something to help his son ever more.
TBC
Here's another update for you! I hope it was worth it! Next chapter we will have a lot of fun as James visits Fred and George's shop! And Harry returns to Hogwarts!
Thank you for all the encouraging reviews! They mean a lot to me, thank you!
MissBlackPotter