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Notes: Well, I finally got around to rereading this chapter and fixing errors found. :) I hope you fantastic readers of mine enjoy this installment. I'm actually in the process of writing the next chapter, yay! Thanks for checking out my story and hanging in there for the (very) sporadic updates. You guys are awesome!

Chapter 5

Over the months to Christmas Hols, Harry did what Hermione had asked him to do, he watched and listened. He had to admit, if anyone really paid attention, they would see that Malfoy's barbs and actions seemed forced. This got Harry to thinking and he realized that Draco Malfoy had been this way last year as well. That was an interesting realization. So, it would seem, Malfoy had had a thing for his best friend since fifth year. It amazed Harry how much clearer he could think when he didn't have Ron constantly ranting in his ear.

He and Ron had a falling out within the first week back. When Harry had kept Ron at arm's length the red head had cornered him and asked what was going on. Harry had glared at him and told him he knew what had happened. At first it seemed Harry might have to explain what he was talking about but finally Ron caught on as he paled. He had apologized to Harry, saying he wasn't sure what had come over him to be so forceful with 'Mione. Harry suggested he go to Madam Pomfrey and get checked out, to make sure he wasn't under the influence of a potion or spell.

It was a week after that, two weeks into the new school year, when Ron had finally told Harry and Hermione that he had been slipped a potion by Lavender and that his own sister had brewed it. It would seem that Ginny thought Harry and Hermione spent too much time together and convinced Lavender that the only way to get Ron back would be to disrupt his friendship with Hermione. After profusely apologizing to Hermione for his actions, the two friends came to a compromise. Hermione wasn't comfortable quite yet around Ron but said in time, when he tried nothing else, she would welcome his presence. Ron, although sad about the situation, understood and told her that when she was ready, he would be there.

Harry was relieved that Ron hadn't chosen to act such a way but was beyond angry that Ginny and Lavender would stoop to such lengths to get their ways. He was happy to hear that both witches were getting therapy to help deal with their actions. Maybe, just maybe, they could see how wrong they were before something even more serious happened, something that would result in more than a tarnished friendship. Harry wondered if Ginny's exposure to the Diary was the cause for her dark thoughts and deeds. It would make sense. She had never said anything about the effect it had on her but it had to have left a mark of some kind, truly evil things like that always did. It helped to clear up her almost obsession with him. He liked her but due to her clinginess and jealousy; he had ended things a few months after they had started dating last year.

HG-DM HG-DM HG-DM

To say Hermione was relieved to hear Ron had been under the influence of a potion was quite the understatement but she couldn't help but be incensed that Ginny and Lavender would stoop to such levels. Both witches thought that the three of them spent too much time together and instead of asking what might be going on, they decided to drug Ron! Both witches were getting treatment for their behavior, they both were required to wear magical alert bracelets that reported everything they did to their assigned Aurors and they had detention for the entire year with Filch. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as well as Lavender's parents weren't happy with their daughters and had apologized to Ron and her both for their behaviors. Hermione was just glad it was over and done.

Draco on the other hand, he had spent the last few months hexing and jinxing both witches whenever he could. Hermione had chastised him for it at first but after talking about it, she realized he was going easy on them. He initially wanted to curse them with some fairly nasty curses but knew she wouldn't approve of it so he was doing the next best thing (in his opinion anyway). Of course, it didn't help that Harry was silently cheering the Slytherin on.

Speaking of Draco, Hermione couldn't wait to see him again. They had been disappearing into the Room of Requirement after her rounds for a few hours. Generally they would talk while Hermione helped Draco with repairing the Vanishing Cabinet. It wasn't something she really wanted to do but knew it was Draco's life on the line if no progress was reported, so she helped. They would work on the blasted Cabinet for a couple of hours, do homework and then chat for the little time they had left. The best part was when she would just walk into the Room and just before leaving when they would snog and hold each other.

When Hermione brought Harry with her a month into the term, Harry and Draco had had a long talk. It was good for them both. They both learned they had more in common than either one thought. Both from abusive homes, both had high expectations put upon them and neither had known a true friend until Hermione. Of course in public, everyone acted as they always had but it was nice to be able to be civil from time to time. Draco also learned that Dumbledore was searching for Horcruxes.

A week later, the three had met up again with Draco explaining that he figured out where a few might be. He shared that it was amazing how loose the DeathEaters tongues were after meetings when the alcohol was free flowing. Most hadn't considered Draco to be any sort of threat so seemingly innocuous things were said in his presence. He had picked up on quite a bit of useful information. He shared that he was certain his Aunt Bella had one in her Vault at Gringotts, that the Diary Ginny had been given had been one too. Also, if what he had heard was true, then Slytherin's locket, Ravenclaw's diadem, Hufflepuff's cup were Horcruxes. The Dark Lord seemed to like to ruin anything precious so it seemed logical. The three of them ended up having a long discussion and came to the conclusion that Nagini was most likely a Horcrux as well. It would make sense, especially after Draco shared that the snake goes everywhere with Voldemort, never left alone.

Hermione had already done what research she could on Tom Riddle and Horcruxes. She learned that his family name was Gaunt and since it was a wizarding family, should have a Head of House ring. She asked Draco if Riddle wore such a ring and learned he didn't. Draco then shared that he had heard that Riddle had killed his grandfather, or some family member, when he had been younger. Hermione then suggested that this ring may also be a Horcrux. It would make sense since Riddle hated to acknowledge his ancestry. As the discussion was coming to a close, Hermione realized that they had thought of six possible Horcruxes but that number didn't make any sense. Seven was the most magical of numbers, and Riddle being the egotistical bastard that he was wouldn't settle for only six, he would make sure to only have the best. The best would be seven Horcruxes, which boggled all their minds. No wonder the wizard was so deranged and insane! Splitting a soul seven times would wreak havoc on anyone! But, what was the seventh Horcrux?

It was a month later when Harry had requested they meet up that he shared his thoughts. When he brought up that he could sometimes see what Voldemort saw or wanted him to see and that when Quirrell had touched him in the Chamber of Secrets, how his scar had hurt, led Harry to believe that he may be the seventh Horcrux. When Hermione and Draco just stared at him, Harry reminded them that the arse had intended to kill him back when he was a baby. Hermione rose from Draco's lap to sit by Harry and hugged him tight as Draco paled even more than normal. No matter how they looked at it, it made sense. Although Draco was almost certain Riddle had no clue he had made Harry a Horcrux due to him so set on killing Harry.

While being hugged tightly by Hermione, Harry shuddered as he remembered an incident in Trelawney's class. Well, it had actually been after class, Harry had dropped his bag and was picking up what had spilled out when the crazy professor had stared at him before she started to chant: "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."

When Harry shared this with Draco and Hermione, they all agreed that it sounded like Harry would have to die by Voldemort's hand. Harry paled while Hermione started crying and Draco slumped down into his seat. However, once the shock of the prophecy had passed, Hermione realized that that would be the only way to get rid of the soul shard in Harry's head, Harry would have to die, which made the witch start crying all over again. Draco, on the other hand, had his mind working overtime. He and Potter had gotten to know each other over the last few months and he wasn't about to let the wizard die like that, there had to be another way. But how? When he voiced his thoughts, Hermione perked up.

Both wizards watched her in awe as a faraway look took over her features as she tried to see if she had come across anything in the extra reading she had done through the years. After some time of silence her eyes snapped to Harry with a gleam in them. Harry and Draco knew what it meant; she had figured it out or at least had an idea. When Hermione shared what she thought, both wizards agreed that if anyone knew how to deal with a Horcrux and leave the host intact, it would be the goblins. Draco then suggested that he be the one to approach a goblin to find out, he knew one to ask that would keep his mouth shut. Not to mention, telling the goblin of their suspicions about what might be in his Aunt's vault could be incentive enough for their help. The goblins were adamant about nothing dark being stored in any vault they had.

Also, Harry would be considered the Head of the House of Black now that Sirius was gone leaving no heirs and Harry being his godson. He could demand there be an investigation done by the goblins and it wouldn't raise any questions. When Harry and Hermione just stared at Draco, he explained that although Narcissa and Bellatrix had married, they were both Blacks and his Aunt's vault had been set up before she married, just like his mother's. Draco told them to give him over the Hols and he would find out for sure what would need to be done. Harry left feeling a bit better about the situation to give Hermione and Draco a bit of time alone.