Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no monies.

Notes: I know it's been a bit since I posted anything and now, it would seem, my muse is making up for it. For any following A Magical Renewal, it has not been forgotten. I have been working on four chapters! I know right, talk about overload! But, hopefully soon, I will have more for you lovely readers to enjoy. I've also been working on three other stories as well! Gah! My muse leaves me for months and then suddenly appears to try to overwhelm me! Anyway, here's another chapter for this one and I hope you enjoy it.

HG-DM HG-DM HG-DM

Chapter 9

Over the course of six weeks, the two Gryffindors and single Slytherin worked the Saturdays when no Quidditch match was scheduled and Sundays, they finally managed to find the diadem. Of course, each student found at least one, if not more, thing they thought they had lost. When Harry levitated Ravenclaw's diadem, Draco opened a trunk to put it in until the Room of Requirement could be called. Even though they had found the diadem, all three chose to continue to clean up the room. It was fun to see what all had been lost. Besides, it would be a good way to "repay" Hogwarts for her protection and allowing them to find the rooms.

Once the RoR had been called, Draco stepped in while levitating the diadem in front of him. Harry told him to be careful while Hermione gave him a tremulous smile. It took Draco almost an hour to defeat the soul shard embedded in the diadem. When he stepped out, he was a bit singed and a little paler than normal but no worse for wear. Hermione immediately grabbed him in a hug while Harry took the diadem and placed it back in the trunk. It was a load off their minds to have one less Horcrux in the world.

Since their time hunting the Horcrux was done, all three knew there would be no break for them. The Vanishing Cabinet still needed fixing and with the ideas Professor Snape had given them, they knew it wouldn't take long to finish up with all of them working on it. Hermione and Draco had taken the rest of the night to spend together while Harry returned to the Common Room to appease any suspicious minds.

HG-DM HG-DM HG-DM

As soon as the door closed, Draco had Hermione in his arms. They stood in the other's arms for some time before they separated and sat on the couch provided. Draco couldn't keep the smile from his lips as his witch curled into his side and sighed. He draped an arm over her shoulders and pulled her closer as he breathed in her scent. Valentine's Day was just around the corner and he wished he could publicly show his care for his witch. He wouldn't say he was in love with her just yet but knew it wouldn't take much for it to happen. If they weren't so caught up in finding and destroying Horcruxes, keeping up their studies and working on that damnable Cabinet, maybe they would be able to think of other things. However, they were so there wasn't much room for anything as serious as examining feelings.

Draco tightened his embrace and leaned his head against hers as his thoughts raced. The dark lord was starting to get impatient with him and his "lack" of progress. Draco knew that his Godfather was covering for him but that wouldn't hold for much longer. They really needed to finish the blasted thing so everything could end and life could be more than surviving. It would all depend on what Severus found this weekend. If he was be able to find the two Horcruxes then that would leave only Nagini as the last one. However, that would be a tricky one to take care of. Riddle had taken to keeping his snake with him almost always, wherever he went, almost as if he knew she was in dire peril. They would need to brainstorm to figure out a way to take the ungodly monstrosity out. But until then…

Hermione chose that moment to tilt her head up to her boyfriend's face and was met by his warm lips connecting with hers. The kiss quickly heated up and before they knew it, several hours had passed. When they finally, truly, broke for air, Hermione couldn't help but notice the distant look in Draco's eyes.

"What wrong, my Dragon?" she asked.

Draco exhaled softly before answering, "I was just wondering if Sev was successful or not. If he was then we only have Nagini to deal with but that's a really tricky one. It won't be as easy to deal with as the others have been."

"I see. Well, if anyone can figure out a plan to rid the world of that snake, it would be our little group." Hermione reassured him.

"I know, but until that meeting," Draco tilted her head back up so he could capture her lips in a searing kiss. "Now we should really be getting back to our dorms." He told her with a smile.

Hermione huffed a laugh before rising. "I suppose you're right. Goodnight, Draco." She whispered then turned and walked to the door.

Once she was gone, Draco laid his head back and sighed. He really was ready for all of this to be over and he could be with his witch openly. Looking down at his lap he gave a slight chuckle. He also wouldn't mind going a bit further in their relationship. He still agreed with not having intercourse until they were graduated but so much fun could be had without penetration. Of course these thoughts did nothing to cool his ardor and he resigned himself to many more cold showers before that could happen. Forcing his mind to think of other things than his girlfriend's luscious body, Draco stood and left the RoR for his Common Room.

HG-DM HG-DM HG-DM

Meanwhile, Severus Snape took two personal days so he could leave the school and attempt to find the locket and ring. He chose to look for the locket first since it would be the largest challenge. Since learning about Horcruxes from Potter, Severus found himself searching his memories. He knew he had heard of them and knew it would be something Voldemort would engage in to try to defy Death. Severus took every moment he could to search his memories for one in particular. It had been towards the end of the First War when he had a dangerous and quiet conversation with Regulus Black. He had been friends with the youngest Black since the he started school and found a similar soul to connect with. Severus had found out that Reg had only taken the Dark Mark to appease his family; which translated to being forced to be branded since the eldest was out of the parental grasp.

It had been just before his friend had died that Severus had learned what he was planning. He had overheard Regulus mumbling to himself and then had spotted a crude drawing of a cave surrounded by rough waters when he had dropped by for a visit. When Severus had asked about what he saw and heard, Regulus had paled a deathly color and his eyes had scanned the area in a panic. Severus had quickly taken his friend to an unused room in the house and cast as many privacy spells as he could before confronting the frightened young man. This was when he had been told of Horcruxes and it had made him sick. When Regulus confided in him about his plans, Severus had told his friend to keep him informed of his progress. It was the last time he had seen Regulus alive.

Finally, Severus remembered Regulus describing the island very well and revisited the memory several times via his personal pensieve. However, just as Severus was about to leave, he had a memory dance around the edge of his mind, teasing him of its importance. Being the careful and intuitive man he was, Severus leaned against the kitchen doorway to ponder what he couldn't quite remember.

He knew, instinctively, that the hidden information would be vital so he calmed his mind and started "walking" through it, slowly. After some time, Severus came upon what he was looking for, what had teased him with its importance. Once found, Severus focused on what the memory was, it was Regulus' patronus. He had sent one letting Severus know that he had made it inside the cave and what all he had seen. He then heard Regulus tell of the magic in the place, what appeared to be a pedestal in the distance and calm-as-glass waters of the lake that were so dark as to appear black. He told Severus that he had already given blood to get in, which had weakened him a bit. Then Regulus' patronus told the younger Severus that he would send another patronus when he made it to whatever was in the center of the lake.

Severus took a deep breath and focused on finding the next memory that would tell him whether or not Reg had made it across and possibly what had happened. There, there it was. It was another patronus, Regulus' last spoken words. Severus listened as Regulus told him that it was indeed a pedestal and about the liquid within that he couldn't touch, vanish, transfigure, or charm it; it would seem that it would have to be drunk. Regulus continue recording with his patronus as he commanded his house elf to not interfere until the liquid was gone then he could be heard swallowing which Severus assumed was the liquid down, yelling for Kreacher to help him, to stop him but Kreacher held his ground as he was ordered to do. After Regulus had drank it all, he had given a hollow laugh of triumph at getting the locket. Severus heard as Regulus commanded Kreacher in an almost hysterical voice to hang on to it and to destroy it if he didn't make it out. The next thing to be heard was walking and then the splash of water. He figured Regulus was drinking from the lake but then the next sound made Severus' blood run cold. He heard Regulus scream and the sound of splashing water and gurgling before Regulus was able to command Kreacher to leave before sending the patronus, ending the message.

Severus sagged against the doorframe and hung his head. Regulus had been a true friend to him and he had mourned deeply the loss of his friend. It still hurt just as much as it had then. Severus pushed off the frame and sat in his chair in the living room, considering what he would do now. Well, he still needed to go to the Gaunt estate to look for the ring and then he would figure out where the locket may be. Maybe Kreacher still had it all this time? Elves were known to hoard that which they thought important, sometimes to their owner's dismay.

Shaking off the sadness, Severus stood and stepped out to apparate to the estate. Once he arrived, he felt the cold and darkness immediately seep into his very bones. This was not a welcoming place; it dripped with dark magic and malevolence of past deeds. Severus had thought he was prepared for this, considering the Gaunt family's reputation towards anything remotely muggle and being a servant for the heir but it was so much worse.

Severus slowly approached what used to be the manor but it was nothing but a barely standing building of bones. He continuously cast revealing spells as well as keeping a strong shield around him at all times, unsure of what nastiness was lurking around for the unsuspecting to stumble upon. Once at the door, he had to pause, the stench of foul deeds still hung in the air fifty-four years later. Severus had to cast the bubble head charm to keep from emptying his stomach, it was that awful. He hoped he wouldn't have to go to the Riddle home, that area probably smelled and felt worse. He then cast several spells trying to locate where the ring may be. Since there were barely any walls and even less roof, the spell would reach outside the house easily. Fortunately, the spell revealed the ring to be hidden under the floor. Severus used the slicing hex to cut a large square and levitated the piece away before pulling the box out with the same spell. He cautiously set the box on another section of floor before magically opening it. As he had suspected, the Gaunt family ring laid inside. Without touching the ring or even moving an inch closer, Severus felt the dark magic cast upon it. What trap young Riddle had placed on the ring, he knew not but Severus hadn't survived as long as he had by being stupid. He floated the ring into another box he had spelled to protect against activating any curses or hexes and to hide its magical signature from anyone who didn't know what was inside.

After securing the ring, Severus walked out of the shell of a house pausing as he put some distance between him and it as he decided to turn and cast a barrier around the area and loosen Fiendfyre to consume it all. He could have left it but Severus would rather no one stumble upon such darkness and succumb to its pull nor did he want any kids daring anyone to venture in only to fall through the floor or worse. As the fire raged, Severus pulled the box out of his pocket, inspected it, levitated the ring out and then flung it in to be burned. It was a surefire way to destroy the Horcrux within; he knew nothing survived Fiendfyre. As Severus partially listened to the soul shard spew vile words and nasty threats, he realized what it was about the ring that had intrigued him so much.

The symbol etched into the stone, it was the symbol of the Deathly Hollows if his memory served him right. As Severus continued to tune out the hateful speech, he remembered the stories about the three brothers and wondered if his dark master knew what he had had in his possession. It was most likely safe to assume he had not or Riddle would have utilized the stone for nefarious means. Severus shuddered at the thought of what Voldemort would have done if he had realized what the ring's stone was and could do. Once the Fiendfyre had died out, there was nothing left but fine ash. The feeling of malevolence had even disappeared, which Severus was thankful for. Still not trusting the ring or who it had belonged to, Severus levitated the charred remains back into the box and sealed it before apparating back to Spinner's End.

Once home, he showered and changed into clean clothes then fixed a pot of tea before gracefully plopping down in his favorite chair in front of the fire. As he stared into the flames, he considered his next move. He would need to speak with Potter about the elf. Before Severus could think any more on that, his arm began to burn. Taking a moment to safeguard the day's events, so very glad he was a master occlumens because the last thing he or anyone else wanted was for the Dark Lord to learn his "toys" were being discovered and systematically destroyed, Severus straightened his clothes, summoned his robes and apparated to his dark master.

HG-DM HG-DM HG-DM